Cherished Mercy

by Tracie Peterson

  He squatted down. “It’s not safe, Faith. We can’t tell when the Indians might decide to send a volley of arrows over the embankment. I just can’t take the chance that one might hit you.”

  “But what if it hits you or Mercy? You might be killed.”

  “I suppose you’re right, but I need to tell Mercy something in private, and you can hardly find much of that here.”

  Faith shrugged. “You can sit here with Mercy, and I’ll go across the room where most everyone else is.”

  Adam knew that she was worried and decided it might be for the best. “Very well. Mercy and I will stay here and talk.”

  Faith jumped up with her journal and pencil. She kissed Adam on the cheek, then skipped across the room, narrowly avoiding a couple of women who were carrying pails of water.

  Still squatting, Adam looked at Mercy. “I need to tell you about myself.”

  Mercy laughed. “You figured that out, eh?”

  He smiled and sat on the ground. “I don’t have much time, since I’m supposed to take a turn at watch on the wall. But what I have to say won’t take that long.”

  “Then you’d best get to it,” Mercy said in a stern manner, but her expression was filled with love.

  “Well, you know that I went to college in Boston. I think Eletta told you that much.”

  “Actually, it was Isaac, but yes, I do know that much. Harvard, if I remember right.”

  “Yes, that’s correct. When I was there, I became good friends with a man named Marcus Price. He was also attending Harvard, although his focus wasn’t to study theology. After the first couple years, we became inseparable, and as we attended various events, we started including his younger sister Elizabeth.” He waited to see if she might pose a question, but when she didn’t, he continued.

  “Lizzy was rather spoiled, but beautiful and funny. She had a great heart for the poor and often worked with the Ladies Aid Society to benefit the needy. She even helped at the orphanage. She would go and read to the little ones.”

  “She sounds wonderful.”

  “She was, and I fell in love. I asked her father for her hand in marriage, and even though I had nothing of financial means, he was delighted to agree because I was so highly thought of by the church and the college.”

  Mercy frowned but said nothing. Adam was hesitant to continue, but he knew the truth had been delayed far too long.

  “Lizzy was popular with the gentlemen. One in particular had hoped to marry her and join their fortunes. He never cared for me, and in his desire to discredit me, he paid a man to search out my past. When the truth came out about my background and family, Lizzy’s father put an end to our engagement, and all of my Boston friends turned their backs on me.”

  “How terrible. I’m so sorry.” She looked away and seemed to study her hands. “So I suppose you’re still nursing a broken heart and that’s why you don’t want to marry me.”

  Adam was taken aback. “Not at all. I did care deeply for Lizzy, but that was nearly five years ago, and she’s now married with a family of her own. I will not spend another thought on her.” He shrugged. “I doubt I could even conjure an image of her, not with you in my life.”

  Mercy looked at him, and her expression betrayed her confusion. “Then why? Why, when I know you have feelings for me, can’t you admit you love me and want . . . to marry me?”

  He drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment. Everything could change with what he was about to say. He exhaled and met her eyes. “Don’t you wonder what made the Price family turn from me?”

  “Not in particular. We all have things we’ve done that we wish we could undo.”

  “This wasn’t something I did. It was something I am.”

  Mercy gave an exasperated sigh. “So just tell me and let me be the judge as to whether it’s so terrible that I cannot love you. As if there could ever be anything like that.”

  He nodded. “I’m a quarter Cherokee Indian. My mother was a half-breed.”

  Mercy’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened in surprise. Adam felt a sense of dread wash over him until Mercy began to giggle and then laugh.

  “It’s the truth. I’m not joking.”

  She composed herself and shook her head, still smiling. “I know you’re not joking. Just as I’ve always known that you’re a quarter Cherokee.”

  Adam stared at her. “But how? How could you know?”

  “Because, silly, I came west with your brother. He told us about his desire to preach to the Indians because he was a quarter Indian himself. He told us all about his—your mother.” She shook her head again. “Is this the reason you thought I’d turn away from you?”

  “It’s a pretty big reason. After all, it ended the only other love affair I’ve had.”

  “No, God allowed things to happen that way because he knew I would love you better and more completely than Lizzy ever could.”

  Adam could hardly believe it didn’t matter to her. “But you know what people will say if we marry and they find out.”

  “That I married the man I love with all my heart.” She touched his cheek. “Adam, no one in my family will care, and theirs is the only good opinion I have ever sought—except for yours.”

  He felt his heart skip a beat and pressed his hand against hers. He cherished the feel of her touch on his face. “I don’t know what to say. All of my life it’s been a source of pain and suffering. When I was a boy, people knew about my mother and taunted me without end. I was called all sorts of names and cursed as worthless. When Lizzy’s family turned against me, even Marcus, who had pledged his never-ending friendship, said horrible things. I figured I would never fit in in the white world.”

  “There are a great many cruel people in this world. Having gone through what you did, you can understand how it will be for Faith if anyone learns the truth about her heritage. In her situation it’s even worse, however, because your mother was born out of love, and Faith was conceived in hatred and lust.”

  “I do understand. Only too well.”

  “I know the years have softened Hope’s heart. I even know that she sometimes regrets giving Faith to Eletta. I’ve heard her tell Lance—her husband—that she feels as if an important part of her is missing.”

  “You seem to do a lot of eavesdropping.” He grinned. “But I suppose I can understand why.”

  “I didn’t seek it out. It just happened in situations where I was in the right place at the right time. Given all the events that have transpired in my life, I see it as God giving me the information I need to make better decisions. I want Hope to have a chance to reclaim Faith—if she wants to. I want Faith to have a home with siblings—flesh of her flesh. But if that cannot be, then I want us to raise her, since we both love her so dearly.”

  “And what of Faith?”

  “I want her to be happy. If Hope doesn’t mind us bringing Faith to the farm, then I think Faith will make it clear to all of us what makes her happy.”

  “You’ve thought this all out in great detail.”

  “I have. The only thing that stands in the way of making me truly happy is . . . your unwillingness to marry me.” She gave him a look that dared him to deny her statement.

  “Who says I’m unwilling to marry you?” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Since the truth hasn’t frightened you away, I see no further obstacle to our marriage.”

  Mercy put her hand on his chest as he started to pull her into an embrace. “Wait just a minute. Last I heard from you, you said you might not feel the same way about me.”

  He brushed back wisps of her long brown hair before cupping his hands against her face. “I love you, Mercy Flanagan. I love you more than life itself. I never thought that we could be together because of my blood, but the fact that you don’t mind it makes me love you all the more.”

  She smiled but said nothing. Adam drank in her expression of love for several moments. He was finally able to give his heart without worry of the truth ending the affair. />
  He grinned. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, but if you’ll still have me, then I’d like to accept your proposal of marriage.” He gently pressed his lips to hers. Mercy’s arms went around his neck and she returned his kiss with gusto.

  “Are you going to marry Mercy now?” Faith asked.

  Adam pulled away, feeling embarrassed at having lost track of where they were. He looked down at the child he would always consider his niece. “Would you like me to?”

  Faith nodded, her dark brown pigtails bobbing. “Mama said that with a little prayer and a lot of patience, she was sure it would happen.”

  “What?” Adam asked. “Your mother wanted to see us together?”

  The little girl laughed. “She did. She told me that she’d prayed you two together and was certain God would help you fall in love.”

  “Well, I’ll be.” Adam shook his head and laughed. “Here we’ve been matched by our family and didn’t even realize it was happening.”

  “Eletta confessed it to me on her deathbed, but it doesn’t matter,” Mercy replied. “For once I’m glad for the meddling.”

  He turned back to gaze into her turquoise eyes. “I am too.”

  “So are you going to get married today?” Faith asked.

  Adam considered the matter. “Given I’m the only pastor around these parts, I guess we’ll have to wait. But in my heart, there is no one else nor ever will be.”

  Mercy smiled. “There’s never been anyone for me . . . but you.”

  As the latter days of March came upon them, the people at Fort Miner were as low on hope as they were on food. Tempers were foul, and everyone was tired of living in such cramped quarters. Fights erupted on a daily basis, and often they came to blows. For days at a time, there would be no sign of the Indians, and the people would begin to believe the worst was over. Then, just as their guard was lowered, they would face another onslaught.

  But by the twenty-first, their hopes were renewed with the arrival of the regular army. Troops came from Port Orford as well as from California, and the Indians were quickly driven back or killed.

  At first no one dared to believe their captivity was finally at an end, but when a schooner arrived to take them back to Port Orford, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The siege was over.

  Mercy knew rescue had come just in the nick of time. Much longer, and she was certain there would have been deadly fights among some of the men. Especially those who felt the Indian wives were worthless and there for the purpose of spying and eating valuable rations.

  “I’m ready to take any and all back to Port Orford,” announced the captain of the schooner, a man named Tichenor. “We should be quick about loading up, as the area is far from secure. I know many of you men have pledged to stay and fight, but anyone who wishes to leave may come aboard.”

  “Are we really going to go to your farm?” Faith asked Mercy. She cradled her doll while staring out at the ocean and the ship that had come to their rescue.

  “Well, it’s not my farm, but we’ll see. I’d like to take you there. It’s beautiful.”

  Adam appeared with their possessions. He’d rolled Eletta’s quilts and tied them to his back once again, and carried Mercy’s bag and his own pack in hand.

  “What about our Indian wives?” a man suddenly called out. “I don’t want to leave my woman here to die.”

  “Yeah, what about my wife?” another asked.

  Mercy feared the tensions would escalate should the captain refuse the native women passage. Captain Tichenor seemed to consider the matter only a moment, however.

  “I am a member of the Territorial Legislature with the power to perform civil unions. I will marry any man to his Indian wife in a legal and binding ceremony, and then—and only then—will I allow the Indian women to have passage on my ship.”

  There was a rumbling of conversation amongst the men while the captain went on to explain. “A legally wed man and wife will not face separation, nor will an Indian wife be required to leave her husband and be removed to the reservation.”

  Several of the men came forward. “We’re willing to have you marry us,” one of them announced.

  Mercy noticed several men with Indian wives who didn’t come forward. She could only wonder at the future of those women. It was sad to imagine the men had no more regard for their wives than to leave them behind to be captured or killed.

  “Hey, why don’t we see if the captain will marry us as well,” Adam said, leaning close to whisper in her ear.

  “That’s a wonderful idea.” Mercy looked at Faith. “Would you like it if Adam and I got married today?”

  Faith nodded enthusiastically, but then just as quickly grew serious. “But you won’t have a pretty dress and walk down the aisle with flowers. My mama used to talk about her wedding and how beautiful it was, and how she hoped someday I would have a wedding just like it.”

  Mercy smiled. “Pretty dresses and flowers are always nice, but the most important thing is that two people love each other and love God. Nothing else really matters.” She looked back to Adam. “Nothing.”

  At sunset, after the last of the passengers were safely aboard and the ship was under way, Mercy and Adam held hands. Faith stood between them as if to bear witness as Captain Tichenor joined them in marriage.

  Despite the chill of the ocean breeze, Mercy thought it the perfect place for her wedding. The western sky was a mottled painting of orange and pink as the sun slipped beyond the horizon.

  “Will you have this woman, Mercy Flanagan, to be your wedded wife?”

  “I will,” Adam replied, smiling at Mercy.

  “And will you have this man, Adam Browning, to be your husband?” the captain asked Mercy.

  She was so happy she thought she might cry. “I will.”

  “Have you a ring as a symbol of your pledge?” he asked Adam.

  Mercy panicked. She hadn’t considered the need for such a thing.

  Adam held up his hand. “One moment, Captain.” He leaned down and whispered something to Faith, who nodded in return. Adam straightened and produced a small gold band. He looked at Mercy. “I will buy you another when we reach Portland, but Eletta gave me this to save for Faith. She said she’d have no need of it in heaven. Faith agrees that we may borrow it.”

  Mercy looked at Faith and smiled despite the tears that spilled onto her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  Adam slipped the ring onto her finger, and without further ado, the captain declared them husband and wife. When Adam kissed her, Mercy felt as if her entire world had finally come around right.

  “I hope you don’t regret this,” Adam teased as he pulled away.

  Mercy wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve. “Never.”

  Chapter

  20

  PORTLAND, OREGON TERRITORY

  APRIL 1856

  Once they arrived in Portland, Adam immediately took Mercy and Faith to meet his brother’s friend Reverend Matthew Beckham. He was a somewhat portly man who had recently become a widower, and he welcomed them enthusiastically.

  “I’m very glad for the company. My congregants have done so much to keep me from being lonely, but now that you’re here, I insist you stay with me. This house is more than big enough for all of us.”

  Adam looked around the neatly ordered room. The Reverend Beckham had insisted they sit as a family on a small sofa that was more like a cloth-covered pew. The old gentleman sat in a rocking chair opposite them, near the fire, where he occasionally used a poker to stoke the meager flames. It did seem the house was large enough to accommodate them all, although it had already been mentioned that there were only two bedrooms.

  He glanced at Mercy for her opinion. She gave a slight nod, and Adam turned back to their host. “We’d be happy to, Reverend Beckham.”

  “No. No, that won’t do.” His round face reddened slightly as he cleared his throat. “Call me Matthew as your brother did. I would definitely like to be your friend.”

/>   “I know we would like that as well.” Adam had already made all the introductions, but he couldn’t help bringing Mercy to the forefront again. “My wife is quite talented at making shortbread and other delicious treats. Perhaps you would allow her to make something for you while we’re here.”

  Matthew looked as if Adam had offered him the finest of gifts. “Since Martha’s death, I’ve been at the mercy of the congregation. The ladies bring me shares of their family’s supper, or I’m invited to their homes, but it isn’t the same as having the wonderful aroma of food being cooked right here in the house. I would love nothing more. I think you’ll find it a small but well-appointed kitchen, just past the dining room.” He waved in the direction of an open archway, beyond which stood a table and chairs.

  Mercy smiled. “I’m sure it will be more than sufficient after our meager provisions at the mission. I would be happy to take over cooking for you while we’re here. It seems only right that we each do our share.”

  The reverend clapped his hands. “It’s settled then. Make up a list of what you need, and I will fetch it from the grocer.”

  “Maybe you could also help me find a position,” Adam said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be in Portland. There is a matter we are waiting to resolve.” He looked down at Faith, who sat between them, and smiled. He didn’t want to explain in front of her that they were waiting for a reply to the letter Mercy sent as soon as they landed.

  “I’d have you work at my church, but there would be little money in that. However, I know several men who own mills, and they’re always in need of extra hands. I’m sure we could secure something there, if you’re not afraid of hard work.”

  “That would be fine. I’m neither afraid of nor a stranger to hard work. Living in the Rogue River country, it was necessary to do physical work on a daily basis.”

  Matthew’s expression changed to one of sadness, and his already ruddy face darkened. “It’s a bad situation, that Rogue River business. There’s been nothing but conflict and controversy in the newspapers regarding the fighting.”