Free A Miracle of Hope (The Amish Wonders Series) by Ruth Reid Page B

said.
    Lindie dropped her hands to her sides. “What a dummkopp I am.”
    He continued on course.
    A few minutes later they reached the end of the pasture. Lindie spotted a fence. She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
    “You better stay on that side.”
    He didn’t need to look so disgusted. “I can make it.”
    “There isn’t a gate.” He lowered his gaze to her belly and scowled.
    She flinched. So, he thought she couldn’t do it simply because she was pregnant? She would be happy if climbing a fence were the most difficult thing she’d face while married to him.
    He crawled through with ease.
    Lindie lifted her foot to the bottom board. Grabbing hold of the top board, she pulled herself up. If she couldn’t crawl between the boards, she could climb over them.
    “ Ach . You don’t listen, do you?”
    “I can do this.” But even as she spoke, he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her down. In his arms, her muscles tensed and the air left her lungs. He released his hold the moment her feet landed on the ground. It took several seconds to regain her composure.
    Is he blushing? Lindie bit her lip to keep from smiling. She sucked in a breath and made a subtle move to touch her own warm cheeks. She hated it when her face betrayed her. He hasn’t noticed? He seemed to make a point not to look her in the eye.
    She straightened her dress and when she looked up, he was stalking toward the woods. She hurried to join him. “So what makes you think she went this way?”

    “I’m following her tracks.” He pointed to the small footprints in the snow.
    Having only his back to stare at, the tracks she saw were his. She would remember this if Hannah disappeared again.
    Josiah’s long strides made it impossible for her to use his tracks to avoid bogging down in the ankle-deep snow. Her shoes were soaked and she couldn’t feel her toes, much less wiggle them to keep the circulation flowing. At least her hands were tucked warm inside her cape.
    He stopped.
    “Is something wrong?” Lindie leaned to one side and looked around Josiah. She saw no path cutting through the dense woodlands. “Do you think Hannah would go in there?” She shuddered.
    “ Jah , I know she would.” He ducked under a low-hanging branch.
    Lindie followed. The lighting was dim and long shadows caused the hair on her arms to stand on end. A branch snapped, and she flinched.
    Josiah continued, but she froze. Eyes closed, her heart hammered her ribs with an unsteady beat. Blood whooshed in her ears. Just like the night she sped through the woods. Only not the same. This was daytime, hundreds of miles away. And leaves covered the ground, not snow. Focus on this moment . Still, the scent of dead leaves from that night filled her senses, cloaking her with memories she wanted to erase.
    A gunshot rang out.
    Lindie jolted. It sounded close. Eyeing the direction of the shot, her heartbeat quickened.
    “Stay here.” Josiah ducked under a low-hanging limb and disappeared into the dense forest.
    Lindie wrapped her arms around herself and made acircle, scanning her surroundings. Lord, please keep Hannah safe . Branches snapped in the distance. Me too, God. I’m so afraid . She squeezed her eyes closed and silently recited, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil . She repeated the scripture multiple times before calling out, “Josiah!” She looked one way, then the other. Nothing. She needed to focus.
    Look for tracks .
    She spotted Josiah’s heavy boot prints and moved in that direction. She pushed a pine branch out of her path and it snapped back, launching the snow that had collected on the needles. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I will fear no evil . . . for thou art with me,” she said aloud. Crossing over a fallen log, she slipped, but kept her balance by flailing her arms. “ Ach , Josiah, why did you leave me alone?”
    She followed his tracks several more feet until they led to a steep