Read Online For Every Season by Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book Online
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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That wasn’t like her, and the chip on Jacob’s shoulder began to quake. “All I wanted was you . Here. For me. I didn’t think I had a chance of anyone else noticing I was missing. When I was too exhausted and too lost to know how to get back to the farm, I sat in the snow, and the temperature continued to drop. Your brother should’ve thought I was in my room asleep. But he knew I wasn’t”—she tapped the center of her chest—“like I sometimes know things. And he knew it because we’d grown close as I went through the worst time I could imagine. He came through the woods on horseback, calling for me.” She smiled at Samuel. “He woke me. Brought me light to see and strength to lean on so I could get home. Of course, he complained like I was a disobedient child.” She tossed a whispery laugh in Samuel’s direction.
Jacob was unbelievably grateful she’d been found, but that didn’t keep possessiveness from burning inside him. He didn’t want to be that guy. One of the beautiful things about his relationship with Rhoda was he’d felt secure in who they were. They’d had an easy, fun connection.
She looked into his eyes, and even though he still had concerns about her feelings for Samuel, she was right. He had to accept some of the responsibility for what had taken place.
Disappointment pressed in on him. He glanced at Samuel, seeing a man caught in a storm he wasn’t prepared for. Still, something about Samuel’s rash behavior nagged at him, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was. “Okay. I’ll carry my share of the blame. But you seem so confident in your loyalty to Samuel. Where am I in all this?”
Her gentle smile gave him hope. He’d let his disillusion with Sandra change what he knew to be true about Rhoda. She wouldn’t hide the truth from him. That was encouraging.
Then another realization hit. What if she was unaware of her real feelings for Samuel?
She moved closer and caressed Jacob’s face. “Friends enrich our lives. Business partners add to who we are. But you are the foundation I want to build my life on.”
Her words dropped understanding into his consciousness: people make mistakes and need grace for their relationships to continue to grow. The chip on his shoulder fell, and the weight that was lifted surprised him. He slid her hand from his cheek to his lips and kissed her palm, taking a welcome sigh of relief.
Besides, he knew Samuel drove her nuts by being hardheaded. Her gratefulness for all Samuel had done could not erase the reality that the two of them were oil and water. Some days they were dynamite and matches. She and Jacob were like sunshine and vacation. Some days they were the ocean and scuba diving—a favorite pastime of his, discovered during his time with the Englisch.
And like him and the ocean, he and Rhoda were a perfect combination that had been separated too often and for too long.
Regardless of what his lawyer had to say to him, Jacob wouldn’t do one more thing that would hinder building a life with Rhoda.
He turned to Samuel but couldn’t bring himself to offer his hand. Despite whatever peace Rhoda would fight to gain between Samuel and him, could he risk the three of them remaining on the same farm? He didn’t think so.
But that was trouble for another day. For now he wanted to forget about Samuel and have some time alone with Rhoda.
“How about that buggy ride?”
SIX
Rhoda hurried, putting on her stockings and shoes. Jacob had wanted to wait for her in the buggy, but Camilla stepped onto the porch and insisted he at least step inside for these few minutes. As Rhoda pinned up her hair and secured her prayer Kapp, she could hear that they were still standing in the foyer. Jacob had probably politely refused to come in and take a seat in the living room. She imagined Camilla had far more questions for Jacob than he’d ever answer.
She stepped out of her bedroom and into the foyer.
Jacob looked her way. “You ready?”
She
Jacob was unbelievably grateful she’d been found, but that didn’t keep possessiveness from burning inside him. He didn’t want to be that guy. One of the beautiful things about his relationship with Rhoda was he’d felt secure in who they were. They’d had an easy, fun connection.
She looked into his eyes, and even though he still had concerns about her feelings for Samuel, she was right. He had to accept some of the responsibility for what had taken place.
Disappointment pressed in on him. He glanced at Samuel, seeing a man caught in a storm he wasn’t prepared for. Still, something about Samuel’s rash behavior nagged at him, but he couldn’t quite grasp what it was. “Okay. I’ll carry my share of the blame. But you seem so confident in your loyalty to Samuel. Where am I in all this?”
Her gentle smile gave him hope. He’d let his disillusion with Sandra change what he knew to be true about Rhoda. She wouldn’t hide the truth from him. That was encouraging.
Then another realization hit. What if she was unaware of her real feelings for Samuel?
She moved closer and caressed Jacob’s face. “Friends enrich our lives. Business partners add to who we are. But you are the foundation I want to build my life on.”
Her words dropped understanding into his consciousness: people make mistakes and need grace for their relationships to continue to grow. The chip on his shoulder fell, and the weight that was lifted surprised him. He slid her hand from his cheek to his lips and kissed her palm, taking a welcome sigh of relief.
Besides, he knew Samuel drove her nuts by being hardheaded. Her gratefulness for all Samuel had done could not erase the reality that the two of them were oil and water. Some days they were dynamite and matches. She and Jacob were like sunshine and vacation. Some days they were the ocean and scuba diving—a favorite pastime of his, discovered during his time with the Englisch.
And like him and the ocean, he and Rhoda were a perfect combination that had been separated too often and for too long.
Regardless of what his lawyer had to say to him, Jacob wouldn’t do one more thing that would hinder building a life with Rhoda.
He turned to Samuel but couldn’t bring himself to offer his hand. Despite whatever peace Rhoda would fight to gain between Samuel and him, could he risk the three of them remaining on the same farm? He didn’t think so.
But that was trouble for another day. For now he wanted to forget about Samuel and have some time alone with Rhoda.
“How about that buggy ride?”
SIX
Rhoda hurried, putting on her stockings and shoes. Jacob had wanted to wait for her in the buggy, but Camilla stepped onto the porch and insisted he at least step inside for these few minutes. As Rhoda pinned up her hair and secured her prayer Kapp, she could hear that they were still standing in the foyer. Jacob had probably politely refused to come in and take a seat in the living room. She imagined Camilla had far more questions for Jacob than he’d ever answer.
She stepped out of her bedroom and into the foyer.
Jacob looked her way. “You ready?”
She
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