Spring Creek Bride

by Janice Thompson

  “Honestly, Ida. You’re the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.”

  Ida took her by the hand. “Bless you for that.”

  From the back of the room, Myrtle Mae cleared her throat. Loudly. Turning to her, Sophie chuckled then added, “You are an exquisite bride, as well, Myrtle Mae.” She then turned her attentions to Dinah, who stood in front of the mirror, fussing with her delicate pearl necklace. With a smile, Sophie said, “Dinah, you are absolutely beautiful in that dress.”

  Dinah made a graceful turn, showing off the gown that Emma Gertsch had sewn by hand. “I can’t believe I actually own a dress I didn’t make myself.”

  “Yes, but look at the great sacrifice on your part. You had to promise Emma a lifetime supply of dime novels in exchange for her work.”

  Everyone erupted in laughter, and for a moment, all nerves were set aside.

  “We are late, ladies. Likely our menfolk are getting anxious,” Ida said.

  “I don’t know about yours,” Myrtle Mae said as she moved toward the door of the tiny classroom, “but my man is probably having a fit by now.”

  “Well, of course he is.” Ida drew near and gave her mother-to-be a kiss on the cheek. “This is going to be the happiest day of his life.”

  “Aw, don’t make me cry, Ida.” Myrtle Mae glanced in the mirror one last time at her reflection. “I’ve already done the best I could with what God gave me. I don’t want red-rimmed eyes to spoil the effect.”

  “Nothing could spoil the effect,” Dinah added. “You look radiant.”

  Nellie, who stood nearby holding the bridal bouquets, let out a little sniffle. “This is such a happy day!”

  All the ladies gathered together in a hug, smiles on every face. Ida looked at her aunt and Myrtle Mae with a full heart. Together they made their way to the back doors of the church. From inside, Ida heard the familiar strains of the wedding march. Reverend Langford’s wife wasn’t half-bad on the piano, though Myrtle Mae might disagree. And the dear woman had been practicing for months in preparation for this special day.

  “Are you ready?” Dinah whispered, giving Ida’s hand a gentle squeeze.

  Ida gave a nod and the doors swung wide. Nellie and Sophie—the loveliest of bridesmaids—made their entrance first, fall flowers in hand. Myrtle Mae followed, her wide girth even wider with her full skirt swishing this way and that. Then it was Dinah’s turn. She turned to give Ida one last loving glance before heading off to meet her man.

  Ida watched it all with hands trembling. Up at the front of the church, she caught her first glimpse of Mick. He stood tall and straight in his suit, crutches no longer necessary. On his feet, as always now, the worn cowboy boots. On his face, an anxious smile.

  As their eyes met from across the crowded room, Ida’s heart raced in anticipation. She’d no sooner taken her first step toward him than Dinah’s words, spoken months earlier, came rushing back at her. ‘I predict you will one day look a man directly in the eye—and slapping him will be the furthest thing from your mind.”

  A smile played at the edges of Ida’s lips. Yes, she had to conclude. Looking at her Mick from where she now stood, watching the twinkle in those smoky gray eyes, slapping him was indeed the very last thing on her mind.

  Ida’s German Sausage Sauerkraut Balls (Makes 24—30 balls)

  ½ pound bulk sausage

  ¼ cup chopped onion

  16 ounce can sauerkraut

  2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs (fine)

  4 ounces softened cream cheese

  2 tablespoons snipped parsley

  1 tablespoon sweet hot mustard

  dash garlic salt

  dash pepper

  1/3 to ½ cup all-purpose flour

  2 eggs

  2 tablespoons water

  1/3 to ½ cup fine dry bread crumbs

  cooking oil for deep fat frying

  Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet until the sausage is cooked thoroughly (meat broken into small pieces). Drain sauerkraut, then combine it in a mixing bowl with the sausage mixture, as well as the bread crumbs, cream cheese, parsley, mustard, garlic salt and pepper. Cover and allow this mixture to chill overnight. Shape into balls (approximately 2 tablespoons each). Beat eggs and water together. Roll balls in flour, then egg mixture, then bread crumbs. Fry a few balls at a time in hot oil (365 degrees) about two minutes or until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. Place on baking sheet and put in a 275-degree oven to keep warm.

  Dear Reader,

  In 2004, while eating lunch at Wunsche Brothers Café in Spring, Texas, an idea struck me. Why not write about Texas? Why not share with readers the state I knew and loved? Through the large plate-glass window, I observed a train rumbling by, and another idea took hold. Perhaps I could share what happened to the quaint farming community of Spring in 1902, just after two hundred railroad men moved in and took over.

  As you read this “quintessentially Texas” tale, I pray you catch a glimpse of the spirit of the characters. May you also come to fully understand the words that drove Queen Esther when she said “…who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

  I love to hear from my readers. You can contact me at booksbyjanice@aol.com. Please visit my Web site at: www.janiceathompson.com.

  —Janice Thompson

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Ida’s town of Spring Creek, Texas, changed when railroad men moved in and took over. Has your town ever changed so dramatically? If so, how did that affect you? How did the Lord help you cope?

  Ida lost her mother at the tender age of twelve, and at one point feared she might lose her father, too. Have you ever struggled with similar losses or fears? If so, how did you handle them?

  Mick Bradley comes to Texas with a huge dream. What’s the biggest dream you’ve ever dreamed? Did it come true? Was it God’s dream? If so, did you wait for His timing, or move out on your own?

  Ida admires the biblical character of Esther, and believes she, too, was born “for such a time as this.” Have you ever felt like that? Explain.

  Ida has a tendency to take matters into her own hands. She’s a fixer. What about you? Do you try to fix things, too? If so, how has that worked out for you?

  Mick remembers praying with his mother as a little boy. What about you? Did God begin to woo you as a child? If so, did you walk with Him from childhood on, or did you go through a straying season?

  Several times in this story Ida catches Mick and keeps him from falling. In similar fashion, she’s trying to keep him from falling spiritually, though she doesn’t always go about it the right way. Have you ever tried to keep someone else from falling? What was the result?

  Johnsey is the best sort of friend—the kind who encourages instead of bringing condemnation, who nudges people toward the Lord in a gentle way. He’s there for Mick when he’s most needed. Who is the Johnsey in your life? How much do you value this person?

  Johnsey uses the analogy of the train tracks to tell his story of salvation. Have you ever been on the wrong track? If so, what did the Lord do to turn you around?

  Carl and Eugene are local young men who are led astray, even though they know better. What about you? Were you raised to know right from wrong, and yet chose wrong at one point in spite of what you knew to be right?

  Dinah has been through a terrible tragedy in her life, and yet finds love again. Do you know anyone who’s been through the valley of the shadow and experienced a second chance at love? What happened?

  The reverend in this story has a past. How do you feel about people in ministry having a “sinful past”? Would a sinful past cause you to doubt a spiritual leader’s ability to minister, or somehow make you feel he or she was more human?

  At one point in the story, Mick accuses Ida of being as “unbending” as the railroad tracks. Her stubbornness, at least to his way of thinking, presents a problem. Have you ever struggled with stubbornness? If so, what was the result?

  M
ick is physically crippled, but Ida says, “You’re not crippled in the usual way. It’s not your bones that haven’t mended—it’s your heart.” She goes on to explain that he needs to make his peace with God. Have you ever been spiritually crippled? How was that “brokenness” mended?

  In order to reach her “happily ever after,” Ida has to let go of a lot of her preconceived notions. What about you? Have your preconceived notions ever gotten in the way of your own happiness? If so, how did the Lord rid you of them?

  ISBN: 9781408937792

  Spring Creek Bride

  © Janice Thompson 2009

  First Published in Great Britain in 2009

  Harlequin (UK) Limited

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, including without limitation xerography, photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the prior consent of the publisher, in any form or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  All characters in this work have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l.

  ® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  www.eharlequinuk.co.uk