A Hope Undaunted Read Online Free PDF Page A

sickness certainly confirmed that, as had Katie’s arrival into the world a month and a half early. That event had prompted a constant vigil of prayer from sibling and parent alike that their listless infant would garner the will to live.
    The will to live , he thought with a twist of his lips. Mmm . . . and then some. He released a weary sigh. Perhaps their prayers had been too diligent in those early months, for if Katie Rose had been blessed with anything, it was an iron will. A frown creased his brow. A will that had spent the last eighteen years butting heads with his own.
    He inhaled a deep breath and slowly released it, lifting his chin to meet hers. “Yes, Katie Rose, in addition to . You and I both know you’ve never been good at following orders, and unless I want God to take me to task for not reining you in, I have a responsibility to teach you a valuable lesson.”
    With a lift of his fingers, he gently cupped her chin. “Your mother and I love you, darlin’, but neither the world nor this family revolves around you, no matter how much you would like them to. There is a sequence of order and authority to be obeyed, beginning with God, the law, and then your parents. Consequently, your curfew will now be ten until you prove you are responsible enough to follow orders. In addition, your confinement begins tonight for the next two and a half months, and maybe the entire summer if you choose to defy me further. No dates with Jack, no gallivanting with friends, no shopping with your sisters. Nothing but church, family, and volunteer work.”
    “What?” The gasp from her colorless lips was little more than a hoarse shriek. Her face bleached as white as the expanse of her eyes. “You can’t be serious. Jack will die!”
    Patrick chuckled. “No, darlin’, he won’t. I guarantee he will survive, and hopefully be a little more inclined to get you home on time.”
    Her groan conveyed her life was over as she dropped her face in her hands. “But, I’ll go crazy! What’ll I do?”
    He smiled and rubbed her shoulder. “That’s where the volunteer work comes in.”
    Her head shot up, and her blue eyes circled in shock. “Volunteer work? You’re joking.”
    He studied the look of scandalized panic on his daughter’s face and knew he was doing the right thing. He had prayed long and hard for something that would save her from herself, a chance to curb that headstrong will of hers with a gentle dose of humility. He stared at the precious daughter before him, and a profound sense of satisfaction pervaded his soul, confirming to his spirit once and for all that this was it. “No, darlin’, I’m not.”
    “But where? When?”
    He avoided her eyes. “The Boston Children’s Aid Society.”
    “An orphanage?”
    “Yes, an orphanage, darlin’, and more. The BCAS is an organization that reaches out to those not as fortunate as you. Tell me, Katie, when you’re out slumming with friends, have you even noticed the children on the street? Those dressed in rags or sleeping in doorways? Well, they’re there, and they need help.” He sat up straighter in the chair and squared his jaw. “And you’re going to give it to them. Both at the BCAS and its associate organizations, the Boston Society for the Care of Girls and the Massachusetts Infant Asylum.”
    “God, have mercy.” Katie pressed a shaky hand to her chest, appearing about to faint.
    “You’ll actually be working in the main office most of the time,” Patrick quickly reassured. “You know, paperwork, filing, typing, whatever they need.” He hesitated. “You’ll only work with the children when they need backup.”
    She groaned again, face buried in her hands. “How often and how long?” she whispered.
    He shifted in the chair and stalled, suddenly wondering if he had gone too far. “Five days a week.” His tone was barely audible.
    She blasted from the chair as if her hair were on fire, and he wasn’t all that sure that her eyes weren’t –