Promise Lodge Read Online Free PDF Page A

Preacher Eli, had decided that her missing kapp, her tumble-down hair, and her muddy, scraped knees told of activities too sinful to speak of in front of her younger siblings. So he’d sent her away. . . .
    â€œAnd what have you heard about the fire, Deborah?”
    Rosetta’s question brought Deborah out of her painful thoughts. How much did she dare reveal? Would these friends accuse her of overstepping the rules—taking matters into her own hands by calling 9-1-1—the way Dat had? Would they send her packing if they knew what Isaac and his redheaded friend, Kerry, had done to her? She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to humiliate herself again, either.
    â€œIt was Isaac,” she murmured.
    â€œSee there?” Roman crowed. He grabbed glasses from the cabinet so Preacher Amos could pour them some cold tea. “If we were still living in Coldstream, maybe we’d have caught Isaac with—”
    â€œIt’s best that we moved on,” his mother insisted, silencing him with a purposeful look. “We thank God that Rosetta’s horses, goats, and chickens were out of the barn and here with us, and that the house was spared. It was, wasn’t it?” Mattie asked in a strained whisper.
    Deborah sucked in a deep breath, hoping the topic of conversation would remain on the Benders’ property rather than on her, personally. “ Jah, the house is fine, and so are the other buildings.”
    â€œAnd for that we give thanks,” Rosetta replied as she quickly wiped her eyes. “I feel bad for the family who bought our farm, though.”
    â€œSomething tells me the men will hold a barn raising for the new owners, like they did for the Hershbergers,” Preacher Amos remarked.
    â€œBut how many times will they do that?” Laura blurted. “It’s just wrong if Isaac Chupp’s causing these fires and—and nobody’s holding him responsible.”
    â€œYou’re absolutely right,” Preacher Amos agreed. “We must keep our Coldstream friends in our prayers, asking that God’s will be done—and that His justice be carried out, as well.”
    Deborah quickly finished her snack. She felt bad for Laura and Phoebe as memories of that fateful night brought grim expressions to their dear faces: the Hershberger family had returned from an uncle’s funeral last November to discover their barn in flames. Other men from around town were rushing over to help put out the fire, but as Willis Hershberger was urging his frantic horses outside, one of them had kicked him into the flames. Part of the barn had fallen in on him, and there’d been no way to save him.
    â€œIs this a gut time to look around Promise Lodge?” she asked the girls in a hopeful tone. “Or, if you’ve got work that needs doing, I want to help.”
    â€œBut you’re company, Deborah,” Laura protested. “Sure, we’ve got more garden to plant, but—”
    â€œThis is me you’re talking to,” Deborah teased as she rose from her chair. “Those seeds will go into the rows faster with six hands than with four.”
    â€œAnd maybe if you’re out there where Noah can see you, it’ll put him in a better mood,” Phoebe suggested as they rinsed Deborah’s dishes. “He’s been mighty cranky since he left you behind in Coldstream.”
    As they headed out the back door, Deborah’s brow furrowed. “But I was the one who broke off the engagement, remember?” she murmured. “I’ve already asked for Noah’s forgiveness—begged him for a second chance. But he turned me down flatter than a pancake.”
    â€œ Ach, that’s not so gut, ” Laura stated.
    â€œI thought he was missing your company enough that he’d reconsider,” Phoebe remarked. “He’s hardly been talking to anybody. Goes through each day with a black cloud hanging over