A Midwife Crisis Read Online Free PDF Page A

appear rapt with interest.
    The minister rambled on about Sodom and Gomorrah, and how Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. For some reason, the tent pitching raised his fervor, and along with it came his voice. He shouted about the wrath of God and the vengeance meted out on the sinnersin Sodom. And just when John thought he could get no louder, the preacher slammed his fist against the pulpit and yelled, “ Lot pinched his tit! ”
    Suddenly the congregation quieted. Then a nervous twitter—or should that be titter?—fluttered across the room along with coughing and a blurted giggle or two.
    The minister cleared his voice and said, “Lot pitched his tent .” But the damage was already done, not only to Sodom and Gomorrah, but to Lot’s tit as well.
    Grandpa hurried out of the sanctuary and across the churchyard to catch Harold Crowley before he could get away. It wasn’t a difficult task—Harold and Grandpa were old friends, and old friends didn’t move too fast.
    “How you doing this morning, Harold?” Grandpa slowed down to shake Harold’s hand.
    “I’m good. Yourself?”
    “Good,” Grandpa said, careful not to sound too anxious with the rest of his conversation. Harold had a big house and more money than he knew what to do with. Grandpa had thought about it for days, and if all went the way he hoped, he’d never have to work again in his life.
    “I was just wondering how you’re doing, living on your own and all. It’s got to be hard without Matilda.” He shook his head with so much pity it almost brought tears to his eyes.
    Rubbing his hand across his scruffy chin, Harold grunted. “It ain’t easy, but Tildy’s been gone for three years now, and I reckon I’m used to it.”
    “You hire someone to do your cookin’ and cleanin’, right?”
    Harold nodded.
    Grandpa sighed. “What you need is a wife to tend to those things for you.”
    “I don’t need no wife.”
    “But if you had a wife, you wouldn’t have to pay for cookin’ and such.”
    Harold frowned. “Why do you care all of a sudden if I have a wife?”
    Uh-oh, Harold was getting suspicious. “I’m not saying I care, it just hit me the other day.” He pulled Harold away from the others and lowered his voice. “Don’t say nothing to nobody, but Katie’s looking to get hitched.”
    “What’s that got to do with me?”
    “I think you should marry up with her.”
    At first, Harold stood in total silence; then he blurted out a laugh and a half. “I’m old enough to be her grandpa! You of all people know that.”
    “Katie ain’t no spring chicken herself, and she ain’t looking for some randy pup to keep her up all night. She wants a good man who can provide for her, and one that’ll treat her right.”
    Harold shook his head. “That’s foolish.”
    “You sayin’ you ain’t man enough for her?” He’d known Harold a long time, and if that didn’t raise his dander, nothing would.
    “I’m man enough for any woman, but what makes you think Katie’d want to marry me?”
    Heh, heh. Got him. “I know for a fact Katie would marry up with you. She all but told me so herself.” Orshe would once he explained it to her, but that was just a detail.
    “I don’t know…”
    “She’s a good woman, fine cook, and can whip up anything you need to fix what ails you.” Grandpa watched Harold’s eyes for a sign of agreement. It was close.
    “That would come in handy.”
    Real close. “What do you say? Are you up to it?”
    “If you’re sure she’s willin’…”
    He smacked Harold on the back and grinned. “Come on out Saturday, and we’ll set a date.”
    Gil Napier knew he wasn’t good with book learning and such, but he also knew he wasn’t a bad sort. Grandma, Grandpa, and sometimes even Katie seemed to forget that fact. Now with Katie fixing to marry up, there was too much of a chance for another to find him lacking…unless Gil found Katie’s husband first.
    He had to be a good man, one who would take care of