Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online

fears would diminish and she would find peace.

4

    W ith muscles stretched taut, Wade hoisted another armload of hubs and carried them to his worktable. “I can’t say that working from a tent is easy. Every night I have to load my tools and supplies back into the wagon to take home because of all the looting. I know the law is trying to keep things under control, but there are always those who want to help themselves.” He looked to his best friend, Thane Patton, and shook his head. “Not only that, but I’ve made more money working construction for other people than in getting my wainwright business back to where it was.”
    â€œMaybe God is leading you in a different direction. Maybe construction is something He wants you to do. I know He’s taking me in a different direction.”
    Wade put down a stack of felloes and gave Thane his full attention. “And what direction is that?”
    â€œMilitine and I are leaving Seattle. I wasn’t sure how to break the news to you, but I figure you and I both prefer just coming right out with it.”
    The news took Wade by surprise. “But I thought you liked it here.”
    â€œI do, but Militine would be happier if we got farther away from where she grew up. She’s always afraid of running into someone who knows her. I figured California might be the place to go. I wrote a letter to the fire chief in San Francisco and applied for a position of full-time fireman. I just got a letter back offering me a job.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be. I have to say this isn’t at all what I expected.” He tried not to sound disapproving. “I hope you know what you’re doing. Making a big move like that won’t be easy.”
    â€œIt’ll be easy enough, since I lost most everything in the fire,” Thane said with a shrug. “Militine doesn’t have that much, either. We have a little bit of cash set aside from money given to us at the wedding, and with what I’ve been making working on the rebuilding, I think we’ll be just fine.”
    â€œI’m sure you will be. You’ve always been able to take care of yourself. It’ll be hard not having you around, however. We’ve had a lot of years looking out for each other.”
    Thane laughed. “That’s true enough. I know I’d be a lot worse for it if you hadn’t come to my rescue a few times.”
    Wade shook his head with a smile. “As would I. You’ve kept me out of trouble more than once. It won’t be the same here without you.”
    â€œWho knows, maybe you and Abrianna will want to relocate one day, as well. It would be great to have you join us there.”
    â€œI don’t see that happening. Abrianna would fret about her aunts, and there’s the fact that her father just came back into her life.”
    Thane nodded, his expression one of complete understanding. “Do you figure to live at the school after you’re married?”
    Wade shook his head. “That isn’t what I want. I want a house of our own. I’m hoping Abrianna will feel the same way. Idon’t think it would be all that comfortable to discover life as a married couple with all those folks looking over our shoulder.”
    Thane laughed. “It hasn’t been easy for Militine and me, but we’ve made do.”
    â€œSo when do you plan to leave for San Francisco?”
    â€œThe end of next week.”
    Wade pushed back his sweaty hair. “That soon, eh? Well, I suppose it’s just as well. You need to get out of here and settled before the weather turns.”
    â€œWe had hoped to be around when you and Abrianna got married. Have you set a date yet?”
    Wade shook his head and went to retrieve another box of goods. “You wanna give me a hand?” Thane immediately came to his aid. Together they hoisted the crate atop the table. “Been so busy I haven’t even asked her father for his