The tiniest knock on her bedroom door was what surprised her.
“Who is it?” Corinne asked, she knew that Violet usually only knocked once and entered.
“Someone who has missed you.”
Corinne heard the voice of her friend and then with the door open she saw her. It was the one unexpected thing that filled her heart with joy.
“Oh Angela!” Corinne cried against her friends embrace. Angela was sitting on the bed next to her they rocked and cried together.
“I am so sorry, Cori!” Angela said sincerely through her weepy voice.
“No, no, no, not today. Today is celebrating my sister returning.” Corinne held her friend and they laughed and cried together for a long while.
* * * * *
After a while Clive joined the girls and gave Corinne a fatherly hug. He had spoken at length with Violet and had even stopped outside and chatted with Lucas. Everyone was putting their bravest faces on and trying to be strong for Corinne.
Clive and Angela talked with Corinne about San Francisco and kept the topic light. Corinne was glad of it. She wanted a night to forget about the heaviness in her heart.
After a time Clive left to go visit with his granddaughter Chelsea and see the children. Corinne and Angela both sent their blessings.
Angela found Corinne a little changed. More mature perhaps. Corinne said the same to Angela.
“You mentioned in your latest letter about your courting with Ted Greaves.” Corinne asked. Her enthusiasm was there but Angela could tell her friend was still weak.
“Yes, he is...” Angela smiled a bit and sighed. “He is wonderful.”
She showed her the silver bracelet and told Corinne about him, and how he left just a few weeks before by ship back to New York State.
“He has promised to send a post when he arrives safe.” Angela shared.
The next hours were spent in sharing, the good and the bad of the last months.
Corinne cried with Angela as she had shared the experience with her brother and his ultimate rejection, and Angela had cried with Corinne as she shared the recent loss of her pregnancy.
“I wondered a little about my coming west, one night in the dark on the steamship. It was originally to reunite with him. But I can say with my heart that you, Corinne, are my home. The sibling that has never betrayed me.” Angela let the emotion take over and sobbed in her friend’s lap. She let out a portion of the hurt and rejection in that moment they shared.
“I missed you so very much, but I think in time you will be glad to have seen a glimpse of him, even just to know he is safe.” Corinne said as she stroked her friend’s hair.
“I know that is true. Even if it had not gone so well as I had hoped. He looked like my father.” Angela sat up and grabbed a handkerchief from the side table. She wiped off her tear-covered cheeks. “He sounded like him too. I remembered.” Angela smiled weakly.
“We are a pitiful batch of emotions today. Considering we are having our own little reunion.” Corinne said.
“Yes, but I know we will make it through this hard day, to face another, perhaps each day will get easier.” Angela said. She clasped her friend’s hand and it was a quiet moment for them to draw strength from each other.
“Are you in any pain?” Angela finally asked.
“A little, very sore in parts and mostly just exhausted.” Corinne frowned a minute. “I still have this lingering guilt, like perhaps I worked too hard or had done something wrong.” Corinne admitted. “But I have to say that God is helping me work through these feelings. Lucas has been good to me too. We will try again when it is time.” Corinne let the tears fall a little more and her friend did her best to comfort her.
Over the next week Angela barely left her side. Corinne was up and moving around soon and they began taking short walks.
The spring air was damp and earthy and the breeze carried the girls around the property as they both grew stronger.
Dolly made many visits to make sure everything was being done the way things were supposed to be but Corinne felt like her work would have to wait as her body healed.
Corinne wanted to try a trip into town to see the Doctor instead of forcing him to keep coming to her. Dolly was well practiced at driving the team so she joined with Angela and Corinne.
Town was busy as Spring always was good for commerce. People needed supplies and to begin the annual time of rebirth. It was the season to begin things anew.
Doctor Williams was glad to see Corinne up and around. Angela and Dolly waited patiently for Corinne and stayed out in the front room and chatted with Persephone.
“I am looking forward to the new church building. I hear they are starting the building next week.” Dolly said to the doctor’s wife.
“Yes, I am so thankful to have come to the Spring Creek church. Corinne was wise to invite us. Perhaps she knew I was just too shy to fit in with the fancier church in town. I get so flustered with some of the elegant folks there. There are many city founders and important people. I always feel foolish.” Persephone stated. Her and Dolly had spent some afternoons together after Sunday service. The Harpoles had invited the Williams to Sunday dinner several times.
“I am glad to be at my home church again. I have a lot of people to get reacquainted with.” Angela said. She was behind on a lot of happenings within the community and felt a little out of touch.
“The valley will give you time to settle in.” Dolly said and her sweet shy smile made Angela think that she would indeed find her place here again.
“That is poetic, Dolly, I like that.” Persephone said. She gave Dolly a little nudge and Dolly surprised everyone with a laugh. Dolly was always such a quiet person, a busy bee, Cori called her. Her laughter was a rare blessing.
After Doc Williams let Corinne go with instructions and a promise from her to ease back into a routine the girls headed into town to visit with Clive if he was available.
The mercantile was bustling. The girls kept themselves busy looking through the shelves while JQ was helping customers. Corinne pointed out to Dolly and Angela that she could hear Clive’s voice from the back rooms.
After several minutes the store cleared out of customers and JQ had a break. Corinne spoke with JQ and made sure he was re-introduced to Angela.
“I remember her well. I am glad you are safely back in Oregon, Miss.” He said with sincerity.
“Well thank you, I am very happy to be home.” Angela kept looking at Corinne who had made jokes at home about how much JQ looked like Clive. Corinne was acting silly and smiling a lot. Angela was trying not to laugh.
Mrs. Quackenbush came through the back door and when she saw the young ladies at the counter it appeared like she was thinking about turning around. JQ said “hello” to his wife and she sighed and walked toward the counter.
“Good to see you again Mrs. Quackenbush.” Corinne said. “You are looking well.” Corinne looked to her friends and was going to make introductions.
“I heard a rumor about you Mrs. Grant,” She said, her voice was low.
“Ma’am?” Corinne said with surprise in her voice.
“Millie…” JQ said quietly and gave his wife a nudge with his elbow.
“I am sorry about your loss.” Millie stated, almost grumbling.
“Thank you, Mrs. Quackenbush. I am recovering.” Corinne said quietly, her smile and demeanor shifted. “I would like to introduce you to my friends. This is a dear friend, Dolly and this is Angela Fahey, she stayed with your son and daughter-in-law in California for many months.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Angela and Dolly both said in their turn.
“I am sure you are looking forward to seeing your grandchild Silas. He is such a dear boy.” Angela was trying to lighten the mood. Corinne’s cheeks were a little flushed.
“Yes, child, I am. I will be just as glad when they are away from that city of sin. I have been vexed with Clive for this past year for sending them there. Wretched place.” Millie
said with more enthusiasm.
“They were not sent. It was a fine place until the Gold Rush started. They are wisely moving closer.” JQ was obviously uncomfortable. “I read in a letter that you helped with the birthing Miss Fahey?” He smiled at the redhead.
“Well yes, but I would be happy if you called me Angela. It was my pleasure to be a help in any way.” Angela said as she tried to understand the strange tension in the room.
Millie harrumphed and cleared her throat.
“Mrs. Grant, pardon my mentioning it, but as one Godly woman to another…” She leaned forward over the counter and looked at Corinne squarely in the eye. “Perhaps you would be wise to keep your focus on your husband and home and then perhaps God will be blessing you with an offspring.”
Angela and Dolly gasped.
JQ yelled. “Millie!! You mind your own.”
Corinne looked as if her face had been slapped. It turned a burnish red then changed to a ghastly pale.
“I …” Dolly said then stopped. “I think you mistake concern for slander, Ma’am. I thought it was God’s job to instruct his flock.”
Millie Quackenbush gasped but was gently guided away from the counter by her husband as Corinne and her friend left the mercantile. Corinne had a small bolt of cloth still in her hand when she left and Angela took it from her. Seeing the shocked tears still threatening to spill from Corinne’s eyes.
“I will take it in.” Angela said and ran back into the store. She placed the cloth on the counter. JQ was still in the back of the room having a heated discussion with his wife.
Dolly and Corinne were sitting on the bench. Corinne was pale and speechless. Dolly was speaking in low tones.
“You have said on many occasions that you feel that you are led by God to do his work. To make healing medicine and remedies for people is the calling you have on your heart.” Dolly said with certainty in her voice.
Corinne nodded and the few tears escaped and ran a slow race down her cheeks. “Psalm 143:10 says Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” Dolly wiped the tears from Corinne’s cheek. “That women spoke not in any knowledge or wisdom but in fear and jealousy. I know not why she said that but her words mean nothing when you know what God has put in your heart.”
Angela sat on the other side of Corinne and put a supportive arm around her shoulders.
“Dolly is right. You are a good woman, whether you tend a home or tend a greenhouse garden. God has given gifts to all his children. To you He has blessed with courage to face many obstacles.” Angela felt so angry inside. She wanted so badly to go and speak with that malicious woman inside. But she knew her words would be nothing like the wise words that Dolly said. Angela fought a hard battle to keep her anger under control while her friend took deep breaths.
“I will be okay, friends. I should have expected this sooner. My mother faced down rumors when I was young. There will always be people who don’t understand a woman who is a little different,” Corinne said, her voice was shaking. “It was hurtful, though. I have had those same fears in the dark of night. Perhaps my miscarriage was some kind of punishment. But I know that is just a lie. Whether or not I am able to bear children is in God’s hands and whether I stay home and bake bread or work in my lab and greenhouse matters little. I will honor God by the work of my hands and trust Him to take care of me.”
Angela and Dolly both nodded as Corinne spoke. The bell on the mercantile door made all three girls jump in unison.
“I would like to beg your pardon Mrs. Grant.” JQ’s voice was heard and they all looked up from the bench in to his kind eyes. “My wife has strong opinions and I do beg your forgiveness. She gets carried away when she gets her ribbons in a twist about something. I do not agree nor condone her actions today.”
Corinne stood and Dolly and Angela mirrored her action, a united front.
“Thank you JQ, do not worry yourself. Her words are already forgiven.” Corinne looked frail and wounded but her friends were so proud of her.
“You are a good woman. I will be praying for you Mrs. Grant.” JQ said with sadness in his voice.
“Please call me Corinne. There needs to be no formality between us. Your father is like family to me.” Corinne took his hand and shook it in friendship.
“Let’s go home girls.” Corinne said with a tired voice.
“I will bring the wagon over. Stay here.” Dolly said and with a quick step she ran across the street to where they had parked the wagon, near Doc Williams’ office. Dolly’s light blue dress fluttered behind her legs as she ran.
JQ went back indoors when a customer went in.
Angela stood with Corinne and let the moment be still. When the wagon was nearly around the corner Angela finally spoke. “You are so forgiving. I am still angry with that woman. How dare she…” Angela stopped when Corinne was turning pink in the cheeks again.
“I will be forgiving her again and again. I have to try and hope it sticks.” Corinne looked tired and pitiful for a second. It made Angela angry again for the insensitivity of that woman. JQ was such a nice man, what in the world could have upset her so much to lash out at Corinne? Angela helped her friend into the wagon seat and pulled herself up, she was praying as she moved.
Lord please bless my friend, and help me to let go of this anger.
* * * * *
When the girls arrived at home Corinne wanted to take a nap and Dolly and Angela sat at the dining room table to talk over what had happened.
Violet was concerned when she saw Corinne looking so tired and flushed.
She sat down and Angela spoke first. “Corinne is upset, but I don’t know what to do.”
“Is she unwell, she was so happy this morning? She was very happy to be getting a trip to town. Did she overdo it?” Violet asked. She had a potato and a peeler in her hand and set them down with a soft thud on the table.
“No, but a woman in town said something hurtful.” Dolly said. “I will not wish to say the woman’s name but someone questioned Corinne’s work and blamed her loss of child on her not being a proper Godly wife.” Dolly stated flatly.
“No!” Violet held a hand over her mouth in astonishment. “Who would ever do such a thing?”
The three women sat in a quiet circle. They all knew the pain of harsh words. Without saying much they all agreed to pray for Corinne and keep the story to themselves. After Violet went back to finishing preparations for dinner Angela and Dolly had a short discussion. They both decided that Angela should tell Lucas, so he could talk to his wife but also be informed.
“The thing that worries me is something Mrs. Quackenbush said before she insulted her.” Angela said.
“About how she had heard a rumor?” Dolly said and Angela nodded. They both feared the same thing. Wagging tongues were the devil’s playground even more so than idle hands.
* * * * *
Lucas Grant stretched his stiff shoulders. He had been chopping wood for several hours. He had slept poorly the night before. He was more upset by the words of Mrs. Quackenbush than his wife was. The morning sun wasn’t up when he got out of his bed, restless and irritable. He had been praying since he heard. Trying to keep his temper down. Lucas had a long fuse. It took a lot to get him riled up, verbally accusing his wife of not doing her Godly duty was more than he was willing to accept with a calm demeanor.
He did not know the proper course of action. If it had been a man who had made a comment to her he may have had harsh words or even challenged him. With an overzealous gossipy woman he had a new dilemma. He felt helpless. If Angela was right about the statement about rumors, there was nothing to be done. If the town’s women wanted to spread gossip and rumor that was a prairie fire that was hard to snuff out.
Lucas grabbed his axe and spent another half hour taking his frustration out on the firewood.
At noon he saw Clive ride up to the cabin on his brown mare.
“Clive…” Lucas said in greetin
g. He swung his axe down and it landed solidly into the side of the stump. He left it there and walked toward his friend. Perhaps a talk with Clive would settle his nerves.
“Talk to me, Clive.” Lucas said with a bit of pleading in his voice.
“Be glad to.” Clive said. Lucas stood near his friend and Clive clapped the young man on the shoulders.
“I am at a loss.” Lucas laid his hand open in a hopeless gesture. “How do you mend a wife?”
“Oh, that is a question us menfolk have been asking since Adam and Eve. Either we hurt or someone else does. Or they act foolish and we get to reap the consequences. I figured out a man’s job of loving and protecting his wife to be a lifelong battle.” Clive sighed. “I came on a mission from my son’s abode. JQ is feeling mighty sorry about his wife’s actions. I come bearing a small package for Corinne and you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, but I doubt if it will have many solutions to your particular problem. I have known Millicent for many years now. My son married a strong-willed woman. In many ways she has always been a firecracker but she does not have much of a sensitive side. Before my second wife, Martha, passed on, Millicent and Martha were in a tiff every other month. Martha was a lot like your wife and had a free spirit and constantly wanted to be at my side in the business part of my life. Millie would always be critical and Martha was not for listening to anyone question her motives or actions. After Martha passed away Millie calmed, this town was small and neighbors were hard to come by for long stretches especially in the winter months. I think JQ had spent a lot of breath trying to help her understand that not everyone agreed with her way of thinking. Lately I have noticed her wind is back up. She has a pack of ladies in town that have adopted her as their leader of sorts.” Clive scratched his chin.
“It is not fair to label my wife as an ungodly woman…” Lucas was exasperated. No matter who was the leader, he wanted people to keep their mouths shut about his wife.
“I know Lucas. I cannot know what to say to make this better. Is Corinne very upset?” Clive was concerned about the rumor and gossip mill in town.
Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) Page 30