Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) (23 page)

* * * * *

Gabe was back with the doctor in a small wagon. Angela watched from the window as the doctor spent several minutes with his new patient, who was bleeding on the dirty, wet street. Angela could hear the man grunting with pain through the door, every sound that escaped him burrowed into her about the dangers of this city, making her question her choices again and again.

Gabe and the doctor were joined by a neighbor who heard the commotion and together they lifted the wounded man into the wagon. Angela was so saddened by the entire event, tired and sad, a few tears escaped as the wagon pulled away. What had the man done to deserve that kind of punishment?

Angela unlocked the door and Gabe walked in, a little damp from the early morning’s misty rain.

“You can get some more sleep if you are wishin’ to.” Gabe asked quietly, she could tell he was listening for any noise from upstairs. There were no cries heard so it seemed that peace had settled back in the Quackenbush home.

“No thank you Gabe, it is only an hour from dawn, I can unload some supplies that came in last night. I need something to think on, my head is in a whirl.”

Chapter 22 –
Corinne

Willamette Valley Oregon

Since the harvest of her lavender had been processed and she had a fresh supply of lavender, Corinne found herself in town more often. She spoke with the apothecary frequently and was working with Dr. Williams, when she was needed. She helped with a few birthings and also as an extra hand when his wife wasn’t enough. Corinne was beginning to feel like a part of the community and she was glad to be helping in whatever way she could. She was also excited when the apothecary came up with several ideas about oils that he had read about that were circulating in Europe.

Corinne also had made an agreement of the local natives who were willing to work with her. They shared their ideas with her and Dolly, who both had worked hard at not only befriending them, but also sharing their knowledge and love of nature. They loved to see her drawings and several members of the tribe would bring her samples of new things to try. She would pour through her journals and books and see if they had names in the botany books but sometimes would come to a loss. She would get busy with her drawing pencils and do her best to replicate them. Then, usually with some help from Clive if he was in town or his son J.Q., they would find a supplier or help her find the contact of a person specializing in the plants she didn’t know.

The apothecary was beginning a list of requests for other oils that would be very helpful and easily procured from what was available nearby.

“Pine oil is so good for breathing and circulation, you see.” He would explain.

“I have heard many applications of pine tea and such but the oil would be very strong, perhaps too strong at full strength. It could burn the skin at the level you are suggesting.

“Yes, but with clear instructions, one or two drops in a 1/4 of a carrier oil to be smeared on the chest could ease the discomfort of pneumonia, I read that a few drops in a foot bath can help increase circulation.”

“I see your point. We would have to be very clear on its uses and perhaps only sell it under clear instructions to apothecaries and doctors.” Corinne stated, she leaned her head up against her hand. She was tired and her head ached.

“More and more I feel the need to put all this knowledge in the hands of the people in an easier way to understand.” Corinne said with a tired voice.

The apothecary agreed. Corinne headed home with a notepad full of notes and a head full of ideas.

* * * * *

A chilly drizzle fell on Ted’s shoulder as he left his building. He had a few hours before he was due at the docks for the job he was working for the next week. Unloading boats from the dock was a good paying job. Extra money for staying the week, ‘good labor in this part of town was hard to come by’ said all the business owners in town. He was well taken care of. He had set aside a fair nest egg for himself and enough to get passage home as well. Today he was going to tell Angela. His heart broke in his chest at the thought but it had to be done.

Some dogs barked angrily nearby and startled him on his quiet morning walk. Nights were dangerous in San Francisco but the mornings were mostly quiet. The industrious part of this boomtown was beginning to stretch and open doors. Preparing for the day, eating their breakfasts, chopping wood, but the sounds were good ones. The world was waking.

Ted walked past the docks and saw the water was peaceful on the bay. The light rain hadn’t come with much wind but it was chilly. Ted grabbed a cap from his back pocket and pulled it onto his head. It had been his father’s everyday hat, grey and green plaid, weathered but warm. It made him think of his Pa working the farm back home. He had worn this cap every morning in the harsh winters to the barn to milk the cows and feed the animals.

Once Ted had been old enough he gladly helped his Pa. His Uncle would stop by nearly every day to jaw with his dad over the kitchen table. Mother would complain at least once a week that Hank would eat up all their food with his asking for seconds and thirds over lunch every day. Pa was never one to confront his brother. Ted didn’t have his father’s issue. He was a fighter, not a brawler, in his mind there was a big difference. Ted was a fighter for justice. He didn’t look for trouble like some men, who tried to prove they were strong or good with their fists. Ted believed in integrity and hated to see people being mistreated.

Ted walked passed a few businesses that had folks stirring inside, he waved at a few people that he had come to know. He passed the Quackenbush store and saw Gabriel shoving wood into the fireplace. Ted walked faster so he wouldn’t be noticed. His heart was a little heavy and he didn’t want to talk to anyone this morning.

He came to his destination and knowing it wouldn’t be open yet he sat on a nearby bench that had a canopy overhead. The drizzle was starting to form raindrops and the plop of rain on the roads was comforting. It was twenty minutes of thinking and planning his conversation with Angela in his head before he heard the door behind him open and a small bell chimed the store was open for business.

It was an all-purpose store, less useful than a Hudson Bay store with staples for living, but you could find a variety of goods for just about any situation. It was a bargain hunter’s store. Ted had been here many times in search of something, not sure exactly what until he found it two weeks ago. A gift for Angela, he had it held by the owner, a nice Irish man with a bushy beard and an easy laugh. He had thought of that silver bracelet a thousand times a day wondering if it was the right gift. Wondering if it truly would be silly to her or she would understand what it meant to him but also to her.

Mr. Kelly had his easy laugh ringing through the room before Ted had the door all the way open.

“Young Ted, have ya finally made up your mind about the purchase?” His bushy beard was red and brown and bobbed as he spoke. It always made Ted smile.

“Yes, got all my money saved for everything I needed to and can finally say ‘yes.’ Would you be having a box I could slip it into? Something simple but clean-looking?” Ted asked.

Mr. Kelly wordlessly rummaged through a shelf below the counter. A green wooden box was set before him and Ted nodded with a huge smile across his face. He couldn’t help it. Suddenly knowing he was going to buy something for his sweetheart was filling his heart with a pride he couldn’t contain.

He plunked down his money and Mr. Kelly gladly placed his purchase in the box neatly.

“May I ask who the lucky lady is?” Mr. Kelly gave Ted a wink and Ted was slightly ashamed of the blush creeping up his cheeks.

“Only if you keep it secret. I would never want her to be shamed by gossip.” Ted said seriously.

“On my honor.” Mr. Kelly said, his laughter filling the room again.

“Angela Fahey, from the Quakenbush store. “ Ted said quietly, his face beaming again just thinking about his girl.

“You could nay have picked a better lady. Never met a sweeter tempered red head in all my liven’ life.” Mr. Kelly said, nodding and crossed his heart with his hand as a promise.

Ted was out of the store with a green box in his pocket and a skip to his step. His heart was a mixture of happy and sad. He had one more stop to make at the stationery shop and his deed would be done. The store was open and ready and with little fuss he had the owner cut some fancy paper to size of the inside of the box and then allowed Ted use a quill to write the note.

With all my love, Ted.

He knew the severity of the words and writing them down was a promise to him. In his heart he was promising to come back to her. If only he could express to her the words how he felt them when he spoke with her tonight.

He returned to his room and hid the box beneath the bed and under a floorboard. Just in case. The city was crawling with thieves. Ted let out a breath and said a prayer. He let his worries go and them with a start looked at his pocket watch. He gathered his work jacket and cap again and headed back into the rain. He had a full day of work to think on the words.

Lord please help me say them right.
He prayed as he walked.

* * * * *

The day had been a full one. Angela felt a mess of dirt and grime with more than a fair share of child spit up her. She had cleaned her chicken coop out in the morning and then taken Silas for the afternoon. She was hoping for a hot bath but knew with everyone’s busy schedule for the day the best she could hope for was the bowl and pitcher method. She would have washed her hair had she been able to get Silas to sleep. He was not sick, hot, or hungry by Angela’s reckoning. Just wanting to make his voice heard. He missed his ma and Angela was a poor replacement today. Some days they got on like peas and carrots, just not today. Angela hoped one day to have a house full of children, but knew full well, there would be days like this.

Angela grabbed Silas under the arms and plopped him on her hip. She began the old ‘dance around and sing to the baby’ system used since the dawn of time. Fast songs, slow songs, even songs she barely knew just to keep the bouncing going as she made up words to the beat.

She was singing a spiritual song when Amber and Gabriel came home from their errands. Silas squealed with delight and held up his pudgy arms for his mama. A grin spread across his red and tear covered face. A true miracle, Angela was amused at how fast his moods could switch.

“Was he nothing but trouble again?” Amber asked apologetically. Her face was in a pout as she accepted her son into her willing arms. Gabe was trying to help her untangle herself from a shawl as the baby was grasping at everything he could.

“He is quite attached to you, but every trip will make it easier. I am certain. All babies grow out of it eventually. So I am told.” Angela remembered Edith Sparks and her lessons on child rearing. While Angela had been bed-ridden she had read every housekeeping and mothering book Edith had.

“You spend a little time for you, Angela dearest. I know Ted asked to come to dinner. You can rest up then put on that new pretty dress we finished. That lace collar Clive gave you was stunning. Not sure what I want to do with the one waiting for me. It’s so hard to decide.” Amber held a sleepy child and sat in her rocker by the fire to warm up after being out in the damp and cold. Silas was nearly asleep.

The little rascal,
Angela thought with no malice.
Babies are babies, no expectin’ them to be perfect. 

Angela got a kettle going on the stove in the kitchen and then washed her hair in the warm water in the privacy of her room. After thirty minutes she felt refreshed and clean. She even brought out a small jar of scented cream and used it sparingly on her arms and hands. It smelled of citrus and something else. Angela couldn’t name it. She thought of Corinne, knowing that she would know the moment the jar was opened. She would tell her how the flower or herb would be of benefit to her.

Her heart ached to see her friend again. So many months away now made Angela start to feel that empty feeling again. Like she had no real home. She had dreamt of Oregon for so long and she loved and cared for those families like they belonged to her. Yet she was here, chasing down something that may never come to pass. She had repeated ‘just one more month’ for so many months.

She still felt that urge to stick it out. For just a bit longer… Her talks with God had led her mind to peace on that so far. But she knew with all her heart that San Francisco was not her home. This was temporary.

Her new dress was spread across her bed, welcoming her to put it on, it had a belled skirt so she found the bell hooped slip and got that into place and with a few awkward movements got the dress over her head and she was thankful for the pearl buttons down the front of the dress. Making it easier to dress herself. The fabric was red, black and green plaid. The pearl buttons and lace collar brought out the tiny lines of cream that were weaved in sparingly. The affect was nice against Angela’s fair skin and with a dash of powder on her cheeks Angela felt nearly ready to face the dinner with her beaux,
if he could be called that
. She added in her head. She wanted to think so.

She sat with Amber for a bit and once Gabe took the sleeping child to his own room Amber braided and did up Angela’s hair. It was too fancy for just a weeknight dinner, Angela exclaimed but Amber hushed her and continued with her pins and fussing.

Angela made a few cups of tea and they settled into a nice easy conversation about nothing important. Dinner was cooling on the stove. A beef roast with potatoes and the bread had been baked fresh yesterday. The women were enjoying the moment of silence.

“What will I do when you go back home to Oregon?” Amber asked a while later after they had drifted in silence.

“I was just thinking on that today. Somehow I know I won’t be here forever.” Angela said. Not sure how to word her thoughts, she didn’t want them to think she didn’t love them like her own family; because she did.

“I know how you are feeling.” Amber shared. “Gabriel and I are getting more and more uncomfortable in this city full of sin. Gabriel and Clive are talking about a new store in Portland, Oregon. Now that we have Silas to think on this place is looking more and more dangerous.”

“Knowing you might be in Oregon someday does my heart good.” Angela said, a misty tear in her eye. “I love your family.” Angela’s voice cracked a bit and she let her words drop. She didn’t need to say anymore. She could tell Amber knew everything she meant to say. Angela willed her tears to stay back and after a few minutes of staring at the fire they finally obeyed.