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

and by the time the men came home each evening, Timothy was tired and didn’t want to talk with Hannah or even spend a few minutes playing with Mindy before she was put to bed. He often went to bed early and was asleep by the time Hannah got Mindy down and crawled into bed herself. Where had the closeness they’d once felt for each other gone? What had happened to Timothy’s promise that everything would be better once they had moved? So many things had gotten in the way of what had brought them together in the first place.
    When Esther went back inside, Hannah glanced at Mindy, now frolicking back and forth across the porch, amusing herself as she pretended to be a horse. Your daadi hardly spends any time with you anymore, either. Will we ever be like a real family again?
    Hannah’s musings were halted when Bonnie’s car pulled into the yard and she tooted her horn. Grabbing Mindy’s car seat from the porch, Hannah took Mindy’s hand and hurried out to the car.
    “Where’s Esther?” Bonnie asked when Hannah opened the car door. “Aren’t she and Samuel’s little ones coming with us today?”
    Hannah shook her head. “Jared and Penny have the beginning of a cold, and she thought it’d be best if she kept them in today.”
    “I guess that makes sense. Is everyone else well?”
    “So far, and I hope it stays that way, because I sure don’t want Mindy coming down with a cold.” Hannah put Mindy’s car seat in the back and lifted Mindy into it, making sure her seat belt was securely buckled. Then she stepped into the front seat and buckled her own seat belt.
    Bonnie smiled. “I appreciate the fact that you use the seat belts without me having to ask. I know that the Amish don’t have seat belts in their buggies, so I sometimes have to remind my passengers to use them when they’re riding in my car.”
    “I’ve sometimes wished we did have seat belts,” Hannah said, “because when someone’s in a buggy accident, they’re often seriously injured.”
    Bonnie nodded with a look of understanding. “Getting to know my Amish neighbors has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, and I don’t like hearing about accidents of any kind. I pray often for my Amish and English friends, asking God to keep everyone safe.”
    “Esther mentioned that you’re a Christian and that you go to a small church in Fairview,” Hannah said.
    “Yes, that’s right.” Bonnie pulled out of Samuel’s yard and headed down the road in the direction of Hopkinsville. “It’s a very nice church, and I enjoy attending the services. When my grandma was alive, she and Grandpa used to go to that church.”
    “Have you ever attended an Amish church service?” Hannah asked.
    “Not a Sunday service, but I did go to Titus and Suzanne’s wedding, which I understand was similar to one of your regular preaching services.”
    Hannah nodded. “So what did you think of the wedding?”
    “It was nice. Quite a bit different from the weddings we Englishers have, though.”
    “When you and Allen get married, will it be at the church in Fairview?”
    Bonnie’s mouth dropped open. “Where did you get the idea that Allen and I will be getting married?”
    “Samuel said so. I heard him talking to Timothy about it during supper a few nights ago.”
    “What did he say?”
    “Just that he knew Allen was planning to marry you, and he hoped it’d be soon.”
    Bonnie gave the steering wheel a sharp rap. “That’s interesting—especially since Allen hasn’t even asked me to marry him.”
    “He hasn’t?”
    “No, but he has dropped a couple of hints along the way.”
    “Maybe he’s waiting for just the right time.”
    Bonnie kept her focus on the road.
    Did I do it again and say something I shouldn’t have? Hannah wondered. Maybe Bonnie doesn’t love Allen enough to marry him .

    Oak Grove, Kentucky
    “Samuel, I wanted to tell you again how much I appreciate your understanding after we had our little talk concerning Hannah and