Read Online the STRUGGLE by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online

expensive, and we don’t have any extra money to spend on something that might not sell. Third, I seriously doubt that antiques would sell very well around here.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “There are no tourists here—at least not like we had in Lancaster County, and there aren’t nearly as many people living in this area.” Timothy slowly shook his head. “You need to find something else to keep yourself busy, because selling antiques is definitely out—at least for right now. It would be too big of a risk. Now let’s get inside and eat supper.”
    Resentment welled in Hannah’s soul. She was getting tired of Timothy telling her what to do all the time, and it didn’t surprise her that he’d been against her idea right from the start. He didn’t even want to consider it. Was there anything they could agree on, or was this a warning of how things were going to be from now on?

    Samuel fumed all the way to Bonnie’s. Just who does Hannah think she is, sending Esther home when she should have been taking care of the kinner and sharing supper with us? Hannah has a lot of nerve coming into my house and trying to take things over! Samuel wondered how his brother put up with a wife like that. Of course, Hannah, being the youngest child and only girl in her family, had always been a bit spoiled. Even back when she was a girl growing up in their community, he’d noticed it. And it didn’t help that she was under her mother’s thumb, which he knew was why she’d been opposed to the idea of moving to Kentucky in the first place.
    I wonder what made Timothy decide to marry Hannah , Samuel thought as he gripped the horse’s reins a bit tighter. It must have been her pretty face and the fact that she could cook fairly well, because Timothy was sure blinded to the reality that Hannah’s tied to her mamm’s apron strings .
    Samuel drew in a couple of deep breaths, knowing he needed to calm down before he spoke to Esther. He sent up a quick prayer, asking God for wisdom.
    By the time he pulled up to the hitching rail in Bonnie’s yard, he felt a bit more relaxed. He climbed down from the buggy, secured his horse, and sprinted across the lawn to the guesthouse, where he rapped on the door and called, “Esther, are you there?”
    No response.
    He knocked again, but when Esther didn’t answer, he figured she might be up at the main house with Bonnie.
    Hurrying across the lawn, he took the steps two at a time and knocked on Bonnie’s door. Several seconds went by before Bonnie answered the door. “I came to see Esther. Is she here?” Samuel asked.
    Bonnie nodded. “We were about to have supper.”
    “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to Esther for a few minutes, if you don’t mind.”
    Bonnie smiled. “Come in. I’ll wait in the living room while you two visit.”
    “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
    Bonnie turned toward the living room, and Samuel headed for the kitchen.
    “Samuel, I’m surprised to see you here. I figured you’d be at home having supper with your family,” Esther said when Samuel stepped into the room.
    He frowned. “I figured that’s where you’d be, too, but when Timothy and I got home, Hannah said you’d come here.”
    Esther nodded. “I think my being there made her feel uncomfortable. I sensed a bit of tension between us all day.”
    Samuel pulled out a chair and joined her at the table. “When I go back home, I plan to tell Hannah in no uncertain terms that I want you to keep watching the kinner, and that includes bein’ there for supper.”
    “But Samuel, if it’s going to cause trouble with Hannah, maybe it might be best if—”
    Samuel shook his head. “It won’t be best for the kinner, and it sure won’t be best for me.” He reached for Esther’s hand. “I know it won’t be easy for you to deal with Hannah, but I’m asking you to keep working for me and to try and get along with Hannah.” He smiled and gently squeezed her fingers. “I’d set a