Gerald Lund - To Soar with Eagles

2016 GNL Enterprises, LP

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Lund, Gerald N., author. | Lund, Gerald N.
Title: To soar with eagles / Gerald N. Lund.
Description: Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book, [2016] | ?2016 | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016003330 (print) | LCCN 2016004082 (ebook) | ISBN 9781629722016 (hardbound : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781629734514 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Mormon pioneersFiction. | UtahHistory19th centuryFiction. | Frontier and pioneer lifeFiction. | San Juan County (Utah)HistoryFiction. | San Juan County (Utah)Fiction. | GSAFD: Christian fiction. | LCGFT: Historical fiction. | Romance fiction. | Novels.
Classification: LCC PS3562.U485 T63 2016 (print) | LCC PS3562.U485 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016003330
Printed in the United States of America
RR Donnelley, Harrisonburg, VA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Chapter 1

_________________________

April 4, 1888, 10:30 a.m.Verdure CampSouth Montezuma Creek, San Juan County, Utah Territory

As Edna Rae Zimmer gradually awoke, three things registered in her consciousness, one right after the other.

The first was the brightness. When she had finally closed her eyes in sleep last night, the darkness in the wagon had been so complete that she couldnt see her hand when she put it in front of her face. Now the wagon was filled with a golden glow of light that penetrated even her closed eyelids. It felt wonderful. That had been one of the most frightening things about being lost in the blizzard: they couldnt even see the snowflakes that blew into their faces. For all they knew, they might have been going around in circles for hours.

The second thing was the warmth. Yesterday she had experienced a cold more bitter than she had thought was possible. It had penetrated to the very marrow of her bones. Even after the sisters had got them all into dry clothes, she had insisted on sleeping fully clothed except for her boots and outer coat. Even under two quilts, she shivered violently as she fell asleep. Now, a gentle, pervasive warmth filled every part of her body. Heaven could never be more wonderful than this. Light and warmth. She had never fully appreciated these two simple things before.

But wonderful as those two things were, the third was what hit her with the greatest impact. She was alive. And safe! Which was wonderful. But most wonderful of all was that Mitch had found her. Mitch had forgiven her. And he had asked her to marry him. And he had said all the right things in just the right way.

And then, in a flash that stiffened her whole body, the fear was back. She jerked upright and untangled herself from the quilts. What about Evelyn and Leona? Were they all right? She vaguely remembered the men bringing them to the wagons. Were they warm too? And Nean! What of the child? She had been so still last night when Mitch had laid her in Evelyns arms in the back of the sleigh. No, it couldnt be. Evelyn had lost a baby last summer, a beautiful little girl who had lived only a few hours. She couldnt lose Nean, too.

As Edie sat there trembling, she became aware of the murmur of voices close by. She quickly combed at her tangle of thick hair with her fingers, crawled to the back of the wagon, and pulled back the cover. She gave a low cry as brilliant sunlight assaulted her eyes. She clamped them shut again, then gradually cracked one eye open, and then the other. The sun was about halfway toward its zenith, a blinding white ball in a wide expanse of azure blue sky. But that was only half of the glare. Sunlight was also reflecting off of dazzling white fields of snow. Strangely, it registered in her mind that the snow wasnt nearly as deep as it had been last night, and she wondered why.

Hey, a gruff voice called out. Look who weve got here. Edie turned, expecting it to be Mitch. But Brother Frederick I. Jones appeared, a huge smile on his face. A moment later, his wife, Mary, was beside him. She quickly pushed around her husband and came to Edie, reaching out to grasp both of her hands. Good morning, dear. Im so glad you were able to sleep.

I... yes. I did sleep some. Uh... where am I?

Husband and wife exchanged worried glances, and then Brother Jones smiled even more broadly. You are in our wagon. Were in Verdure. And you are safe now.

The relief was palpable, and Edie managed a wan smile as she looked past them. She saw other wagons and a couple of tents nearby. A creek about four or five feet wide cut a dark swath through the trampled snow. Then her eyes fell on a figure seated on a backless stool next to a low cooking fire. It was a woman. Her back was half turned to Edie, but she could see that it was Evelyn. She had two-year-old Nean on her lap. Evelyn was holding her daughter tightly, almost clinging to her, and humming to her as she rocked her back and forth, back and forth.

Edie looked at Mary Jones. Is Nean all right?

Mary squeezed Edies hands tightly, joyfully. Nean is fine. In fact, shes amazing. Its like nothing happened to her. And thanks be to the Lord for that.

Edie hardly dared ask. What about Leona? Is Leona all right?

Mary patted her hand. Leona is fine too. Shes still sleeping.

Edie sat back, starting to feel safe again. There couldnt have been two better people to be greeting her at this moment. Fred and Mary Jones had been some of the first to be called to the Blue Mountain Mission and had come with their family the previous summer, so Edie knew them well. Brother Jones was a big man, probably six feet or more, with broad shoulders, a full head of hair, and piercing blue eyes. He also wore a full, untrimmed beard. He had been asked by President Hammond, San Juans stake president, to act as presiding elder over the little group of Blue Mountain pioneers, and so technically he was their priesthood leader.

Mary was somewhat of a plain woman, probably in her early thirties, who was a near-perfect match for her husband. Kindly, always cheerful, and quick to reach out to others, she had become like an older sister to Edie.

Youre alive, Brother Jones was saying quietly. And thats no small miracle. You all have a couple of places where you have some mild frostbite, but nothing serious. Someone in heaven was watching out for the four of you, thats for sure.

Yes, Edie finally said. It is a miracle.

Still looking around, she saw more people, all of them watching her and smiling. Parley and Ency Butt were by another wagon with a cooking fire nearby. And there was Mons and Eliza Petersonwhich surprised her. She knew Mons had determined to come up to the Blue Mountains with this first vanguard, but the last shed heard, Eliza had planned to wait and come up with the rest of the families. But Edie was glad. Eliza was only three or four years older than she was and had always been friendly to her.