Tracie Peterson - These Tangled Threads

THESE
TANGLED
THREADS

Books by Tracie Peterson

www.traciepeterson.com

A Slender ThreadI Cant Do It All! **
What She Left for MeWhere My Heart Belongs

ALASKAN QUEST
Summer of the Midnight Sun
Under the Northern LightsWhispers of Winter

THE BROADMOORE LEGACY*
A Daughters Inheritance

BELLS OF LOWELL*
Daughter of the LoomA Fragile DesignThese Tangled Threads

LIGHTS OF LOWELL*
A Tapestry of HopeA Love Woven TrueThe Pattern of Her Heart

DESERT ROSES
Shadows of the CanyonAcross the Years
Beneath a Harvest Sky

HEIRS OF MONTANA
Land of My HeartThe Coming Storm
To Dream AnewThe Hope Within

LADIES OF LIBERTY
A Lady of High RegardA Lady of Hidden Intent
A Lady of Secret Devotion

WESTWARD CHRONICLES
A Shelter of HopeHidden in a WhisperA Veiled Reflection

YUKON QUEST
Treasures of the NorthAshes and IceRivers of Gold

Books by Judith Miller
www.judithmccoymiller.com

FREEDOMS PATH
First DawnMorning SkyDaylight Comes

POSTCARDS FROM PULLMAN
In the Company of SecretsWhispers Along the Rails
An Uncertain Dream

*with Judith Miller **with Allison Bottke and Dianne OBrian

TRACIE PETERSON
AND
JUDITH MILLER

THESE
TANGLED
THREADS

These Tangled Threads
Copyright 2003
Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

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,8CANBU,12.

Photo of girl standing by chair on cover is courtesy of Denver Public Library, Western History Collection, photo by Scott, X-21539.

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
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-7642-2690-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Peterson, Tracie.
These tangled threads / by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller.
p. cm. (Bells of Lowell ; 3)
ISBN 0-7642-2690-8 (pbk.)
1. WomenMassachusettsFiction. 2. Women textile workersFiction. 3. Textile industryFiction. 4. Fugitive slavesFiction. 5. Lowell (Mass.)
Fiction. I. McCoy-Miller, Judith. II. Title.
PS3566.E7717T48 2003
813'.54dc21

2003013906

Dedicated to Beth Weishaar

With grateful thanks for your
enduring friendship throughout the years.
Gods blessing on you, dear friend.

Judy

TRACIE PETERSON is the author of over seventy novels, both historical and contemporary. Her careful research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling HEIRS OF MONTANA and ALASKAN QUEST series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

JUDITH MILLER is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, many of which have appeared on the CBA bestseller lists. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.

Table of Contents

Lowell, Massachusetts
Sunday, September 8, 1833

I object to this marriagethe woman is not free to wed! The indictment reverberated off the walls and then plummeted to the slate floor of St. Annes 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 Christs Second Appearing. His voice boomed through the church.

Bella reached out and clutched Daughties hand, pulling her friend close. How did he know? You wrote to him, didnt you? she accused, staring into Daughties doe-eyed gaze.

N-n-n-no, Daughtie stammered. How could you even think such a thing?

There was no time to answer Bellas claim, for Franklin Newberry was now upon them, pushing Bella to one side as he thrust the document atop Reverend Edsons 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 Bellas ashen face and graced her with a look of compassion before turning his attention to Franklin Newberry. I dont 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 yearsand shes female. Im not a lawyer, but I dont 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 daughters wrist.

Bella tugged against his hold and winced as her fathers 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 fathers constricting grasp.

Youre 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 youd 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 hed lost his ability to speak.

Franklin turned his frosty stare upon Taylor. Youre the one who invited me. Now that Ive arranged to be present, you want me to leave? Ill depart right now, so long as my daughter accompanies me.

Bella leaned around her fathers 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?