Among the King's Soldiers (Spirit of Appalachia Book #3)

Gilbert Morris

Description

• From bestselling author Gilbert Morris and writing partner Aaron McCarver, a colorful historical fiction series that features renowned characters such as Andrew Jackson, Daniel Boone, and Davy Crockett.• Chronicles the story of the settlers of America's first frontier--the lands over the Appalachian Mountains--and of the faith that carried them through the harshest of times.In Among the King's Soldiers, Sarah MacNeal is struggling with the death of Philip Baxter. Her stepbrother, Jacob Spencer, escorts her and her friend Amanda Taylor back across the mountains to Williamsburg to visit Jacob's grandparents. Here Jacob becomes embroiled in a struggle that finally forces him to decide his loyalty between the British and the patriots, and between the two women who have touched his heart.Meanwhile, Sarah has met a Scottish highlander, Seth Donovan, who is fighting for the British. She has closed her heart to love but finds it very difficult to not become drawn to him. And Seth is struggling with his loyalty to the British crown and a deep longing for the freedom he sees in her life.When they return to the frontier, they find that the war has reached there. In the Battle of King's Mountain, loyalties and love will finally be proven.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 1998
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441262349
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Spirit of Appalachia, Book 3
Among the King’s Soldiers
Gilbert Morris and Aaron McCarver
© 1998 by Gilbert Morris and Aaron McCarver
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 2012
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, photocopying, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6234-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Cover by Dan Thornberg
Dedication
This book is dedicated with a very special love to the four most precious gifts God has given me, my nieces and nephews:
To Heather Bradford
You are the first and the one most like me I think. (Don’t hate me for saying that!) It has been a joy watching you grow up into such a special young lady. God will use your quiet spirit and intelligence to do wonderful things for Him.
To Matthew Bradford
You are a wonderful mixture of strong body and tender heart. This is shown through your athletic talents and your early response to God’s voice. Always listen to Him, and like Samuel, God will use you in mighty ways.
To Kaitlin Slatton
From the first, you have always been the young lady. You already possess deep insight and understanding far beyond your years. I can’t wait to see how God will use these gifts to minister to others!
To Daniel Slatton
You have a gift of making others laugh. I love your “embrace life” attitude and hope to cultivate it into my life. I know God has many wonderful adventures just around every corner of your life.
I love you all so much!!! You have brought so much joy and happiness into my life. Always know that you have an uncle who will love you no matter what and who thinks you are all the greatest! I will always be there anytime you need me. My prayer for each of you is that you surrender your life totally to God and follow His path for your life, as this is the only Way to true happiness. Thanks just for being the wonderful gifts you are! A.M.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Character List
Prologue
Part I: An Eagle Stirs Her Nest
1. Sarah
2. The New Minister
3. A Cabin Raising
4. Like an Eagle
5. Farewells
Part II: As Swift As The Eagle Flies
6. Seth
7. The Mission
8. Martin and Son
9. Sickness
10. Betrayal
11. Trouble at the Docks
12. Going Home
Part III: Renewed Like The Eagle
13. Return to Williamsburg
14. Annabelle
15. More Arrivals
16. The Dinner Party
17. Seth’s Dilemma
18. Under the Apple Trees
19. Plots and Plans
20. A Man-to-Man Talk
21. Jacob’s Choice
22. Valley of Decision
23. Partings
Part IV: Mount Up With Wings As Eagles
24. Home Again
25. Wedding Day
26. Anniversary
27. Two Birthdays Celebrated
28. Mount Up With Wings
29. Accusations
30. Truth Revealed
31. Muster at Sycamore Shoals
32. Battle of King’s Mountain
33. Battle of the Heart
Epilogue
Notes to Our Readers
About the Author
Back Cover
Character List
The lands over the Misty Mountains are being turned into frontier homes as the settlers struggle to bring freedom and the light of God into this rugged land. As they work to establish new churches, they answer the call to serve their new nation and fight for what they have built. Hawk and Elizabeth Spencer join in this struggle but find they must rely on God to help their children through their own battles of the heart.

Jacob Spencer —Finally reconciled with his father, his newfound faith in God will be put to the test as he must face the past he thought he had left behind and choose the future love of his heart.
Sarah MacNeal —The loss of her father and a burgeoning love led her to close her heart. When a possibility for new love comes, she must decide if she can open her heart again as she faces the risk of another loss.
Amanda Taylor —She has already given her heart to Jacob Spencer and dreams of the day when they will marry. But a girl from his past threatens to destroy her dreams.
Seth Donovan —A Scottish Highlander, he fights for the British Crown against the colonists. When he agrees to a mission of subterfuge, he loses his heart to a beautiful girl and must choose where his true loyalties lie.
Joseph Foster —A young man of the frontier who pursues the heart of Sarah MacNeal. When another man shows interest in Sarah, he will try anything to win the desire of his heart.
Annabelle Denton —A true Southern belle, she is accustomed to getting anything she wants . . . and she wants Jacob Spencer, no matter what the cost.
Prologue
February 1776
“My, don’t you look elegant!”
Seth Donovan almost broke stride as he twisted his head to steal a glance at Isaac. His younger brother’s face was aglow with excitement, and for one moment Seth was totally filled with apprehension. He doesn’t know some of us are going to get killed , he thought. This younger brother of his had always been a hasty, impetuous sort of fellow. Now at the age of eighteen, Isaac approached war as he had always approached a game of skittles or kit-cat.
A cheer went up from a line of marching soldiers, and the sound of bagpipes in the air caught Seth’s attention away from Isaac. At that moment they were passing a group of officers, but his eyes were on the woman on the snow-white horse.
Flora McDonald, in her mid-fifties, still retained traces of beauty and a dynamic excitement. All his life Seth Donovan had admired this woman, who was a national heroine in Scotland. Now as he passed by, he studied the clear blue eyes and the rich, abundant wealth of hair now slightly marked with gray. She caught his eye and smiled and raised her riding crop to her forehead. Flora McDonald was elaborately costumed for the parade of the Highland soldiers. She wore a double-breasted jacket with the skirt curving back to form short tails. The color was a sky blue and matched her eyes. The front skirts of her jacket were rounded at the seam and flared out at the waist, fitting her figure admirably. The sleeves were long and tight-fitting in the enclosed cuffs, and she wore a cravat around her neck. She wore a small hat of crimson with a large ostrich plume. All in all, she was a woman to be admired.
As Seth returned her salute, smiling back at her and lifting his musket, he thought of how this woman had saved a king’s life—at least a king in the eyes of some. When the Stuart King James II, who had ruled England from 1685 to 1688, fled the country, his son James had become true king of England in the eyes of those who favored the Stuarts. Despite the fact that there was little encouragement for Prince Charles Edward from England itself, the exiled Stuarts traveled the Scottish Highlands to enlist the support of the Highland clans. They raised an army of Jacobites, and on April 16, 1746, at the Battle of Culloden, their forces were crushed by George II’s son William, the duke of Cumberland.
After the battle, Charles Edward, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, fled for his life. A bounty of thirty thousand pounds was offered for his capture, and he seemed doomed to that fate.
It was Flora McDonald who saved Bonnie Prince Charlie. Disguised as an ailing Irish maid, she put him in a boat, bundling him up in a bonnet and cloak and shawl. At the risk of capture, she avoided the British patrol vessels. In spite of high winds and stormy seas, they reached Skye and made their way to Portree, where the prince exchanged his disguise for kilt and plaid and then sailed for France.
As the bagpipes squealed and Flora passed from his sight, Seth Donovan was filled with a thousand memories, for Flora McDonald had practically raised him and his brother, Isaac. Their own parents had died at a youthful age, and they had looked to Flora and her husband, Allen, for what advantages they had.
He remembered how upon hearing that the McDonalds were immigrating to the American colonies, he had said to Isaac, “We are going with them, my boy. It’s America for us.”
As the troops marched on, Seth could not help but be proud of what was happening. It had not been destined for Flora and her husband, Allen, to enjoy peace. When the Revolution had come to America, they were drawn into it by Josiah Martin, the Royal Governor of North Carolina. He had persuaded the McDonalds to join the British cause and had made Allen a colonel in the young army.
The air was cold from the snows that lurked in the February skies of North Carolina, but at that moment those Highlanders who marched proudly along with their muskets, most of them garbed in the attire of Old Scotland, were excited. Seth himself was proud of his uniform. He wore a short red coat jacket with dark blue facings and brass buttons, and his tartan kilt was green with alternating black and dark blue stripes. His sporran—what non-Scottish people called a purse—hung from the front of his waist below his cartridge pouch. It was made of brown goatskin with the hair left on. Around his waist hung a belt cartridge of black leather, and at his side the sword tapped against his legs. He wore a cap of black bearskin, and the garters of his stockings were red. He made a colorful figure, and pride swelled through him. As they were called to a halt by Colonel Donald McLeod, the senior officer, the troops broke rank and milled around restlessly.
“What are we waiting for, Seth?” Isaac demanded. His cheeks were rosy red, and he thumbed the hammer on his musket nervously.
“I suppose they’re going to have an officers’ meeting. I don’t think we’re invited.” Seth Donovan was a very tall man of twenty, two inches over six feet.