Daylight Comes (Freedom's Path Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Judith Miller

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136 pages

English

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Truth Wyman has watched Nicodemus, Kansas, grow into a busy little prairie town. And she has grown up, too. Her family was among the first settlers to homestead this area, and there is nowhere she'd rather live. She's always thought her husband felt the same way. . . .Then Moses comes home with news that he has been nominated for state office. If he wins, they'll need to move to the state capital. Pregnant with her first child, Truth does not plan to move to Topeka. How can she raise her baby in an unfamiliar city? How can she leave her family and her home? Yet what will happen if she refuses?Nicodemus's sister community, Hill City, is thriving, too. Macia Boyle returns to her family after a European holiday. The storekeeper's nephew, Garrett Johnson, captures her attention, but she can't seem to forget Jeb Malone, the young blacksmith who showed interest in her before her trip. Soon, Macia must make a choice: Should she return to Jeb's arms or seek a new life with Garrett?

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 novembre 2006
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781585587483
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0202€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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D AYLIGHT C OMES

JUDITH MILLER
FREEDOM S PATH · book 3
D AYLIGHT C OMES
Daylight Comes Copyright 2006 Judith Miller
Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.
Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
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 and copyright owners.
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-0000-7 ISBN-10: 0-7642-0000-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McCoy-Miller, Judith. Daylight comes / Judith Miller. p. cm. - (Freedom s path ; bk. 3) ISBN-13: 978-0-7642-0000-7 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-7642-0000-3 (pbk.) 1. Nicodemus (Kan.)-Fiction. I. Title. PS3613.C3858D39 2006 813 .54-dc22 2006019416
To Ellen Irwin, with thanks for your steadfast friendship and encouragement
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
- PROVERBS 4 : 1 8 N I V
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
A MESSAGE TO MY READERS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER 1
Nicodemus , Kansas August 1882
W hat have you done? What have you done? The horse s hooves pounded out the words in an unrelenting cadence that constricted Moses Wyman s throat as tightly as a hangman s noose.
He strained in the saddle and bowed his shoulders against the ache that had plagued him for the last five miles. The train ride from Topeka had been tiresome, but the final miles atop his sturdy horse had proved the most grueling leg of the journey. His time away from home had lasted longer than anticipated. And though Moses hungered to once again embrace his wife, he feared his news would dampen the sweetness of their reunion.
The horse snorted and pranced, wanting his head as they approached this more familiar territory. They d both been gone far too long-Moses in Topeka, where he d served as the elected representative of Graham County at the statewide Republican convention, and his horse at the livery in Ellis with Chester Goddard. With only a nudge, the horse galloped northward until they were a short distance from town.
With a tug on the reins, Moses slowed the animal to a trot and entered the outskirts of Nicodemus. Since the day he d arrived in Nico-demus, he d loved this town and its people. Even though he d not been one of the original settlers, Moses delighted in telling others their story. He swelled with pride whenever given the opportunity to relate how the small band of ill-prepared African Americans, who had arrived in Kansas with little more than their dreams and expectations, had successfully established a town for themselves. Believing the promises of the men representing the company that had plotted the town, they d come west expecting what they d been promised: an established community of businesses, churches, homes, and a school. Instead they d been greeted by nothing but the empty Kansas prairie. In spite of the unfulfilled promises, most of those first pioneers had remained. With an indefatigable determination and an unflagging faith in God, they d built homes, churches, a school, and businesses. Now Moses, too, hungered to contribute something more to the community. Editing and printing the newspaper provided a measure of fulfillment, but not enough to smother the burning fire in his belly. He wanted to see Nicodemus spread her wings and soar, and grow as abundantly as did the fields of wheat and corn that dotted the township s acreage.
New residents often arrived in Nicodemus-folks who opened a business in the heart of their little town, or purchased a farm on its outskirts, or sought employment among other people of color. But for each one that came, another departed. This was a grueling place, with its ongoing plagues of harsh weather and hard times. One thing Moses knew for certain: for a town to grow, it needed the railroad.
Urging his horse onward, he caught sight of the home he shared with his wife. Truth stood on the porch as if she d known the exact moment he would arrive. His heart swelled as he waved and called her name. Without a doubt, she had been God s greatest blessing in his life. He prayed she would accept his unexpected news with enthusiasm. However, his heart told him otherwise. He would tell her first thing. Then again, perhaps he should wait until the entire family was gathered together before breaking the news. . . .
Moses! I ve missed you so. It seems as though you ve been gone for months. Truth raised up on tiptoe to meet his lips, her kiss filled with longing. I m never going to agree to such a separation again. I want you right here in Nicodemus with me. One of the other men can represent Graham County at those conventions in Topeka.
Indeed, they may need to elect someone else as their representative in the future. However, I believe you would enjoy Topeka. I m only sorry you weren t feeling well enough to go along with me this time. I must say you re fairly glowing right now. The doctor has pronounced you well?
With an enthusiastic nod, she confirmed he had declared her fit as a fiddle. Gently tugging on his hand, Truth led him into the house and to the parlor. Moses dropped down beside her on the brocade divan.
Truth was nibbling her lower lip-a sure sign she had something important to tell him. I want to hear all that occurred at the convention, she said. But first I have a special surprise to share with you.
His wife enjoyed a surprise more than anyone he knew, and he wondered what she had come up with while he was gone. Perhaps she had planned a special meal with the entire family. He hoped so, for he was hungry. He leaned forward.
Truth s eyes sparkled as they met his. We re going to have a baby, Moses. Can you believe it? She stroked her hand down his cheek.
That s why I wasn t feeling well. She clasped his fingers. Isn t this wonderful? Aren t you thrilled? You re going to be a father. Imagine!
We re going to have our very own child.
His stomach lurched and he swallowed hard. A tumult of emotions assaulted him. He jumped to his feet and pulled Truth into an embrace, fearful she would detect the panic in his eyes. I m delighted, my dear. He sounded like a croaking bullfrog and gulped a lungful of air, praying that he would quickly regain his composure.
I can hear the emotion in your voice. I know you had given up hope.
Moses clung to her. How could he possibly reveal his news now?
They would celebrate this moment with unbridled joy. He would tell her later.
She wiggled from his embrace and graced him with a look of pure adoration. I m so happy, Moses. I ve invited the family to supper tonight so that we can make the announcement together. I ve not told anyone because I wanted you to be the first to know, but this has been the most difficult secret I ve ever been required to keep.
Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. Thank you, my dear.
Keeping such news to yourself must have been extremely difficult. He chuckled, hoping to mask his apprehension.
She watched him carefully as he sat down. You don t appear quite as excited as I expected. Although I must admit I didn t know how you would react. Her brows furrowed. Was there some sort of difficulty in Topeka?
He could easily clear the air by revealing exactly what had occurred in Topeka. But he wouldn t spoil this moment in their lives.
You know that I have always prayed for children, Truth. Still, I must admit I am more than a little surprised. Please try to understand-I had no idea . . .
She smiled broadly before kissing his cheek. Of course you didn t-nor did I. Let me fix you a cup of coffee and then you can tell me about the convention. I m anxious to hear how you were received and how the voting went.
Moses didn t attempt to stop her. He needed a few moments to gather his wits about him. The news of the child made him question whether he d made a mistake. Perhaps he should have prayed more.
Had his decision been one of pride rather than God s urging? He rubbed his forehead and longed for a solution to this dilemma.
More than anything, he wanted to be alone and think. He stood and massaged the back of his neck with one hand. I m going to take my bag upstairs and unpack, he called. There s no hurry for the coffee, Truth. If you don t mind, I may take a short nap.
Truth peeked into the hallway. In that case, I ll go ahead with my supper preparations while you rest. I m sure you re tired. I can hear about the convention along with the rest of the family at supper.
She retreated into the kitchen and Moses trudged up the stairs, feeling the weight of his recent decision. He opened his bag and carefully separated the clean clothes from the dirty, the slow, methodical process somehow calming his nerves. After removing his shoes and jacket, he lay down on the bed to pray. He had uttered only a few words to God when his eyelids began to droop.
Moses was uncertain how much time had passed when he awoke to the sound of voices. Jerking into an upright position, he yanked his shoes onto hi