As the Sparks Fly Upward
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Authors: Gilbert Morris
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AS
the
SPARKS FLY
UPWARD
 | Howard Books A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com |
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Gilbert Morris
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Howard Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Howard Books trade paperback edition November 2011
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Manufactured in the United States of America
10Â Â Â 9Â Â Â 8Â Â Â 7Â Â Â 6Â Â Â 5Â Â Â 4Â Â Â 3Â Â Â 2Â Â Â 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Morris, Gilbert.
  As the sparks fly upward / Gilbert Morris.
  p. cm.
  I. Title.
  PS3563.O8742A92 2011
  813â.54âdc22                                  2011003067
ISBN 978-1-4165-8748-4
ISBN 978-1-4391-8274-1 (ebook)
All scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain
To Mikki Thrieme
One of my favorite lines in the Old Testament:
Many daughters have done well, but thou excellest them all.
I pray that this verse will fit your life, Mikki!
CONTENTS
Colin
(1568â1579)
1
June 10, 1568
E
arly dawn had always been a favorite time for Eden Winslow, and now, standing in the midst of her garden, she savored the sight of the hills that made a thin, irregular line in the north. Pale sunlight ran fresh and fine, flashing against the steeple of the small village church and cutting long, sharp shadows from the houses that made up the village. Overhead the stars were still visible, cold and brilliant in the sky, and light from the east had begun to dilute the darkness of the earth. She moved among the flowers, bending over to touch the green buds of the roses, and suddenly a sound from overhead caught her attention. Glancing up at the sky she thought,
The birds have come back.
She stood still, savoring their morning twitter and clatter, their shrill cries and whistle notes. A harsh, distant noise sounded, and glancing upward she saw the familiar V-formation of geese as they made their way across the sky. “I wonder how they decide which one will be the leader?” she murmured, then laughed at herself. “Talking to myself! Next thing I'll wind up in Bedlam!”
Eden moved through the garden, noting that the crabapple trees had displayed their pink and white blossoms. The hawthorns had put on white buds, and as she passed by them they
gave off a sweet scent that blew in the wind. The new flowers were her delight, but something troubled her. Though she tried to ignore the thought, it refused to go away.
It was our tenth anniversary yesterday and Brandon didn't even mention it.
The thought brought a frown to her face, but she realized how foolish it was to be disturbed over that.
Brandon has been such a good husband. No woman could ask for better. He is a bit forgetful at times, but I must not mind that. He's so good to me and the children in every other way.
She shook her head and quickly returned to the house. She was tall, and at the age of thirty-four had the figure of a much younger woman. Her hair was light brown with just a touch of red, and her heart-shaped face was accented by a small cleft in her chin. Nearing the front door of the castle that had been her home now for a decade, she spoke to one of the maids who was scrubbing the floor, then made her way to the stone stairs that led to the second floor. She turned to her left and entered the bedroom that she shared with Brandon. Glancing around at the familiar room, she once again had to put aside the thought that he had forgotten their anniversary. Restless, she began moving about and wondered where Brandon had gotten off to. He had disappeared at noon the previous day. She entertained a faint hope that he had gone to buy her an anniversary gift, but he had been gone all night. Standing at the window, she gazed out at the village and the fields that surrounded the castle, taking in the sheep and cattle and listening to the faint cries of the shepherds and the men who had gone out to plow as they called to their oxen.
