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Acknowledgment

Carol Spradling, my critique partner You always find the time to answer my questions and concerns, and keep that red pen loaded at all times!

Barbara Ouradnik, ether because of you, and I thank you for your positive support and encouragement

My awesome beta readers on this project: Shirl Deems, Becky Fetzer, and Hazel Lewis Each and every one of you brings a fresh view to the story, and your honest opinions and insights have been absolutely invaluable

My cover designer, Ra the wonderful cover for this book (coversbyraspotcom)

Prologue

St Charles, Missouri, 1822

Evelyn Lewis rescued the wooden bucket fros just before the coould have knocked it over She pushed the htened her back

“I’ll be back later to let you out into the pasture,” she said, patting the bovine on the back Millie swished her rope-like tail, and resu contently on a bushel of fresh hay Evelyn doused the lantern that hung on a peg on the stall’s wall, and headed for the barn door Thin ribbons of golden light found their way through the cracks between the wooden boards, creating striped patterns along the hard packed dirt floor It ell past sunup Apparently, she’d been in the barn longer than she had thought Her ’s milk

She leaned her shoulder against the heavy barn door with the intent of pushing it open when her brother’s loud and excited voice reached her ear Evelyn stopped to listen

“Let me see that advertisement, Alex”

Alex! Evelyn’s heart sped up He hadn’t stopped by the far of his mother had to have been quite a shock

Evelyn re that poor Mrs Ada Walker was probably in a better place People in tohispered, speculating whether Silas Walker had finally struck his wife hard enough to kill her It was coular basis Even Alex had shown up here, so a piece of raw meat to a swollen eye