A Time to Heal and a Time to Love

"Please God, take care of my babies!"

Prologue

August 10, 1837

            The tiny, rented, carriage traveled at breakneck speed in the pouring rain.  Jane Taylor held her newborn babies in her arms inside the cramped interior as the carriage swayed with the fierce winds that swirled around them.  She prayed that they would make it to see her husband's mother in time. 

The couple had only just received word that Melvin's mother's health had taken a deadly turn for the worse.  There had been no communication between him and his mother since she had written him out of her life when he had married Jane nearly four years ago.  Despite the difference in their ages, Jane had fallen in love with Melvin and when he asked for her hand shortly after the death of her father, she said yes. 

Melvin's mother had not approved of their union, saying that Jane, at eighteen years of age was just a child and was still grieving the death of her only living relative.

Over the years they had prayed that Melvin's mother, his only living relative would have a change of heart and turn her life over to the Lord.  

When the messenger came with the news of his mothers failing health, Melvin and Jane had wrapped up their five-week old babies in blankets and left home in Macon, Georgia to travel to Atlanta.  They were about thirty miles from Atlanta when the rains came. 

The anxious couple made the decision to continue on.  There was no time to loose.  Melvin had to make it back in time to see his mother one last time.  He longed to see her hold his precious twin daughters in her arms.  They had even named one of his girls after her.  He knew that his mama would be so proud. 

Soaked and chilled to the bone, Melvin Taylor fought to control the frightened horses.  Suddenly a streak of lightening flashed all around them and a mighty boom sounded through the night.  The terrified horses reared back causing the carriage to jump and pitch.  The reigns were ripped from his hands.  He held onto the seat the best he could and prayed that the horses would come to a halt on their own on the slick, orange, clay like, muddy road.  He watched in terror as a sharp left turn came into view.

Jane knew that something was not right.  She placed the baby girls back into their little basket and wrapped them tightly.  Pulling on the shade that covered the carriage window, she tried to peer out, but the mighty wind blew rain inside the carriage, soaking the front of her dress.  Before she could close the shade, she was thrown to the side as the carriage lurched and pitched to the left.  Truly afraid, she crouched down over the basket holding her precious girls and prayed that this nightmare would come to and end. 

Jane prayed as the stormed raged on.  But she stopped and opened her eyes when she heard the sound of a train coming right in her direction.  She screamed as she felt the carriage being lifted into the air.  Suddenly, it slammed down again.  All the while the poor horses could be heard screaming in protest.  Then, the carriage tilted on its side and slammed to the ground.  There was a terrible cracking and crunching sound overhead, with babies in tow, the new mother tried to scramble out of the way but it was too late.  The last thing Jane Taylor saw was the limb of a tree as it came in through the carriage window. 

And her last words were, "Please God, take care of my babies."

***

The next day, a family out riding assessing the damage found the body of a man on the side of the road.  They loaded his body into their wagon.  They were distressed but not surprised to find a mangled carriage that had been crushed by an enormous fallen pine tree.  They struggled to move the tree limbs and leaves and eventually they pulled the body of a woman from amongst the limbs and debris.   

The man gently placed the woman's b