by Amber Stokes
“I know it hasn’t yet been a year since Naomi and Joe died. If you’re unsure, I’ll understand if you want to wait.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m not worried about me so much as I am about you. I want to do this right.” He paused, then added, “I still love her. I cherish my memories of our marriage, and I’m looking forward to seeing her again, in heaven.”
“Oh, Seth. I wouldn’t ask you to forget her.”
It took him a moment to voice his next question. “Would it be hard for you to marry me, knowing I’m his brother?”
She glanced out the window at the bustling people on the street. A sense of purpose filled her. “No. It’s hard knowin’ that he died trying to save me. I didn’t deserve his love. But we were both hard-headed, weren’t we?” She glanced back at Seth. “I wasn’t the wife I should have been to him. Everything was still so raw.”
At the look of confusion on Seth’s face, she went on. “I’m rambling, aren’t I? I guess what I’m tryin’ to say is that it wasn’t perfect between Joe and I, and I don’t expect it to be perfect between us. Joe was a good man, and I will always be grateful for what he gave me, for all that he did for me, starting with the day he let me come to California with him and Myghal.”
She let go of one of Seth’s hands so she could touch his cheek. “I miss him. It will be beyond joyous for all of us to be together again.”
“So are you saying you don’t resent me for missing Naomi?”
“I could never resent you for that. But I’m also sayin’ that there’s room in our hearts for each other, right? For all of us?”
Her hand still rested on his cheek, and he reached up to cover it with his own. “Yeah. Through God’s grace, there will always be enough love.”
She couldn’t wait any longer. She reached out her other hand to frame his face, then leaned forward to kiss him. His fingers encircled her waist as he kissed her back. After a moment she pulled away slightly, enough to see his closed eyes and the smile only a breath away from her own.
The sky outside the window was a familiar gray, but the atmosphere in the bakery was pure sunshine as Seth lifted her off the counter and spun her around before setting her on her feet. Held in his arms, Sally was surrounded by love.
Epilogue
Seth and Sally sat on the edge of the river, warmed by the rays of the midday sun. Sally dangled her bare feet in the water, her hands behind her as she smiled up at the bright, late-summer sky. Seth glanced at his wife, happy that they had decided to take this walk and enjoy their lunch out-of-doors.
Eel River was a nice place to relax. Perhaps next time he’d bring his fishing pole. Perhaps someday they’d bring their children here to play.
Sally glanced over at him, her hair shimmering like the rays of sunlight on the water. The happiness of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because she responded with a smile that made her eyes squint and her cheeks seem even rosier. He smiled back, reaching out to brush some loose hair behind her ear, then sliding his hand down to hold hers.
They sat that way for a long time – neither one saying a word, neither one needing to.
Thank you, God.
As long as he lived here on earth, Seth knew his fragile heart would probably break many times over. But he was reminded that the journey and the destination were worth it with each new healing and each tender moment, like this one.
The End
Author’s Note
I believe that love is a journey – as is the experience of reading a book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this particular journey! It is my sincere desire that you were blessed in some way.
The characters of Bleeding Heart go through quite the journey of their own, traveling from Nevada to California to Oregon – all places that have stolen my heart and my imagination.
My interest in Virginia City, Nevada began sometime in high school. It was that place that really kick-started my novel-writing dreams. Despite the fact that the town is now a tourist trap more than anything else, its history is still preserved in a way that has utterly captivated me. I ended up writing an extended essay on the town while I was in high school. It seemed smart to get a big assignment done and to do research for my first (and, eventually, my second) novel at the same time.
Over the course of several summers, my family and I paid short visits to Seven Mile Canyon Ranch and Edith Palmer’s Country Inn, doing all of the touristy things like taking a stagecoach ride (via TNT Stagelines), visiting the museums, going on a tour of a mine, walking through the Silver Terrace Cemetery, etc. All of those things served to inspire me…but it wasn’t just the usual activities that made me fall in love with the place. It was the out-of-the-way sites, like the Hebrew cemetery in the canyon. It was the atmosphere, some sort of secret thrill charging the air. And it was the people, who make Virginia City an exciting and interesting place to visit even today. If you love all things that have to do with the Wild West, you might want to stop at this little town spilling down the hillside above Reno. I’ll always be glad we did!
I should also note that some of the Virginia City establishments mentioned in this book were (and are) real businesses. The Bucket of Blood, the Delta Saloon, and the Washoe Club all existed in some form or fashion in the late 1800s and all remain to this day. I confess to letting my imagination have free reign when it came to describing the Bucket of Blood as I wanted it to be in 1886, though. And whether or not it was actually called by that name back then…well, as far as I know, there’s no reason it couldn’t have been! Be sure to click on the link above if you’d like to learn more about the Bucket of Blood, owned and operated by McBride & Sons.
As for Falk, I’m afraid you can’t visit that town anymore – it no longer exists. There’s nothing quite as haunting as walking along a trail where a town used to be and seeing hardly any evidence that it was ever real. The signs along the trail at Headwaters Forest Reserve (not far from Eureka, California) sparked a curiosity within me, and I knew I wanted to write about the logging town that once was. If this book has made you curious, too, I highly recommend Falk’s Claim: The Life and Death of a Redwood Lumber Town by Jon Humboldt Gates. I found a copy at the visitor center at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and I’m so grateful I bought it. It proved to be a helpful tool as I edited this story, and it served to stir the fascination I already had with the town’s history.
Finally, my family and I have gone on many a summer trip to Sunriver, Oregon. I couldn’t help but include a brief scene there, and it’s quite possible the area will serve as a setting for a future book. A family vacation doesn’t get much better than rides along their many bike trails, dinner on Mt. Bachelor, canoeing under the stars, and visiting the High Desert Museum (another place that helped me with my research).
The various settings of Bleeding Heart were like characters – they had personalities and moods all their own. But the actual characters stole my heart, as well. Several of them have been “alive” for me for years. They all have touched me deeply and, through their stories, allowed me to explore my own questions about heartbreak, grief, hope, and love. I hope they came alive for you, as well, and somehow challenged or encouraged you.
If you’d like to learn more about Bleeding Heart – view some book extras, discuss the story, ask me questions, and more – please visit www.bleedingheartnovel.blogspot.com.
Discussion Questions
1. What are some of the different definitions of love presented through the various characters’ actions and attitudes? Which character resonated with you the most?
2. Were you surprised when Joe and Sally got married? What did you expect their marriage to be like? How could Joe or Sally have acted differently in order to make their life together more peaceful?
3. When you finally “met” Jack, was he different than you thought he might be? What did you ultimately think of him?
4. Which setting was your favorite – Nevada or Northern California? What did you like about it,
and how do you think it challenged or brought out the best in the characters?
5. Were you happy/satisfied with the outcome of the book? Would you have chosen differently if you were Sally?
Acknowledgements
When you write a story and your heart bleeds all over the pages, it can be a messy and vulnerable thing. You wonder if you ought to let others see. You wonder if others will understand the heartbreak, if they will love the characters the way you do, if they will still support your passion even when they don’t understand.
Bleeding Heart is my second manuscript, and some of its characters are familiar faces from that first story I wrote. To those who read Forget Me Not and offered their thoughts on it – thank you. There’s nothing quite like that first time you finish a manuscript, and I’m grateful for those who shared the journey, celebrated with me, and nurtured my love for writing.
And to those who have shared the journey to publishing Bleeding Heart…
~ My family. My grandparents, my parents, my uncle, and my sister – thank you for supporting me. I love you all so much! Thank you, Mom and Dad, for taking me to places I wanted to write about and for giving me a safe and wonderful place to live.
~ Amanda Stanley. From your first comment on my blog, to enthusiastically agreeing to read my work, you have always encouraged me. Thank you for all of your prayers and for your sweet friendship! And thank you for caring for these characters since they were first introduced.
~ Laura Frantz. You once told me that a person’s writing can’t help but reflect their heart. Your writing is beautiful, dear friend, and your heart even more so. Thank you for making time to uplift an aspiring author.
~ Elizabeth Ludwig. Editor and encourager extraordinaire. Thank you for beating me over the head (figuratively, of course!) with those reminders to include action beats and use less exclamation points!!! This story is much, much better-off because of your expertise and support.
~ Rachelle Rea. You were willing to read this story twice, and you don’t know how much that means to me. Thank you for being a beta reader and my proofreader – your feedback and assistance are very much appreciated!
~ Michelle Tuller. You answered my plea for your thoughts when I was partway done with writing this story, and you responded with graciousness and enthusiasm. Now you have finally gotten to read the rest of the story – I hope you weren’t disappointed!
~ Lena Goldfinch. I’m so glad I was introduced to your work via the blogosphere. Your stories and your generous friendship are inspiring. Thank you so very much for putting together such a beautiful, fitting cover, and for helping me with numerous other aspects of the finalizing process. You are one talented person!
~ My Virginia City friends: Judy Sorensen, Karen Tassone, Desna Young, Leisa Findley (Edith Palmer’s Country Inn), Gary and Nancy Teel (TNT Stagelines), and Joe Curtis (Mark Twain Bookstore). When I was doing “research” for Forget Me Not and Bleeding Heart (but mostly just having the best vacations ever!), you patiently answered my questions, showed me and my family the best hospitality in the West, and made Virginia City come alive for me. Grateful for each of you!
~ My Twitter and Blogger friends. You shared my joy when I revealed my cover and when I posted news about my progress. You shared my frustrations when I told you I was stressed and when I wasn’t going as quickly through edits as I wished. You encouraged me in countless ways, and you helped push me through that last leg of the journey and made it an exciting time. Thank you for all you do!
About the Author
Amber Stokes works as a content writer for a Christian publisher and writes inspirational fiction depicting the seasons of life and love. Her passion for books compelled her to earn a bachelor's degree in English and to run her own freelance editing and publicity business for over a year. Happily, the next step in her career lies in the Pacific Northwest – a part of the world she's always considered home.
She loves to meet new reader and writer friends! You can learn more about Amber’s books at Seasons of a Story Publishing, and you can connect with her on her blog, Seasons of Humility, as well as on Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads. You can also drop her a line at [email protected].
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review online. Thank you!
More Books in “The Heart’s Spring” Series
“The Heart’s Spring” Book 1 – Forget Me Not
When their journey leads them on unexpected paths, can two lonely hearts find the strength to remember the good amid the heartbreak?
Now available in paperback and Kindle ebook formats
“The Heart’s Spring” Short Stories
Prequel to Forget Me Not and Sequel to Bleeding Heart
Now available in Kindle ebook format
Table of Contents
Copyright Page
Praise for Bleeding Heart
Table of Contents
Dedication
Lamentations 3:41
Prologue
Part I: At My Cry
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part II: Fear Not
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Part III: The Causes of My Soul
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Discussion Questions
Acknowledgements
About the Author
More Books in “The Heart’s Spring” Series