Read Online The Christmas Quilt by Patricia Davids - Free Book Online Page B

went to help him.
    She had always heeded her grandfather’s counsel, so why was she unwilling to do so now? He thought it unwise of her to spend time with Booker. One day spent in the company of a man who found her companionship pleasant. Where was the harm in that?
    She knew. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew. The harm was in wanting more than one day with such a man.
    She had been foolish. It was time to go back to the life she was meant to lead. Skating on thin ice would only lead to a cold bath.
    “Tell Booker that I changed my mind. I’ve decided to return to the inn after all.”
    “That is a wise decision, child. Give Vera my love and tell her you are both invited to supper come Sunday.”
    “I’m afraid we have other plans.”
    “Oh?”
    “Daniel Hershburger has already invited us to eat with him and his sister.”
    “Has he, now? Well, well. He is a fine man, a devout man. I’m glad to hear this. You and Vera must come by some evening when you are free. Why don’t you invite Daniel, too? I haven’t had a good game of checkers in a long while. What do you think of that idea?”
    She forced herself to smile. “I think it sounds fine, Daadi. ”

Chapter Six
    W hen Gideon finished his labor, he opened the back door of the harness shop and carried the snow shovel through the building. Rebecca’s grandfather sat behind the counter on a tall stool tooling a length of harness. He looked up when he heard Gideon and nodded. “ Danki, your help is appreciated.”
    “I’m happy to do it.” Gideon’s voice was barely audible and the sensation of swallowing razor blades was back. He looked around but didn’t see Rebecca.
    “My granddaughter decided to go back to the inn,” Reuben said before Gideon could ask.
    Gideon tried to hide his disappointment. Reuben returned to his work without another word. Recognizing a dismissal when he saw it, Gideon walked out the front door. Had he made trouble for Rebecca? He knew a few Amish elders who would see her casual friendship with him as brazen behavior.
    Standing on the sidewalk, he pushed his hands deeper into his coat pockets. The day seemed colder without Rebecca’s company. He had worked up a sweat shoveling. Now a chill was setting in.
    Traffic had picked up on the streets. Chances were good that the interstate would be open soon, if it wasn’t already. The narrow rural highway between Hope Springs and the interstate might be another story, but Gideon found he wasn’t eager to leave the quiet village.
    Okay, he wasn’t eager to leave Rebecca. The connection was still there between them. He felt it. The question was—what should he do about it?
    He shook his head at his foolishness. What was the point of resurrecting his emotions from their old relationship when Rebecca had no idea who he was? He wasn’t being fair to her or to himself. Suddenly he realized how tired he was. His illness had seriously sapped his energy. His good deed of shoveling aside four feet of packed snow had burned through what little he had left.
    Or maybe it was his guilty conscience making him tired. Pretending to be someone he wasn’t was harder than he thought. With heavy steps, he started walking toward the inn.
    By the time he reached the building he was ready to crawl under the covers and hide. He wasn’t in any shape to attempt the six-hour drive home. When he entered the lobby, he was relieved to see his cousin wasn’t on duty. The elderly man behind the desk was the same fellow that checked Gideon in. He wasn’t Amish.
    “Did you enjoy your stay with us, Mr. Troyer?”
    Gideon glanced around to see who might have overheard his name. There was no one about. He managed a smile and said, “Call me Booker. It’s a very comfortable place. I know I’m due to check out today, but is there any way I can stay another night?”
    “Certainly. I can keep you in the same room for two more days if you like.”
    “One more will be fine.” Relieved, Gideon climbed the