Read Online Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Love Stories, Religious, Christian, Widows, Young Women, Clergy, Teachers, Widowers, Gamblers
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job as Glenna’s husband was to help her through this difficult time, no matter how long it took. He owed her that much.
David ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair, as troubled thoughts took him back to the last two nights spent at the Hotel Granger. It had been a difficult decision, but he’d chosen to sleep on the floor, not wanting to rush his new bride into something she might not be ready for yet. Perhaps it had been a mistake to do so, but it was in the past and couldn’t be changed.
He released a deep sigh and glanced over at her again. The truth was, David wasn’t sure about his feelings for the sleeping woman who sat beside him. Was it love or merely a sense of obligation that invaded his senses every time she looked his way? There was no point in leading her on. They both needed more time. Time to get to know one another. Time to grow in their relationship. For some reason she hadn’t asked about his past, and he hoped she wouldn’t hate him once she learned the truth.
Glenna awoke from her nap feeling a bit more rested but still deeply troubled. She peeked over at David. In one hand he held his Bible; in the other was a deck of cards. They were Daddy’s cards—the same ones he’d left on the seat before he jumped off the train. She’d thrown the cards on the floor, and David had retrieved them, later using the deck as some sort of parallel to things written in the Bible. Glenna was surprised to see that David still had those cards. Why hadn’t he thrown them away? What would a God-fearing, Bible-teaching preacher need with a deck of cards?
David must have caught her staring at him, for he turned in his seat and smiled. “Good, you’re awake. Did you rest well?”
Her only reply was a stiff nod. What did he care—this husband who slept on the floor and had spoken only a few words to her since Daddy’s death?
David stuffed the Bible into his jacket pocket, but he kept the cards held firmly in one hand. With the other hand, he reached out to touch Glenna’s arm. “You’ve been through a horrible ordeal, but in time God will heal your internal wounds.”
Glenna scowled at him. “I’m not so sure. If God makes bad things happen to people, then He’s no better than Daddy! How can I count on Him to heal anything?”
David averted his gaze to the deck of cards. “God doesn’t make bad things happen to His children, Glenna. He allows them.”
“Why? Why would a loving Father let bad things happen to His children?”
David fanned out the deck. “These cards are an example of God’s love for me.”
She tipped her head in question.
“I haven’t told you much about my past, and you’ve been kind enough not to ask.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned. “There are some things I think you should know. Especially since I’ve taken you to be my wife and to share in my ministry.”
“I don’t understand.”
David cleared his throat and shuffled the cards on his knees. “There was a time when I was no better than your father.” His eyes glazed over as he stared out the window. He appeared to be transported to another time … another place.
Glenna waited patiently for him to come to grips with whatever he needed to say. It was hard to imagine David Green being anything like Daddy.
After several moments, David turned to look at her again. “I–uh–used to be a gambler.”
Glenna’s mouth dropped open, and she gasped. “You what?”
“I gambled and cheated people, just the way your father did.”
Glenna felt her whole body begin to sway, and she knew it was not from the motion of the train. Her head felt light, and her vision began to blur. She needed fresh air. She had to get away from David. Bounding from her seat, Glenna started down the aisle.
“Where are you going?” David called after her. “Please come back and let me explain.”
Glenna kept moving as fast
David ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair, as troubled thoughts took him back to the last two nights spent at the Hotel Granger. It had been a difficult decision, but he’d chosen to sleep on the floor, not wanting to rush his new bride into something she might not be ready for yet. Perhaps it had been a mistake to do so, but it was in the past and couldn’t be changed.
He released a deep sigh and glanced over at her again. The truth was, David wasn’t sure about his feelings for the sleeping woman who sat beside him. Was it love or merely a sense of obligation that invaded his senses every time she looked his way? There was no point in leading her on. They both needed more time. Time to get to know one another. Time to grow in their relationship. For some reason she hadn’t asked about his past, and he hoped she wouldn’t hate him once she learned the truth.
Glenna awoke from her nap feeling a bit more rested but still deeply troubled. She peeked over at David. In one hand he held his Bible; in the other was a deck of cards. They were Daddy’s cards—the same ones he’d left on the seat before he jumped off the train. She’d thrown the cards on the floor, and David had retrieved them, later using the deck as some sort of parallel to things written in the Bible. Glenna was surprised to see that David still had those cards. Why hadn’t he thrown them away? What would a God-fearing, Bible-teaching preacher need with a deck of cards?
David must have caught her staring at him, for he turned in his seat and smiled. “Good, you’re awake. Did you rest well?”
Her only reply was a stiff nod. What did he care—this husband who slept on the floor and had spoken only a few words to her since Daddy’s death?
David stuffed the Bible into his jacket pocket, but he kept the cards held firmly in one hand. With the other hand, he reached out to touch Glenna’s arm. “You’ve been through a horrible ordeal, but in time God will heal your internal wounds.”
Glenna scowled at him. “I’m not so sure. If God makes bad things happen to people, then He’s no better than Daddy! How can I count on Him to heal anything?”
David averted his gaze to the deck of cards. “God doesn’t make bad things happen to His children, Glenna. He allows them.”
“Why? Why would a loving Father let bad things happen to His children?”
David fanned out the deck. “These cards are an example of God’s love for me.”
She tipped her head in question.
“I haven’t told you much about my past, and you’ve been kind enough not to ask.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned. “There are some things I think you should know. Especially since I’ve taken you to be my wife and to share in my ministry.”
“I don’t understand.”
David cleared his throat and shuffled the cards on his knees. “There was a time when I was no better than your father.” His eyes glazed over as he stared out the window. He appeared to be transported to another time … another place.
Glenna waited patiently for him to come to grips with whatever he needed to say. It was hard to imagine David Green being anything like Daddy.
After several moments, David turned to look at her again. “I–uh–used to be a gambler.”
Glenna’s mouth dropped open, and she gasped. “You what?”
“I gambled and cheated people, just the way your father did.”
Glenna felt her whole body begin to sway, and she knew it was not from the motion of the train. Her head felt light, and her vision began to blur. She needed fresh air. She had to get away from David. Bounding from her seat, Glenna started down the aisle.
“Where are you going?” David called after her. “Please come back and let me explain.”
Glenna kept moving as fast
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