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Chapter Four

As Amanda was telling Riley goodbye at the door of the cabin, Sarah rode by on her way to the stable in back.  She raised a hand in greeting but continued to the back.  This was her usual way so Amanda was not surprised.  Riley went on to work at the saw mill and Amanda entered the cabin just as Beth came into the front room. 

“How did it go with Pastor Taylor?” Beth asked.

“It went really well.  He shared several Bible passages with us, counseled us and had prayer with us.  I am so happy that Riley was willing to go with me and that he has given his heart to the Lord.  Beth, I shudder every time I think about your father wanting you to marry Mr. Zimmerman!  It would have been so difficult for you with no one to share your Bible study and prayer time.”

“I know and I would have missed your friendship dreadfully if you had come out here and I had stayed behind in Ohio.  I know that I did the right thing by not marrying a man who is not a Christian but I did not love Mr. Zimmerman and I don’t think he loved me either. I just don’t think it would have been a good marriage at all.”

 “Hannah has already gone to the store but I waited for you because I didn’t want to leave Emily plus I have something to show you.  Will you come in the bedroom with me?”

Amanda nodded and followed Beth into the room all the women shared, wondering what she wanted to show her.  As she entered the room, her eyes saw a lovely off white dress on the bed.

“Mandy, this was my mother’s wedding dress and I want you to wear it on Sunday.  I think it will fit you perfectly because my mother was a little taller than I am.”

“Oh, Beth, I couldn’t.  What if something happened to it?  You should save it for when you get married!”  Amanda protested.

“Mandy, you are like a sister to me.  You are really all the family I have because I know my father has disowned me and I have no idea where Tommy is.  It just seems right since both of our mothers are gone.  And I can still wear it.  Please try it on and let’s see how it fits.” Beth pleaded.

“Well…. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try it on, if you are sure…”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Amanda slipped the dress over her head and Beth fastened the row of buttons up the back.  Amanda tried to see her reflection in the small mirror but she couldn’t see much.

“Oh, Mandy, you look beautiful and it is a perfect fit!  We can put some flowers in your hair and you will look so beautiful.  You can put it on right after church, right before you are married.  Please wear it,” Beth smiled at her best friend.

Amanda hugged Beth and said, “If you are sure, I will wear it.  And I will think of both of our mothers looking down from heaven and I think they would both have been pleased.”

Beth helped Amanda take off the dress.  “I will press it and have it all ready for you on Sunday!  You will be the most beautiful bride here!”

Just then Sarah walked into the room. Both the other women could see at a glance that she was tired but also upset. 

“Sarah, are you all right?  You look very tired but you also look upset!  Is something wrong?”

Sarah sat on the bed nearest the door and sighed.  She pushed her sleeve up to show them the bruises that were already forming on her arm.

Amanda and Beth gasped, “What happened?  Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.  The new father just thought I should be a little more friendly,” Sarah said with a wry smile.  “I think I could have handled him but the one person who I would not want to help came to the door then.”

Amanda and Beth looked at each other and said in unison, “J.T.”  They had heard Sarah complain enough about the man that they knew he was the one person that Sarah did not like. 

“Yes, evidently this Mr. Roberts works at the logging camp and he came to see why he had not been at work.  He could see that I was about to hit the man with a frying pan and guessed what was happening.  He stayed until I left and even rode down the mountain with me.  It’s not that I don’t appreciate his help, it is just that he saw this as another good reason to warn me to stay in town.  I know that I could take a gun with me but that wouldn’t have helped today because the man snuck up behind me as I was cleaning up from the delivery.  The baby was not even an hour old!”

Amanda sat beside her friend, “Sarah, you know that you have never let anything stand in the way of you being a physician and this won’t stop you either.  We will figure out a way for you to be safe and to do your job.”

“Well, with Emily here now, even with you moving out, I think this cabin is getting to be too small to use as my office.  Even making house calls as I do, I still need something bigger.  I have to see Will later today to check his arm and I’ll talk to him about it then. Now I need to clean and sterilize my instruments and take a nap,” Sarah yawned.

Beth left for work and Amanda went to the kitchen to help Sarah with her instruments.  It was very unusual for the young doctor to wait to prepare her instruments until she came back to town.  She had always said that she always had to be ready for an emergency and Amanda sensed that her friend was even more upset than she was showing.

Sarah went to the bedroom to take a much needed nap and Amanda went to check on Emily, before sitting down at the kitchen table to work on her lesson plans for the first week of school.   She knew that one of the first things she would need to do was to find the level of each child.  Some children had never been to school while others had been taught at home.  There were even a few who had gone to school back east before traveling west.  Amanda was sure that she would find children of all ages and levels.  She had ordered a variety of books of different levels and hoped that she would have some students that were more advanced.  She also wanted to meet with some of the new women to see if they would like to help or if any of them wanted or needed more schooling.

After working for several hours, Amanda put her books and papers away and began to prepare their evening meal.  Sarah had gone to check on Will Sloan, a friend of Riley’s who had been injured when Amanda had been kidnapped.  He had been shot in the arm with an arrow and Sarah had had to surgically remove it.  He worked as a carpenter and it was vital that he recover the use of his arm and he had faithfully done the exercises that Sarah had given him.  Amanda was thankful that he had almost fully recovered.

She quietly went into the front room to check on Emily.  Finding her awake, Amanda helped her to sit up in the bed.

“Let’s get you up and sitting in this rocking chair while I change your sheets.” 

Amanda helped Emily to the chair next to the bed and covered her with a quilt.  She knelt in front of her to put on a pair of slippers.

“I don’t understand why you are all so nice to me.  I was horrible to you on the trip out here and you do everything for me,” Emily whispered.

Amanda smiled at the other woman and sat on the bed.  “Emily, it is the right thing to do as a Christian.  Christ taught that we should all be servants to each other.  Christ even washed the feet of the disciples.  We want to help you. “

“But I was so mean to you.  I thought I was better than anyone and now look at me.  Ruined!”

Amanda leaned across and took Emily’s hand, “Emily, you made some bad choices but we all have done that.  Maybe ours did not turn out as badly as yours but we all have sinned.  We are just so happy that you are alive and back with us.  And you know that Christ forgives all sins, even murder.  In His eyes, all sins are the same.  Didn’t you go to church growing up back in Kentucky?”

“Well, yes, but I don’t think I listened that much.  I was too worried about how I looked and if I had the prettiest outfit and if people were looking at me,” Emily hung her head.

“I wish now that I had listened more and listened to my parents too.  All I wanted were things and now look, those things are all gone and I have nothing!”

“That’s because you were worried about the wrong kinds of ‘things’.  You should have been worried about your treasures in heaven.  Here, let me show you what it says in the Bible about treasures,

‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew 6:19 – 21 KJV’

“See, Emily, all of your possessions were of this earth and they were torn and got dirty or even sold, and the money did not keep you safe.  But the good things that you do are like treasures in heaven, not just doing good for others but also reading and studying the Bible and witnessing to others.  But no matter how good any of us are, we can never be good enough to save ourselves.  It says in the Bible, ‘not by works but by faith’ so our works cannot save us, only if we have faith that Christ can save us.  It is His mercy and grace that saves us because He has already died for our sins.”

“I want to believe and be changed but I don’t think I have enough faith yet,” said Emily.

Patting Emily’s hand, Amanda said, “Well, we will continue to pray for you and that you will have faith.   You know I heard my pastor back home say one day that faith is like that chair you are sitting in, you don’t know that it will hold you up, but you sat in it anyway, having faith that it will hold you and keep you from crashing to the ground.  Faith is like that.  Sometimes you just have to step out in faith and the rest will follow.”

Amanda quickly changed the sheets on the bed and straightened the covers.

“I think you are strong enough to join us at the table tonight, don’t you?”

“Oh, no, I don’t want anyone to see me,” Emily was still easily frightened after her experiences in San Francisco. 

“The only ones here will be Sarah, Hannah, Beth and me and you have seen all of us.  You can’t stay in this room forever.  Just take it slowly a little bit at a time.  Don’t worry.  We will be with you.  I really wish you would come with us to church on Sunday when I marry Riley.”

“Oh, no, I can’t go out yet.  And I am never going to marry.  I will work for Sarah.”

“Do you think you will be able to nurse and take care of all the patients?  If that is what you want, I know that Sarah will help you.  But you know that Beth has started a business as a seamstress and what this town really needs is someone to make hats.  I’ll bet you would be wonderful at that with your background.  Just think about it.  You have many choices in front of you and we will all be praying for you and you should pray too”

“I don’t think I know how to pray,” Emily said.

“Well, you know how to talk to a friend, don’t you?  God is the best friend you will ever have.  He already knows your thoughts so just talk to him like a friend and it will get easier each time.”

Amanda helped Emily to stand and to walk into the kitchen.  When the others returned, they were pleased and surprised to find Emily at the table.  Amanda had warmed the soup and made corn bread and they all enjoyed the meal together after a prayer.  Beth had made a pie early that morning and they finished the meal with a piece for each of them. 

They all worked together to clean up after the meal as Beth helped Emily into the front room.  They all gathered there for their nightly Bible study.

“Before we start, I would like to speak with all of you,” said Sarah.  “I spoke with Will today and we went to look at a building in town.  It actually is just a few doors from Ben’s store.  It has an upstairs where we can live and Will is going to make four rooms downstairs.  It has been a dream that I could start a hospital here and this will be a first step toward that.  I also want to train nurses to help me..  I hope that you will be willing to move with me.  Also, Hannah, you were at the store this morning when I came back from delivering a baby.”  Pausing to push up her sleeve, Sarah showed the ugly bruises caused by Mr. Roberts’ fingers that morning. Hannah’s and Emily’s faces showed shock and dismay that someone would attack the young doctor who was a friend to all.

“I have been thinking and praying about this all day and it seems that maybe I should have someone to go with me on calls.  As you know, Jacques’ leg is still not completely healed and he does not like working in the saw mill.  I spoke with him and Jane today.  They are willing to work for me.  Jacques will accompany me on calls and Jane will train as a nurse.  That will leave more time for each of you to choose the work that you wish to do.  Beth, I know you are building your seamstress business and you and Hannah are both working with Ben in the store.  Amanda, you will be teaching and also moving out when you marry. If you agree, Jacques and Jane will move into this cabin.  I can keep the horse here but I think it will be better if I have regular office hours.”

“I suggested to Emily today that she might want to try her hand as a milliner. I think she would do well because she had so many beautiful hats.  Or she might want to work in the store too,” said Amanda.  “But there is no rush for you to make a decision, Emily.  You need to pray and see what God has planned for you.”

“That is a good idea, Mandy.  Emily, you have so much fashion sense that I know you could help me with choosing the best materials and styles for dresses too,” said Beth.

“Let’s go ahead and have our Bible study and a time of prayer,” said Sarah.  “There are many things we need to turn over to the Lord.  Some requests that I have are whether this is the right decision to move to another office and also prayer for that poor lady, Mrs. Roberts, who had the baby today.  Her husband didn’t want to do any of the work and help her until J.T. said he had to.  Also we need to pray that Emily will continue to improve and know God’s plan for her.  Beth, are you going to lead us tonight?”

“Yes, I thought that it would be good to read my mother’s letter tonight since Mandy is getting married on Sunday.  My mother passed away when I was twelve but I had missed so much school that I could barely read the letter she wrote before she died.  Mandy helped me with my reading so that when I found it when packing to come out here, I could understand what she had been saying and it had a big effect on my decision to travel to Seattle.  I think it applies to each of us but especially to Mandy as she and Riley marry.  She has read it before but I just wanted to share it with all of you.  She also left a list of Bible verses that were important to her and Mandy and I read them all in the days before we left Cedar Springs.

“I’ll read the letter first,”

‘My Dearest Beth,

I know that I will not be with you much longer.  Though sometimes the pain is almost greater than I can bear, I do not want to leave you.  You are so young to have had to care for me, but no one could have done a better job.  How I wish that I could be here to watch as you grow into a lovely young woman!

Beth, always put the Lord first in your life.  He will never forsake you.  He has been so faithful to me, and I will be so happy to see Him soon.  If you let Him guide your every action, you will always do the right thing. 

I wish I could be there to guide you as you grow.  Already I can see the lovely lady you will be.   I am so happy that you know the Lord as your personal Savior.  There is such precious hope in the knowledge that we will spend eternity together.

I pray that you will never forget all that we have shared.  I am enclosing a list of special scripture that has helped me in times of confusion and trouble.  Keep these close to your heart, and allow the Lord to guide you through His Word. 

Beth, you know that I love your father, but it grieves me that he does not know Jesus as we do.  Please continue to pray that he will come to know the Lord.  When you decide to marry, I hope that you will not marry a non-believer.  God’s Word warns against this.  I was not a Christian when I married and did not even know of these verses, but I do so wish that your father would come to know Jesus.  Marry a man that you love and respect, but be certain that he loves and respects the Lord also.  I believe the man should be the head of the home, as well as the spiritual leader.

There are so many things that I wish I had time to teach you, Beth, but my time on earth is growing shorter.  Always remember that I love you with all of my heart, and, as long as I live, I will pray for you.  I will never really leave you as long as you remember me, for I will live on in your heart.

                                                With all my love,

                                                Mother’

Beth paused to wipe a few tears from her eyes and noticed that Mandy and Emily did the same.  Even Sarah looked like she might cry, missing her mother.

“Just as my mother cautioned me not to marry someone who is not a Christian, we should all heed those verses.  I know that Mandy found herself falling in love with Riley but she knew she could not marry him if he did not decide to follow Christ.”

“The verse I have chosen tonight is one of my favorites and also one of the first that I memorized.  I think we all know it, John 3:16.  Let’s say it together:

‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV’

“If I had only one verse in the Bible to know, this would be it because it really says it all.  God loved us so much that He gave His Son to die in our place so that we would have eternal life.  Jesus loved us enough to leave heaven which must be so wonderful and come down to this earth and suffer and be cursed and whipped for MY sins.  It is amazing to me that He would do that.  I know I don’t deserve to be saved but his mercy and grace is sufficient to save me.  I can never do enough to deserve it but He freely gave forgiveness to me.  I deserve to die but I don’t have to, not really because I know that I will spend eternity in heaven with Him.  Isn’t that the most wonderful thing?”  Beth smiled at the others, finally letting her gaze fall on Emily who was looking at the floor.

“Emily,”  she said softly.  “Look at me.”

Emily slowly raised her eyes to Beth’s.  “God loves you and He has already paid the price for your sins.  You are already forgiven.  You need to forgive yourself. “

“But I have done so much wrong and that man… I just don’t think I can ever be forgiven.”

“Emily, remember when we talked about faith earlier?  That is all you need.  Faith that Christ can and will save you.  It says in Isaiah:

‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  Isaiah 1”18 KJV”

“This was written before Jesus was born on earth but it is a prophet telling us that our sins will be as white as snow!  No matter what our sins, they are washed away by His blood.  Don’t you worry, we will be praying for you and praying that you will have the faith that you need,”  said Amanda.

“Will you help me pray now?”  whispered Emily.  “I want to have what you have.  You all have a peace that I do not have.”

“Of course, we will help you but it has to be your decision.  No one can do it for you.  Not your parents, friends, or pastor.  It can only be done by you.  Just ask God to forgive you of your sins, tell Him that you believe He can forgive you and ask Him to come into your heart.  And He will send His Holy Spirit to you and you will feel His peace.”

Emily whispered a prayer asking for forgiveness and for Christ to enter her life.  Then each of the other women prayed, thanking God for Emily’s decision and asking for guidance in the days ahead.  They also asked God to bless the marriage of Amanda and Riley.  Afterwards they each hugged Emily and told her how happy they were that she had made this decision.  Sarah and Beth helped her into the examination room and helped her to bed. 

“I think you may get dressed tomorrow and even go outside for a few minutes if you wish,” said Sarah. 

Quietly smiling, Emily said, “I may go out in back for a little bit.  It will be good to sit in the sun for a while.”

“Yes, the weather is getting colder. It does not snow as much here as in the mountains but there is usually a good bit of rain so enjoy the sunshine while you can.” Sarah advised. 

Chapter Three

Amanda Stone looked into the small oval mirror in the bedroom that she shared with three other women.  Although not a vain person, she did want to look her best today when she and Riley met with Mr. Taylor, their pastor.  They would be married soon and Mr. Taylor had asked to meet with them.  Hearing a knock on the door, Amanda put down her hair brush and hurried into the front room.  After asking, she opened the door to Riley.  As always, she thought how handsome Riley was and how happy she was to be sharing the rest of her life with him.  But she knew that no matter how much she loved him that there would be no marriage if Riley had not asked Christ to be his personal Savior. 

Amanda smiled at Riley as she welcomed him into the small four roomed cabin.  Sarah used it as an office as well as their home.  Originally Sarah, Amanda and Beth Matthews, one of Amanda’s friends from Ohio had shared the cabin.  Then as the second group of women came to town, Hannah Smith had joined them in the cabin.  There was a small sitting room in front, and next to that was the examination room.  In the back were the bedroom and the kitchen.  They had a small piece of land in the back where they had a garden and a shed for Sarah’s horse.  They had grown many vegetables over the summer and now their pantry was full of canned vegetables as well as those that would keep in the root cellar. 

Amanda turned at the sound of Beth coming into the room from the examination room and quietly shutting the door.  “How’s Emily?” asked Amanda quietly.

Beth shook her head and said, “She’s resting quietly but it is hard to believe that she is the same person we knew on the way out here.  She is so grateful for everything that we do for her and so thin and battered and bruised.  I just thank God that she was able to get away and make her way to us or she may not be alive.  It will take time for her to regain her strength but I think eventually she will be all right.  Sarah seems to think so anyway.

Are you two going to meet with Pastor Taylor now?”

“Yes, we told him we would be over this morning.  Have you heard anything from Sarah?”

“No, but I expect she will be back this morning unless there were problems with the delivery.”

After saying goodbye to Beth, Amanda and Riley began the short walk to the Taylor’s home.  Riley reached over to take Amanda’s hand as they walked. 

“I’ll always feel responsible for what happened to Emily.  I was supposed to be in charge of the group and I should never have left her in San Francisco.”

”But, Riley, you know that all of us begged her not to stay.  I don’t see how you could have made her go with us unless you kidnapped her.  We all have to make our own choices.  Just as you had to do when you accepted Christ, no one can make that choice for you and Emily had to make her own choice, even if it was a bad decision.  I can only pray that she will recover and come to know the Lord as we do.  That will make all the difference in her attitude.  She is so changed that I pray she will be willing to listen to the word of God now.”

In a few minutes, they arrived at the Taylor home.  Sitting next to the new building that would be used for both school and church, the cabin looked inviting with smoke coming from the chimney and some flowers planted in front.  Riley knocked on the door which was immediately answered by Mr. Taylor.

“Come in, come in!  I have been looking forward to your visit. Estelle is resting now so we can talk here without being disturbed.  I am so happy that you agreed to speak with me before the wedding.  So many of the men just want to get married and hurry back to their claim.  We’ve had men from way up in the mountains up north looking for brides.  I just pray that no one rushes into a marriage.  It is much better for two people to get to know each other before they marry.  I have also been praying that the couples will both share a faith in God but it has not always happened.”

Mr. Taylor brought his Bible over to the table and invited Amanda and Riley to sit at the table with him.

“There are two passages that I often like to share with couples before they marry.  The first comes from Ruth.”

Amanda smiled because she was familiar with the passage and thought it appropriate but she looked at Riley to see him shaking his head.  As a new Christian, Riley was not as familiar with the Bible as Amanda who had always attended church and had given her heart to the Lord at a young age.  Sarah’s brother, Joe, had given a Bible to Beth when she was in St. Louis, telling her to give it to someone in order to witness to them.  Beth had given the Bible to Riley and he was studying it every night.  Amanda looked forward to their worship time together as a married couple.

Mr. Taylor found the passage and began to read,

‘And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee:  for whither thou goest, I will go;  and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.’ Ruth 1:16 – 17 KJV

“Now this passage was Ruth speaking to her mother-in-law.  Her father-in-law had died, her husband had died, and her brother-in-law had died.  Naomi, the mother-in-law, had lost her husband and both sons.  She wanted to return to her homeland and begged her sons’ wives to return to their homes.  The other daughter-in-law, Orpah, did return to her home but Ruth would not leave her mother-in-law.  To me the most important part is that Naomi had witnessed to Ruth in such a way, that she also wanted to worship her God and follow her faith.  This is the way it should be in a marriage.  You should want to go where your husband or wife goes, stay with them until death and worship their God.  Riley, I know that Amanda loves you but I also know that she would not marry a non-believer because we have discussed this in our Bible studies on our trip out here.  I know that all of our group that are Christians starting praying for you from the first day of our trip, that your heart would be opened to the Lord and that you would answer His call. 

And we all rejoiced when you made that decision.  I have spoken with you about it and we have prayed together so I know that this was a sincere decision.  Otherwise, I would have misgivings about the marriage.  However, just because both people are Christians, that does not mean that they will never disagree but I pray that you will seek the Lord’s guidance in all of your decisions.  Sometimes it is difficult to put the other person’s needs first but that is what you must try to do.

“Now the second passage I want to read to you is from Ephesians:

‘Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.’

Ephesians 5:22 – 25 KJV

“Now some think that these verses mean that the wife should be as a servant to her husband, but Christ compared himself to a groom and the Church, meaning all who follow Him, as the bride.  We know that Christ gave His life for us and that is what this is saying.  Husbands should be the spiritual head of the home and they should love their wives as Christ loves us.  I believe that a couple should study the Bible together, pray together and make decisions based on the guidance they get from the Lord.  I hope that you will follow this in your marriage.”

Amanda and Riley looked at each other and she waited for Riley to speak.

“Pastor, as a new Christian, I have so much to learn but I am going to keep reading God’s word and coming to church and praying and I know that Amanda will join me in this.  She and her friends have been great witnesses to me and made me see that I really needed God in my life.  We will certainly do all we can to make God a part of our lives and our marriage.”

Amanda agreed and they had a time of prayer together before Riley and Amanda left, walking back toward the cabin. 

Riley stopped near a fallen tree and asked Amanda to sit down.

“Mandy, we really haven’t decided about whether I should accept the job as sheriff and I have to tell you that if I do, the leaders will want me to live in town.  The town is growing so that we really do need a lawman to keep things straight.  I am just not sure that the Lord wants me to do that.  I just built the cabin out on my land and we would have to live in town.  Of course, you will be coming in to teach each day.  I just don’t know what we should do.”

“I have been praying about it, too, Riley.  I am concerned for your safety as that job but we know that many jobs here are dangerous.  I do love the house that you built and would love to live in it.  I think we will have to pray a little longer until God makes it clear to us.”

“I think for now we will plan to move in the house and I will continue working at the saw mill.  It will be too cold for farming and it will bring in a steady income. You can come into town with me each day in the wagon.”

Amanda agreed, “Beth and the others have been so kind to promise to share some of the vegetables and other food we grew.  We need to start moving my things in soon.  I don’t have that much.  I imagine we can move it all in one afternoon with the wagon.  Oh, Riley, I love you so much.  I can’t wait to start our new life together.”

Riley smiled at her.  “I can’t either.  I never knew what blessings I would receive when I agreed to bring that small group out here.  I am so happy to have met you and fallen in love with you but the best part of all has been coming to know Christ as my Savior and growing closer to Him each day.  I can never thank you and the others enough for your witness to me.”

Chapter Two

Sarah Adams cinched the strap under the horse’s belly a little tighter before securing it.  She did not want to take a chance on falling on the rough path ahead.  Looking at the forest around her, she could see a fine mist falling.  She knew that the mist could turn to snow at these high attitudes even though it was late August.  She was thankful for the warm wool cloak that her friend, Beth, had sewn for her.  She also wore a split skirt so that riding was easier.  Beth had had the idea of making her a skirt with a seam up the middle so that it looked like a skirt when she stood or walked but made it possible for her to ride a horse without riding sidesaddle.  Since Sarah often had to travel on medical calls where there were no roads and sometimes barely a path, this had been a very useful garment.  Looking toward her companion, she saw he was ready to go and she swung herself easily into the saddle and followed him up the mountain. 

Sarah was determined to use her knowledge as a medical doctor and had gradually been winning the trust of the settlers in the area..  They loved the beautiful area, although life there was not without hardship and danger. 

Sarah thought back on the happenings since they had arrived.  They had met so many new people and she felt that the people of the area were finally accepting her as a doctor.  Her jaw tightened as she thought of the one person who did not think of her that way.  J.T., the boss of several of the logging camps, had threatened her several times about coming to the camps to work on men with injuries.  He had told her that he did not allow any women in his camps.  Sarah usually did not have a temper to match her auburn hair but somehow J.T. just managed to get her so angry she had trouble controlling her temper.  She had told him in no uncertain terms that she would continue to do her job no matter where it took her!  Every time they met, it seemed as though sparks flew, but she hoped he was a little closer to accepting her as a doctor.

Sarah had no illusions as to her beauty.  In fact, she thought that she was rather plain.  She had auburn hair, which she always wore in a bun at the back, and a rather long face.  She was also tall, within an inch of being six feet, and many men had to look up to her.  She dressed plainly, usually in a white blouse and dark skirt.  She had no wish to marry and wasted no time trying to get men to like her.  She was pleasant to all and genuinely cared for all her patients.  She felt that God had called her to be a doctor and was pleased to finally be able to help so many.  The only other doctor in Seattle was old Doc Jones, who stayed drunk most of the time.  There were a few who still used his services but more and more were coming to view Sarah as a doctor.  This was the reason that she had persevered through all her studies in Boston.  It was almost unheard of for a woman to study to be a physician and many had tried to dissuade her from her studies.  Sarah had accompanied her father, also a physician, on calls since the age of ten, and already knew much about medicine.  Finally she won over her fellow students and even the professors had wished her well at graduation, while warning her that she might not be accepted as a doctor.  When she joined her father’s practice in St. Louis, many of the patients viewed her as a nurse and were willing for her to help them but wanted her father to examine them and give his view before they would accept what Sarah had already told them.  It was for this reason that Sarah had decided to join the group coming to Seattle.   Now months later, she was glad she had.  She knew that she had already saved several lives during her short stay here.

A noise from the man in front of her pulled Sarah’s thoughts back to the present as they pulled up to a rough cabin perched on a hillside.  Sarah could see in a glance that someone had tried to clean around the area and there was a good pile of firewood in preparation for the coming winter.  She quickly dismounted and was already getting her doctor’s case, even as the man came forward to take her horse and direct her to enter the cabin and told her he would care for the horses.  Going into the cabin, Sarah made her way to the bedroom where the man’s wife had been in labor for several hours.  This was one of the most frequent calls Sarah had as the men were nervous about helping their wives with the births.  She imagined this would increase as the women who had newly joined the town married.  This was the reason most of the women had come.  Although the group with whom Sarah and her friends had traveled was a small one, another group had arrived weeks after them, containing over fifty women, all eager to meet a husband and marry.  There had already been several weddings and Amanda and Riley were planning to marry in two weeks.  After checking on her patient, Sarah began the tasks necessary to help with this birth.

Hours later, Sarah gave the newly washed baby to his tired mother.  She would have to speak to the father about getting help for a few days.  Luckily this birth had gone as planned but so many times the settlers waited too late to call for a physician.  It had taken Sarah more than an hour to ride up to this cabin and she was glad that the woman had suffered no harm during the time that it took for her husband to travel into town. 

Sarah began cleaning up the bedclothes and towels that were used during the delivery as well as her instruments which would have to be sterilized before she would be able to use them again.  Carrying the heavy load into the front room, she realized that Mr. Roberts had come into the room and she turned toward him, “If you would like to meet your new son, go on into the bedroom.  I will need some more water but there is time for a short visit.”  She smiled as she continued working, not realizing that the man had moved closer to her. 

“How about you and me having a little fun?  I think my wife will be laid up for awhile and it gets lonesome up here without a women to comfort you,”  Mr. Roberts moved even closer and put one hand on Sarah’s arm.  This was not the first time, a man had thought that Sarah was an easy conquest, but she had to admit that it was the first time a man had tried anything so close to the birth of his own child.

“Mr. Roberts, I am not interested in anything of the sort.  You need to go see to your wife and child!”  Sarah could sound very stern when she wished and since she was a good five inches taller than the man, this usually was all she needed to put the man in his place.  She pulled her arm from his grasp.

This time Mr. Roberts seemed not to care about his wife, though, and took hold of her arm again, even tighter.  Sarah dropped the linens and instruments on the floor and grabbed the frying pan off the cook stove.

“Get back or you’ll be the one needing a doctor,” she warned! 

“Aw, you can’t blame a man for trying.” Mr. Roberts whined.

“I certainly can blame a man for trying something like this when his wife and newborn son are in the next room!  And I do not play those games so get back and go to your wife!” 

As Sarah spoke, there was a knock on the door and she was secretly relieved to know that someone was there and would help her with Mr. Roberts. 

She held the frying pan ready to hit Mr. Roberts if necessary and was glad when he gave her a sour look and sighed.  Going to the door, he called out, “Who’s there?”

“J.T.” came the muffled reply.

Mr. Roberts opened the door and Sarah could instantly see the difference in the man when J.T. walked into the room.  He seemed to respect the man and looked at the floor.

J. T. looked at Sarah still holding the frying pan as if she would hit someone and then gave a hard look to Mr. Roberts. 

“What’s going on here, Buck? I came to see why you haven’t been at work for the past 2 days.”

Buck Roberts still seemed to stare at the floor and say nothing.

Sarah put down the frying pan and answered for him  “His wife just had a baby.  I am sure that he wants to go in and meet his new son.”

J.T. jerked his head at Buck and he went silently into the bedroom.  Then J.T. walked over to Sarah.  “Has he been giving you any trouble? You looked like you were about to throw that pan at him.”

Sarah stiffened.  For some reason, she just could not stand this man and his attitude toward women.  “I am fine.  I have told you before that I can take care of myself!”

“Well, I think I will just stay while you get your things together and take you down the mountain.  How did you get here? I know Buck doesn’t have a wagon and I don’t think one could make it up here.”

“I rode on my horse.  He is in the barn.  I will get my instruments and other items together and will be ready to leave in a few minutes.”

“I guess I’ll have to go out and saddle your horse for you. Women always expect a man to do everything for them.  You need to stay in town like I told you to. :

Sarah drew herself up to her full height, “Mr. … er.. J.T., I am perfectly capable to saddling my own horse, I have been doing it since I was ten and I can find my way back down the mountain.  I am sure that you need to get back to work.”

J.T. looked at her with narrowed eyes, “So I guess, I could just go ahead and leave then?”

“Well,” Sarah hesitated, “I would appreciate it if you would wait until I leave.”

J.T. laughed harshly.  “That’s what I thought.  It looks like you would have learned something from that woman that was kidnapped by the Indian.  It is dangerous around here for a woman and that includes you, pretty doctor lady!”

Sarah’s mouth flew open, First no one had ever called her pretty and she was so used to being self sufficient that it was difficult for her to ask for help, especially from him. 

She decided to say nothing and quickly washed her instruments and packed them in her case.  She would sterilize them back at the cabin. 

“Would you mind standing at the door while I go in the bedroom and check to make sure that I am not leaving anything?” she asked stiffly.

“Ha!  Just as I thought!  Old Buck was bothering you, wasn’t he?  One day you are going to get yourself in trouble that you won’t be able to get out of so easily, you know”

Sarah knocked at the bedroom door and at the sound of Mrs. Roberts’ call, went in to gather anything she had left behind.  She made sure to stand on the opposite side of the bed from Mr. Roberts.  She smiled down at the baby and mother, “I think everything will be fine.  You need to take it easy for a few weeks.  Is there anyone who could come and help you for a few days?”

“I heard you have some women down there staying with you who are good nurses.  Maybe one of them could come up for a few days,” Mr. Roberts smirked.

Sarah looked directly at him.  “My friends are busy nursing others now.  If you can’t find help, then you will have to help your wife.”

“I don’t do women’s work!  Jessie will just have to get up and do it!”

Sarah was disgusted by this man’s attitude.  She could only pray that the women who had just joined the community would not meet men such as Mr. Roberts. 

J.T. spoke up, “You can have the next week off from work, Buck, and I will be coming to check on you and Jessie and the baby.  Jessie is not strong enough to do all that needs to be done and I expect you to do all that is necessary.  You know that I don’t hold with my men having families for just this reason.  Logging is hard work and you don’t need to be distracted but since you insisted on getting married and having this baby, you are responsible and I expect you to do what you need to do!”  J. T. spoke with authority and it seemed that Mr. Roberts was going to listen.

“Thank you for your help,” whispered Jessie.  “I don’t know what I would have done without you!”

“You are quite welcome.  Delivering a healthy baby is one of the parts of my job that I enjoy the most!” Sarah smiled at the woman, even as she gathered her instruments and belongings and made for the door.

Within minutes she was packed and ready to go and on her way to the barn to get her horse.  J. T. followed her and watched as she began the task of saddling her horse. 

“Here, let me do that!  My mother raised me to do things of this sort for women.” J. T. said as he took the saddle from her. 

“Did your mother raise you to treat women like they had no right to be here or to speak so rudely to them? “ Sarah answered.

J.T. stared off into the distance and seemed to be thinking before answering, “No, I guess she didn’t.  She and my sister were two of the sweetest women I have ever known.  They tried to make a gentleman out of me but I guess that is one thing that they failed to do!”

J.T. quickly saddled the horse and then moved to help Sarah mount. 

“That is not necessary,” she said as she swung herself into the saddle.  J.T. mounted his own horse and led the way back toward town. 

They had not gone very far when Sarah called out to him, “You don’t have to go all the way back to town.  I know you want to get back to your work.”

J.T. pulled the reins as he stopped to speak with her. “Tell me the truth.  Was Buck trying something with you?  Is that why you had that frying pan in your hand?”

Sarah wished she did not have to tell him the truth but she would not lie, “Well, yes, but I could have handled the situation myself.”

J.T. shook his head, “I hope that nothing bad happens to make you see that it is not safe for a woman alone up here and sometimes she is not safe even when she has someone with her!  I’ll take you to the edge of town.  Let’s go. As you said, I have work to do.”

Sarah followed him down the mountainside toward town as she thought about all the things that had happened in the time since they had arrived in Seattle.  She and her friends had traveled with a small group led by Riley Jackson.  So far Jane Walker was the only one who had married and it had come as a big surprise to the others.  One of the first calls that Sarah had was to go to the logging camp.  J.T. had been so angry and told Sarah to get out of his camp.  Sarah stood her ground and helped save Jacques Dubois’ life.  Jane had helped with his nursing and love had followed.

Sarah was so deep in thought that she was startled when her horse stopped by J.T.’s horse.

“Doc, you had better start paying more attention to your surroundings or something bad is going to happen to you one day!”

Sarah was surprised to see the edge of town.  

“I’ll just leave you here.  I don’t go into town much and need to get back to work.  But you need to take my advice and stay in town.  Do all the doctoring you want there but it is too dangerous for you to be out all over the mountains, especially at night.”

Sarah just smiled, “I have to go where the sick people are.  They don’t all live in town.  And if it was difficult for me to go up that mountain last night, it would have been even worse for Mrs. Roberts to come down here in the middle of having a baby.”

J.T. shook his head, “You just won’t listen, will you?  I’ll bet old Buck never even paid you, did he?”

"Well, no, I guess I forgot to ask him about that,” Sarah admitted.

“Too busy trying to get away from him!  Here!”  He tossed a gold coin to Sarah.

“Don’t worry!  I’ll take it out of his pay!” he called over his shoulder and he kicked his heels into the horse’s side and galloped toward the logging camp.

Chapter One

Seattle, Washington

August, 1872

 

Beth Matthews wiped the mouth of the invalid in the bed as she tried to spoon broth into her mouth to nourish her.  She could scarcely believe that this woman was the same girl that had traveled out west with them.  Emily Patterson had been a beautiful woman with blonde hair always arranged in an elaborate style and big blue eyes, dressed in the best of fashion.  The women had been told by her friend, Rebecca, that her father was the town banker and her parents had spoiled her and given her everything she wanted.  When she had made up her mind to accompany the group west, her parents had tried to discourage her but had finally given in to her pleas.  Unfortunately, Emily had not listened to the rest of the group any more than she had listened to her parents.  When the group reached San Francisco, Emily had met a man who had promised to marry her and she stayed there as the rest of the group sailed north to Seattle. 

Beth remembered the day that Emily had shown up on their doorstep.  No one recognized her as she was filthy, dressed in rags and so thin.  She fainted and the women had carried her inside and had been nursing her ever since that day.  Emily had told Sarah and Beth that the man had already been married and had left her.  She had to sell all her possessions in order to live and the money had not lasted long.  Finally, she had gotten a job as a dishwasher in an inn down near the wharf.  They all realized that this was the roughest part of San Francisco.  The innkeeper had abused her, beating her and barely feeding her.  She had finally escaped by begging the captain of The Pacific Queen to let her work in the kitchen.  Remembering the kindness of the women, she had asked for directions to their cabin as soon as the ship landed in Seattle.  The biggest change in Emily was how humble and grateful she was for all they had done for her.  Rebecca and the others had tried to get her to let them contact her parents but Emily had said she was too ashamed.

Sarah had discovered during her examination that Emily was several weeks pregnant but in spite of all their efforts, Emily had lost the baby the next day. .  Emily hung her head and cried when she realized that Sarah knew. 

“It was that innkeeper,” she whispered, “He attacked me almost every night, beating me until I couldn’t get away”  Tears rolled down her face as she continued, “Oh, I wish I had never come on this trip!  Now I can’t even go home!  I know that I will be an outcast but I remembered how kind you all were to me on the trip, even though I was horrid to you, and I wondered if you would let me work as a servant for you.  I can sleep on the floor.  I will do anything!  Please say I can stay!”

“Hush, now,” Sarah said, “You need your rest.  Of course, you can stay here and not as a servant but as out friend

 She was still very weak but continued to grow stronger each day.  She had not been able to go to church services with them but the women continued their nightly Bible studies in her room and all prayed for her everyday.  They prayed that she would make a commitment to the Lord and accept Him as her Savior.

The women had been living in Seattle for several months and had been joined by another larger group of women who were looking for husbands or to settle in the Northwest Territory.  Beth had traveled with her good friend, Amanda Stone, who had been the teacher back in Cedar Springs, Ohio, where Beth had grown up on a local farm.  Amanda had moved there in order to teach after finishing her schooling in Boston, though she was originally from Virginia.  The two had become fast friends, despite their differences.  Amanda was older and taller with blonde curly hair and blue eyes while Beth was several inches shorter with brown hair and eyes.  Beth’s mother had been very sick before passing away when she was twelve.  She had nursed her mother from the time she was ten years old and run the house for her father.  Because of this, she had grown further and further behind in her schooling and finally had dropped out of school.  She knew all about running a home and sewing but could barely read when she had met Amanda.  Although shy, she had finally confided in Amanda and the teacher had helped her with her reading until now Beth could read very well. 

Amanda had told Beth all about her friend, Sarah, who lived in St. Louis.  The two had lived in the same boarding house in Boston while studying.  While Amanda was studying education, Sarah was studying to be a physician. 

Sarah was the one who had heard about the trip out west from Mr. Mercer.  He had the idea of coming East and finding women who wanted to be wives to the many male settlers in the Seattle area.  She had written a letter to Amanda, asking if she would consider joining the group.  None of the women had come in order to find a husband.  In fact, Beth’s father had tried to force her to marry the local storekeeper as a way to get free supplies.  Amanda had wanted to continue teaching and Sarah wanted to start a practice there.  After much prayer, they all agreed to come on the trip.  Beth knew that her father would never allow her to leave because he wanted her to do all his chores and cooking.  He even suggested that Mr. Zimmerman move in with them so Beth could stay there.  In exchange Mr. Matthews would get free supplies.  The two men thought this was a perfect deal but Beth did not feel the same way.  She was only seventeen and Mr. Zimmerman was in his forties.  Also she did not love him and, most importantly, he was not a Christian.  Amanda and Beth had to plan a way for Beth to get her clothes and other items into town without her father knowing.  Since it was spring planting time, he was very busy and never even noticed that she was moving some of her clothes and other items.  As she packed, she found her mother’s Bible and a letter that her mother had written shortly before she died.   She had tried to read it at the time of her mother’s death but did not really understand it because of her poor reading.  In the letter, her mother had cautioned Beth about marrying a non-believer and asked her to promise to only marry a Christian.  One night when Beth could not sleep, she went down to the kitchen and saw her father counting a lot of money that he kept hidden under a floor board in the parlor.  Beth knew that the doctor had wanted her mother to go to Philadelphia for special treatment.  Her father said they did not have the money.  He had always been miserly and Beth truly was shocked to see all the money he did have.  Beth’s older brother, Tommy, had argued that they should sell the farm in order to pay for the treatment but her father refused and Tommy had left home. Beth and her mother had only had one letter and that was shortly before her mother died when she was twelve.  Beth had planned on taking fifty dollars of the money in order to pay for the trip.  Amanda warned her that it was stealing, but Beth said her father had never given Tommy or Beth any money for all the work they did on the farm and he owed it to her.  On the last day before leaving Ohio, Beth decided to take her mother’s wedding dress.  As she picked it up from the trunk where it was stored, a small red purse had fallen out, and inside were two twenty dollar gold pieces and a note from her mother saying it was to pay for her wedding.  Beth had felt this was a gift from her mother and had used the money to buy her ticket to St. Louis. Mr. Mercer had said that he would pay for the women’s train tickets out to San Francisco and the ship passage on up to Seattle.  If any of the women married, then their husbands would pay Mr. Mercer the money.

When Amanda and Beth arrived in St. Louis, they found that they would travel with a smaller group led by Mr. Riley Jackson.  In the group was Emily with her childhood friend, Rebecca Woods, along with Hannah Smith and Jane Walker.  Both Beth and Amanda were excited to find that a pastor and his wife, Robert and Estelle Taylor, were traveling with them and planned to start a church in the area.  They had started services on the first Sunday and since that time, a combination school and church building had been built.  There was a large community building where most of the women lived, but Sarah had rented a small four room cabin to use as a home and office and had asked Amanda, Beth, and Hannah to share it with her.  The community building had a large meeting room downstairs and the women stayed upstairs in a large dormitory room.  They were chaperoned by Mrs. Ethel Miller, a formidable widow.  There was a small kitchen at the back where the women could cook their meals.  The women were disappointed to find that Riley was not a Christian but looked to him for guidance even as they prayed for his salvation.  As they began attending church, Riley went with them and eventually realized that he had to have the Lord in his heart and to follow him.  There was some excitement when Amanda had been kidnapped by a local Indian who wanted to marry her but Riley had searched for her until he found her and brought her and his injured friend, Will Sloan, down the mountain.  Amanda was completely recovered and she and Riley were to marry the next Sunday after church services.

Beth put the bowl of broth aside as she could see that Emily was too tired to eat any more.  Tucking her up in the bed, she left her to rest. 

The Story

This story is based on a true story that happened during the late 1800’s in Seattle, Washington.  Asa Mercer made a trip to the East in order to find women who were willing to travel to the area to marry the many men settlers there. He also made a second trip a few years later.  The television series in the 1960’s, Here Comes  The Brides, was based on the same story.

 This is the second book in a series of at least three books.  In the first book, Amanda, Amanda Stone, a teacher in Ohio, decides to travel with a group of women led by Riley Jackson, along with her friends, Beth Matthews, a farmer’s daughter from Ohio, and Sarah Adams, a physician from St. Louis.  This is a work of fiction and the characters are not based on real people other than Mr. Mercer.  The first book is Amanda about the relationship of Riley and Amanda.  The blog site for Amanda is seattlebrides.blogspot.com   This is a Christian romance.