Read Online River of Mercy by BJ Hoff - Free Book Online

would ever come back to the Amish community. For the most part, the boy seemed perfectly content where he was.
    After another hesitation, Susan gave her kapp a pat and fetched her cape from the peg by the door. “When Fannie comes in from the barn,” she said on the way out, “tell her not to go wandering off. I’ll want her to help me with the pies.”
    David stood at the window, watching her cross the field that lay between their farm and Rachel’s, smiling a little at her usual brisk, purposeful stride. Susan always walked as if she were on a mission.
    But then, she usually was.

    The moment Rachel walked into her mother’s living room, she knew she’d made a mistake by coming. What had she been thinking anyway? That she could have a nice cozy evening, just sitting around the fire with her family and her “friend” as if everything was perfectly normal and uncomplicated?
    For that matter, what had Mamma been thinking, inviting her?
    She hadn’t been in the house five minutes before realizing this evening would be anything but normal. She could almost feel Doc and her mother and even Fannie watching her and Jeremiah to see how they were going to act around each other.
    And just how were they to act around each other? Like old friends, casual and altogether at ease with each other’s company? Or like strangers, stiff and formal and proper, barely acknowledging each other’s presence? Or just plain foolish, painfully aware that if one were here, the other should be anywhere else but here?
    Oh, if only she hadn’t wanted to be with him so badly. If only she hadn’t let her longing to see him again overcome her good sense!
    Jeremiah was looking at her in that way he had sometimes, as if he could simply take a good long breath and swallow her up. She found it impossible to meet his gaze—and impossible not to.
    She finally escaped to the kitchen, where she spent most of the time before supper pretending to help her mother with the meal even though Mamma clearly didn’t need her help. As always, her mother had everything taken care of and in good order. Rachel knew she was probably more of a hindrance than a help. Still, she wasn’t eager to leave the cozy confines of the kitchen.

    By the time they were ready for dessert, Gant thought Rachel was feeling almost comfortable. At least she’d begun to speak a few words now and then. She’d spent the first part of the meal sitting like a frozen rabbit, not looking at him, moving only to jump up like a jack-in-the-box to get something from the kitchen.
    Seated directly across from her and Fannie, Gant took advantage of the opportunity to study her as much as he pleased. Not to the point of rudeness, and not to call attention to his feelings for her, but simply to drink in the sight of her as fully as possible.
    Rachel was well worth studying, after all. She had the prettiest complexion he’d ever seen on a woman— any woman. She virtually glowed. And even though she carefully avoided looking at him directly throughout most of the meal, her incredible dark eyes could surely make a man take leave of his senses.
    Only when Doc gave a somewhat pointed clearing of his throat did Gant realize he must be waiting for a reply of some sort from him.
    â€œShem Miller’s barn? You’re going to be there, aren’t you?”
    â€œOh…I am, sure. Shem asked if I’d lend a hand. I’ve got his order ready to deliver early Saturday morning, and I’ll be staying after I drop it off.”
    â€œLet’s hope the weather holds.”
    Gant had to steel himself from asking Rachel if she’d be there helping with the food. The possibility of spending an entire day in the same place with her made him almost lightheaded. He reassured himself with the reminder that she would almost certainly be there. A barn raising among the Amish typically drew every able-bodied man and woman.
    Not for