Free Threads of Grace by Kelly Long Page B

Englischer scratched his chin. “Try Deacon Zook, just east of town,” he said. “His hired man just moved on, so he might be wanting somebody.”
    “Thanks for the tip,” Tobias said. “For an Englischer , you know a lot about what goes on around here.”
    The man grinned. “See that sign on the window? Pinky’s?”
    Tobias nodded.
    “Well, I’m Pinky. I’ve been here for years. You need something, just ask.”
     
     
     
    B ut I want to sleep with you.” Abel’s voice rose a fraction, and Grace hastened to soothe him before anyone could hear. She’d gotten into the habit of letting him crawl into her bed late at night or early in the morning, a luxury she could never have afforded with Silas. And now, Abel was understandably upset at the prospect of sleeping in his own room in a strange house.
    Not that she wasn’t a bit concerned about similar things herself. She knew Seth was a gentleman, but—
    “Mamm!”
    “What’s the trouble here?” Seth stood in the doorway of the kitchen, smiling. He’d changed into a blue work shirt to do chores, and his face was pleasantly flushed.
    “It’s nothing,” Grace hurried to assure him.
    “ Jah , it be,” Abel bawled out.
    “Abel, please be quiet. Think of Seth’s parents,” Grace said tightly.
    Seth waved a hand. “ Nee , don’t worry. My parents have tucked themselves up in the daudi haus , starting tonight.”
    “Well there,” Abel cried. “Then there’s lots of room. Please, Mamm ?”
    Grace met Seth’s eyes in apology. “He’s afraid of a new house and wants to stay with me, but I’ve told him—”
    “He can come in with us.” Seth shrugged. “It’s a big bed.”
    Abel suddenly raced across the room and began to beat at Seth with small fists. “No, no, no! You’ll not make Mamm sleep with you and make her cry in the night like Fater used to! I won’t let you. I won’t let you!”
    Pretty’s shrill barks added to the chaos. “Whoa, whoa there, buddy. I don’t want to make your mamm cry, not a drop.” Grace could see that Seth was gently holding the boy off, but he was visibly confused. He looked over Abel’s head to Grace.
    “Abel, sei so gut . I’ve told you Seth is not like—” She broke off.
    Grace watched as a tense awareness entered Seth’s features. He dropped to his knees in front of the struggling child and began to speak in a soft voice that somehow soothed her as well.
    “Abel, listen to me. I will never hurt your mother, at least never on purpose. You can trust me. Have you ever seen me hurt the horses when I take you riding?”
    Abel had stopped his violent movements to slouch on the floor near the dog. “ Nee . You think Mamm’s like a horse?”
    “Beautiful and free like a horse, jah . But she’s a bit prettier in the face.”
    Grace held her breath, waiting. Then Abel smiled, getting the joke.
    “You’re silly, Seth.”
    Seth nodded, then reached out to brush her son’s dark hair with a gentle finger. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
     
     
     
    S eth listened to the even breathing of the child who lay between them. It was dark now, so he could let go of the tears he’d been holding back. They seeped down his cheeks and pooled at the back of his neck.
    It was his wedding night, and here he was crying like a babe, but he couldn’t help himself. He thought of what Abel had screamed—that Grace had been made to cry in the night. It tore at him, and he longed to reach through the ice of the past to strangle Silas Beiler.
    “Are you asleep?” It was Grace’s voice, disembodied, drifting to him in the darkness.
    “Nee,” he choked out, swiping hastily at his face in the dark.
    “Why are you crying?”
    He almost smiled. How perceptive she was. But perhaps that perception was born out of necessity, to keep herself guarded and safe. It didn’t bear thinking about.
    “For you,” he whispered.
    “Well, don’t.” He heard the crisp sheets rustle as if she’d swatted at them in disgust. “I tried to tell