Rain

Walking Through the Rain takes place in 1681 in Hawley Village, Massachusetts. Hawley Village is a small Puritan village a few miles from Salem. This town, while being Puritan, has a lot of secret rule breakers. Gossip plays a somewhat prominent part in this town, and anything less than ideal or normal is frowned upon. Everything is, though hardly perfect, workable until Reverend Davidson comes to Hawley Village to report an accusation of "witch." The story follows several different characters and stories.

The first is that of the Reverend Charles Harris and his Catholic wife Christina. As far as Puritan reverends are concerned, Charles is very easy going and not so much fire and brimstone. However, he is still very devoted to God and does not take the breaking of rules and laws lightly. Christina is very new to the village, and as such, many people are uncomfortable with her presence. Though her husband is aware that she is a member of the Catholic faith, the other members of the small community are not. Christina is trying to keep her faith somewhat hidden, and hides a rosary behind the bible kept in the Harris' main room.

The second is that of the Blakely family. Andrew and Josephine Blakely are both teachers in Hawley Village: Andrew teaching boys, Josephine teaching girls. At the beginning of the story, they are expecting their first child. This was subject to some drama (for lack of a better word) as they had been married some time and unable to successfully produce. Despite this, the Blakely's are a very well-loved family. Josephine was also at one time new to the village, and as she has now mostly worked her way past the initial fears, she is helping Christina to do the same.

Third is that of Louisa Carpenter, a young woman who is living on her own and being sought after by several young men. She grew up in a strict Puritan village, possibly Salem, until her mother died. At this time her father moved to Hawley Village and bought a great deal of farming land. Following the death of her father, she is left with all of his land as well as a sizable house and no one to tend the land or live with. She is a stunning beauty even through the conservative, black and white dress she wears.

The final story is that of William Clay. William Clay is a young man who has been helping the Carpenter's farming the land since before her father's death. He also helps several other families with any farming needs they have. This, while giving him a good reputation, also gives him a negative reputation. Many of the men, especially the ones vying for Louisa Carpenter's heart, feel her is giving himself too much of a good reputation and that he could use it to manipulate people. He is a devoted worker and Puritan whose heart always seems to be in the right place.