A Promise of Hope Read Online Free PDF

breath as the words sunk into his soul. Peter’s wife was Sarah Rose—what a lovely name.
    “This is my younger brother, Timothy,” Daniel said, pointing to the younger man.
    Luke held his hand out to Timothy, and the man hesitated before taking it. Luke thought he read shock and perhaps worry in Timothy’s eyes.
    Daniel patted Luke’s shoulder. “Would you like to meet my sister? She can tell you more about Peter’s life here in Bird-in-Hand.”
    Unable to speak, Luke nodded, grappling with the news Peter was dead and had left behind a widow.
    “Let’s take Luke over to the bakery. I’ll go tell Elmer that we’re leaving,” Eli said, nodding toward the entrance to the shop.
    Sarah handed an English woman her fistful of change. After thanking the woman, she leaned back on the counter behind her and groaned in response to her throbbing temples.
    “You look tired.” Kathryn rested her hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “You should go sit. I can walk you home if you’d like. You need to take it easy for the babies.”
    Sarah shifted her weight on her aching feet. “I’ll be fine. It’s almost time for my lunch break.”
    “Excuse me.” An English woman approached the counter. “Do you have any shoofly pie? I just love it. I’m heading back to Jersey this afternoon, and I promised my husband I’d bring him home a few pieces.”
    Smiling, Kathryn stepped over to the customer. “I believe we have some over here.” She nodded toward the end of the counter. “How many pieces would you like?”
    While her sister and the customer moved to the other end of the long counter, Sarah sighed and leaned forward. Her feet throbbed, and her head pounded. Kathryn’s offer to walk her home was tempting.
    But being alone in the house wasn’t relaxing.
    When Sarah was alone, memories of Peter overtook her, filling her heart with sorrow and regret. Remaining at the bakery and helping English tourists kept Sarah busy and silenced her numbing thoughts.
    The whoosh of the door pulled Sarah from her mental tirade. Daniel stepped through the doorway, followed by Timothy, Dat, and another man. Timothy’s face was creased with a frown, causing her to wonder why her brother was out of sorts. The men stopped to speak with Mamm, who was standing across the room with a frequent English customer.
    The mysterious stranger pushed his straw hat back a fraction of an inch on his brown hair. His eyes scanned the bakery, and Sarah fixated on his clean-shaven face.
    Her breath caught in her throat as she took in his familiar countenance. His cheekbones, the shape of his eyes and nose, and his complexion all mirrored Peter’s. It was as though she were looking at her husband’s face before they were married and he grew his beard.
    Sarah gripped the counter and sucked in a breath while studying the stranger’s tall, lanky build, wide chest, and broad shoulders. Even his physique and light-brown hair resembled her late husband’s. He looked to be six feet tall, like Peter.
    Dat said something to the man, and he turned and greeted Mamm with a smile.
    Her heart hammered in her chest, and she cupped a hand to her burning face. Was she dreaming or had God raised Peter in response to her prayer?
    “Sometimes I wish our English customers would open their eyes,” Kathryn muttered in Pennsylvania Dietsch, coming up to Sarah. “The pie was right in front of her face, but I had to lead her to it. Then I had to hear the story of her life, and how she—”
    “Kathryn,” Sarah’s voice came in a strangled whisper. She gripped her sister’s apron and yanked her over, causing her to stumble. “Do you see that man over there talking to Mamm?”
    “Sarah Rose?” Kathryn’s blue eyes were wide with worry. “Are you okay? You’re so pale. Sit.” She took Sarah’s clammy hands and pulled her toward a stool. “I’ll call Mamm over here, and we’ll take you home so you can rest.”
    “No!” Sarah wrenched her hands back and gestured toward the