Read Online The Heart's Frontier by Lori Copeland - Free Book Online Page A

she’d seen the way his gaze strayed toward her. Seen and enjoyed it too, even though enjoying the attentions of an Englischer felt slightly naughty. If Rebecca had noticed, then of course Maummi had. No wonder she hadn’t allowed them to go along with the men to the livery stable.
    Emma replaced that can as well and moved toward a stack of tightly wrapped packages, with labels identifying them as dried apples. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    Rebecca heaved a forlorn sigh. “Well, I wish his friend had noticed me like that.”
    “Rebecca!” She regarded her sister with a shocked stare. Dreams of marriage were one thing, but to voice such a wish about an Englisch man? One of Maummi ’s proverbs leaped to mind, and she delivered it in a stern tone. “‘Think only pure thoughts, and purity will guide your life.’”
    Rebecca’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling, and she moved away from Emma’s side.
    Only pure thoughts? Emma glanced through the doorway in the direction of the blacksmith shop, where Luke Carson and Papa stood bargaining.
    If enjoying the attentions of a handsome Englisch man wasn’t pure thinking, perhaps she should heed her own advice.

     
    “Nah, I don’t have any oxen for sale here.” The blacksmith, a huge man with thighs nearly as big around as Bo’s neck, tossed his hammer into the loose sawdust that covered the floor. “I have one mule, but he ain’t for sale.”
    Luke tried to keep an I-told-you-so look off his face, but he wasn’t sure he succeeded. He felt bad when he watched Jonas’s confident expression fade to one of dismay. Kind of a shame to see a man disappointed in his beliefs like that.
    The smith dusted calloused hands on the thick apron tied around his middle. “But old Weaver has a team of oxen he’s been talking about selling.”
    Luke felt his jaw go slack.
    An oversized grin spread across Jonas’s face. “The Lord provides for all our needs.”
    Had he just been fed a dish of roasted crow by an Amish man? Or did defeat come from a higher source? With a suspicious upward glance, Luke asked the smith, “Where can we find Weaver?”
    “His place isn’t far. About two miles south of here.”
    From the look on Jonas’s face, Luke knew his next request without being asked. Would he go with Jonas to Weaver’s place? The words were on his tongue to say sorry, but no. He couldn’t keep the herd waiting any longer. Besides, Jesse would rib him for days.
    But Jonas’s faith was a lot stronger than his. What if the Lord did want him to help the Switzers, as they said? Who was he to turn away from that? Besides, he’d given his word to help with the bargaining for a pair of oxen if they could be found. A man who went back on his word wasn’t worth steer’s spit.
    Resigned, he gestured toward the back of the shop, where he’d glimpsed the livery stable through the open door. “You got a horse we can hire for my friend? We shouldn’t need it for more than a couple of hours.”
    “Sure do.” The man untied his apron and hung it on a hook.
    When the smith headed for the stable, Jonas placed a hand on his arm. “Thank you.”
    “Happy to do it.”
    As he spoke the words, Luke realized they weren’t entirely untrue. These folks had a way about them, something appealing in their openness that made him want to help. Well, all except that old woman, but he had the idea she might be sour by nature and not only with him. Of course, being on the receiving end of Emma’s grateful smile was something of a reward in itself.
    That thought brought him around to the details of getting the Switzers and, perhaps, their new oxen, out to their wagon. They would need to hire a cart or something to carry the women. A driver would be necessary in order to return the cart and horse to Gorham. All this wouldn’t be cheap. And then there were the provisions.
    He hoped Jonas was true to his word about paying him back.
    “Why don’t you go on and see about that horse. I’ll go check