Summer's Promise. Irene Brand

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      “Too bad you can’t be around all the time,”

      Summer told David.

      “Under the circumstances, I can’t stay here at night, but there is one solution. You and I could get married and all be one happy family.”

      Summer’s heartbeat sped up at the suggestion, which surprised her, but she knew David was joking as he often did.

      “I think we can manage better than that….”

      She stood up, and in the darkness she didn’t see the stupefied look on David’s face. He was surprised at himself. What would he have done if she’d taken him up on his offer?

      IRENE BRAND

      Writing has been a lifelong interest of this author, who says that she started her first novel when she was eleven years old and hasn’t finished it yet. However, since 1984, she’s published twenty-four contemporary and historical novels and three nonfiction titles with publishers such as Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, Barbour and Kregel. She started writing professionally in 1977 after she completed her master’s degree in history at Marshall University. Irene taught in secondary public schools for twenty-three years, but retired in 1989 to devote herself to writing.

      Consistent involvement in the activities of her local church has been a source of inspiration for Irene’s work. Traveling with her husband, Rod, to forty-nine of the United States, Hawaii excepted, and to thirty-two foreign countries has also inspired her writing. Irene is grateful to the many readers who have written to say that her inspiring stories and compelling portrayals of characters with strong faith have made a positive impression on their lives. You can write to her at P.O. Box 2770, Southside, WV 25187.

      Summer’s Promise

      Irene Brand

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      But grow in the grace and knowledge

       of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

       To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

      —2 Peter 3:18

      To the participants in

       Harmony’s Thursday night special Bible study

       and their continued spiritual maturity.

      Contents

      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

      Epilogue

      Letter to Reader

      Chapter One

      Carrying one small piece of luggage, Summer Weaver deplaned in Scranton, Pennsylvania, hurried out of the terminal and hailed a taxi to take her to the hospital. Four hours earlier she’d learned that her sister, Spring Brown, had been in an automobile accident and was in critical condition. The hospital’s main reception area had closed at ten o’clock, and the driver took her to the emergency entrance. In an unsteady voice, Summer asked for directions to her sister’s room.

      Summer took an elevator to the second floor and diffidently approached the nurses’ station. A few staff members worked intently at computers, but other employees leaned on the counter, chatting aimlessly. They ignored her.

      In desperation, Summer stammered, “I’m Spring Brown’s sister. Where’s her room?”

      That statement got their attention in a hurry, and a nurse rushed to her side. “Right this way,” the nurse said and hurried down the hall with Summer, suitcase rolling behind her, hustling to keep up.

      “How is she?” Summer whispered.

      The nurse shook her head. Her expression was grave. “Not good. No one knows what caused the accident but the car plunged over a steep embankment. They had to use Jaws of Life to remove your sister and her husband from the wreckage.”

      When she entered the room, Summer couldn’t believe the patient surrounded by medical equipment and tubes was her sister. The woman’s head was bandaged until only the middle portion of her pain-marked, ashen face was visible, but a few tendrils of auburn hair, characteristic of the Weaver sisters, had escaped the bandages and identified the woman as Spring Brown. Her eyes were closed.

      “She has severe head bruises and abrasions, as well as internal injuries,” the nurse explained as she checked the equipment. Spring’s breathing was uneven and labored.

      “Is she going to get better?”

      The nurse shook her head. “Not unless God sees fit to heal her. We’ve done all we can do. Perhaps you’d better pray and ask God for a miracle,” the nurse said, patting Summer’s shoulder as she left the room.

      Summer stumbled to the nearest chair. If that’s what it took to save her sister, she wouldn’t be any help at all, for Summer had never asked God for anything.

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