Part three of the Journeys of the Heart series is mostly Ruby's story. Abigail's daughter from her first marriage, the baby she was expecting when her husband was killed, has come of age and trains to be a teacher at the college her pastor step-father is principal of. She faces challenges in her own life and then two young eligible men come calling and Ruby has to decide which she wants to give her heart to. Her vulnerable heart struggles with the choice but ultimately with the guidance of God and her family she navigates through it all.
It follows one family through the joys and trials of life. You get to see them warts and all relying on faith and family. It focuses on the relationship between a loving Christian father and his daughters, in a time when women often didn't have much of a voice. A man not afraid to see the women in his life honoured and valued for their strengths. A love story set in the 1800s with tragedy and hardship woven throughout.
My favourite part is when Ruby attempts to save her younger sister from drowning and it ultimately leads to her being able to decide between the two young men who are vying for her love.
I also love the part where, after making her choice, Ruby comes to learn with much relief that it was clearly the right choice after she gets a glimpse of what the wrong choice could have meant for her.
“Hey, what is it my love?” asked Jake putting his arm around her.
Andrew sat down on the other side of her. “Ruby, what’s the matter?” he echoed Jake’s question.
“Nothing really, I’m just thinking about how thankful and blessed I am to have two such loving and gentle men in my life, neither of you would ever strike a woman or a child and I love you both so much. I just feel so sad for that poor woman, what kind of a man would do that?”
Jake and Andrew both simultaneously clenched their teeth in anger and said, “A coward!”