Abram's Daughters 01 The Covenant Read Online Free PDF

them to up and move, mind you, just to help one of his cousins who's thinking of getting married soon."
    "To a girl in Indiana?"
    Dat nodded. "Now don't that beat all?"
    "Talk about long-distance courtship." She thought Dat might bring up Smithy Gid just then, try to blend the present lopic with his ongoing anticipation of Gid marrying her; but he didn't. She was quite surprised that he refrained, especially when he easily could have slipped in a comment or two.
    They rode along for a time enjoying the silence, aware of I he hum of insects and chirp of birds. At last, Leah asked, "What do you think is the difference between being sorely tempted and yielding to it?"
    "Well, all the difference in the world, far as the Scriptures say. We're admonished to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation."
    "But how does a person avoid being tempted?"
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    -Lu J2<
    " 'Tis by steering clear of those who may be tools of the enemy."
    "You mean Englishers?"
    The reins lay loosely in his lap, and he lifted his straw hat and scratched his head beneath. "Seems to me there's a time and a place to mingle with the outside world, but when it comes to making close friends or choosin' a mate, well, you know the best way is God's way."
    She was trying not to think of Sadie now, afraid Dat might wisely see through her questions and suspect, maybe, why she was asking such things. They talked about the spirit being willing and the flesh awful weak at times. Dat brought up the pure conscience of the righteous and the battle that rages in every man . . . "every woman, too." He gave her a serious look. "But the most important thing 'bout temptation is knowing how to avoid it."
    She fell silent then, soaking in all that Dat had said.
    When Mamma wasn't looking, Sadie slipped into their large sunroom just off the kitchen, staring longingly out the windows, toward the barn and beyond to the dark woods. They'd made it through the dreadful maze survived the denseness, the lurking shadows just as Derry had said they would. He'd helped her find the way out, and she would tell Naomi so when she went to pick up her knapsack later on.
    Why had she worried last night? With Derry by her side, she was safe in the forest. Safe anywhere at all, for sure and for certain.
    Derry Schwartz. The most wonderful boy in the whole world. With a peculiar pang part thrill, part anguish she thought of his life and hers, how the two of them had seemed to collide unexpectedly, like an automobile appearing out of
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    o o e nani
    M^vlu-iv and hitting a horse and buggy sort of like that. Of Him.sc, they had no business spending time together, none kiusoever. Yet they were drawn to each other, she for the Heri' during of a forbidden English boy who knew the outside ^^>rld through and through and for the great love she truly I'dleved he would soon have for her. And Derry . . . She 'li'ln'i quite know yet. Maybe it was her wheat-colored hair iti it I hip; blue eyes. Maybe he saw something in her other boys had missed. But find out, she must. She would fully discover win11 it was that the village doctor's son had appreciated in liei, ;md in such a short time, yet . . . that he would ask to see liei ii^ain, this very night! "Do you think you can meet me lien- in the woods? Would you be afraid?" he'd said after their |nylul evening together. She'd said she didn't know "It's ever so thick outside, confusing, too . . . with so much underbrush and all."
    She had been careful not to admit to being fearful of the woods, just hoped he'd take the hint. And he had. He said he would be glad to meet her behind her father's barn at ten nVIoek straight up^
    "You could . .Twear your regular, uh, dress if you'd like," I ti'M added quickly, which took her off guard. "No need to I ii el end you're not Plain for my sake." So he'd known all iilong.
    She could feel her cheeks growing warm. "You're sure?"
    "Please don't risk getting caught in modern clothes that might, well, reveal that your boyfriend is