Hope Within (Heirs of Montana Book #4)

Tracie Peterson

Description

1886 Montana stands on the brink of statehood, and Dianne Selby finds her world turned upside down. Cole takes her and the children to Kansas to care for his dying father, but after the funeral, Cole's mother insists he stay and take over his inheritance. Unable to deal with her mother-in-law's cruel treatment, Dianne takes the children back to Montana alone. There, blizzards devastate the area, trapping a now pregnant Dianne at the ranch. Through the twists and turns of life and nature, Dianne comes to realize that the hope within--Jesus Christ--is the only hope that lasts. Book 4 of the bestselling Heirs of Montana.

Sujets

• Sagas

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 mars 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441203113
• Langue: English

Extrait

© 2015 by Tracie Peterson
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 2015
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.
ISBN 978-1-4412-0311-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design by Jennifer Parker & Andrea Gjeldum/Cadmium Design Cover image of cattle in a blizzard: ©Brian Atkinson/Alamy
To those who struggle in sorrow, weighed down by the trials and fears of this world. There is a hope beyond this world, a hope in whom we can take rest—His name is Jesus.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication

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

About the Author
Other Books by Tracie Peterson
Back Cover
Chapter 1
Virginia City, Montana Territory June 1886
“I HATE THIS TOWN ,” D IANNE S ELBY SAID AS SHE LOOKED down on Virginia City from their front porch on the hillside above the town. From there, Dianne could very nearly see every building and buggy, every weather-worn board, every decaying signpost.
“I’ve known far worse,” her aunt replied. Koko Vandyke was beginning to show her age with streaks of gray in her otherwise ebony hair. The gray was deceiving, however. Koko seemed just as energetic and spry as she had when Dianne had first met the half-Blackfoot woman over twenty years ago.
“Yes, we’ve all known a much harder life,” Koko’s brother, George, threw in.
Dianne didn’t appreciate the fact that neither of her friends appeared to be on her side. “You can say that and not give it another thought,” she said with a sigh. “You’re going home tomorrow.”
“It won’t be that long before you join us. Maybe another two months at the most,” George said, giving her the first encouraging word she’d heard that day.
The Diamond V was Dianne’s home, and she’d been separated from it for nearly five years. The fire that had laid waste to the ranch house and outbuildings had also devastated Dianne’s heart and dreams.
“I don’t know whether to believe that or not, George.” She returned her gaze to the desolate streets below. “Cole is always changing his mind about when we’ll return. Even now he’s talking about waiting until next spring. The freighting business is doing so well, he’s certain the extra time will mean all the difference to us.” She turned her back on the town and looked to Koko and George. “We don’t need extra time—we need to be home.”
Koko reached out and took hold of Dianne’s hands. “You will be. Don’t fret over this. Cole is just being extra cautious. The fire took everything. He wants to be sure he can replace the comfort you were used to.”
“But that doesn’t matter,” Dianne protested. “I don’t need a comfortable life. I need to be back on the ranch where I can raise my children. The boys are miserable here—they hate it. Luke always asks when we can go home, and Micah still asks to return to his special fishing hole. John is unhappy because the others are unhappy, and Athalia hears her brothers talk about horses and animals and longs for what she’s never known.”
“I’m telling you, I can’t take much more.” Dianne fought back tears. “I try to be understanding about this, but five years have slipped away in understanding. The first year was completely reasonable. I knew we wouldn’t be back at the ranch overnight. Then more time slipped away, and Cole ended up breaking his leg in that accident late the second year.”
“No one could have foreseen that wagon breaking loose,” Koko interjected. “It wasn’t as if your husband arranged the accident so that he could force you all to remain here in Virginia City.”
“I know that, but then when he was completely recovered, the freighting business seemed too good to leave. Cole was too busy bringing in building supplies for other men’s houses. Had George and Jamie not pushed to get back to rebuilding, we’d have no hope of returning this year. Even so, I must say my hope is dwindling. It’s already June, and Cole isn’t making any plans. Every time I talk to him about ordering cattle, he changes the subject. When I try to mention finding a buyer for this place, he talks of the blessing this house has been. When I talk of purchasing a herd, he tells me we haven’t the time to both build and restore the ranch and tend cattle.”
“And he’s right,” Koko said softly, “about the house, anyway. It has been a blessing. Where would any of us have been without it? Then, too, how would we have cared for livestock and focused on building the cabins and barns?”
Melodious sounds drifted out the open parlor window. Ardith, Dianne’s widowed sister, was again comforting herself in music. It was uncanny the way she had taken to the piano. She could hear a song and replicate it without any difficulty. Seeing her interest, Dianne had found Ardith a teacher. But Ardith had soon surpassed the woman. Once she’d learned to read music there was no stopping Ardith in her determination to learn.
“This house has been a blessing. It’s given us time,” Koko said softly. “Time to heal and time to renew.”
Dianne thought back to their descent upon the small city. The fire had devastated them—taking not only the ranch house and barns, but nearly all of their belongings. They had escaped with very little as the fire moved more quickly than anyone could have imagined. The large house in Virginia City had accommodated them nicely, providing room for Cole and Dianne’s family, as well as Koko and her children, George, and others. They were fortunate—blessed to be alive and safe, for death had touched them as well. Dianne’s sister Ardith had lost her husband, Levi, to the fire. He had been a dear friend to them all and a wonderful foreman. She didn’t know who would ever replace him—if they ever even needed a foreman again.
Bitterness welled up in her heart. “It’s just not fair.”
George nodded, his eyes filled with sorrow. He understood. He had once gone by the name “Takes Many Horses” and had lived with his Blackfoot relatives, enjoying the liberty and freedom of the Indian way of life. It wasn’t fair that he should have to give that up in order to keep from being pushed onto a reservation with his friends and family. It wasn’t fair that he had to deny his heritage in order to keep from losing his life.
Dianne bit her lip. Ardith’s sorrowful serenade was causing Dianne’s spirits to sink ever lower. I thought music was supposed to soothe and comfort . But comfort had deserted her long ago.
“We have to trust that God knows what’s best for each of us,” Koko said. “George and Jamie will work hard to see your cabin completed. Susannah and I will make curtains and rugs. You’ll see. It will come together before you know it.”
“I’m not concerned about the physical presence of a home,” Dianne said in an exhausted sigh. “I’m worried that Cole will never allow us to return. It wasn’t his home—it was ours.”
“It was his as well,” Koko said reassuringly. “He’s trying to do right by his family. Dianne, you know that God is good and that He will guide this family’s steps. You mustn’t let this temporary delay cause you such pain and sorrow.”
Dianne knew she was right, but it was so hard. Hard to watch them pack their belongings. Hard to know that Koko and George would soon spend their nights in the quiet comfort of the Madison Valley.
Ardith concluded her playing, and Dianne could hear her speaking in hushed tones with Winona. The child had been misplaced along with the rest of them. Ardith seldom spent time with her daughter, feeling unable to bear the child’s constant stories and memories of Levi. Dianne knew the pain Ardith bore was more than she could share with anyone. She had dared to open her heart only to have another tremendous loss pierce her. Now the child she once took comfort in was only a sad reminder of that pain.
Dianne sighed. At least Cole was safe and alive. She shouldn’t be so angry, so bitter. She needed to rest in the Lord and trust Him for answers. But it was so hard. It was the kind of thing she could never do in her own strength, so trusting God for help in this matter was her only hope.
On Sunday Dianne sat beside her husband, listening to an aging Ben Hammond give a sermon on prayer. He spoke as a man convinced of the power his subject rendered. He had known answered prayer. He had seen the results and was there to testify that God still listened when His children prayed.
“‘And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.’” Ben paused and looked at the congregation. “Some of you here hold grudges against others. Some of you are mighty angry because of wrongs done you. You may feel betrayed or cheated.”
Dianne squirmed in her seat and Athalia, or Lia, as they called their four-year-old daughter, crawled onto her lap. Ben always had a way of making her feel as though he were preaching just to her.
“I knew a man once who held his father a grudge. The man had promised the boy the family farm and livestock as an inheritance. He regaled the bo