Cecelia M Chittenden

Pelicans Haven Cecelia M Chittenden

Shortly after dawn broke, James turned to Jake with tears in his eyes, "Could you hold my hand?" In an instant, Jake was on his knees beside the bed taking James' hand in both of his. "I can send for a preacher, Mr. Ravenna." "Son, I've prayed and asked for forgiveness for my sins all my life. The Lord either takes me now just as I am or not at all. Promise Jake, you'll see to my family." "I will, Sir. I promise." Jake held James' hand while still on his knees beside the bed. He stayed, his legs cramping with the strain, until he felt the hand he held relax and lighten its grip, and then with a small gasp of breath, James Ravenna passed away. The Civil War has ended and Jake Sinclair is impatient to return to New Orleans and pick up the threads of his life. His journey is halted when he stops to administer aid to an injured man, James Ravenna. Close to death, he extracts a promise from Jake to carry a letter to his wife and to look after his family. When Jake reaches the plantation, Pelicans Haven, he finds the only family left is the man's young daughter, Roseanna and her uncle, Ben Ravenna. Jake vows to keep the promises he made to a dying man but doing so will change his life forever. James Ravenna left to find his son who is missing in battle. He promised his daughter, Roseanna, they would rebuild the Ravenna Stables, home of the finest racehorses in the region. Roseanna yearns for the dream her father pledged but when she learns of his death, she is determined to fulfill the dream herself. Someone doesn't want her to, her uncle the only one she thought she could trust, but a Northern stranger resolves to keep James Ravenna's promise alive and protect Roseanna's inheritance.