Tracie Peterson - A Tapestry of Hope

A TAPESTRY
OF HOPE

Books by Tracie Peterson

www.traciepeterson.com

A Slender ThreadWhat She Left for MeI Can't Do It All!

ALASKAN QUEST
Summer of the Midnight SunUnder the Northern Lights
Whispers of Winter

BELLS OF LOWELL
Daughter of the LoomA Fragile Design
These Tangled Threads

LIGHTS OF LOWELL
A Tapestry of HopeA Love Woven True
The Pattern of Her Heart

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

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

WESTWARD CHRONICLES
A Shelter of HopeHidden in a WhisperA Veiled Reflection

LADIES OF LIBERTY
A Lady of High Regard

SHANNON SAGA
City of AngelsAngels FlightAngel of Mercy

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 Secrets

with Judith Miller

with Judith Pella

with James Scott Bell

with Allison Bottke and Dianne O'Brian

TRACIE PETERSON
AND
JUDITH MILLER

A TAPESTRY
OF HOPE

A Tapestry of Hope
Copyright 2004
Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

Cover design by Dan Thornberg

Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

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 and copyright owners.

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-13: 978-0-7642-2894-0
ISBN-10: 0-7642-2894-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Peterson, Tracie.
A tapestry of hope / by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller.
p. cm. (Lights of Lowell ; 1)
ISBN 0-7642-2894-3 (pbk.) ISBN 0-7642-2910-9 (large-print pbk.)
1. Irish American womenFiction. 2. Indentured servantsFiction. 3. Textile industryFiction. 4. Lowell (Mass.)Fiction. 5. Married womenFiction.
I. McCoy-Miller, Judith. II. Title. III. Series: Peterson, Tracie. Lights of Lowell ; 1.
PS3566.E7717T37 2004
813'.54dc22 2004001022

To Ann Dunn
my dear Proverbs 17:17 friend.
Thanks for your love and prayers.
Judy

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times....

Special Thanks
To Retired Colonel and Mrs. Walt Hylander
of Rosewood Plantation, Lorman, Mississippi,
for their insight and hospitality.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRACIE PETERSON is a popular speaker and bestselling author who has written over fifty books, both historical and contemporary fiction. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.

Visit Tracies Web site at: www.traciepeterson.com.

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.

Visit Judys Web site at: www.judithmccoymiller.com.

May 1846, Lorman, Mississippi

THE TEMPERATURE was unseasonably hot, insufferably repressive. By all accounts, springtime had scarcely arrived in Mississippi, but natures cruel trick was going unnoticed by no one, including the residents of The Willows plantation.

Jasmine Wainwright flattened herself against the bedroom wall, her right arm wedged against the red oak window frame. She wriggled in protest when a tickling bead of perspiration inched its way down her narrowed shoulders. Taking great care, she lifted the lace curtain between two fingers and peeked below. I see a carriage arriving, Mammy. It must be Papas houseguests. Im tempted to pretend I have a headache and remain in my room. I know he plans to show me off like prize cotton from the seasons first picking.

Mammy stood by Jasmines dressing table with her arms folded across her ample bosom. Um hum. Well, you dont know fer sure what your papa got in mind, but iffen you dont set yourself down, suppers gonna be over and dem visitors be gone afore I get a chance to fix your curls.

Jasmine glanced at the plump servant who had been her caregiver since birth and knew she could remain a few more moments idea of who will greet me when I descend the stairs. Oh, look, Mammy! One of them is nearly as old as Papa, but the other appears much youngerand more handsome.

I thought you werent lookin fer no husband.

Im not! But Papa seems determined to marry me off. She pulled the curtain back a bit farther and continued spying on the two men. The younger one has a kind face.

The familiar sound of Mammy slapping the hairbrush on her open palm captured Jasmines attention. Oh, all right. I only wanted one more look, she said while scurrying back to the dressing table. The older man looks rather austere and rigid. Perhaps hes the younger mans father.

She plopped down and stared into the oval mirror as Mammy plunged her thick fingers in and out of Jasmines heavy golden-brown hair, coaxing the strands into perfectly formed ringlets. Perspiration trickled down the sides of the black womans face and dripped onto her bodice, leaving her cotton dress dotted with wet spots.

Chile, I aint never gonna get these curls fixed proper if you dont quit flutterin that fan back and forth. Jest when I think I got one curl fixed all nice an proper, you go whipping that fan around and stirring up a whirlwind. And quit that frowning. Them creases yous making in your forehead is gonna turn into wrinkles. You gonna look like your grandma afore you turn twenty if you don stop making dem faces.

Jasmine giggled.

Aint funny, chile. When yous gone and got yourself all wrinkled and cant find no man to marry you, what you gonna do then? Come runnin to Mammy, spectin me to make you look young and purty?

Jasmine met Mammys stern gaze in the mirrors reflection. Im sorry, she said while grasping the servants roughened hand and drawing it against her own soft, powdered cheek. But since I dont want a man, I dont suppose it matters very much if I wrinkle my face,'' she added with another giggle.

''You bes' get that out o' your mind. 'Sides, I's hoping to see you bring some little babes into this house one day. Maybe Ill be takin care o them too.

Jasmine flushed at the remark. Whatever would I do without you, Mammy?

Dont know, chile, but aint no need to worry bout that. I aint made plans to meet my Maker jes yet. Course, He may have some different ideas. But if so, He aint told your ole Mammy. And since I aint never plannin to be parted from you any other way, Is thinkin well be together for a spell o time. The servant gave a hearty chuckle, her ample figure jiggling up and down in tempo as she laughed. We better hurry or you gonna be late to supper for sure. Then we both be in trouble. Anyways, thats as good as them curls is gonna get for now. This hot, damp weather makin everything limp, including your hair.