ࡱ> vxuQ@ Nbjbj͘ "xF****D2+\ 9+<-<-<-<-...8888888$9RM<82..228<-<-86662<-<-862860666<-+ o7 Z*3688T80 96<T5f<6<6D..6/|0...88"J$6 J$I DEAL IN HOPE  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author" http://IDealinHope.com/author Carolyn R. Scheidies 415 E 15th Kearney, NE 68847-6959 (308) 234-3849 Author's Choice Reviews  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/bookreviews" http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDealInHope/post?postID=LCy5sdRYUgvobdJdVsXOItBjuFV4auGwm4xkeA_Xwzc3MkvzAdHZHCKvHv1TMUocbyTfat4wZFOHLzX59QeEUmXhWOs" crscheidies@mail2faith.com Subject Line: Hope From hopelessness and despair to healing and hope. "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24 NKJV . March 2007 Vol. 29 Feel free to pass this newsletter on to those who might be interested. But PLEASE always include the entire newsletter. Thanks. WHATS GOING ON: The ice and snow made going out not a fun thing. In fact, when my talk for the Kearney Womens Club was canceled February 13th, I breathed a sigh of relief that none of us would have the opportunity to go down on the ice. I did have a book signing at the local Hastings Bookstore in February that I enjoyed very much primarily because a friend since college, a missionary, was back on furlough and sat with me the whole time. We began catching up. What I havent enjoyed in February was getting everything ready to do taxes. I save my receipts in an orderly fashion, but invariably, something goes missing. Oh the frustration. In fact, the most stressful times of my year are doing my sales tax in January and getting things in order for H & R Block to do their thing with our Federal and State taxes. I enter March with the sense of freedom I feel each year once I know taxes preparation is safely behind me. I also enter March anticipating my oldest grandsons birthday. CRS WRITING? I now have a domain name that makes remembering my web sites much easier. I DEAL IN HOPE is simple  HYPERLINK "http://IDealinHope.com/author" http://IDealinHope.com/author. Authors Choice Reviews isnt much more difficult  HYPERLINK "http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews" http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews. You can catch articles Im writing at Associated Content.  HYPERLINK "http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/51152/carolyn_r_scheidies.html" http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/51152/carolyn_r_scheidies.html You can check out this web site throughout the month for new articles. Or you can sign up to receive notice of new articles published. For those of you who speak or are afraid to speak, check out my latest brochure SPEAKING THROUGH FEAR.  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/forwriters.html" http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/forwriters.html. Signing Schedule March 17Home Book Party Reading/Signing April 16UNK Feature Articles April 21Hastings Entertainment GIBook Signing July 7-Trails & Rails Museum Aug. 12--Hastings Museum Nebraska Creations Fair book signing Aug/Sept (date pending)Waldenbook signing with Stephanie Whitson =========================== SCHEIDIES WRITES: Articles/Stories VALENTINE BRIDE By Carolyn R. Scheidies 2005, 07 Carolyn R. Scheidies All Rights Reserved CHAPTER TWO "Tom, what happened?" Sara stared up at the large man who'd been a friend and companion to her father. "They're coming, don't fool yourself. The Federals will be here before the month is out." "Jed said there's still a chance. How can you know?" Tom shook his head. "The young gentleman tends to see what he wants to see." For a second, amusement danced in his eyes before fading, leaving Sara to wonder what amused him. "He said they wiped out the cavalry unit." "Was only a handful of scouts. Bumbled right into Massa's," he used the term deliberately, "home guard. Cut the Federals down, but not before the Grays got their own back." He spoke with a grim satisfaction that made Sara shudder. "Despite what the young Master says, that meadow was littered with Gray as well as Blue uniforms." There was much about Tom she didn't know or understand. She did know she trusted him, at least her father always had. Two days later, Mattee answered the knock at the door. "Miss Sara," she screamed. "Sara." "Mattee, what's wrong?" Sara hurried toward her, only to stop at the sight of the dusty blue uniformed officer at the door. Absently, she tucked a strand of her auburn locks behind her ear and nervously smoothed the skirt of her forest green afternoon gown. Gathering her scattered wits, she lifted her chin. "And what may I do for you, Sir?" His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the well appointed house. "Ma'am," his voice grated, "My men and I need provisions, and I need some information." "I'll do what I can to help." The man's eyes shifted to Mattee standing behind Sara. "You're free now." Mattee sputtered. "Of course I'm free. I always have been." The man actually stepped back, and his eyes flickered from Sara to her dark complexioned companion in confusion. A giggle escaped Sara's lips. "Sir, my father never kept slaves. We're a free plantation. I hope you will keep that in mind." Her eyes challenged him. "In South Carolina?" "My father and many other southerners never accepted slavery." "I see. If that's so, why the concerted efforts to stop us." "I haven't done anything." "Are you saying you know nothing about the assault on our cavalry scouting party the other day?" His lips twisted cynically, and he peered at her as though expecting an army of confederates to jump out at him from behind her skirts. "Of course I heard about it. You're invading their home territory. Don't you think we haven't heard stories about the devastation the Major-General leaves in his wake? My neighbors are terrified. They're defending their homes, their land." "Ma'am, they bushwhacked the men. That's not exactly what I call a fair fight. It's murder plain, and I have orders to retaliate." Eyes sparking, Sara demanded, "Precisely what does that mean for me?" The officer eyed the vaulted ceilings, the lush curtains, the thick pile Aubusson carpet. "Make a nice fire." Fear warred with her fury, but before she could find the right words, Mattee stepped in front of her. "You can't do that," Mattee cried. "These be good folk." Again that cynical smile. "You have them well trained, I give you that. Can't believe some of these darkies actually lay down their lives for their owners. Incredible." "I told you, I'm no slave." Hands on her hips, Mattee stared at the officer until he shifted his gaze. "Now, you tell me any slave going to meet your gaze head on, Mister officer. But I do it, because I'm no slave, and you listen here. Miss Sara here is my friend, and I taint going to let you or anyone else threaten her." The officer slapped his gloves against his palm. "Sorry, but that's my orders. When there's resistance, we take action." "I thought the Union could do better than make war on women," Sara said, as the horror of the situation threatened to strangle her. Her home. They meant to burn her home! "What am I to do?" The officer shrugged. His eyes softened momentarily. "I'm sorry. Orders, Ma'am." Turning his head, he barked. "Search the place. Bring any men here to me." "There's only Tom," Sara said, with as much calm as she could muster. "Mattee's father and young Daniel." "The rest of the darkies run away, huh. So much for the freedom you gave them." "Listen, here, Mista man." Mattee shook her finger at the officer. "Sara's pa sent them away afor he died. Wasn't safe for them here?" "What about you, girl?" "I won't leave Miss Sara." Frowning, the officer demanded. "Bring me the keys." Striding into the room, he motioned for his minions to follow. The blue uniformed soldiers flew about the place, opening drawers and boxes and cupboards with insolent abandoned while Mattee and Sara stood by watching in disbelief. The officer had trouble with the keys. Biting her lip, Sara said, "If I may." With as much dignity as she could muster, she opened door after door to his inspection. While the officer himself was passably polite, the men with him were coarse and vulgar. In her father's bedchamber, they broke open the ornate box of her mother's keepsakes, which her father treasured. Without a thought they trampled her mother's lock of golden hair underfoot. Others ransacked the sideboard, carting away utensils that clattered in their pockets and in the pillowcases they took from the linen closets. Two tall Kentuckians swaggered into the room holding aloft empty bottles of blackberry wine, the last. They also made off with the last of the vinegar. The soldiers carried off five bushels of meal Tom had stored in the attic. They did a hurried search through drawers and trunks and bureaus while leaving other things untouched in their rush. Clutching her hands together, Sara's fear paralyzed her until a rather unkempt soldier of rough speech eyed Mattee. "How about going with us?" At the leer on his face, Sara's fury overcame her fear. Stepping in front of her friend, she faced the uncouth soldier and his officer. "Enough. You've searched the house under the pretense of looking for dangerous criminals and arms and found nothing. You claim to free the slaves, yet you treat my friend as though she's no better than she ought to be. You," she pointed toward the men, "ought to be ashamed of yourselves. "Is this the way you'd want your mother, or sister or wife to treated?" "Ain't got no wife." The vulgar soldier spit tobacco juice on the floor. "Get out, Dunstun," the officer commanded. "Out, all of you." He faced Sara, "I had to search, but...I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry about a lot of things." "About the house?" He did not meet her eyes. "I fear we'll have to burn it down. I give you fair warning. Take what you can and find safety elsewhere." At that moment, Tom entered the room, his face a mask, though the look he spared Sara seemed to hold meaning. "Lieutenant, did I hear you say you plan on burning the house?" "You did sir," the officer appeared confused by his instinctive formality with the large man he'd assumed to be a slave. "Officer, this plantation is, was owned by George Jackson. I believe if you check your dispatches, you will find regular reports from him to the Union army." Tom's authoritative manner, his knowledge and his self-confidence irritated the officer. "Never heard of him." "Check with your superior officers. Major-General Sherman and Mr. Jackson attended the academy together." "So did half the officers in the southern army." "But Mr. Jackson grew up in the north. He only returned when he inherited this place." "You're not the usual simple darky." Tom's face hardened almost imperceptively. "If you'll step into Mr. Jackson's study, I can show you proof." "That would be good." Eyeing the large black, the officer signaled one of his men to accompany him. As they left the two girls, Mattee whispered. "What do you think he'll show them? I thought he got rid of all Mista Jackson's papers." "I thought so too. Too dangerous, he said. Maybe he only hid them. You know, Mattee, both your father and mine had too many secrets." "Do you think this will do any good?" Sara shook her head, "I don't know, Mattee. All we can do is pray. Come on." Upstairs in her bedchamber with its airy curtains and intricately embroidered coverlet on her delicately carved bed, Sara took Mattee's hand and knelt by the window. "Jesus, I'm frightened. I thought when the Federal soldiers came, we'd be safe, but we're not. We're almost out of provisions, our livestock is all but gone, and there is only the four of us to see to the whole plantation. Father said you'd take care of us, so I don't understand. Please protect us from these soldiers. Please help me know what to do." Mattee squeezed Sara's hand as a sob stopped the flow of words. "Father God. These soldiers mean to burn the place over our heads, and we ain't got no where to go. And there's Mista Roberts, and he ain't safe neither. Father God, me and Tom and Danile and Miss Sara here, we your children. The Good Book says you will never leave us, nor forsake us. (Heb 13:5 KJV) We trust you won't. Please make the soldiers go away without hurting us. Amen and Amen." "Oh, Mattee, you think He'll do it? Do you think he'll be able to make the soldiers go away?" Mattee grinned, "Don't hurt to pray. We'll see how He'll answer." "We'll see. It'll take a miracle for them to leave now." For a moment, Sara stared down at the blue uniformed men waiting in front of the colonnaded house. Some stood by horses that restlessly switching their tales. Other soldiers leaned against trees. In the distance, she heard a cry of jubilation that brought the soldiers to attention as three soldiers burst around the house, their arms filled with the last of the ham from the smoke house. Two others carried a sack of potatoes--the last. Another waved an up-side-down rooster, still alive, desperately flapping his wings. "It's Sam." Sara, gulped. "They're going to kill and eat him." "They don't know he's a pet." "They wouldn't care," Sara said. "They're concerned about feeding an army. Oh where is Nellie? Surely they won't take old Nellie." Mattee muttered, "Shoot the poor mare, most like." "Oh no!" While the soldiers dived for the ham, the soldier with the chicken inadvertently loosened his grip. That's all Sam needed to jerk away. A moment later, Sam disappeared under the house leaving the soldier cursing. Sara hugged Mattee. "Maybe it's a sign." "Silly bird," her companion chuckled, "always did have a quick wit." As the girls waited, Tom and the officer exited the house. Tom followed the officer down the stairs where, to the girls' amazement, they shook hands. Within minutes the soldiers mounted their horses, cantered down the drive, and away from the house. Sara and Mattee stared at each other. A moment later, followed by Mattee, Sara hitched up her skirt and ran down the hall almost crashing into Tom. He righted her. "Miss Sara, your mother would never have countenanced you acting like a hoyden." Ignoring his mild reprimand, Sara asked, "Did they leave? Did they really leave? Are they coming back? What about Nellie? Will they burn the house?" . Read more of this chapter at  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/stories.html" http://IDealinHope.com/author/stories.html =========================== SCHEIDIES WRITES: Verse FIRST RESORT 2007 by Carolyn R. Scheidies Prayer Not the last resort, But the first. Powerful, Releasing God's warriors To fight on our behalf, And strengthen our faith, our purpose, As in concert we serve and live Under the protection Of the cross. TIME OF NEED 2007 by Carolyn R. Scheidies Lord, Thank you, That no matter how hard we try, We cannot jam you into a box Or put limits on your power. For you are greater still Or you would not be God Able to help in us in our Time of need. SOLID GROUND 2007 by Carolyn R. Scheidies Lord, Hold me in your arms, set my feet on solid ground, saturate me in your love, that I may be living life abundantly. Amen. More.  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/poems.html." http://IDealinHope.com/author/poems.html. ========================== LINKS: Border Patrol guards go to prison for protecting our borders:  HYPERLINK "http://www.grassfire.org/5142/offer.asp?rid=12141532" http://www.grassfire.org/5142/offer.asp?rid=12141532 St. Patricks Day graphics  HYPERLINK "http://www.patswebgraphics.com/stpat/stpat.html" http://www.patswebgraphics.com/stpat/stpat.html History of St. Patrick  HYPERLINK "http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm" http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm Irish culture, history, jokes, etc.  HYPERLINK "http://www.st-patricks-day.com/index.asp" http://www.st-patricks-day.com/index.asp See more links at  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/links.html" http://IDealinHope.com/author/links.html =========================== AUTHORS: Check  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author/forwriters.html" http://IDealinHope.com/author/forwriters.html. ============================ CLASSIFIEDS Want to know how to go from writing letters to the editor to features and beyond. You can with this workshop given at CCWC. For $10 you get a download of the workshop as well as the worksheet. If interested email me at  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDealInHope/post?postID=LCy5sdRYUgvobdJdVsXOItBjuFV4auGwm4xkeA_Xwzc3MkvzAdHZHCKvHv1TMUocbyTfat4wZFOHLzX59QeEUmXhWOs" crscheidies@mail2faith.com with the Subject line: Hopeworkshop. Have something to sell or advertise? Space available here. For information email  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDealInHope/post?postID=LCy5sdRYUgvobdJdVsXOItBjuFV4auGwm4xkeA_Xwzc3MkvzAdHZHCKvHv1TMUocbyTfat4wZFOHLzX59QeEUmXhWOs" crscheidies@mail2faith.com Subject line: Hope classifieds FREE Monthly book and movie AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS NEWSLETTER join at  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/authorschoicereviews" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/authorschoicereviews =========================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send an email to  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDealInHope/post?postID=LCy5sdRYUgvobdJdVsXOItBjuFV4auGwm4xkeA_Xwzc3MkvzAdHZHCKvHv1TMUocbyTfat4wZFOHLzX59QeEUmXhWOs" crscheidies@mail2faith.com Subject line: Unsubscribe I Deal in Hope (Cannot do so if received from a loop. If subscribed at the Yahoo loop, unsubscribe at  HYPERLINK "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDEALINHOPE" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDEALINHOPE ) 2007 By Carolyn R. Scheidies All rights Reserved I DEAL IN HOPE  HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author" \t "_blank" http://IDealinHope.com/author AUTHORS CHOICE REVIEWS 415 E 15th, Kearney, NE 68847 HYPERLINK "" \l "_From_hopelessness_and_despair_to_he"   HYPERLINK "http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/bookreviews" http://IDealinHope.com/bookreviews GHOZefgh   & ' ( ) , 7 8 | }   E ᾶᲪh&r hY>*hYh&r>*hYhiS>* h.[>* h0>* h-|>*h-|h-|>*h-|hYh&r6hYhiS6hYhYCJaJhY h:-0J hiS0JhiSjhiSUhYCJ4aJ4hYhiSCJ4aJ43gh I [ \ ; < ! " 23489BX!!^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!gd%pgd-|$a$gdYNE G H I X Y Z [ \ : ; $%12348BDH%&VWXz{~ 䑉 h] h] jh] Uh] jhUh h0JjhUjhUhZ'hh80hlh%h-Eh1hhhH*hQhh!Nhhh-|hiSh&r2UVWXYgp,HIU$68HIГzsokc] h$CJh$CJ(aJ(h'w2h  h(xh  h(xhiSh h2 hhRI hh hhiS h~+h@h,hZ'0JjhZ'U h~+hZ'hZ'jhZ'Uh~+h@hhQ h] h] h] h^ch] 0Jjh] Ujh] U#XY )Yv78HIab!!!!!t!v:!!!!!!!gdn gd$ 1$7$8$H$gd$gd(xgdhRIgdI  --;;<< @ @@@*@+@,@p@q@x@@@@@@@@@@@@AAABBBwCxCCCCCCCCCCDPDQD]D۽۶۞jhiUhihiSh6Thh_hf6]h h  h(xh hge h:-0Jh(xhiS0Jjh(xhiSU h(xhiShv8 hRhn hn 6]hn h4Zh$7  ghNOz{=>?@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1$7$8$H$gdn /09:OPJK  J!K!""!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1$7$8$H$gdn " # #####$$g$h$$$#%$%%%%%%%V&W&''('''O)P)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1$7$8$H$gdn P)**++,,,---w-x-..).*..._/`///y0z000T1U111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1$7$8$H$gdn 11122q2r222_3`33344\4]455f6g6.8/88888n9o9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1$7$8$H$gdn o9;;Y;Z;x;y;;;1<2<;<<<==<=====~>>t?u? @@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!gd*phFxghI[\;<!"23489BX Y ) Y v 7 8 H I a b g h NOz{=>?@/09:OPJKJK  gh#$VW'(O!P!""##$$,%-%w%x%&&)&*&&&_'`'''y(z(((T)U)))))**q*r***_+`+++,,\,],--f.g..0/00000n1o133Y3Z3x3y3331424;4<455<5=555~66t7u7 88888889999,969O9g999999999:::1:O:l:::::::::::;/;I;W;o;w;x;<<\==^>_>:E;EnE}EEEEVFFF00x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003489BX Y Y v a b 889999:::::I;W;o;w;x;<\==^>_>:EnE}EEEEVFFFg;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;0 0g;00g;00g;00e;00Ae;00e;00e;00e;00ԝg;00g;00o;0 0g;00o;0 0g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00\g;00g;00g;00g;00g;00Fg;00g;00SR1 g;00SR1 SR1 SR1 SR1 SR1 SR1 o{0)0(@0X@0Xo;00;@0Xo{0/0(@0XSR1 E I]DEF}MN(+,.789:X"P)1o9@B}MN)-/0123456;N*Ge&(%Wz U H +8p88;;;P<<<<'=W=s====2>[>q>>> ?U??@+AFAA`B{BB%CXCC7DRDD E6E}EEEFSFTFVFFFFXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX8@0(  B S  ?h\WiWjNkOlMm& n& oԎ& p& qԒ& rT& s& t& uT& v& 2 2 i i o >>g=FFFFF     : : n u u LLj=FFFFF   Z *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceTypehttp://www.5iantlavalamp.com/Z *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceNamehttp://www.5iantlavalamp.com/i*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsState0http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsn*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PostalCode0http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsh*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsCity0http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsV*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplacehttp://www.5iantlavalamp.com/   38.%3%%%)* *.*F+K+,,..//-/2/\/b///&@*@FVY9A:N"%)%8%:%%%&(&((*/?/%3*324:49+999::;;/;7;I;M;W;];x;;? ?FFF333333333333333333333333333333333@HIZ!47 8 $?-%B%r**`+s+--003%35'589::q;w;x;;3>_>}EEVFFFFCarolyn R ScheidiesKJhn ] N @m!=\!~+'.'~+:-80`2'w2z97g:muD-E|jHhRI@KN!N&NiS6TYZ.[6]f6]geo%p(xZ$v8 &r*)b"4Zjl0-|I=~j| #http://idealinhope.com/bookreviews[ http://idealinhope.com/author8http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IDealInHope/post?postID=LCy5sdRYUgvobdJdVsXOItBjuFV4auGwm4xkeA_Xwzc3MkvzAdHZHCKvHv1TMUocbyTfat4wZFOHLzX59QeEUmXhWOs(y/http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/bookreviewsJ*http://crscheidies-ivil.tripod.com/author  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<>?@ABCDFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcefghijkmnopqrstwRoot Entry F7 ZyData =1TableE<WordDocument"xSummaryInformation(dDocumentSummaryInformation8lCompObjj  FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q