A Second Harvest by Eli Easton Read Free Book Online Page A

husband, Luther, wasn’t the churchy type. In fact, he was an alcoholic. He died just before Susan did, crashed a car while driving drunk. Susan said it was probably a blessing for Evelyn, though a shame for the poor man’s soul.
    “I wish you’d’ve heard Pastor Mitchell’s sermon. He talked about seeing God’s plan for your life, and following God’s will, and doing things that are good for others and for building up the community.”
    “That so?”
    The stone came out of the hoof with a pop. The cow tried to jerk away again, probably in pain. David steadied her, clicking his tongue. If he’d been alone, he would have said something to the cow like “I had to get it out of there, girl. You’ll feel better now.” But with Evelyn standing there, he refrained. He needed to put some unguent up in the hoof, make sure it didn’t get infected.
    “David?”
    “Yes, ma’am?” David looked at Evelyn.
    She blinked at him, then gave him a shy smile. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting your work. I can wait ’til you’re done?”
    God no. If Evelyn hung around, she’d expect them to chat over coffee or something. “No, ma’am, I can hear you fine. Hang on a minute.” He went to the shelf in the corner and got the unguent, went back to the cow, and started treating the wound.
    “Anyway, about seeing God’s will,” Evelyn continued. “You know I… well, I’ve been praying a lot. About things. Jessie, of course. He’s my baby. He’s had a wild streak, but I’m hopeful that God’s been softening his heart. But also for poor Luther and Susan. And… and for us.”
    David had done all he could with the hoof. He started to untie the rope that held up the cow’s leg. Her words sank in. He looked at her over the top of the stall, and she looked back at him steadily, her mouth pressed in a determined line. “For us?”
    The cow moved away from him the moment it was free and shook its leg, stomped it. That’s got to feel better.
    “About you and me, David. I’ve been praying.”
    David turned his back to Evelyn and indulged himself by closing his eyes and sighing. Lord, I’m so not up for this today.
    He composed his face and let himself out of the stall.
    “I believe it’s God’s will that we… well, that we at least get to know one another better!” Evelyn said patiently. “Susan is gone, and my Luther is gone, practically at the same time! I know you must be at sea trying to run this farm and take care of yourself too. It’s too much for any man. God gave man a helpmeet in woman so that they might hold each other up and provide support.”
    David pulled off his gloves and moved them from one hand to the other, shuffled his feet too. Now that he didn’t have a task to do, he wasn’t sure what to do with his eyes. He looked at Evelyn, looked away again. He couldn’t bear the determined openness in her gaze. “Well. I don’t know about that. I don’t know that I’m ready to think about that quite yet.”
    “Well.” Evelyn’s voice was a little pinched. “The Bible says it’s not right to mourn forever. Please just mull it over. Pray about it. Will you do that, at least?”
    “I will do that. Yes,” David promised.
    Maybe he could pray Evelyn found someone else. He felt sorry for her. She’d had a rough life. But he wasn’t attracted to her, not even the least little bit. After Susan he wasn’t about to let himself get pulled into another yoke. Why couldn’t he choose to remain single? Being a widower, he sometimes felt like a bull at auction. There were far too many single women in their Mennonite community.
    Evelyn’s face softened, and she gave him a smile. “It’s just that I know you believe the same as me. You’re a good, God-fearing man. I promised the Lord that if I ever, well, married again, it would be to someone with strong faith.”
    “That’s wise thinking.”
    “I’m sure you feel just the same!”
    David nodded. “I, uh, thank you for stopping by, Evelyn, but I