The Daughter's Walk - Jane Kirkpatrick [1]
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kirkpatrick, Jane, 1946–
The daughter’s walk / Jane Kirkpatrick. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
“Based on a true story.”
eISBN: 978-0-307-72941-5
1. Mothers and daughters—Fiction. 2. Family secrets—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3561.I712D38 2011
813′.54—dc22
2010043657
v3.1
To strong and transforming women of all generations.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Clara Estby daughter of Helga
Helga Estby wife of Ole and mother of Clara, Ole, Olaf, Ida, Bertha, Henry, Arthur, Johnny, William (Billy), Lillian
Ole Estby husband of Helga
Hannah Estby aunt of Clara’s; sister to Ole
*Forest Stapleton son of Clara’s employer
the Rutters employers of Bertha and Olaf
Martin Siverson friend of Ole
Chauncey Depew railroad magnate and philanthropist
Olea Stone Ammundsen New York furrier
Louise Gubner New York furrier
*Franklin Doré agent of Olea and Louise
*John Doré lumberman in Manistee, Michigan
*Characters designated with an asterisk are not based on actual historical figures and are fully imagined by the author.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
ISAIAH 30:21
Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, 1848
God is love. Love is the proof of God, and forgiveness is the proof of love.
DALE CRAMER IN Levi’s Will
Prologue
MICA CREEK, WASHINGTON STATE, MARCH 1901
Go back! Just go back!” The woman glared at the dog, who stopped, his tail down, ears tipped forward in confusion.
“You can’t come with me,” she said. “I’m not part of this family anymore.” Her voice cracked at the truth that now defined her life. Heavy, wet snow fell on the solemn pair. The dog failed to obey. Even in this she was powerless. She looked at the window, hoping her mother or sister might wave. No one. She returned to the dog.
“Go back. Please.” She pointed, her voice breaking. “Go, Sailor. Go home.” The dog curled his bushy tail between his legs and then turned, walking toward the farmhouse now shrouded in snow. He looked back once, but she pointed and he continued back to the family as she’d ordered.
The woman bit her lip to avoid crying, then stuffed the packet close to her chest to keep the papers dry. She pulled her fur coat around her. Maybe she shouldn’t have worn it; maybe her success offended them and that’s why they’d refused.
The wind shifted, drove pelting snow into her face. She’d forgotten her umbrella at the house. It mattered little; she’d left so much more behind. She trudged toward the railroad tracks, taking her first steps into exile.
Contents
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Map
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Part One
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
Part Two
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
Part Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Epilogue