Free Plain Fear: Forgiven: A Novel by Leanna Ellis

“Lizzie, Noah, Nathan, Grace, Naomi…”
    Oh, he remembered her. Her family. Samuel’s heart kicked up a notch, and he forced himself to add to the list of Wagler children. “And Dan, but I can’t remember the little one.”
    “Deborah.” Hannah smiled. “But they have two more now: Matthew and Mary.”
    “I have a lot to catch up on,” he said, wondering what he would say to Naomi when…if he saw her again. Of course, he would see her. It was too small of a community not to bump into someone.
    “There’s plenty of time.” Hannah hid a yawn behind her hand. “Samuel, you’ll be sleeping in the back bedroom. Levi can point you in the right direction. If you need anything, let me know.” She placed a hand tenderly on her husband’s shoulder. “Don’t stay up too late, Levi. Just leave the dishes, and I’ll clean up in the morning.”
    “I’ll be along shortly,” Levi reassured her. “But first I’m going to enjoy this pie.”
    Smiling, she left the room.
    The two brothers ate in silence. For a moment, it felt like old times. Samuel remembered when Levi, Jacob, and he had gobbled up their mother’s cookies, snatched muffins, and gorged on whole loaves of hot bread. Samuel had tried to keep up with his older brothers, who had been able to stuff more food in their stomachs. But if Levi could eat a whole pie, then Samuel could eat two. If Jacob ran two miles, then Samuel ran three. Looking back now, Samuel realized his older brothers had egged him on. Once Jacob bragged, “I ate thirteen apples!” So of course, Samuel had to beat that, and he had managed fourteen and a half. But he’d paid the price for that overindulgence.
    Mamm had laughed at their antics. “You boys must have hollow legs.”
    She’d always been proud of her three and enjoyed cooking for them. Now the family was separated by too many miles and too much heartbreak.
    When Samuel finished his second piece of butterscotch pie, he scraped the plates and cleaned up, so Hannah wouldn’t have to in the morning. She had enough to keep her busy with two babies and an injured husband. Knowing Levi was indeed hurt changed Samuel’s plan. He would have to help his brother. But for how long?
    “We can discuss what needs doing tomorrow at breakfast,” Samuel said, seeing the circles beneath his brother’s eyes. No matter what Levi said, he obviously wasn’t well. “I’ll get up and feed the stock. That much I can figure out on my own.”
    Levi nodded, explained which animals needed special care or food, and then they headed off to separate beds, Samuel watching his brother’s slow, careful footsteps. At the door to his bedroom, Levi turned back. “I’m glad you’re here, Samuel.”
    “Me too.”
    “Even if you eat like an elephant.” Levi grinned.
    With a matching smile, Samuel said, “That’s why I’m taller.”

Chapter Twelve
    What potions have I drunk of Siren tears…
    With realization came a sharp inhalation. No. He couldn’t go there.
    Jacob turned away from the Amish farm they approached. Words failed him even now. The landscape of tranquil countryside stretched outward in peaceful waves, a respite from the turmoil of this world. Home. Yet not anymore. Not for a long time. Still, awareness stirred tumultuous emotions he could not begin to decipher. He simply couldn’t go into that home.
    He wasn’t sure how he knew, but he knew . She was there.
    He couldn’t see her . Not again. Not now. Not ever.
    Hannah . He had loved her, yearned for her, and yet he’d also hated her. She’d driven him mad with desire, and he’d come back for her, hoping to change her as he’d been changed so they could live together. Forever.
    He’d never expected her to be a pushover, and so he’d set in motion a plan to cajole and lure her toward him. But she’d given her heart to Levi. His own brother. Now they were married.
    So how could he look into the depths of her eyes again? How could he watch her with Levi? Know her heart had