Thankful (Completed)

Chapter 12- Progress of the Pilgrims

An early update because I won't be in WiFi tomorrow, enjoy!

Emily Johnston woke with a start one bright morning. Her brown and tired eyes looked around wildly for the sound that had woken her from a dead sleep.

The sound persisted and it's source was clear. The pounding of hammers.  It had been weeks since Samoset had entered into the lives of the pilgrims. Since that day, more and more Indians had come and with them, came progress.

A good number of homes were now upright. Meals were far more rich and filling as the Indians shared their knowledge of fishing, hunting and trapping. The gardens were being well tended to and a plentiful harvest was to be expected in the fall. The pilgrims felt new energy and hope as they faced each new day. They welcomed these Indians with open and grateful arms, eager to learn and survive.

Emily laid her head down on her straw mattress and closed her eyes in attempt to block out the sound of hope. The Smith's home was built and  though Emily refused to speak a word of it, she was thrilled to spend every second of every miserable day on land. She had come to detest the sea and it's ever rocking waves, but the Mayflower she despised as it held naught but ghosts.

True to her promise to herself, she had kept a good distance from the indians. A small flame of triumph burned within her as she kept this promise. But it was but a faint light as she was only hurting herself with this pride.

Though her eyes kept closed, her ears buzzed with the sound of the hammers. Two women passed by the house and one let out a high pitched laugh, much to the dismay of Emily.

"There is no reason trying to sleep." She grumbled as she sat up and removed the warm blanket that she had been entangled in.

Emily was alone in that wooden house. Hours ago, Mary had went with an Indian woman to gather herbs, while Charles was busy building with the other men. Betty was most likely with the other children, running and playing in their new world.

Deep down, Emily knew she should race outside and help the women immediately. Emily was required to do her part. She had not intended to sleep so late, yet it was a pleasant sensation.

"Let them toil in the New World. I want no part of it." She spoke bitterly.

Though spring was quick in its arrival, Emily was living in a constant winter where the wind howled and the ice bit.

In this thought, little Betty came rushing into the home. Dirt and mud stained the hem of her dress. The little girl's face was red from exhaustion and a smile, full to bursting, was not to be moved.

"Oh Emily, come outside!" Betty squealed with delight.

Emily said nothing. Betty hurried toward her and grabbed her hand.

"Spring is here, come play with me!"

How often had her baby brother, Aaron, asked her to play? The words stung Emily and she wanted to glare at Betty. Wanted to push her aside and lock her and everyone on that new chunk of dirt they called home, out of her life for ever.

"Please Emily?" Pleaded Betty slowly.

Emily let out a sigh of frustration. Though early spring it was, her breath was released into a visible white hazy cloud.

"Alright." She said weakly as if the words she would live to regret and the weight of them too much to bear.

Betty smiled with excitement and gently tugged on Emily's cold hand. Emily allowed herself to be led away, only looking back once at her warm straw mattress longingly.

Betty did not and could not have known what a wave of events she had begun. That first step Emily Johnston took out of the wooden cabin and into the mix, would change her life for ever. Some called it fate. Others, destiny. God calls it His plan, and what a plan it was.

A/n
Ok guys!!! After this things pick up, and I'm more than ready to move on. Please please vote and comment. I love feedback! Thanks for reading! :)