Three years later, Oregon
The soft strains of “Amazing Grace” filtered softly into the fresh air of a warm summer day in the Willamette Valley as Ginger, Toni, and Fannie walked together from the barn. Ginger loved Sundays, when their friends came and Sam conducted a barn service. It would have to do until the little community had the funds for a real church. For now, Ginger enjoyed watching the children running around the yard and pestering the chickens and working up the dogs into an excited frenzy.
Fannie and Toni each had two children, and Ginger and Grant were well on their way to joining them in numbers. Little Clementine had joined the family nine months after the wedding. And the new baby was due any time.
Sam had been especially long-winded this morning, and by the time he said the final amen, the sun beat down on the barn, and everyone was drenched.
“Goodness,” Toni said, fanning herself with her hands. “He’s going to have to tone it down until this hot spell lets up, or we’ll all be cooked before harvest comes.”
The three women laughed. Fannie turned to Ginger. “How are you feeling?”
“Hot,” Ginger said, grinning. She knew full well what her friend meant.
Nudging her, Fannie urged, “Do you think it’ll be this week?”
“I’d be surprised if this baby didn’t come before next Sunday.”
Truth be told, she’d be surprised if she lasted the night.
“Where do you want these things?” Blake called from the wagon. He held up a basket that Ginger knew from experience would be laden with all sorts of delicious food. Enough to feed an army.
Fannie smiled, blowing a puff of soft red curls from her face. “Set it on the table over there.”
“Did you hear we’re getting a teacher?” Ginger asked. “That means when our children are old enough, they’ll have a real teacher and a real school to attend. Isn’t that marvelous?”
“It sure is,” Fannie replied, her enthusiasm flashing in her brown eyes. She turned to Toni. “Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? Don’t you like the idea of getting a teacher? The township is growing by leaps and bounds.”
“I’m thrilled there’ll be a teacher for the children. Only…” Toni drew a slow breath. “Sam and I won’t be here that long.”
“What do you mean?” Ginger asked, placing a restraining hand on her friend’s arm as she halted her steps and faced Toni. “Where are you going?”
“Oh, Ginger. We can’t raise our children here.” She swept the air with her hand. “They’ll never be accepted by whites. I doubt the school board would even allow half-Indian children to attend school with white children.”
“Hogwash. Sammy and Lilith are only a quarter Indian,” Ginger said, knowing that didn’t matter.
Fannie expelled a soft sigh. “Blake and I have been expecting this. When will you go, and where?”
Brightening, Toni smiled. “We’re going to live close to Fort Laramie. The Sioux have a camp close by and come there often to trade. Sam feels a call from God to live close to them and teach them about Jesus. I will also teach the children to read and write.” Her voice broke. “I’m honored and grateful that God would choose to use me after all I’ve done in my past.”
Ginger slipped an arm around her friend. “He’s given all of us second chances. But I’m going to miss you. And what about our services?”
“Don’t worry. We won’t leave until after harvest. By then, we hope God will have sent someone to take Sam’s place.”
“No one could ever take his place. Or yours,” Fannie said, sniffing as tears filled her eyes. “But I’m happy that God has led each of us into the life He planned.”
“Amen to that,” Ginger said. “Now we better get to setting out the food before our children and husbands start complaining.”
As if by unspoken agreement, the three women pushed aside thoughts of Toni and Sam’s departure and determined to enjoy their day together. Who knew how many Sundays such as this one they had left to share, laugh, and hold onto their dreams of the future?
That evening, while Yuley played his harmonica, Ginger sat lazily on the porch leaning against Grant. They enjoyed a glorious moon and a soft breeze as the sun went down and twilight descended.
Buddy even took a night off from studying for the entrance exam to medical college back east. If he passed the test, he’d be leaving in a few months to begin his studies. The thought filled Ginger with sorrow, but she knew it was the right thing. And she could no sooner forbid Buddy his chance to live his dream than she could have stopped the rain from falling.
Web hadn’t lived to see his first grandchild, but he had lived long enough to make a heart change, and when he died, he saw angels. He would have loved a night like this. But Ginger was happy he would be there to greet them when they reached heaven.
The only other person missing from their lives was Yellow Bird. She had decided to stay on at Fort Boise. She’d fallen in love with an enormous fur trader who loved her to distraction and adored Little Sam.
Two-year-old Clemmie toddled up the steps and plopped herself down on Ginger’s legs.
Ginger smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. “Mercy, child where have you been? You look like a wild animal.”
“Unc’a Clem feed chickens. I helped.”
“You helped feed the pigs, too, from the smell of things,” Miss Sadie grumped from her rocking chair. “I can smell you from here, child. Come on, and let’s get you cleaned up.”
“Aw, Gwanny.”
Miss Sadie glanced at Ginger and shook her head. “The child takes after you.”
Ginger grinned. “I’m afraid she does.”
“She’s perfect,” Grant said. “Give your daddy a kiss before you go.”
Clemmie landed a fat kiss on his mouth. Watching her daughter cradled in her husband’s arms sent waves of joy through Ginger. Her children would grow up under the blessing of God on their lives. Parents, uncles, friends, a good life with God as their center. And her little girl’s sweet, if rambunctious, spirit attested to those blessings.
The door closed after them, and Ginger sighed as she settled back against Grant’s chest on the wooden porch. “I wonder if a person’s heart can get so full it just explodes.”
Grant chuckled. “Are you asking for my professional opinion on the matter?”
“I was just thinking about how blessed we are. Friends and family. Miss Sadie is like the mother I never really had.” She tried to hide her tears. But it was no use.
Grant wrapped his arms around her tightly. “I love you, you know that?”
“You better, considering…” She eyed her big belly, then gave a little gasp. She wouldn’t be able to keep her secret much longer.
“You okay?” he asked, pressing a kiss to her hair.
“Just a twinge.”
“How many twinges have you been having?”
“Quite a few, to tell you the truth. Relax, Papa.” She teased. “This isn’t my first baby.”
“Ginger, have you been having contractions all day without telling me?”
“Well, I didn’t want to miss out on our Sunday, and you would have made me stay in bed all day. This is so much better. Only…”
He disentangled from her and helped her to her feet.
Two hours later, Ginger sat up, happily refreshed and much more energetic than she’d been after delivering Clemmie. Another girl had joined their family. “What shall we name your new sister, Clemmie?” Ginger asked her sleepy little girl.
“We keep baby?”
The room erupted into laughter. “You bet we are,” Grant said. He lifted Clemmie into his strong arms. “God keeps giving me beautiful, ornery women. I must be the luckiest fellow in the world.”
Miss Sadie snorted. “Either that, or you’re the dumbest for considering it a blessing.”
“Baby name Becky?” Clemmie asked.
“You like that name, honey?” Ginger asked. “Where’d you hear it?”
Clem coughed loudly. “Uh, let’s go on out of here and let your ma get her rest.”
Ginger grinned at her brother. “Clem Freeman. Do you have a girl?”
“They just came in on the new wagon train.”
“You must like her if you’re already talking about her.”
“My niece has a big mouth, just like her ma.”
Again, laughter filled the air. Ginger looked down at her beautiful new daughter. “Sarah.”
She lifted her gaze to Grant. His eyes shone with tenderness. “Are you sure?” he asked. She nodded.
Grant knelt down beside her bed. He kissed the baby. Then pressed his lips against Ginger’s.
“It’s perfect.”
Secure in God’s love and the love of a large, wonderful family, Ginger closed her eyes as the fatigue overcame her. She drifted to sleep with a smile on her lips.