A Baby for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher Read Free Book Online Page B

How can something so beautiful as love between two people cause such terrible trouble? And not just any people, but two older people. Surely there’s got to be some way in which they can be together, Jake. It just doesn’t seem right.”
    “The world is what it is. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but it’s true. We can’t just have things happen because we want them that way.”
    “I know,” Hannah said. “Look at the trouble my dreaming got me into those many years ago.”
    “With ‘old Sam.’” Jake chuckled slightly. “You did almost mess up—and big time. Don’t you wish you were a farmer’s wife now instead of a preacher’s wife worrying about all these things? Think of how much simpler life would be.”
    “Don’t even suggest such a thing, Jake! I wouldn’t trade you for any farmer, not even if he were the best farmer in the world.”
    “You do know how to warm a man’s heart,” he said, tracing her face with his fingers.
    “And I wouldn’t trade having your child for a farmer’s life either,” she said, kissing his cheek.
    “There are still the dishes to do,” Jake whispered, in her ear. “Why don’t I help you?”
    Hannah laughed, “Well, that’s not very romantic…but it’s true. There are lots of dirty dishes tonight.”
    “You made way too big a supper,” Jake said, taking her by the hand and helping her stand. “Next time we have visitors, a little less would be just fine.”
    “Oh no! I forgot to give Mr. Brunson his cherry pie to take along home. It completely slipped my mind.”
    “He had things on his mind other than cherry pie tonight. I think Mr. Brunson will be okay.”
    “I’ll take it up tomorrow. I need the walk anyway. He needs his cherry pie,” Hannah insisted. “If nothing else—to comfort his broken heart.”
    “You’re something else,” Jake said, shaking his head. “Come, we have dishes to do.”
    Hannah followed him to the kitchen, her fingers still wrapped around his. She let go, and lifted the lid on the firebox, slipping in two more pieces of wood.
    “We’ll need more hot water,” she said. “It should be warm by the time we finish the first batch of dishes.”
    “You have every dish dirty in your kitchen,” Jake said, looking around.
    “Almost.” Hannah smiled. “But it was a good supper. You have to admit that.”
    Jake smiled, pouring water from the kettle into the sink and adding a dash of soap. He began washing the plates he could reach. While Jake washed, rinsed, and placed them on the drainer, Hannah cleared the table and scraped the dishes before stacking them for Jake to wash. The soft hiss of the gas lantern above their heads filled the kitchen as they worked.
    “I have something to confess,” Hannah said softly.
    “I don’t know if I can take any more confessions tonight. I was just trying to get my brain back together after learning that Mr. Brunson is in love with one of our women. I still can’t believe it.”
    “That’s what I’m worried about. Do you think it will end up as awful as my dreaming used to?”
    “You didn’t marry Sam, so that turned out okay.”
    “I don’t mean that,” she said. “I meant Peter.”
    “Is that your confession? If it is, you already told me about Peter. How you snuck out of the window with him that night against your parents’ wishes. How he wanted to kiss you in the car. How you didn’t let him but made him bring you back home. How he had an accident that night and lost his life. Is that what you mean?”
    “You’re not angry with me, are you, Jake?”
    “No,” Jake said, washing the dishes slowly. “I never was angry with you about Peter.”
    “Are you sure?” she said, touching his arm.
    Jake stopped his task and turned toward her. “There really was nothing to forgive, Hannah. I wasn’t there, and we all do things that mess up our lives. That’s what God’s grace is about.”
    “But what I did was bad. Would you have married me if you knew you would be a