Wolves Among Us - Softcover

Garrett, Ginger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0781448859 ISBN 13: 9780781448857

Verlag: DAVID C COOK, 2011

Inhaltsangabe

This richly imagined tale takes readers to a tiny German town in the time of “the burnings,” when pious and heretic alike became victims of witch-hunting zealots. When a double murder stirs up festering fears, the village priest sends for help. But the charismatic Inquisitor who answers the call brings a deadly mix of spiritual fervor and self-deceptive evil. Under his influence, village fear, guilt, and suspicion of women take a deadly turn. In the midst of this nightmare, a doubting priest and an unloved wife—a secret friend of the recently martyred William Tyndale—somehow manage to hear another Voice…and discover the power of love over fear.

 

Dinfoil, Germany, 1538. In a little town on the edge of the Black Forest, a double murder stirs up festering fears. A lonely woman despairs of pleasing her husband and wonders why other women shun her. An overworked sheriff struggles to hold the town—and himself—together. A priest begins to doubt the power of the words he shares daily with his flock. And the charismatic Inquisitor who arrives to help—with a filthy witch in a cage as an object lesson—brings his own mix of lofty ideals and treacherous evil. Under his influence, ordinary village fears and resentments take a deadly turn. Terror mounts. Dark deeds come to light. And men and women alike discover not only what they are capable of, but who they are…and what it means to grapple for grace.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Ginger Garrett is the critically acclaimed author of Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther, which was recognized as one of the top five novels of 2006 by the ECPA, and Dark Hour. An expert in ancient women's history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women. A frequent media guest and television host, Ginger has been interviewed by The New York Times, NPR, Billy Graham's The Hour of Decision," The Harvest Show, Fox News, and many other outlets.

In 2007, Ginger was nominated for the Georgia Author of the Year Award for her novel Dark Hour. A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in theater, she is passionate about creating art from history. You can learn more about Ginger and her work by visiting www.gingergarrett.com 

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Wolves Among Us

a novel

By Ginger Garrett

David C. Cook

Copyright © 2011 Ginger Garrett
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-7814-4885-7

Contents

Acknowledgments, 
Chapter One, 
Chapter Two, 
Chapter Three, 
Chapter Four, 
Chapter Five, 
Chapter Six, 
Chapter Seven, 
Chapter Eight, 
Chapter Nine, 
Chapter Ten, 
Chapter Eleven, 
Chapter Twelve, 
Chapter Thirteen, 
Chapter Fourteen, 
Chapter Fifteen, 
Chapter Sixteen, 
Chapter Seventeen, 
Chapter Eighteen, 
Chapter Nineteen, 
Chapter Twenty, 
Chapter Twenty-one, 
Chapter Twenty-two, 
Chapter Twenty-three, 
Chapter Twenty-four, 
Chapter Twenty-five, 
Chapter Twenty-six, 
Chapter Twenty-seven, 
Chapter Twenty-eight, 
AfterWords, 
Bonus Chapter, 
Author's Note, 
Discussion Questions, 
Supernatural Housekeeping, 

CHAPTER 1

Germany, 1538 Dinfoil Village at the southeastern edge of the Black Forest

Weeks had gone by since winter had lost her blinding white beauty. Cold gray mud at Father Stefan's feet and dull clouds above him were all that remained of her icy pageant. He waved his hand at the low clouds, willing them to be gone. The hopeful golden sun of spring was overdue. He longed for its warmth to awaken new life in his little village.

The good Lord had other plans for the morning, however. The sun remained shrouded, and the air kept its chill after a midnight rain. Father Stefan could see his breath when he exhaled, a small wonder that still fascinated him even in these, the middle years of his life.

Each wet stone on the cobblestone streets of Dinfoil was packed so close to the next that the market lane looked like the side of an enormous, glistening brown fish. The lane was as slippery as a fish too, and Father Stefan was careful as he walked. If he slipped and broke a leg, he would be of no use to anyone—not as a spiritual father or as the town physician.

The sky may have refused any promise of warmth, but the new day still brought its own comforts. Bread baking in ovens and the crisp hints of spring's first greens teased his nose as life burst out into the lanes everywhere he looked. Last night the great lashes of lightning had driven everyone inside early. Now no one wasted a moment starting the new day: Shutters were being opened as he walked, children ran through the leaves torn from trees by the winds, and merchants dashed with their carts along the bumpy stone lanes, anxious to reclaim yesterday's lost business. When winter's ice melted away, travelers appeared from many villages, eager to spend their money at the market and meet new people. Fresh tales were as coveted as fresh supplies in those first weeks of spring.

Father Stefan walked through the town square, where children played prancing ponies, skipping in wide circles. One boy slipped, catching himself on his palms. He winced and muttered a curse under his breath. When he caught Father Stefan watching him, he blushed and looked away.

Stefan suppressed a frown and looked around. The boy's mother had done penance for her coarse language not a week ago, and here her boy was, repeating her sin.

"Mothers, mind your children," he called out, hoping the village's women could hear him through their open windows. "The stones are treacherous this morning." He shook a finger at a boy. "No more of that," he said.

Father Stefan walked along, greeting his parishioners, nodding at the shopkeepers and housemaids who were still opening shutters. The wealthier the family, the closer they lived inside the square, and the more housemaids he saw at work.

As was usual for this hour, no one appeared in the windows of those expensive homes except maids and dogs. After maids opened the shutters, several dogs popped their heads into the windows, looking down with great interest at the people in the square. Father Stefan particularly liked seeing the yellow mastiff that often sat, solemn as a magistrate, in a window, his jowls set in judgment. Another dog across the lane watched with bulging eyes and a little black mouth. That dog, outraged at the activity below him, barked and yapped at each passerby.

Marie, the young daughter of a parishioner in Father Stefan's church, pranced past, chasing after her little brother. She ran into Father Stefan, knocking him onto his rear. She looked horrified.

"Father Stefan. Forgive me," she said.

He held his side with one hand and used the other to push himself back up.

"No need for forgiveness, Marie. It was an accident, after all."

Her face looked ashen. Her chin began to tremble. She was one good breath away from a loud wail. Stefan reached out and tapped her on the nose, startling her.

"How is your mother's new baby girl?" he asked, looking down to wiggle his eyebrows at the young boy who now stood at the girl's side. The boy giggled, and Marie glanced at him before she smiled too.

She had swallowed back her tears, but her eyes were still wide and watering. "The baby is well, thank you. She is at home with Mother. She doesn't smell very good, though."

Father Stefan pressed his lips together to catch a chuckle. "Yes, Marie, babies do smell. Tell your mother I will be glad to have her back with us for Mass."

"But Mother is not well, Father Stefan. She cries a lot now that she has given birth. And she is pale. I try to get my brother to play with me outside, to let her rest, but I don't think she notices."

"I see." He smiled and nodded, a signal that he was ready to be on his way.

Marie grabbed him by the hand. "Perhaps you could come see her?"

Stefan disentangled himself and stepped back. "My place is in the church. As is hers. Remind her of that. When she gets back to church, she will feel better at once." He leaned down and flicked his hands at Marie, sending her away.

Marie hesitated, then rushed at him and planted a kiss on his cheek. She turned and ran off with her brother before he could say anything else. Stefan pressed a hand against the spot she had touched, mystified.

The sun broke free for a moment, warming Stefan's arms. He pushed up the sleeves of his shirt, catching more of this sudden pleasure, the second unmerited grace of the day.

The thought prodded Stefan to turn and get on with his morning business. He couldn't just stand here smiling in the sun like a fool. Pleasure is a fool's reward, he thought, a distraction that keeps good people from doing God's work. He must buy his dried hops and be back at the church before the next Mass. As he walked the square, he greeted the sweet young parishioner Elizabeth, who shopped at the herb market. She gave a shy nod and gestured back to the church, which stood at the far end of the square. Stefan smiled and nodded his head in agreement. Yes, it was almost time for Mass. They had both reason to hurry.

He then spotted Dame Alice with her wide, soft face. She sat on an upturned barrel at the front door of her home. Though wealthy, she rarely busied herself with women's work, much to Stefan's dismay. Instead she sat at her entranceway with her white hair neatly plaited above her ears, acknowledging those who passed.

Stefan watched as Mia, the sheriff's wife, bustled past him, darting between the town's children, clutching her coin bag to her stomach as she approached the butcher's shop.

"Mia!" Dame Alice called out.

Mia stopped, clearly startled.

Dame Alice gestured widely with her arms. "Come and...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: DAVID C COOK
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2011
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0781448859
• ISBN 13: 9780781448857
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 304
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: SCM Verlagsgruppe GmbH; https://www.scm-verlagsgruppe.de/; ; Max-Eyth-Str. 41; Holzgerlingen; Baden-Württemberg; 71088; Deutschland