All The Write Stuff: Vadom’s Journey

1925. His dream is to build a horse ranch in the Poconos. Her dream is him. God's plan is bigger than them both.

Vadom’s Journey

The Heart’s Journey Series Book 2

By Sara J. Walker

Genre: Sweet Historical Romance

This is a sweet, Christian Historical Romance set in the same world as my characters in The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption.

1925. His dream is to build a horse ranch in the Poconos. Her dream is him. God’s plan is bigger than them both.

Pennsylvania, 1925

Vadom Stancher travels to the Poconos with only his extraordinary gift for working with horses and a dream of owning his own ranch. He finds his chance—and his heart finds the daughter of a wealthy rancher. But when tragedy strikes, his grief leads him down a path of poor choices that will echo through years to come.

Amanda Devoe, the preacher’s daughter, sees past Vadom’s wounded spirit. One night of comfort becomes a secret she’ll carry alone to Georgia, where she builds a new life as a schoolteacher. But some secrets can’t stay hidden forever.

With God’s guidance, can two hearts find their way back to each other? Or will the past keep them forever apart?

Vadom’s Journey is a tale of second chances and the healing power of God’s perfect timing—perfect for readers who enjoy historical romance with themes of faith and forgiveness.

EXCERPT

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Lightning,” Shorty said, shifting so Vadom could see inside the stall. “This is her first foal, and it don’t look good. Walker isn’t happy.”

Donnel raised his voice. “Do you want me to ride for the veterinarian? I hear tell they have one in Sommerville.”

Walker shook his head. “That’s twenty-five miles away. This will be over before you get back. One way or another.”

The mare groaned in agony and tried to wallow in the straw, but Petey lay across her neck, holding her on her side. Walker had discarded his jacket and had his shirt sleeves rolled up.

Lightning moaned and thrashed.

Vadom’s heart clenched in sympathy for the mare. “Mr. Walker,” he said softly.

“Don’t bother me unless you can help,” Walker snapped.

“I can.”

Five sets of eyes turned to stare at him.

Walker pointed at Vadom. “Tell me what you can do.”

Vadom swallowed hard. He didn’t want to expose his talent, because he couldn’t explain what he could do with horses. He could be labeled a heathen. “My father was a horse master on the estate we served in London. He taught me a great deal, and I helped with many foalings.”

“We should get the boy’s father,” Petey said from where he crouched over the mare.

“No time.” Walker motioned for Vadom to enter the stall. “Her name is Lightning. I would choose her over the foal if it comes to that.”

“Shorty said it’s her first?” Vadom asked as he assessed the situation.

“Yes. By Duke, my Palomino stallion.”

“I haven’t met Duke,” Vadom said, not realizing that sounded odd.

The mare groaned, and he felt her pain to his bones. “You poor girl,” he murmured, pressing his hands to her cheeks as he attempted to quell her panic and help her find calm. The pain was another issue.

“What do you need?” Mr. Walker asked.

Vadom never took his eyes away from the mare’s wide gaze. “Does your wife have any willow bark? It would be good to dull the pain.”

“She does. I’ll get it.” Walker rushed from the barn to retrieve the painkiller.

“Shorty, will you do something for me?” Vadom asked.

“Sure thing.”

“Boil some water for the willow bark and steep a small amount. Put a generous amount of sugar in the water and bring it to me. She’ll take it better if sweetened, and she could use the energy,” Vadom instructed. “Petey, I need you to move to the other side and lean forward on her neck so I can reach her belly.”

“Why do you need to do that?” Donnel asked.

Vadom finally felt he had a connection with the mare and could look away from her eyes. He glanced at Donnel. “I will palpitate her side to see how the foal is positioned. I’ll show you.” Lightning was still in terrible pain but breathing easier. The willow bark would help if he could get her to take some of it.

Petey shifted above her, keeping pressure on her neck so she wouldn’t stand, and Vadom ran his hands over her belly, maintaining a steady stream of low whispers all the while, making sure she could hear him.

“She wants to stand,” Petey said, “but the pains were so bad her knees gave out the last time. She don’t need to be fallin’.”

Vadom nodded as he pressed on her belly with gentle fingers. The life inside was … two. “Twins,” he said aloud.

“Now, how would you know that?” Jacob asked, his voice thick with skepticism.

Vadom thought fast. “Hooves,” he quickly offered. He couldn’t tell them he knew any other way. “I feel more than four hooves.”

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DPY1JQ74

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/vadoms-journey/id6739185491

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vadoms-journey-sara-j-walker/1146656431?ean=2940180933683

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vadom-s-journey

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1660501

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/bOqvzg

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/vadom-s-journey-the-heart-s-journey-series-book-2-by-sara-j-walker

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222412880-vadom-s-journey

The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption

The Heart’s Journey Book 1

The Grumpy Guardian’s Redemption, a sweet, historical Christian romance

This is a heartwarming Christian tale of redemption and love that touches the souls of two lonely people in the mountains of 1920s Tennessee.

Set in the mountains of Tennessee in 1925, Liam McCord treasures his solitary existence until a chance encounter disrupts his peace. When he discovers a battered young woman near his cabin, he’s compelled to shelter her until help arrives. As a solitary fifty-two-year-old man, he can’t care for her alone, so he enlists the help of a local spinster.

Enter Millie Norton, a resilient woman with a heart untouched by love. She can see beyond the surface and realizes the patient in the house is not the only person needing care. Together, Liam and Millie embark on a journey of shared challenges as they care for the woman and work a change in their community. Somewhere along the way, the English recluse and the mountain spinster forge an unexpected bond of love.

This heartwarming Christian story of redemption, healing, and the transformative power of love will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.

EXCERPT

Liam walked home from the general store with only a few pieces of peppermint in his pocket. He hoped to sweeten Millie up a little with the candy.

When he got back to the house, he decided to draw up some of his plans to show Sheriff Smith. At the table, he spent the next few hours outlining everything he had in mind: the school building, housing for a teacher, school supplies, how to approach the people so as not to offend them, along with separate lists for each heading. By the time he finished his notes, he had a terrible headache.

“Millie,” he called.

“Yes?” She stuck her head out from the kitchen.

“Do you know what I should take to get rid of a headache?”

“You shouldn’t be working so hard with that pen. You aren’t accustomed to labor, so you must be exhausted,” she said, her scolding ruined by a teasing grin. “Let me get you some tea and a wedge of sweet cake. That will be just the thing.”

He chuckled, thinking he’d planned to sweeten her with peppermint, and she seemed to have the same idea. “Are you bribing me with sweets?”

She smirked and disappeared into the kitchen.

He checked the time on his pocket watch. Scooter should be returning soon.

Millie reappeared with a tray and deposited it on the table at his elbow. “There you go.”

He looked from her to the tray. “Tell me the truth. Will this help my headache?”

“Eat the cake, drink your tea, and get some rest in your chair. Take a little nap, so I can have some peace in the house.” Her tone was chiding, but she gently brushed some lint off his shoulder as she spoke. He enjoyed the contradiction. She fascinated him.

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CW19SR6X

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-grumpy-guardians-redemption/id6479612899

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-grumpy-guardians-redemption-sara-j-walker/1145088533?ean=2940179947189

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-grumpy-guardian-s-redemption

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1538244

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/bPDw2z

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-grumpy-guardian-s-redemption-heart-s-journey-1-by-sara-j-walker

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209057361-the-grumpy-guardian-s-redemption

About the Author

Longtime puppeteer and dramatic story teller, Sara loves both the spoken and the written word. She has two grown children and resides with their husband of 57 years in a small Georgia town.

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