Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,32
Papa had dug that well for Rosy. Connie had been told the story since she was very little. Shortly after her husband died, Rosy had befriended Mama. When others from her tribe heard about this, they shunned Rosy for having anything to do with white people.
The women brought their water up from the river, but if Rosy tried to go with them, the other women would often pick fights with her, so she would wait and go alone. There was no one for her to talk to. No one to help her if she couldn’t manage the pails. Mama told her husband what was going on, and he agreed to single-handedly dig Rosy a well.
Over the years, the shunning ended as Rosy’s trust encouraged others to believe that Adam and Mercy were worthy of their friendship. After a time, Rosy and many others came to believe in Christ. The story always reminded Connie of the woman at the well in the gospel of John, chapter four. She too had been outcast, but one day she met Jesus and then invited her people to come meet a man who had told her everything she had ever done. And they came, and many believed.
Connie started to knock on the door of Rosy’s house, but she heard someone humming and followed the sound around the side of the house. There she found Rosy bent over a large rosebush.
“Good morning, Rosy.”
The old woman straightened and turned to Connie, who grinned from ear to ear.
“Little Connie.” Rosy came to where Connie stood. “You are all grown up.”
“I am.” She laughed. “Finally. I sometimes thought I would never be an adult.”
Rosy chuckled. “When you are as old as I am, you will wonder why you were in such a hurry.”
They embraced, and Connie found it hard to drop her hold. She’d missed her friend. “How are you doing? I feel like it’s been forever since we talked.”
“To me it was just yesterday,” Rosy replied. “Come inside, and we’ll have tea.”
Connie followed Rosy into the house. Rosy quickly lit a lamp, then went to the stove to check the metal teakettle.
“I put the water on before I went to check on the roses.” She smiled. “I hoped you’d come.”
“I wanted to come yesterday, but I was much too tired. Now, after a good night’s sleep, I figure we can have a nice long visit without you having to wake me up.”
Rosy smiled and poured hot water into a ceramic teapot. Connie glanced around the house. It was a single room. Rosy’s bed was in one corner, the kitchen in the other. A small bookcase held various books and basket projects Rosy was making. Connie remembered Rosy telling her stories about weaving baskets with her mother and grandmother. They were precious memories for the woman who had no remaining family.
“Sit, and we will talk as we did when you were young,” Rosy declared. “When we were both young.”
She brought two cups to the table and then the teapot. There was no other offering, and Connie chided herself for not bringing something. She would remember next time and make something special for Rosy. No doubt the old woman had treats on rare occasions, and Connie wanted to honor her and their many years of friendship.
Rosy poured the tea and took her seat. She hadn’t bothered to strain the leaves, so Connie gave them a few minutes to settle. “I’ve missed you so much, Rosy. I hope you are well.”
“I am old, so such things are a matter of perspective.” She smiled. “I’ve lost all but six teeth, and my body aches all the time. Still, I am happy for each breath and happier still for the day I will go to heaven and see my family.”
Connie nodded. “It’s good to look forward to that day. I’m sorry, though, that you are in pain and have lost your teeth.”
“It’s of no matter. How are you? Did you learn everything there is to learn, as you hoped?”
Connie had almost forgotten their long-ago conversation where she had told Rosy that was her goal. She smiled. “I learned a great deal, that’s for sure. Oh, Rosy, the big city is so much different than growing up here. There is too much noise and so many people. People who are always rushing from one place to another. They are so busy doing things and striving for things that they never seem to put their work aside and just rest.”