For Every Season by Cindy Woodsmall Read Free Book Online Page A

without really thinking about it, she went to a window facing the road. She couldn’t see the road for the fog, but that didn’t stop her from going to the window on the other side of the room. She peered at the woods.
    She saw movement through the gray mist. Slowly someone moved in closer.
    Samuel .
    He was several yards from the house. Emotions as strong and raw as a nor’easter pushed and prodded her. Anger was the strongest, but hope was a close second. Did he have news for her that Jacob was willing to see her? Maybe he knew what she could do to set things right with Jacob.
    Samuel attached something to a tree.
    “What’s he doing?”
    Camilla came to the window. “Flagging the trees, best I can tell. I’d say he doesn’t intend for you to get lost again.”
    “Why wait to do that until I’ve been here for two weeks?”
    “No idea.”
    Samuel turned and retreated toward the farm. Was he not coming to Camilla’s door? Would he travel the long distance through the woods and then leave without speaking to her? Anger swelled. “I ought to ignore him.” But she had to talk to him while there was no chance of Jacob seeing her. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Rhoda dashed out of the room. She grabbed her coat off the rack and opened the back door.
    “You have nothing on your feet.”
    Rhoda paused. “What?”
    “Your feet.”
    Rhoda looked down. “Oh.”
    “There’s a pair of galoshes.” Camilla pointed to a corner.
    Rhoda quickly slipped her feet in them and slammed the door on her way out, cringing that in her rush she was being careless. Hopefully she hadn’t just awakened Bob.
    “Samuel!” He didn’t stop but continued walking toward the farm. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled with all her might. “Samuel King!”
    He turned, looking surprised—and maybe apologetic—as he hurried toward her. “What are you doing out here dressed like that?”
    She realized her hair was down and her head was uncovered. “You haven’t said a word to me in two weeks, and that’s all you’ve got on your mind? Why would you come so close to the house without at least trying to speak with me?”
    “Is that what you want? To talk? To me ?” His brown eyes bore into her. “ Kumm on, Rhoda. You brushed me off without even a pause of doubt.”
    A shadowy figure seemed to step out from behind him, and Rhoda thought of her late sister. It only caused more frustration. Sometimes she’d like to banish all thoughts of both of them.
    “I had no idea you felt anything for me other than friendship and partnership. Then you pulled me into your arms. And without asking permission, I might add. How could you turn around and tell Jacob what had happened? I begged you not to. But you did it anyway, and then you sauntered off with Nicole?”
    “Oh, for Pete’s sake! What does Nicole have to do with anything?”
    “It’s insulting! Amish women have no choice but to all dress alike, in layers of pleated clothes, with our hair pulled back. And then Nicole shows up in jeans with her shiny hair hanging down her back, and you go after her. Intertwining your life with Nicole’s isn’t like Leah seeing an outsider. She hasn’t joined the faith. You have. And if you’re not careful, you’ll destroy the reputation of this settlement and take the business with you.”
    “I’m sick of your issues with Nicole. I needed her skill in order to install solar panels. But you want her off the property? It’s done.” He snapped his fingers. “But I’m not the one who holds the power to ruin the business. Jacob has that—and apparently every woman he comes into contact with—in the palm of his hand. Why didn’t you tell him the incident was all me? It was! We both know it. I owned up to it, but you wavered. Why not tell him the truth?”
    Rhoda shook all over, trembling like a woman freezing to death. But it was his question, not the temperature, that rattled her. “I can’t believe this. You of all people are