Revelations of the Soul: Oregon Valley - Matson Creek Series, #5

By Beverly Kovatch

Maggie's life is turned upside down as she is drawn in to the mysterious spirit world Rebecca brings back with her. These two women must face the revelations that come before them, and move on to forge their destiny. Together they must bring back life to the dying reservation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beverly Kovatch
• Release date: Feb 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781542863643

Beverly Kovatch

This Author is about as unknown as one can become. She sometimes lives in the past, sometimes in the future, sometimes right in the middle of the present. Her mind wanders from what was to what is to what could be. That is the power of the written and spoken word. There are so many opportunities for so many people, and she wonders why no one seems to seek them out. She lives on a farm in what was once a vast farmland area. A few people still believe in farming, but each year, there seem to be fewer and fewer of them. This past year, it appears that the moral background of the world is rapidly disappearing. It takes hard work to be a farmer nowadays. It is a lot easier to sit back and watch others do it. People have taken this place we call home for granted. The pandemic threw us all for a loop, but it also made some realize that unless we fight for what we believe in, our country, the one we all grew up in, could be lost. It took hard work and determination for us to be where we are, and all of it started with a small dream. You see, everything in life begins with a dream. This Author once dreamt she could one day write a book that others might enjoy reading, and here she is. She has written not one book but more than twenty books. Some people dream of owning just a small piece of land, owning their own little business, raising their families in a free land, a place where we are allowed to say what we feel in our hearts, fight for what we believe in, worship at the church of our choice. These past few years have taught this Author that there is power in our words. Once our words are silenced, we have given up one of our most treasured rights. It is my hope, my dream, that the power that you, my readers, have within you will never be silenced. The dreams you hold inside will always be fulfilled, and that you will always and forever … Keep on Dreaming!

Book preview

Prelude

Rebecca turned and hugged her father one last time.

I will return, father. I promise this will not be the last time we see each other. The tears ran down her face as she held him close.

My child, you have your destiny to fulfill, and so do I. We will see each other again, I am sure. He said hesitantly, not knowing what the future held for either of them.

I love you, father. 

And I love you, Morning Star, he said as bravely as he could, holding back his own emotions.

She turned and walked through the cave, carefully trying to keep her balance as she walked on the slippery rocks.

She was heading home, back to the life she knew, unsure this time of what lie ahead of her. She knew this was how it had to be, and she would make the best of it. So much time had passed since she walked through the cave to find answers to who she was and where she belonged.

It was a time of both joy and sadness. One part of her journey ending, and another part beginning as she headed back to a life that seemed like a distant memory.

The late November winds were now blowing where spring had just blossomed. It felt like a lifetime ago. She never imagined that she would be gone this long. She accomplished a portion of her task. She found her father and learned who she was. Everything she once thought was the truth had been washed away. She was heading back to what she once thought was her world. Now she questioned everything, wondering if she belonged here? If not, why was her father sending her back?

She didn’t want to admit to herself that she might never see Braxton or her father again. Deep inside, she knew that could be a reality, but it was one that she was not yet ready to face.

The Great Spirit had chosen her for this strange mission, but she did not understand why.  The cave was damp; she remembered how she had fallen into the running water so many years ago.

She felt as if Mason was just ahead of her directing her path, leading the way as she took her steps carefully. She had a child on her back and one dwelling inside of her.

She was heading home to her father’s cabin to see what life now had in store. As she stepped out of the cave, it was as if Heaven’s Gate knew that she had returned. There was gentle snow falling on the already snow-covered ground like confetti falling from the sky above.

She pulled out the woolen blanket from her sack, wrapped it around them, and walked across the field.

The paint had worn off the gate, making it seem as if it had been years since she left.  She smiled as the old gate with its creaking hinge welcomed her home.  She turned back to look at the field behind her, still feeling as if someone were there.

She saw nothing, but she couldn’t seem to shake the eerie feeling that someone was watching her.  

She pulled the blanket tightly around her and Alexis as she continued down the pathway she had walked so many times before.

She wanted to run and open the door, saying Ma, Pa, I am home, but her parents would not be there waiting; they were gone. A fierce wind whipped around her as she turned the bend. She almost lost grip on the blanket, her hands frozen from the cold. She opened the door to the cabin and quickly closed it behind her.

We’re home, Alexis; this is our home.  She told her daughter as she pulled the blanket off and unfastened the sack carrier.  She placed the blanket on the floor and gently laid Alexis on it.  Alexis smiled back at her, just glad to be free again.

You stay right here, baby; mama is going to get some wood and build us a nice warm fire.

Chapter One

Maggie was excited . Parker was going to bring home Duchess today. She was one of the most beautiful mares that Maggie had ever seen.

She was a golden yellow with a slight tinge of brown.  Maggie had taken candid shots of her running through the fields. She was so majestic in her manner that it didn’t take her long to give her the name Duchess. When Parker saw her, he knew she was a treasure just as Maggie did. He arranged a meeting of Duchess and his father’s best stallion White Star. It was a marriage made in heaven for all of them. Next spring, Duchess would have a foal, and it would be the first for the M&P ranch.

Maggie turned when she heard a truck spitting gravel on its way to the barn.  The snow was falling lightly on the ground, but Parker was home, and he was bringing her the best gift ever.

Whoa, mama, he calmly said to Duchess as he backed her out of the trailer.

She is so beautiful, and I am so glad she is back home, Parker.

Well, she is home, but like you, she needs her rest. She is carrying the hope of our ranch, you know.

Don’t I ever know it, and that’s about both rest and hope.

By the way, Parker, I got a call today from Charlie White Horse.

What did he want, water rights to our land or something? He never talks to anyone unless he has some objective.

No, surprisingly enough, he wants to sell us the fifteen hundred acres that adjoin our land at Matson Creek. Somehow he learned about our plan to let mustangs run free on our land, and I guess he likes that plan.

Are you sure you understood him, right? It doesn’t sound like something he would be thrilled about, you know? Government and Indians don’t get along too well.

Yep, I understood him. He wants to sell, but there is no way I can ask my dad for another loan. We’re barely making it now, and I don’t want to put any kind of strain on us until we get our footing.

Did he want cash?

I suppose so. I didn’t ask. I was too much in shock with his offer.

The government will pay us for each horse we take Maggie, and we can use the government money to make the payment on the land. It’s a win-win situation. I will call him later and see if he if offer is serious.

Still, we need upfront money, and he is not going to give it to us with nothing down.

I am the foreman here, remember; you let me worry about how to do these things. By the way, when I was in town, I ran into Carmen, and she was asking about how you were doing.

Carmen Sanchez, the girl who works at the café? she looked puzzled as to why he was mentioning her. She barely knew her.

Yeah, Carmen, she heard about the ranch and how we were hiring. She said something about needing a job. Her father was forced to close their restaurant, and I thought maybe we could hire her as a cook. She could clean too, and all she is looking for is room and board. She said she feels like she is a burden to her parents and wants to move out. She wants to be independent. We don’t have to pay her a salary.

Are you trying to say that I am not a good cook?

Trying? Ahh, no. There is no trying about it. You’re definitely not a good cook.

The men are starving here, Maggie. We have to do something soon, or they will high tail it out of here, and we will be up a creek without a paddle. Besides that, Carmen needs help, and it’s not going to cost us anything but a room.

Oh brother, I am not that bad. She said, trying to hide the hurt but knowing at the same time he was right. She was not that great at cooking.

Come on, Maggie, even Roxy won’t eat the leftovers.

Ok, we’ll try her out. She can start next Monday. I will put her up in the two empty rooms by the kitchen, and she can fix the rooms up like a little apartment.

YES! he exclaimed, maybe just a bit too excitedly. I am gonna tell the men right now.  Maggie was sure the hoots and hollers coming from the bunkhouse could be heard for miles.

I am not that bad, she said, trying to convince herself that what they said was not valid.

I make good coffee. 

Just then, the phone rang. It was Preston with his routine check-up call. She felt that he was taking his brother's words to watch out for her a bit literally.

Hey Pres, what’s up?

Not much. Tracey’s dad seems to be recouping well.

That’s great to hear.

How are things going at the M&P?

Well, we have our first pregnant mare, and so far, we have been able to pay all the bills, so I guess that is good.  Last week, I sold a few pictures to Bert, and I have my car up for sale. We can make it through the winter without too much stress if we do all of that. We will soon have a boarder who can cook and clean, so I guess we're doing ok.

Gee, Maggie, sorry about the car. I know how much you love that convertible.

Yeah, well, paying the bills and eating seems to be the number one priority around here lately, she replied, emphasizing the eating part as she gazed out the window at Parker.

Talking about eating, Tracey wants to know what your plans are for Thanksgiving. We don’t want you to be alone for a holiday.

I’m supposed to go to my parents. I am just not sure yet. I have to break the news about the baby to my mother before my delivery date if you know what I mean. With the finances, the way they are right now, it may be Christmas before I get there.

You’re not leaving before the festival, are you? It wouldn’t be right not to have you there.

No, I will be there. I promise. Nothing is going to stop me from that event.

Great, Tracey has worked hard with Lily on this, and it’s going to be great this year.

I wouldn’t miss it.

"This annual harvest festival is going to be different than any year before. It usually is held in September at harvest time, but the mayor complained that it cost too much money to run this year, so he promptly canceled it.

HIS CONSTITUENTS WENT into an uproar over the cancellation and decided to create this new event without city help. It will be a Thanksgiving Harvest dinner combined with the Christmas tree lighting. They invited the entire town. Tracey, Linda, and Lily have been working on the decorations for weeks now.  The men in town have rigged up the lighting to a generator, and they have everything set to go. The town committee has gathered promises from the townspeople on what they could contribute. It is going to be a grand feast and gathering for everyone. "

Maggie had been too busy at the ranch to participate but promised she would bring something. Now that she knew what the men thought of her cooking, she wasn’t sure what she would be able to bring. Carmen was going to be starting next week; maybe she could convince her to make something instead.

The next couple of weeks went by fast. Maggie had to admit that adding Carmen to their crew was a good decision. Coming in after a hard day to a warm and wonderful meal was all that Parker had promised it would be.

She loved that she didn’t have to cook or clean after mucking stalls and fixing fences all day.

There was so much to get done before the real winter weather arrived.  Maggie worked hard on the ranch, and it was going to succeed if it was the last thing she did.

Even with Parker yelling at her that she was doing too much, she had to make her father proud. Before she knew it, the day of the festival arrived.  The snow had been falling at a steady pace all day. Parker ordered her to stay in the house and rest while he rode out to check on the horses. Parker didn’t know Maggie that well yet, but he knew that she was stubborn as a mule and her responses were not very pleasant, especially when being told what to do. His problem was that Maggie had been overdoing it. He needed to make her rest, but when Dr. Morehouse told her exercise was good, well, she would use every one of those words to her advantage.

She knew that fixing fences in the snow probably wasn’t exactly what doc had in mind when he told her to exercise, but the job needed to be done.  As Parker was riding in, he saw Maggie working out by the fence. Angry he rode up behind her and jumped off his horse.

What in the world are you doing? Parker yelled at her when he found pounding on a fencing pole out in the cold.

I am working, she yelled back at him.  

No, you are not, he yelled back at her with fire in his eyes. I told you to rest today.

By the look on his face, she could tell that this was one argument she was not going to win, but rather than back down, she let her Irish temper take control. She threw the hammer at the barn door, just missing him, and stormed off to the house. She would not give him the satisfaction of winning the fight. It was nice that he cared but, she was also not an invalid, and she was determined to pull her share.

She stomped her feet as she walked in the door, wet snow falling on the kitchen floor.

Hey, I just cleaned that floor, Carmen shouted, thinking it was one of the men tromping in.

Oh, sorry, Maggie, I thought it was one of the boys tracking up my clean floor.

I am sorry, Carmen. It is just that Parker makes me so infuriated sometimes.

Oh, I know that one. Carmen smiled at her.

What smells so good in here?

It is the pumpkin pies for the festival tonight.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.

The terrific smell of pies cooking in the kitchen made her feel even more inadequate at the moment. She wasn’t allowed to fix fences, and she couldn’t cook. What a loser, she thought. How will I ever be a good mother when I can’t even boil water? 

I am going to go and relax and take a hot bath. After all, Parker has decided I am inadequate to fix the fencing. So I guess I might as well play the feminine role instead.

Don’t take it so hard, Maggie; he is just concerned about you.

After her encounters with Daniel, she should have known better than to argue with an Indian and get all riled up. A relaxing bubble bath was just what she needed. She planned to meet up with Preston and Tracey and enjoy the town’s one major event of the year. She was not going to let her fight with Parker ruin it.

Maggie looked at her wardrobe. She didn’t have much to cover her swelling belly, just an extra-large sweater and some red plaid flannel