Lauraine Snelling - Tender Mercies

Tender Mercies

Books by

Lauraine Snelling

Golden Filly Collection One
Golden Filly Collection Two

High Hurdles Collection One
High Hurdles Collection Two

A Secret Refuge (3 in 1)

D AKOTAH T REASURES
Ruby Pearl
Opal Amethyst

D AUGHTERS OF B LESSING
A Promise for Ellie Sophies Dilemma
A Touch of Grace Rebeccas Reward

H OME TO B LESSING
A Measure of Mercy No Distance Too Far
A Heart for Home

R ED R IVER OF THE N ORTH
An Untamed Land A New Day Rising
A Land to Call Home The Reapers Song
Tender Mercies Blessing in Disguise

R ETURN TO R ED R IVER
A Dream to Follow Believing the Dream
More Than a Dream

5 books in each volume

TENDER
MERCIES

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, BOOK 5

Lauraine Snelling

Tender Mercies
Copyright 1999
Lauraine Snelling Cover design by Jennifer Parker All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55438 Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-7642-0195-0

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The Library of Congress has cataloged the original edition as follows: Snelling Lauraine.
Tender mercies / by Lauraine Snelling.
p. cm. (Red river of the north ; 5)
ISBN 0-7642-2089-6
1. Norwegian AmericansDakota Territory Fiction. I. Title. II. Series: Snelling,
Lauraine. Red River of the north ; bk. 5.
PS3569.N39 T46 1999
813.54dc21 99-6410
CIP

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To all my teachers,
those unsung heroes in a persons life,
but especially Jen Southworth and Damon Peeler,
who pushed me toward excellence.
What gifts you were and are to me.

LAURAINE SNELLING is an award-winning author of over 60 books, fiction and nonfiction for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over two million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers conferences across the country. She and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, a bassett named Chewy, and a cockatiel watch bird named Bidley. They make their home in California.

Contents

September 1887
Blessing, Dakota Territory

Good riddance.

Pastor John Solberg stroked an impatient hand across sandy hair that no longer covered an ever broadening forehead. He watched one of his parishioners twitch her way out the door of the schoolhouse, where shed trapped him. Good thing she hadnt heard him.

Why, Lord, why? Is it written somewhere that the local pastor is fair game for every woman with a marriageable daughter? You know Im not the only single man around here. Talking out loud with the Lord had become the norm for him in his solitary life. After all, when he knew Jesus was right beside him, why not carry on a conversation with Him out loud?

Between getting ready to teach twenty-seven students from the ages of five to fourteen in a one-room shoddy all day and his pastoral duties, lonely wasnt a word in his vocabulary.

Usually.

He eyed the loaf of fresh bread that waited for him on the side of the desk. That was one good thing, those marriage-seeking mamas almost always brought a gift, and most often it was food of some sort. As did his neighbors. Yesterday hed found an apple pie on his kitchen table. The accompanying note had invited him to supper on Sunday at the Knutsons.

Now if there were more women around like Kaaren Knutsonnot only lovely like a cream-colored rose but with a sweet spirit to match and wisdom far beyond her years.

Like Katy .

He closed his eyes, the better to see her on the backs of his eyelids. Katy Bjorklund, with laughing blue eyes, an endearing Norwegian accent since shed only come to America last year, and a heart always ready to help anyone in need. Hed thought her the perfect candidate for a pastors wife.

Katy thought of him only as a friend.

On May 27, 1887, hed officiated at the marriage of Katy Bjorklund to Zeb MacCallister.

Weddings were usually such a happy time for him, but not that one. From the time Zeb MacCallister rode into Blessing, Katy had eyes only for the stranger. Pastor Solberg had learned a valuable lesson from all that. If you dont want to get burned, stay away from the stove.

Lord, forgive me, he murmured into his cupped hands. Must I be so base as to think of her still? You know I have given her up. Why do the memories yet haunt me? He pushed himself upright. If you have a wife for menow Im beginning to wonderlet her be a gentle Norwegian girl who will fit right in with these dear people of mine.

He almost smiled at the thought of referring to the bread-bearing mama as dear.

The jingle of harness caught his attention. He glanced around the schoolroom, knowing that all was in readiness for his pupils who would start in the next week. But it never hurt to check.

Whoa there. The clomp of horse hooves ended at the same time the harness stopped jingling.

He would know that laugh anywhere. His heart felt as if a giant hand had squeezed it once and then again.

Katy .

Why hadnt they put two doors in this building? With no way of escape, he pushed himself upright and pasted a smile on his face.

John? Are you here?

Y. He cleared his throat. He could hear the slow drawl of her husband answer some question. Was there a third person out there? Yes, Im here. Come on in.

He flipped open a book and stared down the pages. The print danced before his eyes.

The door burst open, and Katy Bjorklund MacCallister entered, laughing at something Zeb had said. Spring rushed in with her.

John, we have someone for you to meet. She glanced over her shoulder. Come on, Mary Martha. You must meet one of our best friends.

Solberg groaned inside. Have I acted so convincingly that she has no idea?

Good afternoon, Pastor. Zeb MacCallister removed his widebrimmed hat as he came through the low door. If he hadnt, the doorframe would have done it for him. Sorry to bother you, but my Katy insisted.

The slow molasses drawl clogged Solbergs ears. Why cant the man learn to speak properly? Or at least faster . He felt like snapping his fingers to encourage the words to come more rapidly.

Mary Martha MacCallister, I want you to meet Pastor John Solberg. Katy did the honors with her usual flourish.

My sister is visiting from Missouri, Zeb added. We would have introduced you sooner, but with you being gone and all...

Mary Martha? Couldnt they make up their mind when they named her? Im pleased to meet you, Miss MacCallister. His voice sounded stiff, even to his own ears. Probably good I have been gone. I needed that time with my family, and marrying off a sister was pure delight. So now Im back and... The day seemed to have brought nothing but annoyances.

Ahve heard so much about you.

She talked just like her brother. He glanced up from studying the hem of her skirt to see eyes that appeared to be laughing. At him? Yes, well, welcome to Blessing. I hope youll enjoy your visit. If youll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.

Liar . He almost turned to see who was sitting on his shoulder. He moved toward the door, ushering them before him.

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