Return to northern Minnesota with the Dunn family as they seek God's help to face one of the hardest decisions in their lives.
“You’re kind of cute. If we was stayin’ in this backwoods town, I’d be your feller…”
Delaney Dunn never forgot the words or the face of the impudent boy who spoke to her eight years ago. Perhaps it was her memory of him and the wink he gave her that kept her from being interested in the young men who wished to call on her. Only when the wealthy Blackmores showed up in town and she was face to face with Ben once more did she realize why she could never forget him.
Ben Blackmore worked a season with one of his father’s logging camps to better understand the business and thought he was ready to fill the management role his father had lined up for him, but two events in his life changed everything. First, a sky pilot led him to the Lord and second, he met Delaney again.
Ben and Delaney barely have time to become reacquainted when the town is stunned by a kidnapping. The Blackmores youngest son is gone and a ransom demanded. But Delaney and her brother are also missing. Are they together? Who did this? And why?
Excerpt
The girls hugged their pa goodnight, then Darby took her younger sisters to their room. Delaney took Dylan’s hand and they went outside to sit on the bench out front.
“I’m glad we have some extra time together. Is there something on your mind?” Delaney watched Dylan’s face with interest while she tried to keep control of her emotions. She knew Dylan was growing up and didn’t like her mothering ways anymore, yet here he was, wanting to be with her.
Dylan sat on his hands and swung his feet, not looking at her. His question was sudden. “Are you going to marry Seth?”
It was the last thing Delaney expected to hear. “What are you talking about? No, I’m not marrying Seth Swenson. Whatever made you ask such a thing?”
“I heard him talking to Pa, and he said he wants to court you.”
“He did?”
Dylan nodded. “If you married him, you’d live close by the farm instead of so far away in Grand Rapids.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
Delaney took a deep breath. “Oh.” Now she understood. “As much as I would like to be close to home so I could see you all more often, I just don’t want to court Seth. I…I don’t think of him in that way.”
“But I never get to see you anymore.”
Delaney slipped her arm around Dylan’s shoulders. “I miss you too, but you wouldn’t want me to marry someone I didn’t love, would you? Look. I’m working in town to earn money to help out at the farm. I would love to stay there with you too, but I’m helping by being here.” She stood. “Come on. I better get you back to the hotel. Tell me more about what’s going on at home. How are David, Doreen, and Duane? Are they still following you around everywhere?”
She was listening to Dylan’s answers and didn’t see the man who stepped out of the alley behind them. She heard a thud and saw Dylan drop to the ground.
“Dylan!” She bent over him and felt something strike her on the head.
Then blackness.
XXXXX
Delaney woke slowly and looked around. Nothing was familiar and she was suddenly frightened. She sat up quickly and felt a sharp pain in her head from the effort. She grabbed the back of her head and found a tender spot, but she fought against the pain as she swung her legs over the side of the bunk she was in and tried to figure out where she was. It was then that she saw Dylan sleeping on the bunk across from her.
“Dylan!” She rushed to his side and groaned from the pain the movement caused. He was breathing, but she couldn’t tell if he had injuries. She remembered how she saw him fall and she gently probed the back of his head with her fingers and felt a lump formed there. Her jaw tightened in anger that someone hurt her brother.
She heard a soft groan and looked up. There was a top bunk and she stood to her feet and nearly fell over when she found Shawn Blackmore there.
“Shawn!” She felt his face and head but couldn’t tell where he was hurt. He groaned again.
What is going on here? Where are we? Why us? Why Shawn?
She heard voices and moved to the window. Morning was just dawning and she was able to see the shadows of three people, but she couldn’t see their faces. They were arguing. Then as one man threw his hands up and stalked toward the cabin, Delaney hurried back to stand by the boys’ bunk to protect them however she could. The door opened and her heart raced as she waited to see their captors.
“You!”
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