Everyone in this part of 1896 Kentucky says that Copper
Pelfrey is the best baby catcher around. Copper loves her
ministry to the ladies in the area as a midwife. She loves
farm life too, although she hasn't always lived on a farm.
Her deceased first husband was a doctor, and she lived with
him and their daughter, Lilly Gray, in the city. But this
life suits her best, and she adores her husband, John, and
their three children.
When a letter comes with a train ticket for Lilly to visit
her Aunt Alice in the city, Copper hesitates to tell Lilly.
She does not want to share Lilly with her first husband's
sister, fearing Alice will try to lure Lilly away from
Copper. She has a fine house and fine things that a young
girl would desire. But Copper decides she has to let Lilly
go.
Just as they are about to leave for the train, a rider
comes to get Copper for a delivery. She leaves Lilly with
Manda, the hired girl, to get her to the train on time. As
Manda is slopping the hog, Lilly decides to go for a walk.
She hears a dog barking furiously and is curious, so she
wanders down to the pond of a neighbor. She discovers that
the neighbor has put the dog's puppies in a tote sack and
thrown them into the pond. As Lilly tries to rescue the
pups, she finds herself captured by Isa Still, owner of the
pond, and locked up in an old tin building.
Manda thinks that Lilly went to the train without her, and
decides to leave and visit her sister, leaving a note to
that effect for the Pelfrey's. The family learns that the
train Lilly is supposed to be on has wrecked. Lilly is not
found at the wreckage, and no one knows for sure where she
is.
The family's faith is surely tried in the search for Lilly,
who discovers things about herself she did not realize as
she's held captive on the Still's property. This is a
delightful inspirational, historical novel that will warm
your heart and renew your faith that "all things work
together for good to them that love the Lord." Both Lilly
and her parents cling to that promise throughout the ordeal.
Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but
she would much rather play with her best friend than watch
her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often
gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home.
When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the
city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees
to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train
crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if
their daughter is injured . . . or even alive.