149 Years Earlier

A pair of hard green eyes stared out from the carriage at the strange dark forest going past. It seemed to go on for eternity.

The sole passenger harrumphed and closed her eyes. Her head bounced as she dozed off.

A few minutes later and the carriage made an abrupt turn, waking her up. She peered out from where she was sitting, unable to see much. The horse slowed to a stop, and Ellen waited impatiently to descend.

Tilting her head against the sun, she reached for a familiar rough hand. Having the sweaty palm firmly grasped, she stepped down and out.

The sun was strong. She squinted distastefully and put up a hand to observe her surroundings, skeptically.

"It's not the prettiest piece of land I've seen." She criticized. Samuel balanced on the balls of his feet, gauging her reaction and staring proudly at the newly purchased property. "No, not yet, I guess."

Her eyes fell on the house. "It's quaint." Her voice was full of doubt.

"It's better than back home," He retorted. She inhaled sharply, nodding her head only slightly, the subject of back home being incredibly touchy at best.

His voice softened. "Aye, don't worry. We will make it our home yet."

She looked at him for the first time, eyes missing the defiance they had held ever since they'd arrived in the new world. "A home for the children."

"And for the grandchildren."

"And for all that come after."

They stared out over the small patch of cleared land, the forest deep and dark and unexplored sprawling out behind it.

"Aye, we'll make it beautiful yet." She whispered.

Samuel met her gaze from across the property, smiling apologetically. She narrowed her eyes in response before the visiting women's gossip pulled her back.

"The men are making good progress." Miss Henrietta Steele announced. The ladies looked over to where the men were working, sleeves rolled up and skin glistening with perspiration. One shouted and the others back away as another tree toppled. It took three to bring down one tree; many trios of hard-working gentlemen were in the surrounding forest, and others still were busy with the underbrush. They were making good progress; however, the work was slow. Meanwhile, their wives sat on the lawn, drinking tea.

Ellen plastered on a smile.

"It won't take them long to clear it," Miss Isabelle Little added.

"I hope not," Ellen replied. The women went back to their chatting, the likes of which Ellen could not care less about. She balanced her son on her knee, pretending to occupy herself with his needs.

Soon enough, however, the women began to fuss over him as well. Ellen had had enough and escaped into the house, leaving William with one of his older sisters.

She enjoyed it in there. The house was small and square: a kitchen to the left, a living room to the right, and a staircase dead ahead. Most definitely a tiny home, but a cozy one nonetheless. At the moment it was silent and comforting, enveloping her like a warm blanket on a cold night. It ended up being a nice fit for her and Samuel and their family. There she sat and took a few calming breaths.

At least the clearing would be done in a week's time and the townsfolk would soon fret over the next new arrivals, carrying on to them about how well they understood this strange new place, lying then as they were now to Ellen.

She would just wish the settling in with would be over with sooner.