Hannah Saves Samuel (Wanted: Wives In The West 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her decision, but if the congregation as a whole would not accept her, she would be leaving to return home to Georgia.
     
    Margaret and Caleb listened to Hannah closely and seemed to understand her delicate state, being in a position of outcast among some when she had just left a situation where she had no one to take her in. The two of them explained to Hannah that there was nowhere in the world she could reside where everyone would be kind at all times. And besides, Samuel needed her. Was she really here to commit to the Lord and a future husband, or was she more concerned with winning over a grumpy, old troublemaker?
     
    Hannah knew the answer. How had she let her focus stray so quickly? God expected her to live a humble life, not one filled with ego and pride. She felt awful about how she had treated Samuel earlier that day. It had taken him a while to open up, and she had shut him out in front of everyone, adding more humiliation to his already fragile state of mind.
     
    Over the next few weeks, Hannah saw Samuel both on the ranch and at church. Repeatedly, she tried striking up a conversation with him, but each time, he clammed up and wouldn’t respond. Then one day at church, Samuel witnessed what was happening. Hannah stood serving the members coming through the potluck line, and Beatrice Reynolds and her friends were looking down their noses at her.
     
    Hannah offered them some cobbler, and Beatrice snarled, “No, thank you. Aren’t you in the wrong building, dearie? I think the painted ladies who come here for love are on the south side of town.”
     
    Samuel’s face flushed as he saw Hannah’s eyes well up with tears. He stormed over to the line, cutting in between Beatrice and her pack of underlings. “Why, Hannah,” he said with a big smile toward her, “I hope you saved me a plate of cobbler. It’s so good, no family would ever have to pay a man to marry you—they’d just let him have one taste of this dish!”
     
    The women standing with Beatrice gasped, instantly raising their hands to cover their mouths. Everyone knew how her husband, Otis had been bribed to take her hand in marriage. Her jaw clenched shut. Eyes nothing more than a sliver, Beatrice glared at Hannah and then at Samuel, before turning around and storming out of the church.
     
    Hannah and Samuel burst out into laughter, and he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her so she could dab the tears away. It felt good to be protected like that , thought Hannah. Margaret and Caleb saw it all unfold and smiled at each other.
     
    “This is our chance,” whispered Margaret to Caleb.
     
    “Samuel,” said Caleb, interrupting the pair as they stood smiling, lost in each other’s eyes. “I’m afraid I’m going to need you to help me on the ranch quite a bit this summer. I’ve already spoken to the plant manager, and they’re willing to give you some time off, if you’re willing. I’ll be paying you more than the plant, but it’ll mean long hours and many meals at our house. You up for it?”
     
    Samuel looked at Hannah, her face pointed down shyly. She was grinning, and Samuel couldn’t help but smile right along with her. “I’d love to help,” he said, turning to Caleb to shake his hand and seal the deal. “But first, I have to see if Miss Hannah, here, can serve me some of that delicious peach cobbler before Mr. Thornton gobbles it all up again.” They all laughed and spent the rest of the potluck dinner chatting about the latest activities coming up for the church and the town.
     
    Over the weeks, Caleb and Margaret watched as the connection between Samuel and Hannah blossomed. The two were constantly stealing glances and shyly smiling at one another. Later, Hannah confided to Margaret that Samuel was the man she had asked the Lord to guide her to when she first saw the Hearts and Hands ad. It seemed as if everything was going to work out perfectly.
     
    …
     
    The post office was bustling when