Chapter Twenty-One

Beth paced back and forth across the floor.  Every few minutes she would pause to look at her watch and, then a few minutes later, she would go to the front door and look out into the darkening night.  The cold rain continued to pour down.

Finally, Sarah said, “Beth, come and sit down.  You are going to wear yourself out.  There is nothing we can to do for Mandy now but pray.  Come sit here with us, and let’s continue praying.”

Beth went to join the other two women as they held hands around the small table.  This had been their pattern for the past several hours.  Amanda had now been missing for at least five or six hours.

Startled by the sound of someone knocking or kicking loudly at the front door, the three hurried into the front room.  Sarah quickly opened the door when she heard Riley’s voice.  All the women were relieved to see Riley carrying Amanda in his arms.  Wasting no time on questions, Sarah led the way into the examination room while Beth rushed to the kitchen to get hot water.  Even though Riley had wrapped his oilskin slicker around her, Amanda was covered in mud and soaking wet. It was not until Riley had put Amanda on the bed and stood that Sarah realized that Riley was covered with blood.

“Riley!” she gasped.  “Are you hurt?  Or is that blood from Mandy?”

Riley seemed dazed as he stood there looking at Amanda lying motionless on the bed.  Then he seemed to rouse himself and hurried from the room.  Sarah turned her attention to Amanda.  Uncovering her, she could see no wound that would have caused the blood.  She began to take Amanda’s vital signs when a cry from the other room sent her running into the front room. Beth and Hannah stood as if frozen as they stared at Riley who held another person in his arms.  The women were unable to tell who the other person was at first because he was almost completely covered with an oil slicker.  Sarah could see drops of blood mixed with water dripping to the floor.  She hurried forward to direct Riley to bring the other person into the examination room.  She and Beth quickly made a pallet on the floor on the other side of the room from the bed.  Sarah sent Hannah to bring more blankets and hot water and directed Beth to begin washing Amanda.  Both women stayed as Sarah pulled the slicker from the other man’s face and they were all dismayed to see Will’s pale face.  Wasting no time, Sarah began to examine Will to see what type of wound was responsible for the blood.  In only a few seconds, she could see that Will had been shot by an arrow in his right shoulder.  Carefully she removed the wet slicker from around Will and began to cut his soaking and bloody shirt away.  The women had prepared bandages, and Hannah brought these to Sarah as she attempted to staunch the bleeding.  It was obvious that Will had lost a great deal of blood, and the wound was deep.  Sarah was so intent on working that she scarcely noticed Riley still standing beside her, but Hannah urged Riley from the room.  Taking him into the kitchen, she gave him a cup of hot coffee.  Rather than drinking, he wrapped his hands around the cup as if trying to draw the warmth from it into his chilled body.  He was shaking so badly that Hannah was alarmed.  She pushed him down into a chair.

“Riley, you should go back to the boarding house and get into some dry clothes.  You are soaking wet and cold.   Go on, now.  They are in good hands.  Sarah is the best doctor I have seen, and Beth is very good with nursing.  You will be sick too if you don’t get dry and warm.”

Riley lifted haunted eyes to her.  “I can’t leave.  This is all my fault.  Oh, I pray that God will heal them both.”

Sensing that Riley needed someone to talk to, Hannah sat next to him.

“I don’t see how this could be your fault, Riley.  You didn’t cause Mandy to get captured.  You saved her.”

“No, the other men wanted me to turn back, but I said that I was not coming back until I found Mandy.  Will said he would go with me.  We found Maouk’s hut, but there was only an old woman there.  I looked in the hut and found Mandy’s shawl so I knew she had been there.  We questioned the woman, but she would only say that Maouk was gone and nothing about Mandy.  Finally, she said, ‘girl gone’.  We looked all around the camp, but the rain had washed away every sign on tracks.  I just kept praying and praying that God would lead us to her before Maouk found her.  I know that Will was praying too, and somehow we kept going and finally we ran smack into a rock wall.  We were turning away when something told me to look a little closer and I saw a tiny space at the bottom of the wall.  It didn’t look big enough for a rabbit to hide in but I got down off my horse to look and, sure enough, there she was.  She was passed out and hasn’t made a sound since I found her.”  Riley’s voice seemed to break and for a moment, Hannah did not think he would be able to go on, but he seemed to pull himself together before continuing.

“I wasn’t really thinking about Maouk.  I was just concerned with getting Mandy out and back down here so Sarah could check her when I heard a sound and turned around.  There was Maouk with his bow and the arrow aimed straight for me. I didn't even have time to put Mandy down before Will stepped between us and the arrow hit him. I grabbed my gun and shot.  I’m not sure if I hit Maouk or not, but he ran away.  After that, I just put Will on his horse and Mandy on mine and brought them back as fast as I could.”

“Hannah, Will is my best friend.  If I had not insisted on going on when the other men turned back, he would be fine right now.”

Riley put his head on the table, and his whole body shook as he cried for his two friends. 

“Riley, if you had turned back, who knows where Mandy would be now or what that Indian would have done to her?  And if Will had not gone with you, Mandy would still be with him and you might even be dead.  Maouk certainly wouldn’t have brought you to the doctor.  You did all you could for them, and we are going to pray that the Lord will give Sarah the skill to save them both.  I need to go help.  Won’t you go and at least change clothes?”

“I’m not leaving until I know that they are both going to be all right!”

Hannah sensed that Riley would not be forced away, so she decided against arguing with him.

“Well, drink your coffee and I’ll get some soup, but I have to go help.  You try to get warm.  The last thing we need is for you to get sick too.”

Hannah quickly served Riley some soup and wrapped a blanket around him before going into the room with the others.  Telling Sarah and Beth that she was going for help, she put on her slicker and hurried from the house.  Running as quickly as she could, she first went to the general store.  Finding Ben just ready to close, she explained the situation.  Ben agreed to go to the boarding house and get clothes for both Will and Riley while Hannah rushed to the community building.  In less than five minutes, she was hurrying back to the house with the promise that Jane and Rebecca would soon follow.

Rushing back into the house, she found Riley still at the table.  She could see that she would not be much help to him and hurried to do what she could to help Sarah and Beth.

“Tell me what you need me to do.  Jane and Rebecca will be here in a few minutes and Ben is bringing clothes for Riley and Will.  I can’t get him to eat or even to dry off.  I thought I could be of more help in here.”
          Sarah looked up gratefully.  “Do you think you can apply pressure to this wound?  I need to check on Mandy.”

Hannah moved to place her hands exactly as Sarah directed so that the other woman could go to Beth’s aid. Beth had managed to get the wet clothing off and bathe Amanda and dress her in a clean nightgown.

“She has a large knot on the right side of the head here.”  Beth pointed for Sarah.  “She hasn’t moved or made a sound, but she seems to be breathing normally.  I don’t see any marks or wounds.”

Sarah made a quick examination of Amanda. 

“It looks as if she received some type of blow to the head.  The main thing now is to keep her warm and still.  As for her head injury, we will just have to wait and see.  Hopefully, she will not get pneumonia from being out in the cold.  Hannah, did Riley tell you what happened?”

Hannah explained the few facts that Riley had given her.

“He doesn’t really know about how she was hurt.  She wasn’t in the Indian’s hut, and they found her out in the woods, apparently in a small crack of a rock so she had some protection from the weather.  Will was injured by Maouk, as Riley was taking Mandy out of the rock.  Sarah, Riley is not in too good of shape either.  He is extremely upset and is shaking like a leaf.”

“He is probably in shock, and he was exposed to the cold also.  He took his slicker and used it for Mandy.  When Ben gets here, maybe he can get him to change.  The main thing is for him to keep warm and as calm as possible.”

“Unfortunately, Will is in serious condition.  I need to remove that arrow and he has lost a lot of blood.”

“Beth, I don’t think we should move Mandy right now.  I really would prefer that Will be on the bed and, of course, having the two of them in here is not the best.  Can you string some sort of line across the room so that we can hang sheets to separate them?  Hannah, I am going to need Beth’s help in here while I try to get that arrow out.  Will you be able to watch Mandy?  I know you don’t have a lot of experience at this but mainly, you just need to make sure she keeps warm and call us if you see any change at all.”

Hannah assured Sarah that she would do all she could to help either patient.  Hearing a knock at the front door, Beth went to admit Ben as well as Jane and Rebecca.

“Ben, we need for you to try to help Riley. He won’t eat or drink and he is soaking wet.  We think he is in shock.  Try to get him to change or dry off and get something warm to eat or drink.  He says he is not leaving until he knows that both Will and Mandy are going to be all right.”

“Rebecca and Jane, we will need lots of hot water, and there will be bandages and linens to wash.  Try to keep plenty of hot coffee and the fires going.”

They each assured Beth that they would do all they could to help.  Rebecca and Jane went directly to the kitchen.  Following them, Ben almost bumped into them, as they suddenly stopped at the sight of Riley.  He looked at them almost as if he did not know who they were.  Ben went right to him and began talking quietly with him.  The other two went to work making sure that everything was ready for the night ahead.  In a few minutes, Ben came over to Jane and told her quietly that he was taking Riley into the bedroom in order that he might help him change into dry clothing.  She nodded silently as she watched Ben practically lift Riley from his chair and carry him into the other room.

Jane turned to Rebecca and said in a concerned voice, “I can scarcely believe that is Riley.  He doesn’t even look like himself.  Remember how strong he seemed on the trip out here and always in control.  I don’t know what happened out there today, but whatever it was, it has really shaken him.

Rebecca nodded her agreement and the two went to work doing all that Beth had asked.  When Ben and Riley returned to the kitchen a few minutes later, they brought steaming bowls of soup and hot cups of coffee to the table.  Riley was still pale and his hands were shaking as he took the cup from Jane.  Ben asked the two women to join them around the table as he prayed.  The four all bowed their heads as Ben prayed.

“Lord, we thank You Mandy has been found and returned to us.  We don’t know her condition, Lord, but You do and we just ask that You hold her in Your hands.  Lord, we ask You to guide Doc Sarah as she tries to get that arrow out of Will.  We know that he has lost a lot of blood and that he is in really bad shape but we know, too, that You can heal him, Lord, if it is Your will.  Lord, help Riley here too.  Help him to see that he was part of the rescue today and that none of this is his fault.  It is hard for us to give this up to You.  We want our prayers to be answered our way and in our time but we know that You know all things and that You are all powerful so we just pray tonight that Your will be done.  Guide us and direct us in Your path and help us to do all that You would have us to do.  Please give us the strength that we need tonight and more important, give strength to Mandy and Will.  We ask in Your precious name. Amen.”

The next few hours were busy as the women went back and forth with hot water and clean cloths, bandages, and bedding.  Ben brought in fresh water and wood.  Riley could only sit at the table and hold his head in his hands.  No one asked, but everyone assumed he was praying.

It was a full three hours later that Sarah finally came into the kitchen and sat down next to Riley.  Lines of fatigue were etched into her face as she took Riley’s hand.  Riley just looked at her, unable to ask the questions that he wanted for fear of the answers he would receive.

“Riley, the arrow is out.  We were able to get it all out.  Will is lucky that it did not hit bone or an artery.  As it is, he has lost a lot of blood.  For now, we have gotten the bleeding stopped.  We will have to watch for infection.  I cannot say for certain, but I pray that he will make a full recovery.  He was healthy so that is in his favor.  I’m afraid that is all I can tell you right now.  We will just have to put him in God’s hands and pray that he will improve.”

Riley seemed barely able to get the words from his mouth. “What about Mandy?”

“It is difficult to tell with a head injury.  She is still unconscious.  She does not seem to have any other injuries.  Of course, she was out in the weather so there is the danger that she could catch pneumonia.”

“What about. . .about. . that Indian?  Did he hurt her in . . . ‘

Riley could not finish the question, but Sarah knew what he was asking.  She chose her words carefully.  As a doctor, she was used to medical terms but many men were not comfortable with women discussing some topics with them, even if that woman was a doctor.

“Riley, Mandy does not seem to have any other injuries other than the one on her head.  I have examined her, and she was still wearing the same clothes she had on when she left the house.  She is . . . well, she is still the same untouched woman she was this morning.”

Riley let out a big sigh of relief as he muttered, “Thank God!  Thank God!”

The hours passed slowly as Sarah and the others watched and cared for their two patients.  Ben had moved the two rocking chairs into the examination room and helped Beth hang the sheets separating the room into two parts.  They put one chair in each section.  Beth and Sarah stayed by the sides of their patients while the others brought them food and strong coffee.  Hannah and the other two women took turns resting so that one was available to help as needed.  Riley still refused to leave, but finally Ben persuaded him to come into the front room and sit by the fire.  Hannah fixed a pallet for them so that they could rest.  Riley finally lay down when he saw how fatigued his friend was so that Ben could get some rest.  Ben was asleep within minutes, exhausted from working all day in the store and staying up for a good portion of the night as well.  Riley lay still but could not go to sleep.  He spent the night praying that God would heal Amanda and Will.

Chapter Twenty

Beth paced back and forth in the kitchen of their home, praying constantly that the Lord would be with Amanda.  She asked for His guidance for the men, so that they could find Amanda quickly and for the Lord to give Amanda strength and courage.  Hearing the front door open, she ran into the front room to find Hannah coming in with an armful of laundry.

“What is it?  Have you heard anything?” Beth cried.

“One of the men came back with these clothes.  Estelle said Mandy had taken their laundry with her.  Beth, these were scattered all over the ground several hundred yards from the Taylor home in the woods.  There were signs of a struggle too.  I can’t believe Mandy would go into the woods after all of our warnings.  Mr. Taylor came home, so I told him I needed to get back to you.  Oh. Beth, I am so worried.  I feel sure that Indian, Maouk, has taken Mandy.  I just wish there was something we could do!”

“There is only one thing we can do now – pray!”  The two women sank to their knees and began to pour out their hearts to the Lord, asking for their friend’s safety and the safety of the men. 

Amanda began to come awake, but she was so tired, she could not seem to open her eyes.  Without being aware of it, she must have made some sort of noise because someone was instantly by her side, wiping her brow with a cool cloth.  Her head was gently lifted and a cup of water was at her lips and someone urged her to take a sip.  She managed to take one small sip before sinking into darkness again.

The next time, Amanda became aware of her surroundings, she was able to open her eyes and look around.  It was very dark in the place where she was, and she seemed to be lying on some type of animal skin.  The smell of fish was very strong, and she had to fight down feelings of nausea.  As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she saw a woman across the room.  She seemed to be much older than Amanda, and she came nearer.  Amanda realized that she was one of the Indian women.  Amanda struggled not to scream as she remembered the blanket and being taken captive.  The woman placed a wet cloth of Amanda’s forehead again.  Amanda’s throat was so dry, but she managed to croak out the word. “Water!”  She was not sure if the woman understood English, but she brought the cup to her again.  This time Amanda managed to take several sips of water before falling back down to the pallet.

“Where am I?  Why am I here?” she whispered to the old woman but the woman either did not understand her or refused to answer.  Tears ran down Amanda’s face at the thought of how foolish she had been.  If only she had done what the others had told her.  Instead she had been too busy thinking about her jealousy and wounded pride to pay attention, and now she was paying the price for her foolishness.  Here she was with no way to get word to her friends, and it seemed as if there was no way out.  Her head was pounding, and she felt dizzy so that she did not seem to be able to think what she should do.  She peered around the room, trying to see some clue that would let her know her whereabouts.  Perhaps she was in the Indian village.  She had not been close to it but she knew that the men of the town knew where the village was.  Once someone realized she was missing, that would be one of the first places they would look for her. Amanda realized she was too weak to try to get away.  She wondered if there was something in the water the woman had given her that was making her groggy and not able to think straight.  Amanda knew there was one thing that she was able to do – pray.  She remembered the verses that Sarah had read the night before during the Bible study.  She tried to recall all of the words but only bits and pieces came back to her.

‘Whom shall I fear?  Of whom shall I be afraid?  He shall hide me in his pavilion.   He shall set me up upon a rock.  Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart.’

Amanda knew that God would not forsake her.  She knew that her friends would soon be looking for her.  God had promised not to leave her and to protect her and even to hide her from her enemies.  She would have to wait, just as the verses said until she was stronger.  Amanda knew that the one thing she could do for now was to pray.

“Father, help me.  Help my friends to find me.  Help me to be able to think so that I can get away.  Give me a plan Lord, so that you can hide me from my enemies.  Give me strength.”

Amanda continued praying even as she drifted back to sleep.

Riley and the other men made their way to the Indian village.  It was several miles to the east of town.  Riley knew that he would have to let the other men speak.  Some of them had been among the first settlers and knew Chief Seattle and the other Indians far better than he.  He knew that it would be hard for him to keep quiet and not demand that they bring Amanda to them immediately.  Riley knew that the other men were praying for Amanda’s safety and for the first time in his life, he called out to the Lord in desperation.  He felt that he could not save Amanda alone.  He begged God to help them find Amanda soon and to protect Amanda from harm.

Hank Parker went ahead of the others and climbed down from his horse to speak with the chief.  Although Riley knew there was a certain protocol to dealing with the Indians, he could barely constrain himself from jumping down from his horse and demanding Amanda’s release.

After speaking with the chief, Hank came back to the group.

“Chief Seattle says they have not seen Amanda or any white woman.  They do not know where she is.  I asked about Maouk, and the chief said that Maouk had a lodge high above Seattle in the hills.  None of the Indians have seen Maouk for several days.”

Riley looked at the others.  “Did he at least tell us what direction to take?”  His big hands tightened on the gun barrel of the gun he carried.

“Now don’t get all riled up, Riley.  The best thing to do is head back to town and talk with Arthur Dendy and some of the other leaders of the town and decide what action we should take.  The last thing we want is to have an Indian uprising.”  Hank spoke calmly, but Riley was too anxious to listen.

“How can you say that?  That will take too long.  There is an innocent woman captured by an Indian.  For all we know she could be hurt or tortured.  I don’t see how we can wait.  You can go back if you want, but I am going on to look for her.  The longer we wait, the more likely she is to be hurt.”

The other men tried to talk Riley into coming back to town with them, but he flatly refused.  When Will saw that Riley was determined to go on without the other men, he said that he would go along with Riley.

“I’m not coming back until I have Mandy. And, Hank, send someone up to the logging camp for the doc.  I want her nearby when I bring Mandy back.”

Hank pointed Riley in the general direction of Maouk’s lodge.  The others headed back to town as Riley and Will continued on into the woods.

Amanda opened her eyes cautiously.  She seemed to be alone in the crude hut.  Pushing herself up with one hand, she tried to sit up.  Waves of dizziness swept over her but she persisted, knowing she did not have a chance of getting away if she continued to lie on the soft pallet.  She felt gingerly of the knot on the side of her head.  Crawling to her knees, she edged closer to the door.  She was surprised to see that the day was growing dark,

“I must have been out for a long time,” she thought to herself.  Peering around the edge of the opening that served as a door, she pushed aside the piece of hide hanging there.  There was no sign of either the old woman or Maouk.  There was a fire burning, and she supposed the woman might have gone to get more firewood.  She didn’t know where Maouk was and didn’t want to ever see him again.

Amanda looked down to see that she was still dressed in the clothes she was wearing that morning.  Her shoes had been removed from her feet, but after looking around the crude hut, she was able to find them near the pallet.  She struggled to put them on before the two Indians returned.  It seemed to take forever to put them on, but she knew it probably was just a few minutes.   Crawling back to the doorway, she pushed the hide a few inches to one side and carefully looked out.  Seeing no one, she slipped out the door.  Looking all around the clearing, she asked the Lord to lead her as she tried to decide which direction to take.  Finally she crept as quietly as she could toward the back of the hut.  She knew that she did not have much time and that the Indians were excellent trackers.  She knew that she would only be able to get away with the Lord’s help.

Once Amanda was away from the clearing, she walked as fast as she could into the cover of the forest.  Glancing behind her every few steps, she tried to decide the best path to take.  Still dizzy, she had to pause every few feet to rest.  Nothing looked familiar to her, and there was no reason it should, for she had never been this far from town.

Amanda was not sure how far she had traveled when she knew she could go on no farther.  Every step seemed to get harder and harder as she grew weaker.  There was no set direction to the path she took.  Confused, she went north for a few steps, then changed and went in another direction for a while.  She prayed constantly that God would guide her every step.  The trees grew thicker and thicker and she scrambled through briars and brush.

Amanda gasped when she saw that she faced a high sheer wall of rock.

“Where will I go, Lord?  Please help me to get away,” she begged.

Suddenly, she saw a small opening along the bottom of the wall.  Less than a foot high, the opening reached back under the rock for several feet. Amanda knew she could not go on.  Remembering the verses Sarah had read, she repeated them to herself:

‘For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me: He shall set me up upon a rock’

Amanda prayed that God would hide her in the rock from her enemies.  She prayed that her friends would find her, as she crawled as far under the rock as she could.  She continued praying as blackness came over her again, never realizing that it had started to rain, covering her tracks.

Beth and Hannah ran to the door when they heard the knocking, hoping that it was someone with word about Amanda.  Mr. Parker came in, soaking wet, to tell them that a group of men, including Arthur Dendy and others of the town leaders were leaving to try to find the lodge of Maouk. 

“Where’s Riley?” asked Beth.

“He refused to come back without Miss Stone.  Will Sloan went with him.  I sent a man up to the logging camp to get the doc.  She should be along any time now.  We will bring Miss Stone back as soon as we can.  People all over town are praying for her safety.  Don’t give up hope.  Just keep praying that God will lead us to her.”

The two women agreed that they would be praying constantly, just as they had ever since they realized that Amanda was missing.

After Mr. Parker left, Beth turned to Hannah and said, “Let’s try to have everything ready for Sarah when she comes.  The bed in the examining room needs clean sheets, and we need to have plenty of hot water.  We may need bandages.  We also should make some hot soup or broth for Mandy.  If she has been out in this rain, she will be chilled. I don’t know about you but I can’t just sit here doing nothing.  I have to have something to do beside pray or . . .”

Beth broke down and began crying, as she thought of her friend under the control of the Indian.   “It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t know how frightened she was about Maouk.  It always scared her to death just to see him and to think that now he has her. . “

Beth was sobbing as Hannah tried to comfort her.  “Beth, we don’t know for sure that he has her, but we do know that God can take care of her.  I agree that we should get things ready for Sarah but don’t give up hope.  I know Riley and the others won’t give up until they find her.”

The two busied themselves with work, as they continued to pray.  Sarah arrived back at the house in a little over an hour, but they had to tell her that there was no news.  Sarah was just as worried as they were.

          “I know this will be an emotional upset for Mandy, but I am also concerned about the weather.  What is a cold rain here could very well be snow up in the mountains.  Even though it is summer, it gets very cold at the higher elevations.  I just hope she has shelter.  I pray that the Indian has not harmed her.”

          “It looks like you have done all you can to prepare for the worst.  We will be ready when they bring her back.  The best thing we can do now is pray.”

The women sat around the kitchen table and held hands as they prayed for their friend.  They prayed that the men would find Amanda quickly and that they would be able to get her away from the Indian with no bloodshed and that Amanda had not been harmed by Maouk.

Chapter Nineteen

Beth was eager to see Riley’s new home.  This was the farthest she had come from the town and the beautiful scenery awed her.  Although only a little over a mile from town, the property was secluded enough to seem as if it were miles from anywhere.

“Riley, it is so beautiful up here! I know you will love living up here.”

Beth hopped down from the wagon as Riley pulled to a stop.

“Go on inside and take a look while I see to the horses,” Riley said.

The house was similar to the one in which the four women lived in town. There were four large rooms. The front two rooms had a fireplace between them.  Riley explained that one of the back rooms would be used a kitchen and the other could be used for storage or another bedroom.  Riley had built a lean-to shelter on the side that could be used for a shelter for a horse or cow.  Riley joined Beth inside and showed her the root cellar and the loft.  The house had a steep roof so that there was enough room in the loft so that Beth could stand upright.  Riley explained that there was room to hang wet clothes if it was raining.
          “Riley, you have thought of everything!”

“I still need to get a cook stove and some furniture but it is almost ready for me to move in.  What do you think?”

Beth sensed that Riley was asking her more than if she liked the house. 

“Riley, I think you have done a wonderful job.  Everything looks fine.  I am sure you will enjoy living here.”

“But do you think a woman would like it?”

Beth looked a little puzzled by that statement. 

“Riley, I am a woman, and I like it.  What do you mean?”

Riley looked sheepish.  “I guess I didn’t explain very well.  I meant if I ever decided to get married.  Do you think a woman could be happy here?  Especially a city woman.”

Beth chose her next words carefully.  Had she somehow misread the way Riley felt about her? 

“Riley, I think a woman who loved her husband would be happy wherever he was.  Why are you asking me this?  I have to be honest and say that I don’t think you are talking about me.”

Riley’s face turned red as he stammered, “Oh, Beth, I am sorry.  I think a lot of you as a friend but. . . “

“Riley, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.  I think of you as a friend too.  Can you tell me if you have someone special in mind?”

“Well, maybe we had just better wait on that.  There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Let’s go back outside.  There are some logs out front where we can sit down.”

Beth agreed and soon they were sitting on the logs and gazing at the sound below.  Beth caught her breath at the beauty of the scene.

“Riley, this is such a gorgeous view!  I could sit here and look at it all day!”

Making herself turn back toward Riley, she asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Riley pulled the small Bible from his pocket.

“Do you remember when you gave me this on the train?”

“Why, yes.  A good friend, Sarah’s brother, Joe, gave it to me.  He wanted me to use it to witness to someone here.  Have you been reading it?”

“Yes, and I have some questions about it.  Remember when Pastor Taylor led the first service in the church?  He preached on those verses that he called the A B C verses.  He said that is all that a person has to do to be saved.  But, Beth, why does a person have to be saved?  I can believe in God.  Look at all the beauty around us.  I have to believe someone created it.  Nothing this beautiful could just happen.  But I try to be a good person.  I try to be honest in my dealings with others.  I don’t lie or hurt others.  Why do I need to be saved?”  Riley continued, “And look at Hannah.  It seemed to me that she was as good as anyone could be, but then she decided she needed to be saved. Why?”

“Riley, it is just as Pastor Taylor said.  ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’(Romans 3:23)  Hannah was raised in a church just as Mandy, Sarah, and I were.  The difference was that each of us made a decision to follow Christ at an early age.  Hannah had never made that decision.  She believed but she had not taken the next step – total obedience to God.  That means putting God first in everything we do.”

“Riley, I too have tried to be good.   I always wanted to do what my parents asked, and yet I knew I needed to be saved.  One day my mother and I were reading some verses, and it was as if I suddenly understood that I needed Christ in my heart.  I can’t imagine life without Him near me and helping me day by day.  Oh, I have never been tempted to steal or kill anyone.  But I am tempted to be cross or to not apologize when I have wronged someone.  I have gone to church for all of my life so naturally I have always believed in God and that Jesus is His Son.  I even believed that He died on the cross and rose again after three days. I had heard these stories all of my life.  I never doubted them.  But I had not asked Christ into my heart.”

“Riley, may I see the Bible?  I want to show you a special passage that means so much to me.  It’s from John 14.  Here, let me read it to you:

‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples:

‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from henceforth ye know Him. And have seen him.’

“Riley, you say you believe in God.  Here Jesus is telling his disciples that if they believe in God, they should also believe in Him.  He also tells them that the only way to the Father or God is through Jesus.  Let’s look back a few chapters to the verse that says it all –

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

(John 3:16)

“When my mother became ill, she began talking with me about asking Christ into my heart.  I think she knew that she would not get well, and she wanted me to become a Christian before she passed away.  We read many verses together, and each one just seemed to point out to me that I needed to make that decision.

“Riley, that was the most important decision I have ever made or ever will make.  It is more important than whom I marry or what type of work I do or where I live.  When my mother died, I don’t think I could have gone on if I had not had the hope of eternal life and the faith that someday I will see her again.  God has helped me through so much.

“I have told you a little of what it was like on our farm.  My father is not a Christian, and he never had a kind word to say about anything I did.  I cooked and cleaned and ran the house from the time I was ten years old, but he just acted like I was supposed to do it all.  I didn’t really mind doing it or waiting on my mother, but it would have been nice if he had thanked me or acted like he appreciated what I was doing.  I couldn’t have made it without the Lord.  I don’t see how anyone can make it day to day without Him.

“Another of my favorite passages is from Proverbs.  It goes like this: 

‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thou ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.’

(Proverbs 3: 5 – 6)

“I know that I don’t understand everything about God. None of us can.  Our human minds simply cannot comprehend the majesty of God.  But I do know that if you trust Him, He will help you and guide you in all that you do.  He will give you peace in a way I can’t fully explain to you, but you will understand better once you accept Him as your Lord and Savior.  I hope you will make that decision.  I promise you that you will never regret it”

Riley rubbed his chin as he thought. 
          “I am just not sure, Beth.  What you are saying makes sense.  But I don’t know that I want to depend on someone else. I’ve made it this far without God, and I think I am doing all right.”

Beth looked at Riley and said seriously, “Riley, you may think you have made it on your own, but God is watching over you.  Why, I know that Sarah, Mandy, and I have been praying for you since the day we met you, and I imagine there are others who pray for you too.  You are well thought of in this community and have many friends.   Having Christ in your heart will change you in ways you cannot even comprehend.  But it takes faith to ask Jesus into your heart.  Faith that God can and will change you for the better.  Don’t worry, we will all continue praying.  Would you like for me to pray with you now?”

Riley scratched his head and looked thoughtful, “Well, I guess I don’t mind if you pray, but I don’t know what good it will do.”

“You might be surprised!”

Bowing her head and closing her eyes, Beth began to pray.

“Father, thank you that Riley has come to me today to ask these questions.  Thank you that he has cared enough to read Your word.  I believe that You are working in his life right now and have been for several weeks.  God, You know that we are nothing compared to You and our minds cannot even comprehend how truly great and holy You are.  Help Riley to understand how much he needs You in his life.  Guide him to the scripture that he needs to read to help him understand just how much he needs You.  Lord, make his mind and heart open to Your word.  I just pray that he will soon know You as I do and that You will pour down Your blessings upon him in such a way that he can have no doubt as to Your power and glory.  Send your Holy Spirit to guide him in his search for You.  Bless him today and in the future.  Thank You for the friends he has in Your family.  Help each of us to be a good witness to him.  Thank You for Your presence here now. Amen”

Riley was quiet on the way back to town, and Beth continued praying silently for his salvation.  She felt that Riley was close to making a decision, and she prayed that he would listen to the Lord speaking to him. 

When they pulled up in front of the house, Hannah came out the front door.

“Oh, there you are.  Is Mandy with you?”

“No, she was here when we left.  Didn’t she leave a note?”

“No, I didn’t see one.  I have been home for over an hour. I went by to see Jacques while I was out so I know she didn’t go there.  She wasn’t at the store either.  Sarah left to go up to the logging camp.  There has been another accident up there. I am a little worried about Mandy because it is not like her to go out alone, especially for so long.”

“I am sure she will be back soon,”

Beth looked worried, and Riley followed her into the kitchen to look for a note from Amanda.

“What’s this?”

The women looked to see Riley with the small basket that contained the bead necklace.

“Oh, that was left on our doorstep sometime this morning,” Beth said.  “We had no idea where it came from.  I meant to ask you about it.  We thought one of the men must have left it there.”

Riley asked harshly, “What about other things?  Has anything else been left on your doorstep?”

“Well, yes.  There have been fish and game left there.  We thought some of the men were leaving it.  They have brought us food before.”

One look at Riley’s face and the two women were thoroughly frightened.

“These weren’t left by any of the men in town.  This was left by an Indian, probably Maouk.  This is the way they court a woman.  They leave gifts at the door, and if the woman accepts them, it means she accepts their courtship!  Beth, can you think of anywhere else Mandy might have gone?”

“No, unless she went to see Estelle Taylor. One of us usually goes over every day, and since we were gone, she might have gone over there.  Do you want us to run over there and check if she is there?”

“Yes.  Stay together.  I am going to get some of the men.  Meet us back here in ten minutes or less, if possible.”

Riley left toward town and Beth and Hannah ran down the street toward the Taylor home.  Pausing just long enough to catch their breath, Beth cautioned Hannah against upsetting Estelle.

“We will just ask if Mandy has been there, and if she is, we will hurry to tell Riley and the others.  If she has been and is not now, one of us should stay with her until we know something.”

Hannah readily agreed that she would stay while Beth went back to tell the others, and they knocked on the door of the Taylor home.

Less that two minutes later, Beth was running as fast as she could back toward their house.  She had only gone a short distance when she met Riley, along with five or six other men from the town.  Riley had unhitched the horse and was riding him bareback.  Several of the others were also on horseback, and Beth was alarmed to see that they were carrying firearms.

“Riley,” Beth shouted.  “Mandy was there over two hours ago.  She left saying she was going home to do laundry.  Estelle hasn’t seen her since.”

“No one has seen her in town either,” Riley said grimly.  “We are going out to the Indian village.”

“What can we do?”  Beth was frantic at the thought that something had happened to her friend.

“Pray!” Riley shouted over his shoulder, as he and the others rode off into the woods.

Chapter Eighteen

“Hello, Jacques,” Amanda said to the Frenchman as she entered the Parker home.  Jacques was much improved and was now able to get about the rooms of the house with the aid of a crutch he had fashioned from some scraps of wood Mr. Parker had brought him.  Several weeks had passed since his accident, and Sarah said that he would be back to normal before much longer.

“Bon Jour, Mademoiselle.  Et es lovely to see your beautiful face today.”  Jacques smiled at her from his seat beside the fireplace.  “I wish to say merci – thank you – to you for all your kind care while I was ill, oui?  I have present for you. Come, see.”

“Oh, Jacques, you didn’t have to give me a present. I am just glad that you are feeling better.  Doctor Sarah says you will be back to normal in no time at all.”

Amanda walked closer to see what Jacques had in his hand.

“Jacques, they are darling!  How did you make them?  They look as if they are real!”

In Jacques’ hand were tiny animals carved from wood.  There was a rabbit, a fox, a fish, and, Amanda’s favorite, a baby fawn.

“OH, et es nothing.  I make with my knife, oui?  I have nothing to do so I ask Mr. Parker if he bring wood to me.  Et es just something to do while I sit here before the fire.  You pick the one you wish, and I give the others to Doctor Sarah, Miss Beth, and Miss Hannah to thank them for their kindness.  I will move to boarding house with Riley and Will in two days.  Mr. Parker say I can work at mill until I am stronger.  The Parkers are very nice too, oui?”

“Yes, they have been nice to you.  Thank you so much for the carvings.  I know the others will love them too.  And before you know it, you will be going to the parties again!”

Jacques smiled at her words.  Amanda already knew that he liked to flirt with the ladies.  But in truth, he was friendly to everyone.

Amanda went to find Mrs. Parker.  She had brought some beans from their garden to share.  The garden was growing so fast because of the long days and abundant rainfall.  They had been busy canning and preserving all they could and were enjoying fresh vegetables with all of their meals.

Coming back into the front room, Amanda thanked Jacques once again before leaving to go home.  Amanda had not seen anything of the Indian Maouk since the day he came into the store.  She felt he had decided to leave her alone since the men had spoken to him.  She no longer felt nervous about going around town alone; however, she still did not go out of the town and continued to cover her hair with a bonnet. 

As Amanda neared their house, she saw Hannah in front, and she waved to get her attention.  Hannah held a small basket in her hand and held it out to Amanda as she came closer.

“Mandy, did you see this when you went out?”

Amanda examined the basket and saw that it held a necklace made of trading beads.

“No, I haven’t seen if before.  Where did you find it?”

“It was right here on the doorstep when I opened the door to sweep.”

“It is unusual that someone would leave that on our doorstep.  I am used to the men leaving fish or game but I haven’t seen a necklace like this before.  Maybe we should ask one of the men about it.”

The women went into the house, and Amanda placed the basket on the shelf in the front room.

“I am so excited about teaching school in the fall.  The town leaders were very supportive when Riley suggested it to them.  I met another family today at the store on my way to the Parkers.  By my count, I should have at least twenty in my class.  I went by the store to see if Ben could get me a catalog so that I might order some more books and other supplies.  The men of the church have agreed to build a school one Saturday.  All of the people of the community will meet and they should finish it in one day.  I hope and pray that I can do a good job teaching the children all they need to know.”

Hannah assured her that she would do fine.

“Beth and Sarah have both told me what a wonderful teacher you are.  And I can tell by our Bible study times that you are a born teacher.  You have a way of making everything seem so clear.  The children will love you!”

“I hope everything works out.  We’d better get busy picking the rest of those beans if we want to have them canned by tonight.  I love having enough food so that we will have plenty for winter.  Ben told me that we would be able to get apples in the fall.  Our root cellar will be full with the potatoes and canned goods.”

The two worked all day and were just finishing with the last of the beans when Sarah and Beth came in that evening.

“It looks as if you two have been busy all day.  I am so thankful for all of my roommates!  I would starve this winter if it were up to me to cook, and I don’t think I could ever can anything!”  Sarah laughed.

“Of course, you could,” Amanda said.  “I didn’t know anything about canning when I came, but Beth and Hannah have taught me so much that I wonder why I never did it before!”

“I don’t have to work tomorrow so I can help some.  I just have to finish the dress I am making for Cora Parker.  I have several ladies who want to order dresses, but I haven’t had time to sit down with them to pick out the material or a pattern.  I expect to be busy this fall with sewing.  I don’t know if I will continue working in the fall.  I will need to help Hannah and my dressmaking business is really growing too,” Beth said.

“Do you think that Ben might let me work some in the store?  I want to be able to contribute to our supplies, and I would like to have some money of my own.  I could help you with some of the sewing too,” Hannah said.

“That would be wonderful.  I am pretty sure Ben will be agreeable, but I will ask him about it when I see him.  What else do you have to do in the garden?” Beth asked.

“We were planning to try canning tomatoes tomorrow.  I haven’t canned any before, so I will be glad of your help,” said Amanda.

“I will be glad to help.  They are easy to do, and we will be happy to have them when we make soup this winter,” Beth replied.

“Sarah, you and Beth don’t know anything about a bead necklace, do you?  It was left on our doorstep sometime this morning.  I didn’t see it when I went out, but Hannah found it while I was gone.  It was in a small basket,” Amanda said.

“No, I can’t imagine who would have left it there.  Where is it?”

Amanda went to get the tiny basket and necklace from the front room.  Sarah and Beth looked closely at the necklace but neither had seen one like it.

“This basket is like the ones the Indians make, isn’t it?” asked Sarah.

“Yes. We have them in the store.  We have the beads as well but not in necklaces.  The Indians trade pelts and other supplies for them.  Others buy them too and I have seen some of the trappers with them.  They have usually traded with the Indians for them,” said Beth.

“But why would they be on our doorstep?” asked Hannah.

“I don’t know, but I will ask someone who has lived here longer.  They might be able to give us an idea of where they came from and why.”

The women began preparing their evening meal and forgot about the beads as they visited and told about their day.  All joined in the clean up and they were soon ready for the nightly Bible study.

“I am glad that I could be here tonight.  I really miss these times of Bible study when I am out on calls,” said Sarah.

Since Sarah could not always be with them as they studied, she asked that she lead for that evening.  The others readily agreed.

Taking her Bible, she turned to Psalm 27:

‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me: He shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidest, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.’ (Psalm 27)

“This is a wonderful passage for times when we are fearful or lonely,” said Sarah.  “It meant so much to me when I had to leave St. Louis and travel to a strange place in order to study medicine.  There I was  - hundreds of miles from home and in a strange city.  I was the only female student and many of the others shunned me.  I felt like I did not have a friend in the world.  But the Lord sent Mandy to me to be my friend.  And I found out that, even if our earthly family is far away, we can have Christian friends near us to give us support.  We are all a part of the family of God!”

“Yes, I felt the same way when I got to Boston.” Amanda continued.  “I had never been so far north, and then the war started.  I could not have gotten home if I had tried.  I would have had to cross enemy lines.  I was worried about my family and had no way to get word to them, and they couldn’t get a letter to me for a long time.  Just when I was at my lowest, I met Sarah.  She was truly an answer to prayer.  I feel like she could be my sister.  And now our family has grown to include the two of you!”  Amanda stopped to smile at Beth and Hannah, and all four joined hands for a moment.

Beth continued, “I think this is a wonderful promise that God will always be with us and will protect us.  He will give us the strength we need in any situation. He has taken care of me thus far, and I trust that He will continue to do so.”

The women held hands as each one prayed.  They thanked God for His faithfulness and for their friendship.  They prayed that God would continue to watch over them and for His guidance in the days to come.  They rejoiced together for God’s promises of protection and for Hannah’s newly found salvation

The next morning, Hannah and Amanda rose early in order to get the chores done before starting on the job of picking, washing and canning the tomatoes.  Taking two large baskets out into the garden they were just finishing picking the last of the tomatoes when Beth came out to tell them that breakfast was ready.

“I can’t believe you have already picked all of the tomatoes.  They are so beautiful and there are so many of them!  We should be able to get several dozen jars!” Beth exclaimed.

Sarah had gone to check on Jacques so the other three women prepared the tomatoes for canning.  Although it was hard work, they were finished by lunchtime. 

Looking at the jars of bright red tomatoes cooling on the counter, Hannah cried, “I am so proud that we could get all of these done!  With all three of us, it wasn’t much trouble at all!”

After eating lunch, Hannah left to go to the community building.  She had promised to help some of the new women with their laundry.  Beth went to the front room where she was working on the dress for Cora Parker and Amanda began preparing to do their laundry.  They liked to wash clothes whenever the weather was sunny so that they would dry quickly.  With the frequent rains, they could never be assured of clear days.

The two had not worked for long when they were interrupted by a knock on the front door.  Putting aside the dress, Beth opened the door to admit Riley.

“Hi, Riley.  Why aren’t you at work?  Is everything all right?” Beth wanted to know.

“Well, yes, nothing is wrong.  Beth, I was wondering if you would go for a ride with me?  I borrowed a wagon and horse from the livery.  I thought we might go up to see my house.  It is almost ready to move into.  I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Of course, I will be happy to talk with you.  I just need to tell Mandy where I am going.  Or did you want her to come too?” asked Beth.

“No, not this time.  I really want to talk with you by yourself if you don’t mind,” Riley answered.

Beth went into the kitchen to tell Amanda that she was going with Riley for a ride to see his new home.  Amanda put on a bright smile and told her that was fine, and Beth left without noticing that her friend’s smile was forced.  She was not aware that Amanda had overheard their conversation when Beth had answered the door.

Amanda was able to hold her smile until Beth and Riley left and then she walked to the table and sat down.  Placing her head in her hands, she prayed, “Oh, Lord, help me to be happy for Riley and Beth.  Why do I feel this way?  I knew all along that Riley was falling in love with Beth.  How could he help it?  She is so sweet and such a wonderful friend to me.  Please help me not to be jealous, Lord.  I do wish her every happiness, but it hurts me so badly to see her with Riley.’

“Lord, I tell myself that I don’t want Beth to marry a non-believer and that is true; but the truth is, I don’t want her to marry Riley.  I think I love him myself.  Oh, how will I keep that a secret from Beth?  How can I act happy for her when I feel as though my heart is breaking?  Lord, please help me with this.  I know that neither of us should marry Riley as long as he is not a Christian, but if he should accept you, Lord, help me to be happy for them both.  Help me to get over this jealousy and the hurt that I feel.  I want to be a good friend to Beth, and if she marries Riley, my feelings for him will always be in the way of our friendship.  But I can’t tell her. Lord, and I don’t think I can even tell Sarah.  She might let something slip to Beth.  Lord, what can I do?  Please give me guidance in this.” 

Laying her head on her arms, she broke down into tears, and it was several minutes before she could compose herself.

“Lord, I know You will help me,” she said resolutely.  “I’ll just put my mind on other things.”

Rising from the table, she decided to visit Estelle Taylor and to take a jar of the tomatoes with her.  She changed into a clean skirt and blouse and left for the short walk to the Taylor  home.  Amanda  arrived at the Taylor home within a few minutes, and as always Estelle was happy to see her.  Amanda did a few small chores for her and sat down for a chat.  Many in the community had offered help as soon as they found out that Estelle was confined to her bed.  Estelle usually had several visitors a day, and the community was generous with food and help with chores.

“Let me take your laundry with me.  I am going to do ours when I get home.  It won’t be any trouble to do yours at the same time.”

“Mandy, you are too good to me.  I will never be able to thank you enough for all you have done to help me – and I don’t know what I would have done without Sarah, especially on the trip.  I just feel so much better having a woman doctor!”

“We are glad to help.  And you know you would do the same for any of us,” replied Amanda.

Wishing her continued improvement in her health, Amanda went out of the door of the small house on the edge of town.  Looking toward town, she knew that she wanted a little more time alone.

“It won’t hurt to walk a bit.  I need to think about how I am going to act when Beth tells me she and Riley are getting married.  I have to act like I am happy for them both,” Amanda thought.  She prayed that she would be able to make them think that she was happy about their marriage.  Amanda was so deep in thought that she did not realize that she had gone several hundred yards into the forest on the edge of town.

Stopping for a moment, she thought of how she could smile at Beth.  Maybe she could pull that off, but she doubted if she would ever be able to smile at Riley convincingly.

Suddenly, everything went black and Amanda felt someone grab her around her middle and pick her up.  Stunned, she did nothing for a second, but she soon began to kick and fight to try to get away.  Whoever had her just held on to her tighter.  Amanda thought she had some type of blanket around her and it smelled of the fish oil that the Indians rubbed on their bodies.  Amanda’s whole body stiffened as she realized that one of the Indians must have her.  She tried to scream but the blanket got into her mouth and the taste and the smell made her feel as if she might be sick.  Still she struggled to get away until she felt a sharp blow to the side of her head and everything went dark.