Quiet Strength (Prairie Legacy Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Janette Oke

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95 pages

English

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A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Virginia must learn the heavenly source of strength through trials in this bestselling novel.

Sujets

Historical fiction

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 août 2008
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781585587223
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0403€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

© 1999 by Janette Oke
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan. www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
E-book edition created 2011 Ebook corrections 01.07.2015
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-5855-8722-3
Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design by Jennifer Parker Cover Photograph by Mike Habermann
DEDICATION
D edicated to the memory of Sister Jean Catherine Budd, who completed her earthly journey on June 7, 1998.
We will not forget her devotion, encouragement, and love of life.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
About the Author
Other Books by the Author
Back Ad
CHAPTER 1
R ather than bouncing from her bed the moment her eyes opened, Virginia took time for a long, leisurely stretch. It felt good to know that her day was not as full of responsibilities as many had been lately. It was her day off from her job at the post office.
Last night her mother had assured her that this Saturday held no special tasks that would need immediate attention. There were indeed the daily chores, but today, unlike so many other Saturdays, there would be more than ample time to do them.
Perhaps, she thought with a smile, she might even be able to talk her mother into a nice little visit to the farm to have tea with Grandma Marty. It had been some weeks since they had treated themselves to an afternoon of warm laughter and quiet chatting.
Virginia stirred. If such pleasures were included in the day’s plans, she needed to get going.
She rolled over onto her side and was about to step onto the braided rug when she heard quick footsteps down the hall. A tap at her door, and it was opened enough for her mother to poke her head around and announce, “Virginia, you have a caller.”
“Jonathan!” Virginia sprang from the bed, her face flushing with anticipation. She had been waiting impatiently for what seemed forever for Jonathan to return from his trip west.
But her mother was shaking her head, her expression serious. “No. Not Jonathan. It’s Jenny.”
“Jenny?”
Virginia stood absolutely still in the center of the room. She could not believe it. She hadn’t heard from her friend for months. Even Jenny’s own father did not receive much news from his daughter. “Jenny? Here?”
Belinda nodded. Virginia wondered why her mother looked so sad. During all those growing-up years, she had always been happy to see Jenny at their door.
“What is it?” Virginia asked, her voice faltering. “What’s wrong?”
Virginia saw the tears her mother tried to deny with a shake of her head. Belinda did not answer the question, just rummaged in her pocket for something with which to wipe her eyes.
“What is it, Mama?” Virginia persisted, crossing the room to confront her mother. “What’s wrong?”
Her mother fought to control her emotions. “I … I’m sorry. It’s just … just … she doesn’t look much like our Jenny anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s awfully thin and … so haggard looking. Like she’s already lived a lifetime. And she looks so bewildered and … and lost.”
Virginia was already hurrying to her closet to grab a skirt and blouse, then to the dresser for clean undergarments. She whirled about, ready to shoo her mother from the room with instructions for Jenny that she would be out just as soon as she dressed. But she stopped in midmotion to push thick brown hair from her face and look searchingly at her mother. Belinda obviously was deeply troubled. She had not seen Jenny for some time. Had not realized what Jenny’s choices and style of living were doing to her health. Her well-being. Certainly this was a shock.
Virginia crossed to her mother and placed hands on her shoulders. “It’s going to be all right, Mama,” she said, trying to bring confidence to her voice. “She’s here now. Don’t you see what that means? She hasn’t forgotten us after all. She has come home, Mama. We can help her now.”
Belinda blew her nose and managed a nod.
“We’ll put some meat on her bones.
We’ll—”
“Did her father tell you she was coming?” Belinda interrupted.
Virginia shook her head. “I don’t think he knew, either. He was in the post office yesterday and never said a word.”
“Maybe she hasn’t been home.”
“You mean, maybe she came straight here?”
“I don’t know.”
Virginia glanced at the clock. There was no incoming train until later in the morning. How had Jenny arrived at their doorstep so early? Had she driven herself in a motorcar?
“How did she get here?” Virginia asked.
Belinda suddenly looked confused. “Why, I don’t know. She was just there on the back porch when I went to put crumbs out for the birds.”
“On the porch? You don’t think she was there all night, do you?” Virginia’s question ended in a gasp.
Belinda shook her head sorrowfully. “I certainly hope not. It was chilly last night. Oh my. I’d best get back and put some warm coffee into her.”
Belinda turned to leave and Virginia reached for her clothes.
“Tell her I’ll be right out.”
Belinda paused and faced her daughter once again. “She’s not alone, Virginia.” Her voice was nearly a whisper.
“Her husband?”
“No. She has a small child with her. I think the little one is ill. She looks peaked and thin.”
“Her baby?” Virginia whispered back. She had almost forgotten that Jenny had a child.
“Well, she’s not a baby anymore, but she is dreadfully tiny and pale … and awfully woebegone looking. Her little eyes are … are haunting.” Belinda looked like she would weep again.
“Tell her I’ll be right out,” Virginia repeated as she closed her door, then hastened to slip out of her nightie and into her clothing.

Virginia had quickly tried to prepare herself for the meeting with Jenny in the family kitchen. But even with her mother’s warning, she found it very difficult to hide her shock and concern. The pale, wasted figure sat half-propped on one of the straight-backed kitchen chairs, wordlessly and aimlessly toying with the handle on her cup.
Jenny did manage a wan smile. Virginia forced one in return. The kitchen clock sounded very loud in the otherwise silent kitchen as she fought for control of her voice. At last she managed to choke out, “Hello, Jenny.”
Jenny did not even answer, just nodded her head slightly. Virginia noted that the life seemed to have gone from Jenny’s green eyes, just as the vivid red had been lost from her hair.
“I haven’t seen you for a long time,” Virginia began, crossing to the table as she spoke. She frantically searched her mind for something to say that might bridge the huge gap looming between them. “How are you keeping? Have you …?”
But she stopped short. Anything she could think of sounded so inadequate.
Jenny slowly lifted the cup to her lips and took a long sip, as though sending a silent message: She would talk when—and if—she felt like talking. Virginia’s heart sank, but she nodded silently to herself and moved to the cupboard. Without further comment she opened the small door and drew a cup from a hook. Still not speaking she went to the stove and the coffeepot. Her hand felt shaky as she poured herself a cup and watched the fragrant steam waft upward. She was beginning to regain some kind of composure.
“Your mother was called outside,” the voice said in a gruff tone. “Woman next door wanted to show her roses or pansies or something. Said she’d be right back.”
Virginia nodded at Jenny’s first words. It was a start.
“Would you like a slice of raisin bread?” Virginia asked, feeling thankful that her voice sounded much more natural.
“Do you have oatmeal loaf?”
The request caught Virginia by surprise. “Never understood your fondness for the oatmeal loaf,” she said with a little smile, shaking her head. “It’s mealy and solid and without much taste.”
“That’s exactly why I like it. It’s mealy and solid. And it does too have taste,” Jenny shot back with a bit of the old fire in her voice.
Without knowing exactly why, Virginia found herself chuckling softly as she crossed to the pantry and the bread bin. Perhaps Jenny—the real Jenny—was somewhere inside there after all.
“Do you want jam?” she called from the confines of the small side room.
“The blackberry,” Jenny answered.
“I might have to go down to the cellar. I don’t think we have any up here.”
Jenny did not offer to change her mind. Virginia was not really surprised. Once Jenny had it in her head what she wanted, there was little one could do to alter it.
“Do you want the bread toasted?” Virginia asked, putting the oatmeal loaf on the table.
“Yes. Toasted,” Jenny answered as Virginia turned toward the cellar door.
“Why don’t you cut the slices while—”
“I’ll wait,” Jenny said abruptly, and she took another long drink from the coffee cup.
It did not take Virginia long to collect the blackberry jam. Soon her light step was again echoing on the wooden boards of the cellar stairs. What is happening here? she asked herself as she climbed. Jenny is here. But why? And why is she so sickly looking? So frail? Like she has suffered a long illness or been through some terrible ordeal. What is going on in Jenny’s life? How can I best help her?
But now was not the time for questions. Jenny was waitin