Love Still Stands Read Online Free PDF

she’d stayed in the kitchen. Elijah tugged at a bed frame,
     trying to get the sides even and into their slots, his face and shirt wet with sweat.
     Despite two open windows that allowed the autumn breeze to sweep through the room,
     paint fumes permeated it. A box spring and mattress were stacked on the floor in one
     corner.
    Bethel didn’t know where to look. The bed frame? The mattress? Better to look out
     the windows behind him. Elijah straightened and wiped at his forehead with the back
     of his sleeve. His gaze collided with her. His ears turned red.
    “I thought I’d…you know…the paint is pretty much dry so I thought…I didn’t want you
     to spend another night sleeping on the ground, not you specifically, I mean, any of
     you, I mean, all of you.”
    His soft baritone sputtered to a stop, his gaze begging her to save him from himself.
    “I…well…” Bethel cast about for something to ease the moment. “We…Emma and I—”
    “We need to mop before you go bringing any more furniture in here.” Emma sidestepped
     Bethel’s crutch and set the bucket on the floor. “I think Thomas needs more drywall
     in the living room. Can you carry it in for him?”
    “ Jah, jah . No problem.”
    His skin the color of overripe tomatoes, he whipped around the end of the frame, tripped
     over the corner of the box spring, stumbled, righted himself, and squeezed past Bethel
     without looking at her.
    “He sure knows how to make an exit.” Emma held out the mop to Bethel. “I’ve never
     seen a man so smitten.”
    “Smitten?” Heat curled around Bethel’s neck and brushed against her cheeks. “What
     are you talking about?”
    “It’s obvious.” Grinning, Emma trotted to the door. “Elijah likes you. I’ll bring
     some towels to dry the floor. The new windows look so nice and sparkling clean. You’ll
     have fun making the curtains. We need a sewing frolic…”
    Her words wafted in the air even as she disappeared from sight.
    “Emma Brennaman.” Bethel would’ve stomped her foot if she could. “Get back here and
     explain yourself.”
    But she didn’t. Like all good matchmakers, Emma threw out the line and waited to see
     who would snatch the bait first. Bethel heaved her crutches to one side and leaned
     on the mop. It wouldn’t be her. Emma wanted to see something that simply wasn’t there.
    He’d been embarrassed to be in her bedroom, that was all. Elijah saw a disabled woman
     who needed his help. He’d spent so many years taking care of his parents, he didn’t
     know how to do anything else. Bethel didn’t need his help or his pity.
    Bethel didn’t need him at all. She gave the mop a dispirited swish. She could make
     it on her own.
    Taking a tighter hold on the mop, she cut a swath across the floor in a flourish,
     lost her balance, and went down in a heap on her behind.

Chapter 5
    L uke inhaled and stifled the urge to wipe at his face. Ben’s house felt crowded, even
     though they were a small district, only seven families. Their bodies wedged on the
     benches heated the room and made the air damp with sweat in spite of the cool autumn
     air. He raised his head to look at Micah Kelp. The bishop prayed, his thick beard
     bobbing as his head nodded. His eyes opened and their gazes met. He had arrived at
     Luke’s farm the night before, ready to perform his duties and return to Bliss Creek
     as soon as possible. Micah’s no-nonsense approach to their challenges had bolstered
     Luke’s own sense that they were making progress, slowly but surely. The interior of
     the house was nearly done and everyone slept in their own beds now. The exterior shone
     with new paint and windows. Tomorrow, they would start planting the fields with winter
     wheat. Better late than never. All this met with Micah’s approval, much to Luke’s
     relief. They would be fine.
    “Come now. I will hear your nominations for bishop.” Micah’s deep bass drew Luke out
     of his reverie. He started and looked