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Hope's Design (The Daughters of Riverton, Book 2)

By Dawn Kinzer

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Chapter One

Riverton, Wisconsin
June 1904

Next stop, Martindale.”

The end of her long journey—almost. The railroad didn’t reach her final destination—the small country town of Riverton, Wisconsin. From what she remembered, with a population of over two thousand, Martindale was four times the size of Riverton.

Hope Andrews peered out the window at people on the platform saying farewell to passengers boarding the train. An elderly couple wiped tears from their eyes after giving a young man one last hug. He stiffened, as though embar-rassed by their outward signs of affection, then softened and embraced the gray-haired lady before planting a kiss on her cheek.

One woman, wearing a faded dress and holding the hand of a little boy dressed in stained trousers, seemed to search the car’s windows for a passenger. Her face lit up in recognition, and she waved frantically. Was she saying good-bye to a husband leaving home in search of work?

That man—talking to a porter. Despite the thick, hot air in the train car, Hope shivered. Similar build, hair color, and taste in clothes, but it couldn’t be Henry. No one would divulge she’d traveled to the Midwest.

The stranger turned his face, giving Hope full view. Her shoulders relaxed, and she sighed in relief. Shame on her for letting even an imaginary Henry Shelton affect her—their relationship had been over for months.

A whistle blew, and the train inched forward. Cornfields and grazing cows would fill a portion of her scenery for the next year, maybe two. Quite a change from New York City, but for now, what alternative did she have? Because of Henry, she’d given up her home, her friends, and possibly any chance of becoming a real fashion designer.

Hope fingered the sketch pad in her lap. Discouraged by the rejections she’d received after submitting several dress designs, her parents had tried to convince her that God had given her creative abilities for a purpose beyond what she could even imagine. Hope desperately wanted to believe that possibility, but sometimes her faith waned. Her parents’ enthusiasm came from experience. God always used them in big ways, no matter where they ventured. Somehow they knew the right things to say and do—as though the Almighty whispered instructions whenever they needed them. As much as she wanted to be like them, Hope didn’t even come close.

A woman looking not much older than Hope and carrying a crying baby dropped onto the bench seat facing her. An off-key duet ensued with the wailing child as a little girl about four years old with brunette curls and soft brown eyes settled next to the lady, chattering nonsense and spitting one question after another.

“Hush, Marcie.” The mother patted her daughter’s thigh. With weary eyes and hair escaping pins, the poor woman appeared frazzled. She threw an apologetic glance in Hope’s direction. “I’m sorry the baby’s making a fuss. The train’s movement should lull him to sleep.”

It couldn’t be easy traveling alone with two little ones. Hope offered an understanding smile. “Are you traveling to visit someone?”

“No, we’re on our way home. We’ll be getting off in Martindale.” The baby gave a few last whimpers, then quieted. “We take the train every two weeks to visit my mother, clean her house, make sure she’s eating properly. My husband and I keep trying to convince her to live with us, but she refuses to leave her home. It’s difficult taking the children, but she looks forward to seeing them, so I do the best I can.”

“You’re a kind daughter to be so thoughtful.” Hope, wanting to be like her own mother, strived to help others, but too often she acted on impulse and the results were less than positive.

At twenty-six, Hope’s friends were already married and mothers themselves. They found it difficult to understand Hope wanting anything more than a family and Henry. She couldn’t blame them—they didn’t know the real man be-neath the handsome, charming exterior.

Henry managed his temper in social settings where lack of control could damage his career. But away from observing eyes, he found various ways to punish her for displeasing him. Even now, thousands of miles away from him, her stomach churned at the memories. Hope refused to stay associated with a man who lacked genuine kindness, let alone become married to him. She’d broken their engagement, knowing she risked facing not only his rage, but public judgment.
If just seeing Henry’s likeness set her heart pounding like a horse racing down the track at the Kentucky Derby, maybe she hadn’t left the painful situation behind after all.

Though he claimed to love her, Henry had been unsupportive of her aspirations. He thought it foolish for her to think she could ever see her designs on the front cover of The Delineator or women using Butterick patterns to make the clothes at home for themselves.

Out of concern for her well-being, her wise and intuitive parents had pressed Hope to tell them what had gone wrong in the relationship. When she admitted she’d begun to witness mean and controlling behaviors, they believed her—a relief since Henry seemed a continual presence wherever she traveled in the city. He never did anything to cause trouble—he was too smart for that. But because of his unwillingness to leave her alone, Hope’s parents insisted she leave New York while they were out of the country. Although Hope refused to believe Henry would physically harm her again, they feared for her safety, and Hope knew her father wouldn’t focus on his job at the Panama Canal if consumed with worry.

Ashamed she’d fallen in love with someone cruel and untrustworthy, Hope would have kept Henry’s true nature to herself. But her closest friend, Charlotte, confused over the broken engagement, had insisted that Hope spend a night with her so they could talk into the early morning, just like when they were young girls.

Hope tried to discreetly keep the bruises on her arms covered, but while dressing for bed that evening, Charlotte had spotted darkened areas. Mortified, Hope had crumpled into a teary mess. Then, stumbling over her words, she’d explained the ugly marks Henry had inflicted when she returned his emerald ring, and she begged Charlotte to keep her secret. She’d agreed, and Hope gained another ally.

There had only been one other physical encounter with Henry. He’d arrived at her home unexpectedly one evening while her parents were out, acting despondent over losing in court earlier that day. After reminding him that she wasn’t alone—house staff still milled about—she’d allowed him inside. Hope carried an emotional interest in the eight-month-old case involving a child’s death, and she believed Henry just needed a chance to talk about the disappointing verdict.

But the conversation quickly turned, and he begged her to accept his ring and renew their engagement. When she continued to refuse, he grew frustrated and slapped her. The horrified look on his face before he ran out the door had convinced Hope that Henry had never intended to harm her, but she couldn’t trust it wouldn’t happen again.

When Hope’s father accepted the position in Panama, Charlotte tried to persuade Hope to stay with her family. She and her parents had considered the option. But, following much discussion and prayer, Hope agreed to put some distance between her and Henry, and Charlotte promised to keep Hope’s whereabouts a secret.

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