At Home in Pleasant Valley by Marta Perry Read Free Book Online

his tone was so intense that she couldn’t doubt he meant it. His sympathy wiped away her irritation and made her ashamed that she’d spoken so abruptly.
    â€œI’m sorry. I’m the one who should apologize.” She took a deep breath, trying to ease the tightness in her throat. “It’s just— People will talk about it again, once they know he’s back.”
    â€œYou could be careful, not give them anything new to talk about.”
    â€œLike meeting him at the schoolhouse?” Her temper, always so controlled, flared.
    Daniel’s strong face was impassive. “You are my children’s teacher, an Amish schoolteacher, chosen for the position because of your faith and your character. What you do, who you see—that matters to all the children who are your responsibility.”
    Before she could say a word, he walked off toward the croquet game.
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    Leah stood at the end of the picnic table, setting out forks and napkins while she rehearsed all the things she should have said to Daniel. Unfortunately, he’d spoken nothing but the truth. It was too bad that he seemed to have the ability to bring out the emotions she usually kept under such careful control.
    Rachel slipped an arm around her waist. “Why so deep in thought?”
    Leah shook off the fear that there might have been a veiled threat in Daniel’s final words. Time enough to worry about that later. Now—now she had to tell Rachel about Johnny.
    â€œI must talk with you, Rachel.” There was no easy way to break this news. She’d just have to come out with it. At least at the moment everyone else seemed occupied, either with the game or with their own talk. “I’ve seen Johnny.”
    Rachel’s breath caught. “Our Johnny? Seen him? He’s here in Pleasant Valley?”
    â€œHe came to the schoolhouse yesterday, wanting me to talk to you for him, to tell you why he’s back.”
    Sudden hope blossomed on her friend’s face. “He wants to come home? To repent and be one of us again?” Her voice lifted in joy.
    It hurt Leah’s heart to destroy that hope, but it was best to do it quickly, since it must be done. “No. I’m sorry, Rachel.”
    The hope faded, and Rachel’s eyes filled with tears. She turned, hiding her face from the playing children. Leah gave her time, her arm encircling her friend’s waist. She longed so deeply to help her, but some pains couldn’t be soothed by even the most comforting words.
    Finally Rachel managed a feeble smile. “Ach, I never really thought that would happen. Johnny always wanted the outside world too strongly.”
    â€œYou couldn’t stop hoping he’d come back to us,” Leah said softly.
    Rachel shook her head. “Why is he here, then? What does he want if not to rejoin the community?”
    Leah picked her words carefully, feeling a flicker of anger toward John. He should be explaining this himself instead of putting it onto her.
    â€œHe’s working with that doctor who’s doing the research on geneticdiseases that affect the children. He said he’d be here for six months, at least.”
    â€œSix months?” Rachel bit her lip. “It will be hard, having him near that long but not one of us.”
    â€œDid you have any idea of what he was doing?”
    â€œNo.” The sidelong look seemed a little guilty. “Just that he’d gone to college for some kind of science.”
    â€œYou never told me that.” She’d thought that she and her closest friend shared everything.
    Rachel’s gaze slid away from Leah’s, and she fiddled with the forks much as Leah had done, as if her hands needed to be busy. “You seemed like you’d forgotten him. I didn’t want to bring it all up again and make you feel bad. Did I do wrong?”
    â€œNo. It’s all right.” But she hadn’t