Angela's Hope (Wildflowers) by Leah Banicki Read Free Book Online Page B

of her own throat when she saw her dearest friend.
    “Corinne!!” Angie yelled and found herself running on her weary legs. They protested with burning pain and a bone-weariness but she pushed it away.
    Her arms wrapped around her friends shoulders and they laughed and cried together. It was a momentous occasion for Angie and her mind thought it would never be so. Her prayers and dreams had come to fruition.
    “Oh, you don’t know how much I prayed for you Angie. I know what you went through.” Corinne wiped away Angie’s tears as they looked each other over. Corinne looked happy and healthy with her rosy complexion and dark brown hair.
    “You look radiant, my friend.” Angie said and gave her a glance down from her face to her shoes. It stopped on the way back up to the wedding band on Corinne’s left hand. “You are married!”
    Corinne nodded happily.
    Angie hugged her again and then added. “I beg you, find me a chair, and bath and then tell me all. You smell like a floral garden as always, making me more and more aware that I do not.” They shared a laugh as Angie led Corinne back to the wagon where she introduced the Brannigan family to her friend. The Brannigans were eager to be on their way but polite to Corinne and spoke only praise about her comrade Angela.
    “She was a dear girl and a pleasure to travel with. My bairns will be sad to not have her sweet hugs every morn.” Mrs. Brannigan said before she left with her children in tow, her husband giving her eager looks to be about their own business.
    Corinne took Angela back to the party of people waiting for her. After Corinne’s father made his presence known and introductions and hugs given by Angie they gathered luggage and headed back to their group and wagon waiting in the fields nearby. A feast was prepared and families from the arriving wagons were fed and helped. There was a boardinghouse in town for those without shelter and barns for animals to be fed and cared for.
    “Angie, meet my husband, Lucas Grant.” Corinne announced.
    Angie smiled and embraced the familiar man before her.
    “Oh Lucas, I somehow knew you would turn out well.” Angie teased him about how she secretly knew that he had an eye for her friend.  “You were always nearby. Thank you for making my Cori so glowingly happy.” Angela’s praise made Lucas blush the tiniest amount, which continued the teasing from others nearby.
    “Where’s my redhead girl?” She heard the man’s voice before she saw him.
    “Clive!” Angie peaked around Lucas and saw the man with a heart of gold. His peppered hair cut shorter than he kept in on the trail last year, he wore a vest and tie and she was taken aback by his cleanliness. “You look like a city merchant, Clive.” She laughed and saw him curtsy in his comedic way.
    “You scared me last year, my girl. We were all afraid for ya. I can’t say how warm my heart is today to see you alive and well. Though you are mite skinny girl. Corinne better feed you good to get the red back in your cheeks instead of it all bein’ in your hair.” Clive looked upon her with some emotion. She could tell he was happy to see her.
    “I shall be glad for some love and care for a few days, but mostly a roof over my head and the ground staying firm beneath my feet. I am so weary of the traveling. I have walked through two pairs of good shoes.” Angie confessed. Clive sat her down and planted a well meant kiss on the top of her red head.
    Everyone that loved and cared for the girl watched her eat heartily with a caring eye. All with memories of a year gone by of worries and regret for the girl’s past troubles. All secretly praying for her life to now be one of safety and healing. 
     
    * * * * *
     
    Angela Fahey awakened in a strange room; the outer wall with the curtained windows had smooth logs that were a warm light brown with white chinking to keep out the breeze. The inner walls were nicely decorated with shelves and books. Angela smiled