Lauraine Snelling - A Dream to Follow

A Dream
to Follow

Books by
Lauraine Snelling

Golden Fill Collection One

Golden Filly Collection Two

Secret Refuge (3 in 1 )

D AKOTA 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

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

A Dream to Follow
Copyright 2001
Lauraine Snelling

Cover by Dan Thornberg, Design Source Creative Services

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 quoations 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 978-0-7642-0799-0

The Library of Congress has cataloged the original eidition as follows:

Snelling, Lauraine.

A dream to follow / by Lauraine Snelling.

PS3569.N39 D7 2001

813.54dc21

2001003784

DEDICATION

To Cecile, who has made my life

so much easier, and to

Eagle One, who made it richer.

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

Blessing, North Dakota
Spring 1893

Im afraid to open it.

Ingeborg Bjorklund stared at the letter her tall, sometimes awkward son laid on the table. Looking at it wont make it change, Thorliff.

I know, but... At seventeen years of age Thorliff Bjorklund had yet to fill out the shoulders of his full-sleeved white shirt. The sweater vest in shades of natural wool, knit by his grandmother, hugged a chest that promised breadth. He sighed. Bjorklund blue eyes stared at the envelope as if afraid it might bite.

Open it, son. It could be wonderful news. Ingeborg, enveloped by a white apron, gripped the back of the handmade oak chair.

But what if they dont like my story? It wont be the first time, but... Taking his pocketknife from his pocket, Thorliff opened the blade before reaching for the envelope. The hiss of sharp knife through paper sounded loud in the kitchen that also seemed to be holding its breath. The crackle of papers extricated from a paper womb and then unfolde filled the silence. Thorliff closed his eyes, sighed again, and opened them to read the letter. His hands quivered, shaking the missive like a breeze rattling cottonwood leaves. He read, stopped to glance at his mother, then read swiftly to the end, his breathing keeping pace with his eyes.

He clutched the letter to his chest, his face shining like after the first summer sunburn. They like it.

Ingeborg pulled out the chair and sank onto it. Read it aloud.

Dear Mr. Bjorklund... Thorliff paused and grinned at his mother. They called me mister, can you believe that? At her nod he continued.

Thorliff s voice trailed off at the end.

I knew that one day someone would like your stories. I always have.

Thorliff could feel the embarrassing heat start in his neck. But youre my mor. You have to like my stories.

True. But some I like better than others, and this one was the very best you have ever written.

Mange takk. Thorliff scanned through the letter again. Ten dollars. The awe came through in his voice.

Tante Kaaren is done with classes now, and since she was the heroine of your story... Ingeborgs voice trailed off as she remembered that frightful event. Uff da. Such a freak blizzard that was, and it could have been so tragic if you all hadnt stayed at the school. She shuddered. By the grace of God, it wasnt. She paused, caught in the memory before continuing. I know how much Tante Kaaren would love to hear your good news right away. Ingeborg clasped her hands on the red-and-white checkered tablecloth. Perhaps this will help your far understand how important it is for you to go to college in the fall.

Thorliff made a sound deep in his throat. His going to college might be important, but the past years of drought had them all tightening their belts. They hoped that was over, but everything depended on the harvest. Some of the Bonanza farmers had given up and sold their land. Nils Haugen, south of town, had sold out and gone back to Norway.

It would take more than one little story being published to change his stepfathers mind. Thorliff had replayed their last discussion over and over in his head until he had every word and gesture burned on his brain. Haakan Bjorklund believed clear down to his bootstrings that his sons should stay home and help with the farming, especially the eldest son. With the added acres and the new addition to the cheese house, they needed every hand they could get. After all, farmland was the reason theyd emigrated from Norway. When his sons married, they would build another house on the land and, please God, if they could afford it, buy more land. Always it was buy more land. Think land, not college.

How do I make him understand that Andrew is the one who loves the farm? Just because hes not the eldest should have nothing to do with it . Thorliff refolded the paper and inserted it back in the envelope, taking care to see no corner was bent. He placed it in his shirt pocket, covering the pocket with one hand.

Ill cut you some bread and cheese to eat on the way. Ingeborg stood and, rounding the table, laid a hand on his shoulder. If it is Gods will that you go to St. Olaf, you will go.

But what if it isnt? And I want to go so desperately . Thorliff sighed and nodded. Sometimes understanding Gods will took more time than he believed he had or wanted to spend waiting.

Ingeborg lifted a towel off freshly baked loaves of bread and sliced off the heel and another slice of one. Lifting the glass dome from over the cheese, she cut thick slabs of their own cheddar and layered the pieces between the bread. She poured a cup of buttermilk from the crock and handed cup and sandwich to her son. You go on now. Kaaren will be so excited.