And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

only had enough time to steam-clean the carpets and wash cabinets. The tile needs re-grouting and every room needs a fresh coat of paint and . . . ”
    “It’s a wonderful house, Abby, and we’re grateful to have it. Give me a few weeks and we’ll have you and Samuel over for dinner again, and you’ll see what we do with it.” She and Paul had paid four hundred dollars a month for a two-bedroom house near Mountain High. This house was a gift from God. They would be living right next door to the church, and rent-free. Though Paul’s salary was very low, they might be able to meet expenses without her having to take a part-time job.
    “Oh, dear,” Abby said in dismay. “I hadn’t even thought about what you would sleep on tonight.”
    “We have sleeping bags. We can begin moving things in tomorrow.” She could go to the local hardware store to buy paint and rollers, and Wal-Mart for sheets to make curtains.
    “It’s so good to have you here,” Abby said. “There are so few of us left, but what we lack in strength, we make up for in love.”
    “How many do we have in our congregation?”
    “Oh, not more than sixty. There are the Harrisons and Hollis Sawyer, the other two elders. And then there are the Bransons, Kings, Carlsons, Knoxes.” They returned to the kitchen and sat talking. Eunice soaked up everything she could about the families who had been faithful over the years. “Oh, and Fergus. How could I forget Fergie? Hank was visiting Fergus Oslander in the hospital when he collapsed. Poor dear. Fergus has been moved from the Community Hospital to Vine Hill Convalescent Hospital. We have several members there now.”
    “If you’ll give me their names, I’ll take Timmy for a visit.”
    Abby’s eyes lit up. “Of course! Let me know when, so that I can go with you and make introductions. They’ve all been told about Hank and Susanna’s retirement, but they won’t be expecting you. Oh, they will love Timmy. There’s nothing like a child to lift spirits.”
    The men returned from their tour of the church and fellowship hall. “Can I help you carry in some boxes?” Samuel said.
    “Oh no, sir; I’ll take care of that.”
    Eunice saw the look in Samuel Mason’s eyes and wished Paul had accepted his offer of help.
    Samuel slipped his hand to Abby’s elbow. “Well, I guess we’d better be going, so these young folks can get settled for the night.”
    Eunice hugged Abby. “Thank you so much for your wonderful welcome.”
    Paul thanked them as well and walked them to the polished DeSoto parked out front. When he came back inside, he caught Eunice up in his arms and swung her around. “What do you think?”
    “If everyone is as wonderful as the Masons, it couldn’t be more perfect.”
    He kissed her. “My thoughts exactly.”
    “I think Samuel Mason would’ve liked to carry in a box or two.”
    “I know, but the last thing I want to do is give one of our elders a hernia on our first night here. He’s got to be over seventy, Euny.”
    “I know you didn’t mean to do it, Paul, but I think you may have made that dear man feel useless.”
    “I hope not. I just didn’t want to impose on him anymore. His wife fixed us dinner, and he gave me a full tour of the church. I wasn’t about to ask him to move us in.”
    “What are we going to do about the piano and refrigerator?”
    “I’ll go by the high school tomorrow and find out where the local hangout is. Then I’ll go there and hire a couple of teenagers. It would be good to find a crew of workers. There’s a lot to be done on the church and fellowship hall.” He looked around. “And this place as well.”
    Eunice knew it wasn’t just moving or working on the church facility that Paul was considering. She knew how excited he could get when put in charge of a project or program. No doubt, he was already thinking of ways to attract young people into this dying church. Which was exactly what Abby had said Samuel had been praying for over