Chapter 12 Katie and Sally

The day was dawning, Katie woke up in the cabin she had shared with Mary and her sister Sally. She missed them both, Mary because of all the information she had learned from her and Sally because she was her sister. She remembered the good times they had when they were growing up and how they would talk about what their plans had been for their future. They both wanted to go to College to learn about history. Katie wanted to learn about the Pacific Northwest, specifically how the City of Seattle had been started and about how the logging industry had helped Seattle to grow. Sally was more interested in the origins of the people who had lived in that area before the white man came. She was also interested in photography and had taken many pictures with her camera. Katie looked over to the dresser. The old camera, with it's roll of film and the new with the digital style. She missed her sister.

There was a knock on the door and Katie got up out of the bed and put a robe on. She knew that that was not appropriate in this particular age, but she did not want to spend a lot of time dressing.

"Just a moment!" She shouted as she combed her hair. She placed the brush down on the dresser and went out of the bedroom. She went to the door and opened it.

"Miss Furlong? Miss Katie Furlong?" A man asked when she opened it.

"Yes?" she questioned.

"I have a package for you sent from my aunt who lives on San Juan Island. He said. Katie looked at him and looked at the package, then asked:
"I do not know anyone on San Juan Island, who is your aunt? And may I ask your name?" she said. The man looked down to the ground and then looked up and said:

"My name is Pete Friday. My Aunt is Mrs. Lisabeth Pruitt. She says she heard of you and wanted you to have these pictures that were left behind by a cousin of hers a Miss Sally Furlong!" He said. Katie took the package and invited the man in and opened the package. There was a letter in the package, she looked at the pictures first and her heart skipped a beat. It was a picture of Sally. She had apparently gone back in time instead of going forward, she had been living on San Juan Island as one of the Lummi natives. The picture was taken with a camera, how she had a camera in that era, Katie would never know, but she was happy. She opened the letter and read:

"Dearest Katie: Imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes and had not fallen on the ground. It is like an eagle plucked me from the tree branch and I was taken to a place that is not far away just over the ocean. I am now a medicine woman, and my name is Whale girl. I am considered a 'healer' and since I know herbs and plants they have taken me in. I am married and have two children. One has married Christopher Pruitt. I do believe that he was Candy's brother? I think that my time is ahead a few years but maybe you can come to find me if it works out. Please know that I am safe and have a good life. Love, Sally (Whale girl) Furlong.

Katie could not contain her tears. She now knew that Sally was okay. She would have to tell Candy about this, or maybe she wouldn't she wasn't sure what the rules were. She thanked Pete and asked him to stay for breakfast.

"I would like to but, I need to get back to the Island I have deliveries to make, and they are expecting me. I am glad to have finally met you. I hope you can visit us on the Island. I am not sure if my great grandmother will be around then, but it would be nice to see you and great grandmother Whale girl together!" He said then he left and walked back down to the dock to set sail on a ship. Katie wanted to write something but was stopped. She could not get out of the door for some reason. She saw Peter walking and even though she tried to call him back, it looked as if he had disappeared in the early morning fog.

Back on San Juan Island. Whale Girl had a heart moment. She stood up and looked out over the ocean and knew that her sister had received the package. She smiled then went back to making the herbal medicine so that the small child who was the chief's son would get better.

Katie herself went back in, got dressed and prepared to help the loggers with their jobs by providing the nourishment they needed as well as helping those who had been hurt while working. She was humming a song to herself and picturing her sister doing the same thing but in her time.

Robert Benson arrived at Katie's cabin. He had rode his horse over to see her. He had a surprise for her and wanted to make this day a special day. He knocked on the cabin door. He waited, there was no answer. He wondered if she had gone to the cookhouse. He knocked again but heard nothing. He decided to go over to the cookhouse and see if she was there. When he got there he saw Mitch and Mark filling up their breakfast trays with hotcakes.

"Have you seen Katie?" Robert asked. Mitch Smiled and Mark said:
"Yes, she said she had to go over to see Mrs. Bolt in Seattle. She isn't going to be back until tomorrow!" Mark said. Wondering why Robert had flowers in his hand.

"Hey Mr. Benson, Those flowers wouldn't be for us, would they?" Mitch said with a grin on his face. Robert looked at Mitch and said.

"No, they are not. But by the time she gets these they may not be as fresh. So,…" He took a rather large bottle sitting nearby and placed the flowers in the bottle, then placing the bottle on the table finished what he was going to say:

"They are to enhance the beauty of the cookhouse!" and he left. Everyone was laughing about that. Robert decided to go home, gather his things and head to Seattle. He wanted to see Miss Furlong and hoped he could find her there before she came back.

Katie was on her way to Seattle on the horse that Mary had given her. She had a basket of special things for Candy Bolt when she got to Seattle. She also wanted to find out how Joshua was doing as well. She remembered that he had an interest in her sister and wanted to let him know, in fact the Bolt brothers all needed to know that she was okay. The ride was not so bad. The day was nice, so she did not ride fast just let the horse canter for a while. She was halfway to Seattle when the horse stepped on something and broke it's leg. Katie fell on the ground under the horse. She screamed for help but realized that no one was around to help her. She was not sure how to get out from under a horse and worried that she would be there for a long time.

She struggled to get her legs out from under the horse, but the horse was in too much pain, and she could not move the horse. She screamed again hoping someone would be coming along soon. She had taken he main road to Seattle so she thought someone would be along soon. She lay back tired from all the exertion and waited for help to arrive.