South of Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 2)

“Ms. Kinslow’s engaging story-telling style makes the book hard to put down.”   

-
News of Delaware
County

“Stavewood's characters burst into your life fully developed. …The scenes play across your mind like beautiful cinematography.”                

-
Dolores Magro

“Love, love, love! Can't wait for the story to be continued!”                                       

-
Kathy Kaminski

“Kinslow has a magnificent talent in portraying Rebecca's strong character in Stavewood. Fantastic read! If you are a believer in all things "meant to be" this novel will not disappoint!”                                                     
- Diana Clark

“A beautiful setting in which to tell the story of renewed hope & love between very likeable characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Stavewood, and look forward to the next book in the series.”                                                               
- Gail Cook

“I could not put this book down. It connected from the first page. Every time I stopped reading I couldn't wait to pick it back up.”

-
Kathie Fleischauer

“…Would have read "Stavewood" in one sitting had time permitted. Could not wait to continue reading this novel. Well developed characters. Just the right amount of romance/mystery-murder/intrigue
.”

- Muriel Zondervan

Books by Nanette Kinslow

Stavewood

South of Stavewood

Home to Stavewood

The Secret of Stavewood

Sweet New England

Ill Repute

Pie Crust Promise

The Matter with Margaret

South

of

Stavewood

A novel

By

Nanette Kinslow

Fairy Tales are born from our need for love and without romance the world is bitter.

With love in your heart the world is always sweet.

~
Nanette

This book
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

2013 Lighthouse Publishing

Copyright © 2013 by Nanette Kinslow

ISBN-13: 978-1490500935

ISBN-10: 1490500936

All Rights Reserved

[email protected]

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews. For information contact Lighthouse Publishing.

First Lighthouse Group publishing July 2013

Published in the United States by Lighthouse Publishing Group

Cover design and map illustrations by Patrick Warn

Acknowledgements

My appreciation goes to the following people who have helped make the Stavewood books possible:

      My husband, Patrick, whose continuing support has enabled and inspired me. Without his constant love and encouragement these books would not exist.

      To Jessica Ramsey for her love and perspectives.

      Clive Harris, for believing in me enough to publish.

      And to my old, new and inspiring friends and family who have done so much to make me feel I deserve to be doing this.

This book is dedicated to my youngest sister, Gabrielle, because she has a perfect understanding of the meaning of true love.

Prologue

The Billington Bugle

July 28, 1889

Elgerson Mill Struck by Lightning

Four dead. Several injured

Lightning struck the Elgerson Mills Monday, damaging the mill wheel and killing four. Killed were Phillip Elgerson, father of the mill owner, Jacob Mason, Charles Rove and Petra Gangslav. Roland Vancouver, foreman, Convert Mendelsohn, Millard Johansson and Otto Pillsbury were injured.

Timothy Elgerson, the mill owner, could not be reached for comment.

Chapter One

     
T
he magnificent Queen Anne stood proudly on the hilltop, her majestic turret piercing the dazzling blue sky. Leaded glass windows glittered brilliantly, each facet reflecting the surrounding white pine and deciduous forest, as if the glorious spectacle existed entirely to frame the regal home.

      The lawns of Stavewood were bathed in garlands of roses while carriages and coaches lined the road leading to the beautiful estate. On the soft breeze one could hear laughter and the greetings of a hundred guests as they gathered for the Elgerson wedding. Excited anticipation floated lightly on the afternoon air.

      Louisa struggled as her mother wrestled with the button hook. The child was bright and beautiful, her dark curls tumbling into her shoulders. At a bit older than three she had everything a child could possibly want, except the freedom to do whatever she pleased, and right at this moment she did not want her shoes fastened.

      “Loo,” Rebecca scolded. “You cannot attend the celebration without your shoes. Bare feet are fine for playing, but today is special and you must behave like a young lady.”

      “Mama,” the child sat as still as she could, hoping to quickly escape the torment. “If I’m very good and t’row the flowers can I ride the pony at the party, p’ease?”

      “All the rest of the day, my love.” Louisa’s mother gathered her into her arms and hugged her fiercely, causing the child to squeal and squirm. Once set free she fled down the hall toward the kitchen, the smell of sweets and fresh baked goods wafting invitingly through the big house.

      Rebecca remained in the child’s nursery, gathering up petticoats and bonnets and putting them in the armoire in an orderly fashion. She collected the girl’s favorite blanket from the bedpost and held it to her face. Inhaling the sweet scent of her firstborn daughter, her mind flashed back nearly three years. It was as if once again she was standing in a barely leafed out spring forest, her newborn in her arms, after the carriage had overturned and the family had been attacked. The scent of her infant, safe in her arms, seemed to always linger on that blanket, buried somehow in the woolen fibers. Rebecca would never forget how much she loved that child, and would love the next, now growing inside of her.

      “You should get ready.” Timothy Elgerson stood on the nursery doorway, tanned through the open collar of his white shirt. Tall and rugged, he cocked his head to one side and studied his beautiful wife.

      “I just finally got Loo’s shoes on her feet,” Rebecca smiled and carried the blanket to him. “Every time I pick up this blanket I can smell that day, that day we left your parent’s cottage.”

      The big man held the cloth to his nose. “You’re right.” He took her into his arms and held her against his chest. “It’s over now, and this is our wedding day. I only want to see smiles on your face today.” He tilted her chin to face him and slid his finger along her throat. “Today is for celebrating only. Now, go enjoy your bath. Sara is down in the kitchen and she’ll take over with Loo. Go put on that gown I keep hearing so much about and then come down and marry me. I’ve waited long enough to make an honest woman of you.”

      Rebecca pushed her fair hand against the big man’s chest playfully. “The magistrate did that already nearly four years ago when you married me the first time!”

      “I didn’t think you considered that enough of a wedding. Now you’ll get your celebration, my dear.”

      “As you promised,” she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him softly. “I have something for you today too. I can’t give it to you just yet, but it’s here.”

      “Something for me? So quickly after this morning? I’m not sure I can meet your expectations so soon, Madam,” he smiled at her knowingly.

      “That is not exactly the surprise I had in mind, you rascal!”

      “Ah!” He tossed back his hair and laughed deeply. “There are other kinds of surprises?” He walked beside her down the hall toward the master suite.

      “Yes,” her mood became sober and she turned as they entered the room and she looked into his eyes.

      “I can’t give it to you now,” she continued. “It won’t be ready for about, let’s say, seven months or so.”

      “Something you’re knitting?” Timothy looked puzzled.

      “No.” Rebecca took his hand. “I’m working on it though. I hoping this one will be a boy.”

      “Another baby?” Timothy’s face broke into a satisfied grin.

      “I saw the doctor yesterday.”

      He pulled his tiny wife close to him and smothered her in playful kisses. “Another baby!” he laughed aloud. “I’ll be the happiest expectant groom in the whole county today!” he boasted.

      “Now, off with you,” she shoved him impishly. “I have a wedding gown to get into while I still can.”

       Timothy Elgerson sauntered down the stairs, a proud smile across his face.