Read an excerpt from

Could her safe haven in a storm

Be a path back to her faith?

Caught in a blizzard pregnant and alone, former Amish woman Florene Schroder stumbles upon an unexpected sanctuary on an Amish farm. She never expects her rescuer to be Gil Kestler, a gentle giant from the community she left behind years ago. Forced together as they brave the storm, their wounded hearts slowly begin to warm toward one another. But as the snow starts to melt, can they conquer their fears to embrace love…or will the secrets they harbor keep them apart?

Pamela grew up in a small, dusty Texas town. Her childhood includes memories of the olden days; old-fashioned oil lamps, cooking on an authentic wood-burning stove and making popcorn over a crackling fire at her grandparents’ cabin. The cabin was later donated to The Muleshoe Heritage Center in Muleshoe Texas where it can be toured by the public.

She’d made a mistake. And she was going to die.

Florene Schroder lay on the hard, cold ground. Twisted and limp, she didn’t move. Every inch of her ached. In her dazed state, she barely had the strength to move. Moments ago, her world had been a tempest of emotions. A heated argument with her boyfriend had escalated to the point of no return.

Scrunching her eyes shut, she fought to erase the memory of the assault. Visions of his open palm smashing against her face rewound and replayed in her mind. His rage and bitter accusations echoed in her ears. In a fit of anger, he’d stopped the car and yanked her out, kicking her aside like so much trash. She’d rolled over rocks and debris, landing at the bottom of a ditch.

Limbs turning slack, she struggled to remain conscious. A shiver ripped through her. Shock receded. The arctic wind turned sharp. Flecks of ice whipped around her, driving the cold deeper.

Hovering on the brink of hypothermia, she released a gasp of agony. Her mind raced with fear. Watching the vehicle’s taillights disappear had frightened her more than the assault. Their fading glow was a stark reminder of her isolation. He’d left her in the middle of nowhere, miles from town.

Attempting to warm herself, she rolled over and curled into a tight ball. Clasping her hands together, she tucked them under her chin. She was cold. And so tired. Going to sleep, if only for a few minutes, would be so easy. If she slept, she could dream.

But if she slept, she would perish.

Adrenaline surged, and her eyes snapped open. Giving up would be fatal. Slowly, she uncurled. Clenching her teeth, she struggled to find her balance. A moan pushed past her lips. She had to get up and find shelter. Soon.

As she stood, her rebellious knees threatened to buckle. Drawing in a lungful of chilly air helped strengthen and steady her. Attempting to focus, she took one step forward, then another. Confusion wrapped around her like a blindfold, disorienting her senses. Rural highways were long, dark and endless. She didn’t know where she was, or which way to go. On a stormy night, hours might pass before anyone came through.

Shivering, Florene crossed her arms to shield herself. Her thin jacket and jeans clung to her body, frozen and stiff, as if trying to suffocate her with their icy grip. Head tipping back, she focused on the angry sky. The clouds were thick and churning, sending down a fury that seemed almost sentient, as if nature conspired to punish her. The wind thrashed harder, merging the leaden flakes into a relentless whiteout. Unforgiving and merciless, the chilling blast seemed determined to swallow her.

As her strength ebbed away, exhaustion settled deep within her bones. Faced with an impossible challenge, she found a disquieting notion slithering into her brain.

Give up.

Eyelids growing heavy, Florene closed her eyes. It would be easy to slip into the dark void. Then she would be at peace.

A gentle flutter deep inside yanked her back from the precipice. If she died, she wouldn’t be the only victim.

Crying in despair, she pressed her hands against her stomach. The revelation of her pregnancy had shaken her to the core. She might not care for herself, but what about the new life she carried? Every beat of her heart echoed with the realization that she was no longer alone; there was a soul, pure and innocent, relying on her every breath.

I have to be strong—for both of us.

A surge of determination strengthened her. Ja, she’d made mistakes. But the past was gone. Tomorrow offered the hope of forgiveness.

If she survived.

Exhausted beyond weariness, Florene peered across the highway, desperately searching for signs of human life. The frigid wasteland stretched far in every direction.

Focusing through the blur of whiteness, she struggled to make sense of the shifting landscape. Squinting hard, she glimpsed blocky shapes outlined amid a faraway gathering of trees. She couldn’t be sure, but they looked like houses. A barn and other buildings, too. And was that firelight flickering through faraway windows?

Elation filled her. Her heart pounded with a mixture of hope and desperation. She couldn’t be sure if her eyes were playing tricks, but the shapes grew more defined. The faraway farm beckoned, promising refuge from the merciless cold.

The squall gusted harder, giving her a nudge.

Breaths visible in the frosty air, Florene covered her belly, protecting the fragile life she carried from the storm’s wrath. Driven by primal instinct, she began to walk, one leaden step leading to another…