Read Online The Believer by Ann H. Gabhart - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ann H. Gabhart
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Orphans, Love Stories, Christian fiction, Religious, Christian, Kentucky, Shakers, Kentucky - History - 1792-1865
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them. His eyes were wide open as if he had just witnessed something fearful. His shirt was torn, and he smelled of smoke. He stopped in front of them and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. Aristotle came out of the bushes behind him and ran to Elizabeth. The dog's eyes were glassy with fear the way they were when the sky was heavy with dark clouds and thunder.
"What have you done, Payton?" Elizabeth asked. She dreaded hearing his answer.
Payton stood up straight and looked at her. His gasps for breath were not so desperate now, although his chest still heaved in and out. "Father wouldn't want Colton Linley to have our things"
"But he'll see the smoke, Payton. He will come after us:"
Payton stared at her without remorse. "Then we best stop talking and move on toward the Shakers' town'
Elizabeth shut her eyes and tried not to feel panic. She wouldn't allow herself to think of what Colton might do if he knew Payton had set fire to the cabin. Perhaps it would appear to be an accident. A candle they'd forgotten to extinguish in their haste to leave. A spark that had escaped the fireplace and been unnoticed.
She opened her eyes and said, "You must find a creek and wash the smell of smoke off you and your clothes. Then we will find the road and walk into the night. Father said the road went straight through the Shaker village. We can't get lost if we stay on it"
Hours later when even the moon had sunk in the west, leaving only the stars to light the way, and Hannah was leaning against her half asleep, Elizabeth allowed them to stop. They went into the woods beside the road and pushed up a pile of the newly fallen leaves for their bed. And then they slept even as the sky began to lighten in the east.
After the morning meal on Monday, Brother Issachar caught Ethan on the path heading out to the fields to help with the harvest of the seed corn. "Elder Joseph has given permission for you to come with me today," Brother Issachar said.
"Do you have a log you wish me to help haul into the village?" Ethan was glad Brother Issachar had sought him out, glad to feel the same comfort between them as they talked. He had feared a division between them the day before, even though Ethan signing the Covenant should surely be reason for them to draw closer as brothers and not be a reason for separation.
"Nay. The sisters have a load of spices, potions, and baskets, and the brethren have brooms ready to be taken to White Oak Springs. The man who runs the resort there says the people from the North who come for the healing power of the springs enjoy carrying back the work of our hands with them when they leave"
Ethan fell in beside Brother Issachar and tried not to let his eagerness for this first trading trip show on his face or in his voice. "Do the springs really have healing power?"
"Nay, I think not. While our Eternal Father grants special gifts and powers to those he chooses, I don't believe he has placed such healing power in the springs coming up out of the earth. But some who think the water holds special power are healed by their own thoughts of healing. Or perhaps they weren't so ill as they thought." Brother Issachar smiled and punched Ethan with his elbow. "Better yet, it could be our own Shaker potions that make them well"
Ethan laughed. "That could be. It certainly sounds more reasonable than the water. The potions stand us in good stead here in the village"
"That they do. Along with right living. Look at an old man like me nearly sixty and still able to labor and do my part. With a little help from my younger brothers" Brother Issachar smiled again. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood on this Monday morning.
Ethan had long suspected Brother Issachar enjoyed the trading trips out into the world, although many of the Shaker brethren claimed not to like being away from the fellowship of the Society. But then as Brother Martin said, Brother Issachar was a little different. Even so, he was still a Shaker. So it
"What have you done, Payton?" Elizabeth asked. She dreaded hearing his answer.
Payton stood up straight and looked at her. His gasps for breath were not so desperate now, although his chest still heaved in and out. "Father wouldn't want Colton Linley to have our things"
"But he'll see the smoke, Payton. He will come after us:"
Payton stared at her without remorse. "Then we best stop talking and move on toward the Shakers' town'
Elizabeth shut her eyes and tried not to feel panic. She wouldn't allow herself to think of what Colton might do if he knew Payton had set fire to the cabin. Perhaps it would appear to be an accident. A candle they'd forgotten to extinguish in their haste to leave. A spark that had escaped the fireplace and been unnoticed.
She opened her eyes and said, "You must find a creek and wash the smell of smoke off you and your clothes. Then we will find the road and walk into the night. Father said the road went straight through the Shaker village. We can't get lost if we stay on it"
Hours later when even the moon had sunk in the west, leaving only the stars to light the way, and Hannah was leaning against her half asleep, Elizabeth allowed them to stop. They went into the woods beside the road and pushed up a pile of the newly fallen leaves for their bed. And then they slept even as the sky began to lighten in the east.
After the morning meal on Monday, Brother Issachar caught Ethan on the path heading out to the fields to help with the harvest of the seed corn. "Elder Joseph has given permission for you to come with me today," Brother Issachar said.
"Do you have a log you wish me to help haul into the village?" Ethan was glad Brother Issachar had sought him out, glad to feel the same comfort between them as they talked. He had feared a division between them the day before, even though Ethan signing the Covenant should surely be reason for them to draw closer as brothers and not be a reason for separation.
"Nay. The sisters have a load of spices, potions, and baskets, and the brethren have brooms ready to be taken to White Oak Springs. The man who runs the resort there says the people from the North who come for the healing power of the springs enjoy carrying back the work of our hands with them when they leave"
Ethan fell in beside Brother Issachar and tried not to let his eagerness for this first trading trip show on his face or in his voice. "Do the springs really have healing power?"
"Nay, I think not. While our Eternal Father grants special gifts and powers to those he chooses, I don't believe he has placed such healing power in the springs coming up out of the earth. But some who think the water holds special power are healed by their own thoughts of healing. Or perhaps they weren't so ill as they thought." Brother Issachar smiled and punched Ethan with his elbow. "Better yet, it could be our own Shaker potions that make them well"
Ethan laughed. "That could be. It certainly sounds more reasonable than the water. The potions stand us in good stead here in the village"
"That they do. Along with right living. Look at an old man like me nearly sixty and still able to labor and do my part. With a little help from my younger brothers" Brother Issachar smiled again. He seemed to be in a particularly good mood on this Monday morning.
Ethan had long suspected Brother Issachar enjoyed the trading trips out into the world, although many of the Shaker brethren claimed not to like being away from the fellowship of the Society. But then as Brother Martin said, Brother Issachar was a little different. Even so, he was still a Shaker. So it
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