Read Online The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Christian, FIC042040, FIC027020, Amish & Mennonite, FIC053000, Amish—Fiction, Mennonites—Fiction, Bed and breakfast accommodations—Fiction
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have sensed she was watching him, because he slowly turned his head in her direction. “I’ve always been fond of parakeets,” he whispered, grinning widely.
Did Jesse Stoltzfus ever stop grinning? He grinned when he saw her come in the schoolhouse in the mornings. He’d grinned when she made a fool out of herself by spouting out the lifespan of parakeets (which, incidentally, was a well-known fact). He’d even grinned as he was bringing in wood to stoke the stove and a large spider crawled up his sleeve. Who could smile at a spider? She had never known anyone as maddening as Jesse Stoltzfus. Not even Luke, and he sorely tried everyone’s patience.
They reached the turnoff to Jesse’s driveway and he stopped at the mailbox, opened it, found it empty, then shut it tight. He started up the hill toward his farmhouse.
“Jesse!”
He stopped and turned to face her.
“Did that really happen? That snowstorm?”
He took a few steps toward her, grinning. “Now, why would I make something like that up?” Then he began scissoring up the driveway in great strides and Mim couldn’t help but watch. He ran as though it was his nature. It reminded her of the flight of wild ducks in the autumn. Smooth and effortless. The word “glorious” came to mind, but she shook it away and hurried toward Eagle Hill.
The first time that David Stoltzfus delivered a Sunday sermon, a shaft of sunlight broke through the gray skies and came through a crack in the barn roof to touch his face, making him look more saintly than ever. In the short time that David had lived in Stoney Ridge, the people had quickly grown to love him, and in her heart Rose felt a little sorry for the other ministers, who were instantly overshadowed.
It wasn’t the other ministers’ fault; their sermons were full of good examples and strong admonishments. And yet Rose had to admit that David brought with him some new sense of excitement and inspiration that the other ministers, including the bishop, didn’t have.
David fired the church members with an enthusiasm never before known in Stoney Ridge. He was so . . . clear, so vivid. He had a conviction that sermons should be kept to the comprehension level of children, to nourish the spiritual life of young people. He had confidence the adults would still be fed and, of course, he was right.
On this gray morning, he reminded them of how fortunate their congregation was to live in the safety of Lancaster County. He spoke of those, years ago in the Old Country, who had been martyred rather than renounce their faith. Hedescribed with vivid detail the horrific persecution their great-great-grandparents had endured. Even Jesse Stoltzfus, whom Mim called abominable, was on the edge of his seat, Rose noticed, listening to his father’s sermon with rapt attention.
As they sat in the barn on that Sunday morning, the church of Stoney Ridge was transported miles away to another continent. They felt rich beyond the dreams of kings compared to their ancestors in Switzerland and Germany and France, who had cried out in their dying breath to hold tight to their faith. The barn might have been full of people sneezing and coughing, wet from the trek across miles of roads to get there on a rainy, blustery spring morning, but everyone felt warm and safe and grateful. Their life was a paradise compared to their great-great-grandparents’.
Rose gazed around the barn: at Mim and Bethany, seated behind Vera. At Sammy, at Luke, nodding off; at Galen, who nudged Luke awake with a jab from his elbow—and she gave thanks.
After youth group on Sunday night, Jimmy drove Bethany home. It was a cold night, but the stars were out and the moon was full and the brisk air gave them an excuse to cuddle. Jimmy took the long way home so he could pull up to the shores of Blue Lake Pond. Just to talk, he assured her, but she knew kissing was on his mind. Kissing was always on his mind and he’d been staring at her lips all night. Kissing
Did Jesse Stoltzfus ever stop grinning? He grinned when he saw her come in the schoolhouse in the mornings. He’d grinned when she made a fool out of herself by spouting out the lifespan of parakeets (which, incidentally, was a well-known fact). He’d even grinned as he was bringing in wood to stoke the stove and a large spider crawled up his sleeve. Who could smile at a spider? She had never known anyone as maddening as Jesse Stoltzfus. Not even Luke, and he sorely tried everyone’s patience.
They reached the turnoff to Jesse’s driveway and he stopped at the mailbox, opened it, found it empty, then shut it tight. He started up the hill toward his farmhouse.
“Jesse!”
He stopped and turned to face her.
“Did that really happen? That snowstorm?”
He took a few steps toward her, grinning. “Now, why would I make something like that up?” Then he began scissoring up the driveway in great strides and Mim couldn’t help but watch. He ran as though it was his nature. It reminded her of the flight of wild ducks in the autumn. Smooth and effortless. The word “glorious” came to mind, but she shook it away and hurried toward Eagle Hill.
The first time that David Stoltzfus delivered a Sunday sermon, a shaft of sunlight broke through the gray skies and came through a crack in the barn roof to touch his face, making him look more saintly than ever. In the short time that David had lived in Stoney Ridge, the people had quickly grown to love him, and in her heart Rose felt a little sorry for the other ministers, who were instantly overshadowed.
It wasn’t the other ministers’ fault; their sermons were full of good examples and strong admonishments. And yet Rose had to admit that David brought with him some new sense of excitement and inspiration that the other ministers, including the bishop, didn’t have.
David fired the church members with an enthusiasm never before known in Stoney Ridge. He was so . . . clear, so vivid. He had a conviction that sermons should be kept to the comprehension level of children, to nourish the spiritual life of young people. He had confidence the adults would still be fed and, of course, he was right.
On this gray morning, he reminded them of how fortunate their congregation was to live in the safety of Lancaster County. He spoke of those, years ago in the Old Country, who had been martyred rather than renounce their faith. Hedescribed with vivid detail the horrific persecution their great-great-grandparents had endured. Even Jesse Stoltzfus, whom Mim called abominable, was on the edge of his seat, Rose noticed, listening to his father’s sermon with rapt attention.
As they sat in the barn on that Sunday morning, the church of Stoney Ridge was transported miles away to another continent. They felt rich beyond the dreams of kings compared to their ancestors in Switzerland and Germany and France, who had cried out in their dying breath to hold tight to their faith. The barn might have been full of people sneezing and coughing, wet from the trek across miles of roads to get there on a rainy, blustery spring morning, but everyone felt warm and safe and grateful. Their life was a paradise compared to their great-great-grandparents’.
Rose gazed around the barn: at Mim and Bethany, seated behind Vera. At Sammy, at Luke, nodding off; at Galen, who nudged Luke awake with a jab from his elbow—and she gave thanks.
After youth group on Sunday night, Jimmy drove Bethany home. It was a cold night, but the stars were out and the moon was full and the brisk air gave them an excuse to cuddle. Jimmy took the long way home so he could pull up to the shores of Blue Lake Pond. Just to talk, he assured her, but she knew kissing was on his mind. Kissing was always on his mind and he’d been staring at her lips all night. Kissing
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