My Hope Is Found: The Cadence of Grace, Book 3 by Joanne Bischof Read Free Book Online Page A

Gideon’s shirt.
    She thought she was rid of every trace. Every memory. But a few weeks ago, the shirt surfaced in Elsie’s mending basket, and Lonnie couldn’t bear to let it go. Why she’d worn it today of all days, she’d never know. It wasn’t as if she really wanted to get it dirty. In fact, she had every intention of soaking out the stains and smudges from today. She peered up at Toby, who kept his eyes away, as if to give her time to speak.
    “You’re welcome,” she hurried to say when she realized she was yet to answer. If she wasn’t a mess from one end to the other today. She took a step back. “You’ll stay for dinner, won’t you? I can make that honey cornbread you liked last time.”
    “I think it was Jacob’s favorite too.” His voice warmed on the name of her son. “I think between the two of us, we ate most of the pan.”
    “I remember that.” Another patch of peace seemed to cover her ever-mending heart. “He seems to like anything you do. Instead of trying to get
him
to eat his peas, I’m just going to give you an extra helping. That’ll do the trick.”
    Tilting his face to the ground, Toby grinned as broad as she’d everseen. He tugged at his hair, and when he finally glanced back at her, his eyes held a tenderness that made it nearly impossible to look away.
    Jebediah leaned his shovel against the side of the coop and gripped the handles of the wheelbarrow. “It’s a good thing I’m not payin’ ya.”
    “I should get to work,” Toby said. A friendly nod to Lonnie, and he strode back toward the coop.
    Lonnie hurried into the house. She filled her washstand with hot water and crawled out of her clothes, tossing them to the side. As she scrubbed soap up her arms, she forced herself not to pick up Gideon’s shirt, smooth out the wrinkles, and drape it over the chair. Once washed and dressed, Lonnie scurried downstairs to start the noon meal.
    Struck with cabin fever, Elsie had taken the antsy children to a neighbor’s house for the morning. The kitchen seemed to sigh an emptiness without her. Lonnie filled a bowl with cornmeal and leavening, cracked two eggs, then whisked in softened butter.
    Through the window in the back door, she could see Jebediah and Toby working. Though she didn’t want to let on, she knew Toby had spoken to Jebediah alone last week. The thought unsettled her, but not from anxiety. Lonnie stepped from the window. If her suspicions were correct, Toby would have a question for her soon.
    And not just any question. She forced herself to take a steady breath.
    After beating the batter until it was silky, she filled a greased cast-iron pan and slid it into the oven. She was gathering up broken eggshells when Toby shouldered the door open, an armload of wood pressed to his chest.
    “Jeb and I just finished, and he sent me in to bring you wood.” He dropped the split fir in the woodbox and brushed dust from his pants. “He might have mentioned something about wanting coffee too.”
    “Sounds like Jebediah.” Lonnie filled a cup. “Would you like more for yourself?”
    Toby placed his empty cup in the washtub. “No, thank you. I’m fine.” He stood just behind her. Surely he wouldn’t ask her
now
?
    Hands atremble, Lonnie poured cream into Jebediah’s coffee.
Oh dear
. Jebediah didn’t take cream. Toby did. A shake of the pot showed it was nearly empty. Well, Jebediah was getting cream today.
    “Okay.” The word squeaked out. She set the pot down so hard the lid bounced off, hitting the floor in a splatter of coffee. Snatching a rag from the basket, Toby wiped it up. He replaced the lid and chuckled as he fiddled with the cloth between his hands. He spoke before she could.
    “Elsie’s not home, is she?”
    Eyes down, cheeks aflame, Lonnie shook her head. She braved a glance up, knowing what a fool she must look.
    A half grin lit his face. “I better get back out there then. Before Jebediah drags me out by my shirt collar.”
    She felt her neck