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Her heart was fragile from too much painwould her defenses push Ross away? Ross felt panicked. His words had hurt her. It surprised him, given the way she handled the harsh circumstances of her life. First her mother's death. Then her father's. Then losing the land.Was his compassion for the vulnerable young woman turning to love? And if it was love, what would he do now? "Please, God," he prayed. "Help me. Show me."A poignant tale about love fulfilled, A Gathering of Memories will capture the hearts and minds of romantics everywhere.

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Publié par	Harvest House Publishers
Date de parution	01 janvier 2005
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780736932653
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0480€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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LORI WICK
A G ATHERING OF M EMORIES
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
All Scripture quotations in this book are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Except for certain well-established place names, all names of persons and places mentioned in this novel are fictional.

Music and lyrics for Song for the Other Mary by Timothy Barsness and Lori Wick. Used by permission.

Cover by Terry Dugan Design, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cover images David Norton/Alamy Images; Robert Harding World Imagery/Alamy Images

A GATHERING OF MEMORIES
Copyright 1991 by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wick, Lori.
A gathering of memories / Lori Wick.
Sequel to: The long road home.
ISBN 0-7369-1536-2
I. Title. II. Series.
PS3573.I237G37 1991
813 .54-dc20
91-13604 CIP

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, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 /BC-KB/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is dedicated to my loved ones, both near and far, whom I would never have known were it not for the system of adoption.
Table of Contents

Foreword

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
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57

Epilogue
About the Author
Other books by the Author
CAMERON FAMILY TREE - 1894
Foreword

A June sun was setting over the grass-covered bluffs that curved around the south side of Baxter, Wisconsin. At the edge of that small town perched a rundown shack that took on an orange glow in the strange evening light.
To the casual observer the shack appeared empty, with no movement or lamps lit in the continuing dusk. But the shack was inhabited, if not lively.
If a visitor were to pass beneath the low door and into the first of two rooms, he would encounter a bed against one wall, low, and not very wide, but made up neatly with no sign of anyone sitting or lying there recently. A large stove, every inch of it black, dominated one wall and made a tight squeeze for anyone attempting to pass the small wooden table with its assortment of mismatched chairs.
A visitor would instantly see that the room was empty of life, and in order to find anyone, would have to walk through this bedraggled little room to the equally small bedroom, where a lamp burned so dimly it did not show from without.
In the bedroom, from a cot, four pair of solemn eyes watched the bed in the corner where a form lay motionless. The owners of those eyes had been in that position for most of the day. The bed s occupant, the center of attention, had been breathing loudly-a raspy sound that could be heard through the house. But nothing emanated from that corner now.
No one spoke, but all eyes shifted as another child, the oldest, rose from her kneeling position beside the bed. They watched, one too young to comprehend, as she lifted the blanket to cover the face of their dead mother.
Again the oldest took the initiative. Without a word the children were ushered out to what was referred to as the kitchen, where they took chairs at the table.
What s wrong with Mama?
The question came from the youngest, and even though she received no answer, she was silent as conversation began around the table.
Within a few minutes everyone had been assigned a job. The oldest worked near the youngest with supper preparations, making an attempt to explain about their mother. Another child set the table and still another hauled water, while the oldest boy headed into town for the preacher.
The preacher wasn t really someone they knew or had a reason to trust, but no one could think of anyone else who would care to come. For that matter they weren t sure he would, but it was worth a try.
The oldest boy was back at the house before the preacher arrived and they were all at the table when his carriage was heard in the yard. Eyes met in mutual uncertainty before anyone rose to let the man enter. For the first time in the lives of these five children, they wished their father were home.
A G ATHERING OF M EMORIES
1

Baxter, Wisconsin Summer 1894

Sweetheart. Are you nearly ready? We re going to be late for church. Silas spoke to his wife as he entered their bedroom.
Amy, hairpins in her mouth, did not answer. Silas watched her face in the mirror for a moment before going on in a gentle voice. It would be better for both of us if you tell me before church what you re upset about.
Amy made a slight pause in her preparations but then rushed on, hairpins nearly flying, without answering.
Minutes later they were in the buggy, headed for church. I thought you said we were going to be late. This time it was Silas who did not respond.
Silas, why are you driving so slowly?
Silas answered, his voice a caress. I m driving slow hoping that my wife will tell me what is bothering her before we get to the church.
He heard her sigh deeply and waited, hoping she would at last confide in him.
I m not pregnant. She admitted quietly.
Silas brought the team to a complete halt in the middle of the road and turned on the seat to look at her, a look she wouldn t return. He watched her profile for a moment, having known that this month was going to be worse because they d taken care of their nephew and niece, Joshua and Kate, two weeks ago, while Luke and Christine took a short trip.
You must be sick to death of me telling you I m not pregnant, Amy spoke before Silas could say anything. Quietly she added, Probably sick to death of me, too.
He leaned forward and put his face so close to her own she had no choice but to look at him. You know better, Amy. There is nothing that can change my love for you.
Appearing totally unconvinced, she was shocked with Silas next words. Did you ever think that I might be the reason that we ve been married over five years and you ve never been pregnant?
What?
I m serious. Did you ever think that there might be something in me, in my body, and the way I m put together that s keeping us from having children?
No, that s ridiculous.
Why is it ridiculous?
I don t know. I ve just never heard of such a thing.
And that makes it ridiculous? They sat in silence for a time, both praying.
Amy.
Silas. They spoke in unison and then shared a small laugh. You go first, Silas said.
I was praying just now and thinking about what you said, and I don t think it really matters-the whys and who s, that is. It might be that there is something in one or both of us that keeps us from conceiving. Either way, it s God s way, and I m going to have to accept that. If it were God s will that I be pregnant, I would be.
I m afraid I don t remember that as often as I need to, and I m sorry if I made you feel inadequate in any way. If God has children for us, He will give them to us in His time.
Silas pulled her into his arms and held her close.
I love you, Si.
I love you, too, and I was thinking the exact same thoughts. I ve always believed that you re my gift from God, and nothing on this earth is more important than you are.
They kissed then. Silas embrace tightened a moment before Amy suddenly pushed from his arms, her hands on his chest to hold him at bay.
Silas, she reprimanded him, I just put those pins in my hair, and we are already late for church.
He didn t take his eyes from her as she smoothed her hair, and his look told her they would finish this conversation later. Amy smiled with loving confidence as he urged the team toward town.
They were indeed very late for church. Slipping soundlessly into a rear pew, they listened to a sermon that was well underway.
Pastor Nolan s text was on love for each other and Amy thought how special it was to be in her Uncle Chad s church. He was a man who loved God with all of his heart and whose sermons never failed to encourage her even when she was faced with her sin.
They realized just how late they were, when ten minutes after they sat down, Pastor Nolan brought the sermon to a close with serious words.
I have a special prayer request to ask of you this morning. I was called out last night to the Jackson home. Most of you know of the Jacksons; they live on the edge of town. Mrs. Jackson died yesterday, and Mr. Jackson has not been located. There are five children ranging from 5 to 18 years old and I m worried about them. The funeral for Mrs. Jackson will be Tuesday morning, and well, please be remembering this family in your prayers.
The congregation stood for the closing hymn and prayer, but Amy heard none of the song. Her uncle had just said Amen when Amy spoke.
Silas, I want those children.
What did you say? He bent over her, listening closely as she spoke in almost a whisper.
I said, I want those children.
Silas stared at her. His mind raced as he remembered everything he d ever heard about the Jackson children- a very unruly bunch was the nicest, he was sure. No, that was not quite right. The two oldest, both girls, were said to be fairly well-behaved. But the three youngest, two boys and another girl