River of Mercy

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Book: River of Mercy Read Online Free PDF
Author: BJ Hoff
business that had been in the Knepp family for years. He even detected a surprising interest in events outside the Plain community.
    He did know she wasn’t hard on the eyes. The small dimple that creased with every smile intrigued him more than it should have. For that matter, when he managed to coax one of her smiles, he felt as if he’d accomplished something pretty special.

    Just her luck. Dat was standing in front of the house when they pulled up, his sturdy arms crossed over his chest. By the time Gideon came around and handed her down from the wagon, her father had made his way to the road.
    â€œYou’re late, daughter,” he said, his voice gruff and laced with unmistakable irritation. “And what’s the meaning of this?” He jerked his head toward the wagon. “Where is our buggy?”
    His eyes were hard as he looked from her to Gideon.
    â€œI’m sorry I’m so late, Dat, but the buggy broke down. The wheel bent and slid into a ditch, and—”
    She held her breath as Gideon broke in.
    â€œI told Emma I’d fix the wheel, Levi, but it was too cold to let her wait while I worked on it. I insisted on bringing her home.”
    When her father made no reply but merely kept his stony glare fixed on him, Gideon added, “I’ll bring your buggy back yet today.”
    Levi Knepp’s mouth turned down even more. “You needn’t bother with the wheel. I’ll send one of the boys to take care of it.”
    Gideon’s expression didn’t waver. “I don’t mind, Levi. It shouldn’t take all that long.”
    â€œMy sons and I will see to the buggy. You’ve done enough by bringing my daughter home.”
    Emma felt shamed by her dat’s sharp tone and distasteful stare. Couldn’t he at least acknowledge that Gideon had done her a kindness?
    She turned her face away from both of them, unwilling to let her father see how angry she was with him and unwilling to look upon Gideon’s almost certain humiliation.
    But Gideon’s response surprised her. He seemed to ignore the censure in her father’s attitude. “I hope it was all right…my giving Emma a ride home. Things being what they are, it isn’t safe for a young woman to be walking alone.”
    Emma drew in a long breath. Who could hear those words without remembering what had happened to Phoebe Esch only weeks ago?
    Right on the heels of that thought came another: Gideon had called her a young woman! Was it possible he’d finally realized she was grown and no longer the child he remembered?
    Unfortunately, Dat seemed unmoved by Gideon’s words. “There are many dangers to our women in these troubled times. Their protection is the responsibility of their families and close friends.”
    Emma had to bite her tongue to keep from pointing out that families and close friends had failed to save Phoebe Esch’s life and that families and close friends weren’t always nearby when danger lurked. She kept her silence, knowing that any defiance on her part would only provoke her father and probably make things worse for Gideon.
    She glanced quickly from one man to the other. Gideon’s jaw tightened while her dat’s eyes remained hard and wintry. Neither uttered another word, and after a moment Gideon’s eyes met hers with a look that was both knowing and gentle. Then he turned back toward the wagon and walked away.
    Emma could have wept at the unfairness of it all. Finally, Gideon had taken notice of her, had treated her with attention and what seemed to be genuine interest—and her father had spoiled everything by acting as if Gideon had committed some forbidden act against her.
    She sighed and started toward the house. One thing for certain: Dat wouldn’t have to worry about Gideon Kanagy paying her any mind in the future.

4
N IGHT W ATCH
    What is this, that keeps watch over me
When I thought myself to be
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