Kathleen Morgan - Woman of Grace

WOMAN of GRACE

Other books by Kathleen Morgan

Brides of Culdee Creek Series

Daughter of Joy
Woman of Grace
Lady of Light
Child of Promise

Culdee Creek Christmas
All Good Gifts

The Christkindls Gift

Guardians of Gadiel Series
Giver of Roses

These Highland Hills Series
Child of the Mist

Wings of Morning

W OMAN of G RACE

BRIDES OF CULDEE CREEK BOOK TWO

KATHLEEN MORGAN

2000, 2007 by Kathleen Morgan

Published by Fleming H. Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

New paperback edition published 2007

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Morgan, Kathleen, 1950

Woman of grace / Kathleen Morgan.

p. cm.(Brides of Culdee Creek)

ISBN 10: 0-8007-5727-0 (paper)

ISBN 978-0-8007-5727-4 (paper)

1. Women pioneersFiction. 2. Married womenFiction.

3. ColoradoFiction. I. Title.

PS3563.O8647 W66 2000

813.54dc21 00-027187

Scripture is from the King James Version of the Bible.

For Chris Lewis and Nancy Praiswater, two of my dearest friends

Table of Contents

A Word from the Author

The stories authors write often mirror issues besetting them in their own lives. That certainly was the case when I wrote Daughter of Joy, the first book in this series. At the time, my characters search for joy in the midst of tragedy was a primary issue for me.

Though it was perhaps not readily apparent to me in the course of writing this book, I now realize the same principle held true this time. From the beginning, I knew Hannah Cutlers journey would be one of discovery and acceptance of Gods grace. It had to be. After the horrors of her past, she desperately needed to learn not only that the Lord loved her, but that nothing she had ever done could keep her from that precious gift.

The more I delved into Hannahs story, the more I came to realize how important a role grace has played in my life. Grace, after all, is about a second chance. Such was the second chance God offered me after my youngest son died.

Pain and sorrow opened me to Him like no amount of happiness ever could, quieting my soul and sharpening my hearing until I finally began to discern that small, still Voice. The Lord presented me with yet another opportunity to make my life really countanother chance to come to know and love Him person-to-person, heart-to-heart.

Grace Gods second chance. His hands outstretched in love, the Lord offers the most wondrous miracle any of us could ever hope to experience. We have only to take that one small step to find ourselves in His arms. Yet how hard that one step can be!

Woman of Grace is the story of a journey back to that grace-filled haven of Gods loving arms. Like many of our journeysmine includedits not one easily begun or completed. But oh, the wonder, exquisite self-discovery, and depths of joy found in such a quest! A quest filled with riches untoldnot just for us, but for all those who come to know the Lord thanks to one, small, courageous step.

HANNAH

Given to Much Grace

By grace are ye saved through faith.

The plains east of Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 1897

Lamentations 5:20

There were days, increasingly now, when the deep, dark, shameful secrets no longer seemed so hard to bear. Days that filled Hannah Cutler with such wild hopes for the future, she thought she might finally put the horrors of the past behind her. Days when she was so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of others she nearly wept with gratitude.

But then there were other days. Days like today, as Devlin MacKay greeted her with yet another sour look, when Hannah knew those shameful secrets were best kept hidden away. Best kept clasped tightly where no one could threaten the tenuous hold she had on this new, far better life.

Only fools gave others the weapons to destroy them, and Hannah had learned long ago, in many painful, degrading ways, how to survive.

Well, come in, will you? the dark-haired, powerfully built man growled, making an impatient motion for her to enter. The house is cold enough without you standing there with the door open.

Hannah hurried inside, a bundle of clean towels and sheets tucked beneath her arm. When Devlin offered no assistance, she turned and shut the door against the blowing snow and howling winds. A dusting of powdery flakes followed in her wake, coating the threshold and floor. With a surreptitious glance at the man who scowled even more fiercely, Hannah tried to brush the snow back toward the doorway with the side of her black, high-buttoned shoe.

Im sorry, she said, choking back her irritation at his lack of manners.

Though Hannah wanted to say more, to refute his harsh words and implied insults, she didnt dare. Admittedly, she was tired of Devlins hostility. It had never been his right to pass judgment on Conor and Abbys decision to invite her to stay at Culdee Creek Ranch. Or to belittle her relationship with Evan either. Indeed, it should hardly be any of his business. But he hadnt seen it that way. The proud ranch foreman wasnt the kind of man to easilyor everlet go of a grudge.

To challenge Devlin would be, as it had been with others before him, to risk dire punishment. Though he might not stoop so low as to actually beat her for any implied impertinence, he could do far worse. He could jeopardize her continued stay at Culdee Creek. He could ruin everything.

So with gritted teeth and clamped lips, Hannah did what had always served her well. She hid her true emotions. Keeping her glance cast downward, she strode across the small kitchen. It didnt matter, at any rate, what Devlin thought of her. She would never have come if it had been just for him. He could have lain here in this house and rotted for all she cared.

No, it wasnt for Devlin that Hannah had dared enter. It was for his wife, Ella, who lay writhing in her childbed, and for Abby. It was for the two women who had first welcomed her to Culdee Creek almost a year ago when, nine months pregnant, she had escaped the bordello where she had been forced to work as a prostitute. It was for these two women, women who had tirelessly championed her when almost no one else would.

As Hannah moved past Devlin, who sat at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee clenched in his hands, a soft, low moan rose from the bedroom at the end of the small houses short hall. Her footsteps quickened.

One thing more. Devlins voice, hard as steel, sliced through the tension-laden air.

She slid to a halt, shoulders rigid, and waited for the blow she knew was about to come. Yes, what is it?

You can stay because Abby needs your help right now. But just as soon as Doc gets here, I want you out of my house. Women like you arent fit to be near decent folk or innocent children.