by Kim Vogel Sawyer
In September of 2020, as restrictions were beginning to lift following the COVID quarantine, my husband took me on a surprise belated 35th anniversary trip to Cañon City, Colorado. He knew I’d always wanted to ride on a 1800s train, so he booked a breakfast ride that took us along the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge. An amazing experience!
The weather allowed us to go out on a flat, railed car for up-close views of the gorge. Midway on the ride, we spotted a ramshackle house perched on a rise. And close to the water below that rise was a portion of a battered pipeline. But not just any pipeline. This seemed to be made of wooden staves. Imagine a long barrel set on its side. It was unlike anything I’d seen before, so it piqued my interest.
Whenever we travel, we always visit museums. The former history teacher in me must be appeased. Fortunately, Hubby enjoys them, too, so we wandered through the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center. To my delight, I spotted a photograph of the pipeline (before it got battered). An article beneath the photograph explained that in 1910, a 7-mile long pipeline constructed of redwood staves carried fresh water to Cañon City residents and businesses. Being built of wood, it was prone to leaks, so the city hired a Line Walker—a man who literally walked the entire length of the pipeline every day of the year to watch for leaks or other damage.
A Line Walker. Wow, did that capture my attention! My what-if wheels started turning and Hope’s Enduring Echo began to take shape.
Around another corner in the museum, I came upon a display of prehistoric bones collected by a local businessman, William Dallas DeWeese, in the 1910s and ’20s. I chortled with glee. I’ve always loved dinosaurs. Mostly because my dad loves dinosaurs. My second-oldest grandson aspired to become a paleontologist. What if I combined the pipeline with a dinosaur discovery?
Home again, still intrigued by what I’d seen, I did some research. The more I read, the more I wanted to set a story in Cañon City that included the Line Walker and a wannabe paleontologist. My paleontologist came to life in the form of college student Leo Day, who came from a long line of ministers—back three generations. This young man was determined to prove a connection between science and biblical accounts despite his father’s disappointment in his choice of careers. But Leo believed a person didn’t have to be a preacher to share truths about God. Now for his father to believe it, too.
With my hero established, I needed a heroine. Well, what if the real Line Walker suffered an injury and couldn’t walk the line? What if the family would be put out of their home and lose their means of support because of it? What if there was another family member—an unlikely family member, such as a teenage daughter—who secretly walked the line to provide for the family? And just like that, Jennie Ward stepped onto the stage. Jennie loves her daddy, but she feels trapped in that cabin far from town. She longs for a different life. Or even just a friend to call her own …
Something I uncovered in my research that had to find its way into the story was that little sunlight reaches the valley where the Line Walker lived. Even during the summer months, the sun shone directly on their home for fewer than two hours a day. The rest of the time, they lived in shadow. How would that affect a person over time? Especially someone who’s already hurting physically, feeling useless and weak?
Mental illness during the early 1900s was greatly misunderstood, and those who suffered received little kindness. At one point in the story, a character ruminates that people were more sympathetic about a broken-down wagon than a broken-down man. Sadly, despite the advancements in treatments, a stigma about mental illness still exists. I admit, it wasn’t an easy topic to write about, but it belonged in this story. I truly hope seeing the effect of mental illness played out in Otto’s life will develop compassion for real-life people who suffer from an illness that can’t be physically seen.
I fell in love with daydreamer Jennie, studious Leo, faithful Etta, and proud Otto. They learned that hope is always at our fingertips! I pray readers see it, too.
About the Author
Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, bestselling author with more than 1.5 million books in print in seven different languages. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband, Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. Learn more about her at kimvogelsawyer.com.
About the Book
Since an accident left her father unable to work, Jennie Ward has taken on the demanding task of inspecting the isolated seven-mile wooden pipeline. One day, in a moment of impulsive and seemingly hopeless prayer, she asks God for companionship. Her prayer is answered almost immediately with the arrival of Leo Day, a paleontology student. As Jennie navigates her burgeoning friendship with Leo and her unwavering loyalty to her father, she finds herself torn.
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