Angela's Hope (Wildflowers)

by Banicki, Leah

  Clive harrumphed only a slight little bit, way less than she expected. She felt a small twinge of pride that she was beginning to believe in herself.

  He made an offer that was very reasonable. Angela agreed and promised to drop by a six-month payment to him later at the mercantile. She would like an official invoice so everything was above board.

  Clive laughed and then offered to take her to lunch at the hotel restaurant. She agreed and they enjoyed sharing a meal and many laughs together.

  With a quick trip to the bank done soon after lunch she had free reign to do as she wished. Her mother would have started a hope chest for her when she was a young lady. Starting to gather things a woman needed to set up her own home; her own dreams and pretty things, and useful things would have filled its cedar sides. It would be filled with linens, doilies and the hopes and dreams of a girl who would someday have her own legacy to build upon. Angela was starting one herself. But her goal was bigger. She saw her home, her very own home. The walls and staircase and kitchen had a feel to it in her mind. Wood floors she would shine, and her own dishes and dining room table. She would have a lace tablecloth for special guests, and a linen one with embroidery for every day.. She would have a front porch that faced a mountain view and a barn with a cow and chickens clucking away somewhere nearby.

  She would grow things, a garden, a fruit tree, perhaps a family. Her dream was big. It had walls and grass and she would live and grow where God had planted her.

  Chapter 33

  Lucas came through the door and shrugged out of his jacket soaked through with rain. He kicked his boots off and made his way over to the wooden rocking chair near the fire.

  The three women in the house all greeted him cheerfully.

  “Thank you ladies.” Lucas said, the frustration in his voice was evident. Corinne and Violet were in the kitchen. Corinne brought Lucas a hot mug of coffee. Lucas thanked her and took a sip and closed his eyes momentarily enjoying the warmth of it. He knew he should have changed out of his damp clothes but he didn’t feel like moving away from the fire just yet.

  Angela who was sitting on the love seat crocheting finally spoke up and asked what everyone was wondering.

  “How did it go down at the land committee meeting?” Angela blurted out.

  Lucas looked at his wife then Angela. “They would not consider my case. Mr. Prince is still on the committee and made a strong stand that since the land we currently owned isn’t fully developed yet, then why should we be allowed to have more land.” Lucas sighed. “I had several people speak on my behalf but the lobby against was too strong. Mr. Prince and his deals with the building committee are something the town council does not want to lose.”

  Corrine gave her husband a kiss on his cold cheek. She grabbed a blanket from the back of the sofa and draped it around Lucas’s shoulders.

  Violet came in with her own cup of coffee and joined the conversation. She was becoming more part of the family than housekeeper as the weeks past. Everyone seemed to prefer it that way.

  “I have found in my life that these kinds of obstacles build my faith more than anything else. I am praying that God shows himself in this situation.” Violet took a sip and stared at the fire. Everyone turned to her and smiled in that way that they always had to with her. Violet had such a depth within her. She never shared much about her background. But she always made everyone feel better with her words.

  “Thank you Violet.” Corinne said sincerely. “I will pray more about this myself. The land would be convenient. But we do not know God’s plans.”

  * * * * *

  Angela snuck out of the room a while after Lucas came home. She wanted to move forward with her plans but needed to pray. She had this feeling inside her for months. Her daily walks lately had been past the very land where Lucas was trying to purchase. She had walked the land many times. The small cabin and barn were not in good shape but part of the land had been broken and a small orchard had been started. They looked to be apple trees, but they were small. The land commission had rules about the land, the price was low but you had to have a cabin built within a set time period and then break the land and live in the cabin for two years. The landowners here had been negligent on several occasions. The cabin had only been built after threat of losing the deed, two separate times. The owner had a reputation for laziness and procrastination. Angela scoped out the land and found several favorite places. One spot, near the creek was a pretty hill with some lovely trees and a weeping willow kept beckoning her back to it. When she stood atop that hill she could see the land spread out, she saw the outline of Grant’s Grove and further away the big barn of John Harpole. She began imagining the way it would feel to sit on the front porch and watch the way the sun would set to the west. She never said a word to anyone but thoughts hatched inside of her. Owning an orchard would be a pleasant way to live.

  When Lucas had said several weeks before how he had his eye on the land across the way, her heart had sunk. He and Corinne had hopes of snatching up nearby land so they could expand their operation when they needed to. Lucas still had nearly half their three hundred acres to break on the west side of the creek but they had hopes of building an orchard too. Corinne had plans for almonds and olives, for the expressing of their oil to expand her business. She was always explaining how well they both worked for the health and benefit to the human body.

  Lucas and Russell talked over land plans and schemes for how the property next to them was a good choice for planting an orchard. It is a slow business, waiting for trees to grow, and rotation and pruning to get the best production available was always a challenge.

  How could I possible throw a fit about land that isn’t even within my grasp when they have a plan, are actually farmers and are men? Angela wondered to herself. She laid aside the idea in her mind. She had foolishly been living in her fictitious house atop that hill and she had to let that dream go. Her heart had been broken worse than this, she reminded herself often. She let God heal the minor words of a hope lost and moved on with her dreams of someday.

  Now that Angela had news that the land was no longer being pursued by Lucas, a fresh idea burst into her head and she couldn’t shake it. She had sat listening to everyone talk to Lucas about his afternoon full of disappointments and she was shaking on the inside. The house on the hill was renewed in her mind but now it had taken wing and she saw rows of almond trees and an olive grove. Her thoughts were leaping inside her head, as well as the guilt of rejoicing over someone else’s loss.

  Dear Lord, show me how to move forward. Angela prayed as she sat on her bed. She watched the rainfall and wanted to banish it. How could she leave and get to town when the rain poured and the wind blew? No one in the house would understand why she would leave in this kind of weather. She would have to wait. The one person she needed to see was not to be seen today.

  * * * * *

  Angela felt ten times the fool when two hours had passed and the person she had wanted to see knocked on the Grant’s door.

  Clive bound in with his usual vigor and made his presence known to the house. His comedic actions of shaking the rain free from himself had everyone smiling.

  “Just checking in on my girls and see how Lucas was fairin’ after his lovely chat with the land council.” Clive deposited his hat, coat and muddy boots where they could dry off.

  Angela had resumed her spot on the loveseat and Clive felt obligated to join in next to her. She gave him a wink and kept up with her crocheting, even though her heart was pounding in her chest with excitement. She had no idea how she could talk with him privately without raising suspicion but she gladly prayed for her heart to calm and for God to find a way, she added a thank you to God in her mind for already easing her fears. If this dream of hers was God’s will, she knew that He could work it out.

  The rain outside eventually slowed down. Violet served a hearty stew with her amazing bread pulled fresh from the oven. Everyone decided to let talk of the failed attempt
with the land council go and they all spoke of other things. The harvest festival was coming up soon and both Violet and Lucas were going to be performing music for part of the time. All the musicians decided to take turns so they all could have a chance to enjoy dancing with their spouses and families. After dinner Clive and Angela pestered Lucas and Violet to perform a song they had been practicing to play at a Sunday meeting.

  Corinne and Angela snuggled together in the loveseat and Clive sat in the rocker as Lucas and Violet shared their musical gifts with them. Corinne whispered in Angela’s ear after the song.

  “The music is so good for the heart. I just can’t explain it.”

  Angela nodded and whispered back. “I know what you mean.”

  Lucas tuned his violin and played a slow ballad that had been a favorite of his mother’s. Corinne wiped away a tear or two as the sweet notes carried through her home. After the music Clive was ready to get on home. He had a few miles to go to get to his cabin.

  “My horse is sure to be wanting his supper.” Clive said with a grin.

  “Clive can I walk you out. I want to chat with you for a minute.” Angela stood and did a quickstep to the door to catch up with Clive.

  “I wouldn’t mind at all, Red.”

  Angela grabbed her shawl.

  The air smelled of damp earth outside and the rain had stopped but for a few errant drops. The moon was only a half circle but it was trying to peak through hazy clouds.

  “What’s on your mind little thing?” Clive asked.

  “Well, I know I don’t have a long stretch to talk to ya but I have an idea I wanted to run by ya.” Angela said quickly.

  Clive saw her eyebrows were knitted together in a bit of a worry.

  “Yer sounded like Corinne with yer ideas lately. What’s frettin’ ya?”

  “The land Lucas tried to buy. I want it.” Angela blurted out and then sighed a big breath.

  Clive grabbed his chin for a moment.

  Angela took that as a sign to just say the remainder of what was on her heart.

  “I feel slightly guilty about it, since I never mentioned that I had even been dreaming about the place.” She paused only a second and continued. “When Lucas was talking to Corinne and Russell about wanting it, I put all my thoughts aside. I had this perfect hill all picked out for a house, next to the creek and I was going to grow an orchard and sell the produce from it. If I grew almonds and olives I could actually sell to Corinne and Lucas and help them grow their business. I just figured I could afford a good field hand. I turn eighteen in a week.”

  Clive began to chuckle softly

  Angela gave Clive a weak smile, wondering what in the world he was thinking.

  “It must be something in the water over here that makes the women ambitious.” Clive chuckled again. “Is this hill close by?”

  “Just a few minutes walk from here.” Angela said with a bigger grin.

  “Let’s get our boots muddy.” Clive offered her his arm.

  The walk was indeed short and Angela knew she was prattling but could not help herself. She told him about the state of the land, and the existing cabin that would not do for her home at all.

  “I want a farmhouse with lots of rooms and a huge front porch.” She said with a little emotion in her throat.

  They reached the hill and stood atop it the way Angela had done so many times. The valley was showing off with the moon sparkling across the landscape.

  “You picked yourself a nice spot. You got a house plan picked already? I know you been looking through the magazines and pamphlets since you been home from San Francisco.” Clive asked.

  “Yessir.” Angie said humbly. She was proud of her choice. She had everything in her hope chest at Corinne’s.

  “Do you think Lucas will be disappointed in me if I go for the land? I am not sure they will even let me have it being a woman.” Angela was worried about this part the most. The what if’s.

  “Your money spends, you do have a beau. That will help.”

  “We have no understanding or engagement between myself and Ted.” Angela explained.

  “He would be considered a prospect, and you do have word that he is coming next spring. I will think on it a spell.” Clive gave her a sideways hug and they walked back to the Grant’s home.

  “I am not sure how to talk about it with the Grant’s. I do not want to be secretive or seem like I want to profit from their misfortune with the land council. I will admit to having my eye on the place since I got back from San Francisco. But they don’t know that. I would certainly like to have my own place. Since I turn eighteen so soon, I guess I just am hoping that God can work all this out with no hard feelings.” Angela was wringing her hands with her worry.

  Clive took a moment to consider things and then spoke. “I think I can make a few inquiries, no names, just hypothetical is all and see what comes of it. I know of someone you might want to talk to iffen you do want to run an orchard. He might seem like an odd fit, but he was a brilliant farmer until he ran into some bad luck. He came out west and was trying to earn enough to start over then he lost his left hand in an accident. But he sure is smart as a whip. I hired him on to manage my warehouses, but he longs to be back on the land. If you built yourself a farmhouse, he would probably be glad to fix up the little cabin to live in. His name is Earl Burgess, if all works out I can introduce ya.”

  Angela smiled and put Earl’s name in her memory. She had a lot to pray about.

  “Clive, I want to say something and I want you to take me perfectly seriously.” Angela stopped walking and waited for Clive to turn to her.

  Her looked her in the eye and nodded to affirm that she had his full attention.

  “I always had God preached to me as a child, first by my ma, then the work orphanage had us going to service, they used God as a fear tactic a lot. Then I met Corinne and she shared her bible with me and taught me more. But I have to say, I never quite understood how God could be so loving until I met you. You are the best Grandfather a girl could have, you share your heart, your wisdom and your love, even though we aren’t blood kin, and you always treat me like I am. I will never, ever forget all the good you have done for me. If God can make a flesh and blood man that can be so much for me here on this earth, I know that God loves me, it proves it.”

  Clive handed her a handkerchief and she wiped the tears from her pink cheeks.

  “I have never been more speechless child.” Clive said. His voice was a little thick.

  They walked slowly back to the Grant’s home, Clive got his horse from the barn and right before he saddled up he gave Angela a big bear hug.

  “I would be proud to call you my kin, ya know.” He said next to her ear.

  He heard her sniffle a little and let her go. He climbed up in the saddle and gave her a wave.

  “I will come by soon with news. Once your birthday comes we can see what can be done.” Clive said and was off.

  * * * * *

  Sept 1st 1850

  “Happy Birthday, Aunt Angela!” Cooper said in a near yell as he swooped into the house. Violet and Angela were sipping coffee and Corinne was coming from her bedroom.

  “Well thank you, Coop!” Angela held her arms open for the big hug that waited for her.

  “Are you old now?” He asked with a mischievous grin that was irresistible.

  “Yep, so very, very old.” Angela laughed and hugged him again.

  “What are you going to do for your birthday?” Cooper asked.

  “Well I am going to town with your big sister and Violet, but I was hoping later me and you could take a walk down by the creek. There is a special spot I wanted to show you.” Angela gave Cooper a wink.

  “That would be great. I am gonna go help Pa with the horses but I wanted to say happy birthday first.” Cooper was out the door with the speed of a wild animal. The door didn’t close all the way behind him and Corinne laughed and took care of the swinging door.

  “He is so dear to me.” An
gela sighed and sipped her coffee, her grin stayed for over a minute.

  “He is much like my little brothers were. So full of life.” Violet said with a sigh.

  “I didn’t know you have brothers.” Corinne said it first but Angela looked up with the same inquisition in her mind.

  “I do, but I do not see them. God gave me a fresh start and a new chance at life. I don’t think much about that time of my life anymore.” Violet said with a smile that seemed the tiniest bit forced.

  “I will not pry Violet. You have been a Godsend for Lucas and me. Your privacy is your own. I would never force your confidence.” Corinne took Violet’s hand and squeezed it. “But I will pray for your brothers, as I am sure you do.”

  “I do every day.” Violet said, her smile was real now.

  “God saved me from a life of servitude and loss. I know what it’s like to get a new chance at having a family.” Angela shared. Her and Violet had a close bond. They didn’t have to know the full story of each other’s lives to know that hurt was buried down deep. They knew that only God and time could heal those wounds.

  “Let’s stop being so weepy and go have fun today.” Violet stated.

  “Who’s being weepy?” Lucas made and appearance from the back bedroom. He was wearing his work clothes and his broad hat in his hand. He looked ready to get to work.

  “Us girls just being girls.” Corinne said with a laugh. She jumped up and got her husband a fresh mug of coffee.

  “Actually before we go I would like a chance to talk to everyone.” Angela stood.

  “Well, you are the birthday girl. You have the floor Miss Fahey.” Lucas gave a slight bow and sat at the table. Once Corinne delivered his coffee she sat down as well.

  “Today I turn eighteen, and if all goes well I will take action to do something that I hope you will consider wise.” Angela took a deep breath.

  “You all know that I have been dreaming of making a place of my own for a few months and I had a place in mind but kept it secret. When Lucas informed me he was trying for the orchard property next to you I set the thoughts aside. I would never want to interfere with your plans and goals.”