Planted with Hope by Tricia Goyer Read Free Book Online Page B

they’d been chatting about something. Jonas hadn’t tried to interrupt. Instead, he’d sauntered outside with all the other men to talk about the weather, who was due to arrive on the Pioneer Trails bus, and any news that they’d heard about their friends and their family from back home.
    He smiled and pushed thoughts of the pretty redhead out of his mind. First, he had to prepare tomorrow’s lessons. Only after could he let his mind wander, thinking of her. He scanned the room. Work came first.
    The classroom doors were opened, pressed against the walls.The building was quiet, which hadn’t been the case just a few hours before. The window shades had been lowered to block out the sun, but now Jonas moved to them and lifted them to the top. He’d no doubt regret it later when the room grew too warm from the heat of the sun, but for now he’d enjoy the golden, slanted rays. One only experienced sunshine like this during the summer months in Kentucky. He’d enjoy it while he could.
    Jonas moved to the blackboard, rolled up his sleeves, and began erasing the day’s math lesson. The swish of the eraser on the board reminded him of the swish of a tail on a barn wall, but he pushed those thoughts away. He’d first kissed Sarah in her dat’s barn with such a sound in the background.
    â€œGood day, Jonas!” The voice interrupted him.
    His heart leaped, but he pasted a smile on his face as he turned.
    â€œGood afternoon, Clyde.”
    His brother-in-law wandered in with a pleasant smile on his face. The older man was broad shouldered and extra wide around the waist. Clyde hadn’t been that way when he and Ruth Ann had married, but her good cooking, matched with the years passing by, had increased his waist size.
    Clyde’s smile was just as wide, and he’d no doubt just spent the last hour meeting those who’d arrived on this afternoon’s Pioneer Trails bus—welcoming the snowbirds and telling his fill of big fish or alligator stories.
    Clyde pulled up a chair in the back of the classroom, and Jonas forced a smile. Clyde was a woodworker. He always had a project or two in his shop, but his greatest talent was his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. Jonas just hoped that whatever Clyde had on his mind wouldn’t take long. He had a classroom to ready for the next day and lessons to prepare, and he wanted time this afternoon with Emma.
    â€œRuth Ann came home a bit ago with a piece of pie from that pie shop. Orange pie. I never had that before, but it was good.”
    â€œReally? Orange Pie, you don’t say.” Jonas put down his eraser and then flipped through pages in the math book. “I might have to try it next time I go by.”
    â€œYou’ll have to do that. I like that place. It’s really brought some fun to our village. I wouldn’t want to guess how many pies they go through a day with all the customers—the Amish here, and all those Englischers who’ve been showing up in their fancy cars.”
    Jonas crossed his arms over his chest, knowing he’d never be able to write up math equations on the board and chat at the same time. He leaned against the wall. He eyed the winter mural on the wall behind Clyde’s head, realizing he should have taken that down after the New Year. Then he smiled, deciding to leave it up. After all, that was the only “winter” these kids would experience.
    â€œYou know, they did a nice job with that pie shop, but it’s just a shame that they haven’t done much with the lot,” Clyde continued. “Ruth Ann mentioned it to me the other day. There’s a half acre in the back of the building, you know. Seems to be a shame that it’s not being used. All that space is valuable. Especially since most folks around here have tiny yards. And that’s another thing that’s bothering Ruth Ann. These kids growing up in this area don’t