Planted with Hope by Tricia Goyer Read Free Book Online

and Jonas chased Emma. Finally reaching her, Jonas scooped up the young girl and hoisted her onto his shoulder. Both of her legs dangled on his right side, and Emma’s laughter filled the air, warming Hope’s heart.
    She hoped to see them at the gospel singing, if not sooner. Hope picked up the paper plates they’d left and realized she hadn’t taken a bite of her own sandwich. She didn’t feel like eating now. Instead her stomach balled in knots. Her gaze wandered back to watch Jonas and Emma disappearing down the street.
    Oh Lord, she prayed. May it not be too long before I see them returning that way again.
    Â 

    Emma’s Peanut Better Cookies
    1 cup all-purpose flour
    1 cup cake flour
    1 tsp. baking soda
    1 tsp. baking powder
    Â¼ tsp. salt
    Â¼ cup shortening
    Â½ cup butter
    Â½ cup granulated sugar
    Â½ cup light brown sugar
    2 eggs
    Â½ cup creamy peanut butter
    Â½ tsp. vanilla extract
    10 oz. chocolate morsels
    Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, sift flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter, and sugars. Add eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Add sifted dry ingredients; mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in chocolate morsels. Drop heaping Tbsp of dough onto parchment-lined sheets, 3 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.
    Baking Tip: You can make your own cake flour. For every cup all-purpose flour, remove two Tbsp and replace with two Tbsp cornstarch. Sift.

Chapter Four
    You will always leave something behind—your influence.
    A MISH P ROVERB

    J onas Sutter rolled up his sleeves and walked to the chalkboard at the front of Golden Coast Amish School, wiping off the day’s lesson and preparing to write up tomorrow’s. His first day of teaching had gone well. The older students had been respectful and interested in this farmer from Kentucky. They’d listened and done their assignments, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about his farm. Thinking about all he’d left behind back in Guthrie.
    â€œFour months,” he muttered under his breath. “Just four months and I can get back to the farm.”
    He’d repeated that same thought on the ride to Pinecraft from Kentucky, sitting in the back of a full van driven by an Englisch driver. He’d repeated that thought as he’d chatted with friends, old and new, at the New Year’s gathering at Pinecraft Park. But after Saturday evening—and the visit to the Miller’s house—the idea didn’t seem as urgent. Would the days go by fast? Would he have enough time to get to know Hope Miller before he left? Forthe first time since Sarah’s passing, he’d found someone worth getting to know better.
    Unlike most public schools that went until June, the Amish school in Pinecraft finished at the end of April. One reason was they didn’t take as many holidays as public schools—for Columbus Day, President’s Day, or Thanksgiving. They also took a shortened Christmas break. When other public school students were still finishing up testing and their studies in May, most Amish children were already helping around farms, which was exactly what he’d planned for Emma.
    Last year, if someone would have told him that the beginning of the new year he’d be living in Florida and teaching school to two dozen children, he never would have believed it. It had been a hard two years since losing Sarah. And an even longer three years before that as he watched the illness strip his wife of her mobility, finally taking her life. He’d always imagined he’d stay in Kentucky his whole life, but his oldest sister’s need had drawn him here.
    Jonas had read Ruth Ann’s note at least ten times when it first arrived, and he thought of it again now.
    Jonas, you know I wouldn’t ask unless it was urgent, but