Free Threads of Grace by Kelly Long

puppy.
    “That’s great. Danki, both of you. It’s a perfect present to start wedded life.”
    Seth cuddled the small body against him and thought with pleasure of giving it to his new family.
    Family . The word echoed in his mind. He could hardly believe that he was married to the woman he’d longed for over the past months. Tomorrow he would ask Grace about adopting Abel so the boy could share his name, if he wanted.
    The puppy stretched to lick his chin and Jacob laughed. “Looks like another girl is smitten by your charm, bruder. ”
    “Jah,” Lilly added. “A charm you’re going to have to apply only to your wife now.”
    “That will be no problem,” Seth said. “No problem at all.”

CHAPTER 13
    G race had tried to help with the redding - up but was hastily shooed away by a flurry of ladies. So she hobbled into the living room and propped up on the couch. Abel soon joined her and she lightly stroked his dark hair until he fell asleep by her side.
    Tired. So tired. She closed her eyes and drifted, and her mind carried her back to the early morning of this long, long day.
    She had put the finishing touches on the quilt just before nine a.m. Seth came by to drive her to the post office to get it out in time.
    The postmistress, Edith, had obviously heard through the grapevine of their wedding and teased Grace lightly as she paid for her parcel. “Probably won’t have to keep your quilting business going now, will you, honey? This boy’s as rich as can be.”
    “ Ach , I don’t know. I—”
    “Now, Edith,” Seth said, “Grace can quilt all she likes ordoesn’t like. It’ll be up to her. And don’t go spouting off about money when I know what a little nest egg you’ve got going.”
    Edith straightened her kapp and winked at them. “Might go to Vegas someday.”
    “With the bishop?” Seth asked, and they all laughed.
    Then Edith produced a letter for Grace. “It’s from Middle Hollow, Ohio. Used to live there, right?”
    “Jah.” Grace took the letter with trepidation, fearing it might be some legal paper from Tobias Beiler.
    “What is it?” Seth had asked urgently, bending over her shoulder with concern.
    “It’s all right. It’s from a friend.” She cut a glance at Edith. “I’ll read it later.”
    With Seth close behind, Grace made her exit, leaving Edith disappointed and crestfallen.
     
     
     
    G race rubbed her eyes and slid the unopened letter out of her apron pocket. It was from Alice Miller, her only real friend in Middle Hollow. Alice was Englisch , and Silas had hired her to help cook and clean when Grace was pregnant and sick in the early months of carrying Abel.
    Alice had become a lifeline for Grace—the only person who saw through the religious façade Silas wore, the only one who so much as suspected the abuse. The only one who knew where Grace was going when she fled Middle Hollow after her husband’s death.
    Repeatedly Alice had urged Grace to leave Silas, and repeatedly Grace had refused. What Alice didn’t know—couldn’tknow—was how far Silas was willing to go to keep her under his control. Grace had to protect Abel. She could not take the chance of losing him or being separated from him.
    Grace scanned the letter and her heart sank. Alice’s husband, Bud, had passed away. Alice asked if there was any way she might come and visit for a spell. She needed to get away, she said. Just for a while.
    Grace knew how much Alice and Bud loved each other. How she must be grieving.
    But what would Seth say to their having company so soon after they had married—especially since Violet was with them? Still, Alice would be no trouble . . .
    She’d talk to Seth about it. Soon.
    Right after she closed her eyes for just a few minutes . . .
     
     
     
    S he thought she might be dreaming but didn’t seem to care enough to wake, she felt so fuzzily warm and pleasant. She cuddled closer to Abel, then jerked awake to find herself pressed against Seth’s chest with her hand