A Dream to Follow
Authors: Lauraine Snelling
Tags: #Fiction, #Christian, #Historical, #General, #Religious
A Dream
to Follow
Books by
Lauraine Snelling
Golden Fill Collection One
*
Golden Filly Collection Two
*
Secret Refuge
(3 in 1 )
D
AKOTA
T
REASURES
Ruby • Pearl
Opal • Amethyst
D
AUGHTERS OF
B
LESSING
A Promise for Ellie • Sophie’s Dilemma
A Touch of Grace • Rebecca’s Reward
H
OME TO
B
LESSING
A Measure of Mercy
No Distance Too Far
R
ED
R
IVER OF THE
N
ORTH
An Untamed Land
A New Day Rising
A Land to Call Home
The Reaper’s Song
Tender Mercies
Blessing in Disguise
R
ETURN TO
R
ED
R
IVER
A Dream to Follow • Believing the Dream
More Than a Dream
*
5 books in each volume
A Dream to Follow
Copyright © 2001
Lauraine Snelling
Cover by Dan Thornberg, Design Source Creative Services
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quoations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-0-7642-0799-0
The Library of Congress has cataloged the original eidition as follows:
Snelling, Lauraine.
A dream to follow / by Lauraine Snelling.
p. cm. — (Return to Red River ; 1)
ISBN 0-7642-2317-8
1. Frontier and pioneer life—Fiction. 2. Norwegian Americans—Fiction. 3. Dakota Territory—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3569.N39 D7 2001
813′.54—dc21
2001003784
DEDICATION
To Cecile, who has made my life
so much easier, and to
Eagle One, who made it richer.
LAURAINE SNELLING is an award-winning author of over 60 books, fiction and nonfiction for adults and young adults. Her books have sold over two million copies. Besides writing books and articles, she teaches at writers’ conferences across the country. She and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, a bassett named Chewy, and a cockatiel watch bird named Bidley. They make their home in California.
Contents
Don’t Miss Any of These Bestselling Series About Blessing!
Blessing, North Dakota
Spring 1893
“I’m afraid to open it.”
Ingeborg Bjorklund stared at the letter her tall, sometimes awkward son laid on the table. “Looking at it won’t make it change, Thorliff.”
“I know, but . . .” At seventeen years of age Thorliff Bjorklund had yet to fill out the shoulders of his full-sleeved white shirt. The sweater vest in shades of natural wool, knit by his grandmother, hugged a chest that promised breadth. He sighed. Bjorklund blue eyes stared at the envelope as if afraid it might bite.
“Open it, son. It could be wonderful news.” Ingeborg, enveloped by a white apron, gripped the back of the handmade oak chair.
But what if they don’t like my story? It won’t be the first time, but . . .
Taking his pocketknife from his pocket, Thorliff opened the blade before reaching for the envelope. The hiss of sharp knife through paper sounded loud in the kitchen that also seemed to be holding its breath. The crackle of papers extricated from a paper womb and then unfolde filled the silence. Thorliff closed his eyes, sighed again, and opened them to read the letter. His hands quivered, shaking the missive like a breeze rattling cottonwood leaves. He read, stopped to glance at his mother, then read swiftly to the end, his breathing keeping pace with his eyes.
He clutched the letter to his chest, his face shining like after the first summer sunburn. “They like it.”
Ingeborg pulled out the chair and sank onto it. “Read it aloud.”
“ ‘Dear Mr. Bjorklund . . . ’ ” Thorliff paused and grinned at his mother. “They called me mister, can you believe that?” At her nod he continued.
“We are pleased to inform you that we would like to publish your story,
The Long Winter Night
, in an upcoming issue of
Harper’s Magazine
. Your attention to detail and evocative wording made us wonder if perhaps this event had happened to you, since you hail from North Dakota. We will be pleased to pay you the sum of ten dollars upon publication of your story. Please keep us in mind for any further submissions.
Sincerely,
Michael Smith, Editor
Harper’s Magazine
. . .”
Thorliff ’s voice trailed off at the end.
“I knew that one day someone would like your stories. I always have.”
Thorliff could feel the embarrassing heat start in his neck. “But you’re my mor. You
have
to like my stories.”
“True. But some I like better than others, and this one was the very best you have ever written.”
“Mange takk.” Thorliff scanned through the letter again. “Ten dollars.” The awe came through in his voice.
“Tante Kaaren is done with classes now, and since she was the heroine of your story . . .” Ingeborg’s voice trailed off as she remembered that frightful event. “Uff da. Such a freak blizzard that was, and it could have been so tragic if you all hadn’t stayed at the school.” She shuddered. “By the grace of God, it wasn’t.” She paused, caught in the memory before continuing. “I know how much Tante Kaaren would love to hear your good news right away.” Ingeborg clasped her hands on the red-and-white checkered tablecloth. “Perhaps this will help your far understand how important it is for you to go to college in the fall.”
Thorliff made a sound deep in his throat. His going to college might be important, but the past years of drought had them all tightening their belts. They hoped that was over, but everything depended on the harvest. Some of the Bonanza farmers had given up and sold their land. Nils Haugen, south of town, had sold out and gone back to Norway.