Many of you write and ask with care about the continuation of The Patch of Heaven novels...I wanted to share my thoughts on where I'd like to see those stories continue...If you've read Lilliy's Wedding Quilt, you'll know that the charming Seth Wyse is just a little in love with the widow, Grace Beiler---but she'll have nothing to do with him....Now, I know why and I thought it might be fun to let you in on part of the secret...Here's the prologue to Grace and Seth's story, tentatively entitled Threads of Grace:

Threads of Grace

By Kelly Long

Prologue

Middle Hollow, Ohio

            A breeze of late summer caught the scent of the wild roses that spilled over the crumbling stone wall and filled the apron of the beautiful girl. Grace Raber was eighteen, but she was full of the internal sunshine and cheer of a much younger child. And there was nothing she loved so much as the time she finished her chores and was permitted to wander about the fields and trees near the family farm. She often brought back the treasures of nature’s bounty to decorate the supper table under her mamm’s approving eye, and today was no exception.

            But, as she approached the small farm where she and her family of seven made their home, her steps slowed as she recognized the horse and buggy of Silas Beiler. The gray-bearded Mr. Beiler owned the adjoining property and Grace knew, despite her parents’ attempts to hide it, that her family was in debt to him after a bad harvest the previous year.

            Grace didn’t like the widower and always felt as though the thickness of her dress and apron were not enough to shield her soul from the pious condemnation in the man’s dark eyes. He always seemed to take on a pained expression and then a sneer of contempt when she should pass by. It was a look that made her shudder.

            But the roses were wilting in her apron and she’d dallied long enough. She’d slip in through the back kitchen door and put them in water, grateful that Mr. Beiler never accepted the courtesy of staying for a meal.

            She eased open the screen door, keeping her apron ends together with her other hand then slipped into the coolness of the kitchen. To her surprise, the chatter of her four younger siblings was absent. And, as she looked up, she realized that her mamm sat at the pine wood kitchen table with her head bent in her hands. Her father slumped near her, standing, but with his shoulders bent, while he aimlessly patted her shoulder.

Only Silas Beiler stood erect, his hands folded behind his back, his expression one of cold judgment.  He looked up as Grace entered and she felt the familiar chill of dislike for him as she went to put her hand on her mother’s back.

            “Mamm…what’s wrong?” Her voice was clear and melodic.

            Her mother looked up as if aware of her for the first time and grasped her hand, her sobs increasing.

            “Daed?”

            Her father wet his lips and began to speak, not looking at Grace, but at some spot on the wall. “Grace...Gracie…” His voice faltered for moment and Grace felt her heart begin to pound.

            “What is it?”

            “Mr. Beiler here…well, we’re deep in debt to him. I—I’ve borrowed a lot over the past year and I can’t seem to get it paid back…”

            “Tell the girl the truth.” Mr. Beiler intoned. “You are a failure as a farmer and do not know how to save a penny, let alone a dime. You are in dire conditions because you put yourself there and because the Lord will not reward the efforts of the wastrel. Your wife is always sick with her lungs as punishment for your sins…”

            “Stop it!” Grace cried. “Stop speaking to my father that way. What kind of man are you that you would not exercise the grace of our people to help another without counting the cost…”

            “Grace…ach, please don’t.” Her mother squeezed her hand.

            Silas Beiler stared at Grace and a thin smile curved his lips while his eyes glittered. “Nee, let the girl go on. She’s only showing the defects I mentioned earlier…which makes my proposal all the more gracious.”

            Grace turned to her father. “What proposal?”

            Her father’s blue eyes welled with tears. “Mr. Beiler, has kindly offered to pay off all our debts…to him and to others. The medicines for your mother’s asthma… He will allow us to live and work on the farm as his tenants and will see that we have food and provisions and medicines if the year grows lean. We will not have to continually rely on the community…The bishop….the bishop approves of all of this.”

            “Ach,” Grace murmured, still struggling to understand her parents’ despondency. But even to be a tenant of the miserable man might be enough to produce such brokenness…

            “There is just one matter…one thing that Mr. Beiler requests…” Her father paused and drew a deep breath. “He asks for your hand in marriage…”

            Grace almost laughed then swallowed the desire when she saw the old man’s spine stiffen. 

            “But Father, I…he…surely it is just…perhaps, a kindness,” She almost choked on the word. “A kindness on the part of Mr. Beiler and truly not necessary.”

            “I assure you girl that my offer is in full seriousness and kindness has the least to do with it. You are evil…The Lord has cursed you with a beauty that draws the eyes of man, but as my wife, you will learn discipline and compliance. I, will, in fact, be saving your eternal soul. It is my duty; I have been convicted of this. I do not look forward  to the duty, but I will be diligent. You may rest assured of that. Now, what is your answer, and I beg of you girl, do not be a fool.”

            Grace felt her world spinning and struggled to breathe, like a small animal caught in a trap. Her parents were resigned; she saw that now. She also saw the faint pleading in her father’s eyes mingled with his grief…She was the eldest, called by the ways of her people to honor her father and her mother…to help them…but she could not bring herself to say the words.

            Instead, she nodded once and saw her father breathe a faint sigh of relief while her mother sobbed anew.

            “Very wise,” Silas Beiler announced. “I will make all of the arrangements. Good day.”

            He walked across the scuffed pinewoods to the back door and Grace saw a single pink rose she’d dropped, trampled flat beneath his feet…

NOW...can you see why Seth might have an uphill battle?
Peace,
Kelly