Read Online Beside Still Waters by Tricia Goyer - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tricia Goyer
Tags: Fiction, General, Family Life, Montana, Man-Woman Relationships, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Families, Amish, Spiritual life, Amish Children
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and chased the coin sounded flat to her ears.
Pain pierced her forehead right above her temples, and she knelt to retrieve the items. Her hand reached for the pressed flower and she noticed fresh blood seeping through the bandage. The pain was nothing compared to her heart. She imagined it split open and bleeding within.
They couldn't do this. They couldn't take her from Aaron. If they ever loved her, surely they'd let her stay.
Dear Journal,
I wish my brother were here. I have a thing or two to say to him. Haven't our parents been through enough? Does he wish to shame them even more by causing Naomi to stray?
That's only the beginning. I've been thinking about so many things. If he came back and joined the flock, I doubt Dat would want to leave. But even more important, what about God? I wonder if Levi realizes that walking away from God's way is sure to bring wrath upon him? We are to be set apart. We were the ones chosen to do God's work. Levi should embrace the fact he was chosen—not run away from it. Even the tourists that visit can see God's hand upon us. They are drawn to us because they see something different.
What I hate even more is to think how much God is displeased by my brother's actions. I've heard of what has happened to people who've left the faith . . . and I don't want anything to happen. I'm scared for this and for so many things. I wish things were the way they used to be. I was used to Mem's sad gaze as she looked to Marilyn and Joanna's trees. But losing a brother, and possibly a home, is something I'll never get used to.
A chill travelled up Aaron's arms as he sat on the front porch of his small house. Or at least what would be the front porch soon. All it was now was a few concrete blocks with boards set on top. His feet rested on the mud, that hadn't quite dried up from the last rain. He knew his mom would most likely get on him for muddying up his boots, but that couldn't be helped. A construction project wasn't the neatest place.
Beside him a lantern's glow sent a halo of light into the night. On his lap was his sketch book. He opened it, glancing over the sketches he'd drawn of his cabin. It was nothing fancy. A living area with kitchen, a large bedroom, and a small bathroom. It would be enough to get started.
He flipped past that, turning over blank pages. Near the back was his sketches. Yesterday he'd finished a landscape of his favorite fishing spot. Looking at it, he could almost feel the tug of the pole in his hand. Could almost hear the lapping of the water against the rocky bank. On the next page was one of their barn cat's new litter of kittens. He turned to the next page, and that was the one he paused on. It was a sketch of Marianna. He'd captured her in his mind sitting on the grass near the sandbox at the Yoder's farm. Her eyes were bright, surprised like they'd been when he'd looked back and noted her watching him. Her lips were lifted in a soft smile, and it warmed his heart just seeing them in the sketch. Aaron lifted his pencil and worked on her hand holding a piece of plucked grass. He could almost smell the scent of spring as he drew.
His smile faded as the sound of footsteps in the gravel on the side of the house took him by surprise. He dropped his pencil and quickly flipped back to the sketches of his house plans.
"Don't have a heart attack. It's only me." His friend Joseph walked around the side of the building. "It's not yer pa."
"You could have said something . . . when you were getting closer."
"And miss the look of panic on yer face?" Joseph folded his arms across his chest. "Although I don't see what yer so worried of . . ."
Aaron leaned down and picked up his pencil, wiping off the mud on his jeans.
"You know how my father is. There's work and there's sleep, and not much time for anything else."
"Too bad. You have a real talent."
Aaron cleared his throat. "And where will that lead? You think I'm gonna have a gallery showing like the Englisch? Have
Pain pierced her forehead right above her temples, and she knelt to retrieve the items. Her hand reached for the pressed flower and she noticed fresh blood seeping through the bandage. The pain was nothing compared to her heart. She imagined it split open and bleeding within.
They couldn't do this. They couldn't take her from Aaron. If they ever loved her, surely they'd let her stay.
Dear Journal,
I wish my brother were here. I have a thing or two to say to him. Haven't our parents been through enough? Does he wish to shame them even more by causing Naomi to stray?
That's only the beginning. I've been thinking about so many things. If he came back and joined the flock, I doubt Dat would want to leave. But even more important, what about God? I wonder if Levi realizes that walking away from God's way is sure to bring wrath upon him? We are to be set apart. We were the ones chosen to do God's work. Levi should embrace the fact he was chosen—not run away from it. Even the tourists that visit can see God's hand upon us. They are drawn to us because they see something different.
What I hate even more is to think how much God is displeased by my brother's actions. I've heard of what has happened to people who've left the faith . . . and I don't want anything to happen. I'm scared for this and for so many things. I wish things were the way they used to be. I was used to Mem's sad gaze as she looked to Marilyn and Joanna's trees. But losing a brother, and possibly a home, is something I'll never get used to.
A chill travelled up Aaron's arms as he sat on the front porch of his small house. Or at least what would be the front porch soon. All it was now was a few concrete blocks with boards set on top. His feet rested on the mud, that hadn't quite dried up from the last rain. He knew his mom would most likely get on him for muddying up his boots, but that couldn't be helped. A construction project wasn't the neatest place.
Beside him a lantern's glow sent a halo of light into the night. On his lap was his sketch book. He opened it, glancing over the sketches he'd drawn of his cabin. It was nothing fancy. A living area with kitchen, a large bedroom, and a small bathroom. It would be enough to get started.
He flipped past that, turning over blank pages. Near the back was his sketches. Yesterday he'd finished a landscape of his favorite fishing spot. Looking at it, he could almost feel the tug of the pole in his hand. Could almost hear the lapping of the water against the rocky bank. On the next page was one of their barn cat's new litter of kittens. He turned to the next page, and that was the one he paused on. It was a sketch of Marianna. He'd captured her in his mind sitting on the grass near the sandbox at the Yoder's farm. Her eyes were bright, surprised like they'd been when he'd looked back and noted her watching him. Her lips were lifted in a soft smile, and it warmed his heart just seeing them in the sketch. Aaron lifted his pencil and worked on her hand holding a piece of plucked grass. He could almost smell the scent of spring as he drew.
His smile faded as the sound of footsteps in the gravel on the side of the house took him by surprise. He dropped his pencil and quickly flipped back to the sketches of his house plans.
"Don't have a heart attack. It's only me." His friend Joseph walked around the side of the building. "It's not yer pa."
"You could have said something . . . when you were getting closer."
"And miss the look of panic on yer face?" Joseph folded his arms across his chest. "Although I don't see what yer so worried of . . ."
Aaron leaned down and picked up his pencil, wiping off the mud on his jeans.
"You know how my father is. There's work and there's sleep, and not much time for anything else."
"Too bad. You have a real talent."
Aaron cleared his throat. "And where will that lead? You think I'm gonna have a gallery showing like the Englisch? Have
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