The next chapter in Astrið's story is here! Read about her adventures and misadventures from the 3rd & 4th July 1901 below, as Astrið deals with the aftermath of the shootout a few days earlier. You can check out her full diary here: Astrið's Diary
I woke up in my room in the Hotel, my arm stiff and sore from my injuries yesterday. I took the analgesia that Dr Atwood had left me and carefully redressed my bandages with clean bandages – not easy to do one handed on yourself!
I finished getting myself dressed and headed out of my room. Miree was waiting for me in the sitting room downstairs. Sharing a smile with each other, we set off down the street to check telegrams.
I finished getting myself dressed and headed out of my room. Miree was waiting for me in the sitting room downstairs. Sharing a smile with each other, we set off down the street to check telegrams.
To our complete surprise, as we rounded the corner at the end of the main street, we spotted a group of people dressed in ornate and intricate clothing. I recognised one of them as Mr Mato, and in turn, he promptly walked up to Miree and I, making introductions.
Mr Mato’s eyes widened in recognition when I introduced Miree to him. Of course, I’d spoken to him a lot about Miree before, about her being my partner, about her search for her tribe. With hardly a second wasted, he turned to the group and called them over, proudly introducing them to Miree. As Mr Mato is chief of the Wapiti tribe, he introduced the others as the chiefs of their respective tribes across Saints Crossing.
With the warmest welcome unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Saints Crossing, the chiefs surrounded Miree, welcoming her, making introductions and offering their support to her.
Mr Mato’s eyes widened in recognition when I introduced Miree to him. Of course, I’d spoken to him a lot about Miree before, about her being my partner, about her search for her tribe. With hardly a second wasted, he turned to the group and called them over, proudly introducing them to Miree. As Mr Mato is chief of the Wapiti tribe, he introduced the others as the chiefs of their respective tribes across Saints Crossing.
With the warmest welcome unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Saints Crossing, the chiefs surrounded Miree, welcoming her, making introductions and offering their support to her.
Alas, the group couldn’t stay for long as they had a big meeting between the chiefs to attend. With fond farewells, they began preparing their things for the continuation of their journey.
Although I was familiar with Mr Mato enough to be comfortable, Miree stood in a stunned silence, her eyes wide in awe. Never did she imagine she’s get a welcoming invite from a chief of a tribe, let alone to meet all of the chiefs of the tribes of this area and have them be so, so excited to meet her.
Although I was familiar with Mr Mato enough to be comfortable, Miree stood in a stunned silence, her eyes wide in awe. Never did she imagine she’s get a welcoming invite from a chief of a tribe, let alone to meet all of the chiefs of the tribes of this area and have them be so, so excited to meet her.
Miree was filled with excitement, and as we headed to Saint Denis to meet up with Leon, Dovie and Mr Callahan at the markets, she eagerly shared the story of todays events to them. We all smiled at seeing her excitement. I know she’s spent a long while searching for her own tribe. Perhaps with contracts like this, she can find the answers she has been looking for….
Leon explained to Miree and I that tomorrow was going to be a day of celebration here in Saints’ Crossing, and indeed all across the United States – celebrating the birth of their nation. We would all be welcome to join, so we set about the Saint Denis market, gather drinks and supplies for the festivities.
The next day, Miree and I met up at the hotel in Valentine and gather the final few supplies we wanted for todays celebrations. Everything packed and ready we set off to find Leon and Thomas.
Finding them, we packed our supplies onto their horses and rode off for the hills. Leon & Thomas had met with other folk from Valentine, and they tried to work out where the fireworks would be, based on the flyers – which triumphantly touted that you’d be able to see fireworks everywhere in Saints’ Crossing!
Arriving at the hills north of Valentine, we climbed the edge until we got to a small plateau overlooking New Hanover and out across the rest of Saints Crossing. Some of the folk from Valentine had arrived before us and had set up a small camp.
Miree and I found a little corner of the cliffside to ourselves and made ourselves at home – the fireworks wouldn’t be until nightfall anyway.
Miree and I found a little corner of the cliffside to ourselves and made ourselves at home – the fireworks wouldn’t be until nightfall anyway.
We looked out over the forests below us. Funny how we only travelled for an hour or two and yet we’re now so far into the wilderness. I smiled, taking in the view: the towering mountains and plummeting cliffs, I’m used to – but trees aren’t something we have in Føroyar. Takes some getting to seeing them so abundant!
As we all settled in to enjoy some drinks and some food before the celebrations began, a bank of mist rolled through the hills, obscuring our view. Hopefully it will clear up by the time the fireworks start!
Thankfully, shortly after the sun set, the mist cleared rights up. Some small clouds were still hanging low in the sky, but otherwise we had visibility for miles for around. With a while to go before the fireworks began, Leon joined us to catch up with Miree and I.
With flashes in the distance, it seems the celebrations are getting underway! I pointed the fireworks out to Miree and smiled, watching the fireworks go off in the distance.
Judging by how far they are away, and the landmarks around it, we figured those fireworks are from Blackwater.
Judging by how far they are away, and the landmarks around it, we figured those fireworks are from Blackwater.
We wandered over to the other side of the camp to see where else the fireworks were going off. From this angle, we could see plenty of fireworks going up from Saint Denis. There were some fireworks even going up from what looked to be on the lake. We were confused, until someone pointed out it must the guards at the Sisika prison setting them off!
From the view of the camp, we could see the celebrations underway all across The Crossing: Saint Denis, Rhodes, Blackwater, Valentine & Strawberry!
Although to our dismay all of the fireworks display were a long, long distance away from where we were.
Although to our dismay all of the fireworks display were a long, long distance away from where we were.
The fireworks over Saint Denis and the surrounding areas seemed to be really heating up! The entire group were looking all around our vantage point, enjoying the fireworks in the various towns across The Crossing.
Suddenly it seemed like our wish was answered: looking over towards the mountains, some fireworks starting shooting up fairly close to our vantage point! The group was somewhat confused, as we didn’t think there was a settlement over that way – but maybe one of the smaller cabins had bought some fireworks!
As we were watching the fireworks towards the mountains, we suddenly heard bangs behind us. We turned around and there was another set of fireworks being let off from the cabins north of Emerald Ranch.
We smiled, now getting a much better fireworks show than we did earlier – it seems this was a good spot after all!
We smiled, now getting a much better fireworks show than we did earlier – it seems this was a good spot after all!
One by one the fireworks shows dwindled until once again a silent darkness filled the air. As the folk sharing the viewpoint wandered off to gather their supplies ahead of the journey back to town, Leon and I enjoyed a moment together.
He explained a bit more about this celebration. The 4th of July is Independence Day, where America gained its independence from the United Kingdom. This got me thinking about my home….. The Faroe Islands is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, despite us being so very far away from Denmark – as is Iceland, as is Greenland. Will we ever see your independence?
He explained a bit more about this celebration. The 4th of July is Independence Day, where America gained its independence from the United Kingdom. This got me thinking about my home….. The Faroe Islands is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, despite us being so very far away from Denmark – as is Iceland, as is Greenland. Will we ever see your independence?
As we packed up the camp, the group boarded their wagon, as Leon and I and Thomas and Miree got on our horses. One slight snag however – the horses from the wagon broke their hitchings with the fireworks and had wandered off the hilltop. As we on horseback set off for Valentine, the wagon drivers would be delayed in getting to Valentine as they rounded up the horses and got them attached to the wagon again.
Back in Valentine, Miree and I dropped our spare supplies off in our hotel room and discussed what we could do next. Mr Callahan had headed out of town for the day, so we set off to find Leon.
We headed down the street and found Leon at the Sheriff’s office with Sheriff Lewis. It sees with the celebrations done he was heading on duty for a while. Looks like it would just be Miree and I for the rest of the day!
We headed back to the hotel to plan our next move. No-one we knew was around, and my injured arm meant I’d be unable to work for at least a while more while it healed – but still we needed money – perferably easy work…..
We settled on doing some orange deliveries for the orchard just outside of Saint Denis. Should be easy enough work – although the barrels are heavy, so I’d just be there for moral support. We headed out of town and helped the farmer load the wagon.
Wagon loaded, we set off for town. We would be taking this load of oranges to the general store in Valentine with Miree taking the reigns.
After a successful deliver, we collected our wages and plotted what we would do next. Miree and I looked at each other – realising it had been a long day already, we were both tired! We agreed the best thing was to finish off our errands for the day and get some good rest!
At the telegrams, I checked my correspondence with Dr Smith. It seems that while I had been accepted to the board of the department of health, my title as doctor was not being recognised.
I must confess to feeling a bit insulted at this. I know that Dr Smith is on my side with this, but I wonder who else in the department is taking exception to me? And why!? Is the because I’m young? Is it because I am a newcomer to the department?
The bulk of the reason, Dr Smith suggests, is there is ambiguity over the level of my medical training. I wrote him back explaining I not only studied my doctorate, but lectured in medicine at the same university as well. I will see what he says, but just now – rest!
I must confess to feeling a bit insulted at this. I know that Dr Smith is on my side with this, but I wonder who else in the department is taking exception to me? And why!? Is the because I’m young? Is it because I am a newcomer to the department?
The bulk of the reason, Dr Smith suggests, is there is ambiguity over the level of my medical training. I wrote him back explaining I not only studied my doctorate, but lectured in medicine at the same university as well. I will see what he says, but just now – rest!
Finishing our errands, Miree and I headed upstairs to our room. We sat talking on the bed a while, and Miree helped me in cleaning and re-dressing my sutures. It feels so much better now I’ve had someone else help me dress the wounds – I need to make sure I’m not trying to do everything on my own.
Medicine has come a long way, but still it is all too easy to pick up an infection from careless care. And, I’ve never been shot before. Sure, I’ve looked after people who have, but it’s very different when you’re experiencing it on your own person!
As Miree finished neatly bandaging my arm, we got dressed for bed and got our heads down for some rest.
Medicine has come a long way, but still it is all too easy to pick up an infection from careless care. And, I’ve never been shot before. Sure, I’ve looked after people who have, but it’s very different when you’re experiencing it on your own person!
As Miree finished neatly bandaging my arm, we got dressed for bed and got our heads down for some rest.