Introduction

Ellie Craig grieves the loss of three infant children, and when long-hidden secrets are brought to light, she must find a way to contact the family of her long-lost father. Meanwhile her husband, Matthew, faces controversy in his church and competition from a new arrival in Beldon Grove, who claims to be both a minister and the son of the town's founder. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? And will his unexpected travel companion help Ellie's heart mend? Book two in the AT HOME IN BELDON GROVE series, The Promise of Morning engages readers with themes of overcoming tragedy, finding strength to meet daunting challenges, and trusting your heart to love again.

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Excerpt

Beldon Grove, Illinois

March 1846

Ellie Craig brushed the last leaf from the surface of a granite
marker embedded in the soft earth. "There, Lizzie." She crooned
her daughter's name. "Isn't that better?"

She dropped an empty tow sack in front of the next stone to
protect her skirt, then lowered herself to her knees. "Mama's here,
Susanna."

While her hands busied themselves pulling out dead grass that
surrounded the gray-flecked slab, Ellie tried to remember what
Susanna had looked like. Two months old she'd been, and never
strong. Just like Georgie, who rested next to his sisters under the
third inscribed stone.

Tugging at the muddy sack, she moved to her son's grave. She
shook her head and let the tears fall. "Ah, Georgie, my precious
little boy." Ellie kept her voice to a whisper. "Such hair you had-so
bright, like a new penny. But you left me too, didn't you?"
Meager sunshine washed over the three rectangular stones lying
in a neat row in front of her muddy boots. A cool breeze blew
past, slipping with little sound through the still-leafless hickory
trees surrounding the cemetery. Ellie shivered and tucked her
arms under her shawl.

Her husband, Matthew, called from the wagon where he waited
with ten-month-old Julia. Using the folded sack, she rubbed
mud from her hands while she picked her way back to the road.
Melted snow, followed by heavy spring rains, left some of the
burial mounds looking like small islands in a boggy marsh. Ellie's
foot slipped, and she grabbed at a cross-topped obelisk inscribed
"Beloved Parents" with the names and dates of birth and death of
the deceased couple listed on the sides. For a moment she stood
motionless, buffeted by painful memories.

"Ellie?"

"Coming."

Matthew stood next to their wagon, bent over to hold Julia's
hand. He glanced up at Ellie, his face lit with pleasure. His eyes still
held the warmth that had drawn her to him fourteen years ago.

"Look-she's been standing and walking while we waited for
you."

Ellie gasped and ran to the toddler. She snatched her off her feet
and glared at Matthew. "She could have fallen under the horse's
hooves and been trampled. Whatever possessed you?"
Frightened by the sharp words, Julia wailed.

"Now see what you've done." Ellie flounced past Matthew's
waiting hand and attempted to climb into the wagon with the
child in her arms.

"Stop it." He placed his broad hands at her waist and lifted her
onto the step. Once she was settled he held her in his steady gaze.
"Don't you think I'm just as careful as you are with this one?"
He climbed up, sat next to her, and took Julia in his lap, dangling
his pocket watch in front of her face. She stopped crying and
grabbed for the golden prize.

Ellie kept her head down and picked at a thread in the skirt of
her cinnamon-colored wool dress. "You don't know what it's like to
watch her as each day goes by, praying she will live to grow up."
"I do know. And I can tell you exactly how many more days
she has lived than Lizzie did-sixty-three. And tomorrow it will
be sixty-four." He handed Julia back. "Every hair on her head is
precious to me. But so are our other children." Matthew wrapped
the reins around his hand, but left the brake locked in place.

"Look at me."

She turned toward him.

"You must let some time pass before we come here again. With
every visit you leave more of yourself behind." He raised his hands
in a gesture of helplessness and then let them drop to his thighs.
"I'm afraid one day I won't get you back at all." The horse stirred
in its traces, rocking the wagon.

Ellie heard Matthew's words as though they came from a great
distance. She hugged Julia tighter and studied her husband's face.
His brown eyes reflected distress. She slid next to him, leaning into
the warmth of his body. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you.
It's just . . . among the graves . . . I think of everyone I've lost."
He squeezed her knee with his free hand. "All the more reason
to stay away from here." He flicked the reins over Samson's broad
back.

The wagon rolled north on the track that led toward the community
of Beldon Grove. Afternoon light glinted off windows
of a new house being built at the corner of Cemetery Road and
Adams Street.

Matthew cleared his throat. "Do you still want to go to Molly's
to work on her quilt?"

"Yes. Jimmy and Johnny can take care of things at home a little longer.
One of them can always go get Aunt Ruby if they need help."

"Can't imagine what kind of help two thirteen-year-olds would
need from your aunt."

A smile lit Ellie's face. "You're right. More than likely, she'd be
sending for them."

Chuckling, Matthew headed for his sister's house. When the
wagon rolled to a stop, Molly's oldest daughter, eleven-year-old
Luellen, dashed out to greet them.

"Mama! Uncle Matthew and Aunt Ellie are here," she called.
Molly appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron.
"I thought I noticed you driving by earlier."

After Matthew helped Ellie and Julia from the wagon, Molly
joined them, slipping an arm around Ellie's shoulders. "You went
to the cemetery again."

Ellie nodded, her momentary good humor submerged by a
fresh wave of grief. Grateful for Molly's understanding, she followed
her indoors.

"Sit." Molly pointed at one of the chairs that lined the plank
table in her kitchen. She patted Ellie's back, then turned toward
the work counter. "Karl set up the quilt frame in the back room
for us. I put the top in, but it'll wait. There's coffee left from dinner
and I just took a tin of tea cakes out of the oven."

Ellie noticed the tiny grin that hovered at the corner of Molly's
mouth. "It seems you're enjoying your new range."

"I am. Karl says I'm going to make us fat with my baking,
but it's such a pleasure to have a real oven after cooking over an
open hearth all my life." Molly moved to the brickset range that
had been built into the former fireplace recess. She lifted a towel
from a hook on the wall and used it to protect her hands when
she removed the coffee boiler from one of the range eyes.
Matthew sniffed the air. "Smells good in here." He stepped
behind Molly and grabbed two of the warm tea cakes. "I'll take
these to Doc. Does he have patients with him?"

"No. Lily's back there, though." Molly smiled as she mentioned
her youngest child. "He told her she could help him this afternoon-
doing what, I can't imagine." She pointed down the hallway
at the office door. "Go on back. He'll be glad to see you."

Ellie watched her husband enter Karl's office. Once the door
closed behind him, she turned back to Molly. "You've been blessed
to marry someone who's so good to your children. It doesn't always
work out that way."

Luellen spoke up before Molly could reply. "It's hard to remember
when Papa Karl wasn't our papa. James and Franklin
remember our real father, but I was too little when he died." She
straightened, clearly pleased to be part of the women's conversation.
"It has been a long time," Ellie said, standing Julia on the floor.
Luellen jumped to her feet and clasped the toddler's hand. "Can
I take her in the back room? I'll let her play with my dolls."

Ellie fixed a cautioning glance on her niece. "Mind you, don't
let her hurt herself."

"You can trust me. I'll be careful."

Molly placed pewter mugs of coffee on the table and pushed a
tray heaped with tea cakes in Ellie's direction. "Have one. You'll
feel better."

Ellie picked up one of the soft cakes and nibbled at one edge.
The rich caraway-flavored treat melted on her tongue. Mmm. She
finished it and reached for another. When she picked up a third
cake, Molly leaned across the table and touched her arm.

"What's wrong? It's more than just the visit to the cemetery,
isn't it?"

Ellie returned the sweet to the tray, arranging it into a spiral pattern
with the others. Not looking up from her task, she said, "Being
at the cemetery, seeing all those headstones . . . I thought about
my mother and father. They were gone before I knew them. And
now my babies . . ." Ellie glanced up, then stacked three cakes in
the center of the spiral. She tilted her head to study the effect.
Molly cleared her throat to speak.
Ellie ignored her. "I was so lonely growing up. Aunt Ruby and
Uncle Arthur were good to me-and still are-but it wasn't like
having real parents." Her voice trembled, and she fought to get it
under control. "I've always wanted a home where no one would
ever leave me. I used to dream-" Heat flooded her face. "I'm
sorry. I don't know what's got into me today."

"You never told me you felt like this."

A tear slipped down Ellie's cheek. "Why did my babies have to
die? And my parents?"

"Only God knows the answer."

"You've no idea how it feels to lose three infants, one after the
other. I spend every moment watching Julia and praying the Lord
will let her live."

"All your children need you, not just Julia. Maria's only eight.
You shouldn't leave so much of the cooking and cleaning in her
hands."

"Matthew's been talking to you, hasn't he?"

Molly's silence answered for her.

"Well, he's wrong. The boys help, too. And of course Aunt Ruby
comes whenever I ask her."

"Who's at home with them now?"

Ellie stood, her chair screeching against the pine floor boards.
"I'm managing fine. It's easy for you to criticize, you with your
comfortable life and new husband." Her voice choked.

"Ah, Ellie." Molly opened her arms.

"Forgive me." Ellie sniffled and wiped at her wet cheeks with
the back of her hand. "I know Samuel's passing was a dreadful
blow, but it's over for you, don't you see? You have Karl and a
wonderful new life."

"It's never over. There will always be a part of me that loves
and misses Samuel. But we have to go on." Molly stepped back,
leveling her gaze on Ellie. "It's been nearly three years since your
Lizzie died. Things will get easier. I just know they will."

The door to Karl's office opened, and he and Matthew walked
the length of the hall to join the women, Lily skipping between
them. When they reached the kitchen, Karl bent to kiss Molly's
forehead.
"Came to get a couple more cakes before you ladies eat them
all."

Ellie noticed Karl's glance sweep over her and knew Matthew
had been sharing his concerns with him. Wishing he'd keep their
family troubles to himself, she dismissed her own tendency to
burden her Aunt Ruby. After all, Ruby listened and sympathized.
Karl tried to fix things.

"So, Ellie, how's Maria doing? Over her sniffles?"

"She's fine." Ellie pasted on a smile. "She's a big help to me in
the kitchen and with Julia. I don't know what-"

A thud and a howl sounded from the next room.

"Julia!" Ellie turned and ran from the kitchen in time to see
her baby being helped to her feet by Luellen. Molly's quilt frame
stood behind them, each corner resting on a three-rail ladderback
chair. Loose pieces of fabric, cut into hexagon shapes, were
piled in one corner of the muslin top.

Grainy sunshine flowed through the south-facing window. Its
light reflected off Julia's blonde hair and the tears on her round
cheeks, making her look like she was made of spun glass.
Luellen turned frightened eyes on Ellie. "She just took a tumble
and bumped her head on one of the chairs. She's fine."
Ellie hugged Julia to her chest, feeling a pulse of fear at the
sight of an already-purpling lump on her forehead. "How do you
know she's fine? She could be concussed." She patted the baby's
back, trying to shush her.

Luellen hurried to Molly. "Mama, I was watching her. She just
fell, all by herself."

Karl joined them and touched Ellie's shoulder. "You know toddlers
fall. Don't take on so." He looked at Luellen, who was on the
verge of tears. "Come here, Lulie. It wasn't your fault." He slipped
an arm around her.

Ellie followed Karl out of the room. When they reached the
kitchen, Matthew took Julia from her arms. Her sobs had subsided
to an occasional hiccup.

"I know what will make her happy again." Luellen clapped her
hands. "Yesterday James found a bee tree in the woods between
us and the cemetery. It was full of honey, even after sitting all
winter." She opened a cupboard and brought out a stoneware jar.
"He took most of it to Mr. Wolcott's store to sell, but left us a fair
bit." She placed the jar on the table and looked at Molly. "Can I
give them some?"
"Of course."

Luellen bustled to a shelf on the far wall and selected a square
crockery dish. She used the side of a basting spoon to cut a chunk
of honeycomb, dropping it into the empty container. Then she
picked up a teaspoon and scooped it into the honey jar.

"Here's a taste for Julia." She held the spoon out and Julia's mouth
opened like a baby bird's. "She likes it. See, no more tears."

Ellie felt a pang of remorse for losing her temper with Luellen.
"Thank you. We'll all enjoy this treat." She looked at Matthew.

"We'd best be getting along. You've got a sermon to work on for
tomorrow."

Clouds scudded across the sky as they settled themselves for the
trip home. Karl stood next to the step. Ellie braced herself, expecting
him to say something more about their older children.

Instead, Karl rested one hand on the side of the wagon, his eyes
on Matthew. "Did you see the handbill at Wolcott's store about a
traveling repertory group coming to town? They're going to do
a Shakespeare play."

Surprised at the change of subject, Ellie shot a glance at Matthew.
A play? She waited for the explosion. He'd never bothered to
hide his opinion that stage actors were people of loose morals.
His jaw tightened. "When?"
... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. In The Promise of Morning, Ann Shorey tells the story through two different viewpoints-Ellie's and Matthew's. How did these viewpoints help or hinder your understanding of the characters? Did you prefer one person's viewpoint over the other?

2. At the beginning of The Promise of Morning, Ellie is overprotective of Julia. What kind of a message was she sending to her other children? Do we tend to do this with our own families?

3. Matthew refused to take Ellie seriously when she shared her hope of finding her father's second family. If he'd reacted differently, how do you think his response might have helped her?

4. Matthew's difficulties are seen as a judgment from God by certain townspeople. These same people leave his church. Have you ever been affected by a church split? What lessons did you learn in the aftermath?

5. Ruby was captivated by a life that seemed glamorous and exciting in contrast to her own. How would you counsel a friend who was going astray? Do you believe Arthur should have stepped in to stop her involvement? Could he have stopped her?

6. Ellie's twin sons take her to task over her involvement with Marcus Beldon. Contrast her reaction to their intervention with how she might have responded had Molly said something similar?

7. In The Promise of Morning, several of the characters fail to keep promises. Are there any circumstances where it might be acceptable to go back on one's word? Give an example.

8. Matthew objected to the play Macbeth because of an old prejudice. Was he justified in his stand? Where do you see similar reactions in today's world?

9. Ellie enjoyed Marcus Beldon's attention because she saw him as educated and influential. Are we ever swayed when someone we see as more attractive than our spouse seeks us out? Is there such a thing as a "harmless" flirtation?



10. In managing the farm after Matthew left, Ellie discovered strengths she didn't realize she possessed. This happens today when loved ones are in the military, or taken seriously ill. How do you visualize her readjustment to her former role after Matthew returned?

11. Traveling the southern Illinois circuit served as an object lesson for Matthew. Would he have learned the importance of remaining faithful to his church otherwise? Think of some occasions where you received your most important lessons-were they preached to you or did you learn the hard way?

Weblinks

»	Author Ann Shorey's web site
»	Publisher's Book Info

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