Snowfall by Shelley Shepard Gray Read Free Book Online Page A

“Of course.” She’d just taken a bite of the roast—really, Marie made a good roast—when her daughter Lorene set her silverware on her plate.
    After glancing at her brother Peter, Lorene said, “Goodness, all this talk about Viola coming home almost made me forget to share my news.”
    â€œAnd what is that?”
    â€œWell, I just happened to be talking to some folks at the cheese shop, and learned that Ruth Stuzmann was laid off from her new job at Daybreak.”
    Only with effort did Lovina keep her expression neutral.
    Aaron frowned. “Who’s Ruth?”
    â€œShe’s that dark-haired girl I told you about,” Lovina muttered to her husband under her breath.
    â€œGosh, I haven’t seen Ruth in ages,” Roman said. Turning to his wife, he said, “Ruth has kind of a sad story. For whatever reason, she was raised in various relatives’ homes for most of her life. Now she lives on her own in downtown Berlin.”
    Amanda set her napkin down. “She’s not married yet?”
    â€œNo. She’s kind of an awkward gal. Not in a bad way, just a little strange.”
    Looking concerned and a little confused, Amanda said, “Are you close to her, Lorene?”
    â€œNot so much. The only reason I’m sharing her news is that I heard someone encouraged her to go help out Martin Rhodes and his brood of children.”
    Lovina struggled to remain impassive as Lorene glanced her way.
    John visibly winced. “Heaven help her. Martin brought all six of them into the furniture store two months ago. I thought we were going to have to close the shop in order to clean it up. They are wild children.”
    Elsie grinned. “Rambunctious, for sure. I watched over them for an afternoon last year when Martin had to attend a meeting downtown. Somehow they managed to spill punch all over the kitchen floor and track mud through the rest of the house.” She grimaced. “And all over one of the couches.”
    â€œWhich was probably why they were shopping for a new one,” John quipped.
    Marie grimaced. “Oh, Elsie.”
    Elsie shrugged. “I felt bad, especially because Martin wasn’t real pleased with me about the state of his house, but what could I do? After one hour I started leaning toward self-preservation.”
    â€œNow they have a dog,” Lovina said, unable to help herself. “Its name is Frank.”
    Lorene chuckled. “Well, of course they do. It’s not like a dog is going to make a difference in their home.”
    John smiled. “I’m still not quite sure how either the Rhodes kinner or Ruth’s new job is our concern. But that said, I’ll be sure and keep them in my prayers tonight.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Lorene said slowly, with a new, piercing look directed at Lovina. “I forgot to tell you all the rest of the story.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œFolks seem pretty sure that Ruth took this job at Mamm’s urging.”
    Elsie’s brows went up. “Mamm?”
    â€œMine?” Marie asked.
    â€œNot you, Marie. My mamm .”
    Lovina squirmed as everyone at the table turned to her.
    Peter’s eyebrows snapped together. “Why, Mamm? Why on earth would you decide that sweet Ruth Stutzman needed to spend the month of December with the Rhodes children?”
    â€œI don’t appreciate your tone, Peter.”
    â€œI’m sure you don’t. But is what Lorene said true? Did you arrange this?”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œAch, Lovina,” her husband murmured. “You told me that you were going to help Martin for a few days.”
    â€œI tried, but I couldn’t do it.”
    â€œMommi was fairly rattled when I picked her up,” Roman said.
    But instead of looking concerned, her husband’s voice became even quieter. “Lovina, why on earth did you coerce Ruth to go over there?”
    â€œCoerce is putting it a bit