Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,34

no way she would convince anyone else. The women were key to this, and if they wouldn’t share what they knew, then Connie and Tom might as well pack up and return to Washington. “Writing it down won’t bring back the old ways or those who passed on, but it is a way to honor them. Others should know about the life you lived before the white man came and changed everything. They should be able to see the wrong they did, but more important, they should see the life you lived and how successful it was without their influence. They should know the culture and history of your people and remember it so that it will never be forgotten.”

Rosy sipped her tea, and Connie did likewise, hoping her words would encourage Rosy. She wanted so much to tell the story of the various tribes. Though she was here to prove her parents’ innocence, she believed in this project as well.

Connie put down her cup. “Rosy, I would never do anything to dishonor you or your people. I only want this new record so that people everywhere will know the truth. Your truth.”

Rosy lowered her cup. “That would be good. The white man should know the truth.”

Connie nodded. “They must know. Truth is the only thing that matters.”

“Your father once told me that Jesus was the truth.”

Connie smiled and reached for Rosy’s hand. “Yes. He is. He loves for the truth to be told. God hates lies and loves the truth.”

Rosy seemed to think on this for a moment, then gave a nod. “I love the truth, as well. I will speak truth with you about my people and encourage the others to do the same. The truth is my gift to you.”

“And I will cherish it, Rosy—Flower Blooming in the Summer Sun.”

Rosy smiled at this and covered Connie’s hand for a moment with her gnarled fingers.

They finished their tea, and only then did Connie remember the small gift she’d brought Rosy. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a leather bag. “I have something for you.” She opened the leather bag and pulled out a wooden cross. “There was a fair in the capital, and I found this and thought of you. It’s made from rosewood, which comes from a tree that grows in a land far away.” She handed the cross to Rosy.

“It is very beautiful,” Rosy said, running her fingers over the polished wood.

“It’s made from a single piece of wood and is very strong—like you.” Connie smiled. “I wanted you to have it to remind you of Jesus and all that He has done for you.”

“I will, and I will remember you and all you have done for me—all that your parents have done for the people.”

Connie walked back to her house after her visit with Rosy, and for the first time since taking the job to make a record of the tribes, she worried that maybe it wasn’t going to be the good thing she’d hoped for. Rosy had made her look at the entire project with different eyes. Were they somehow taking the last vestiges of the tribes by recording their stories and their history?

“You look upset,” her father said as he joined her on the walk.

“Good morning, Papa. I suppose I am.”

“Did something happen? Did someone trouble you? You know you shouldn’t wander about alone.”

“I just went to see Rosy.” She gave her father a smile. “I’ve missed her very much and hoped we might have a nice talk about old times and why I’ve returned.”

“And?”

Connie frowned and looked away. “I don’t think she completely agrees with the job Tom and I have come to do. She saw it as the government stealing their history and stories. I think I helped her understand that by sharing the truth of who the people were and what they treasured, that people everywhere for all time would better know the real people. I told her I thought it was important that the truth be remembered.”

“And did she accept that?”

“Yes, but it made me start to think that maybe she’s right. Are we taking yet one more thing from them?”

Papa put his arm around her. “Being part Cherokee, I want to know my history and the people who went before me. I want to know the old stories that were told—the things the people believed about creation and death. It connects me to my ancestors, and it will connect others as well. I think this is