Undercover Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

everywhere.”
    After the children finished reading to her, she stood and yawned. “Okay, pumpkins, time for bed.”
    Elise giggled. “We’re not pumpkins.”
    “You’re not? Well, you could have fooled me. Come along now. It’s late.”
    Actually, it was only a little after eight, but she looked forward to trying out that bathtub, after which she planned on hitting the sack. It had been a long and nerve-racking day.
    Moments later she tucked Elise in bed. “Do you want me to hear your prayers?”
    Elise shook her head.
    Flat on his stomach on the floor, Toby looked under the bed and pulled out his slingshot. “You only have to pray if you’ve been bad or want something,” he said.
    “Actually, I think God would be disappointed if those are the only times we talked to Him,” Maggie said. “He wants us to talk to Him when we’re happy, lonely, or sad.” How odd. Aunt Hetty had insisted that her marriage to Thomas be performed by a minister but neglected to teach the children the simple basics of communicating with God.
    Elise looked confused. “You mean we can talk to Him even if we haven’t been bad?”
    Maggie brushed a strand of hair away from Elise’s face. “Most definitely.”
    Elise pondered this for a moment. “But I only know what to say when I’m bad.”
    “Is that so? Hmm. Come and kneel next to me.” Elise scrambled out of bed and dropped to her knees by Maggie’s side.
    “Fold your hands like this.” Maggie steepled her hands together.
    Elise followed her example. “Why do we have to kneel when we pray?”
    “It’s so God knows we’re talking to Him and not to someone else,” Toby said, scrambling to his feet, slingshot in hand.
    Maggie resisted the urge to explain how kneeling showed humility and put God above all else. Better to let Toby think he had the world figured out. He would learn soon enough that he didn’t; no one did.
    “What should I say?” Elise whispered.
    “You can thank God for giving you good food and a nice soft bed to sleep in. You can also ask Him to help you with your reading. You can pray for your brother and for your mother in heaven. You can pray for your teacher and your father, too.” God knows, he needed all the prayers he could get. They all did.
    “Just say what I say. God bless…” Maggie said a simple prayer, and Elise repeated after her. “Amen.”
    Elise’s eyes flew open. “You forgot to pray for yourself.”
    Maggie smiled. “You can do it for me.”
    Elise clasped her hands together and squeezed her eyes shut. “God bless Miss Taylor, and don’t let her die. Amen.”
    “What makes you think I might die?”
    “You ate corn bread,” Elise said, her voice hushed. “People always die when they eat corn bread.”

    The following morning, Maggie walked into the kitchen to find that the children had already eaten breakfast and dressed for school.
    Garrett greeted her with a smile and handed her a cup of coffee. “Morning.”
    “Morning,” she said, taking the cup from him. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually sleep in.”
    “You must have needed the extra rest after your trip.” He set a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon on the table. “Here you go.” He pulled out a chair for her.
    “I didn’t expect you to fix my breakfast.” She wasn’t used to being waited on, especially by a man.
    “Hold your thanks till you’ve tasted it.” He waited for her to be seated before lifting his voice. “Toby, Elise. Come and say good-bye to Miss Taylor.”
    Elise raced into the kitchen and grabbed a schoolbook from the table. “Good-bye, Miss Taylor.”
    Toby called from the other room. “Bye.”
    Thomas hesitated at the doorway. “If you need anything laundered, leave it for Lila. She comes tomorrow.”
    That was a relief. Washing clothes was one chore she’d sooner not tackle. “Thank you.”
    “Anything else you might need?” he asked.
    “I’d like to go into town later. Would it be all right if I use the buckboard out