Page 57 of The Lady of Red River Valley (Ladies of the Wilderness #2)

Now, as he drew his wife to his side and thought about all the things that had happened in the past year, he could see God’s hand in it all.

Yes, there had been a great deal of suffering and hardship, but there had also been blessings and abundant joy.

They still had many obstacles to overcome, and there were a lot of unanswered questions, but Arran was confident that God would continue to guide them, come what may.

And though He had not answered all of Arran’s prayers in the ways that Arran had hoped, God was still good and faithful to answer in the ways that were best.

It was a bright and sunny afternoon. The kind of autumn day that Eleanor wished she could somehow bottle and break open again during the long, cold months of winter.

The air was warm and pleasant, smelling of rich, fertile soil.

There were no bugs or other critters to hinder the gathering of colonists, nor any clouds to mar the vast sky overhead.

“I have called you here to this place,” Lord Selkirk said to the colonists gathered, “to dedicate and consecrate this land to the Lord.”

They were standing at a place north of Colony Gardens where Lord Selkirk had made a new division, this one for the additional colonists he expected the following year.

Eleanor could almost see William, Governor Semple, Angus, and all the others standing there with them. Even if they weren’t there physically, they were there in spirit. Their contributions to the colony were just as important as those of everyone else who had lived and worked in Assiniboia.

“We shall name this parish Kildonan, in honor of your homeland,” Lord Selkirk said to those who had come the previous year.

“And here, you shall build your church.” He pointed to a lot across a rivulet of water called Parsonage Creek.

“And there, you shall build a school.” He caught Eleanor’s eye and smiled.

“There shall be a church and a school in each parish.”

The crowd cheered. Many of the colonists had become prejudiced against the earl over the past year when their expectations had not been met, but upon meeting them, he had quickly won them over. He was a good and honest man who truly cared about the people he had sent to Assiniboia.

“And I will provide provisions for you to build roads and bridges,” Selkirk continued. “There shall be a road to Jack River House, and one to Pembina, so you no longer need to rely upon the lakes and rivers for travel.”

Clapping and happy chatter filled the air.

“And there will be another gristmill, as well as a sawmill,” Selkirk continued. “So you can be self-sufficient, at last.”

He bowed his head to say a prayer.

Arran stood beside Eleanor, with Miriam in one arm. His musket had been left at home for the first time in her remembrance. With his free arm, he held Eleanor close to his side as Selkirk prayed.

“Dear Heavenly Father,” Selkirk said, “today, we dedicate and consecrate this land we call Assiniboia to Your loving hands. It is through Your blessing and guidance we build our colony, and it is through Your love and grace we use it to honor You. May this land always proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

When the prayer was complete, the group moved as a whole back to the fort for a feast and dance. Hope and optimism filled the air as Eleanor helped the ladies spread out the food.

Fiona was there, her face shining. She caught Eleanor’s eye and smiled.

Near the main hall, Arran stood with James and Archie, laughing and visiting as only old friends could. Miriam played close by and Arran kept an eye on her every move. Never had Eleanor seen a more attentive father.

Isla sat on a bench with a beau at her side. She looked ten years younger and full of purpose once again. As soon as another clergyman visited Assiniboia, there would be several weddings to celebrate.

Almost four hundred individuals were packed into the fort. People from several nations, tongues, and tribes. Eleanor just stood for a moment to marvel at the scene and hold it close to her heart. It was a good day. A promising day. One she would think of with fondness for the rest of her life.

Soon there would be schools, churches, businesses, and streets.

One day, the streets of Assiniboia would rival those of other cities across the world, she was certain.

But like all those other places, it would take the dedication, courage, and perseverance of its citizens to grow.

It would take people like Arran and Lord Selkirk, people with vision and sacrifice, to see that it was done.

Arran lifted Miriam into his arms and came to stand beside Eleanor.

“You look lonely standing over here on your own,” he said.

She shook her head. “No. Quite the opposite. I’m just standing here envisioning what this colony will look like ten, twenty, or fifty years from now.”

“Can you even imagine?” His voice and eyes held a bit of awe. “There were times when I thought it would be erased from the face of the earth.”

“But you persevered.” She took his hand. “And look what the Lord has done with your faithfulness.”

“With our faithfulness, leannan .” He smiled. “It does my heart good to see it.”

Miriam laid her head against Arran’s shoulder, her eyelids drooping. It was past her naptime.

“Shall we go inside and lay her down to sleep?” Arran asked.

“And miss the party?”

He laughed. “They’ll be celebrating for the rest of the day.”

“You won’t be sad to miss out on the fun?”

“There’s nothing I enjoy more than a quiet afternoon with my wife and daughter.” He drew her with him toward the governor’s house. “Besides, we both need to get some rest if we want to dance later this evening.”

She followed, a smile on her lips.

When they went into the house, Arran laid Miriam down on their bed. The little girl closed her eyes and was immediately asleep.

They quietly left her and returned to the common room.

Despite the commotion in the fort yard, Eleanor felt completely alone with her husband. It was a rare experience, living in a house with Nicolette and Lord Selkirk.

“I think we should enjoy this little reprieve,” Arran said, taking a seat on a chair near the table. He patted the chair beside him. “Would you care to join me, wife?”

She nodded but held up her hand. “A moment, please.” She went to the traveling desk she kept in the corner of the common room and removed her journal.

Arran watched her but did not ask her what she had in mind. When she returned to the table, she sat and opened her journal.

“I ken this is a very special book to you,” he said.

“It’s like an old friend.” She turned the pages until she came to the last one and then she looked at her husband. “All my life, I wrote in my journals because I didn’t have anyone I could truly trust and confide in.” She placed a kiss on his lips. “But now that has changed.”

He looked concerned. “You’ll not stop writing, will you?”

She shook her head. “No. I will always write. But now it will not be the first place I turn to pour out my heart.”

“I’m happy you can trust me.”

“I have never read my journal to anyone.” The only person who’d ever read her words was Archibald McLeod, but he didn’t matter to Eleanor. She would never have to see him again. “But I want to read something to you that I wrote just last night.”

He moved aside a lock of her hair and slipped it behind her ear. The intimate gesture had become so familiar and dear to her since their wedding, she anticipated it before he even did it. “This book is important and personal to you. You dinna need to feel obligated to read it to me.”

“I want to read it to you.” Her cheeks grew warm, thinking about sharing her words with him for the first time.

“When I write in this book, I always know when I’ve hit upon something especially important to me.

It always brings tears to my eyes, and when that happens, it confirms for me what both my mind and heart are feeling. ”

His hand slipped around her waist and he drew her closer to him as she read.

Fort Douglas

Assiniboia

September 27, 1816

Tomorrow, Lord Selkirk will dedicate a new division in the colony. Everyone will attend and I anticipate a great feeling of community pride and hope will prevail. For many, this will be the confirmation they need that their home is here to stay and that it is, indeed, truly growing.

For me, it has been a long year since I arrived at the Red River colony.

When I first set foot in Fort Douglas, it was with optimism and a misguided belief in my own abilities.

I was foolish enough to think that I had come to teach the settlers, when in fact, they have taught me unique and valuable lessons about life, death, and love.

I am amazed and honored to be counted among these people, and hope and pray that I will have many years left to see this colony prosper, as I know it will.

Arran has asked me several times if I am happy, and I always answer him the same.

I am truly and completely happy. Not because of anything I have, but of what I have to give.

God has blessed me with an abundance of love, and it is in giving that I find my greatest joy.

Pouring that love out on him and Miriam is a privilege I will never take for granted.

As I sit here and ponder this place I now call home, and I think about all that happened to bring me here, I see God’s hand in all of it.

It does not hold the comforts I knew as a child, nor does it contain the society or entertainments, but what it lacks in these things, it makes up for in hope, optimism, and purpose.

Those things may all come with time, but how many people can say they were the original groundbreakers of a great city?

For whatever reason, God has chosen Arran and me to be the first. I truly believe that God made us for Assiniboia and He made Assiniboia for us.

For me, it’s where my heart has been for years. I simply joined my heart and have now found my home.

She finished reading but did not remove her eyes from the page.

Arran reached up and gently wiped away a tear that had escaped from her eyes.

“’Tis beautiful, lass.”

“It’s my heart,” she said, finally meeting his gaze. “You brought it with you four years ago when you left Scotland. It took me that long to find it again.”

“And you had my heart,” he said. “I’m so happy you brought it with you when you came.”

She leaned into him for a kiss.

“I love you, Eleanor Brooke MacLean.” He placed his hands on either side of her face. “And I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”

“I love you, too, Arran.” She embraced her husband, her heart full.

She had found her home in the Northwestern Wilderness, and she’d never look back again.