Janette Oke - The Birthright

2001 by Janette Oke & T. Davis Bunn

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.

E-book edition created 2011

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.

ISBN 978-1-5855-8876-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Cover by Dan Thornberg

JANETTE OKE was born in Champion, Alberta, to a Canadian prairie farmer and his wife, and she grew up in a large family full of laughter and love. She is a graduate of Mountain View Bible College in Alberta, where she met her husband, Edward. She has written forty-eight novels for adults and another sixteen for children, and her book sales total nearly thirty million copies.

The Okes have three sons and one daughter, all married, and are enjoying their fifteen grandchildren. Edward and Janette are active in their local church and make their home near Didsbury, Alberta.

T. DAVIS BUNN has been a professional novelist for twenty years. His books have sold in excess of six million copies in sixteen languages, appearing on numerous national bestseller lists. Davis has received numerous literary accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. He currently serves as Writer-in-Residence at Regents Park College, Oxford University, and is a sought-after lecturer on the craft of writing.

By T. Davis Bunn

The Book of Hours
The Great Divide
Winner Take All
The Lazarus Trap
Elixir
Imposter

H EIRS OF A CADIA
The Solitary Envoy
The Innocent Libertine
The Noble Fugitive
The Night Angel
Falconers Quest

All Through the Night
My Soul to Keep
Lion of Babylon

By Janette Oke & T. Davis Bunn

Return to Harmony

A CTS OF F AITH
The Centurions Wife
The Hidden Flame
The Damascus Way

S ONG OF A CADIA
The Meeting Place The Birthright
The Sacred Shore The Distant Beacon
The Beloved Land

with Isabella Bunn

By Janette Oke

C ANADIAN W EST
When Calls the Heart When Breaks the Dawn
When Comes the Spring When Hope Springs New
Beyond the Gathering Storm
When Tomorrow Comes

L OVE C OMES S OFTLY
Love Comes Softly Loves Unending Legacy
Loves Enduring Promise Loves Unfolding Dream
Loves Long Journey Love Takes Wing
Loves Abiding Joy Love Finds a Home

A P RAIRIE L EGACY
The Tender Years A Quiet Strength
A Searching Heart Like Gold Refined

S EASONS OF THE H EART
Once Upon a Summer Winter Is Not Forever
The Winds of Autumn Springs Gentle Promise
Seasons of the Heart (4 in 1)

W OMEN OF THE W EST
The Calling of Emily Evans A Bride for Donnigan
Julias Last Hope Heart of the Wilderness
Roses for Mama Too Long a Stranger
A Woman Named Damaris The Bluebird and the Sparrow
They Called Her Mrs. Doc A Gown of Spanish Lace
The Measure of a Heart Drums of Change

I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I commune with mine own heart,
and my spirit made diligent search.Thy way is in the sea,
and thy path in the great waters,
and thy footsteps are not known.

Psalm 77:6, 19

Contents

Catherine stood in the tiny second bedroom of her daughter Annes home. She could hear the sounds of departure beyond the closed door. But Catherine was not good at leave-takings. There had been far too many in her life already. She was determined to be strong this day, but to do so she needed a moment alone. Time to sit by the window and watch the last of autumns finery carpet the small front garden, time to pray to the Lord for strength.

So much had happened in these past months. She felt as though her memories were a swirl of autumn colors, caught in the winds of time. The previous summer, Sir Charles Harrow, eighth earl of Sutton, had come to Halifax in search of his brother, Catherines husband. Unable to have children of his own, Charles required an heir to carry on the Harrow legacy and to secure his vast landholdings in Englandthe only need great enough to force him to renew contact with his estranged brother. But Charles had discovered that the child Andrew and Catherine had raised was not theirs by birth.

Though not by bloodline, Anne was as close to Catherines heart as any child could be. As she sat by the window, Catherine felt nearly overwhelmed by the wonder of great events and small beginnings. Simple friendship with an Acadian family had blossomed into both heartache and joy. Though Catherine had lost her daughter and raised an Acadian baby as her own, in fact she had received gifts beyond measure. Now she called both these lovely young women her daughters. Nicole, the child raised by Louise and Henri Robichaud in the Louisiana bayous, and Anne, the girl she and Andrew had cherished these eighteen years.

Now Anne was wed, and as Catherine sat with her eyes half-closed against the suns warming rays, she inwardly heard once more the joyful sounds of those wedding-day bells. Andrews brother had arranged for a ship to bring Henri and Louise to Nova Scotia for the marriage. This had been the gesture of a man transformed, both heart and mind, through the hardship and discovery of his voyage. Charles was not only a man now at peace with himself and his brothers family, but a living testimony to the power of God. As Catherine prepared herself for yet another departure, she gave silent thanks for this brother-in-law who had become a friend.

Before his return to England, Charles had presented two bolts of finest silk as a wedding gift. Catherine did not even try to guess at the cost. She and Louise and Nicole all had worn new gowns. Her own was lavender in color, and Catherine could not help stroking its softness. The other bolt had been a creamy pastel silk, taken from the hour before sunrise, and they had used almost all of it for Annes wedding dress. When Anne had emerged through the churchs front doors, a collective sigh of wonderment had risen from the congregation. Annes betrothed, a fine young doctor by the name of Cyril Mann, had watched his brides approach with something akin to awe. Catherine had sat and held Louises hand through the entire ceremony, both of them trying not to weep. Anne, this precious one who was daughter to them both, this fragile girl whom they both loved, had looked radiant that day. Nicole had stood beside her sister as bridesmaid, together at last.

Now it was Nicole who knocked and opened Catherines door. Were ready, Mama.

Then so am I. She rose and held out her hand to her daughter. I was thinking about Annes wedding day.

So much joy, Nicole agreed, the words accented by her native French. A good thing to remember at this time.

Yes. Catherine stood holding her daughters hand, studying the strong, lovely features. The wedding was a month and more behind them now, and the time had come for yet another parting.

Is something the matter, Mama?

I just wish I could hold on to the good moments longer, Catherine said. She took a deep breath. Come, let us be off.

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