Free Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman Page A

go! I have to, Kade! Don’t make this any harder on me! Do you understand me? I have to go!” She wriggled out of his grasp, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “Read the book. Keep him on schedule.”
    “Monica,” Kade breathed in desperation. He glanced back and forth between her and the cottage. “You can’t be serious!”
    She slid into the front seat and rolled down the window. “I’ll be back for Tyler when we get settled.”
    “You can’t drop him off like this, Monica, with no warning. You have no idea what my schedule is!”
    “Oh, I know exactly what your schedule is! You’re taking some sort of hiatus from life. You should fire your secretary. All I had to do is get a girlfriend to call your office, and the woman pretty much spilled your entire life story to my friend.” Her face twisted with rage. “So you know what, Kade? You can enjoy your little vacation and get to know your son! I need this time for me ! Do you understand me? So, don’t make me feel guilty! Don’t you know—”
    Kade wasn’t hearing her. There was something about her hysterical tone . . .
    He began to plead with her again not to do this.
    She was still yelling when she rolled up the window.
    As she turned the car around and headed toward Black Horse Road, Kade thought about her words. I’ll be back when we get settled. Kade wondered if she would come back.

    Sadie pulled into her driveway, relieved that she’d be able to get out of the cold. She should have worn her heavy coat. The sunshine and rise in temperature had been misleading. Once on the road to market, her black cape had been no defense against the biting wind.
    “Whoa,” she instructed Buck, glad the horse no longer lived up to his name.
    She made several trips to the kitchen, unloading her bags.
    Now she would sort out Kade’s groceries and prepare herself for a trip to the cottage. Perhaps he had ventured out to repair his tires now that the weather had improved. But no. His car was in the barn.
    She separated Kade’s items and began to put her groceries in their proper place, then realized she forgot to check the mail. Without stopping to wrap up, she walked out of the kitchen door and hurried to the mailbox at the end of the driveway.
    Nothing. Disappointment tugged at her heart, but she reminded herself that today was Tuesday. Tonight Milo would call, just as he had since they’d set up the weekly phone schedule two years ago, shortly after they began writing letters. The thought lifted her spirit as she headed back into the house.
    She redressed in her bonnet, cape, and boots, which not only protected her from the weather, but also from Kade’s curious eyes. More than once, she’d caught him staring at her, which made her uncomfortable.
    Perhaps Jonas and the elders had been right. How much did she really know about the fancy Englischer ? Was she really safe out here alone with him? But then she recalled the way he handled Jonas. Sadie didn’t think he was dangerous or bad.
    Kade’s groceries fit in three small plastic bags that she draped over one arm. She pulled the full container of tapioca pudding from the refrigerator and balanced it against her chest. She planned to unpack his things quickly, then scurry back home.
    But she’d only taken two or three steps toward the cottage when she heard screams. Continuous shrill hollering, like she’d never heard the likes of before. She stopped walking, stared at the cottage, and listened. Sounded like a child. She turned toward the barn where she could use the phone. In her community, they tried to keep the Englisch police out of their lives if possible, but something bad was going on inside that cottage.
    She quickly shuffled across the snow with the grocery bags and pudding. Then she stopped and looked toward her shop up near the road. Mary Ellen and Rebecca’s buggies were parked outside. Couldn’t they hear this child crying for help? She decided they couldn’t, and she continued on her trek.