Enter the era of the lumber boon in 1888 northern Minnesota's forests and see how God changes lives and hearts even in the most difficult situations.
Daniel’s heart started thumping wildly when he saw the knife in the man’s chest—not any knife—his knife.
Daniel Dunn thought his life couldn’t get any worse. His beloved wife died giving birth to their only son and he was left to care for and feed his five children, but how could he do that when he needed to get back to the lumber camps to earn some money? Now this lumberjack’s murder was being pinned on him as well as the recent robberies in town.
Why was he being framed? What would happen to his children if he was in jail? And why did the only person who seemed to believe in him have to be a preacher who dogged his steps and kept a running sermon going in his ear?
Mercy Crane had been jilted by a man once and vowed to never let it happen again, but seeing the five motherless children in need meant involving herself not only with them, but also with their father. If only he weren’t in the picture…
Excerpt
Daniel’s angry voice continued, “Did you get a good look at her? She’s nothing but a skinny scarecrow with big eyes! Why would anyone marry her?”
The preacher answered in an urgent tone, but his words were muffled. Mercy felt her face blaze with heat and the sheriff shuffled some papers on the desk in front of him as if he didn’t want to look her in the eye.
Mercy rose to her feet.
“Perhaps I will wait until tomorrow—”
She was cut off by the preacher hurrying back into the room.
“Miss Crane, please don’t leave.” He held a hand out to stop her as he turned to the sheriff. “Is it true that with their father in prison, the children become a ward of the state since there are no other relatives to care for them?”
The sheriff nodded. “Yes, ‘fraid so.”
Pastor Sam changed his focus to Mercy. “Miss Crane, I know this is a lot to ask, but would you consider marrying Daniel for the sake of the children? I know, I know,” he continued as she gasped. “Daniel is reluctant too, but once I got through to him that it was for the good of his family, he finally agreed. I assure you, Miss Crane, I can help you get it annulled when Daniel is released from jail. And he will be released. I have every confidence that he is an innocent man.”
Mercy stood very still. She didn’t wring her hands or twist at her handbag or give any indication of her thoughts to the two men watching her, but inside…inside she was quaking at the thought of marrying a man who had nothing but disdain for her. Hadn’t she already been cast aside once? Was she going to allow herself to be put in a position to have it happen again?
Skinny scarecrow!
She couldn’t help it. She tried to squelch it, but it came out anyway.
Snort.
The men’s eyes opened wide.
She covered her mouth with her hand, but her eyes gave her away and the preacher smiled at her. Then it could no longer be contained. She laughed and she laughed hard enough that she had to gasp for air, and she snorted again.
This time both men grinned and even chuckled along with her, although the sheriff cast a wary glance at her that only made her laugh harder.
She sank back into the chair. “I take it Mr. Dunn isn’t too pleased with his choices,” she finally managed to say.
Pastor Sam pulled another chair over and sat down beside her. He leaned forward as he spoke. “He’s mad as a caged wild cat and he’s saying all sorts of things without thinking, miss, but believe me when I tell you that Daniel is a good man, a hard worker, and a father who truly cares about his children.”
“Are you trying to sell me on him, pastor?”
The preacher grinned again. “I’m glad you’re not offended, Miss Crane.”
Mercy snorted, but this time in derision not in mirth. “You must think I’m addled, laughing like that, but it did strike me funny.” She straightened in the chair. “But there’s nothing funny about the situation. The children need protection and I need to leave in two days. If there is no other solution and if you are sure the marriage can be annulled…” She waited for the preacher’s nod. “Then let’s get it done. I must get home to the children.” She stood.
The Harvest of Souls Crossover is a story that is exciting, vigorous, and full of suspense about the fight of good and evil in two realms, the light and dark world. The Howdy Family is determined to defeat the world of darkness, led by the seemingly
