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HAND QUILTED WITH LOVE
 named
FAVORITE BOOK OF  2002  
by the Heartsong readers.
Thank you, Readers.
 HAND QUILTED
WITH LOVE
by Joyce Livingston
HqwL

Release # 482          
To order, phone 1-800-487-8270
Or mail a check for $4 (which includes postage) to:
Good Life Treasures, Lake Road K-17, Council Grove, KS 66846
"Why would I want to move to Alaska?"

That's the question Glorianna Kane asks upon learning of an unexpected inheritance. Soon, though, sensing an opportunity to leave behind some bad memories, the widow takes the chance to forge a new life for herself and her son. But her plan backfires when she finds she cannot escape the past but must learn to deal with it--miles away from home.

Alaskan seaplane pilot Trapper Silverbow likes his life just the way it is. Flying, fishing, and doing part-time mission work fill his days. He accounts to no one but himself and God. A previous relationship has convinced Trapper that he doesn't want to pursue a wife or children.....not even the new widow in town or her son--who could use a male influence in his life.

But, is Trapper's way God's way?

Read an excerpt from Chapter 1 below:
Chapter 1

Glorianna stood on the dock in Vancouver, waiting, feeling like a stranger in a foreign land, her luggage piled at her feet. She stretched, then splayed her fingers across the small of her back, pressing hard. Why had the attorney arranged for her to meet her escort here, of all places? On a dock? She checked the address on the paper again, the fourth time since the taxi she’d taken from the Vancouver airport had dropped her off there.
Yep, this is it, she assured herself confidently as she folded the paper and slipped it back into her pocket. He said my aunt’s best friend, Emily Timberwolf, would be in Vancouver on business and would be happy to escort me to Juneau. We were to meet by the bronze statue of Vancouver’s famous Captain George Vancouver. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she smiled up at the likeness of the courageous Captain.
    She checked her watch. Ten minutes of eleven. She was early. They weren’t to meet until eleven. Why wasn’t there some place she could sit down? Her shoes pinched her feet and her head was killing her. She considered sitting on her suitcases but they looked none too stable.
    “You Glorianna?” a male voice asked from somewhere behind her. “Glorianna Kane?”
    She spun around to find a bearded, dark-haired, blue-eyed stranger clad in faded jeans and red plaid shirt walking toward her, and his presence unnerved her. Her impulse was to turn and run, but she stood her ground. “Y--yes, I’m Glorianna. How did you know my name?”
    The tips of his handlebar mustache tilted upward as he gave her a broad grin and stuck out his hand. “I’m Trapper. Trapper Timberwolf,” he told her as he pulled off his hat.
The man towered over her. Timidly, she accepted his hand then quickly backed away.
“My mom wasn’t feeling too good, and since I was coming down to Vancouver on business anyway, I offered to take you back to Juneau,” he explained as he eyed first her, then her pile of luggage. “From the look on your face I think you’re disappointed I’m not my mom, right?”
    “We--well, now that you mention it—“ she stammered, her voice unsteady and wavering. He was right. She was definitely disappointed it wasn’t Emily Timberwolf, and somewhat afraid. “Y--yes, I am. I mean—well--I was looking forward to meeting your mother.”
    “And you’re not sure I’m who I say I am?”
His friendly smile eased her fears a bit, but she still didn’t trust him.
“It’s not that—exactly—“
    His well-tanned hand reached into his back pocket and retrieved his wallet. “Mom was sure you’d feel that way when I showed up instead of her. She told me I’d better show you some identification. I guess a woman can’t be too careful these days.” He presented her with his Alaskan driver’s license which bore the name Trapper Timberwolf, and a picture that hardly did justice to his handsome features. “Satisfied?”
    She offered a weak nod. “Sorta.”
    A brow lifted as he shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you folks in the lower forty-eight are afraid to trust any stranger. Gettin’ to be like that up here too.”
    “Yes,” she agreed, “it pays to be cautious.”
He fished around in his wallet and proudly displayed a picture of him with his arm wrapped around an attractive elderly woman. “Here, this ought to do it. Mom said you’d feel better about going with me if I made sure you realized I was her son.”
She reached for the picture, her eyes still riveted on the stranger with the intriguing clear blue eyes. A welcome wave of relief swept over her as she immediately recognized Emily Timberwolf from the picture the attorney had sent to her.
“Me and my mom,” he said proudly as his finger tapped the photograph. His hands were long and slender, with well-trimmed nails, but you could tell they’d done their share of honest work.
She left his compelling eyes and focused on the picture. “Yes, I see that now. You do resemble her.”
“I’m harmless, Mrs. Kane. Honest I am.” He slipped the picture back into its place, then the wallet into his back pocket. “But, if you’re hesitant about riding with me there are some commercial carriers around. We can probably get you on one of those. I promise I won’t be offended, but my mom’ll sure be upset with me if I don’t bring you back to her like I promised. Your call.”
She stared at the man. He appeared to be who he said he was. But what did that mean? Just because he was Emily Timberwolf’s son didn’t mean he wasn’t an axe murderer. What did she know about any of the Timberwolfs? Only what a voice on the phone had told her. Yet, here she was. Stranded on a dock in Vancouver, with no idea what to do next.
“You wanna call my mom? I’ve got my cell phone right here in my pocket.”
She couldn’t stand dawdling on the dock all day. She had to make a decision and she certainly didn’t want to appear ungrateful if he was on the up and up. Oh, God, be with me, please. “N--no, I think I’d better go with you, since that’s what your mother expected,” she said feebly, still not totally convinced she was doing the right thing.
His responsive grin was reassuring. “My mama raised me to be a gentleman. You’re in good hands.”
She hoped he was telling the truth. If he wasn’t--. She shuttered to think of what sort of predicament she might be getting herself into. She’d trusted her husband and look where it’d gotten her. Even after living in the same house and sharing the same bed, she hadn’t really known him, or what he was capable of doing to their family.
“Hungry? My mom packed a little something for us to munch on,” he told her as he grabbed up her bags and they began to move forward. “Some crackers, a jar of cheese spread, some chips, a couple of pieces of fruit. That sort of stuff. We’ll eat it on the plane.”
    “Plane? I thought we were going by train, or maybe the bus.” She stopped abruptly, her eyes rounded with fright. “It’s not a small plane, is it? I’m terrified of small planes!”
    He threw back his head and let loose a hardy laugh. “Train? You thought we were going on a train or a bus? Lady, don’t you know the only way you can get into Juneau is by plane or ship?”
    “No,” she confessed with a deep sigh, feeling utterly stupid. “I didn’t know. I just assumed—since it’s the state capitol—“
    “Well, you’re in good company,” he said as he motioned her along. “Most people don’t know that. Really, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Actually, being isolated from the rest of the world is kinda nice.”
    For Eskimos, she grumbled under her breath as she allowed herself to be catapulted along the dock while trying to keep up with his long strides. What have I gotten myself into? Coming to this place, and without any business experience? I must have been crazy to even consider this whole fiasco!
    “You’ll love it,” he said with a wink. “Or you’ll hate it. It’s up to you.”
    She shifted the strap on her shoulder bag. “How far is it to the airport?”
    “Airport?”
    “Yes, where your plane is.”
    A vigorous laugh boomed from somewhere deep in his broad chest.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, hating jokes at her expense, especially when she didn’t understand them.
“Lady, my plane is right there.” He motioned to the end of the big dock just ahead of them. “The blue one with the eagle painted on the side. Isn’t she a beauty?”
    Glorianna gasped as her palm rose to flatten itself against her chest. “That’s a sea plane!”
    “Sure is. What did you expect? A DC-9?”
    “I’m afraid—“
    He gave her a mimicking frown. “Of what? That little plane’s safer than a bicycle, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
    She gulped hard, attempting to swallow the fear that welled up in her throat as they moved forward and he opened the door on the little seaplane. Then frozen to the spot, she watched as he carefully placed her suitcases inside the compartment.
    He held out a hand. “You’re next!”
    With eyes heavenward she breathed a prayer. Oh, God, don’t desert me now! I’ve got to do this. I have to be brave. There’s no other choice. Gripping his hand tightly she cautiously placed her foot on the little step. “Have--have you been flying long?”
    A tilted grin crossed his weathered face as he squinted against the sun’s rays and helped her inside. “Want to see my pilot’s license too?”
    She felt a sudden flush rise to her cheeks. “No, it’s just—“
    “Just that you’re scared to death?” he asked with the lift of a brow. “You’re not only afraid of me, you’re afraid to fly with me!”
    She nodded her head toward the pontoons on the sleek blue plane. “Oh, no. Not you. I’m afraid to fly with anyone in one of these—“
    He lifted both palms toward her. “Okay, lady, I’ll be the first to admit seaplanes aren’t for everyone. I’ve had full-grown men break out in a cold sweat at the thought. But trust me. I know how to fly these things and I’m a good pilot. You’ll be perfectly safe.”
    Chagrined, she gulped and accepted the foolishness of her fears and made every attempt to relax. The dock was lined with seaplanes. Dozens of them. Apparently up here in the North Country they were as common as SUV’s were in Kansas. She was headed for Alaska now. Things were different up here. If she was to fit into her new life she’d have to be ready to make adjustments. And it looked as though riding in a seaplane was one of them. With an uplifted chin and willing herself to sound courageous, she slipped into the seat and fastened the
Mention son here. seatbelt before white-knuckling the armrest. “I do trust you, Mr. Timberwolf. I’m—I’m sure you’re a very good pilot.”
    He climbed in through the little door behind her and slammed it securely, placing his Stetson on a box before crossing over and sliding into the pilot’s seat. “Then, we’re off!” He snapped his own seat belt in place. “We’ve got quite a few miles ahead of us.” He grinned. “And by the way, call me Trapper.”
    Glorianna’s eyelids pressed tightly together and her heart pounded wildly as he revved up the engine. When he seemed satisfied with the pitch, she felt the little plane inch away from the dock and begin to pick up speed and she let out a gasp then held her breath.
    “Aren’t you gonna watch us take off? It’s pretty exciting.”
    She wished he hadn’t asked. They’d barely left the dock and already her stomach was churning. “No, I’d prefer not to.” One hand weakly flattened against her abdomen. The anti-acid tablet she’d taken hadn’t helped at all. “I’d rather not.”
    “Well, you’ll get a second chance when we refuel,” he said matter-of-factly. “In Ketchikan.”
    She opened her eyes and swallowed hard, wishing she’d brought the motion sickness pills her mother had suggested for her flight from Kansas. But she’d opted to leave them behind. Well, too late now. Probably wouldn’t have been a good idea anyway. Flying on big planes had never bothered her much, but flying on seaplanes was a whole other category. Something she hadn’t anticipated doing.
    “You sure you should be here? I mean, taking over your aunt’s quilt shop? It’s a big responsibility,” he asked over the engine’s drone as he gave her a sideways glance. “You okay? You look a little green.”
    She wished he’d look away and leave her alone. She was beginning to feel a bit queasy. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken those anti-acid pills on an empty stomach. “I’m fine,” she lied, wishing she were anywhere but in that plane. “And, believe it or not, I do know how to quilt. Even won a blue ribbon or two,” she bragged to impress the man and to remind herself she wasn’t a complete novice when it came to quilting.
    “Like I was saying, I love Alaska, wouldn’t live anywhere else. But a woman from Kansas moving here with a young son? I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Alaska is different from the lower forty-eight. Most sourdoughs can’t make it through the first year. They—“
    She opened her eyes and watched the clouds disappear as the tip of the plane nosed toward the heavens and her stomach sank into her shoes. “Sou--sourdoughs?”
    “Yeah,” he responded with a chuckle. “That’s what they used to called the people who came to Alaska to seek their fortune. They soured on Alaska their first winter but couldn’t leave because their dough was all gone. Happens to folks nowadays, too, maybe it’ll happen to you.”