Read Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) for Free Online Page B

with were those types of folks. My prayer for you is a speedy healing. Corinne tells me about your brother and how you long to re-unite. I will be praying for him too. Somehow, girlie, you are now my family, and as such, so is he.
    I will talk briefly of an encounter I had with Andrew, not to cause you pain but to hopefully help your heart to heal. I have shed a tear for you and for him. Seems a strange thing to say but I can honestly say his death was hard on me. He was a broken and angry young man, his conscience about his treatment of you did bring him to me more than once in the weeks before his death. He stayed away from the wagon train as much as possible. People treated him differently after the rumors started about how he had acted with his servant.
    I know he went to God often for forgiveness. The day you were left at the fort he was desperate and frantic, after securing you a safe place he was finally able to confess all to me and then finally to God. He was a troubled man but he did feel shame for what he had done.
    I know it doesn’t undo your blood on the ground, your broken bones and bruises. I fight my own feelings of regret for how I should have intervened somehow. But I hope the vision I can leave with you, a broken man, praying for God’s forgiveness can be an encouragement for you, and a balm to your heart.
    You need not write back to me, but I do expect to see your healthy red cheeks and green eyes again within a year or so. Corinne will not be content unless you are safe in her keeping for a spell.
     
    Clive Quackenbush
     
    Angela was lost to tears for a few hours. She read and re-read these letters, talked and hugged Edith more times than she could count. She felt a wash of emotional confusion that overwhelmed her. The man who had sent her to her death had perished. She tried to clear her thoughts and pray for peace but her mind kept going back to everything she had ever thought of him. The multitudes of prayers she prayed that God would help her forgive him. She had felt many times that she had put it past forgiveness in her mind to then relive the pain and hurt and have to forgive him again.
    Now he was dead. She reminded herself. She had to let it truly sink in. It was the only way that perhaps her mind can truly let it go, forever.
    Clive’s words sunk in over the next few days and Angela was glad that Andrew had finally realized the error of his attitude to herself and his own wife. It was a wicked shame that someone had to nearly die for him to come to that realization.
    Angela also came to terms with the fact that she would never be able to confront Andrew. Her forgiveness would have to be completely within herself. Andrew would never have an opportunity to apologize. In a way it helped her to forgive him more. She began to focus on praying for his family and that they would be comforted in their mourning.
    It was with teary eyes and a calmed heart that she finally wrote back to Corinne.
     
    * * * * *
     
    December 1 st 1848
     
    Dearest Corinne,
     
    I received your bundle of letters. I have been at a loss for a few days at what to think or say. I am sorry for what Andrew went through. His death must have been difficult, I know what cholera is and its horrors are well known.  I am glad to know in my heart that he knew God and has a place in heaven. My tears lately have been for poor Andrew and his young life gone. I had such hard feelings for him for a short time after being hurt, remembering how alone I was in the dark of that ravine due to his irresponsible actions. He was young and a bit foolish with you and me, but it is a shame for his life to be snuffed out. 
    I am glad the Grant family is with you. I look forward to seeing them again, as well as Clive. Can you send salutations to dear Mr. Quackenbush for me? I do dearly miss his teasing, and his wisdom. He helped me through many lonely moments when I was not allowed to talk with you along the trail. 
    I received a packet of mail