The Widow of Saunders Creek (35 page)

I had thought spring in the Ozarks was beautiful, but fall took my breath away. I stood on my bridge, looking out at the gently flowing water dotted with red leaves and golden leaves traveling downstream. Joy washed over me as a cool breeze signaled the end of the long summer we’d just endured.

Eli’s solid arm stretched across my back, his fingers curling around my waist, pulling me firmly against him. I slipped my arm around him and held him as close. My heart swelled with love for this man.

“How’s the painting coming along?” he asked against my hair.

“It’s going to make the perfect wedding gift for Lola and Joe,” I answered. I had taken a photograph of the bridge and blown it up to eight by ten to look at while I painted. Lola loved this bridge almost as much as I did.

“Would you consider painting another one as a wedding gift for me?”

My stomach twisted for a second at the thought of Eli getting married, but then logic returned. He pulled back and knelt on his good leg. He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a velvet box.

He looked up at me with such tenderness in his brown eyes, I found myself kneeling to face him, tears springing to my eyes.

“Hey,” he said softly, reaching out to brush my hair from my face. “You’re supposed to stand there until I ask at least.”

“I was too far away from you.” I leaned my forehead against his and clasped my hand over the box. “Ask me.”

With his forehead against mine and tears flowing down my face, he did. “Corrie Saunders, will you marry me?”

What had I ever done to deserve the forever-love this man was offering? I nodded, opening the box. He took the beautiful solitaire ring and slid it onto my finger. He held my face between his strong, capable hands.

Our eyes locked, and in the same calm way Eli had always approached me, he leaned close and pressed his lips to mine, sealing our promise that we would join our lives.

I prayed that the sins of the past were gone from this place and only God’s Spirit would dwell here as we raised our family and left this land to new generations.

1. Corrie has spent the last decade as an army wife, moving from base to base, and hasn’t been able to put down roots, but she no longer belongs in Dallas either. She moves to Saunders Creek hoping to find a place that feels like home, but Jarrod’s family doesn’t believe that the family house—the “home place”—is truly hers. Do you think she will find what she is looking for? How does her idea of home change throughout the story?
   
2. Eli loved his cousin, but they always had a rivalry. Which do you think he felt more strongly? How does this affect his choices in the book?
   
3. Most people in Saunders Creek see Jarrod as a hero, but Corrie wrestles with blaming Jarrod for his own death, which she sees as needlessly reckless. What do you think? How do you see the theme of sacrifice playing out in the story?
   
4. Corrie gave up painting when she married Jarrod. Do you think this was a good decision? Have you ever made a big sacrifice for someone you loved? How did it affect your relationship?
   
5. Eli explains to Corrie that a lot of people in the area practice the “old magic,” and Eli says his family has been filled with healers and naturalists for generations. This plays out in many different ways, from Sam’s herbs and health food to Aunt Trudy’s witchcraft to Tonia Lancaster’s role as a medium. What do you think of the differences between these approaches? Where do you draw the line?
   
6. Strange occurrences happen at Corrie’s house, some innocuous—like the spilled coffee and slamming doors—and some more menacing. Have you ever had an encounter you could not explain? What happened? What do you think it was?
   
7. At the beginning of the book, Corrie suspects Jarrod’s ghost is haunting the home place. Rational Lola doesn’t believe in supernatural events, at least at first. Aunt Trudy thinks it’s Jarrod’s spirit and it can be conjured, while Eli believes the presence is a demon. What do you think? What does the Bible say about ghosts? About spirits? Do you believe spirits are still active in the world today?
   
8. “Just be careful. It’s seductive. It’s also easy to justify it and make it much less dangerous in your mind and heart than it is,” Eli says to warn Corrie away from Aunt Trudy’s witchcraft. It is a warning that could apply to many situations. Have you ever been in a position where these words were relevant? What did you do?
   
9. “God’s grace is all over situations like the one you are in,” Eli tells Corrie. “But given the choice, He would much rather you turn to Him for comfort than anything else.” What does Corrie rely on for comfort in this book? What do you tend to turn to for comfort in trying times? Is it necessarily a bad thing? How do you know when something good becomes a replacement for God?
   
10. What is the significance of the verses from the twenty-third Psalm that open each part of the book? Why do you think the author chose those verses? How do you see them relating to the story?
    
11. Eli tells Corrie, “Prayer might not change the immediate situation, but it changes the way I feel about it.” Do you agree with his statement? Can you think of a time you’ve found this to be true?
    

My thanks to Kristine McGuire, who shared liberally from her experiences as a former medium and ghost hunter. Those two hours on the phone with you changed the direction of the book and deepened the authenticity. Thank you for not shying away from the hard places and for using your life to set the captives free. May God bless your efforts and use you mightily.

Kathy Helmers, for believing in the project and helping with initial development.
The Widow of Saunders Creek
would never have seen daylight without your confidence in me and your negotiating abilities. Thank you.

Shannon Marchese, editor extraordinaire. I definitely benefit from our partnership more than you do! Thank you for setting the bar high and challenging me to stretch myself.

To the WaterBrook team. From editors, to sales and marketing and publicity, cover design, copyediting and proofreading. I wish I had words to tell you how important you are. You handle each book with a loving touch and single-hearted commitment. I pray that God will bless each of you as you partner with authors like me to fulfill His purposes. He gets all the glory, but please accept my sincere thanks.

Kathy Fuller, thank you for critiquing my work and reminding me that sometimes less is more.

To my family: Rusty, Cat, Michael, Stevan, and Will. You guys make me laugh and give me encouragement when I’m sure I can’t write another word. Thank you for having my back and loving me in spite of my weaknesses. I love you more than any five people in this world.