A Time for Peace Read Online Free PDF Page B

funny is after I did that, I realized I wanted a man much like my brother."
    "You couldn't do better," Jenny said with a smile. "It's so good to see the two of you so happy. You deserve it. And Chris surely does after all he went through in the military."
    She watched Hannah unconsciously rub at her arm. "Is it hurting?"
    Hannah glanced down at her arm. "Talking about Chris and all he went through being injured overseas probably made me think of it. Who'd have thought someone could hate him so much and come here to hurt him."
    "And hurt you in the process."
    Hannah shrugged. "That's all over now. Look at how well things turned out. Last time I saw Malcolm—"
    Someone knocked at the front door. Hannah started to heave herself up out of the chair but Jenny rose and pressed her back into it.
    "I'll get it. You stay and relax."
    Rebecca Yoder stood on the front porch. "I'm on my way into town but I just had to stop. I heard that Phoebe was taken to the hospital. Is she okay?"
    Jenny filled her in and the woman impulsively hugged her. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Is there anything I can do to help?"
    "If you could make some calls and let her friends know."
    "I surely will. Now don't you go worrying. Phoebe's a strong woman. I'm sure she'll be home before you know it."
    Touched by the older woman's caring, Jenny walked back to the kitchen.
    Her sister-in-law was doubled over as if she were in pain. Jenny rushed to her side.
    "Hannah? What's wrong? Tell me you're not going into labor."
    Hannah shook her head. "No," she managed to say. "It's too soon."
    "Like babies ever do what they're supposed to do. You remember how Fannie Mae went into labor at the quilting two weeks ago. She thought she was just having back pain and she'd been in labor most of the day."
    "I'm—I'm not in labor. Pain—" she pressed a hand just under her bust. "Feels like the baby's got his foot stuck—up under—under my ribs."
    Truly alarmed by now, Jenny knelt beside Hannah's chair. "That's not possible, is it? I mean, it's in the uterus and—"
    "I don't need a biology lesson right now," Hannah snapped.
    Then, just as quickly, she turned and gave Jenny a look of remorse. "Oh, I'm sorry!"
    Jenny patted her arm. "It's okay. Is it any better?"
    Hannah grabbed Jenny's hand, pressed it to her abdomen, and held it there. "Here, feel this! Doesn't it feel like it's going to kick its way out?"
    The minute Hannah held her hand to her abdomen, Jenny felt the moving lump kick. She jerked her hand away and stared, shocked, at Hannah. "Wow!"
    "Hurts!" Hannah gasped.
    "I think we better call the doctor."
    Hannah shifted in her chair and frowned. "I'm sure it'll stop in a minute." Then she looked at Jenny. "What?"
    "Has this happened before?"
    "No. Really," she insisted when Jenny looked doubtful. "Trust me, I'd have told you if something like this had happened."
    "I dunno," Jenny muttered. "One family member's already kept a secret from me."
    "Well, I have no secrets. Well, except for telling everyone the sex of the baby. But Chris and I agreed we don't want to know so how can I tell anyone what I don't know?"
    Jenny watched as Hannah broke out in a sweat. She went to the sink, dampened a dish towel with cool water, and wiped Hannah's face with it.
    "That feels good."
    "Where's Chris?"
    "Out in the field."
    "Let me go ring the bell and call him in."
    "No! I don't want to worry him."
    "Too bad," Jenny told her and started for the door. "You're scaring me."
    Jenny rang the dinner bell, hoping Chris would hurry in, wondering why she was using the bell when it wasn't time for a meal. Sure enough, he came running up.
    "What's wrong? Is it Hannah? Is she in labor?" he asked, panting.
    "She says she isn't but the baby's doing something that's hurting her. I think she needs to go to the doctor."
    Hannah was grimacing in pain as she bent over the table when they rushed into the kitchen. Chris grasped her by the arms and held her against his body. "Baby, are you okay?"
    "This little