Where Tomorrow Waits

by Jane Peart Narrated by Christine Williams

Overview

Penny Sayres' red hair, freckle-splashed skin, and fierce independence drew the attention of some of the region's most eligible bachelors. One by one, they've been disappointed -- because romance and marriage are the last things on Penny's mind! Since her childhood, she has sensed an unknown destiny beckoning from the horizon. When Penny's brother, Brad, invites her to join his family on their wagon train to California, Penny's dream of adventure comes true. The Oregon trail, with its promise of a distant land, sweeps her into a world of fascinating new sights and sounds. It's an exciting time for Penny and her newfound friend, Nell, who shares Penny's zest for the unknown. The trail is long, the journey often grueling, and, as happens when strangers travel together, tempers sometimes flare. Still, it looks like the train will reach its destination without event -- that is, until disaster strikes at Snake River and changes Penny's life forever. Little does Penny realize that God is about to set her on her greatest adventure yet -- one that includes a new dream and lasting love.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171540524
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	10/19/2010
Series:	Westward Dreams , #3
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

Have you ever thought much about California, Penny?"

"California?" Penny Sayres glanced at her sister-in-law, who was picking berries beside her. "You mean about the gold rush?"

"No, not exactly that" Thea shook her head "about the place itself?"

"Only what I've read in school mostly. About Balboa discovering the Pacific Ocean. But I've forgotten most of it."

"I mean about going."

"Going? To California? You mean on a wagon train?"

"Well, yes, what it might be like"

"Not really." Penny paused for a minute and stared at the slim, dark-haired young woman. "Why do you ask?"

Thea shrugged. "Just curious, I guess."

They went on picking berries for a few minutes more until Penny exclaimed, "Whew! It's sure hot for this late in September!" She whipped off her broad-brimmed straw hat and fanned herself to cool off. "Don't you think we have enough? Look." She held out her nearly full basket.

"I guess so." Thea sounded uncertain.

"Oh, I'm sure it is." Penny declared. "Anyway, I'm quitting. Come on, let's go on home and get us something cool to drink. We've picked plenty to make a nice batch of jam. Grams will be pleased as punch."

"Well, if you say so," Thea said even as she added a few more to her almost overflowing basket before setting it down. Then she turned to her plump, fifteen-month-old baby girl sitting on the blanket on the grass behind them. "Come on, Belinda, honey. Let's go see your daddy's grandma," she said, lifting her up into her arms.

"Grams is at Mrs. Bristow's. Quilting bee this afternoon," Penny told her, then made a silly face at her adored niece to try to make the baby smile. "Want me to carry her?"

"She's getting to be quite a load," Thea admitted.

"Here, you take my basket, and I'll give her a piggyback ride." The exchange was made, and Belinda crowed with delight as her aunt swung her around, settled her securely, and started jogging across the meadow toward the white frame farmhouse nestled under tall oak trees. When they reached the porch, Thea set down the baskets and took Belinda.

"Are you and Grams planning to go to the church service this evening?" Thea asked.

"Oh, I don't think so," Penny replied. "Grams has had some trouble with her hip lately, and sitting too long on those hard benches gets to be a trial."

"It's not going to be just the ordinary Wednesday night prayer meeting. Tonight there's going to be a special speaker just come back from California. He's going to talk about the need for missionaries to the Indians in the western territories."

"So that's why you were asking me about California?" Penny smiled. "Frankly, I'm not much interested in that."

"Please, Penny, come with us!"

Penny, surprised at the urgency in her sister-in-law's voice, repeated, "Come with you?"

"Yes. I'd like you to hear what the man says too, because Brad's all excited about it."

"Brad?" Penny said in surprise, knowing her brother had never been an overly zealous churchgoer. "Don't tell me Brad's interested in" She halted, then asked in obvious disbelief, "You don't mean being missionaries!"

"Oh, my, no!" Thea shook her head. "It's the West he's interested in hearing about." Penny listened in amazement. Thea continued, "In fact, he's been reading all about it in all those pamphlets about how glorious everything is in the West."

"I've seen those posters in town, all about wanting emigrants to settle in the West. I've even read some of those frontier romances! But I don't believe any of it. Surely, Brad doesn't?"

"Oh, no! Not the romances!" Thea sounded shocked, then both of them laughed. "But he has read some of the written accounts about the real journey and about California. And he's interested in hearing the speaker tonight, because he's actually made the trip twice."

They went inside. The house felt cool after the warmth of the afternoon and the exertion of rambling among the berry bushes.

"But what's that got to do with Brad wanting to go to church tonight?" Penny tossed her straw hat down and went over to the small mirror hung above the kitchen sink. She twisted her waist-length auburn braid into a knot on top of her head and secured it with a couple of hairpins she took from the pocket of her pinafore. "Brad's not exactly what you'd call a pillar of the church" She halted suddenly then whirled around to face Thea "that is, unless." She paused, then demanded, "Unless he's not Brad's not seriously thinking about going west? Is he?"

Thea's large eyes widened as she nodded solemnly and answered, "Yes, I truly believe he is."

Penny frowned. Ever since the news of the discovery at Sutter's Fort had spread east and been written about in the newspapers, a lot of men had got "California fever." Even in the small rural community of Dunwoodie, Missouri, several men had left wives and families to go in search of gold. With a sinking heart Penny knew it was exactly the kind of thing that would spark her brother's impulsive nature. All those tall tales of instant riches would be just the thing to catch his imagination.

Warily Penny asked, "You don't mean Brad's thinking of prospecting, do you? Not gold, for heaven's sake?"

"No, not gold but land. You know if you homestead you can get acres and acres for practically nothing."

"But, Brad's doing so well. You just got your house finished, and his carpentry business keeps him so busy."

"Yes, I know, but he's been restless lately. He keeps talking about all the opportunities there are out west for a man." Thea shrugged. "You ought to know your brother, Penny."

Penny did indeed. From the time he was a little boy, Brad had a reckless streak and was easily bored. He was always looking for some new excitement. After their parents' deaths and they'd come to live with Grams, Penny often used to wonder out loud if he was going to live long enough for Grams to raise him. He was always doing something dangerous, reckless, taking chances.

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