Free Saving Gideon by Amy Lillard

Englischer woman running ’round in barn door trousers and a man’s shirt? It was too unbelievable, but Mary Elizabeth knew better than to lie. That meant one of two things: either Gideon had completely lost his mind, or Gabriel’s level-headed daughter had.
    He said a silent prayer for his brother, for there she was, sitting on the porch as if she belonged there. She had her bare feet propped up on the railing and a little dog at the base of her chair.
    She stood as he got down and gathered the reins to lead his horses toward the watering trough. But they were both spared comment as Gideon came out of the barn.
    Gabriel tried his best to hide his shock. Gideon had gone and done the unthinkable. He had shaved his beard.
    “Brother!” Gideon called, but sheer surprise kept Gabriel’s own words from leaving his mouth.
    Gabriel cast a sidelong glance at the woman, then grasped his brother around the arm and pulled him to one side.
    “ Ach , man. What are you doin’?” He continued before Gideon could open his mouth to reply. “I come to your house after hearin’ tales that you have a woman livin’ here, an Englisch woman, and I find that it is true. And your beard!”
    Gideon’s arm twitched, no doubt a knee-jerk reaction to his words, resisting the urge to run a hand across his smooth-shaven face.
    Gabriel watched his brother’s eyes, so much like his own, cloud with misery, then harden with resolve. “I do not deserve to wear a beard.”
    “The bishop is not goin’ to allow this.”
    “Then shun me.”
    “It may come to that, brother.”
    He had hoped his words would shock some sense into Gideon, but he just looked away.
    Gabriel would have to say an extra prayer for Gideon tonight. He needed more than God’s guidance, he needed God’s intervention.
    “I don’t want that,” Gabriel said, “I just want—”
    “Everythin’ to go back like it was before. It can never be that again.”
    Gabriel’s stomach dropped at the pain and grief etched across his brother’s face. He and Gideon had been so close growing up, nearly inseparable. Best friends as well as siblings. But Miriam and Jamie’s deaths had changed all of that. His brother’s body was still standing there, for the most part he looked the same. But his heart was missing.
    Gabriel understood. He was a widower himself, but he and his Rebecca had been blessed with five fine sons and the most faithful daughter a man could ask for. They alone had kept him from going out of his mind when he lost his wife. Gideon didn’t have that kind of support. It was as if his soul had died with his family and all that was left was an empty shell of a body that walked and talked but no longer really lived.
    And now this Englischer !
    He glanced toward the porch. “How did she get here?”
    “Miss Hamilton?”
    “Is that her name?”
    “ Jah . She wrecked her fancy car in that big snowstorm. I helped her out of the cold.”
    “She’s been here for four days?”
    Gideon’s eyes narrowed. “What are you tryin’ to say, Gabe?”
    “I’m worried about you, brother.”
    “Worry is a waste of time.”
    “I think I have good reason.” He nodded back to the Englischer .
    Anyone could tell that she came from a different world. Privilege rolled off her in waves. Why she wanted to stay on an Amish farm was anybody’s guess, but Gabriel couldn’t help but be protective, if not suspicious. “She doesn’t belong here.”
    “That may be, but I’ve invited her to stay.”
    “You what ? It is not enough that you . . .” he stopped, unable to form the words. He knew Gideon was hurting, but the good Lord said there was a time for everything. Time for healing had come, but his bruder seemed to be sliding further down the slippery path of grief instead of pulling himself up from its depths. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    Gideon shrugged.
    “So be it.” Gabriel tamped down his protests. This was far from over.
    “Did you come here for a reason,