The HOPE of SPRING by Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Free Book Online Page A

spotted Herbie yelping and rolling around in the grass. “Oh, no,”
     she moaned, pointing to the dog. “How in the world did that happen?”
    Jonah explained what had transpired and ended with an apology. “Guess I should have
     kept a better hold on Socks. Just never expected Herbie to start nipping at him like
     that.”
    Mom’s brows furrowed. “That gaul’s been nothing but trouble since you bought him from
     Meredith. I know she needed the money and all, but you should have thought twice before
     bringing that unpredictable animal home.”
    “It wasn’t the horse’s fault that Herbie started nipping at his feet.”
    “That may be so,” Mom replied, “but it is his fault that he chased after the dog,
     and now Herbie smells so bad he’s going to need a bath.”
    “I’ll do it,” Jonah said, knowing it was probably the best way to get back in Mom’s
     good graces. “Just give me a minute to get Socks put away in his stall, and then I’ll
     fill one of the galvanized tubs for Herbie’s bath.”
    “Just be sure you add some hot water to the tub. The weather’s not warm enough to
     give the poor dog a cold-water bath.” She studied Jonah a few seconds. “Looks like
     you could use a bath yourself. What have you been up to today?”
    “I ran a few errands, and then I stopped by the Kings’ place to see Meredith. But
     when I got there, I learned that she’d gone home and one of her sisters would be staying
     with her. So I went to Meredith’s house to see how she was doing.” Jonah motioned
     to the paint splatters on his arms. “Ended up planting some flowers and painting a
     room, but all in all, it was a pretty fair day.” He looked at Herbie, still wallowing
     around the yard, and grimaced. “At least it was, until I came home.”

    Philadelphia
    Susan’s shift was just about done for the day, but before she left the floor, she
     wanted to check on her John Doe patient one last time. A few days ago, he’d taken
     a turn for the worse and had begun having seizures. The doctor had prescribed medication
     for the convulsions, and she hoped and prayed it was doing the job. This poor man
     had been through enough and deserved a chance to be well again.
    “I’m going home now, Eddie, but I’ll see you tomorrow,” Susan said as she entered
     the patient’s room and checked his vitals, ventilator, and feeding tube one last time.
     “Nurse Pamela will be here with you tonight, so you’ll be in good hands.”
    No response. Not even the flutter of an eyelid.
    Sometimes Susan felt foolish talking to her patient when he was in a coma, but there
     was a chance he could hear her, even if he wasn’t able to respond. She couldn’t imagine
     what it would be like to be trapped within one’s own body. But then again, maybe the
     mind went someplace else—somewhere safe until the person eventually woke up.
    Susan stopped at the foot of his bed. “Heavenly Father,” she prayed out loud, “whoever
     this young man is, You must have a purpose for keeping him here on earth, so please
     touch his body as only You can.”

CHAPTER 6
    Bird-in-Hand
    B y the first of April, Meredith felt much better physically, and with Grandma Smucker
     helping her sometimes, she’d begun making head coverings to sell. She had been warned
     by the doctor, as well as her midwife, not to do anything strenuous and to let others
     help with the things she couldn’t or shouldn’t be doing. Meredith spent much of her
     time sewing on the coverings, and even though she sat to do it, she felt good to be
     actively doing something again. Sewing was relaxing, and it gave her plenty of time
     to plan and think about her new role as a mother.
    Meredith also enjoyed going to the childbirth classes at the midwife’s clinic a few
     miles up the road. Laurie went with her because she had agreed to be Meredith’s coach.
     During the sessions, they learned the Bradley Method. Meredith was all in favor of
     using a more relaxed