Read Online For Every Season by Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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suddenly remembered she wasn’t. “The dishes and apple butter … I need to clean up the kitchen.”
Camilla hugged her. “You go. I’ll clean up. It’ll be payment for that year’s worth of salsa you’re going to make for us.”
“Deal.” She put on her coat again.
As she walked toward the rig, she went through the Cranfords’ yard just ahead of Jacob. The disquiet between them was as uncomfortable as when her sister had hidden her shoes on a church day and Rhoda had to wear a pair entirely too small.
Jacob stepped ahead of her and opened the carriage door. When she stood mere inches from him, staring into his green eyes, she wanted to put her hands on his face and pull his lips to hers. But she didn’t feel he would welcome that. Was it her imagination? As she climbed in on the passenger’s side, she could no longer deny that everything between her and Jacob had changed.
How long would it take to get back what they’d once had?
There was no way to know, but she was a nurturer at heart. It’s why she loved tending herbs and fruits. All she needed to do was understand what nutrientsand natural elements—like sun and water—were missing and instill those daily in the right amounts. With time and effort she could regrow and replenish almost anything that harsh conditions had caused to wither.
“You ready?” He flipped on the new headlights and tapped the reins against the horse’s back.
“Absolutely.” She smiled, using one of his favorite sayings.
He pulled onto the road, and she searched for something to talk about. “The buggy looks great. Lights, mirrors.”
He pushed a fleece blanket her way.
“Denki.”
“I’ve been fixing it up for you so you’d have a better way to get back and forth between here and the farm.”
Several emotions churned, mixing into one that was relatively new and yet entirely too old. Knowing he’d been thinking of her and doing something kind during the two weeks of silence was like a balm on her heart. But disappointment fought against that. He still didn’t want her to move back to the farm? Heartache and optimism swirled into what could best be described as hopeful torment. Was that to be her new relationship with Jacob?
“I would need a paddock for the horse.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. There’s one not too far from the Cranfords’ house. It just needs some fixing up, a little fence mending, and I’d be glad to do it. Or I could come get you each morning and … take you home each evening. It’d be more like us having a real courtship.”
He didn’t look at her. Was he afraid she’d turn him down? What had his life been like during those long months they were apart?
“It’d be really nice to have some time alone with you before and after the workday.”
He reached across the seat, and she thought he was going to hold her hand, but their fingers barely touched before he withdrew his hand. The warmth of his touch made her long to slide in closer, but she didn’t dare. They rode in silence. Was Jacob doing the same thing she was—biting his tongue in fear of saying the wrong thing? Did he have accusations against her? She still had a few grievances she wanted to air, but morally speaking, she was in the wrong, nothim. Still, they would have to talk honestly with each other if they wanted to heal.
“How are Sandra and Casey?”
He grimaced. “I haven’t talked to Sandra.” When he spoke, his voice was heavy. “I need to … for Casey’s sake. Sandra gets along better when I stay in contact, but I can’t seem to pick up the phone.”
Insight dropped into her heart: despite his sense of humor and gentleness, Jacob wasn’t good at facing the harder side of any relationship. “Can I do anything?”
He shook his head.
She slid her hands under the blanket. “Maybe I could call her for—”
“That’s not a good idea, even though I’d like to have some answers without having to talk to her. But you wouldn’t know
Camilla hugged her. “You go. I’ll clean up. It’ll be payment for that year’s worth of salsa you’re going to make for us.”
“Deal.” She put on her coat again.
As she walked toward the rig, she went through the Cranfords’ yard just ahead of Jacob. The disquiet between them was as uncomfortable as when her sister had hidden her shoes on a church day and Rhoda had to wear a pair entirely too small.
Jacob stepped ahead of her and opened the carriage door. When she stood mere inches from him, staring into his green eyes, she wanted to put her hands on his face and pull his lips to hers. But she didn’t feel he would welcome that. Was it her imagination? As she climbed in on the passenger’s side, she could no longer deny that everything between her and Jacob had changed.
How long would it take to get back what they’d once had?
There was no way to know, but she was a nurturer at heart. It’s why she loved tending herbs and fruits. All she needed to do was understand what nutrientsand natural elements—like sun and water—were missing and instill those daily in the right amounts. With time and effort she could regrow and replenish almost anything that harsh conditions had caused to wither.
“You ready?” He flipped on the new headlights and tapped the reins against the horse’s back.
“Absolutely.” She smiled, using one of his favorite sayings.
He pulled onto the road, and she searched for something to talk about. “The buggy looks great. Lights, mirrors.”
He pushed a fleece blanket her way.
“Denki.”
“I’ve been fixing it up for you so you’d have a better way to get back and forth between here and the farm.”
Several emotions churned, mixing into one that was relatively new and yet entirely too old. Knowing he’d been thinking of her and doing something kind during the two weeks of silence was like a balm on her heart. But disappointment fought against that. He still didn’t want her to move back to the farm? Heartache and optimism swirled into what could best be described as hopeful torment. Was that to be her new relationship with Jacob?
“I would need a paddock for the horse.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. There’s one not too far from the Cranfords’ house. It just needs some fixing up, a little fence mending, and I’d be glad to do it. Or I could come get you each morning and … take you home each evening. It’d be more like us having a real courtship.”
He didn’t look at her. Was he afraid she’d turn him down? What had his life been like during those long months they were apart?
“It’d be really nice to have some time alone with you before and after the workday.”
He reached across the seat, and she thought he was going to hold her hand, but their fingers barely touched before he withdrew his hand. The warmth of his touch made her long to slide in closer, but she didn’t dare. They rode in silence. Was Jacob doing the same thing she was—biting his tongue in fear of saying the wrong thing? Did he have accusations against her? She still had a few grievances she wanted to air, but morally speaking, she was in the wrong, nothim. Still, they would have to talk honestly with each other if they wanted to heal.
“How are Sandra and Casey?”
He grimaced. “I haven’t talked to Sandra.” When he spoke, his voice was heavy. “I need to … for Casey’s sake. Sandra gets along better when I stay in contact, but I can’t seem to pick up the phone.”
Insight dropped into her heart: despite his sense of humor and gentleness, Jacob wasn’t good at facing the harder side of any relationship. “Can I do anything?”
He shook his head.
She slid her hands under the blanket. “Maybe I could call her for—”
“That’s not a good idea, even though I’d like to have some answers without having to talk to her. But you wouldn’t know
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