Story Sample!

Here is a sampling of the book I wish to finish and publish. It is one of five, and I have the other four in rough draft!
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Spanish Maid by Laura Hines Aka Cara Ashley

Driving through the city, we headed out of town. Rueben said that the farm was 2 miles out of town. We chatted about the farm, the animals and such. Then he asked me about Spain and what it was like. I told him all about it and the other countries I have been to in my short life.
As we topped a hill, Rueben stopped. Pointing to a farm nestled against the trees, he said, “ There is home, Jenny!” We are almost there!”
I got very excited. I knew I was almost home! Rueben saw my enthusiasm and started the horses again.

We descended the hill, and as we went along the road, children began to jump out of trees. Rueben turned into the drive and we began the home stretch. Children ran ahead, going to tell the family we have arrived.

We passed a small cabin, and in the doorway stood two old people. Rueben stopped the wagon and said, “ Grandfather, Grandmother, this is Aunt Prudence’s child, Jenny. Jenny, these are your grandparents, Miles and Rose “Skylark” Standish,” Rueben turned to me. I stood up in the wagon and reached forward as Grandfather held up his hand. Shaking it, I sat down. Grandmother came around the other side of the wagon and squeezed my hand. “You are very welcome here, Jenny. We will see you tonight, for supper. Your Aunt and cousins are waiting for you, so we will not keep you here long,” she said, smiling.

Waving the wagon on, they stood looking after us.“She looks like her mother, doesn’t she?” Miles commented to Rose. “No, Miles, she looks like her father, Juan. Didn’t you see her black eyes and raven black hair? But she has her mother’s beauty, which could be a blessing or a curse someday,” Rose returned.

We made our way to the house. It was a large house, and the gardens were beautiful. The trees were budding out blossoms and the berries were beginning to set.

We pulled up next to the front door, and children began to pour out. Aunt Hannah stood at the door, a dishtowel in hand. She and a young girl, about 14, stood by the wagon as Rueben helped me down. Two younger boys hauled my crate to the doorway.

Aunt Hannah put her arm about my shoulders and led me to the house. The kitchen was cozy and warm. I smelled fresh bread, which brought back memories of Mama baking bread. In the corner, stood a whatnot, a shelf that fits into the corner of a room. The stairs to the top floor, stood in the corner next to the shelf. It was up those stairs that the two boys with my crate went.

The cousins stood and stared. I guess they have never seen a foreigner before.

“ Here now, Nathan, you get on with your chores or your father will give you reason to wish you had finished,” Aunt Hannah rebuked a staring Nathan. “That goes for the rest of you, too,” Rueben said, going to the stairs so he could change his clothes.

“Now, you must be a little hungry, Jenny, after your long trip,” Aunt Hannah said quietly, “I can give some buttered bread for a snack, then I must get to my laundry. With 9 children, you have to wash every day.”

“I can help, Aunt Hannah,” I said, removing my coat,” Mama taught me how to do it not long ago.” “Well, find yourself an apron and let’s get to washing,” Aunt Hannah replied.

For all afternoon, we all washed the clothes. Three girls and I hung them out to dry. It was a hard chore, but by suppertime, we were good and hungry.

At about 4 in the afternoon, Uncle Silas rode up, on a chestnut mare. The girls, Aunt Hannah and I were in the middle of setting the table for supper when he walked in. He was greeted on all sides with hearty hellos and cheers. After greeting each child, he made his way toward me. I blushed and bowed my head, shyly.

“So, you are Jenny. Welcome to your new home, child,” he said, smiling kindly.
I curtsied and took his hand. “You have already made yourself busy, I see,” He said.
“Yes and you should see how she works. Why, I never got laundry done so fast in all my life,” Aunt Hannah commented.

Nathan hurried in. “Grandfather and Grandmother are coming!”
The family, except Aunt Hannah, the girls and I, went to greet the two.
Grandfather and Grandmother came in. Grandfather, although he was 75, stood taller than Uncle Silas did. Rueben stood up next to him and could almost reach, but not quite. Here was the courageous Captain Standish, who led our family to this New World.

“Well, so you are Jenny. You are a small little thing, aren’t you? Well, never you fear, your mother was the same way at your age, but ended up the right size,” Grandfather remarked.
“Yes, Grandfather, though people in Spain thought I was a mite tall for my age. So who’s to believe whom,” I said, smiling.

“You are right, child, and as long as you fear God, everything else in superfluous,” he replied.
“Now for introductions,” Uncle Silas said. “You have already met Rueben, who is 17. He is my helper around the house. Patience is 15, and is Hannah’s helper around the house. Mary is 14, and loves animals. Nathan is 13 and accompanies Rueben and me in the fields. Jacob and John are twins and 11. They do the wood and weeding. Charity is 10 like you and loves her flock of chickens. She also has a small flower garden. Ezra is 6 and Luke is 4, and help Mama around the house.

“Grandfather and Grandmother were the first settlers here, from England, and they know a lot about the methods we know here. Grandfather was the first to step onto the American Soil,” Uncle Silas explained.

“I heard there was an Indian here who knew the English language. And that he taught you settlers how to plant fields, and make them prosper,” I said.

“Yes, his name was Squanto, the Potuxit tribe of Indians here. His tribe was dead when he returned from his slavery in Spain,” Grandmother replied.

“I had seen the slaves in Madrid, Spain, when Papa took Mama and I to his ship there to do some trading. I felt so sorry for them, they looked so unhappy. While I was there, I told some of them about Jesus. That was 6 months ago and one of them came to us before Papa and Mama took sick, and asked to be baptized in Jesus’ name,” I replied to Grandmother’s statement.
“So this wasn’t your first time on a ship then,” Rueben said, leaning forward eagerly, ‘ how long have you known ships?”

“I was born on a ship, Rueben. Papa and Mama took along time getting home. I was born in the Captain’s cabin and they Christened me Jenny Lynne, after the ship I was on,” I replied, remembering my mother’s story.

“Where is she now, the ship, I mean?” he asked eagerly.
“The Jenny Lynne? Last time I saw her, she was in dry dock, being refinished. She is a belle of a ship. The most beautiful ship you ever laid eyes on,” I returned.
“Do you ever think it will sail again?” Nathan asked inquisitively.
“Oh, yes, surely. Why I wouldn’t be surprised if she showed up at Plymouth Harbor one day,” I remarked.
“Well, supper’s ready, so let us set,” Uncle Silas interjected, suddenly.
We ate our supper, then the older girls washed up the dishes, while Aunt Hannah, Charity, Ezra and Luke helped me unpack my crate.

We went to the loft and on one side of the loft were a door to the boy’s room, and the other side was the girl’s room. There was a small room to one side and it was there that Aunt Hannah went. Lighting a candle, she set it down on a small box by the bed.

“This is your room, Jenny. Your uncle built the bedstead for you, and Rueben made you the box for your clothes. We found one of Grandmother’s quilts she made after coming here; thinking you would like it. The pillow is made of goose down, that Rueben and Silas hunted. Grandmother made you a doll out of rags, like Charity’s, so you two could play,” she said laying my bundle on the bed.

Opening it up, she exclaimed over the quilt of pretty colors. Then came my two dresses I wore on the ship. An extra pair of shoes and my mother’s brush and mirror set, made of Spanish silver, inlaid with gold, sat on top of a paper package. The paper package contained my mother’s bible and my father’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

I set my books on the box by the bed and helped my aunt hang my clothes behind the curtain in the corner. The boys brought up the crate and we commenced the unloading of it. My 4 winter dresses and 4 summer dresses were hung up. My 2 aprons, my wool cape with hood, my winter boots and bright red scarf, all folded on the shelf above the hung dresses. A box of my Mama’s treasures were shoved under my bed and a painting of the Jenny Lynne hung on the wall above my bed. I hung Spanish lace curtains in the window and then set my Mama’s silver chain of cameo on the table. These may have been too fancy for the family, but they were what I had left of home.

Then Aunt Hannah said it was time for Bible reading, so we went down the stairs together. The rest of the family was gathered around the fireplace, the Bible in Uncle Silas’s lap.


August 1654

We began to collect firewood for the winter, so we could have plenty to keep us warm in winter. The twins, Mary, Charity, and I went to the wood site to help load the wagons with Uncle Silas, and Grandfather. As the wagon was filling, Uncle Silas took Mary, Charity and I on a long walk to see where the next trees would be cut down for wood.

A strong breeze was blowing through the tops of firtrees, making them roar. The girls were ahead of me and Uncle Silas was behind, I was so enjoying the beauty of God’s nature. Birds twittered from one tree to another, darting here and there.

So absorbed in my thoughts I was I was startled to hear my uncle’s voice shouting at me. I turned to see him dash for me. He knocked me to the ground 10 feet from where I stood. I rolled away and stood, as a second later, a 9-inch diameter tree fell on Uncle Silas’ legs. He looked up at me, pain in his eyes, his face ashen gray.

I shouted to the girls to come quick, and when they saw their father under the tree, they panicked. I calmed them down, and told them to go for Grandfather and the boys, quickly.
They ran off so fast, that I was quickly left with an injured man. I knelt down next to the tree. Taking Uncle Silas’s hand, I prayed for him. He had passed out from the pain, and had his eyes closed. I prayed for Grandfather and the boys to get here soon.

As the forest was beginning to darken as the sun set, I heard a group of voices. I shouted to Grandfather, and emerging from the trees, were Grandfather, the boys, and a group of Indians. They quickly accessed the situation, and they then set quickly to work. The Indians made a stretcher out of poles and blankets, and them took some poles and began to lift the tree off of Uncle Silas. The girls began to sob as they watched their crushed father being lifted onto the stretcher. I put my arms around their shoulders and comforted them.

The walk home was long and dark. I occasionally heard a groan from Uncle Silas, as they carried him through the woods. Grandfather had my hand, and was tightly carrying Charity in his other arm. Mary kept close, and the boys stayed with their father.

Lights streamed from the house as we rounded the corner. The twins ran ahead and told their mother about the accident. She came out, her eyes already filled with tears. The Indians set the stretcher on the floor. Nathan was sent after the doctor.

The Indians were thanked by Aunt Hannah, and was given some smoked fish to eat. They excepted gratefully, munching contentedly. Grandmother got the children scuttled off to their rooms, to get ready for bed. And made some tea for Grandfather, the children, and Aunt Hannah. I sat down at the table, and drank some tea, while I watched Uncle Silas lay there.
The doctor arrived, and Grandmother and I left for our home. Grandmother said it was my bedtime, and I didn’t argue. When we got home, I wrote in my journal about the accident. I then slipped into my nightgown, and knelt down beside my bed, praying for Uncle Silas.

The next morning, I heard a commotion in the kitchen. I quickly dressed, and went to help Grandmother with Grandfather’s breakfast. Nathan was there panting. He looked at me.
“Pa will be all right, Jenny, though the doctor says he will never walk again. He insists he will, but Ma will not let him move. Pa would like to see you. He heard you were with him, during his unconscience state, while the girls went to get Grandfather,” Nathan said, calmed down by this time.

“I will be there shortly. I need to do my chores first. Grandfather has me shine his shoes every morning, and I cannot go without doing them,” I replied. “Seems to me, I can do without my shoes being polished this morning. I have no where to go today, so they can wait. Your uncle wants to see you, so you had better go,” Grandfather said, sitting down to breakfast.

Nathan helped me over the rough spots in the road, and we hurried to the house. Uncle Silas was still on the floor, his legs in casts. I went to him and knelt down on the floor, beside him.
I took his hand and he turned his head. He smiled painfully at me as I smiled back at him.
“I wanted to thankyou for what you did, Jenny. Your presence of mind showed me you are just like your mother. She had an uncanny sence about her for things like that. And I also want to apologize for the way I treated you when you said you would write to Rueben regardless of what I said or not. I would be glad to have you come as often as you would please. My home is yours,” he said, painfully talking.

“Don’t try to overexert yourself, Uncle Silas, all is forgiven. I was always wondering why you were against Rueben leaving the family to seek his own life. Sometime when you are better, I’ll ask you about it again,” I said getting to my feet.

At the door, Uncle Silas stopped me by his voice.
“Jenny, do you still have Rueben’s letters? I would like to read them, and then write to him, if you think he will still write me back,” Uncle Silas asked.
I looked at Aunt Hannah, and smiled. She looked at me with tears.
“I still have the letters, Uncle, and I will send them over with Nathan, so Aunt Hannah can read them to you,” I replied.
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This is just a sampling of the story. Currently it is 64 pages long, but I would like to make it longer. I need an editor, or a co author, who would be willing to work with me!

Cara Ashley