Where Grace Abides Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’m asking you to not come back.”
    Gant clenched his fists at his sides until pain shot up his arms. “The bishop isn’t God, Rachel!”
    Her eyes widened as if he’d committed blasphemy. “Of course, he’s not! But he’s our bishop, and I can’t go against him.”
    Again he accused her. “You mean you won’t go against him.”
    A look of impatience flicked across her features, but her voice held that same maddening calm when she replied. “You don’t understand, Jeremiah. I don’t expect you to. Unless you’re Amish, you can’t understand.”
    Gant knew he was dangerously close to losing his temper. Butat this point he was too afraid that he was losing Rachel to be careful . “I expect you’re right. If being Amish means letting yourself be ordered about as if you have no mind of your own, then I definitely do not understand!”
    She reacted to the harshness of his words by passing a hand over her face in a gesture of weariness. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and Gant immediately felt a sting of regret. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, yet he was doing just that.
    He studied her, waiting. When she said nothing, he expelled a long breath saying, “Do you really want me to go, Rachel?”
    She bowed her head and gave a small nod.
    Heaviness overwhelmed Gant, as he crushed his cap between his hands. “All right, then. I’ll go, but, Rachel—”
    She didn’t look up.
    â€œIf you’re determined to give up on us, I can’t stop you. But don’t you think for a moment that I’m giving up.” He stopped, hoping for a word from her. When it didn’t come, he added, “If you should change your mind, if you ever want to talk, or if you should need me for any reason—any reason at all—you’ve only to ask. You know where to find me. I’m not going anywhere.”
    He started for the door, then turned back only to find her exactly as she’d been, standing in silence, her gaze locked on the floor.
    He left her there, forcing himself not to leave his hope behind as well.

  4  
A S ECRET W ANDERLUST
    For we are the same things our fathers have been;
We see the same sights our fathers have seen;
We drink the same stream, and feel the same sun,
And run the same course our fathers have run.
    W ILLIAM K NOX
    G ideon Kanagy was on his way back to the shop when he met up with Emma Knepp. As was her way, she walked with purpose, head down, her steps brisk, hands clasped at her waist.
    Emma always seemed to know exactly where she was going, as if she’d plotted her destination well in advance and knew precisely what route would take her there. Gideon wasn’t surprised to see that, though the day was warm, she wore a black shawl, pinned in front, and a black bonnet.
    Emma lived the way of the Plain People, with great attention to the rules.
    She was pretty though. The fair hair, just barely peeking out from under her bonnet, glistened in the afternoon light, and her complexion seemed touched year-round with an apricot blush.
    It was a wonder she was still unmarried. From what Gideon had heard, it wasn’t for lack of trying by some of the single fellows in the Riverhaven area. So far as he knew, though, she’d not yet allowed any one of them to court her.
    He was almost in her face, before she looked up and recognized him.
    â€œEmma,” he said, planting himself in front of her so she had to stop.
    Her face flamed. “Oh—Gideon! Hello. I didn’t see you.”
    â€œWhere are you headed in such a hurry?”
    She looked confused. “I…was supposed to meet Dat and my brothers back at the buggy, but I ran into Sally Lape, and we got to talking. Now I’m afraid I’m late.”
    Emma was the only daughter in a family with three sons, all older than she. Her father, Levi Knepp, was known to be plenty strict with all his