The words no sooner went from my mind toward heaven than the man appeared in the doorway, his shadow falling across me where I stood. While my prayer was not answered as I had expected, it was answered when Sister Jessamine turned toward him. A brother—Brother Andrew, I think it might have been—began a warring-against-the-flesh song at the sight of the man from the woods. Woes and stomping began to shake our meetinghouse.
But there was no woe on Sister Jessamine. The heavy cloud of sorrow that had enveloped her every moment of the day since she returned to us vanished like mist in the heat of summer sunlight. Joy lit up her face and the sister I loved, that I do even now love, was back.
And I was glad. I ran after her to give her my blessing. I did not want her to look back with sorrow on her time with us, but to remember the times of joy she knew here at Harmony Hill.
Eldress Frieda will think I sinned. Perhaps I did. I fear every word I write here adds to my sin. With that in mind, in a moment I will hold the corner of this paper to the flame of my lamp. These words are not for others’ eyes, but I had need to write them. After I brush away the ashes, I will turn to a fresh page in my journal and report without emotion the leaving of our sister. I will write of the songs we sang, how her brethren and sisters tried to keep her among us. Then I will write of the duties of the morrow. I will not record how it gladdened my heart when she took the hand of the man from the world and found joy.
It was as it was meant to be. All cannot be Shakers.
Acknowledgments
As an author, each story I am given is a gift, but once the story is written and I’m ready to share my story gift, then it takes many other hands to wrap it in the best possible package to present to readers. I am blessed with a wonderful editor, Lonnie Hull DuPont, who reads my stories with enthusiasm but also with her editor’s eyes wide open to see ways to make the finished story stronger. I can always count on Barb Barnes to show me places to polish and smooth to help make my words disappear and the story shine.
A book needs a great cover, and I’m grateful to Cheryl Van Andel and all those who work to make my book covers bright, colorful, and so appealing to the eye. I also appreciate the marketing and publicity teams who find ways to get my books before readers.
I am always thankful for each and every one of you readers who pick up my books and give my stories a chance. It takes both our imaginations—mine while writing and yours while reading—to make my characters fully come to life and live their stories.
I very much appreciate my agent, Wendy Lawton, for her encouragement and help as she guides me through the business side of writing and keeps me thinking about the stories to come.
I am mightily blessed with a wonderful family, and I treasure their loving support. I especially appreciate my husband who puts up with me disappearing into the past for hours every day while I’m writing.
Most of all, I thank the Lord for giving me the gift of one more story to tell. His story is the greatest story ever told, and I feel blessed beyond measure each time a bit of his story shines out of my books.
Ann H. Gabhart and her husband live on a farm just over the hill from where she grew up in central Kentucky. She enjoys reading, being a grandmother, and taking walks with her dogs. Ann is the author of more than twenty novels for adults and young adults. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the 2009 Christian Book Awards in the fiction category. Angel Sister was a nominee for inspirational novel of 2011 by RT Book Reviews Magazine.
Visit Ann’s website at www.annhgabhart.com.
Books by Ann H. Gabhart
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The Scent of Lilacs
Orchard of Hope
Summer of Joy
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Angel Sister
Words Spoken True
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The Outsider
The Believer
The Seeker
The Blessed
The Gifted
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