Destined for You (Ladies of the Lake) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Tracie Peterson

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157 pages

English

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Can she withstand the storms of life that blow her way?Gloriana Womack's family is much smaller since scarlet fever killed her mother and two of her siblings. She's dedicated her modest life in Duluth, Minnesota, to holding the remains of her fractured family together, caring for her father and younger brother. But it is hard not to be overrun by worry when her father is often gone on long fishing trips, their livelihood coming from the waters of the temperamental and sometimes deadly Lake Superior. Luke Carson has come to Duluth to help shepherd the arrival of the railroad to the city's port, and he's eager to be reunited with his brother and sister-in-law, who recently moved there and are expecting their first child. Competition for the railroad is fierce, with the neighboring city of Superior, Wisconsin, fighting for the tracks to come through their town instead. But the real danger lies in a man who has followed Luke across the country with revenge on his mind.When tragedy brings Gloriana and Luke together, they help each other through their grief and soon find their lives inextricably linked. If they survive the trials ahead, could it be possible they've been destined for each other all along?"Peterson delivers a touching tale of love built out of shared grief in this enjoyable first installment of the Ladies of the Lake series. . . . Peterson creates a memorable romance between Luke and Gloriana that's rooted in mutual hardship and renewed faith. This series is off to a strong start."--Publishers Weekly

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Historical romance

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	02 mars 2021
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781493429790
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	3 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0384€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Tracie Peterson
L ADIES OF THE L AKE
Destined for You
W ILLAMETTE B RIDES
Secrets of My Heart
The Way of Love
Forever by Your Side
T HE T REASURES OF N OME *
Forever Hidden
Endless Mercy
B ROOKSTONE B RIDES
When You Are Near
Wherever You Go
What Comes My Way
G OLDEN G ATE S ECRETS
In Places Hidden
In Dreams Forgotten
In Times Gone By
H EART OF THE F RONTIER
Treasured Grace
Beloved Hope
Cherished Mercy
T HE H EART OF A LASKA *
In the Shadow of Denali
Out of the Ashes
Under the Midnight Sun
S APPHIRE B RIDES
A Treasure Concealed
A Beauty Refined
A Love Transformed
B RIDES OF S EATTLE
Steadfast Heart
Refining Fire
Love Everlasting
L ONE S TAR B RIDES
A Sensible Arrangement
A Moment in Time
A Matter of Heart
L AND OF S HINING W ATER
The Icecutter’s Daughter
The Quarryman’s Bride
The Miner’s Lady
L AND OF THE L ONE S TAR
Chasing the Sun
Touching the Sky
Taming the Wind

All Things Hidden*
Beyond the Silence*
House of Secrets
Serving Up Love**
*with Kimberley Woodhouse **with Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano
For a complete list of Tracie’s books, visit her website www.traciepeterson.com .
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2021 by Peterson Ink, Inc.
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
Ebook edition created 2021
Ebook corrections 06.10.2021
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—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—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 978-1-4934-2979-0
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover design by Paul Higdon and Peter Gloege/LOOK Design Studio
Woman on cover by Magdalena Russocka / Trevillion Images
Lake Superior cover scene by Matt Anderson Photography / Getty Images
Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Tracie Peterson
Title Page
Copyright Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Epilogue
About the Author
Back Ads
Cover Flaps
Back Cover
Chapter 1
Duluth, Minnesota September 1869
Gloriana Womack was not one to brook nonsense. If her twenty-five years had taught her anything, it was that eight-year-old boys were constantly in motion. And that motion often took them to places that guaranteed the need for a bath. But with the school bell set to ring in less than ten minutes, Gloriana barely had time to get her brother, JT, into a clean shirt.
“I told you not to go outside until it was time to leave for school.”
“Aw, Glory. I just wanted to see if Papa was still here.” The curly-headed boy let her dress him but kept straining to see out the window.
“Papa told you he’d be back to walk you to school. He’s not going to leave before he does that. Remember, he’s not fishing today. He has business to tend to.”
“I don’t know why I have to go to school anyway. When I get big, I’m gonna catch fish like Papa does. He didn’t go to school.”
“Which is exactly why he wants you to. There are a lot of things that are limited for Papa because he didn’t get an education. Even taking care of bank business requires someone to go with him. Mama used to read for him, but now I do it.”
“Mr. Carson went with him today,” JT said.
“Yes, he did. Mr. Carson is very helpful in these things.” She had nothing but fond thoughts for the sweet young couple next door. Scott and Sally Carson had become like family.
Gloriana finished the last button on her brother’s shirt and had just straightened when their father bounded into the house with a grin.
“There’s my family. Are you ready, JT?”
The boy shoved his shirt into his waistband and pulled up his suspender straps. “I am now. Come on, or the bell is going to ring and I’ll be late. Don’t forget we have to get all the way up the hill.” JT gave Gloriana a hug, then went running to his father, who bent over just as the boy approached. JT jumped on his back and gave a whooping cry. “To school!”
Gloriana laughed. JT had more energy than any other boys she knew. “Be good, JT.” She handed her father a cloth bag with the drawstring pulled tight. “Here’s his lunch.”
With the men of the house gone, Gloriana began her daily routine of housework. She threw JT’s dirty shirt into the pile of laundry she would have to tackle later. For now, she would get the breakfast mess cleaned up. They’d had flapjacks, and it seemed JT had tracked stickiness everywhere.
She took a dish towel that was already damp and dipped it in a pan of hot water that she’d readied for the dishes. The table, a hardy pine creation that had been gifted to her mother and father when they married, was soon decluttered and cleaned to Gloriana’s standards. She finished tidying up the kitchen and then went to work on the dishes. When everything was finally washed, dried, and put away, she stood back and surveyed her handiwork. Nothing was quite so satisfying as a clean kitchen.
Now to mop.
A knock interrupted her plan. Gloriana dried her hands on her apron and untied the strings. She hung it up on a peg by the back door and went to receive her guest.
A petite brunette stood on the other side of the door. Gloriana smiled.
“I figured since Papa and Scott got back from town, you would be busy with your husband,” Gloriana said.
Sally Carson patted her ever-rounding belly. “The baby has other plans. I’ve been having some pains.”
“Is it time?” Gloriana asked, alarmed.
Sally shook her head. “The midwife said it’s false labor, but the real thing will come soon enough. Scott is busy trying to make sure everything is ready. He’s making some repairs to the house that he and your father talked about. I just came over to borrow some white thread. I’m finishing up the last few diapers.”
“Of course. Come in and have a seat. Don’t wear yourself out.” Gloriana went to her sewing basket. “It’s going to be so much fun to have a baby around. I remember when JT was born. Actually, I remember when Tabby and Aaron were born as well, but that seems like a long time ago now.” For a moment Gloriana found herself thinking back to those happier days when the family had all been together. Before sickness had robbed her of a mother and two siblings.
“How long has it been since . . . well, since they . . .” Sally let her voice fade to silence.
Gloriana returned with a spool of white thread. “Three years since Mama and Aaron and Tabitha died from scarlet fever. It seems like forever at times, and other days it feels like it was just last week.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up painful thoughts.”
Gloriana dropped into her father’s chair by the fireplace. “You didn’t bring up anything that wasn’t already there. I miss them so much that they are never far from my thoughts.”
“I wish I could have been here for you. You’ve been such a dear friend to me since Scott and I arrived last spring. I don’t know what we would have done if you weren’t here. Why, we wouldn’t even have a place to live if not for your father renting us the little house next door.”
“Papa is that way. Always so generous and kind. I think your arrival helped him as much as it did me. I think we were both lost in our sadness.” Gloriana tried not to think about how much she missed her family. Scarlet fever had come like a thief without warning. Only a handful of the families who lived nearby had suffered from the sickness. Everyone else had recovered, but not the Womack family. The doctor said their cases had been more severe.
Gloriana pushed aside the memories. “Papa said Scott ordered a new rug. That will be so nice for the baby.”
“For me too. I get so cold. When the wind comes down from the north, I just about freeze.”
“And you haven’t even experienced winter yet. You’ll appreciate the extra effort the men put into getting the firewood stocked up. Having it stacked around the outside of the house adds extra insulation and makes it easy to bring inside. We’ll get by just fine. You’ll see.”
“I do worry about Scott.” Sally shook her head. “He works so hard.”
“Yes, but when the harbor closes in January, he’ll be here with you and the baby. There’s still work to be done, making repairs and getting ready for the next fishing season, but having the men home is always nice.”
“But the storms between now and January are yet to be endured. I’ve heard so many horrible stories.”
Gloriana nodded and reached out to pat Sally’s hand in reassurance. “They are bad, to be sure, but being afraid won’t change things.”
“I know, but just seeing some of the storms this summer was enough. I don’t like to think of what’s to come. How can a person live through such things?”
Gloriana wished she could say something comforting, but she knew as well as every other person in town that Lake Superior was extremely unforgiving at times. Papa said the lake was like a wild animal. You could never hope to tame it, and to ignore it could easily spell your doom.
“Sally, just remember that God is in charge, and He knows the lake because He created it. We can trust Him to watch over us and guard us.”
“Yes, but people die out there all the time.”
“They do, but you can’t live your life in fear. People die logging the woods. People die from sickness, like my mama and brother and sister.”
“Or in childbirth,