These Tangled Threads (Bells of Lowell Book #3) , livre ebook

Baker Publishing Group - Tracie Peterson

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174 pages

English

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Book 3 of Bells of Lowell. Timid yet alluring Daughtie Winfield finds herself in a precarious position when the new doctor casts his favor upon her. Though flattered by his attention, she is drawn to Liam Donohue, a local Irish artisan. As Daughtie and Liam work together to help runaway slaves, their friendship blossoms. But her work in the mills is threatened when a downturn in profits causes the Associates to decrease wages--resulting in plans for a strike. With the fate of the textile industry in an upheaval, will her hopes for love be thwarted as dissention infiltrates life in Lowell?

Informations

Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 octobre 2003
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441203335
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	2 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0259€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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© 2003 by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
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 2010
Ebook corrections 04.18.2016 (VBN), 09.14.2019
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 978-1-4412-0333-5
Cover design by Dan Thornberg
Photo of house on cover is courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey or Historic American Engineering Record, Reproduction Number HABS, CONN,8–CANBU,1–2.
Photo of girl standing by chair on cover is courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History Collection, photo by Scott, X-21539.
Dedicated to Beth Weishaar
With grateful thanks for your enduring friendship throughout the years. God’s blessing on you, dear friend.
—Judy
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
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15
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About the Author
Other Books by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller
Back Ad
Back Cover
C HAPTER 1
Lowell, Massachusetts Sunday, September 8, 1833
“I object to this marriage—the woman is not free to wed!” The indictment reverberated off the walls and then plummeted to the slate floor of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. The wedding guests craned their necks, a few murmuring and shifting in their pews before finally retreating into a cocoon of silence.
Arabella Newberry whirled toward the voice, her bridal satin rippling in waves behind her. “What are you doing here?” she cried out, her strained words slicing through the hushed quietude of the sanctuary.
Franklin Newberry edged out of a pew near the rear of the church, moved to the center of the aisle, and squared off with his daughter. Raising a paper into the air like a flag, he waved it above his head. “I hold proof of my words,” he avowed, continuing to brandish the paper overhead while moving down the aisle toward Bella. “She is bound by contract to the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing.” His voice boomed through the church.
Bella reached out and clutched Daughtie’s hand, pulling her friend close. “How did he know? You wrote to him, didn’t you?” she accused, staring into Daughtie’s doe-eyed gaze.
“N-n-n-no,” Daughtie stammered. “How could you even think such a thing?”
There was no time to answer Bella’s claim, for Franklin Newberry was now upon them, pushing Bella to one side as he thrust the document atop Reverend Edson’s open Bible.
“See for yourself!” He stepped back a pace after issuing his command.
Theodore Edson stared at the document lying before him. Quickly scanning the contract, he glanced at Bella’s ashen face and graced her with a look of compassion before turning his attention to Franklin Newberry. “I don’t believe this document to be of legal consequence. It appears to have been signed by Miss Newberry when she was still a child of tender years—and she’s female. I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t believe a judge would find she had capacity to contract.”
“She had capacity among the Shakers. She was old enough to understand the gravity of her decision, and the Shakers believe in equality between the sexes. She held the same ability to contract as any man and she is bound.” Franklin reached out and grasped his daughter’s wrist.
Bella tugged against his hold and winced as her father’s fingers tightened. Her creamy white skin quickly turned red and was now beginning to resemble the bluish-purple shade of an overripe plum. She wiggled her fingers. Pinpricks ebbed through her hand, and she pumped her fingers in and out, praying the action would permit a smidgen of blood to pass through her father’s constricting grasp.
“You’re hurting me. Turn loose my wrist.” The words hissed from between her clenched teeth.
Disregarding the plea, he gave her an icy stare, one that would freeze the warmest of hearts. She willed herself to maintain a steady gaze. Should she look away, her father would believe he had the advantage. “You are coming with me.” His voice was cold, void of emotion.
Bella ignored the ripple of fear flowing through her body and with an air of determination jutted her chin forward. “No! I intend to marry, and nothing you say or do will prevent this wedding from taking place. Create a scene if you must, but when I leave this church, my name will be Mrs. Taylor Manning.”
“Indeed it will,” Taylor agreed. His chest puffed out a bit. “I think you’d best leave,” he said, raising his voice loud enough for the entire congregation to hear.
Bella shot him a look of gratitude. She was beginning to think he’d lost his ability to speak.
Franklin turned his frosty stare upon Taylor. “ You’re the one who invited me. Now that I’ve arranged to be present, you want me to leave? I’ll depart right now, so long as my daughter accompanies me.”
Bella leaned around her father’s large frame in order to see Taylor. “ You? You invited my father to attend our wedding? How could you do such a thing without asking me?”
“I was hoping the two of you could resolve your differences and mend your relationship. What better time to apologize and grant forgiveness than on this happy occasion?”
“Apology? You think I owe this disrespectful, vow-breaking girl an apology?” Franklin Newberry’s voice once again boomed through the church.
“Forgiveness? I don’t need his forgiveness.” Bella’s voice was no match for her father’s, but she knew he heard her words, and that was all that mattered. She looked at Taylor. “Did you truly invite him?” Her voice was now soft and filled with disbelief.
Taylor nodded and gave her a feeble smile. “My intentions were honorable.”
“Indeed they were,” Franklin agreed. “Who can say what it cost him to send a coach to Canterbury in order to have his man deliver an invitation. A noble gesture.”
Reverend Edson cleared his throat. “If this discussion is going to continue, I would suggest we move to another place outside the hearing of the wedding guests. Perhaps we could request they excuse us for a short time,” he suggested.
“I’ve nothing to say that can’t be heard by these people. You asked openly if there was an objection to this marriage, and I’ve voiced my protest for all to hear. Why should we move elsewhere? If Bella truly believes she has a right to marry, let her defend herself in front of her invited guests,” Franklin replied.
Taylor directed his gaze toward Bella. “Had your father sent a response agreeing to attend, I would have told you he was expected. But he sent no reply with the coach driver, nor did he respond later. Consequently, I assumed he would not attend.” Taylor hesitated a moment and arched his eyebrows. “I expected him to follow proper etiquette.”
Her father’s hold loosened, and Bella shook off his hand. “You thought my father would adhere to the rules of etiquette? The only rules he follows are those that take him down a path of ease. That’s why he joined the Shakers—to escape the responsibilities of a wife and daughter. Isn’t that correct, Brother Franklin?” She spoke quietly, her words audible only to Reverend Edson and Taylor. “You were an adult who broke your marriage vows to my mother—vows you made before God. You have no right to speak to me of broken contracts. Your words are fouled by your own behavior. Please leave this place.”
The minister turned his gaze from Bella to her father. “I don’t want to have you forcibly removed, Mr. Newberry. Either take a seat or quietly leave this church. Please.”
Bella watched as her father tugged at his indigo blue surtout and meticulously fitted each cloth-covered button through its buttonhole. Then, with head high and lips twisted in a tight line, he turned on his heel and walked down the aisle, the click of his shoes coldly tapping out his farewell. She squinted against the sunshine that streamed through the arched doors of the foyer, momentarily encircling Franklin Newberry with a dazzling light. Once again her father was turning his back on her.
Bella swallowed hard against the sudden urge to call him back. He hadn’t wanted her years ago when he’d decided to join the Society of Believers, and he still didn’t want her. Why couldn’t he love her for who she was? Why couldn’t her earthly father offer the same unconditional love she’d found in Jesus?
Reverend Edson lightly touched Bella’s arm and brought her back to the present. “Bella? You look pale. Do you want to proceed or shall we wait?” The pastor’s words were a hushed whisper.
Bella glanced at Taylor. He met her gaze, his eyes filled with concern. “We should proceed,” she replied, turning toward the pastor. “But,” she continued, turning her attention back to Taylor, “we need to discuss this entire matter after the ceremony.”
“We don’t want your marriage to begin on a sour note. Perhaps a short interlude would be best,” Reverend Edson encouraged.
Bella gently adjusted the pleats along the waistline of her ivory satin gown. “No need to delay, Reverend Edson. Our marriage will survive the brief discussion of today’s events,” Bella replied with a sweet smile. “Nothing has changed my love for Taylor.”
“Very well. We’ll proceed from where I left off,” he told the congregation.
“Let’s begin after the part where you asked for objections,” Taylor suggested.
Nervous laughter followed by warnings of shh drifted through the sanctuary, eliciting a faint smile from the minister. “Repeat after m