Morning Sky by Judith Miller and published by Bethany House (2006) is the second book in the Freedom’s Path series. It is a novel filled with romance and suspense and more importantly, personal growth in the Lord. This novel is best read by women, age eighteen and above. It features a historical time and place, while still remaining fictional.
The novel, set in the late 1800’s, is about the struggles and growth in two towns in western Kansas–Nicodemus and Hill City. Nicodemus was predominately settled by African Americans, and Hill City by Caucasians.
The Harbans, an African American family, live in Nicodemus. The family is headed by Ezekiel. He has three daughters, Jerena, the oldest, and twins Truth and Grace. Their mother, Jenny, has passed away. Truth is engaged to Moses Wyman who runs a newspaper in town. Jerena’s boyfriend, Thomas Grayson, is off fighting in Indian Territory. She is concerned because she has not heard from him in a long time.
As Morning Sky begins, Aunt Lilly, Jenny’s half-sister has come from New Orleans to relocate to Nicodemus. Ezekiel is not happy about this because Aunt Lilly, in her 50’s, does not have a good reputation. She has been known as a schemer, trying to take advantage of others. She boasts about all her great qualities and abilities, but she has made unwise choices in the past. The Harbans are Christians and Aunt Lilly is not. Ezekiel needs improvement on his attitude, and he learns throughout the story to be more kind and patient.
The Boyles, a Hill City family, have employed Truth to help with the housework and to attend to Mrs. Boyle, the lady of the house who is often ill. Her husband, Dr. Boyle, has a successful practice in town. Both of their sons are away at school, and Mrs. Boyle has recently sent her daughter, Macia, to the Rutledge Academy of Arts and Languages in New York. Mrs. Boyle learned about the school in The Ladies’ Treasury, a magazine.
Macia is not at all happy to be there. Mrs. Rutledge, the matron of the school, is a very boring instructor, and Mr. Marvin Laird, a leader at the school, is strange and controlling. Lately, Macia has been feeling extremely ill and tired. The school has written to Dr. Boyle, alerting him to his daughter’s condition.
The Boyle family decide to send Truth to New York to bring Macia home. While Truth is there, strange things happen. Macia is rarely awake. Truth begins to suspect something sinister is going on and she’s right. Eventually, she enlists the help of Silas, a worker at the school, to sneak Macia and herself onto the train for home.
Meanwhile, Lilly has gone to work for a banker and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. They have three children, and Lilly’s job is to care for the house and the children and to cook the meals. She has no interest in these chores, but decides this situation is preferable to living with Ezekiel. She receives a letter from Bently Cummings whom she used to work for in New Orleans. He accuses her of crimes she did not commit and says he will come after her.
Lilly is desperate for money to skip town and decides to break into the Nelson’s safe. As she is in the act of doing this, Jerena catches her and insists she put it all back. She explains to Lilly that God will forgive her and she can have a new life in Him. Lilly turns this offer down, taking the money stashed in her bag and running out the front door. She is hit by a spooked horse running past the house. She passes out, and Dr. Boyle is called. Jerena returns all of the Nelsons’ money and jewels before they find out what has happened.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but eventually, Aunt Lilly sees the light and begins to follow the Lord. All the situations in the story are resolved and the ending is happy. I found all the different plots in this story to be interesting and enjoyable to follow. The main characters have seen how the Lord has cared for and protected them, filling their lives with joy in Him.
Patsy Ledbetter says she has many titles, but her favorite is being mom to her five children. Her two daughters, two sons and one son-in-law and one-daughter-in-law are her joy. A teacher with forty years experience Patsy has taught children of all ages and also special needs children and adults. She writes occasionally for a local newspaper and performs in church theater productions on a regular basis. Her husband is the church choir and orchestra director. They have been married for more than 35 years. She says, “It is my desire to bring honor and glory to my Lord Jesus in every area where He has allowed me to minister.”
