Everyone in this part of 1896 Kentucky says that Copper Pelfrey is the best baby catcher around. Copper loves her ministry to the ladies in the area as a midwife. She loves farm life too, although she hasn't always lived on a farm. Her deceased first husband was a doctor, and she lived with him and their daughter, Lilly Gray, in the city. But this life suits her best, and she adores her husband, John, and their three children.

When a letter comes with a train ticket for Lilly to visit her Aunt Alice in the city, Copper hesitates to tell Lilly. She does not want to share Lilly with her first husband's sister, fearing Alice will try to lure Lilly away from Copper. She has a fine house and fine things that a young girl would desire. But Copper decides she has to let Lilly go.

Just as they are about to leave for the train, a rider comes to get Copper for a delivery. She leaves Lilly with Manda, the hired girl, to get her to the train on time. As Manda is slopping the hog, Lilly decides to go for a walk. She hears a dog barking furiously and is curious, so she wanders down to the pond of a neighbor. She discovers that the neighbor has put the dog's puppies in a tote sack and thrown them into the pond. As Lilly tries to rescue the pups, she finds herself captured by Isa Still, owner of the pond, and locked up in an old tin building.

Manda thinks that Lilly went to the train without her, and decides to leave and visit her sister, leaving a note to that effect for the Pelfrey's. The family learns that the train Lilly is supposed to be on has wrecked. Lilly is not found at the wreckage, and no one knows for sure where she is.

The family's faith is surely tried in the search for Lilly, who discovers things about herself she did not realize as she's held captive on the Still's property. This is a delightful inspirational, historical novel that will warm your heart and renew your faith that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord." Both Lilly and her parents cling to that promise throughout the ordeal.

Book Summary

Lilly Gray Corbett loves living on Troublesome Creek, but she would much rather play with her best friend than watch her little brother and the twins. Her mama, Copper, is often gone helping to birth babies, and Lilly has to stay home. When Aunt Alice sends a note inviting her to visit in the city, Lilly is excited to go, and Copper reluctantly agrees to let her. Later, when they hear the news that the train crashed, Copper and her husband, John, rush to find out if their daughter is injured . . . or even alive.