Read Online the STRUGGLE by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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date to marry you right now so you could be with us all the time, but I think we’d better wait till Timothy and Hannah find a place of their own. We have to keep reminding ourselves that these arrangements are only temporary.”
Esther’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Oh Samuel, let’s pray it won’t be too long.”
Timothy stepped outside after the evening meal was finished, while Hannah cleaned up and occupied the children. It felt good to breathe in the fresh air, especially when things had gone downhill after arriving home. He didn’t blame Samuel for being upset with Hannah, and he hoped it didn’t put a further strain on their living arrangements until they had a place of their own.
Timothy thought about Hannah’s desire to sell antiques. He had to admit her eyes had been shining when she’d shared her thoughts with him about it. It was the first time since they’d arrived in Kentucky that Hannah had showed any kind of enthusiasm.
Was I wrong to discourage her? he wondered. Maybe something like that would help Hannah adjust to her new surroundings. Guess I was wrong for not listening more to what she had to say. I’ll think about it more once we’re able to get a place of our own. By then, I’ll have a better idea of what our expenses will be like .
For now, though, he should go out to the barn to make sure everything was secured for the evening. He’d wait for his brother and hope he could smooth things over with him, because the last thing he needed was for Samuel to ask them to leave. If he did, where would they go? They sure couldn’t move in with Titus and Suzanne in their small place.
Now, don’t borrow any trouble , he told himself. Things will work out. They have to .
C HAPTER 11
L eaves swirled around the yard, and the wind howled eerily under the eaves of the porch as Hannah stood waiting for Bonnie to pick her and Mindy up. She gazed at the gray-blue sky and the empty fields next to Samuel’s place and wished it was spring instead of fall. They were going into Hopkinsville today to do some shopping, so maybe that would lift her spirits. Hannah looked forward to the outing because it had rained every day last week and she was tired of being cooped up in the house with Esther and the children. She’d had to learn how to deal with Esther coming over every day to watch Samuel’s children, but it wasn’t easy. Esther did things a lot differently than Hannah, but she found if she kept busy writing letters to Mom and cleaning house, the days were bearable. It wasn’t that Esther didn’t keep the house clean—she just wasn’t as structured and organized as Hannah had always been. Many times Esther had tried to engage Hannah in conversation, but since they really didn’t have much in common, there wasn’t a lot to talk about. They’d worked out an agreement to take turns fixing supper, so at least that gave Hannah a chance to do some cooking, which she enjoyed.
Hannah watched as Esther hung some clothes on the line, using the pulley that ran from the porch to the barn. Mindy must have seen her, too, because she left Hannah’s side, darted across the porch, and tugged on Esther’s skirt. Esther stopped what she was doing, bent down, picked Mindy up, and swung her around. Hannah cringed as Mindy squealed with delight. It really bothered Hannah to see how Mindy had warmed up to Esther. It seemed like she was always hanging on Esther, wanting to crawl up into her lap to listen to a story, or just sitting beside Esther at the table. This was one more reason Hannah hoped she and Timothy could find a place of their own soon, where she and Mindy could spend more quality time together without Esther’s influence. Everyone seemed to love Esther.
Hannah looked away, her thoughts going to Timothy. He’d been keeping very busy helping Samuel. They’d had several indoor paint jobs, which was a good thing on account of the rain. The downside was that most of the jobs were out of town,
Esther’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Oh Samuel, let’s pray it won’t be too long.”
Timothy stepped outside after the evening meal was finished, while Hannah cleaned up and occupied the children. It felt good to breathe in the fresh air, especially when things had gone downhill after arriving home. He didn’t blame Samuel for being upset with Hannah, and he hoped it didn’t put a further strain on their living arrangements until they had a place of their own.
Timothy thought about Hannah’s desire to sell antiques. He had to admit her eyes had been shining when she’d shared her thoughts with him about it. It was the first time since they’d arrived in Kentucky that Hannah had showed any kind of enthusiasm.
Was I wrong to discourage her? he wondered. Maybe something like that would help Hannah adjust to her new surroundings. Guess I was wrong for not listening more to what she had to say. I’ll think about it more once we’re able to get a place of our own. By then, I’ll have a better idea of what our expenses will be like .
For now, though, he should go out to the barn to make sure everything was secured for the evening. He’d wait for his brother and hope he could smooth things over with him, because the last thing he needed was for Samuel to ask them to leave. If he did, where would they go? They sure couldn’t move in with Titus and Suzanne in their small place.
Now, don’t borrow any trouble , he told himself. Things will work out. They have to .
C HAPTER 11
L eaves swirled around the yard, and the wind howled eerily under the eaves of the porch as Hannah stood waiting for Bonnie to pick her and Mindy up. She gazed at the gray-blue sky and the empty fields next to Samuel’s place and wished it was spring instead of fall. They were going into Hopkinsville today to do some shopping, so maybe that would lift her spirits. Hannah looked forward to the outing because it had rained every day last week and she was tired of being cooped up in the house with Esther and the children. She’d had to learn how to deal with Esther coming over every day to watch Samuel’s children, but it wasn’t easy. Esther did things a lot differently than Hannah, but she found if she kept busy writing letters to Mom and cleaning house, the days were bearable. It wasn’t that Esther didn’t keep the house clean—she just wasn’t as structured and organized as Hannah had always been. Many times Esther had tried to engage Hannah in conversation, but since they really didn’t have much in common, there wasn’t a lot to talk about. They’d worked out an agreement to take turns fixing supper, so at least that gave Hannah a chance to do some cooking, which she enjoyed.
Hannah watched as Esther hung some clothes on the line, using the pulley that ran from the porch to the barn. Mindy must have seen her, too, because she left Hannah’s side, darted across the porch, and tugged on Esther’s skirt. Esther stopped what she was doing, bent down, picked Mindy up, and swung her around. Hannah cringed as Mindy squealed with delight. It really bothered Hannah to see how Mindy had warmed up to Esther. It seemed like she was always hanging on Esther, wanting to crawl up into her lap to listen to a story, or just sitting beside Esther at the table. This was one more reason Hannah hoped she and Timothy could find a place of their own soon, where she and Mindy could spend more quality time together without Esther’s influence. Everyone seemed to love Esther.
Hannah looked away, her thoughts going to Timothy. He’d been keeping very busy helping Samuel. They’d had several indoor paint jobs, which was a good thing on account of the rain. The downside was that most of the jobs were out of town,
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