The Civil War stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg --- as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

2. Faith lost her father and brother in the War Between the States. For her, Noble Springs holds too many reminders of the past. She wants to escape to the west. Can we ever run away from painful memories? Do you think beginning a new life can erase the old? 

3. When Faith first meets Curt, she thinks of him as “the man with the scar.” Do you tend to judge people by first impressions? How does your opinion change as you get to know them better? Or does it?

4. Curt is haunted by his wartime experiences to the extent that they affect his opinion of his own worth. Today we would call his symptoms Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Do you know someone who suffers from PTSD? How do you interact with him or her?

5. Faith has cherished the dream of marriage to Royal since he left to join the militia when she was sixteen. When he finally returns to Noble Springs, he says he doesn’t remember ever meeting her. How would you react in such a situation? What did you think of Faith’s reaction?

6. When her grandfather has episodes of dementia, Faith makes concrete plans for them to travel west. She believes it’s her responsibility to protect him from painful memories of lost loved ones. Are we ever justified in making decisions for an older adult’s life? When is it acceptable to step in, and when should we step back?

7. Faith doesn’t see herself as attractive. When Royal begins to court her, she’s flattered to be the envy of other single women. Her pride in his attention leads her to ignore warning signals. In our own lives, do we let the opinions of others influence our choices? What are some examples?

8. Faith’s friend, Rosemary, is looked down upon by some in the community for her wartime service as a nurse. Were you surprised to learn that female nurses were held in such low esteem at that time?

9. Friendship plays a big part in Faith’s story. Have you ever had a friend who was there for you no matter what? Can you share an example?

10. Faith’s grandfather has a Bible verse that he’s used to guide his decisions throughout his life. Do you have such a verse? What is it?