Read Online A Reluctant Bride by Kathleen Fuller - Free Book Online Page A

adie sat on the hard wooden chair across from Bishop Troyer. He was behind a simple small desk. The surface was neat and tidy, with only a short stack of papers, a Bible, and a pen in sight. Such a stark contrast to her father’s jumbled desktop. Sadie opened her purse and pulled out the legal pad she’d been writing on earlier. She kept her gaze averted as she handed it to him.
    He perused the figures before carefully placing the pad on his desk. “This is all so tragic, Sadie. So . . . senseless.”
    â€œI thought you said it was God’s will.”
    â€œOh, it is. I have nee doubt about that. But knowing that it’s God’s will that yer parents departed this earth and left behind three daughters and an extraordinary amount of debt doesn’t make it any less unfortunate.”
    Sadie cringed, wishing she hadn’t come. She’d never understood the bishop’s tendency toward such formal speech. He sounded almost like he was from another time when he talked, especially when he preached. Since their district had been so small for so long, he wasn’t just the bishop, but also minister and deacon. He filled all the roles in the church, although she recalled her father saying a few weeks ago that since their numbers had grown, it might be the right time to select a minister or two. But as far as she knew, nothing ever came of that.
    Tonight his words weren’t just overly formal. They cut her deeply.
    â€œI understand yer sisters are in Middlefield.” Bishop Troyer looked at Sadie, a slight frown tugging at his lips above his gray beard. “I wish you would have consulted me before making the decision to send Joanna there.”
    â€œMiddlefield has the closest rehabilitation center. There really wasn’t much of a decision to make.”
    â€œStill, it would have been nice to have been informed. Since yer father is nee longer here, I’d like you to consider me a vatter figure in his absence.”
    Sadie stilled. “That’s . . . kind of you, Bishop Troyer.” No one would ever, ever replace her father. She ignored his offer and got down to the real reason she was here. “I need some help. I plan on opening the store on Monday, but it will take time to get enough money to pay the expenses from the”—she swallowed the hard lump that had jumped to her throat—“accident.”
    â€œI see.” He stared at her for a long moment.
    She started to shrink beneath his gaze. His eyes were on her, but he seemed to be looking right through her. Why couldn’t he give her what she needed so she could be on her way? The only good thing was that Sol didn’t seem to be home. Seeing Aden had been bad enough.
    Then the bishop’s eyes seemed to focus, a spark of light glimmering from them. “I have the utmost sympathy for you, Sadie. You’ve lost yer parents, yer youngest sister is gravely injured, and yer other sister is away from home. You’re alone, Sadie. All alone. That is a desperate place to be.”
    â€œBut I’m not alone,” she said. “God is with me.”
    The bishop cleared his throat. “That is true. He is a Father to the fatherless.”
    She lifted her chin. “I also have mei friends—”
    â€œBut it’s not the same, is it?” He leaned forward in the chair. “Having friends who drop by, who pat you on the back and bring you casseroles and tell you everything will be all right, isn’t what you want. It isn’t what you need.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    The bishop clasped his hands together. “So many responsibilities are being thrust upon you.” He started ticking off a list on his fingers. “The hospital bills. Running the store. Maintaining a household. Keeping up with the seven acres of property yer parents owned. It’s too much for one person to handle. While God is yer spiritual Father, you also need someone to help you