Read Online Stranger's Gift by Anna Schmidt - Free Book Online

shrugged. “Four or five seriously damaged boats, but they’re insured. Blew the roof off the bait shop.” She shrugged. “Nothing that time and the right materials can’t fix. Who are you again?” she asked, turning her attention to Samuel.
    â€œSamuel Brubaker. I’ve just moved here from Pennsylvania.”
    â€œAnd what do you do, Samuel?”
    â€œI make furniture with Pastor Detlef.”
    Margery glanced from Hester to Samuel and then back to Arlen. “Is he son-in-law material?” She winked, and Arlen laughed.
    â€œNow, Margery, don’t make trouble where there’s none.”
    But John found himself considering the couple in this new light. Samuel was tall with large strong hands, and his short-sleeved shirt revealed the roped forearm muscles of a man used to hard work. He also sported the pasty skin of someone who had not been in Florida that long. Hester was not tanned exactly, but her cheeks were sprinkled with freckles, and she had the look of a woman who enjoyed the out-of-doors. She was also well past the age when most conservative Mennonite girls married and started families of their own. He found himself intrigued. She certainly had yet to demur to her father—or to young Samuel Brubaker, as most women of her faith would.
    Actually, he couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for both men. One thing about being of the Anabaptist faith that had always made a lot of sense to John was the idea that there was a clear division between women’s work and men’s work. He had thought the same was true among these Florida Mennonites, especially the more conservative ones. A woman’s place was at home, not out running around taking charge of things as Hester Detlef seemed prone to do.
    â€œHave you got someplace to stay tonight, Johnny?” Margery asked. “I’d have you stay on the houseboat with me, but it’s listing badly, and …”
    â€œYou can both stay with us,” Arlen interrupted. “It would be our honor.”
    Put that way it was going to be hard to refuse, but John was sure going to give it his best shot. “I appreciate that, but I’ll just get a hotel room—”
    Margery let out her characteristic howl of a laugh. “Did you get conked on the head while you were riding out this monster storm? There isn’t a hotel or inn within miles that’s got a room to spare—that’s if they’ve got any rooms at all.” She turned her attention to the older man. “Johnny is stubborn as they come, Arlen. He’s got this bug about going through life alone—no help, no dependence on anyone but himself.” She wheeled around to face John again. “Stop being so blasted mulish. Take the man up on his offer. You look like you’ve been run over by a truck, and that wrist is not going to set itself.”
    â€œI’ve called for medical evacuation,” Arlen said.
    John had trouble concealing his relief. A muttered “Thank you” was all he could manage.
    Margery scanned the sky, and the others followed her lead. “There’s the chopper,” she shouted, waving wildly as she marched out into calf-deep water with Arlen following.
    â€œSomebody please just shoot me now,” John muttered.
    â€œThat would be against our traditions and yours,” Hester said as she and Samuel helped him to his feet. “You are Amish, are you not?”
    â€œHow do you know I’m …”
    She handed him his Bible, which he tucked into the sleeve of his sling. “Perhaps later you would like to speak with my father about the events that brought you here to Florida,” she said, her expression one of pity. It made his stomach roil.
    â€œI came here to live, to make a life for
myself,”
he replied tersely. “Now if you and your father …”
    She scowled up at him. “You know something? Margery is right. It’s time for you to