Moria's Time
Book 2 of the TIME Series - Sequel to 'Janelle's Time'
by
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Spring was in the air when the letter arrived. Moria had started picking up the mail at the General Store because she was close by on the days she worked at the doctor’s office. While she was eager for mail from any of the colleges, she also wanted to be sure she intercepted Miss Nightingale’s letter before anyone else saw it. Before she could read the envelope, she knew it was a female hand, but not Elizabeth’s. She took the envelope and turned to leave, shoving it into a skirt pocket as she did, almost leaving the rest of the mail on the counter. Her mind whirled as she started for home. Part of her wanted to stop and tear the envelope open—she had to know. But, part of her was afraid. Is this what I’ve been expecting for months? Was Miss Nightingale summoning me with the intent of sending me on a faraway and dangerous mission? Or was this a letter of apology driven by the letter from Elizabeth, that Miss Nightingale has no plans for me at all? Either the piece of paper in my pocket represents a major turning point in my life, or it doesn’t. I don’t know which I want more. The buggy stopped and Moria realized she hadn’t driven home, but the horse had taken her there because that’s what he did every day. Chuckling, she climbed from the buggy as a groom emerged from the barn. Thanking the groom, she ran to the back door of the house and, leaving the rest of the mail in the kitchen, hurried up the back stairs. Emerging in her parent’s bedroom, she crossed to the hall door and peered out. No one was around. She slipped into her room. Removing the letter from her pocket, she held it in her shaking hands. Opening the envelope, she removed the single sheet of paper. The note was short and to the point. Dear Moria, Elizabeth has asked if I have plans for you. Yes, I do. I’d like to meet to discuss them. If it’s possible, please come to London and send me a note when you arrive. We’ll meet and talk. Please bring all of your education records. I look forward to seeing you soon. Best Regards, F. Nightingale Moria returned the letter to her skirt pocket. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths to calm her nerves. Now she knew. At the supper table, Moria was quiet. She caught her mother looking at her inquisitively. “What’s wrong, Mori? Are you not feeling well?” “No, I’m fine, but I do have some news.” Moria took a deep breath. “I received a letter today … from Florence Nightingale.” Silverware clattered onto the dishes, then … silence. Richard cleared his throat. “Ahem. Go on, dear.” “I’ve been expecting this letter for months, but decided to wait until it arrived before mentioning it. “Elizabeth said she’d heard from Miss Nightingale on this subject on two separate occasions. It seems several countries, including Britain, France, and Turkey, are threatening to go to war against Russia over control of the old Ottoman Empire lands. “I’ve looked through Father’s newspapers but haven’t seen anything about this possible war, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t news in Europe.” “What does the letter say?” Moria took it from her pocket and read it aloud. Richard reached over and plucked it from her hands, to read for himself, then handed it back to her. “You have two choices. You can go to London and meet with her, or you can pass, stay here and it ends.” “Richard,” Janelle said, a warning tone to her voice. “We’ve been through this many times. She has to go. She has to see this through.” “You’re in favor of this now?” “Yes. First, I trust her, and her judgment. And, second, now she can time travel herself out of any dangerous situations.” Janelle hesitated. Turning to Moria, she said, “Wait a minute. Is this why you wanted to be tested?” “Yes,” Moria admitted. “Mother. Father. This is my decision. For twenty years, this has been part of my future. Well, the future is now. It’s happening. I’m going to London to talk with Miss Nightingale. I assume what she has in mind has something to do with medicine, nursing, and very possibly this war she’s so sure will happen. If it’s true, I will do whatever she proposes, although she won’t know I’ve already decided.” Janelle nibbled on a fingernail while regarding her daughter. “Mori, honey, are you sure you want to do this?” “Yes, Mother. I have to. If it has something to do with the war Miss Nightingale’s mentioned twice to Elizabeth, think of the value to my career. I’ll inform the medical schools I’ve applied to I’ll be unavailable for interviews until further notice as I’ll be working in a field hospital with Florence Nightingale.” She paused, eyes flashing, “When it’s over, we’ll see how many schools still refuse to interview me.” Mother and Father have no choice but to agree, I know it, and I can see on their faces—they know it too. After all that has come before, they can’t refuse me now. “I’ll write to Miss Nightingale to tell her I’ll be at Adelle House in late May. I’ll also write to Elizabeth with the latest developments.” Moria fell silent, there was nothing more to say. The family ate the rest of the meal in silence.
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About the Book
Old Agnes MacKendall has a vision of Janelle Grayson’s infant daughter, Moria, as a young woman, far from home in a dangerous place. Janelle and her husband, Richard, must prepare their little girl for whatever’s ahead. It’s a future charged with risk that could spell certain doom. So begins Moria’s Time—Book 2 of the TIME Series. At six-years old, Moria starts to learn about her heritage. Like her mother, Moria is a MacKendall. The women of this Scots clan have many skills, including natural medicine—which is Moria’s gift. At fourteen, Moria meets Elizabeth Blackwell who befriends and mentors her, guiding her toward her goal of becoming a doctor. Later, while visiting family in England, Moria meets Florence Nightingale. The family also meets Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Miss Nightingale summons Moria to London, where she works for a while at a charity hospital and meets Dr. Simon Hensley. Miss Nightingale takes 38 nurses, including Moria, to the Crimean War. Dr. Hensley, in love with Moria, follows her, much to her chagrin, and she rebuffs him. At home for a visit, Moria reconnects with her twin sister, Adelle, and Walter, who convinces Moria that Dr. Hensley isn’t the enemy. Moria and Dr. Hensley work things out. Simon and Moria return to London after the war. At Devonwood, the Grayson family estate, Moria’s Grandmother convinces Moria she can marry Simon. He proposes; she accepts. After the wedding, Simon and Moria visit medical schools for interviews. Moria is rejected, simply because she’s woman. Finally, a school in Pennsylvania accepts her. Does Moria continue to impose her needs on Simon? How long will Simon put his life on hold? Do they really want to open a practice? There are too many questions, and too few answers.
About the Author
Her mother, a non-fiction author, two brothers—one a newspaper editor, the other, a copywriter—and a sister, a church newsletter editor, prove writing ‘runs in the family’. A school teacher/reading specialist, her father started teaching her to read when she was four years old, beginning a life-long love affair with books—and for that, she’s grateful. The short stories she wrote in junior high school entertained her peers – and the occasional teacher who intercepted them. In an English assignment in high school, her autobiography, she declared her desire to be a published author. After a college professor told her she ‘couldn’t write my way out of a paper bag,’ she stopped writing, believing him. Ten years later, she wrote an article for the now-defunct World Radio News, that reactivated her writing gene. The college professor was wrong‼ In early 2002, between jobs and wanting to do some serious writing, she took a third-shift position as a security officer and wrote what became Janelle’s Time. When the draft was complete, she shelved it. In 2009, when she started her Twitter page, @Writers_Cafe, the WIP came off the shelf. By August 2011, it was ready for submission. Janelle’s Time is book one of her ‘TIME Series,’ published in July of 2012. Book two, Moria’s Time, her winning 2011 NaNoWriMo project, is available now. There are three more books in the series. In September of 2012, she switched from her old WordPress.com blog, A Place for Writers, to a self-hosted, thirty page website: www.DaynaLCheser.com. Her new blog, ‘Posts by Dayna,’ her ‘DIY Interviews,’ and ‘TIME Series’ information, are available to all. Check it out! Dayna and her husband, Pete, have been married for forty-five years and have lived in Southwest Florida for over twenty years, originally hailing from New England.