Read Online Love Without End by Robin Lee Hatcher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robin Lee Hatcher
Tags: Romance, Literature & Fiction, Ebook, Religion & Spirituality, Christian fiction, Christian Books & Bibles, Religious & Inspirational Fiction
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SORTING THROUGH BOXES for over two hours by the time they came across a metal box filled with tax receipts. Fragile slips of paper with handwritten information filling the lines. The oldest one was dated all the way back to the twenties when George Leonard—Abe’s father—raised cattle on the land.
“My, oh my,” Anna said. “Isn’t this something?”
“What is it?” Tara peered over Anna’s shoulder.
“A tax receipt for this ranch. See that name there? George Leonard. He was Chet’s great grandfather. And it was George’s father, John, who came to this valley during the gold rush in the 1860s and started this ranch.”
“You mean the Leonards have lived on this same ranch for over a hundred years?” Tara asked, eyes wide with surprise.
“Hundred and fifty years, more like.” Anna nodded. “Six generations of them, counting Sam and Pete.”
“Never heard of anybody staying in one place so long. Have you always lived here too? Are you Mr. Leonard’s grandma?”
“I spent most of my life here, but no. I’m no relation by blood. I was an orphan when I came to this ranch duringWorld War II. Just about your age. A bit younger. Chet’s grandparents took me in and made me a part of their family. Sometimes I still can’t believe the many ways God blessed me, bringing me to this valley when I was so scared and alone.”
“Wow. Wish the Leonards would take me in. I’d give anything to live on a horse ranch like this one.”
Anna smiled at the girl, feeling a kinship with her. “They ran mostly cattle back then, but it’s been all horses for a lot of years now.”
The screen door creaked and Pete stepped through the opening. “Hey, Na—” He broke off, then continued, “Anna, Tara. Dad says for you two to come eat. Lunch is about ready to go on the table.”
“Good heavens.” Anna looked at her wristwatch. “I had no idea it was that time already. Did you, Tara?”
“No. But I am kinda hungry.”
Anna pushed herself up from the chair. “Come to think of it, so am I.”
Pete held the screen door open and waited for both Anna and Tara to pass. Then he let it swing closed. Anna didn’t look behind her, but she knew when Pete fell into step with Tara.
“How’s it going in there?” he asked.
Tara answered, “Okay.”
“You need any more help? I could lend a hand if you wanted.”
Pete has a crush , Anna thought with a smile.
If Tara noticed, too, her voice didn’t reveal it. “Nah. We’re doing all right.” She was silent a moment before adding, “Your dad’s going to let me ride today. Maybe right after lunch.”
Anna felt sorry for Pete. It would be difficult for him to compete with a horse for Tara’s attention. At least that was how it had been for Anna when she was fifteen.
It promised to be an interesting spring and summer.
Eight
F OR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW , N ED AND S USAN Lyle invited Chet and his family to share Easter dinner with them. For the third year in a row, Chet accepted. Holidays were still hard for him. They stirred up too many memories of when his family was whole and happy. He credited Ned, his closest friend, with helping him through the darkest times and deepest hurts, first when Rick was killed in that accident, and later when Marsha walked out on him and their two sons. Without Ned’s compassion and wisdom, Chet didn’t know what would have happened to him.
He wasn’t surprised to find others had been invited to the Lyles’ dinner. Susan was well-known in this valley for her hospitality and delicious Sunday dinners. This year, the other guests were Kimberly and Tara Welch, Janet Dunn, and the new—new by comparison to most residents, anyway—Methodist pastor, Reverend Tom Butler.
Even in April, Easter was often cold, sometimes still snowy, in this mountain valley. But not this year. The sun spread a blanket of golden warmth over Kings Meadow. While the women visited in the kitchen and finished the last of the dinner preparations, the
“My, oh my,” Anna said. “Isn’t this something?”
“What is it?” Tara peered over Anna’s shoulder.
“A tax receipt for this ranch. See that name there? George Leonard. He was Chet’s great grandfather. And it was George’s father, John, who came to this valley during the gold rush in the 1860s and started this ranch.”
“You mean the Leonards have lived on this same ranch for over a hundred years?” Tara asked, eyes wide with surprise.
“Hundred and fifty years, more like.” Anna nodded. “Six generations of them, counting Sam and Pete.”
“Never heard of anybody staying in one place so long. Have you always lived here too? Are you Mr. Leonard’s grandma?”
“I spent most of my life here, but no. I’m no relation by blood. I was an orphan when I came to this ranch duringWorld War II. Just about your age. A bit younger. Chet’s grandparents took me in and made me a part of their family. Sometimes I still can’t believe the many ways God blessed me, bringing me to this valley when I was so scared and alone.”
“Wow. Wish the Leonards would take me in. I’d give anything to live on a horse ranch like this one.”
Anna smiled at the girl, feeling a kinship with her. “They ran mostly cattle back then, but it’s been all horses for a lot of years now.”
The screen door creaked and Pete stepped through the opening. “Hey, Na—” He broke off, then continued, “Anna, Tara. Dad says for you two to come eat. Lunch is about ready to go on the table.”
“Good heavens.” Anna looked at her wristwatch. “I had no idea it was that time already. Did you, Tara?”
“No. But I am kinda hungry.”
Anna pushed herself up from the chair. “Come to think of it, so am I.”
Pete held the screen door open and waited for both Anna and Tara to pass. Then he let it swing closed. Anna didn’t look behind her, but she knew when Pete fell into step with Tara.
“How’s it going in there?” he asked.
Tara answered, “Okay.”
“You need any more help? I could lend a hand if you wanted.”
Pete has a crush , Anna thought with a smile.
If Tara noticed, too, her voice didn’t reveal it. “Nah. We’re doing all right.” She was silent a moment before adding, “Your dad’s going to let me ride today. Maybe right after lunch.”
Anna felt sorry for Pete. It would be difficult for him to compete with a horse for Tara’s attention. At least that was how it had been for Anna when she was fifteen.
It promised to be an interesting spring and summer.
Eight
F OR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW , N ED AND S USAN Lyle invited Chet and his family to share Easter dinner with them. For the third year in a row, Chet accepted. Holidays were still hard for him. They stirred up too many memories of when his family was whole and happy. He credited Ned, his closest friend, with helping him through the darkest times and deepest hurts, first when Rick was killed in that accident, and later when Marsha walked out on him and their two sons. Without Ned’s compassion and wisdom, Chet didn’t know what would have happened to him.
He wasn’t surprised to find others had been invited to the Lyles’ dinner. Susan was well-known in this valley for her hospitality and delicious Sunday dinners. This year, the other guests were Kimberly and Tara Welch, Janet Dunn, and the new—new by comparison to most residents, anyway—Methodist pastor, Reverend Tom Butler.
Even in April, Easter was often cold, sometimes still snowy, in this mountain valley. But not this year. The sun spread a blanket of golden warmth over Kings Meadow. While the women visited in the kitchen and finished the last of the dinner preparations, the
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