Awakening Joy

By Mildred Colvin

“This is the man I will marry.”
Hannah Zorn looks across the room at the tall, handsome stranger with assurance in her heart that he will one day be her husband. Her best friend scoffs at her premonition. Her twin sister sets her sights on the same man and appears to be winning his love until Hannah uses one of her sister’s ploys—deceit.

Gus Rohmeier is confused by the beautiful twin sisters who vie for his attention. He’s ready for marriage, and the Zorn twins are the only girls who have caught his fancy. He can’t marry both of them. He needs time to decide which is the woman meant to be his wife. But time runs out when he’s accused of an indiscretion and is forced to meet the wrong girl at the altar.

Hannah and Gus believe all things work together for good and even joy can be found in the midst of the darkest day. But will they be able to awaken the joy that awaits them in the midst of the darkest time of their lives?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mildred Colvin
• Release date: Jan 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311964175

Mildred Colvin

Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

Book preview

Awakening Joy

Mildred Colvin

Awakening Joy

Copyright © 2015 by Mildred Colvin

All rights reserved

Cover Photo © Bblood | Dreamstime.com, © Mildred Colvin

Smashwords Edition

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events, is entirely coincidental, other than those established by history.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except in the case of brief quotations used in printed reviews.

Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

About the Author

Note from the Author

A Sneak Peek

Other Historical Books

DEDICATION

Dedicated to the ladies who helped make this book as polished as it could be. If any more stubborn errors are hiding in the pages, it is not their fault but mine. My thanks go to Jamie Adams, Linda Cushman, Regina Tittel, and Chandra Smith, all wonderful authors whose books I highly recommend.

I especially dedicate this story to Mahayla for posing in place of Hannah, and also to Jonathan for standing in for Gus. You both are wonderful models and are much appreciated.

Chapter 1

May 1840 Minnesota

Hannah Zorn clutched her best friend’s arm. Oh, Ada, who is that?

Where?

There, by the door. He just came in.

Hannah gazed at the tall, broad-shouldered young man standing inside the front doorway of the Finster’s roomy cabin. With his back straight and his head high, he gazed about the room where over a dozen of her friends and neighbors celebrated Ada Finster’s seventeenth birthday.

Another boy arrived, bumping into him, causing no more effect than if he’d walked into one of the sturdy trees of their Minnesota woods outside. Yet a third young man entered and stepped to the side.

I don’t know who he is. Ada shrugged. But the ones behind are Paul and Joseph Sigler.

I know them.

Ada’s brother, Otto Finster, stepped closer to the two girls. I heard the Siglers took their cousin in after his folks died in a fire. I should go welcome him and close the door before the house is swarming with insects.

Otto crossed the wide puncheon floor worn smooth by many feet and Mrs. Finster’s broom. While Otto pushed the heavy plank door closed, Paul Sigler introduced his cousin to others standing nearby.

From across the room, Hannah heard his name. Augustus Rohmeier. She released a breath, not realizing she’d been holding it. This is the man I will marry.

What did you say? Ada’s blue eyes opened wide, and she stared at her friend.

Giving a self-conscious laugh, Hannah repeated what she felt deep in her heart. I don’t know how or when, but one day he will be my husband.

Oh, Hannah. Ada brushed her friend’s words aside. I know you say things that come true sometimes, but that’s absurd. How can you want to marry a man you don’t know? You don’t even know his name.

That’s not true. Didn’t you hear Paul say it is Augustus? I only know what I feel. He will be mine, and I’ll call him Gus.

As she watched, her twin sister, Joanna, approached the group and smiled up at the stranger.

Paul Sigler stumbled over his words, introducing them.

A flush of warmth rushed to Hannah’s face. Less than ten minutes her senior, Joanna might look like her, but she didn’t act like her. Rather, she might well be her opposite with her brazen ways and ability to twist Mama around her finger. The way she flirted with anyone who wore britches was shameful even though they seemed to enjoy her antics.

Joanna might have her choice of any young man in the community, only she couldn’t seem to make up her mind. With her cheeks blushed pink from the dance that had just ended, she laughed at something Paul said, and Gus laughed with them while Hannah’s heart twisted.

She would never act so carefree around boys. Making calf eyes and smiling so pretty. Her stomach soured at the sight of her sister batting her long lashes at the stranger.

Otto headed toward Hannah and Ada, a scowl on his face as if he, too, was disgusted with Joanna.

Hannah welcomed his presence and said, I would like one of those little cakes your mother makes so well.

Aren’t you going to go meet your future husband? Ada’s eyes sparkled in the lantern light.

Otto slipped his hand around Hannah’s elbow. Don’t tease your friend, Ada. This may be your birthday party, but you should have better manners.

Ada lifted her eyes toward the ceiling. Of course she’s my friend and knows I’m only jesting.

Otto raised his eyebrows in an unspoken gesture of disbelief before turning to Hannah. I’ll escort you to the refreshment table. I’d like one of Mama’s cakes too. And maybe some more apple cider.

Hannah smiled at Otto. Ja, that would be good.

Either God spoke to her or she had unexplained premonitions. If only she knew where they came from. Sometimes it would be nice if she didn’t have such powerful feelings about things that hadn’t happened yet, because not all her premonitions were happy ones. Even now, she felt uneasy. What if she was wrong? What if the young man with the golden skin and sun-bleached hair preferred Joanna?

She would not think of such a thing. She lifted a smile to Otto as they made their way past the others gathered around those still in front of the door. I love having parties at your cabin. Even with so many here, there’s room for everyone. Your father must have known we would need a large room for our gatherings.

I believe it was more Mother’s idea. Otto led Hannah to the end of the large open room where the kitchen table held an assortment of sweets and a large crock of cider. He filled a cup and handed it to her. Here you go.

Thank you.

I’ll take some, too, Otto. Ada had followed them. She put a hand on Hannah’s arm. I’m sorry, Hannah. I didn’t intend to be rude.

That’s all right, Ada. I took no— Hannah’s acceptance died on her lips as she looked over Ada’s head into the handsomest blue eyes she’d ever seen. offense, she finished in a murmur.

Hannah scarcely noticed Ada step to the side at Otto’s tug on her arm, but now she faced the stranger with no one between them. Voices and laughter in the background accompanied the fiddle, sawing out Sugar in the Gourd. Couples danced at the other end of the room, their feet moving quickly to the tune. Nothing seemed real, for now she and the stranger were the only reality in the Finster’s home. The blue of his eyes and the warmth in his smile were for her alone.

Did we already meet, or am I seeing double? He glanced past her and back, his lips tilted in a most intriguing way.

Here’s the birthday girl you wanted to meet. Hannah’s brother William stepped between them, blocking her view. Gus Rohmier, this is Ada Finster. We’re celebrating her seventeenth birthday tonight.

The room dimmed as Hannah lost sight of Gus. She shifted to the side in time for Gus to turn his wide smile on her friend. Oh, if only she could stomp her foot, as she’d done when she was a child and Joanna took her precious china doll to replace her own she’d broken.

Happy birthday, Miss Finster. His low voice vibrated near Hannah’s heart.

Thank you. I’m so glad you could come. Ada curtseyed, her eyes downcast, as if suddenly shy.

And this is my sister, Hannah Zorn. William motioned toward Hannah. "Believe me when I say you aren’t seeing double. My sisters may look alike, but they are