Sisters of the Quilt Trilogy Read Online Free PDF

cooed with a shaky voice. “Fervent prayers and a few days of time will get this behind you, ya ?”
    Unable to share her feelings, Hannah nodded.
    Her mother stirred the water with her hand. “It’s not in your father’s ways to use a doctor, but if you need one after a few days of rest, he’ll take you.”
    Hannah tried to stop herself from shaking. Her father had said she was safe. But she didn’t feel safe.
    Laying the hose in the galvanized tub, her mother’s hands still trembled. She dried them on her apron. “I’ll grind some lobelia seeds for your pain.”
    Hannah gasped for air. “Yes, I’m sure that will help.” A sharp pain stabbed her throat. Had she not just lied? She shook her head, burying the guilt.
    Mamm squirted some liquid soap under the hose. “I’ll fetch your gown and a towel.” She left the room.
    Hannah sat on a stool beside the tub and stared at the bubbles as the horror of the attack played out in her mind. The suds burst and disappeared, much like the innocent life she’d known before today.
    Her heart ached to talk to Paul. He was good at explaining things to her, at making life take on joy and hope. But what would he think of her now? Unable to imagine sharing such a horridly embarrassing thing with him, she pushed aside thoughts of getting comfort from him. Instead she tried to visualize him pleased with her—as he’d been when she had agreed to marry him. It was a vain effort, for every time she tried to see Paul smiling, all she saw was that man dragging her into his car.
    “Hannah.” Her father’s deep voice rumbled through the washroom.
    Unsure of which images flashing in front of her were real, she blinked. “Yes?” she whispered.
    “Take this.” He held out a small piece of brown paper folded in half with a powdery substance in the crease. Her mother thrust a mug in front of her. But Hannah’s arms remained limp by her side, refusing to respond.
    Mamm lowered the cup. “I told you she didn’t hear me when I was talking to her. I tried for three or four minutes to get her to hear me. Look at her, Zeb. What are we going to do?”
    Her father held the folded paper filled with crushed lobelia seeds between his thumb and forefinger. “Open your mouth, child.” Hannah obeyed. Her father dumped the medicine on her tongue. Her mother held the cup to Hannah’s lips. Hannah swallowed, her throat burning at the invasion.
    “She’ll be fine.” Daed placed his hands firmly on Hannah’s shoulders. “Won’t you?”
    Wondering if her father really believed that, she nodded.
    Mamm broke into fresh tears and ran from the room. Daed stared after her. “Go ahead and take your bath.” Without another glance in her direction, he pulled the door closed behind him.
    Forcing her body to do as her father had told her, Hannah rose from the stool and locked the door. Her arms and legs felt heavy, as if each were carrying a bucket of feed. She pulled off her filthy, torn clothing. After she slid into the tub of warm water, she buried her face in a towel and sobbed quietly.
    A tap on the door interrupted her weeping.
    “Hannah?” Mamm called through the door. “Are you okay?”
    Hannah lowered the thick towel from her face. She kept her eyes shut tight, afraid if she opened them, she might discover she was in that car again. “Ya.” Her voice sounded feeble in her ears.
    “You’ve been in there for two hours.” Her voice sounded scratchy. “The water must be cold.”
    Hannah had only been in the bath for a few minutes. She forced her eyes open. The room was dark. How could that be?
    She stood and wrapped her aching, dripping body in a towel. Climbing out of the tub, she realized how cool the water had become. She dried off, then grabbed the matches from the shelf to light the kerosene lamp. Her hands were still trembling as she lit a match and placed the flame against the wick. As the blaze lit the room, odd shapes took form. Everything looked unfamiliar. She’d helped do