To my husband, who continually opens many more doors for me than the physical ones of a car, home, or business. I’m grateful you’ve shared over three decades of reality with me—the fulfilling, the satisfying, the difficult, and the yet unseen.
To my dearly beloved Old Order Amish friends who wish to remain anonymous. Your honest answers, insights, and determination have caused me to write Cara’s story with great authenticity, which means so very, very much to me. From the most difficult questions during our first sit-down meeting to your review of the finished work, you’ve been good friends and willing co-workers. Thank you.
To Marci Burke, who always finds time to do critique rounds even in the midst of a continually growing, successful career. As vital as your input is in each story, your friendship means numerous times more.
To Timothy A. Scully, MD, FACC, Northeast Georgia Heart Center, PC, Vice Chief of Staff, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA, who shared his knowledge and insight into medical conditions that affect the heart. You wove your expertise in with my story line until I had solid medical advice for every situation. Thank you!
To my editor, Shannon (Hill) Marchese, who works diligently so readers can share in her love of books. I’m continually amazed at you.
To WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group—marketing, sales, production, and editorial departments—who used their expertise, talent, and energy to get this novel into readers’ hands. It is an honor to work with you!
To my line editor, Carol Bartley who always helps me see the story through fresh eyes. Your task to help me find a balance between realistic-sounding characters and grammatically correct prose is never an easy one. Denki!
To my agent, Steve Laube, who always understands the heart of a writer, offers perfect solutions to the influx of issues, and who stands sentry at all times. My family sends their gratitude.
About the Author
CINDY WOODSMALL is the New York Times best-selling author of the Sisters of the Quilt series, including the books When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. Cindy is the mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, and she and her husband reside in Georgia.
THE HOPE OF REFUGE
PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.0. Copyright © 1996-2009 by the ISV Foundation of Paramount, California USA. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
eISBN: 978-0-307-45834-6
Copyright © 2009 by Cindy Woodsmall
Copyright © 2010 Excerpt from The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall
Copyright © 2010 by Cindy Woodsmall. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
WATERBROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Woodsmall, Cindy.
The hope of refuge : an Ada’s house novel / Cindy Woodsmall. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
1. Amish—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3623.O678H67 2009
813’.6—dc22
2009015969
v3.0_r1
Table of Contents
Cover
Other Books By This Author
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
The Excerpt to the Bridge of Peace
Ada’s House Series
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
The Hope of Refuge Page 35