by Bill Bright
“I believe Daniel.” Camilla took her husband’s hand.
“So do I,” Hannah said.
One by one, Hannah, Lucy, Ben, and Robbins moved to stand beside Daniel.
“Sheriff?” Heinrich stepped forward. “This is going to cost me my job, but I don’t want to work for a man who puts a gun to a woman’s throat. There are some ledgers in Mr. Gregg’s office that might interest you. They document a series of bribes to a number of U.S. senators and congressmen.”
“Cyrus Gregg,” the sheriff said, taking the businessman by the arm, “I think we need to have a little talk.”
Chapter 44
“It was a classic battle between the powers of light and the powers of darkness, between eternal good and ultimate evil…”
Robbins circled the Rush’s dining-room table filling teacup after teacup as he narrated his version of the day’s events.
Earlier, when they walked through the door, Camilla had fallen instinctively into the role of hostess. But Robbins had taken her by the shoulders and led her to the seat next to Asa. Robbins insisted he knew how to heat water for tea. He informed her that, on a day like today, her place was next to her husband.
Camilla didn’t object. She scooted her chair up against her husband’s, linked her arm in his, and lay her cheek on his shoulder. Tears came frequently with each fresh realization that Asa and Daniel were alive. She hadn’t moved from her position through two servings of tea.
Ben and Lucy sat next to each other. They held hands under the table. Lucy kept nudging Ben, whispering to him that she thought Asa and Camilla looked cute together.
Hannah sat next to Lucy. She couldn’t miss the hand-holding and the whispers, but those gestures didn’t appear to upset her. Obviously there had been some developments along the journey from Rome to Cumberland. Daniel figured Hannah would fill him in on the news later.
For now Robbins held the floor as well as the tea pot, and he was relishing both roles.
“Cyrus Gregg and Robely Epps never stood a chance. They were outmatched and overpowered from the start. What good are mere guns and knives when Daniel, son of Eli Cooper, came charging into the fray armed with his recorder and the Spirit of God?”
“Robbins, what exactly are you doing here?” Asa asked.
Robbins, taken aback, stood with pot in hand. “I thought it was obvious. I’m pouring tea.”
“Here in Cumberland, I mean,” Asa clarified. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to see you. It’s a little unexpected, that’s all.”
“You can blame Hannah for that,” Robbins said with a wink.
“Me?” Hannah protested.
“A couple of days after you left,” Robbins explained, “my daughter approaches me and starts telling me how God writes the law on men’s hearts, so they no longer had to be told what to do, or to teach their neighbors what to do.”
“That’s exactly what happens in revival,” Asa said, using his professor’s voice. “No longer do men have to be reminded what is right and wrong. It’s stamped on their hearts.”
“Exactly!” Robbins emphasized. “And then she launches into this looonnngggg sermon—”
“Papa!”
“—about how a man shouldn’t have to be told to do the right thing. No, he does it for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do!”
“I think I’ve heard that sermon,” Daniel quipped.
His comment earned him a playful punch on the arm from Hannah.
“Next thing I know,” Robbins concluded, “the four of us are packed into my carriage and driving south.”
“But how is coming to Cumberland the right thing to do?” Asa asked.
Robbins gazed at him in all seriousness. “A friend in need…”
Uncle Asa blinked back emotion. “Thank you. Thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend who would go to such lengths for me.”
“Anyway, as I told my three young bodyguards during our journey,” Robbins continued, “this is Asa Rush we’re going to help. So don’t be surprised if we come across a French guillotine or a revolution or a presidential assassination attempt or a duel along the way. And no sooner had we rolled into town, and what do we find? Asa Rush kneeling in a casket in an alley, a man with a knife behind him, and a man with a gun in front of him!”
Daniel laughed with the rest of them, happy to have the good times he’d had in Rome imported into his uncle’s house.
“Mrs. Rush,” Lucy said, “I think it’s incredible the way you’ve held up through all of this. You have been so courageous!”
Aunt Camilla ventured a smile. She gazed lovingly at Asa. “A few weeks ago I buried him. And now here he—”
She couldn’t finish for the tears.
Asa put his arm around her. Lucy apologized profusely, explaining that she’d meant it as a compliment.
Daniel scooted his chair back. “Excuse me. I need some air.” He was halfway to the door before he asked, “Hannah, would you like to join me?”
Amused glances circled the table. Hannah blushed, then stood. Daniel pulled on his coat and helped her with hers.
Opening the door, he offered her his hand. With a coy smile Daniel had not seen before—but he liked it…a lot—Hannah slipped her hand into his as they walked outside.
The sky was clear. The stars sparkled with promise.
Daniel led her to the side of the house. A rectangle of light from his upstairs window stretched across the ground. They walked to the remaining stump of a tree that had once served as a ladder for him. Daniel sat on half and offered Hannah the other half.
“This tree seemed a lot taller when I was younger,” Daniel quipped.
Hannah laughed.
They sat in silence. It was the first time Daniel had ever sat next to a girl and felt comfortable. He liked it. He wanted to do it more often.
“You were amazing,” Hannah said.
Daniel glanced at her to see if she was making fun of him. Her expression said she wasn’t.
“In Rome, when you described all that you’d been through…well, I have to admit, being so distant from it all, I thought you were exaggerating. It didn’t seem real. But in that alley…” Hannah shook her head. “Lucy’s right. We can’t begin to imagine all that you and your aunt and uncle have been through.”
They’d unclasped hands when they sat down. Now Hannah slid her hand under Daniel’s arm and sought his hand again. Their fingers intertwined.
“I know I’m dumb for saying this,” Daniel said. “Just when we’re getting along so well and everything…” He paused. “Twice now, when I said it, you got angry with me.”
Hannah lowered her head.
“But back in Rome…”
He stopped. He decided he didn’t want to ruin this moment.
“Go ahead,” Hannah whispered. “Say it.”
“When I said I wanted to stay for you and not for Lucy, I didn’t mean to be cruel. I meant what I said.”
“I know,” Hannah said.
“Then why did you…?”
“I didn’t believe you. I’ve known Lucy all my life. No boy has ever chosen me over Lucy.Ever. I didn’t know how to handle it.”
Daniel squeezed her hand.
Hannah sniffed and wiped away tears, but it was all right. Her eyes were smiling.
“Play something for me?” she asked.
“I’d rather not…”
“Please?”
“If I play, it means I have to let go of your hand. And I like holding it.”
Hannah smiled. “If I promise you can hold my hand again after you play, will you play for me?”
“You have to promise.”
“I give you my word.”
“Because I don’t want to give up your hand now and then find out later that it was some kind of trick.” He grinned.
She pulled her hand away and slapped his shoulder with it. “And play something happy—or romantic. Not one of those dirges you seem to like so much.”
Daniel took the recorder from his waistband, put the mouthpiece to his lips, and played a tune that he’d created to remind himself of Hannah.
Within moments they had company. First Ben and Lucy, then Robbins, then Uncle Asa and Aunt Camilla.
Once again, Daniel’s black recorder, Judas, had betrayed him by attracting an unwanted audience. But this time, he didn’t mind.
Authors’ Notes
In any novel of this genre, the blending of the historical and the fictional is a balancing act. Our goal is to transport you back in time so you might experience what it was like to live in 1825–1826 and to witness the wondrous events of God that unfolded in what has been called the Burned-Over District of New York for the fires of revival that swept through the towns.
The historical threads that are woven throughout this story include some major events as well as minor details that we found interesting—
The washing machines described in chapter 6 are descriptions of actual patent drawings from this time period. They can be found in the National Archives.
For the cave scenes, we created a composite of two actual Maryland caves: the Round Top Summit Cave and the Schetromph Cave.
The practical joke Red and Dumps played on the younger Hughie in chapter 25 was crafted from an ancient myth recorded by Ovid in his collection of myths titledMetamorphoses . Ovid has been required reading in schools for centuries, and the practical joke seemed to be just the kind of thing a couple of boys with time on their hands would do with their required reading material.
Cumberland, Maryland, and Rome, New York, have played major roles in American history—the one historically, and the other as the scene of revival. Also mentioned in the text are the cities of Syracuse, Utica, and Wright’s Settlement.
Of major historical significance are the canals—the Erie Canal being the most famous, along with the no-less-significant but lesser-known Patowmack Canal. The town of Matildaville existed as portrayed in the story. Its life and death was linked to the Patowmack Canal.
While there was talk of extending the Potowmack Canal from Cumberland to the Ohio River, it never became reality. Cyrus Gregg’s plan to link the Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean was a fictional representation of these unrealized dreams. Of special interest was the fascination of these canal waterways in their heyday, along with the possibility of constructing a transcontinental canal system. At the time, these canals were an unbelievable technological breakthrough for transportation and shipping. The tragedy of the canal systems is that they were so quickly overshadowed by the emergence of the steam engine and a railroad system. Men who had sunk their hopes and dreams into the canals lost fortunes almost overnight.
As for historical characters in the novel, the legendary revival preacher Charles Finney is most prominent. His methods of revival—controversial and revolutionary at the time—became the basis for many succeeding evangelists, including Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. Scenes for the novel were drawn from his autobiography, including the hotel, the sheriff’s testimony, and the revival in Western. Finney’s sermon quotes are from actual transcripts.
Even before this novel was conceived, Finney’s sermon “How to Promote Revival” had influenced Jack’s life as a minister. So he is particularly pleased to quote from it just so he might share it with you.
Someone has said, “If you are in earnest about starting revival, draw a circle on the ground, step inside and pray, ‘Lord, begin a revival within this circle.’” Finney’s sermon on how to promote a revival was, and still is, a valuable tool for the serious seeker of revival.
The fictional thread in the story was crafted in an attempt to convey the emotions and thoughts that an average Christian might have had in such extraordinary circumstances.
Fictional characters include: Daniel Cooper and his trials and conversion, Asa and Camilla Rush (Asa making a reappearance from the previous novel,Storm ), Cyrus Gregg and Gregg’s Caskets of Cumberland, Robely Epps, Robbins, Hannah, Ben, and Lucy.
For more information about The Great Awakening and this series, go online to www.thegreatawakenings.org.
About the Authors
Bill Brightpassed away in 2003, but his enduring legacy continues. He was heavily involved in the development of this series with his team from Bright Media and Jack Cavanaugh.
Known worldwide for his love of Jesus Christ and dedication to sharing the message of God’s grace in everything he did, Bill Bright founded Campus Crusade for Christ International. From a small beginning in 1951, the organization he began had, in 2002, more than 25,000 full-time staff and over 553,000 trained volunteer staff in 196 countries in areas representing 99.6 percent of the world’s population. What began as a campus ministry now covers almost every segment of society, with more than seventy special ministries and projects that reach out to students, inner cities, governments, prisons, families, the military, executives, musicians, athletes, and many others.
Each ministry is designed to help fulfill the Great Commission, Christ’s command to carry the gospel to the entire world. The filmJesus , which Bright conceived and funded through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely viewed film ever produced. It has been translated into more than 730 languages and viewed by more than 4.5 billion people in 234 countries, with 300 additional languages currently being translated. More than 148 million people have indicated making salvation decisions for Christ after viewing it live. Additional tens of millions are believed to have made similar decisions through television and radio versions of theJesus film.
Dr. Bright held six honorary doctorate degrees: a Doctor of Laws from the Jeonbug National University of Korea, a Doctor of Divinity from John Brown University, a Doctor of Letters from Houghton University, a Doctor of Divinity from the Los Angeles Bible College and Seminary, a Doctor of Divinity from Montreat-Anderson College, and a Doctor of Laws from Pepperdine University. In 1971 he was named outstanding alumnus of his alma mater, Northeastern State University. He was listed in Who’s Who in Religion and Who’s Who in Community Service (England) and received numerous other recognitions. In 1973 Dr. Bright received a special award from Religious Heritage of America for his work with youth, and in 1982 received the Golden Angel Award as International Churchman of the Year.
Together with his wife, Vonette, he received the Jubilate Christian Achievement Award, 1982–1983, for outstanding leadership and dedication in furthering the gospel through the work of Campus Crusade and the Great Commission Prayer Crusade. In addition to having many other responsibilities, Bright served as chairman of the Year of the Bible Foundation, and he also chaired the National Committee for the National Year of the Bible in 1983, with President Ronald Reagan serving as honorary chairman. When Bright was named the 1996 recipient of the one-million-dollar Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, he dedicated all of the proceeds of the award toward training Christians internationally in the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer, and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Bright was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in November 1996.
In the last two years of his life, Bright received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, Northeastern State University. He was also a corecipient, with his wife, of the Lifetime Inspiration Award from Religious Heritage of America Foundation. In addition, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the National Association of Evangelicals and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, which also bestowed on him the Chairman’s Award. He was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002. Dr. Bright authored more than one hundred books and booklets, as well as thousands of articles and pamphlets that have been distributed by the millions in most major languages.
Bill Bright celebrated being married to Vonette Zachary Bright for fifty-four years. They have two married sons, Zac and Brad, who are both actively involved in ministry today, and four grandchildren.
Jack Cavanaughis an award-winning, full-time author who has published twenty-two books to date
, mostly historical fiction. His eight-volume American Family Portrait series spans the history of our nation from the arrival of the Puritans to the Vietnam War. He has also written novels about South Africa, the English versions of the Bible, and German Christians who resisted Hitler. He has published with Victor/Chariot-Victor, Moody, Zondervan, Bethany House, and Fleming H. Revell. His books have been translated into six languages.
The Puritanswas a Gold Medallion finalist in 1995. It received the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical in 1994, and the Best Book of the Year Award in 1995 by the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild.
The Patriotswon the San Diego Christian Writers’ Guild Best Fiction award in 1996.
Glimpses of Truthwas a Christy Award finalist in International Fiction in 2000.
While Mortals Sleepwon the Christy Award for International Fiction in 2002; the Gold Medal inForeWord magazine’s Book of the Year contest in 2001; and the Excellence in Media’s Silver Angel Award in 2002.
His Watchful Eyewas a Christy Award winner in International Fiction in 2003.
Beyond the Sacred Pagewas a Christy Award finalist in Historical Fiction in 2004.
Firehas been nominated forForeWord magazine’s Book of the Year for 2006.
Jack has been writing full-time since 1993. A student of the novel for nearly a quarter of a century, he takes his craft seriously, continuing to study and teach at Christian writers’ conferences. He is the former pastor of three Southern Baptist churches in San Diego county. He draws upon his theological background for the spiritual elements of his books. Jack has three grown children. He and his wife live in Southern California.