The Hope of Refuge Read online

  To my husband, who continually opens many more doors for me than the physical ones of a car, home, or business. I’m grateful you’ve shared over three decades of reality with me—the fulfilling, the satisfying, the difficult, and the yet unseen.

  To my dearly beloved Old Order Amish friends who wish to remain anonymous. Your honest answers, insights, and determination have caused me to write Cara’s story with great authenticity, which means so very, very much to me. From the most difficult questions during our first sit-down meeting to your review of the finished work, you’ve been good friends and willing co-workers. Thank you.

  To Marci Burke, who always finds time to do critique rounds even in the midst of a continually growing, successful career. As vital as your input is in each story, your friendship means numerous times more.

  To Timothy A. Scully, MD, FACC, Northeast Georgia Heart Center, PC, Vice Chief of Staff, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA, who shared his knowledge and insight into medical conditions that affect the heart. You wove your expertise in with my story line until I had solid medical advice for every situation. Thank you!

  To my editor, Shannon (Hill) Marchese, who works diligently so readers can share in her love of books. I’m continually amazed at you.

  To WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group—marketing, sales, production, and editorial departments—who used their expertise, talent, and energy to get this novel into readers’ hands. It is an honor to work with you!

  To my line editor, Carol Bartley who always helps me see the story through fresh eyes. Your task to help me find a balance between realistic-sounding characters and grammatically correct prose is never an easy one. Denki!

  To my agent, Steve Laube, who always understands the heart of a writer, offers perfect solutions to the influx of issues, and who stands sentry at all times. My family sends their gratitude.

  About the Author

  CINDY WOODSMALL is the New York Times best-selling author of the Sisters of the Quilt series, including the books When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. Cindy is the mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, and she and her husband reside in Georgia.

  THE HOPE OF REFUGE

  PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS

  12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200

  Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.0. Copyright © 1996-2009 by the ISV Foundation of Paramount, California USA. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

  The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

  eISBN: 978-0-307-45834-6

  Copyright © 2009 by Cindy Woodsmall

  Copyright © 2010 Excerpt from The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

  Copyright © 2010 by Cindy Woodsmall. Excerpted by permission of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

  WATERBROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Woodsmall, Cindy.

  The hope of refuge : an Ada’s house novel / Cindy Woodsmall. — 1st ed.

  p. cm.

  1. Amish—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3623.O678H67 2009

  813’.6—dc22

  2009015969

  v3.0_r1

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Other Books By This Author

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  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

  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

  The Excerpt to the Bridge of Peace

  Ada’s House Series

  Glossary

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Copyright