Katie's Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page B

not sure I could stop her. She’s something of a force of nature.”
    Chuckling softly, he nodded. “ Jah, that is a good description of Mamm. ”
    As their eyes met, Katie experienced a strange thrill, a sizzling connection with Elam that both surprised and delighted her. Rachel quieted. Elam’s expression changed. The amusement left his gaze, replaced by an odd intensity that sent heat rushing to Katie’s cheeks.
    Since the baby had quieted, Katie simply held and admired her. Stroking one of her daughter’s sweetly curved brows, Katie said, “This wasn’t the way I planned for you to come into the world.”
    Elam folded his arms. “Our best laid plans often come to naught.”
    “My landlady used to say, ‘Man plans, God laughs.’” Katie tried to imitate her friend’s broad Yiddish accent.
    “She sounds like a wise woman.”
    Katie nodded sadly. “She was a very wise woman.”
    If Mrs. Pearlman had lived, Katie wouldn’t be in this mess. Her kind landlady would have taken her in until she found a job. God had once again taken away the person who truly cared about her, leaving Katie where she had always been. Alone, unwanted, belonging nowhere.
    She glanced up at Elam as he towered over her bed. “Your mother reminds me of my friend. She had the same kind eyes.”
    When he didn’t say anything, Katie sighed. “I know what you’re thinking.”
    Frowning slightly, he asked, “And what would that be?”
    “You’re thinking I didn’t plan very well at all.”
    He crossed his arms and looked at the floor. “I didn’t say that.”
    “No, you didn’t, but it’s the truth. I kept thinking that Matt would come back for me. For us.”
    “How long ago did he leave you?”
    “Three months. After that I got a part-time job working for our landlady, but she died and the place was sold. I waited for him to come back until my rent ran out. I only had enough money left to buy a bus ticket here.”
    “Your husband should not have left you.”
    It was her turn to look away. The shame she’d tried so hard to ignore left a bitter taste in her mouth. “Matt Carson wasn’t my husband.”
    “Ah.” It was all Elam said, but to her ears that one syllable carried a wealth of condemnation and pity.
    After a long moment, he said, “You should know that Grace Zimmerman mentioned Matt was a friend of her grandson when I went there to use the phone. She said she would have her grandson try and contact Matt. Perhaps he will come for you when he finds out you are here.”
    Rachel began to fuss again. Katie bounced her gently. “Matt had plenty of time to come for us when we were in the city. I don’t expect he will come now. We won’t be a burden to you or your family any longer than necessary.”
    “We will not turn you out. That is not our way. The Bible commands us to help those in need.”
    “I’m grateful for all you’ve done, but I’ll go on to my brother as soon as possible.”
    Nettie appeared in the living room doorway rubbing her neck. “There’s no need to speak of traveling yet. The nurse says you’re to rest. You can write to Malachi and tell him your situation, but you will stay here for a few days. Or more if you need it.”
    Katie bit her lip. Writing her brother would not be enough. She had to go to Malachi in person. He’d made that abundantly clear the day she left with Matt. His angry words still echoed inside her head.
    “You ungrateful harlot, you’ve brought shame on me since the day you were born. You’ll not last six months out in the English world. When you come to your senses you’ll be back. But know this. You are dead to me until I see you kneeling in front of me and begging my forgiveness.”
    At the time, she felt only relief at getting away from her brother’s strict control. In the months that followed, when it became clear that running away with Matt had been a bad decision, Katie came to realize that she did still care about her brother and she was sorry for the way