by Terri Grace
“I know mother,” Constance admitted, “but I’m feeling fine now, and we still have a little money saved. My prayer is that he returns soon without any force. I believe it will be soon.”
Beatrice knew Constance was a headstrong person. Even more dangerous at this moment, was her determination not to give up. Still with her health in decline, and proper care hard to afford, she stood her ground and would not budge. She took that from her late soldier father, Beatrice was sure.
“Alright,” Beatrice gave in, “we will continue to pray. But God has to do something—fast.”
Seth was hammering nails into a new ladder he was building at the back of the cabin when he heard someone yelling his name, accompanied by loud hoofs.
“Who is that?” He wondered, quickly dusting his work clothes, and preparing to see the rider appear.
Two riders suddenly came into view. It was Wash, along with another Shoshone. While the other man remained on his horse, Wash leaped down and ran towards Seth.
“Wash, what is going on?”
“You must come now!” Wash sounded excited, his small eyes sparkling despite his dusty face and hair, obviously from the digging, “I think we found something!”
“What? You did?” Seth couldn’t believe it.
Wash nodded, “North side of map. Second ravine after the stream. We think is gold.”
“Oh, thank you, Lord!” Seth knelt on the ground, hands lifted up high to the heavens.
The other horseman started to say something rapidly in the local dialect, but Seth was too distracted to pay attention. Closing his eyes, he started to pray and thank God for the breakthrough.
It seemed like Wash had been waiting for him to end the prayer, because as soon as his eyes snapped open, the Indian squatted beside him, lowering his voice.
“My brother says we need to speak to our chief. He believes there are things we have to do to protect that place and claim the gold. It is not very simple.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Seth scowled.
“Trust me, brother,” Wash smiled thinly, “if gold is down there, it is plenty. We have to claim it and protect it and take all—fast.”
“Wash,” Seth told him quietly, “I want to do this now and go home to my wife. If it means leaving you here to do the rest, so be it. I have been away long enough.”
Chapter 13
A Final Plea
LENORA BROWN KNOCKED rapidly on the door. There was no answer. Beatrice Fern was supposed to be home, so where was the old woman? Feeling uneasy, she knocked louder and more urgently. Still, there was no response.
Running out of patience, she pushed the door hard, and was surprised when it flew open. It hadn’t been locked or latched. What was going on?
“Constance?” She called as she headed rapidly upstairs. She feared the worst.
The house was as quiet as a graveyard, and her loud footsteps thundering on the wooden stairs were the only sounds that rang out as she rushed towards Constance MacLeod’s bedroom.
She realized the door was partly open. She rushed inside, and was appalled at the sight that met her. Constance’s eyes were wide open, staring at her, her mouth hanging open. Her face was deathly pale, and one hand was hanging down the bed’s side. The other hand, her right, was draped on her large belly. The slow rising of her chest was a welcoming relief—she was alive, somehow.
“Oh my, Constance!” Lenora rushed to her side, taking her fallen hand. It was as cold as ice.
Constance groaned, her mouth slowing clamping shut.
“Where’s your mother? What’s wrong, my dear?” Lenora wasn’t sure at all what to do. Constance looked so very frail—as if she wasn’t going to last another day.
Looking at her swollen eyes, and lips, and how weak she felt, Lenora guessed speaking was going to be hard for the other woman.
“When I say anything, you answer with a nod or a shake of the head, okay?” She shifted closer, gently taking her other hand.
She watched as Constance slowly nodded.
“Great! Have you eaten this morning?”
She watched as Constance slowly shook her head, eyes blinking twice.
“Is Beatrice going to get the doctor?”
She slowly shook her head.
Lenora was not happy. If the older woman was out of the house while her daughter was in this state, where could she have gone? And for crying out loud, where was Seth MacLeod?
“I am going to fix you something to eat now, okay?”
She watched in despair as Constance shook her head.
“You need to eat! Or… are you still fasting?”
She watched as Constance weakly nodded.
“Your fasting ends now! Is that clear?!” She realized she sounded harsh. That was good.
She was relieved when Constance nodded, and gave her a feeble squeeze.
“I will make you some food, and then a hot bath. Then, we will write to Seth. Do you understand?”
Constance smiled thinly.
“Good, very good Constance,” Lenora was glad she was cooperating now, “you will be fine okay? The baby will be fine, in Jesus’ name!”
In reply, as if to say an ‘amen’, Lenora felt Constance’s squeeze; it was a little stronger than before. That was encouraging.
She leaned forward to give the woman a kiss on the forehead, before laying hands on her shoulders and praying with her.
* * *
Beatrice returned to the house to find Lenora reading to Constance, who had managed to sit up with the help of two duck feather pillows. She looked better than before, and the old woman was hugely relieved.
“Mrs. Fern,” Lenora was surprised to see her, “where have you been?”
Beatrice sighed, eyes on her daughter as she approached the bed, “I went into the town—to a bank. Seth has a friend there, and I thought we could get some money from him, so Seth can pay when he returned. She needed the doctor. I couldn’t leave her side, but this morning, I realized if I didn’t go, I could lose her.”
Beatrice had walked to the bed, and she leaned forward, hands gently caressing Constance’s cheeks.
“I’m… fine…” Constance smiled up at her mother.
“She was in bad shape this morning, believe me,” Lenora reported, “she has taken some food now, and I hoped you would return soon so that she can write a letter. I can go into town to post it once you are here with her.” She explained.
“Thank you, Lenora,” Beatrice turned to her, “you’re a blessing to my daughter and Seth.”
“I am pretty sure Constance would do the same and more if I were in a similar situation.” Lenora brushed it off, placing her bible on the bed, “It won’t wait any longer. She needs to write that letter now.”
* * *
“I’ll do it… myself,” Constance gathered strength to speak, opening her palm for the pen.
Without a word, Beatrice gave her daughter the initiative.
Aware the two worried women were not going to take their eyes off her, Constance looked from Lenora to Beatrice, “I appreciate…everything. Can I do this…alone?”
“Of course, Constance,” Lenora quickly slid off the bed, walking a few yards back, still keeping an eye on her.
Beatrice got up from the armchair that was beside the bed, and also drew back to stand next to Lenora. Constance knew that was as far as she would get them to go. She was grateful for their love and concern.
Turning her attention back to the paper before her, she started to write:
* * *
My dear Seth
It has been far too long, and perhaps there are things I should have told you long before. I am with child, and you are soon going to be a father. It is sad that I am running out of money and my health is failing me. I am scared, and I need you to come home to me.
I know you have the will to succeed for the both of us, but I feel you are needed here now, far more than out there searching for gold. Come home to us, and let us watch our child come
into the world together.
My mother and Lenora Brown have been taking care of me for months now. But it is you I want. Please darling, come home and let my heart be at peace. You are more precious than any amount of gold there is in the world.
I love you, and I wait for you.
With love,
Connie
* * *
Constance looked up at the two women, visibly exhausted after writing.
“It’s done,” she managed to say.
“Great,” Lenora rushed forward to her, taking the letter and resolutely sealing it.
“Thank you,” Constance smiled at Lenora.
“Don’t mention it, Constance,” Lenora leaned forward to give her a hug, “I’ll be back in the evening, okay?”
Constance nodded.
“Lenora, I can’t thank you enough,” Beatrice told the younger woman when she turned to her. “Your husband is lucky to have you for a wife.”
“Mrs. Fern,” Lenora curtseyed, “I think we should hold on to the kind words, and see Constance get well and deliver the baby. Then, we can celebrate together.” She said sagely.
“I stand by my words, God bless you Lenora,” Beatrice told her, “I can’t wait for Seth to get his hands on that letter.”
* * *
“John, make sure Mr. Foderingham handles this letter personally,” Lenora was reluctant to give the letter to the young teenage helper whom she knew was now assisting her old friend and postman, Jeremy Foderingham.
“Mrs. Brown,” the thin, blonde boy grinned, “I will not stop running until he holds this letter in his own hands!”
“Good,” she smiled, “tell him it’s the most urgent.”
“Of course!” He saluted and took off.
As Lenora watched the boy run off, she wondered if she should have just taken a coach to the post office herself. That letter was so important that she felt uncomfortable. Well, all the boy had to do was give it to Foderingham, she told herself.
* * *
John Dagatt’s long legs carried him swiftly, and he felt the cool wind blowing his tweed cap slowly off his head as he ran. The letter in his left hand, he reached out with his right to secure his cap as he sped on, across one street.
As he adjusted the cap with his hand, he was unable to the see the rider swiftly approaching from his right.
“Boy! Hey!” The rider was yelling atop his lungs.
But it was too late. Before John knew what was happening he had been knocked over heavily by the beast. Roughly catapulted onto the sidewalk his head crashed into one of the street lamp poles that lined the pathway.
Dazed and on the cusp of consciousness, he could only think of the letter. It wasn’t in his hand. He had no idea where it was. The pain in his head and body was nothing like he had felt before, but it seemed to subside as his vision quickly darkened. The loud voices he thought he was hearing after the initial crash were all being drowned by the darkness that engulfed him.
Young John Dagatt never returned to the post office. He would spend months recovering from the accident.
The letter never left Crow Spruce, Pennsylvania.
Chapter 14
Baby Rachel
THREE WEEKS AFTER Constance had written to Seth, she was fully rounded and expecting the baby any day. Her health had improved slightly, with help from Pastor Elias Brown, Lenora’s husband. He had helped fund Constance’s bills as she sought antenatal care. Justice Fern, Constance’s younger brother had also visited for a few days before returning to Boston, where he was now working as a clerk. To everyone, life was returning to normalcy, and the baby’s arrival would end the anxiety.
To Constance, it was far from that. She was saddened her husband had not replied to her urgent letter, and she wondered if she was even going to see him again. She resorted to taking walks on the trails they had both frequented after their marriage. Sometimes, she would walk with Lenora, who had become a close friend to her.
* * *
One dull Wednesday morning, Constance and Lenora were out on another trail they both called ‘Seth’s shortcut’.
“So, how was it like when you first had Joseph?” Constance asked about Lenora’s first born, who was now three.
“It was a little hard, to be honest,” Lenora said, “but it was worth it. I guess I was quite scared, but it turned out better than I had imagined.”
“Really?” Constance smiled. “You’re not saying this to make me relax?”
“Maybe I am,” Lenora giggled.
Constance’s own giggle was cut short by a stab of pain that made her gasp.
“Constance?” Lenora rushed closer, grabbing her by the shoulders.
Constance glanced downwards, gesturing to her tummy, “Lenora, something’s happening.”
“Oh my!” Lenora gaped when she lowered her eyes, and saw the liquid trickling down Constance’s legs. “Your waters broke!”
“What’s that mean? Is it coming here? The baby?” Constance was frightened.
“Calm down, sweetie,” Lenora took quick breaths, “everything is going to be perfect. Just perfect…”
* * *
The walk back to the house was uncomfortable, but with Lenora’s help was not too traumatic. Constance successfully delivered a healthy baby girl in her own bed, with help from the local midwife Sophia, Beatrice and Lenora.
With tears of joy in her eyes, and the crying baby in her arms, Constance watched the tired but happy and expectant faces of the three women in the room.
“I have my baby!” She laughed. Overwhelmed and exhausted she had somehow made it.
“What are you calling her, sweetie?” Lenora was quick to ask, wiping her face with a wet towel.
Constance’s beaming face fell a little, as she looked down at the crying girl, “Seth wanted to have a girl… and he wanted to call her Rachel.”
“So,” Beatrice sounded much more enthusiastic, seemingly trying not to allow any sadness to seep into the memorable occasion, “Rachel MacLeod it is!” She clapped aloud.
Lenora and Sophia joined the cheers, and Constance found herself smiling despite her thoughts of Seth. He may not have been there, but now she had Rachel… God was definitely still in control, and that was all that mattered. She was sure everything that was happening needed to unfold for a reason. Holding baby Rachel close to her bosom, she felt the cries subsiding. God had been gracious to her, and she was thankful.
Chapter 15
An Invitation
RACHEL WAS ALMOST a month old, and Beatrice was still in Crow Spruce, helping take care of her daughter and granddaughter. She spent most of her time indoors though, while Constance preferred to take baby Rachel out for walks on the trails with Lenora, who was now three months pregnant with her second child.
Constance and Lenora were on ‘Seth’s shortcut’, chatting idly on a sunny summer afternoon when Lenora suddenly strained her ears.
“Can you hear that?” She asked.
“What?” Constance also strained to listen. “What do you hear?”
“It sounded like hoofs,”
“Wait,” Constance heard them, turning around to look behind them, “I think someone is coming this way.”
“It’s clearer now, yes.” Lenora turned around.
Ahead of them was a sharp curve, making it impossible to see who was coming. They waited as the sound grew louder, till a horseman burst out of the corner. He saw the women and immediately started to slow down, apparently aware Constance carried a child.
“Good morning!” The young man greeted promptly as his horse trotted towards them, “Mrs. MacLeod?”
“Yes?” Constance stepped forward.
He dismounted quickly and produced a letter, “A letter for you, from Montana.”
While the young postman offered the letter, Constance simply stared at the envelope as if it carried a plague. She was simply too overwhelmed to do anything.
“Mrs. MacLeod?” The man raised a brow.
Lenora reached o
ut and took the letter from the man, “Thank you, sir; that would be all.”
The young man looked from Lenora to Constance, before quickly retreating back to mount his beast. With a quick wave, he turned around and rode away as quickly as he had come.
“Constance?” Lenora nudged her gently.
Constance turned to her friend, eyes glistening with unshed tears, “It’s him, isn’t it?”
Lenora nodded slowly with a gentle smile.
Constance reached out for the letter. Instead, Lenora took Rachel from her, before letting go of the letter for Constance.
With trembling hands, she tore the envelope open and took out the letter:
* * *
My dear wife,
I have missed you so much that I did not know how to start writing this. I have wanted to write, but any time I start, I falter. The good news is, I do not think I will write another letter again. I have spent the past month preparing for you.
I want you to come home. I want you to come and join me in Rainbow Mountain, where I have started to build a home for the two of us and God willing, our children, and their children!
I know I have been selfish and unkind to you, my love, but all I can do in a letter is ask for your forgiveness a million times. I promise you that this is over now.
I have a surprise waiting for you here, and I cannot wait to have you here with me again. I have missed every little thing we did together in the one month I spent with you before leaving. I want us to continue from that moment…
To aid you on the journey, Matthew Saw my old friend from the railway company will help you on your journey here. He will accompany you by train, and by wagon, till I meet you and bring you home…