Scattered Petals (35 page)
A bird twittered; the breeze rustled the oak’s leaves, and a few yards away Charcoal and Dancer whickered. Though Priscilla was dimly aware of the sounds, nothing mattered but the love that shone from Zach’s eyes. It dissolved the lump in her throat and sent warmth surging through her. He was right. Everything that had happened had been part of God’s plan. The losses she had endured had made her stronger. Her suffering had given her the ability to help others. And through it all, God had been guiding her. This was where she was meant to be. This was the man he meant for her.
“Oh, Zach, I love you so much.” Priscilla placed her hands on his cheeks, savoring the feel of his skin, reveling in the smile that lit his face. “I never dreamt I could be so happy.” She swallowed deeply, then touched the cleft in his chin, smiling as she said, “Isn’t it amazing the way it all turned out? When I left Boston, I was looking for adventure. I never thought I’d find love.”
Zach was grinning as he pulled her closer. “Now we both know the truth. Love is an adventure.” He lowered his lips to hers and murmured, “Isn’t it grand?”
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Priscilla and Zach’s story. In some respects, it was the most difficult book I’ve written. Although I have always believed in the healing power of love, never before have I written a story where the characters needed so much healing. And though I normally enjoy research, the only way to describe some of the reading I did for
Scattered Petals
is “painful.” I cringed and cried as I read other women’s accounts of rape and its aftermath, but I knew that I had to learn what they’d experienced if I was to make Priscilla come to life. I hope that I succeeded.
One of my greatest pleasures as a writer is hearing from readers, and so I encourage you to visit my website (
www.amandacabot.com
). It includes an email link, my snail mail address, and information about my books. It also has discussion guides for readers’ groups. Please let me know what you’ve enjoyed about my stories and what you’d like to see next.
If this is your first Texas Dreams book, I hope you’ll read
Paper Roses
, the first of the trilogy, which tells the story of Sarah’s arrival in Ladreville. Though you know that she and Clay have a happy ending, I assure you it wasn’t always certain. And if you’re wondering what happens to Lawrence, you’ll find the answer in the third Texas Dreams book, which will be available in March 2011.
Until we meet again, I send you blessings and remind you of Joshua 1:9. “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Amanda Cabot