RECLAIMING LIFE
“This is Serena,” Laura said as she introduced her to Matilda Darrot. “She has fallen on hard times and requires employment.”
“What work can you do?” Matilda asked Serena kindly.
“Absolutely anything,” Serena replied. “I can cook, clean and wash. I can even work in the fields.”
“Oh, we won’t need you to work in the fields,” Matilda laughed. “We could do with someone to cook and clean, though.”
“I will be happy to do that for you,” Serena replied, “just as long as I can keep my son with me. He’s no bother at all.”
“Let’s give you a try then,” Matilda said. “We are having a cattle show one week from now, and we usually serve a meal to the people who visit. That will be one big event for you to handle. Otherwise, just a couple of hours’ work every morning will do just fine.”
Serena nodded and smiled.
“It’s only until she finds a way to reclaim her property,” Laura interjected.
“Your property?”
Serena began to explain her predicament to Matilda, and at the end of the story she had won another ally. “Freddie and I will do all we can to help you, Serena,” Matilda reassured her.
* * *
The next day, Laura woke her early. “Serena! Wake up! Reverend Custer will be here in a short while and we need to get the church clean and help put out the hymnals and prayer books.”
Serena sprang out of her bed, and hurriedly washed and dressed Nathan and herself.
“This is Serena,” Laura said, pushing Serena forward as Reverend Custer came in.
“Very nice to meet you, Serena, though I wish it had been under happier circumstances. I would love to hear your story after service.”
“Certainly,” Serena said, returning to Laura’s side and helping her and Claudia neatly place the hymnals and prayer books on each pew. The three women sat together for the service, with Nathan between Serena and Claudia, and Serena felt a sense of peace envelop her.
“Serena,” Reverend Custer said, coming up to her after the service had ended and people were chatting by the entrance. “There’s a man asking to meet you. He spotted you during the service and asked me if your name was Serena Snowdon.”
Serena desperately looked around for some way of escape, thinking it was Trent who had found her.
“What’s the matter?” Reverend Custer asked her.
“What is the man’s name, Reverend Custer?” she asked.
“Martin, I believe,” he replied, and Serena felt her heart hammer against her chest.
“Oh, Reverend Custer!” Serena exclaimed. “I have heard about this man. He was the one who was with my husband in North Carolina!”
“Follow me,” Reverend Custer said, and led Serena over to one of the pews, where a man sat watching her as she approached.
On closer inspection, Serena saw that he had lost a leg and that his face was scarred. As Serena and Reverend Custer reached his pew, he leaned on a crutch and stood.
“Mrs. Snowdon,” he said, “I am Martin Smith.”
Serena smiled broadly. “Daniel’s friend who went with him to North Carolina! You have news of my husband, I’m sure!” Serena exclaimed.
Martin averted his eyes and Serena’s spirits plummeted. “Is Daniel alright? Where is he? Is he still in North Carolina? When did you return?”
Martin sat down heavily and Reverend Custer patted his shoulder as he began to dab at his eyes and his forehead.
Serena’s spirits plummeted further. “What is it, Mister Smith? Please tell me.”
“Mrs. Snowdon,” Martin said, looking down at his missing leg. “I have sent word for you and looked for you for over a year.”
“I see,” Serena responded, her legs feeling weak and wobbly. “You returned over a year ago? Please tell me… what has happened?”
“Mrs. Snowdon, your husband Daniel loved you to the end and talked of coming back to you.”
“Till the end? So… you are saying…” Serena didn’t want to hear the truth, the truth she had suspected for so long. She waited for him to say the words, knowing they would serve to bring her closure.
“Your husband…Daniel…died in North Carolina a year and a half ago. I’m so sorry. He was such a fine man. He spoke of you often and loved you so very much.”
Serena collapsed onto a pew and Reverend Custer beckoned to Laura and Claudia, who held her as she sat staring blankly into the distance, with Nathan holding her hand and looking up into her face.
“Tell me. What happened to him?” Serena asked, barely able to get a word past the gigantic lump in her throat.
“There were skirmishes with other camps. We didn’t know when we went to make our fortune that we would lose more than we would gain. All the gold Daniel had was stolen after he was killed. I ran with the others, but I didn’t get away unhurt.”
“One and a half years ago? I had held out such hope. But…deep in my heart, I knew.” Serena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes,” Martin replied. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Snowdon. I searched for you, but never found you. You left Sweet Haven Ranch and I was told you had run away.”
Laura and Claudia held Serena as she sobbed. “I have nothing left now, except my dear little boy…” she said when there seemed to be no more tears left to shed.
“Come now, Serena,” Reverend Custer said. “You do have your son…and your property.”
“We will all band together and help you reclaim Sweet Haven,” Marjorie said.