Read Online Year of Jubilee by Peggy Trotter - Free Book Online

might have
dangerous results. Help me trust, Lord, if he is worthy. If he
is not, Lord, keep me safe.
    * * *
    “Church?” The word came out of her mouth as
a squeak and brought Rafe to a stop in the middle of his sentence.
They sat across from each other, having a delicious, stilted
dinner. Then he’d dropped his idea of going to the morning
service.
    “Do you not want to?” he asked.
    She blinked. Of course she wanted to go.
She’d yearned to attend since coming to this lonely cabin with
Colvin two years before, but he wouldn’t even discuss the
possibility.
    “I…”
    Dared she tell the absolute truth? Surviving
the Orphan Society, being bound out to Mrs. Galston, as well as
life with Colvin, had taught her to filter her answers to reflect
what the hearer wanted. Examining his friendly, warm expression,
she decided to take a chance. Warmth spread up her neck.
    “I’d love to go.”
    A grin broke across his face and Jubilee
caught her breath. She flicked her gaze to her plate.
    “Excellent. I’d hoped you’d want to. I
promised Pastor Barnett, after all, and I remembered the other day
we hadn’t been yet.”
    She contemplated the new shirt she’d
finished for him. The garment was burgundy and would look fine for
church if he had no other. She’d make sure she gave it to him
before he took his leave tonight. Her thoughts came to a halt as he
continued to speak.
    “Uh, I’ve also got some more news.”
    She gazed at him. His face had lost its
carefree grin and had now been replaced by a puckered brow.
    “I received a letter from my family,” He
took a drink of water before his eyes came back to hers. “They’re
inviting us to come so they can meet you.”
    Jubilee’s stomach practically hit the floor.
She clutched the table edge and looked down. Had this plate
contained tasty food? Because, right now, the meal looked awful.
Her hand worried her skirt and, when she didn’t reply, he
continued.
    “I thought the best time to go would be in
the next couple of months while the crops are growing. I can get
one of the neighbors to take care of the animals. Perhaps one of
the boys could weed the garden. We’ll go by steamboat up the Ohio.
It’s a long haul in a wagon.”
    His voice was so calm and quiet. Yet a
buzzing began in her head. Visiting family? People who’d believe
they were just any ordinary couple? An actual family? What did one
do with kin? How in the world would she cope in a house full of
strangers?
    “Should I go ahead and get the tickets?”
    She tried to wrap her brain around the
matter. Had he asked a question?
    “Jubilee?”
    She jerked her head up.
    “I’d really like for us to go and visit my
family. Is it okay?”
    She could do nothing but echo his last
words. “Is it okay? I…you’re asking me?” A little bit of her fear
turned to surprise.
    He nodded. “I know we’re business partners
in this farm, but we need to work and make decisions together.
Please feel free to tell me what you want. In a lot of ways, we
really are a married couple like other people see us. We oughta get
along and have happy lives. This is a big decision, and I aim for
you to have your say.”
    * * *
    Rafe watched her face go from fear to
confusion to surprise. The poor girl had no idea how transparent
her emotions were most of the time. Teasingly, he gave a small
smile to take away the seriousness of the moment and watched as a
pink blush covered her cheeks before she lowered her head.
    Maybe she needed a spell to think on it.
“You can decide over the next couple of days and let me know on the
drive to church. That sound okay?”
    She nodded but didn’t lift her chin again.
Rafe’s smile grew as he excused himself and went whistling out the
door.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Next day, after breakfast, Rafe whistled
again as he headed for the garden shed to collect implements. He
stopped dead when his eyes caught Jubilee, bent over, sticking
seeds in a long furrow. The shovel, rake and hoe lay next to