A Clearing in the Wild

“A
Clearing in the Wild
is Jane Kirkpatrick at her finest. The story is quickly paced and engaging from the first to the last. One of the most difficult tasks for a writer—and Kirkpatrick’s specialty—is to contemplate the lives of real people and to re-create a believable episode in those lives that is accurate yet interesting, to both inform and entertain. The dialog sings masterfully with perfect tone, building characters and pushing the story line in succinct phrasing that never overstates. Emma Wagner Giesy’s story feels as genuine as if she herself were telling it.”

“Jane Kirkpatrick shines her unique light on a fascinating episode of Oregon Trail history as she follows young Emma Giesy’s struggles to prove herself a worthy wife and mother within the confines of her communal and highly patriarchal Christian community. This is a valuable read for those who appreciate having their history so fully and accurately imagined. Jane clearly knows her terrain, and by the time I finished
A Clearing in the Wild
, I felt I had lived through a damp winter or two myself in the rich but challenging country of the Willapa Bay of Washington State. This thoughtful and well-researched book will surely add to the numbers of Jane’s well-deserved fans.”

“Jane Kirkpatrick has done it again!
A Clearing in the Wild
introduces us to a feisty young heroine who, by her determination, ingenuity, and faith, helps to create a home and a life in the wilderness. Readers are sure to fall in love with Emma as she weaves the story of her life, creating a pioneer tapestry and leaving us anticipating the next layer of her inspirational story.”

“Through her careful research, Jane Kirkpatrick has captured the trials of those who are determined to settle a land that does not easily yield to civilization. She has brought to life another woman in our history whose faith, strength, and commitment is a testament to not only the pioneer spirit but the human spirit as well. Thank you, Ms. Kirkpatrick, for not allowing Emma Wagner Giesy to languish in obscurity.”

“Emma Wagner Giesy is brave, willful, and beautiful, and
A Clearing in the Wild
brings her to life without for a moment sacrificing her complexity. Kirkpatrick compels us to think again, and deeply, about the needs of the body, soul, and mind; and in these pages she proves once again that she is a gifted chronicler of the lives of women in the West.”

A C
LEARING IN THE
W
ILD
P
UBLISHED BY
W
ATER
B
ROOK
P
RESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked (RSV) are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of historical fiction based closely on real people and real events. Details that cannot be historically verified are purely products of the author’s imagination.

eISBN: 978-0-307-55069-9

Copyright © 2006 by Jane Kirkpatrick

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.

W
ATER
B
ROOK
and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kirkpatrick, Jane, 1946–
  A clearing in the wild / Jane Kirkpatrick.—1st ed.
      p. cm. — (Change and cherish series ; bk. 1)
 1. Women pioneers—Fiction. 2. Social isolation—Fiction. I. Title.
  PS3561.I712C57 2006
  813′.54—dc22

                                                                        2005035370

v3.1_r1

To Jerry

Cover

Other Books by This Author

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Cast of Characters

Map

Discussion Questions

An Interview with Author Jane Kirkpatrick

Acknowledgments

Suggested Additional Resources

Glossary of German and Chinook Words