Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (21 page)

Chapter 20

Angela’s day started bad and continued on with an equal unpleasantness as Amber set to work on Angela’s arm. Her leg was throbbing progressively worse by the hour but when Amber began prying the pieces of glass from her arm she forgot about her leg for a little while. Silas wanted his mother’s attention and Gabe was trying to keep the boisterous Silas out of the way. All in all it was a bit of chaos until Angela had her wounds cleaned and wrapped. Angela and Amber talked about Portland and its prospects the entire time. They heard plenty from Clive and they kept talking to keep Angela’s mind occupied.

She was exhausted before the sun was setting. She gladly wrote a note for Ted and went to bed early. The day had done her in.

* * * * *

The next day was a better one for Ted. The throbbing was easing to an ache with the occasional stabbing pain. It wasn’t pleasant at all, but healing never really was. Clive wanted a look at the wound and to give it air.

Clive had a pair of thin linen pants he got from the laundry, who sold the left behind clothes for half pennies. Clive snipped one leg short so the wound would be allowed to get air.

“I will keep it warm in here, so you won’t freeze yerself.” Clive helped Ted out into the small sitting room, where a cushioned chair was waiting near the fire.

Ted got himself into the linen pants with a few interested moves and jumps. One always takes for granted being able to use your limbs in the way they were meant to. Clive and Ted laughed heartily at the silliness it took to get Ted into those pants,

The wrap was tinged a dark brown with dried blood. But had no telltale signs of green or yellow along the edges, which sometimes spelled out infection.  Clive had a basin of water and used the water to loosen the bandage once it proved that it had stuck a little to the wound itself. It was slow and slightly painful but they got through it. Clive was encouraged once he saw the wound. It was puckered around the stitches but the redness was normal, no angry streaks or smell of any festering. Clive added more lavender to the site of the stitches but told Ted he should let it get air.

“It feels much better today than yesterday. It isn’t throbbing as badly.” Ted claimed.

“That’s good, you want to stay by the fire?” Clive asked.

“Yes, please. You leaving to get some work done?” Ted asked.

“I am feeling like sticking around today. You want to play some checkers? I could pull up a table.” Clive nodded to the folded table in the back corner.

“That would be grand. I warn you. I am pretty competitive at checkers.” Ted laughed a little. He was pleased to get some time with Clive. He had some topics he wanted to discuss with this wise man who knew Angela so well.

“Challenge accepted. Let me make some sandwiches. Gabe brought a basket of goodies over this morning. Oh yes, Red sent a note. I will let you read it while I putter in the kitchen.” Clive rustled around for a minute and brought the note.

Dear Ted,

I know the days are long when you are stuck in bed. The healing process is hard and I learned from experience that God was there for me every step of the way. A dear friend, Edith Sparks, shared this verse with me on my own healing journey. I share it with you today, so you can keep your hope in the only thing that is strong enough to help us overcome anything.

As I wait on the Lord, with good courage, He will strengthen my heart. - Psalm 27:14

I am doing well, this deep bruise is a pest sometimes and I have to remember my limits. I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Angela Fahey

Ted read through the verse several times. Trying to put it to memory. He appreciated Angela’s kind words and he was anticipating seeing her again soon. With them both hurt he would have to be patient and ‘wait’ as the verse said.

Clive got the table set up a few minutes later, he grabbed a chair from the bedroom and they had a plan formed for lunch and checkers.

Once they were both done eating the checkers match began. They were an equal match for skill and they both were quiet and focused during the first two games. Ted won the first and Clive the second. They both laughed when one would make a good or bad move. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon. After the first two games the pace slowed and Ted wanted to take the opportunity to ask some questions about Angela.

“I overheard you and Angela talking yesterday.” Ted said as he moved a checker piece.

“I figured you might be wondering about that.” Clive muttered as he thought out his next move.

“She was hurt before. She mentioned in her note today about someone named Edith Sparks. I never met her in Oregon, I have more questions than I can figure out.” Ted said.

Clive was taking his time on his move, mostly because of his internal dilemma, would Angela want him to know all? If Ted was interested in courting the girl, knowing her history may help him understand her better if he knew her past. Angela wasn’t secretive about it, but he also knew she would not talk about it much. It was still something she was sorting through. Forgiveness was an ongoing struggle when someone hurt a person intentionally.

Clive decided to give up on the move and sat back in his chair. He ran his work-roughened hands through his salt and pepper hair.

“Angela has suffered through some hard things, she is a special girl with a faith that boggles me sometimes.” Clive shared.

Ted nodded and sat back, the game was forgotten, and he knew he was going to find out more about the girl that was filling his thoughts.

“Her father and mother died when she was young. Her mother remarried after her husband died. A few years later, her mother died in front of her, it was horrific. Angela’s mom was pregnant and fell carrying a washtub down stairs. Angela was only a child at the time. Her new stepfather remarried weeks after his wife’s death and sold Angela and her older brother Sean to a work orphanage.”

Ted gasped and let his head drop. He would let the story sink in later. He wanted to hear the rest.

Clive went through how Sean ran away from the orphanage and then Angela was then sent to Corinne’s Aunt’s to work as a maid, but her pay was sent to the orphanage until Corinne pressed her Aunt to get Angela’s pay to be given directly to Angela. Ted realized the deep relationship between Corinne and Angela was something that was rare.

Once Clive started telling Ted about Corinne’s first husband he was beginning to feel a fire in the pit of his stomach.
This Andrew Temple character was sounding more and more like his uncle who manipulated and mistreated women.
Ted thought to himself.

When the events involving the night of Angela’s accident came around, Clive held nothing back. How Andrew had sent her into danger, then laughed it off later to everyone else. Like she had been a silly girl.

Clive stopped when he could see Ted’s distress.

“I know how you feel, Ted, this was a dark time for me as well. My own anger and resentment were tested that day.” Clive said and patted Ted’s arm next to him.

“Why would someone do something like that? It is truly hateful.” Ted asked. Shaking his head and feeling the full weight of how it must have been for Angela’s friends, waiting and wondering through the night.

“Through God’s grace someone heard her yells, she was so far from the wagon train. I have to believe that God carried her voice. When we found her she was so very broken.” Clive’s voice broke a moment from the memory of it.

“Corinne did the best she could to clean her wounds and set the broken bones. Even two days later when the infection was settin’ in they had to scrub out the wound, like they did for you today. She had been pierced with rocks and tree branches as she had fallen. I was there with her while she was being scrubbed. I held her. We all thought we were losing her.” Clive shared. The pain of the memory took him away for a minute. Ted let him have time to continue if he wanted to.

“Andrew, the perpetrator, was actually the one to find her sanctuary with the Spark family at Fort Kearney.” Clive said.

“Oh really?” Ted said in disbelief.

“Yes, he was a man eatin’ away by guilt. After he got her safely in place with them he came to me. It was a strange night that I haven’t shared with anyone. Though I perhaps will with Angela and Corinne together someday. It may give their hearts a sense of peace.” Clive scratched his chin, thinking on how to continue. “That young man was so filled with guilt and anger. He confessed all to me, his past, and his rage about everything. How his Ma had always taught him to go to God but he had failed to do so time and time again. That night I helped this bitter and angry young man confess to God. In a moment when I wanted to judge and hurt this person who had caused so much pain, I had to set aside my own anger and help him back to the Lord. It tested me. Watching that young man cry out to God. I so wanted to keep my anger. But yet I could not.”

Ted was shocked and quiet, his own anger brewing inside, battling the Christian upbringing of allowing forgiveness to overcome anger.

“I know Angela will not want to talk about this much. She has overcome so much. She is still discovering who she is, not a servant anymore, but as a young woman. Her faith is growing and she is learning to trust again, but it is a fragile thing. I tell you because I can see the bond between the two of you is growing. I don’t want you to be another thing she has to recover from.”  Clive finished by looking into Ted’s eyes, challenging him to be a man, not just a boy with puppy love.

“I will endeavor to always protect her.” Ted said sincerely. Clive believed him.

The conversation moved along to lighter subjects and several more games of checkers were played.

Ted wrote a note for Angela, he pondered the words for a long time. His feelings for her had changed in a day. She probably would not like his thoughts, thinking them to be pity, Ted wondered. But in his heart the story of her survival only made her more desirable to him. She was fragile, yes, but she was also strong. She was a young woman that God had plucked from disaster and saved. He felt the need to move their relationship further. He wanted the note to say things that perhaps he couldn’t say in person.

Dear Angela,

I use the word “dear” because you are very dear to me. As you held my hand yesterday I felt your sympathy and compassion, it meant more to me than you can know. I don’t always have the right words to say but I need to tell you how I feel.

I must say I was first drawn to you when I saw you from across the street. Your hair was the first thing I noticed, hanging down your back. You turned and I saw your green eyes. I was lost in them. I could not help it. But I know that physical beauty is nothing to base a lasting affection on, but I will admit that is how I felt upon meeting you. Since that day you have grown in my heart, your humility and strength confound me.

You have such a compassionate heart and a willingness to help anyone. Your patience with my shyness and fumbling is another trait I must admire about you, for without it, I fear I would still be admiring you from afar.

I want to completely be above board and honest in all our dealings. I have the deepest respect for you so I want you to know I did ask Clive about your leg, he has filled me in on your accident from last year. I want to comfort you by letting you know that my feelings for you will never be pity, for I know I would not want that either. It will take a decent amount of prayer and work with the Lord to forgive that man that hurt you so maliciously. I only wish I had been there to protect you, but I know that God was there and you were saved. I am so very thankful for that.

Within you is a woman I deeply admire, for your strength, your purity, your courage and your morality.

I know not how to make my feelings clearer at the moment but to say I care for you very much. I hope I have not shocked you with the affection I carry but ask that if you do not feel the same way you will let me know soon. For I fear my heart will carry me further if you do not dissuade me.

Sincerely Yours,

Thaddeus Greaves

Once the words were on paper the way he wanted, he wrote it out again on a piece of fine parchment. He wanted no smudges or smears. He was now glad for the hours his mother had spent on his penmanship, for their small town school did not focus much on it. His mother believed a good man could write a fine letter with a strong hand.

Ted went to bed but gave the note to Clive to be delivered. Clive didn’t wait until morning but left before dusk to pay a visit to his grandson’s home. He figured the note would give Angela something pleasant to think on during her healing process.

* * * * *

Angela received the note after Clive had been chatting with the adults quietly near the fireplace. Silas was nearly sleeping in his mother’s arms and the conversation and her rocking was soothing enough to keep him calm. Silas’s cheeks were flushed with sleepiness and they all knew, barring some kind of chaos, he would be asleep soon.