Angie was now well into her 14th year of age and found that she had a special way with her hands, crafting things the same as her mother had. She now made the most beautiful baskets in the village with new designs the women had never seen before. The Shoshone women would come by Halona’s tent to see Angie’s craftsmanship, but tried not to show their interest. They would feign the visit as just checking on Halona’s welfare and to say a few words to the old widow. Kimana and Leotie began to learn the secrets of Angie’s designs and also made replicas of the beautiful baskets which made the village women eager to hold and examine. No one would touch Angie’s baskets as Halona made it very clear that the baskets Angie made belonged to Halona and no one else. Angie finally felt as though Halona had approved of her, or approved of her baskets anyway.
Chocheta was not interested in learning to make baskets. She was only interested in Enyeto and would wander down to the river to watch him fish, hoping he would notice her. She knew she was pretty and tried to use that fact to her advantage by flirting with him as often as she could. But Enyeto seemed to be more interested in his fishing than in Chocheta, much to her frustration.
As Angie grew, she also spent more time talking with God. She loved to go to the river by herself and tell Him her secret feelings and experience peace only He could give her. He knew her pain. He understood her frustrations. He answered her prayers.
Winter was well on its way as the village moved south and settled in the plains once more. Angie tried very hard to talk with Halona during the long walk, but Halona continued to ignore her.
Angie could not help but think about the wagon trains that continued to pass through the area several times a year, but she never knew when they were near. She could not stand to keep the subject to herself any longer.
“Halona,” she said bravely, “I have heard there are wagon trains that pass through the land every summer. I want to go with them the next time they travel past our village.”
“No!” Halona finally spoke, “You cannot go!”
“Why?” Angie tried hard to find the word as it stuck in her throat, fearing Halona’s answer.
“You stupid girl!” Halona answered, “You must serve me. The elders have decided, you help me. I will not let you go. You stay with Shoshone people. No more talk!”
Angie knew Halona’s mind was set.
After their camp was arranged, Angie walked down to the river to pray.
“God, help me. I cannot turn Halona’s heart to accept me. What should I do?”
Angie thought about the Bible and what her mother had taught her about being ‘kind to those who despitefully use you’ and to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.
She knew God had heard her feeble prayer, but it would be hard to show love to an old bitter woman who despised her.
“I will try God,” she said as she looked up into the heavens, “but you will have to help me. Please?”
Every day after that prayer, Angie tried very hard to be kind and respectful to Halona and smiled every time she saw the old woman, but it didn’t seem to change Halona’s attitude or demeanor. Every night, Angie prayed for strength to carry on ‘loving’ the old woman.
Love her. Just keep loving her. The words echoed over and over again in her mind.
The next morning was particularly beautiful. When Angie brought Halona her morning meal, she set the meal down before her, reached over and gave the old woman a gentle hug and kissed her on the cheek like she used to do with her mother.
Halona was so startled that she pushed Angie away and yelled at her “Do not do that again!” Halona snatched up her breakfast and began to eat.
Angie’s heart was broken. An action that was an earnest effort had been rebuked and seemed so distasteful to the old woman. Angie felt foolish and wished she had never made the gesture.
“Why God? I’ve tried so hard.” She had returned to the river and was talking to God. “I have tried so hard to love her, but she just rejects me like an old dog. How long can I keep up this pretense?”
And then the realization came to Angie that it was exactly that… a pretense.
“What is real love?” she asked God.
“Yes, love is patient, love is kind,” Angie was struggling trying to remember the scripture she had heard from her father’s knee. “And love is not a keeper of wrongs… ”
She stopped herself. “Help me to love her, truly love her from deep within my heart.” Angie prayed and felt a joy and peace enter her, as if she had just made a breakthrough. She smiled to herself and thanked God for her new revelation.
Angie began to see Halona with new eyes which brought warmth and caring for the old woman. The feeling flowed through her as she had never known before. And something strange began to happen to Halona. When Halona would raise her hand to strike Angie, she would suddenly stop herself and slowly lower her hand. Angie could see Halona deep in thought and struggling with her own feelings.
I don’t know if Halona will ever like me, Angie thought to herself, but perhaps she will grow to accept me. That would be enough.