Woman of Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

wounded souls.”

3
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.
    1 John 4:18
    Come along, children.” With Jackson in her arms, Hannah herded Devlin Jr. and Mary into the kitchen ahead of her. “Time to wash up for lunch.”
    From the bench near the back door, Devlin watched Hannah pull a stool to the sink, then help his son step up to wash his hands. She was fitting in right nicely, he thought, the now familiar surge of irritation swelling anew. If a body didn’t know better, one would think she almost fancied herself part of the family.
    Well, Devlin resolved, one way or another it wouldn’t be for much longer. He had begun to make inquiries for a wet nurse in Grand View. Just as soon as Ella regained her strength and the influenza epidemic was over, he intended to ride to town and bring back the Widow Ashley. Then Miss Hannah Cutler could high-tail it back to her snug little bunkhouse, and the equally snug little life she had managed to make for herself here.
    Taking up a rag, Devlin leaned down and used it to wipe as much snow as he could from his boots and blue denims. Then he tossed the cloth aside, stood, and strode to the sink. “What’s for dinner?”
    Hannah half-turned from her task of drying Devlin Jr.’s hands. “Potato soup, baked chicken, rice, and mashed turnips. Dessert’s a bread pudding. Everything’s already in the warmer but the soup, and that’s simmering nicely.”
    “You can eat your meal with Ella, if you like. I’ll stay with the children in the kitchen.”
    “That’s fine with me.” Hannah hesitated. “First, though, Ella wants to talk with you.”
    His eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring. “What about?”
    “I-I think you should ask her.”
    Devlin didn’t like the way Hannah suddenly avoided his gaze. Unease filled him. He grabbed her arm as she turned to put his son down.
    “I’m asking you. What does Ella want to talk about?”
    “What do you think?” The girl jerked free. “She knows about us, has known for a while. And now she wants things settled.”
    Bending, Hannah put the little boy down. Mary immediately toddled over, was quickly picked up, and soon had her hands washed and dried. Watching her, the bottom slowly dropped out of Devlin’s stomach. Ella knew … knew about him and Hannah. He choked on a vicious curse. Now the fat really was in the fire!
    Fury surged through him. Blast the woman! What had she gone and told his wife? And how, at this late a date, was he to explain himself?
    Well, there was no avoiding the issue any longer. He had waited too long as it was. Whatever Hannah had revealed to Ella, his only recourse now lay in trying to make his wife see his side.
    Devlin dragged in a deep, steadying breath. Then, his hands clenched at his sides, he headed down the hall to their bedroom.
    “Close the door, please,” Ella said, as he walked into the room.
    He did as requested, coming to stand at the foot of the bed. “Hannah said you wanted to talk with me.” He paused for an instant, then forged on. No sense pretending ignorance of the reason for their meeting, Devlin decided. Might as well seize what little advantage remained him in a bold, frontal assault. “Seems she went and told you about her and me.”
    “She didn’t need to say much.” Ella met his unflinching gaze. “I figured it out months ago. Who wouldn’t, what with the grudge you’ve held against her since the first day she came here?”
    “I didn’t want a woman like her keeping company with my wife and children!” Devlin cried out in his defense, feeling as if his world had suddenly turned upside down. “No decent man would.”
    “Your rancor sprung from a much deeper source than the act of a decent man, Devlin.” Ella clenched the edge of her quilt until her hands fisted knuckle-white. “It’s long past time you accepted full responsibility for your actions, and stopped trying to lay it at Hannah’s door.”
    Tears of anguish glimmered in her eyes.