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Back The Californians Save as PDF
Chapters (241)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Whatever Tomorrow Brings
  6. Copyright Page
  7. Dedication
  8. The Taylor and Donovan Families1871
  9. one
  10. two
  11. three
  12. four
  13. five
  14. six
  15. seven
  16. eight
  17. nine
  18. ten
  19. eleven
  20. twelve
  21. thirteen
  22. fourteen
  23. fifteen
  24. sixteen
  25. seventeen
  26. eighteen
  27. nineteen
  28. twenty
  29. twenty-one
  30. twenty-two
  31. twenty-three
  32. twenty-four
  33. twenty-five
  34. twenty-six
  35. twenty-seven
  36. twenty-eight
  37. twenty-nine
  38. thirty
  39. thirty-one
  40. thirty-two
  41. thirty-three
  42. thirty-four
  43. thirty-five
  44. thirty-six
  45. thirty-seven
  46. thirty-eight
  47. thirty-nine
  48. forty
  49. forty-one
  50. forty-two
  51. forty-three
  52. forty-four
  53. forty-five
  54. forty-six
  55. forty-seven
  56. forty-eight
  57. forty-nine
  58. fifty
  59. fifty-one
  60. fifty-two
  61. fifty-three
  62. fifty-four
  63. fifty-five
  64. fifty-six
  65. fifty-seven
  66. fifty-eight
  67. fifty-nine
  68. sixty
  69. sixty-one
  70. epilogue
  71. Dedication
  72. The Taylor and Donovan Families—1871
  73. Prologue
  74. one
  75. two
  76. three
  77. four
  78. five
  79. six
  80. seven
  81. eight
  82. nine
  83. ten
  84. eleven
  85. twelve
  86. thirteen
  87. fourteen
  88. fifteen
  89. sixteen
  90. seventeen
  91. eighteen
  92. nineteen
  93. twenty
  94. twenty-one
  95. twenty-two
  96. twenty-three
  97. twenty-four
  98. twenty-five
  99. twenty-six
  100. twenty-seven
  101. twenty-eight
  102. twenty-nine
  103. thirty
  104. thirty-one
  105. thirty-two
  106. thirty-three
  107. thirty-four
  108. thirty-five
  109. thirty-six
  110. thirty-seven
  111. thirty-eight
  112. thirty-nine
  113. forty
  114. forty-one
  115. forty-two
  116. forty-three
  117. forty-four
  118. epilogue
  119. Sean Donovan
  120. Copyright Page
  121. Dedication
  122. Visalia and Santa Rosa Families—1876
  123. one
  124. two
  125. three
  126. four
  127. five
  128. six
  129. seven
  130. eight
  131. nine
  132. ten
  133. eleven
  134. twelve
  135. thirteen
  136. fourteen
  137. fifteen
  138. sixteen
  139. seventeen
  140. eighteen
  141. nineteen
  142. twenty
  143. twenty-one
  144. twenty-two
  145. twenty-three
  146. twenty-four
  147. twenty-five
  148. twenty-six
  149. twenty-seven
  150. twenty-eight
  151. twenty-nine
  152. thirty
  153. thirty-one
  154. thirty-two
  155. thirty-three
  156. thirty-four
  157. thirty-five
  158. thirty-six
  159. thirty-seven
  160. thirty-eight
  161. thirty-nine
  162. forty
  163. forty-one
  164. forty-two
  165. forty-three
  166. forty-four
  167. forty-five
  168. forty-six
  169. forty-seven
  170. forty-eight
  171. forty-nine
  172. fifty
  173. fifty-one
  174. Epilogue
  175. Dedication
  176. Willits and Santa Rosa Families—1881
  177. Dear Marcail
  178. prologue
  179. one
  180. two
  181. three
  182. four
  183. five
  184. six
  185. seven
  186. eight
  187. nine
  188. ten
  189. eleven
  190. twelve
  191. thirteen
  192. fourteen
  193. fifteen
  194. sixteen
  195. seventeen
  196. eighteen
  197. nineteen
  198. twenty
  199. twenty-one
  200. twenty-two
  201. twenty-three
  202. twenty-four
  203. twenty-five
  204. twenty-six
  205. twenty-seven
  206. twenty-eight
  207. twenty-nine
  208. thirty
  209. thirty-one
  210. thirty-two
  211. thirty-three
  212. thirty-four
  213. thirty-five
  214. thirty-six
  215. thirty-seven
  216. thirty-eight
  217. thirty-nine
  218. forty
  219. forty-one
  220. forty-two
  221. forty-three
  222. forty-four
  223. forty-five
  224. forty-six
  225. forty-seven
  226. forty-eight
  227. forty-nine
  228. fifty
  229. fifty-one
  230. fifty-two
  231. fifty-three
  232. fifty-four
  233. fifty-five
  234. fifty-six
  235. fifty-seven
  236. fifty-eight
  237. fifty-nine
  238. sixty
  239. epilogue
  240. Books by Lori Wick
  241. About the Author

She took a place at the kitchen table, her hands clenching in her lap when the knock sounded. Alex answered the summons, and both were surprised to see Sydney standing alone on the step.

Marcails heart broke at the sight of him, and she watched as he looked up at Alex and then peered tentatively past him to get a better view of her. His eyes were huge and questioning in his pale face, and Marcail wasnt sure what he expected to see. A moment later, he covered his face with his hands and burst into tears.

forty-seven

Marcail said nothing as Alex put a hand to Sydneys back and guided him to a kitchen chair. He pressed a clean handkerchief into the boys hands and then sat down in the chair beside him.

Marcail, watching from her place across the table, was not sure what to say. She knew only that her heart was breaking with love for this little boy. She understood that to reject him right now would be devastating, but neither was she going to accept his standard line about it not happening again.

After some minutes, Sydney began to contain himself and look at the adults at the table.

Sydney, Marcail spoke, sounding very much like a teacher. Does your grandmother know you are here?

Yes, Mrs. Montgomery, he sniffed.

Marcail nodded. Shes not waiting out in the carriage, is she?

No, maam.

Again Marcail nodded. Then why dont you tell us why you came.

This time it was Sydneys turn to nod, and suddenly he looked terrified all over again. His words were halting, but understandable.

I cameto tell youIm sorry he stopped as though out of breath, and Marcail spoke.

I forgive you, Sydney.

Sydney nodded again but didnt look at all relieved. Can I ask you a question? He paused, glancing between both adults, whose expressions were open and patient, before settling terrified eyes on his beloved teacher.

Will I go to hell for what Ive done? he burst out, his face crumbling, tears barely held in check.

Come here, Sydney, Marcail beckoned compassionately and shifted in her chair so she could take him in her arms. It was too much for the 11-year-old, and his tears came in a torrent. Another five minutes passed before he was able to breathe normally. Both Alex and Marcail took that time to pray silently.

Finally raising a tear-stained face, Sydney asked, Will I, Mrs. Montgomery? Will I go to hell for what Ive done?

Marcail hugged him close once again. She stroked the hair from his damp little forehead and began to speak softly.

What you did was very wrong, Sydney. I think you understand that.

Sydneys head came away from his teachers shoulder. It was a sin, a big sin?

Yes, you did sin. We all sin.

Not you, Sydney spoke vehemently.

Yes, I do, Sydney. The Bible says that all sin, she told him gently.