There wouldn’t be a sky full of stars if we were all meant to wish on the same one. — Unknown
Hope you enjoy another Appalachian scene in my Appalachian book giveaway chance. I asked last post which book you might like to see another scene from. An Appalachian Summer was the five vote choice. I’m still surprised I only got one request for something from The Song of Sourwood Mountain. Along a Storied Trail and These Healing Hills got two votes each. We will see what book wins out for a Wednesday night scene. Might be author’s choice, but I’m open to being influenced.
I wanted to share something that had the Appalachian atmosphere. I think the following scene on a hillside at the Frontier Nursing Service headquarters in Wendover fits the bill. An Appalachian Summer features Piper Danson (nicknamed Danny by the FNS people) as one of the young society women who volunteered their time to come to the mountains to take care of the horses, run errands, muck out stalls, help with the cooking and cleaning, whatever was needed to assist the nurse midwives. With these girls as characters, I stirred in a little more romance. What better place to do that than under a skyful of stars. So here goes.
“Won’t you lovely ladies join me for a late-night repast here on the front stoop of my abode?” Jamie patted the ground beside him, the very place Piper wanted to sit. Suze was on his other side.
“We’ll get chiggers.” Piper sat down, but she made sure to leave space between her and Jamie.
“Won’t be the first time.” Suze tore open her candy wrapper. “But it’s not every day we can go to a dinner party under the stars where they serve our favorite food. Chocolate.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Piper.” Jamie took a bite of his candy. “I was feeling kind of lean.”
“You should have bought some supplies in the town.” Piper didn’t like how she kept sounding like somebody’s mother. But the memory of the blonde girl in Louisville kept poking her. It was best she keep thinking like a mother. Or at least a sister.
“I guess so, but you know me. Sometimes I forget to think ahead,” Jamie said. “Besides, I had no idea where I might land when I got here.”
“Probably didn’t think it would be on a hillside in a tent,” Suze said as she tore the rest of the wrapper off her candy bar.
“You’re right about that. I feel far from home here,” Jamie said. “Although it’s not really that far in miles.”
“Suze is the one far from home,” Piper said. “She’s from New York City.”
“Really?” Jamie looked at Suze. “And what brings you all the way down here to this spot on a mountainside?”
“I wanted to try something different,” Suze said. “At least that’s how I felt last summer. This year, I couldn’t wait to get back. I love it here where I’m doing something that matters.” She looked around Jamie toward Piper. “Is that how you feel too, Danny?”
“I’m not an old hand the way you are,” Piper said. “But yes, it is.”
“Okay, your turn, Mr. Russell,” Suze said. “Why are you here?”
“Do you want the truth, Miss Tipton?” Jamie asked, but he wasn’t looking at Suze. He was looking at Piper.
“Of course. Is there anything else?” Suze said.
“I could tell you many things. That I want to write a story. That like you and Piper, I seek adventure and purpose. Both of those could be true, but not the real reason why I’m sitting here on a hill in the Appalachian Mountains under the stars.” Jamie didn’t reach and touch Piper, but his voice wrapped around her.
“So are you going to give us the real reason, Mr. Russell, or leave us to wonder?” Piper almost whispered the words.
“Perhaps wondering is best.”
“Perhaps. If the truth is too hard to say.” Piper turned her eyes away from Jamie to stare up at the sky. In the silence that followed her words, she wasn’t sure she couldn’t hear the stars twinkling.
Hope you enjoyed the scene. Now on to the giveaway chance. Deadline to enter is midnight EST Saturday March 7, 2026. You can enter by leaving a comment here on this post. If you’ve left a comment already on either or both of the two previous posts during the giveaway, you can get another entry by leaving a comment on this post too. You must be at least 18 to enter. The winner will be contacted by email and the name, first name and initial only, announced on my blog on the 8th.
I’ll ask a question this time that you can answer if you want although any comment will do for an entry. But since we’re talking stars…
Have you ever wished on the first star of the evening?
I wish I may. I wish I might. First star I see tonight.
I think that’s how the wish chant went. Also, if you were a wisher like me as a kid, did you think you had to see a different star before you looked back at the star you wished on or the wish wouldn’t come true? I always did that when I was a kid even though I didn’t really expect my wish to come true. Who knows? If I’m out now when the first star shows up in the evening sky, I might throw up another wish or two. 🙂
Comments 20
My memory of the old star “chant” is
“Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight
Wish I may, wish I might have the wish I wish tonight.”
I’ve not heard the part about looking at another star before going back to the wishing star to avoid cancelling out your wish.
Author
I didn’t finish the chant out, did I, Roberta? I do remember saying those or similar added on lines. As for having to see another star before you looked back at the wished on star, I guess some people have to try to make things more difficult. LOL.
When I was young, my room was kind of separated from the rest of the house. My Mom, Grandpa and some friends, turned the garage into my bedroom and the laundry/supply room.
I remember feeling lonely some nights, so I’d look out the window, up at the stars and whisper that phrase. It didn’t matter which star, to me, but I was certain that my wish would come true. It didn’t, but God gave me more than I had ever wished for.
Author
The Lord sometimes knows the best answers, doesn’t he, Debra? I can see you at your window when you were a girl and taking comfort wishing on the stars. I have a scene something like that in one of my Hollyhill books where Jocie is at the window staring out into the night and hearing the whippoorwills. I think it was the second one, Orchard of Hope.
I love looking at the stars on my deck in the summer and on these cold winter nights I look out my windows or French doors and marvel at how many there are. I still wish once in awhile but always did as a child. Blessings
Author
I love being able to see the stars, Lucy. I think that being able to see the sky full of stars centers a person and can’t imagine living where I’d never see stars.
I don’t recall wishing on the first star.
Author
Maybe you were more practical and just worked and planned to get what you wanted to happen, Diana. But the best I remember, my wishes were silly things that didn’t matter all the much. The things that matter we need to turn into prayers instead of wishes.
I can’t recall wishing on the first star for some reason but I do wish on shooting stars!
Author
I don’t think I ever wished on a shooting star, Kris. For one thing I’m not very good at spotting them. Always loved see them when I did though. If I see one know, I’ll remember to make a wish. Nothing but clouds here tonighyt.
I was raised in the country and yes, I wished upon a star Love the covers of your books they sound amazing!
Author
I’ve lived on a farm all my life, Sarah. Love country life and can’t imagine living in town. Neighbors did move back here on our little lane to give me close neighbors but for years we were pretty isolated with neighbors a little ways a way.
So glad you like the covers of my books. Revell, my publisher, does a great job of making wonderful covers for the books they publish.
I grew up a country girl, so yes, I’ve wished upon a star many times. I still am a country girl, so I love looking at the stars and remembering my wishes as a child.
Author
I grew up a country girl too, Susan. Actually, I’m still a country girl and I do love looking at the stars too.
I think I probably wished on a 🌟 star, when I was younger, but it’s been so long, I can’t remember what the wish was. Maybe I’ll go outside now and find a star and wish that Win the giveaway!
Author
You make me smile, Jolynn. That’s a fun wish and who knows? It might come true. I don’t remember the wishes I made on stars either, but I’m sure they meant something to me at the time. 🙂
I have! It’s hard to see stars at night now, there are so many other lights all around! A friend and I went to Micanopy quite a few years ago now, and we were both astounded by all of the stars. It was almost like seeing them all for the first time, since it had been so long since we could see so many.
Author
Yes, Trudy, if you can get away from all the artificial lights, the stars you can see multiply. I always cringe if a neighbor decides to put up an outdoor every night light. Right now our neighborhood doesn’t have any of those night lights and I’m happy. But if you go out into the wilderness where there are no lights at all, I’m sure the stars would be amazing.
That scene makes me want to reread your book! It also reminds me of spending two weeks in the summer at my grandparents in Pennsylvania.
Author
That’s great, Paula. I’m glad my post brought you some fun memories.