Amen in the Morning

By Amos Walker

AMEN IN THE MORNING
Elizabeth Ann McCraig and her father, Jim, began that spring day like any other on their small Montana ranch. Before night fell, Ann would lose her home and her father and begin a journey that would forever change her life.
Overcoming her fears and gaining confidence in her ability to survive, Ann never loses faith. Even after the most devastating events, Ann prays for God to keep her safe all night long.
As days, weeks, and months pass, Ann grows into a young woman who begins to love the majestic beauty of the wilderness she must survive. Relying on her wits and her faith, she does far more than survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781462813308

Amos Walker

Amos Walker grew up in small town USA during the 50's and 60's the 8th child in a very poor family of 10 children. By the time Amos was born, followed quickly by his two younger Brothers his parents were pretty much worn out with raising children. So Amos and his younger brothers were pretty much left to fend for themselves. There never seemed to be enough food to go around so the three boys learned early to hunt wild game and rob the neighbors fruit trees in order to eat. Amos worked hard all his life starting at the age of 11. He was successful in his own business for several years and suffered many hardships throughout, but never lost the joy of the little things in life. For years Amos has been interested in writing and this last year finally seen his work in print. He writes for the sheer enjoyment and feels the need to get his stories "Out There"

Book preview

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Ann McCraig, Ann as her father called her, was thirteen years old. She had big blue eyes and her hair was soft blonde and curly. Ann was a beautiful young woman who greatly resembled her late mother. She lived with her father on a small ranch in Montana. Ann had gotten up early that morning so that she could get her father’s breakfast ready and something for his pack for his trip to the nearest neighbor. He was leaving this morning to help with the branding and in return, they would help him on their ranch.

Ann could hear her father stirring in his bedroom and knew he would be out soon. Ann’s mother had passed away giving birth to her brother two years before and then her baby brother had died of pneumonia six months ago. Her father was still suffering over their loss and most of the time he had little to say, good, or bad. Ann sure hoped he would get back to what he was before all this had happened. She loved him very much but he was hard to get along with most of the time. Even though she did her best, it just was not good enough to please him. She had done all that she knew to do and just wanted a kind word of some kind but that rarely happened.

Ann, her father spoke coming into the room, can you keep a fire going, and take care of things until I get back?

Yes, replied Ann, and I’ll have supper for you when you get home tonight and a light on.

Your rifle is loaded and you know how to shoot. There is more ammunition in this leather pouch, he said as he set the pouch on the table. Make sure you don’t leave the house with the fire very hot and always take your rifle with you, you hear me?

Yes, Pa Ann said quietly.

Ann’s father was a big strong man with a strong will to match, but he missed her mother and brother very much and could not seem to get over their loss. He had let almost everything go. The roof leaked when it rained and the woodpile was always out. He did not shave often enough and he drank liquor when he could get it. The rest of the ranch was in bad shape also.

Pa said, I will get my horse saddled and be back in for breakfast and the rest of my things in a bit.

All right, Pa, it will be ready. Ann replied.

While her father was outside, she finished breakfast with eggs from the chicken house and a small steak. It was the first eggs she had cooked without breaking the yolk and the steak was beautiful too! I bet he won’t even notice, Ann thought to herself. About that time, he came back in and sat down at the table.

I will cut you some more wood tomorrow if you can make do today, her father said.

Sure I can, Pa, Ann answered him.

Ann, I know I haven’t been the father I should be and I promise I will make it up to you.

No need to explain anything to me, Pa. It has been hard for both of us and I understand. Ann said and then added, Pa, I really think you should try to find me a mother soon.

Her father just grinned and said, I do not need one now that you can cook. Good breakfast, Ann. As he got up from the table, he gave her a hug and said, I will see you tonight. Taking his pack, he put it on his horse, mounted up, and waved as he rode off.

Ann stood there with a smile she could not wipe off her face as she watched him ride away. He had noticed her hard work at last!

Ann put on a light coat and went out to get some wood for the fire to keep the chill off. It was early spring and the mornings were still cool. While she was packing in wood, she decided she would get some clothes washed, too. Ann got a wooden pail and a washtub and started carrying water from the well. She set the tub next to the fireplace and gave the water time to warm. It would take a while but she would put water in the big kettle and add that later to speed up the process. After Ann got the kettle on the fire, she went back out and started getting wood ready to carry. When lunchtime came, Ann ate a cold biscuit with jelly on it and a boiled egg. Ann started washing clothes after she ate. By this time, the water was warm and it felt so good. She had no soap to wash with but she had done the best she could and hoped it would be good enough. Ann got the clothes on the line, went inside, and quickly stripped off. She got in the tub of warm water and took a bath while she had a chance. She took time to wash her hair and dried off. She put on an old dress and washed the one she had taken off and put that on the line. Ann went back in the house, grabbed a comb, and started working on her hair.

She stood at the window combing her hair when she saw riders coming down the trail. After watching for a bit, she could see they were Indians but could not tell if they were friendly or not. She grabbed her rifle and leather pouch of ammunition and unbolted the door. If they came in, they would think she was not in the house. Pulling back a large rag rug, she raised the trap door her father had made and lit a lantern. Ann closed the trap door behind her, making sure the rug still covered it and started down the short tunnel to her hiding place. She was scared out of her wits and could hardly breathe. Every breath she took came out in a small squeak. If she had any doubts about these Indians being friendly, the war whoops and the torch that set the barn on fire took them away. All the Indians were running around frantically and setting fire to everything! They took the door off the chicken house, got all the chickens out, and killed them. From the crack in the rocks, Ann saw them set fire to the house. In a few minutes, the house was engulfed in flames and the barn was nearly gone. When they left, they tore down the clothesline and set the woodpile on fire. They made sure they left nothing but smoke and ashes as they rode out.

Ann was shaking so hard she could hardly stand up. She had peed in the clothes she had on but she was alive and they had not found her! Ann had seen one of the warriors riding her father’s horse as they rode away. The only thing she could think was that they must have killed her father because he would not have given up his horse without a fight.

She was afraid to come out of her hiding place. It would be dark in a little while and she would come out then. Thinking about her father, she started to cry and could not quit. Her breath was gone and all she could do was sob so hard it hurt. When she finally got her breath she was about to pass out and the tears were flowing down her face as if she had just come in out of the rain. Nothing had gone right since her mother had died and now her father was gone, too. Her clothes were still wet from being scared but they would dry. It was dark now as she eased her way out of the rocks and toward what was left of her home. She went over to the clothesline and got some of her clothes. In the pale light of the fire, she took off her wet clothes and put on dry ones. Taking a pair of her father’s trousers, she cut one leg out of them and tied a string from an old dress around the end. She would have some sort of bag to carry her things in and found a fruit jar that she could use to carry water. That would have to do until she could get to the neighbors ranch. Wanting to stay out of sight in case the Indians came back, she was not ready to leave the warmth of the fire. Ann looked in every direction trying to find anything she might be able to use to survive. She saw the piece of cloth that was on the wagon to keep everything dry when they came out here. Maybe it would keep the rain and wind off her. Without a blanket to cover up with, she decided to take all the clothes off the line and do the best she could. She did not know how to light a fire without matches so everything she ate would just have to be raw. Ann’s father had never shown her how to strike flint or rub sticks together. She wondered how she would live after the loss of their home, barn, and chickens. She had forgotten it was nightfall and her father was still not home. Ann’s father had a few faults but lying was not one of them. If he said he would be home at dark, he kept his word no matter what. This put a lump in her throat and she started to cry again, but not aloud this time. She was afraid someone or something would hear her. Ann put the canvas on the ground and using a block of wood for a pillow, lay down, and put the clothes from the line on top of her. Putting her hands together she said, Oh God, watch over my father and keep him in your grasp. Hold me, Oh Lord, in the palm of your hand and hold me tight so I will not be afraid and pee in my clothes. If it is okay, I will say amen in the morning. Ann went to sleep sobbing about the loss of her father and the thought that she was alone and had no home.

She woke early the next morning to the sound of a rooster crowing. Quickly, she said, amen and thank you for getting me through the night. The rooster had gotten away with his life and was up in a tree not far away. At least she might have something to eat. When he crowed the second time she found him in a tree and was taking careful aim. Just about the same time, she saw two of his hens and hesitated at the thought of the eggs the hens might lay. If she could find the nest, she would have eggs if nothing else to eat every day.

Ann got up from her bed and went to the garden to look for something to eat. She pulled up a potato plant and found some very small potatoes. She searched the ruins of the house until she found an iron skillet and a knife that had survived the fire. She sliced the potatoes thin with the peel still on them and put them in her newfound treasure. Putting the skillet over some of the embers, her breakfast started to cook. Ann decided to add a fresh onion to the pot and soon had it in her skillet. The meat house had gone up in flames and they had taken all the meat anyway so the potatoes would do for now.

After looking things over, she decided she would stay here for a little while in case her father came home as he said he would. Ann thought about walking to the nearest neighbor. It was a two-hour ride on horseback and at least a full day on foot. Ann did not know if she could do it.

Ann rolled up her clothes in the canvas and hid them in the rocks in case she had to make a run for cover. She went back to watch her potatoes and onions cook and sat down on the rock that had been used for the doorstep. She took her leather bag from around her neck and counted her ammunition. She unloaded and reloaded her rifle several times to get more familiar with it. While it was without ammunition in it, Ann put the rifle up to her shoulder and pointed it at various things. Ann remembered what her father had taught her and practiced pulling the trigger easy and steady. She made sure not to jerk or blink her eyes when she squeezed the trigger.

The potatoes looked done, so she reloaded her rifle and sat down to eat her breakfast. Ann watched the two hens closely to see where they were going to nest. The potatoes scorched a little on the bottom but they would fill her empty stomach for a while. Maybe she could find something else to eat by dinnertime. Ann finished eating and began to gather up her things to put them away. She heard thunder off in the distance and knew if it rained; it would put out her fire. Since she did not know how to start a fire, she would have to think of some way to keep this fire going or she would have to eat everything raw. The old fireplace was still standing and if she could put wood on the embers in it the rain might not put it completely out. If she could keep the embers going, she might be able to get a fire restarted. Gathering up wood was easy to do so she put that in the fireplace with some hot coals under it.

Ann wanted to clean up before the storm hit. She grabbed her rifle, went to the stream, and quickly got out of her clothes. She took a fast bath and washed her clothes from the night before so they would not smell like pee. Ann got clean clothes on and went back to check on the fireplace. The coals had set the wood on fire and now all she had to do was cross her fingers that the rain would not put out the fire. Ann had lost her comb so she worked the tangles out of her hair the best she could with her fingers. When her hair was dry, Ann took a strip of material from an old dress and tied it around her forehead to keep the hair out of her eyes. She suddenly remembered that she was going to watch the hens to see where their nest was. With all she had to do, she had forgotten to watch for them to go to a nest. Now they were gone to lay their eggs and it was anybody’s guess where the nest was. She would just have to wait for the hen to come off her nest and cackle.

Ann saw the lightning flash and heard the thunder come racing down the mountainside, through the valley and roll on out into the prairie. It was a beautiful sound, indeed, but still frightening.