Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (7 page)

“I have a short speech prepared for the guest of honor.” John Harpole said as the food was being brought to the table. Once everyone including Marie was seated he started.

“Corinne has been telling me about Angela since the day she arrived in Oregon. She has been telling everyone about this amazing and strong girl that has survived so much to be here. You are welcome to our home, to our land and into our hearts. Angela Fahey, you are now family. Welcome to Oregon.” John Harpole said and everyone around the table cheered.

All Angela could do was smile and cry at such a heart-warming welcome. Once her tears cleared and she recovered her voice, she stood.

“I have never felt more loved. I just know that God has gone before me and given me a new place to call home. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your world.” Angela felt so strange and unworthy. She enjoyed the meal but spent the rest of the evening in awe and quiet. Everything was changing so quickly, she didn’t know who she was in this new life yet.

As she walked back with Corinne and Lucas in the moonlight she finally spoke freely.

“I feel so overwhelmed.” Angela admitted.

“I know dear.” Corinne said simply. “You have been a servant for a long time. You are a new creature now. You will find out who Angela the woman is soon enough.”

“That sounds reasonable.” Angela smiled at her friend who had grasped the situation so quickly.

“I am glad you are here with us, Angela.” Lucas said. “You have all the space and time you need to heal and rest. Our valley is good for those things.”

Lucas grabbed his wife’s hand and squeezed it. Corinne smiled from her husband to her friend as they walked along.

Angela looked up at the night sky and could see the bright stars and the edge of the mountains were shining in the light of the moon. It sunk into her that she was finally home.

* * * * *

The next day was a relaxing one for Angela and Corinne. Angela woke up early when she heard Lucas and Corinne in the kitchen making breakfast. They both had morning plans and Angela was glad she was going to have some time to go through her trunk in the quiet house after they left.

Corinne promised to join her for lunch and then spend the afternoon with her.

Angela ate breakfast with Corinne and Lucas and then waved them off. She gulped down her fresh milk and cleaned off her dishes. She knew Corinne didn’t want her cleaning up but she did it anyway. She smiled as she thought about the trunk across the room waiting to be explored.

A few minutes later she was sitting on the floor and heard the creaking of the trunk as she opened it. She looked at the picture again that lay on top. She soaked it up, memorizing the faces. She would put this in her room today. She felt stronger, like she could handle seeing it now. The reminder of their faces did not hurt as much today.

She unwrapped a few more things. A few lace doilies of her mother’s, a few hand towels, all things that Angela could easily see in her future home and it was a way to have her mother with her. Angela let the tears fall as she made her way through a few more special mementos. Her father’s pipe made her pause a few minutes as she held it in her hands. The scent of pipe tobacco lingered on it and it brought fresh emotions. Today Angela wasn’t afraid of the memories; instead she let them wash over her.

She got through a few layers of wrapped items when she found her mother’s journal. That was the place she stopped for the day. The leather bound book was dated 1821 on the front page. She flipped through the pages and saw that the book was nearly full. Angela realized she had found enough treasure for the day. She wrapped up a few things and placed them back into the trunk, lovingly. A few things set apart in her mind about who should have the items. She already felt the pipe would go to her brother, Sean. She had a memory of her father’s gold pocket-watch and had the faintest memory of seeing it in this trunk long ago. The more she touched the trunk the more her memory was recalling it. Angela was thrilled with the journal in hand and would get the picture up in her room. The other items could be discovered in their own time. Angela was thankful for what she had found. It was a healing balm to her. A reconnection to who she really was.

She sat on the cushioned chair by the fireplace with her feet up on a little stool. She was lost in her mother’s words for a few hours.

* * * * *

“Hello, my friend.” Corinne said in a sing-song voice as she entered the cabin. The morning had passed by in a flash and she was refreshed by the walk to and from the greenhouse.

Angela closed the journal in her hand and stood to full height and gave a good stretch.

“I found my mother’s journal, well more of a diary, really. She was just a girl when she got it from her grandfather as a birthday gift.” Angela said, smiling happily.

“Oh, that is wonderful.” Corinne reached over and laid a hand on the leather book that Angela held out. She closed her eyes a moment. “I can imagine that is such a blessing to you. Having her words…”

“So happy for you.” Corinne said sincerely, her voice thick with emotion.

“Thank you so much Corinne. This really is more than I ever thought I would have of my parents.” Angela felt the weight of the gift all at once. Corinne had done this for her. The letters she wrote and effort she made actually was giving her parents back to her. “I hope you know…” Angela’s voice cracked. She couldn’t say anymore through the lump in her throat.

“I know.” Corinne said and gave her friend a hug.

They both laughed and wiped away a few tears a minute later. Corinne got up and made three plates for lunch.

“The harvest crew isn’t coming?” Angela asked.

“Marie wanted them to come to her place today. Today is the last day we have the crew. There are other farmers who need them now that their crops are dry. The rain gave us the advantage last week.” Corinne stated.

Angela didn’t fully understand the workings of a farm or harvests but she knew she would learn a lot living here. Corinne had a way of passing along her knowledge without even trying.

“Is Lucas stopping by then?” Angela asked.

“He should be by soon. He is pretty predictable. He loves to stick to a daily pattern. He is very good for me.” Corinne said with a smile.

Lucas arrived a few minutes later and washed in the basin in the kitchen. He was talkative about the harvest and how much work had been done. He was heading out with Russell later in the day to see to the progress of the saplings they planted earlier in the year. He ate with efficiency and gave his wife a kiss before he bounded out the door again.

“You both seem to be enjoying the place.” Angela stated.

“Yes, we are proud of what we are building.” Corinne blushed a little when she said it. “I hope the affection doesn’t bother you.”

“No, silly.” Angela smiled and laughed at Corinne’s embarrassment. “You are newlyweds. I just hope I am not imposing in any way.” Angela had been concerned about living with them so soon after they were married. The cabin is a large one but Angela wondered if a long-term stay would eventually cause problems.

“We have prayed about it often, Angie, do not be concerned. We are all adults and can communicate with each other. There is nothing that God cannot help us through.” Corinne wanted to be sure that Angela knew that she was welcome. “This cabin has plenty of room and you are more than welcome.”

“I want to make sure you both have privacy when you need it.  I know that married couples need space and time to talk out issues and things. I know I would be able to stay with John and Marie for a day or two here and there should you need some time alone.” Angela offered. She had been thinking about options too.

“My father and Marie have already made that suggestion to us for when it was needed.” Corinne cleaned up the lunch dishes as they were talking.

“I am glad. I was worrying a little bit about the long term effect my stay could have here.” Angela said with relief in her voice.

“Stop your fussing. There is nothing to worry about.” Corinne dried her wet hands on a towel and then pointed at the jackets at the front door. “Let’s walk off lunch and go see how Marie is fairing. She doesn’t want my help today but I can be support from the sidelines at least. If anything we can try and be underfoot.” Corinne said with a giggle.

Angela enjoyed seeing her friend so relaxed and light hearted. Last year on the Oregon Trail it had been stressful and difficult dealing with her first husband, Andrew, who had laid down his own set of rules on Corinne. Now to see her in this new way was a full turn around. Corinne was happy in her new life. It did good things to Angela’s heart to see it.

The September breeze had the smallest hint of a chill to it but the sun was still warm enough to feel like summer was trying to hang on. Corinne and Angela enjoyed the in-between weather and were pointing out the bits of color showing up on the mountainside in the distance. It was a lovely valley and was restorative to Angela every day she was there.

Marie was finished serving the harvesters and was elbow deep in wash water when the girls arrived. Corinne hung her coat on the hooks by the door and then sauntered over to Marie, scooped up a finger full of bubbles and deposited them playfully on Marie’s cute little nose.

“No fair!” Marie exclaimed and they all heard Cooper hooting with laughter from across the room. She wiped at the bubbles with her shoulder and gave Corinne a non-malicious glare.

“Couldn’t resist.” Corinne said and scooped up her stepbrother Cooper.

“I think you are just showing off for your friend.” Marie stated and gave Angela a wink.

“She and I have always been a little silly together. I am glad she hasn’t grown out of it.” Angela said with a smile and sat next to Corinne and Cooper at the dining table.

“I never stoop to silliness. I don’t know what you are talking about.” Corinne said and got a few more healthy belly laughs out of Cooper.

Cooper was a bundle of energy and ran back over to help his Mama dry dishes a minute after tussling with his ‘sister’. They had a growing relationship that was a happy one. Corinne had been an only child and was really happy with the new arrangement.

Corinne and Angela stayed and chatted with Marie for more than an hour. They made plans for the week that included shopping and maybe a trip to the ocean before the winter snows flew for Angela.

“You must see the coast!” Marie exclaimed. They talked about the waves and the surf.

Angela had been to the east coast beaches a few times with her mother and brother but not been recreationally allowed to do so since. The thought had appeal.

The girls left with thoughts on pleasant things when they took a turn around the property. Corinne took her to the pastures and they got a good look at the horses getting broken by some rough lads with ropes. The girls both gave each other knowing smiles when a few rustlers gave them a nod or attention at all. John Harpole ran a clean ranch and the cowboys were respectful. But that didn’t mean that they didn’t look a little at two pretty young ladies in their midst. Corinne and Angela would admit to being flattered at the attention only when pressed.

Corinne was a good tour guide and they wandered into her greenhouse eventually. It was nowhere near the size of the enormous greenhouses in Boston but it was a pretty house of glass that was warm and moist inside. The plants were green and there were flowers blooming and other plants in early growth stages.

Angela did not recognize many plants but that was not her specialty, Corinne named a few things and Angie just tried to keep up with her happy friend. Corinne was in her world again, just like at the Apothecary Shoppe.

After being shown around Angie was beginning to tire, her fatigue from the journey suddenly catching up to her. Corinne walked Angela back to the cabin just fifty steps away from the greenhouse by a stone path Lucas had just set up the month before. During the rainy season the ground could get quite muddy between these buildings. The flat stones would keep their feet from tracking so much mud into the house.

Angela was glad to catch a nap before dinner, Corinne made a quick visit to her father’s home next door and Marie sent a dinner basket loaded with goodies for them.

Corinne woke Angela up and told her dinner was ready an hour later. Angela walked out to see Chelsea and Russell Grant at the door shrugging off their jackets. Chelsea let out a pleasant laugh and ran to hug her friend with her free arm. Her other arm held a baby girl.

Angela gave her old friend a hug then gave her attention to the pretty blue-eyed girl with sandy brown hair.

“She looks like Russell and Lucas…” Angela said and touched the baby’s cheek. Babies’ skin was always like satin.

“Yes, she has the Grant look to her. They all take after their pretty mama.”  Chelsea said and gave her girl a kiss.

“I do not like being called ‘pretty’” Lucas laughed and his brother grunted in agreement.

Lucas was handing plates to Corinne who was setting them on the dinner table.

“Well your mother was very pretty and so are her boys.” Chelsea laughed at the men’s protests. “Angela, I hope you are recovering from the trip well. It took me a few weeks to feel like myself again, but I also was pregnant at the time.” Chelsea shrugged.