Woman of Courage (46 page)

At Two Feather’s suggestion, Amanda waited inside her lodge, hoping and praying that Buck would return. After some time went by, she decided that she needed to get back to the mission to check on Little Fawn. Although Eliza was there with her, Amanda didn’t like the idea of her daughter waking up and crying for her.

Amanda was halfway back to the mission, when she spotted Buck’s horse running at full speed. Buck halted Dusty and stepped down, then he secured the horse to a tree.

“Amanda, I need to talk to you.”

“Buck, I have something I need to say.”

They’d spoken at the same time, and Amanda, feeling breathless, smiled and said, “Go ahead.”

“You can’t marry Nathan!” Buck blurted. “He’s not the right man for you.”

“I know that, Buck, and I am not going to marry him. I never made him any promises about marriage.”

“Really?” A look of relief washed over Buck. “He said you had.”

“He wasn’t telling the truth.”

“He’s an evil man,” Buck said, his forehead wrinkling. “I felt this in my heart the day we met, but after seeing what he did to that boy, I knew I was right.”

“I agree. I was fooled by Nathan once, but never again.” Amanda moved closer to Buck, and when she looked up at his face, it was all she could do to keep from throwing herself into his arms. “I’m sorry I ever assumed you had whipped that boy. You’re a better person than that, and I should never have jumped to such a conclusion.”

“I know what it must have looked like, and I forgive you,” Buck said. “I’m glad you realize I could never do such a thing.”

“I do have a question for you.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Nathan said you claimed to be a Christian, and when I asked Two Feathers about it, she said you had asked Jesus into your heart. Is it true?”

He nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “A sense of peace came over me when I did that, and I was finally able to forgive the man who had separated me from my mother. I still don’t like what Silas did, but it doesn’t eat away at my heart anymore.”

Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes. “Oh Buck, I am so glad. Hearing that you have become a Christian is an answer to my prayers.”

“You know what would answer my prayers?” Buck asked, his voice a near whisper. He took a step closer until they were almost touching, never taking his gaze from hers.

“What’s that?”

“If you would someday be my wife.”

“Are … are you asking me to marry you, Buck?” Amanda held her breath, while her heart raced like a beating drum.

“If you will have me.”

Amanda nodded. “Oh yes, Buck. I will marry you!”

Buck pulled her into his arms. “How soon?”

“As far as I’m concerned, I would marry you tomorrow,” Amanda said with so much feeling she thought her heart would burst. Oh, how wrong she had been when she’d thought she was in love with Nathan back in New York, for she’d never felt with him what she now had with Buck.

He grinned, holding her tight. “That sounds good to me.”

“We’ll need to speak to Reverend Spalding and see if he’s willing to perform the ceremony. I also want to talk to Nathan and let him know that I will not marry him. I’ll suggest that he go back home as soon as possible.”

“Would you like me to go along when you tell him?” Buck asked.

“No, this is something I need to do alone, and I should do it right now.” Amanda squeezed Buck’s arm. “After I speak to Nathan, I’ll get Little Fawn and meet you back at your mother’s lodge.”

“I’ll be there waiting, but I wish you’d let me go along when you speak to Nathan. I don’t trust that fella.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I am not afraid.”

Buck bent his head and kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Amanda Pearson, my brave, soon-to-be bride.”

“And I love you.” She turned, calling over her shoulder, “See you soon!”

When Amanda entered the mission, she found Eliza sitting in a rocking chair, with Little Fawn in her lap.

“Where is Nathan?” Amanda asked, taking the baby from Eliza. “I need to speak with him.”

“He’s not here,” Eliza said. “He left.”

“Where did he go?”

“He asked one of the Indians to ride with him to Fort Walla Walla. When he can find a guide, he plans to go home.”

“Nathan is going back to New York?” Amanda could hardly believe he would leave like that.

“That’s what he said. I guess he decided that he didn’t like it here after all.”

“He was right to leave. It’s for the best.” Amanda nuzzled her little girl’s nose. It seemed that God was in the business of answering prayers today. She could hardly wait to see what the future would bring.

Six months later

I
t all seems like a dream
, Amanda thought as she sat in the rocking chair Buck had made when he’d learned she was expecting a baby. Amanda and Buck had gotten married a week after he’d proposed, and three months later, Amanda discovered she was pregnant.

She smiled at Little Fawn, who was over a year old now and walking well on her own. How nice it would be for her young daughter to have a brother or sister to play with.

“Are you happy, Mrs. McFadden?” Buck asked, rubbing Amanda’s shoulders.

“Oh yes, my husband, I am very happy.” Amanda rose from her chair and went willingly into his embrace.

As Buck held her close, it was as though all the months of sorrow and disillusionment she’d encountered on her journey west had never existed, for Amanda was happier than she ever thought possible. She believed with assurance that God had brought her here to this place for a special reason—to offer a new way of life and a hope in Jesus to the Nez Percé people. It would take time and patience, but Amanda felt certain that she and Buck could help make a difference.

Some days would be good, and others might be full of despair, but no matter what happened or where God might lead them, she would do whatever God asked, for with His help, she could be a woman of courage.

1.   Amanda faced many obstacles on her journey west, but she kept going. Would you have had the courage to go on? If not, at what point would you have given up?

2.   Jim was bitter about the death of his first wife and blamed God for it. Do you know of someone who has done that? What are some ways we can help someone who has suffered a loss and show them that God is there to offer comfort?

3.   Mary Yellow Bird faced many hardships in her young life, including being forced to marry a man she didn’t love. Do you think an arranged marriage could ever work?

4.   Jim had a temper and sometimes took it out on Mary with harsh words and physical actions. How did she deal with it? How would you respond to spousal abuse?

5.   Buck wanted nothing to do with Christianity. His excuse was that he and his mother had been mistreated by a man who had called himself a Christian. What are some reasons people might refuse to accept Christianity? How can we help someone who has been abused as a child?

6.   Amanda’s decision to help out at the Spalding Mission came about because she had been jilted by the man she was supposed to marry. Do you think this was the driving factor that kept her going, despite the tragedies she incurred along the way, or did Amanda keep moving forward for other reasons?

7.   When the missionaries first ministered to the Native Americans, many of them expected the Native Americans to give up their way of life and become like the white man in their dress and religious practices. Do you think the missionaries should have allowed the Indians to keep their traditional customs, or was it better for them to adapt to the white man’s ways?

8.   Despite all that Two Feathers had been through, she was forgiving. Would you be able to forgive and move forward, knowing you would never get back what you had lost?

9.   Since Buck was a good man, do you think Amanda should have overlooked the fact that he was not a Christian and followed her heart instead? What does the Bible say about being unequally yoked with unbelievers?

10. Which character in this story could you relate to the most, and why?

11. Were there any verses of scripture that spoke to your heart?

12. What interesting facts about the Nez Percé Indians did you learn from reading this story?

Descended from Anabaptists herself, Wanda E. Brunstetter enjoys writing about the Plain People because they live a peaceful, simple life. Wanda’s interest in the Plain communities began when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda and Richard have made numerous trips to Amish Country and have many Amish friends, living in several communities. In addition to writing Amish-themed novels, Wanda enjoys writing historical stories.

Wanda and Richard have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys beachcombing, ventriloquism, gardening, photography, knitting, and having fun with her family.

Wanda has written over 60 books, as well as hundreds of stories, articles, poems, devotionals, and puppet scripts.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at
www.wandabrunstetter.com
.