Read Online Robin Lee Hatcher by Promised to Me - Free Book Online
Authors: Promised to Me
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Creek.”
It seemed that Karola’s participation in the conversation wasn’t necessary, so she remained silent.
Ida leaned her forearms on the counter. “Our oldest girl, Elizabeth, she married a fellow from over in Boise. She’s expectin’ her first baby come fall, and I’m wonderin’ how she’s gonna manage. She can’t stand that mother-in-law of hers, so it isn’t like she’ll want her coming to stay after the baby arrives. Not that I can blame Elizabeth. Mrs. Young is the most busybodyin’ woman I ever did set eyes on.” She straightened and gestured with a hand toward the rows of grocery items behind Karola. “But it isn’t like I can just up and go stay with her for long. Henry, he counts on me to help keep this place runnin’. He’s got himself a lot of good qualities, that man does, but land o’ Goshen, organized he isn’t.”
When Ida Noonan paused to draw a breath, Karola grabbed the opportunity to smile, nod, and turn to leave.
Ida didn’t let her escape that easily. She bustled out from behind the counter and walked with Karola toward the door. “I hear tell you’re gonna look after the Hirsch children.”
Karola remembered the words that Nadzia Denys had spoken earlier that day: “Shadow Creek is a very small town.” It seemed news traveled as quickly here as it did in Steigerhausen.
“I think that’s right kind of you, given the circumstances and all. Mr. Hirsch’s had a hard time of it since Mrs. Hirsch died. Poor man. So heartbroken he was when he lost her.” She clucked her tongue. “Poor, poor man. And those adorable children, left without a mother. They are needin’ a woman in the home.”
The shop door opened, and two young women—one tall and dark-haired, the other petite with strawberry-blond curls— stepped inside, arm in arm. They were talking softly to one another, their heads close. Their expressions implied they were sharing intimate secrets.
“Oh, look who’s here,” Ida said with enthusiasm. “Miss White. Miss Shrum. You’re just in time to say hello to Miss Breit. She’s come here all the way from Germany.”
When the more formal introductions were accomplished, Emma Shrum, the dark-haired girl, nodded to Karola. “I believe my mother called on you earlier this afternoon.”
“ Ja, she did. She was very kind.”
“Oh, Mother would never think of allowing anyone to remain a stranger for long in this town.” Emma laughed softly. “Not even someone who chooses to attend a different church than my father’s.”
Ida chimed in. “Emma’s father is the Methodist minister.”
Karola nodded.
Charlotte White tipped her head and her curious gaze rested on Karola. “And what are your plans, Miss Breit, now that you and Mr. Hirsch aren’t to be married? Will you move to Boise or elsewhere?”
“Oh, she plans to stay right here,” Ida answered before Karola could. “Miss Breit’s moving into the old Lewis cabin and is going to care for the Hirsch children. I’m surprised you hadn’t heard.”
Charlotte looked at the girl next to her, her eyes suddenly narrowed. “No, I hadn’t heard. Did you know about it, Emma?”
Emma didn’t so much as glance at Charlotte, appearing as if she hadn’t heard the question.
“Well,” Ida continued, “it’s absolutely the perfect plan for all concerned.”
Karola hoped the proprietress was right. All she knew for certain was that it was the only plan available to her at the moment. And if this wasn’t God’s will, she would trust him to stop it from happening.
A loud noise, like something heavy hitting the floor, came from another room at the back of the store. It was followed by a man’s angry curses.
“Good heavens!” Ida hurried away, calling, “Henry Noonan, we’ve got customers. Watch your language.”
“That’ll be the day,” Emma said softly, a chuckle in her voice. Then, with another smile at Karola, she added, “I’d better see to my shopping or Mother will wonder what’s
It seemed that Karola’s participation in the conversation wasn’t necessary, so she remained silent.
Ida leaned her forearms on the counter. “Our oldest girl, Elizabeth, she married a fellow from over in Boise. She’s expectin’ her first baby come fall, and I’m wonderin’ how she’s gonna manage. She can’t stand that mother-in-law of hers, so it isn’t like she’ll want her coming to stay after the baby arrives. Not that I can blame Elizabeth. Mrs. Young is the most busybodyin’ woman I ever did set eyes on.” She straightened and gestured with a hand toward the rows of grocery items behind Karola. “But it isn’t like I can just up and go stay with her for long. Henry, he counts on me to help keep this place runnin’. He’s got himself a lot of good qualities, that man does, but land o’ Goshen, organized he isn’t.”
When Ida Noonan paused to draw a breath, Karola grabbed the opportunity to smile, nod, and turn to leave.
Ida didn’t let her escape that easily. She bustled out from behind the counter and walked with Karola toward the door. “I hear tell you’re gonna look after the Hirsch children.”
Karola remembered the words that Nadzia Denys had spoken earlier that day: “Shadow Creek is a very small town.” It seemed news traveled as quickly here as it did in Steigerhausen.
“I think that’s right kind of you, given the circumstances and all. Mr. Hirsch’s had a hard time of it since Mrs. Hirsch died. Poor man. So heartbroken he was when he lost her.” She clucked her tongue. “Poor, poor man. And those adorable children, left without a mother. They are needin’ a woman in the home.”
The shop door opened, and two young women—one tall and dark-haired, the other petite with strawberry-blond curls— stepped inside, arm in arm. They were talking softly to one another, their heads close. Their expressions implied they were sharing intimate secrets.
“Oh, look who’s here,” Ida said with enthusiasm. “Miss White. Miss Shrum. You’re just in time to say hello to Miss Breit. She’s come here all the way from Germany.”
When the more formal introductions were accomplished, Emma Shrum, the dark-haired girl, nodded to Karola. “I believe my mother called on you earlier this afternoon.”
“ Ja, she did. She was very kind.”
“Oh, Mother would never think of allowing anyone to remain a stranger for long in this town.” Emma laughed softly. “Not even someone who chooses to attend a different church than my father’s.”
Ida chimed in. “Emma’s father is the Methodist minister.”
Karola nodded.
Charlotte White tipped her head and her curious gaze rested on Karola. “And what are your plans, Miss Breit, now that you and Mr. Hirsch aren’t to be married? Will you move to Boise or elsewhere?”
“Oh, she plans to stay right here,” Ida answered before Karola could. “Miss Breit’s moving into the old Lewis cabin and is going to care for the Hirsch children. I’m surprised you hadn’t heard.”
Charlotte looked at the girl next to her, her eyes suddenly narrowed. “No, I hadn’t heard. Did you know about it, Emma?”
Emma didn’t so much as glance at Charlotte, appearing as if she hadn’t heard the question.
“Well,” Ida continued, “it’s absolutely the perfect plan for all concerned.”
Karola hoped the proprietress was right. All she knew for certain was that it was the only plan available to her at the moment. And if this wasn’t God’s will, she would trust him to stop it from happening.
A loud noise, like something heavy hitting the floor, came from another room at the back of the store. It was followed by a man’s angry curses.
“Good heavens!” Ida hurried away, calling, “Henry Noonan, we’ve got customers. Watch your language.”
“That’ll be the day,” Emma said softly, a chuckle in her voice. Then, with another smile at Karola, she added, “I’d better see to my shopping or Mother will wonder what’s
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