by JoAnn Durgin
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
ASIN B00ONC6HF8 (Digital Version)
Prelude is © 2014 by JoAnn Durgin. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce in whole or in part in any form or medium.
All Scripture contained within is from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Text set in Garamond
eBook Edition
Cover Design: Lynnette Bonner
Indie Cover Design
From the Author
♥
Dear Readers,
Prelude is the love story of Samuel J. Lewis and Sarah Jordan, the parents of Sam Lewis, Jr., the core character in The Lewis Legacy Series. If you’ve read the first book in the series, Awakening, you might recall that Sam and Sarah are featured near the end when their eldest son brings someone very special to meet them in their Houston home.
The events in Prelude begin when Air Force Captain Lewis returns home to small Rockbridge, Texas, in the spring of 1962 after an absence of eight years. Six years older than Sarah, Sam is surprised to discover the pigtailed neighbor he used to tease and call “Tomboy” has grown up into a lovely and fascinating woman who challenges him at every turn. Thus begins the enduring romance of the couple who establishes a lasting legacy of faith and love for the Lewis family.
This novel is unique in that my hero and heroine have known one another for years, and it is also my first attempt at writing what is now considered historical fiction (I prefer the term “modern historical”). Prelude has been a fun journey as I’ve revisited the styles, fashions, music, cars, popular catch phrases, as well as other aspects of the early 1960s, an exciting yet sometimes turbulent time in our nation’s rich history.
While Prelude can be read as a standalone novel, it’s my hope this story will be enlightening to readers of The Lewis Legacy Series. Sam and Sarah’s story lends insights into the background, character traits, lives and career choices of four of their six children whose own love stories are told in the following books in the series: Sam, Jr. (Awakening, Book 1), Catherine (Abide, Book 7), Will (Pursuit, Book 8) and Carson (Assurance, Book 11, the final book in The Lewis Legacy Series).
Rest assured, dear readers, I will never fully let go of my TeamWork crew. They are part of me, and I will always carry them in my heart. Many of the characters from this series will make fun appearances in my next series, The Wellspring Series. You never know when one or more of the original crew will show up! Set in Louisiana, this next series will introduce you to a new cast of characters in an offshoot ministry of TeamWork Missions.
I dedicate this novel to my lovely eldest daughter, Sarah, my “old soul” who fully appreciates the history and cultural aspects of the era in which this novel is set.
Many Blessings,
JoAnn Durgin
Matthew 5:16
Books currently available in
The Lewis Legacy Series:
Prelude (A Prequel)
Awakening
Second Time Around
Twin Hearts
Daydreams
Moonbeams
All available on www.Amazon.com
More adventures to come!
Enchantment (coming in 2015)
Abide
Pursuit
Roundabout
Underground
Assurance
About the Author
♥
In addition to Prelude, JoAnn Durgin is the author of the contemporary Christian romance series, The Lewis Legacy Series: Awakening, Second Time Around, Twin Hearts, Daydreams and Moonbeams. Her other books include Catching Serenity, Echoes of Edinburgh, and the Starlight Christmas Series: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, Starlight, Star Bright and Sleigh Ride Together with You.
JoAnnloves to hear from her readers! Feel free to contact her:
Website:
www.joanndurgin.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin
Theme Scripture Verses
in Prelude
Sam
Therefore I am content with weaknesses,
with insults, with distresses,
with persecutions, with difficulties,
for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak,
then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
(NASB)
And we know that God causes all things
to work together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
(NASB)
Theme Scripture Verses
in Prelude
Sarah
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psalm 37:4-5
(NASB)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
(NASB)
Chapter 1
♥
On April 24, 1962, U.S. Air Force Captain Samuel Joseph Lewis came home to Rockbridge, Texas, reportedly to stay. What a pity.
The townspeople lined both sides of Main Street, awaiting the first glimpse of their returning military hero. Sarah Jordan smiled at the excitement rippling through the lively crowd.
“What a beautiful day for Sam’s homecoming.” Squinting in the bright sunlight, she shielded her eyes with one hand. A perfect spring day—clouds floated by in a pale blue sky and a light, warm breeze stirred the Crepe Myrtle trees soon to burst into glorious, multicolored bloom.
Standing beside her, Tess sniffled and nodded. Reaching into the pocket of her uniform, Sarah pulled out a tissue and handed it over.
“Thanks. I can’t believe Sam’s finally home. To stay, I mean. Never thought I’d see the day, but I’m so glad.” Tess carefully dabbed the tissue beneath her eyes.
Slipping her arm around her slightly shorter sister, Sarah gave Tess a quick hug. Not to discount Sam’s honorable service to his country, but why would a free-thinking man—one who’d seen the world and experienced all life has to offer—purposely choose to return to their little town?
Even at five foot ten, Sarah had to lift on her tiptoes in order to see over the heads of a group of high school boys standing on the sidewalk in front of them. Noting her dilemma, Donald Marcum motioned to her and stepped aside to make room.
“Thanks, Mr. Marcum.” Sarah stepped to the edge of the curb with Tess beside her. She nodded to Jewell Marcum, Donald’s pregnant daughter-in-law. “How are you, Jewell?”
The pretty mother of two young children appeared tired but otherwise healthy. “Ready.”
“There’s Captain Lewis! I see him!” A little boy jumped up and down, waving his arms. “The car just turned the corner!” Wild clapping, cheers and whistles erupted.
Moving one hand over her heart, her pulse racing, Sarah’s breath caught with anticipation. Overcome with emotion, she wiped away a tear as she spied him. Sam sat on the back of his friend Charlie Sorrel’s red Corvette convertible, waving and smiling. Judging by the ladies of all ages flocking around the car, his easy smile and blue eyes charmed them the same as they always had.
Sam. The ridiculously tall teenager who’d moved four houses down when she was ten and he was sixteen
, two months older than Tess. Almost from the start, he’d teased Sarah as she imagined an older brother would do. A boy who’d tinkered with old airplane engines with his dad in their garage until all hours. The boy who collected every stray animal he found wandering around town, determined to find it a good home. The teenager who’d worked alongside his father, the president of Rockbridge Savings & Loan, learning the banking trade after school and on Saturday mornings—when he wasn’t perfecting his finesse on the football field.
And now, Sam was a military veteran at the ripe old age of twenty-seven. Would he be the same fun, teasing guy as she’d known before? More cynical? Less optimistic? Stronger in his faith or sad and disillusioned? According to rumor, he’d served in covert military operations in the escalating conflict in French Indochina. Four years in active service to his country—active combat or not—was bound to change a man. Sam had seen the world while she’d rarely ventured outside of Rockbridge, much less outside of the Lone Star State.
Sam lifted his hat, waved it in the air, and then put it back in place as the car inched farther down the street. His hair was cut military short instead of its former curl-over-the-collar style. His shoulders were broader and they filled out his dark blue dress uniform quite well. Sam’s parents, Catherine and Joseph Lewis, proudly beamed from the backseat of a second car driven by Mayor Silas Richards. They waved and acknowledged the well-wishers who called out their names.
The townsfolk had given Sam a similar send-off before he left to play football for the Longhorns at the University of Texas in Austin. He’d been the only graduate in his high school class to attend college. After two years at UT, Sam transferred to the Air Force Academy then based out of Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. A young man on the cusp of adulthood, he’d been full of ambition and dreams of flying jets. In 1959, Sam was one of first cadets graduated from the Academy following the school’s official academic accreditation. By that time, he’d already completed his studies and been assigned overseas. In what capacity or where Sam served, no one knew, but there was plenty of speculation. The possibilities were mysterious and exciting, and Sarah wondered whether his parents were even privy to that top secret information.
A small brass and percussion band comprised of high school students and older townsfolk marched behind the cars playing “God Bless America” while more cheers arose from the spectators. Sheriff Tommy Farris, staunch and serious as ever, strutted down the middle of the street, ready to take charge if anyone threatened trouble. His new deputy—a more relaxed, congenial-looking young man—walked beside Tommy and occasionally darted off to shake hands with the kids. Local business owners lined both sides of the street, handing out cards and tossing candy. Sarah smiled when she caught sight of realtor Cora Blanton’s outlandish new red, white and blue hat—no doubt made special for the occasion—featuring a bobbing airplane flanked by miniature American flags.
Bringing up the rear of the procession, the local firemen distributed badges and plastic red hats to the kids from their fire truck. Seeing Sarah, Fire Captain Randy Sweet saluted her with a wide grin.
“There’s your Randy,” Tess said, nudging her arm.
“He’s not my Randy.” Being mindful not to show too much enthusiasm, Sarah couldn’t risk lending credence to Randy’s “Sweet on Sarah” nickname. The fire captain didn’t seem to mind the nickname, but she sure did, especially since she’d done nothing to encourage him. Last year, after she’d accepted Randy’s offer to sit beside him at the town’s Fourth of July ice cream social and band concert, he’d marched up the gazebo steps and announced his intention to marry her. Sarah had gone into a self-imposed exile until her father talked her into emerging from her cocoon the next day.
Goodness, if she ever agreed to an actual date with Randy, the Lord only knew what he might do. Best not to cross that line. He wasn’t a bad guy, and she’d always been friendly—without being flirtatious—whenever he came into Perry’s Diner where she worked. She just didn’t feel anything for him in that way, at least the way she imagined she’d feel if she ever met the man of her dreams. A girl needed passion in her life, and Randy Sweet wasn’t it.
Sarah’s gaze traveled to where their returning military hero sat perched on the back of the car. A few men strolled beside the car, laughing and talking with him. Tanner Martin’s two boys thrust a paper into Sam’s hands. After reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a pen and wrote something—an autograph?—on the paper before handing it back to the boisterous kids.
Tess waved her arms in an exaggerated manner as Charlie’s car inched closer and stopped a few hundred yards away. Calling out Sam’s name, Tess blew air kisses. As if she needed to resort to such theatrics. Her sister was the prettiest girl across several counties. Their shared bedroom boasted the trophies, tiaras, ribbons and banners to prove it. Granted, most of the awards were from a decade ago. From the time she was a teenager, all Tess had to do was smile at a man and he practically swooned at her feet.
Only one man had ever resisted Tess’s charms—the Air Force veteran sitting on the back of the Corvette.
“Sam’s more handsome than ever, don’t you think?” Tess said. “He looks like one of those gorgeous movie stars. He wears his service to his country well although that might be an insensitive thing to say. Why, Sam’s got more patches and pins on that uniform than a person can count in a month of Sundays.”
Charlie stopped the convertible in front of Hartmann’s Hardware, and Sam slid down from the back of the car. Magnanimous as a political candidate, he made his way down the row of townspeople, shaking hands, laughing and engaging in small talk. Sarah smiled when he pulled Lorraine Carmichael’s baby girl into his arms and kissed her plump, rosy cheek. Sam had always been good with kids, and they seemed to naturally gravitate to him. In spite of all the attention focused on him, Sam appeared as approachable now as he’d always been.
“Is it possible he’s grown even taller?” Tess said, her gaze never straying from Sam. He stood at least six foot three or four. The only man who came close in stature was Sam’s father. “Mark my words, sis. I’m going to marry that man.”
“Then no doubt you will,” Sarah mumbled, unreasonably bothered as Sam climbed onto the back of the car again. In the last year alone, her sister had dated a handful of suitors, primarily those from neighboring towns since she’d finally exhausted the pool of eligible candidates in Rockbridge. Good looking, successful men, any one of whom would make a fine husband. Still, none of them had been good enough, and for ridiculous reasons. Excuses, really. Had Tess been biding her time all along, waiting for Sam’s return? If nothing else, her sister always loved a challenge.
Unlike Tess, Sarah didn’t date. She’d been asked out lots of times, and she was fully aware the boys in town considered her a challenge. None of them seemed very mature, including Fire Captain Sweet. Randy was a notorious practical joker and—other than physically—he didn’t seem much older now than when he’d smeared glue in her hair in second grade, prompting her mother to chop off her long hair. That prank pretty much nixed any chance of a romantic future between them.
And you threw spitballs at the back of Sam’s head in church. For all Sarah knew, Sam would still—and forever—view her as the plucky little girl from down the street. Maybe she should consider her own actions before being so quick to judge others.
Charlie stopped the car in front of Rockbridge Savings & Loan with its large banner stretched between two large stone columns proclaiming Welcome Home, Captain Lewis! An oversized American flag, brand new from the looks of it, flapped in the gentle breeze above the front entrance.
Tess nudged her arm again. “According to Susie Jacobs, Sam plans on stepping right in as the vice president of Rockbridge Savings & Loan. With his dad retiring in a few years, it makes perfect sense that he’ll be groomed to take over. Susie says Sam’s ready to find a wife, settle down and raise a family.”
Sarah shot her sister a look, silently imploring her to lower her voice. Le
aning close, she whispered, “How could she even know that? If that information came from Susie Jacobs, that’s the first reason to discount it. Secondly, I can’t imagine Sam ever saying such a thing.” Would any man admit he was ready for marriage and babies? Highly doubtful.
Tess’s perfectly arched brows lifted. “Why not?”
“Because guys don’t say things like that,” Sarah said. “Talking about love, marriage and babies makes them all squirmy. Trust me. They discuss fishing, cars, sports, food or politics. Pretty much anything other than relationships and, heaven forbid”—she mock gasped—“love.”
“I suppose you know a little something about how men think from working in the diner and overhearing their conversations,” Tess said. “But maybe they talk about it among themselves when women aren’t around.” When Sam bounded up the front steps of the bank, Tess called out to him. “Sam! Over here!”
Mom always told them to always act like a lady and never, under any circumstances, to pursue a man. “Play hard to get, girls. That’s the way to reel in a man and keep his interest. Lends an air of mystique.” Based on her current behavior, Tess had forgotten that advice or else she’d chosen to blatantly disregard it.
Sarah placed a hand on Tess’s arm, prepared to restrain her if she showed signs of running across the street and throwing herself in Sam’s arms. After Tess called to him again, Sam quickly surveyed the area before his gaze settled on them from across the street. Smiling, he raised his arm and called out a greeting. Tess blew more silly air kisses while Sarah smiled and returned Sam’s wave.
Tess was right about one thing. Sam was certainly handsome enough to cause a girl’s heart to skip a few beats. But this was six-years-older Sam, closer-in-age to Tess—that Sam. The reminder did nothing to stop the fluttering in Sarah’s stomach. Maybe it was the Air Force uniform. A heroic man, who selflessly served his country, willing to sacrifice life and limb, always choked her up with sentimentality.