Unraveling Grace

By Betty L. Milne

"Unraveling Grace" is the second book in "The Blanket Of Blessings Series". Angie continues her travels to Sacramento in the mid 1800's where she finally comes to the Baker ranch, only to find her uncle dead, and her Aunt Charity seriously ill. Her Aunt Grace is in charge and the undercurrents in the house pull Angie along to a destination and outcome that even she could not imagine. Join Angie, as she unravels the mystery surrounding the Baker ranch and all who dwell there.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Betty L. Milne
• Release date: Apr 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310006548

Betty L. Milne

Betty L. Milne was born in Modesto, California and has enjoyed writing stories since she was a girl. She now resides in eastern Washington State with her husband, and near her two grown children and their families. Her passion of writing is shared with many of her relatives, including her grandfather and sister. In her stories, Betty L. Milne enjoys combining her love of adventure with her love of God.

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The Blanket of Blessing Series ~ Book 2

Unraveling Grace

Betty L. Milne

Byrne Press

Published by Byrne Press at Smashwords

© 2014 by Betty L Milne. All rights reserved.

Bryne Press is solely responsible for book cover design and layout, along with support for publishing. As such, the ultimate design, editing, content, editorial accuracy, and views expressed or implied in this work are those of the author. No royalties/fees will be provided by Bryne Press at any time.

Previously published by Publish America 2011

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.

This publication is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher.

Smashwords Edition

Soft cover ISBN 13: 978-1-4951-0462-6

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2014934742

~ This book is lovingly dedicated to my husband, Randy, who inspires me with his encouragement, patience and never-ending support. Without him, I would surely become unraveled. ~

Content

The Return

The Agreement

The Selfish River

The Guides

The Arrival

The Introduction

The Explanation

The Blessings

The Education

The Tutor

The Dance

The Medicine

The Birthday Party

The Games

The Attitude

The Solution

The Unequaled Yoke

The Turn Of Events

The Unraveling

The Departure

About The Author

Other Books

The Return

MATHEW SPURRED HIS horse on at a full gallop. Angie was hanging on behind, looking back at the Indian village disappearing through the trees. Images of people’s faces, those who had been her friends for the past four years, were growing fainter, hands raised in a farewell gesture.

Tears were streaming down her face, realizing that she would probably never see these people again and an overwhelming emptiness began to fill her heart. Angie tried in vain to wipe her tears away.

For years she had been praying to God that he would help her return to her own people someday, and now that the time was at hand. She began to panic with the realization that an unknown world was looming before her. She closed her eyes tightly and words of prayer for strength, wisdom and gratitude spewed forth from her lips. As she ended her prayer, she opened her eyes to see a loaded wagon prepared to move westward and three people waiting anxiously nearby for Mathew and her return. She could see the rest of the wagon train off in the distance, a dust trail almost ten feet high behind them.

Praise God you are safe! Mary Turner ran to greet them.

Mathew brought the horse up short and then dismounted to hug his mother.

You should have seen them, mother! Mathew panted excitedly, They were all gathered around us, whopping and chanting and jumping up and down with spears in their hands and threatening to kill us! I never saw so many wild Indians! I stared them down and showed them I meant business when I grabbed my rifle and they all backed off!

Angie’s mouth fell open as her thoughts were trying to understand what Mathew was telling his family. She climbed down from the horse and began to protest Mathew’s version of events when Mathew’s father spoke up.

We need to get a move on if we’re going to catch the wagon train. They’re a might further up than we had planned. Glad to see you two are alright.

Mathew tied his horse to the back of the wagon and was still excitedly explaining his version of the encounter at the Indian village.

Were they all painted up in war paint? Mark, Mathew’s younger brother, asked with eyes wide with curiosity.

I didn’t notice any of that, Mathew told him, I’m sure we surprised them. You know, caught them unawares.

I wish I had been there! Mark exclaimed, You are so lucky to be alive!

Ain’t that the truth! Mathew agreed. I thought they were gonna try to scalp me for sure. But I was prepared to fight to the end and I’m sure they knew that. That’s why they all backed down like little sheep.

As Mathew, Mark and Angie were walking quickly beside the wagon, almost at a running pace to catch up with the wagon train, Angie shook her head and began to speak when Mathew cut her words off. He continued to rave about his bravery and his bragging upset Angie to the point that she left his side and ran over to walk beside Mary who was up ahead with Joshua, leading the horses.

Mrs. Turner, Angie began, It was not at all like Mathew said it was. The Shoshone are peaceful, and they…

Oh I know, Mary smiled, Mathew has a tendency to exaggerate a bit I suppose.

But really, Angie insisted, they agreed to let me go because…

Mary stopped Angie from saying anything further, Now don’t rile yourself up Angie. It’s not worth arguing over. You see it one way, he sees it another. Just as long as you two are safe and back with us, that’s all that counts.

Angie struggled to contain her frustration and glared back at Mathew’s continual fabrication of the truth.

Is he really that blind? She asked herself. Is he really that stupid? How could he keep making up all those lies?

She began to slow her gate down to a walk and trailed behind the family who had come to her aide. Her anger still welled up inside her as she continued to repeat Mathew’s words inside her head over and over again. She tried to dismiss the words with her thoughts of denial, but that only seemed to fuel her anger.

Come along, Angie! Mary called, keep up with us now.

She’s not used to walking a long ways like us mother, Mathew reasoned, the Indians probably just lie around all day.

You don’t know what you’re talking about! Angie yelled up at him. We walked a long ways every spring and fall and had to work hard to survive. Nobody lied around!

Children, please! Mary scorned them. No more arguing!

Angie had a feeling this journey west was not going to be as enjoyable as she once hoped. Not with Mathew’s version of her past life causing her to feel her old frustrations coming to the surface. These emotions brought her back to when she was ten years old and her old nemesis Pearl would make her want to retaliate with a swift fist or with Enyeto, who teased her so mercilessly at the Indian village that she wanted to pay him back for the pain he caused her. She had come such a long way controlling her quick anger, but now she was afraid it might come back to haunt her.

It was not long before they caught up with the rest of the wagon train and slowed their pace to match that of the other wagons. Being in the back of the train was difficult as the dust from the trail stung their eyes and filled their mouths. Angie covered her face with her hands the best she could, but the dirt still made its way past her fingers and covered her skin.

She remembered how the wagon train she traveled with four years earlier would travel side to side in order to avoid the dirt in their faces. She suggested the idea to Joshua, but he just smiled and said, Oh, we’re just fine where we are, dear.

This is going to be the most disagreeable trip ever! She thought to herself and turned her head to the side to avoid the dirt in her eyes.

Evening could not come too soon for Angie. The wagons circled and put their livestock in the center. After Angie washed the dirt from her face and hands, she offered to help Mary with the meal but Mary would not hear of it. No, that is my pleasure, and you are our guest on this journey. Angie started to insist, but Mary waved her away.

My mother is the best cook around, Mathew told Angie, but I don’t think she knows how to cook Injun food.

Why are you being so mean? Angie asked him with a sharp stare. What have I done to make you want to make fun of me?

Children! Mary stopped Mathew from responding to Angie, It’s going to be a long several weeks before we arrive in Sacramento, and you two cannot fight all the way there, I just won’t have it! Now, stop this nonsense and be nice to each other. Do you understand me?

Neither Angie or Mathew said anything. They just stared at each other.

Joshua returned with Mark from watering the horses and turning them loose in the middle of the wagon train to feed on the little amount of grass that was there.

After a savory bowl of stew, and water from the keg that hung from the side of the wagon, Mary allowed Angie to help her clean the dishes and put them away in the big barrel that was filled with kitchen supplies to be used once they reached their new home in California.

Mrs. Turner, Angie began.

Call me Mary, Mary Turner smiled as they dried the dishes.

Mary, Angie continued, Why did the wagon train come this direction? Our wagon train crossed at Names Hill Ford, but Homer decided we would head south to avoid the crossing toll. It was very dangerous to cross the Green River at Red Butte, but it was the only place we could cross that was shallow enough. Of course, you know how we lost the wagon and Elmer….. Angie’s thoughts began to trail off to that eventful and tragic day.

The river has been unusually low and mild this year and most of the wagon trains have been crossing at Red Butte instead to save money. Mary explained. "This trip has been extremely costly for most of us, so the wagon master felt it would be safe for us to cross there. We only lost one wagon when we crossed, but the family was saved. They’re traveling with the McKinleys now.

We heard rumors of wagon trains going by our village, on the other side of the forest, Angie remembered as she put the last of the dishes back in the wooden barrel, Now I know the rumors were true.

You’ll sleep inside the wagon with me, Mary changed the subject. Joshua will sleep outside with the boys.

Sleeping inside the wagon next to Mary reminded Angie of sharing the teepee with Halona and she began to miss the old woman who had come to accept Angie before she left the village. A smile crossed her face and a warm glow filled her heart as she thought of Halona now. She whispered a prayer that Halona would be well taken care of and then thanked God for her new traveling companions. Even for Mathew, and his disagreeable nature. Just the thought of Mathew made her anger start to well up inside her and she struggled desperately to push it back down. She was tired and all she wanted to do now was sleep. She closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to drift away into a peaceful rest.

* * * *

Angie woke up to Mary softly snoring, but found the volume was no comparison to Halona’s thunderous snorts that she had endured for the past four years. As Angie began to rise up, her movement woke Mary.

Is it time to waken? Mary turned over to ask Angie.

I don’t know, Angie responded, I’m just used to getting up at the break of light.

Mary turned back over, pulling the blankets up higher and said, The wagon master will blow the horn when it is time to rise.

Angie lay back down and stared at the side of the wagon. She looked around at the items that hung from the ribs of the wagon and the familiarity of her old life came swimming back to her. Items that the Indians loved to trade for, items that she had not seen since the wagon she was traveling in with Homer and Elmer was washed down the river in the Shoshone’s homeland.

It was not long before the bugle blew and Mary stretched her arms over her head.

Morning comes too soon Mary yawned, I will be so glad when we finally reach Sacramento and we can have a day or two to sleep in. We haven’t had one of those days since we left on this journey."

Angie reached for her suede Indian garb when Mary said, Angie, dear, you can wear one of my dresses if you’d like. I have one other everyday dress that we can share.

Thank you, but this dress is comfortable and I don’t want to ruin yours, Angie answered.

Oh, I’m sure you won’t ruin it, and that thing is so old, and dirty. Mary noticed.

We only have a few more weeks before we will arrive in Sacramento, Angie told Mary. This dress will be just fine until then. I’ll clean it as soon as we come to a river. The trail is so dirty, it would only get your other dress filthy too.

We’ll, I need to fix our morning meal so we can head out, Mary said as she rose to dress herself.

The breakfast was a simple bowl of oatmeal and coffee. It had been a long time since Angie had tasted these staples of the white man’s food and the coffee tasted extremely bitter. She winced at the first swallow and slowly drank it down. The Turner’s ration of food was now down to the last of the supplies that had been packed for this trip. Mary did not seem concerned to watch their supply dwindle down to the bare necessities and was very happy to share what they had. Angie admired Mary for her generosity and giving spirit.

Angie could see that Mary must have lost a considerable amount of weight during this trek out west as her dress seemed to hang on her even though she tried to wrap a piece of rope around her waist to synch up the dress from dragging in the dirt. Angie was extremely thin herself, having lived from the generosity of the land as well as learning to make do with what they had saved when the land gave nothing. But she was strong and grateful for whatever was provided for her.

She thought often of her mother’s ribbon winning pies that were entered every year at the local fair. When she reached Sacramento, she hoped to learn to make pies as wonderful as her mother’s. And she hoped to make another item that her mother won blue ribbons for…her crocheted blankets.

I’ll make another blanket of blessings, she smiled to herself. I’ll stitch just as many blessings into this one as the one my mother taught me to make and it will be just as beautiful and just as warm. When I wrap myself in it, I’ll think about my mother and my father, and about my little brother Billy.

Angie then turned her eyes toward heaven and whispered, I miss you all so much. Don’t forget me. I have so much to tell you and I know you have a lot to tell me.

The ache of missing her family felt heavy on her heart and she looked forward to arriving in Sacramento, to live with her Aunt Charity and Uncle Benjamin who had sent for her four years ago. Would they be surprised to see her? Did they think she had died? Did they still want her? So many questions ran through her mind as she realized that this journey would be over soon and a new one would begin.

The Agreement

THE NEXT SEVERAL days, Angie spent by herself as she walked on the other side of the wagon, away from Mathew and Mark. Confrontation with Mathew was the last thing she wanted. She had an easy time talking with Mark in the evening as he seemed to understand her side of things and enjoyed listening to her experiences living in the village. Mark was careful not to take sides, but agreed with both of them.

On the fourth day of their journey, the wagon train came to a sudden stop.

What is happening? Mary asked Joshua.

I don’t know, he answered, I’ll go find out.

But Angie knew exactly why they stopped. She looked up into the hills that surrounded them and saw hundreds of mounted warriors watching the wagon train’s every move. Dread ran through every vein in her body. She knew the look of a war party and she knew the wagon train was in trouble.

The wagon master had also spotted the multitude that was about to descend on them. He had heard that the Utah Shoshone was no longer peaceful, and had been attacking wagon parties in the past six months, wiping out an entire wagon train, including women and children. Circle the wagons! he yelled, Prepare to defend yourselves!

Angie began to run toward the wagon master.

Angie! Come back! Mary called after her.

Angie! Where are you going?! Joshua called to her as she ran past him. We’ve got to circle the wagons. Come back here now!

She ignored them both and continued to run to the front of the train where people were moving their wagons into place. Mark ran after her as Mathew stayed to help his father pull their hitched horses in line behind the wagon in front of them. People were yelling out orders and chaos was everywhere. Angie found the wagon master and tried in vain to get his attention. He was busy trying to keep order while organizing their defense. But she would not be deterred.

Wagon Master Hamilton! I can help you! I can talk to them! Please let me try! Angie screamed at him.

Mark came to her aide and grabbing Hamilton by his arm and yelled in his face, Listen to her! She may be the only one who can help us!

He finally turned his attention to her and had an expression of interest on his