The Sky Never Ends

Thoughts of the Past

This chapter is basically a backstory of Noah's past life and why he is so angry. Its one of the longest chapters, because I was trying to fit it all in so I could move on in the story with the readers understanding more about Noah. Selah won't learn about these things for a few more chapters. There is no interaction between Noah and Selah in this chapter. Just a heads up. Thank you for reading! - IndieBlue

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April 2,1865

   There was salted deer meat leftover from their hunting trip a few days earlier. Sam was cutting the meat while Noah tended the fire. Samuel asked Selah if she knew how to make any stews. Selah was thrilled to have something to do for once. She nodded her head vigorously and hopped out of the wagon bringing a silver pot and a container of water. When the water began to boil Selah put a few handfuls of salt, chopped wild potatoes,and herbs into the pot. Then she placed handfuls of salted deer meat in and left it to cook. It'd be a few hours until they would be able to eat.

    While Selah manned the fire and dinner, the men went out to rummage through the near forrest looking for anything useful. Sam used this time away from Selah to question his brother on his plans for when they returned to the homestead.

"What are we gonna do Noah? The rest of the family isn't going to reach the plot until fall. Its going to be a lot of work for three people. Really two and a half with how small Selah is. I don't think it'll be ready by the time they get to Oregon." it was one of the few times Sam's outlook was pessimistic, which worried Noah even more.

"I know that Sam. We'll just have to do what we can. Thats all we can do." Noah pinched the bridge of his nose trying to concentrate. "I didn't want this to be my responsibility, we're going to have spent four months traveling back and forth doing this damned favor for our Father. We're going to have to play everything by ear and hope the harvest season is good to us."

    The men continued their dialogue while they headed back to the campsite, until Samuel changed the course of the conversation to Selah. He began to question Noah about what he felt for her and suggested he should be kinder to her, so she'd trust them more. He even proposed that Selah should come with them on a few of their hunts, that maybe she'd be useful.

   Noah abruptly stopped the discussion and snapped at Samuel angrily. Telling him his carelessness and idiocy was the reason their father didn't trust Sam enough to go to the exchange alone. It was a low blow, but Sam knew that Noah refused to talk about subjects like that. He insisted the only feeling he had for Selah was contempt, and the responsibility to keep her alive for his father. Noah would never feel for a woman the way he felt for Hattie. Samuel knew that the last thing he ever wanted to talk about was his deceased wife or moving on. There was no moving on for him. His life was dedicated now to helping the family start a new life, he had no other interests. His best skills now were building and doing farm work. He would never care for someone the way he cared for his wife, he refused.

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Illinois 1860 - Noah's Flashback

     In Illinois, he had been working as an architect. He designed and built the home he lived in with his wife. His family was dispersed around the city, but were always a short carriage ride away. He was planning on starting a family with Hattie and he'd accepted a high paying contract with the mayor of the city building the town hall. Life was perfect then, and Noah was happy.

    That was until 1860. For the Woodbridge family 1860 must have been a curse sent their way. Noah lost his wife in January when she visited the city to meet with a cobbler to fix her shoe. She was unaware of a protest taking place. The protest turned violent, Hattie must've found herself lost in the crowd. Noah was working when she left and came home alarmed to find her gone. When he was made aware of the riot he notified the police and located his father he told him to spread the word that Hattie was missing.