Band of Sisters

Praise for
Promise Me This

“Gohlke tells a gripping tale of sacrifice, loss, love, and hope against the setting of familiar historical events.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“This dramatic and heart-wrenching interpretation . . . will enthrall fans of character-driven Christian fiction and readers who enjoy Francine Rivers.”

LIBRARY JOURNAL
, starred review

“This grabs the reader from the first sentence. The characters are well-defined. . . . Readers will come away with a fresh understanding of that horrible day.”

ROMANTIC TIMES,
4½ star Top Pick review

“A historic disaster becomes the crucible forging bonds of loyalty, love, and sacrifice between young Michael Dunnagan, Owen Allen, and his sister, Annie. The bonds are tested by grief, war, disease, and separation. Gohlke’s attention to detail provides believable characters, good dialogue, and historical accuracy.”

LIFE:BEAUTIFUL
magazine

“Gohlke’s historical romance . . . explores the depth of human nature and emotions through its three-dimensional, compelling characters. . . .
Promise Me This
will certainly satisfy romance readers who enjoy historical details and character-driven plots.”

CHRISTIANBOOKPREVIEWS.COM

“Gohlke does not disappoint with her third novel, a carefully researched story full of likable characters struggling to cope with the difficult realities of grief and wartime. . . . [A] sweet, compelling story.”

SHELF-AWARENESS.COM

“[A] riveting story [that] is mesmerizing and compelling as well as historically accurate. . . . This novel of hope, redemption, and promise amid profound despair is one that will bring the story of the
Titanic
alive during her centennial.”

FICTIONADDICT.COM

“With a masterful touch, Cathy Gohlke breathes fresh hope and poignancy into a story that delivers in every way.”

TAMERA ALEXANDER,
bestselling author of
A Lasting Impression

“Stunning. Simply one of the best—if not most powerful—books I have ever read.”

JULIE LESSMAN,
author of
A Heart Revealed

“A story of hopes lost and found, of dreams surrendered and reborn, that blossoms with warmth and quiet power in a priceless portrayal of undeserved grace.”

SIRI MITCHELL,
author of
A Heart Most Worthy

Visit Tyndale online at
www.tyndale.com
.

Visit Cathy Gohlke’s website at
www.cathygohlke.com
.

TYNDALE
and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Band of Sisters

Copyright © 2012 by Cathy Gohlke. All rights reserved.

Cover photo of New York harbor copyright © by TriggerPhoto/iStockphoto. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of skirts copyright © by Bettmann/CORBIS. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of legs copyright © by CORBIS. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of floral pattern copyright © by Annmarie Young/Shutterstock. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of fabric copyright © by c. /Shutterstock. All rights reserved.

Designed by Ron Kaufmann

Edited by Sarah Mason

Published in association with the literary agency of Natasha Kern Literary Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 1069, White Salmon, WA 98672.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holy Bible
, King James Version.

The Scripture quotation in the dedication is taken from the Holy Bible,
New International Version
,
^®
NIV
.
^®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
^TM
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
www.zondervan.com
.

Band of Sisters
is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gohlke, Cathy.

Band of sisters / Cathy Gohlke.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4143-5308-1 (sc)

1. Sisters—Fiction. 2. Irish—New York (State)—New York—Fiction. 3. New York (N.Y.)—History—1898-1951—Fiction. 4. Ireland—Emigration and immigration—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3607.O3448B36 2012

813´.6—dc23 2012011647

Build: 2012-08-07 11:22:10

For My Mother

Loving, Courageous, Inspiring

Whose name, Bernice, aptly means “Bearer of Victory”

In celebration of your eighty-fifth birthday

She is worth far more than rubies. . . .

She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy. . . .

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue. . . .

Her children arise and call her blessed. . . .

“Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

PROVERBS 31

Contents

1. Acknowledgments
   
2. Part 1
   
   1. Chapter One
      
   2. Chapter Two
      
   3. Chapter Three
      
   4. Chapter Four
      
   5. Chapter Five
      
   6. Chapter Six
      
   7. Chapter Seven
      
   8. Chapter Eight
      
   9. Chapter Nine
      
   10. Chapter Ten
       
   11. Chapter Eleven
       
   12. Chapter Twelve
       
   13. Chapter Thirteen
       
   14. Chapter Fourteen
       
   15. Chapter Fifteen
       
   16. Chapter Sixteen
       
   17. Chapter Seventeen
       
   18. Chapter Eighteen
       
   19. Chapter Nineteen
       
   20. Chapter Twenty
       
   21. Chapter Twenty-One
       
   22. Chapter Twenty-Two
       
   23. Chapter Twenty-Three
       
   24. Chapter Twenty-Four
       
   25. Chapter Twenty-Five
       
   26. Chapter Twenty-Six
       
   27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
       
   28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
       
   29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
       
   30. Chapter Thirty
       
   31. Chapter Thirty-One
       
   32. Chapter Thirty-Two
       
   33. Chapter Thirty-Three
       
   34. Chapter Thirty-Four
       
   35. Chapter Thirty-Five
       
   36. Chapter Thirty-Six
       
   37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
       
   38. Chapter Thirty-Eight
       
   39. Chapter Thirty-Nine
       
   40. Chapter Forty
       
   41. Chapter Forty-One
       
3. Part 2
   
   1. Chapter Forty-Two
      
   2. Chapter Forty-Three
      
   3. Chapter Forty-Four
      
   4. Chapter Forty-Five
      
   5. Chapter Forty-Six
      
   6. Chapter Forty-Seven
      
   7. Chapter Forty-Eight
      
   8. Chapter Forty-Nine
      
   9. Chapter Fifty
      
   10. Chapter Fifty-One
       
   11. Chapter Fifty-Two
       
   12. Chapter Fifty-Three
       
   13. Chapter Fifty-Four
       
   14. Chapter Fifty-Five
       
   15. Chapter Fifty-Six
       
   16. Chapter Fifty-Seven
       
   17. Chapter Fifty-Eight
       
   18. Chapter Fifty-Nine
       
   19. Chapter Sixty
       
   20. Chapter Sixty-One
       
   21. Chapter Sixty-Two
       
   22. Chapter Sixty-Three
       
   23. Chapter Sixty-Four
       
   24. Chapter Sixty-Five
       
   25. Chapter Sixty-Six
       
   26. Chapter Sixty-Seven
       
4. Note to Readers
   
5. About the Author
   
6. Discussion Questions
   

This book was born of a passion to end modern-day slavery and most of all to ask: What can I do to help in a need so desperate?

I’m not the first to ask this question and am profoundly grateful to and inspired by those who have gone before, the countless men and women who have forged trails of hope and established organizations—visible and underground—that work for the abolition of slavery and the healing of its victims. It is a privilege to join my voice with yours.

In the research and writing of this book I am deeply grateful to . . .

—the late Charles Sheldon, author of the novel
In His Steps
, which posed the question, “What would Jesus do?”—a book given to me by my mother one Easter Sunday long ago, a book and a question that changed my life.

—Daniel, my son, who challenged me to write about a “current need.” You planted a mental seed that inspired me to address modern-day slavery through a historical setting, enabling me to participate in this platform to raise awareness.

—Natasha Kern, my agent, for fearlessly championing books of strong spiritual and moral purpose, for sharing the vision behind this book and your insights on this manuscript, and most especially for your understanding, friendship, and wise counsel.

—Stephanie Broene and Sarah Mason, my gifted editors, for convincing me that while my heart is steadfast, my first draft is not, and for helping me bring to the page my heart’s intent; Babette Rea, my innovative marketing manager; Christy Stroud, my enthusiastic and dedicated publicist; and the wonderfully creative design, PR, and sales teams, and all the others at Tyndale House Publishers who’ve worked so diligently to bring this book to life and to readers. You are amazing!

—Dan, my husband, who read this manuscript in its early stages, gave me insights, and enthusiastically shared treks through Ellis Island by day, less enthusiastically trudged through the Battery with me by night, hoofed through parts of Manhattan’s Lower East Side in all kinds of weather—including the steep and winding stairs of aged tenements and old churches. You even combed a Brooklyn graveyard with me in search of the graves of Triangle Waist Factory fire victims. I love you, and I love exploring the world together.

—family, friends, and writing colleagues who have shared this story’s vision and unique journey, sometimes generously brainstorming plotting dilemmas with me and sometimes faithfully praying when the research became too dark to traverse alone: Elisabeth Gardiner, my daughter (who also read and gave valuable insights bathed in prayer through the manuscript’s first draft), Bernice Lemons, Gloria Delk, Rachel Kurtz, Carrie Turansky, Terri Gillespie, Dan Lounsbury, Angela Wampler, Reverend Karen Bunnell, Connie Wilkinson, Ed and Betty Sprague, Barb Tenney, Andee McKenica, Carol Sise, Kimberly Artrip, Liz Hook, Patti Lacey, my Elkton United Methodist Church family, writing colleagues through ACFW, and the amazing women I met through Proverbs 31. I know I don’t walk alone, and I am grateful beyond words.

—park rangers and historians of Ellis Island, the committed and enthusiastic staff of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in Manhattan, newspapers and archives of old New York, and the wonderful people I met in Greenwich Village and from NYU who were willing to share their stories and insights into the life and history of New York City. I couldn’t have created this story without you or the wonderful books, maps, and news articles you brought to my attention.

And thank you, always, Uncle Wilbur, for reminding me that a sure way to know if I’m working in the will of God is to ask, “Do I have joy? Is this yoke easy? Is this burden light?”

My answer is “Yes! A thousand times, yes!”