Found by Shelley Shepard Gray Read Free Book Online Page A

either, Walker.”
    She could almost see the spark fade from his eyes. “You don’t want to go to school, Lydia? Not at all?”
    â€œI’m sorry, Walker. But I don’t.”
    He held his silence as they walked down the stairs, down the hall, and back out of the building. Only when they were getting into his truck did he speak again.
    â€œLydia, I love you, I do. But I don’t know how we’re going to manage to mesh our lives together. When we start talking about our wishes for the future, and start talking about plans for the rest of our lives . . . nothing seems to go together.”
    â€œI understand.” She said nothing more because there was nothing left to say. Though their futures were at cross-purposes, they were in agreement on this: If one of them didn’t change, they didn’t have a future.
    No, that wasn’t true. They’d have a future.
    It just wouldn’t be together.

Chapter 6
    â€œPerry discovered that if you stood in the middle of the trail, and crouched down just a little bit . . . he could see right into our windows. I never asked him how he found out. I suppose I didn’t want to know.”
    J ACOB S CHROCK
    A fter supper, Jacob knew he couldn’t sit for another minute in his father’s company. Lately, his father had been hovering over him so protectively that Jacob was beginning to feel like a firefly in a jar.
    He needed a break from the constant vigilance, and he needed it soon, or he was afraid he would say something he would regret. He’d been taught to always respect his parents and never argue with their directives. However, he was on the verge of breaking his silence.
    Entering the living room, where his father was contentedly whittling in front of the fireplace, he announced, “I’m going out for a while, Daed.”
    With a start, his father got to his feet. “Going out? Where are you going? It’s late, you know.”
    â€œIt’s eight o’clock, Daed. Not so late.”
    â€œBut it’s dark out—”
    It had finally happened. His patience had snapped. “Father, of course it is dark. And furthermore—”
    With a wary look his way, his mother jumped into the conversation. “Aaron, enough! My goodness, what’s gotten into you lately? Jacob is twenty years old, not eight.”
    To Jacob’s relief, his father looked more than a little shamefaced. “I know that.”
    â€œThen why are you watching his every move? I tell ya, Aaron, sometimes I truly worry about you.” Waving her hand, she motioned to Jacob. “We’ll see you later, son.”
    But his father stood up. “Hold on, Jacob. Are you taking the buggy? Because if you are, you should remember to get a lantern and be careful.”
    Reminding himself that his dad was only spooked by Perry’s death, Jacob struggled to hold on to the very last bit of his patience. “I’m not taking the buggy. I’m only going for a walk. I’ll be back in a while.”
    â€œWalking? Where to?”
    â€œDaed, stop.” He ground his teeth, working to control the bark in his voice.
    â€œIt’s a father’s job to look out for his child.”
    â€œI agree. Except I am not a child.” Looking over his father’s head, he met his mother’s gaze and sent her a silent, plaintive plea for more help.
    She shook her head in dismay. “Aaron, stop this. You are borrowing trouble, and we both know it.”
    â€œBut—”
    With a shooing motion, she waved Jacob out. “Go on, son. You worked hard today, and you did a fine job with the chores here, too. Go enjoy yourself for a few hours.”
    â€œ Danke, Mamm.”
    The lines around her eyes softened. “Yes, of course. Now off you go.”
    He grabbed his coat and hat before his father could come up with another reason for him to stay under his watch.
    Once outside, he walked down the gravel