Free Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

vehicles continued to load injured people and other cars slowly moved past on the far-left lane, he leaned up against the side of her car and crossed his arms over his chest. Just like he was watching a soccer game or something.
    With effort, she tried to mimic his posture, hoping to look nonchalant, too. But it was hard. Inside, she was still as nervous as could be. And her body was starting to feel the effects of the crash. “Is it okay that you’re standing here with me again?”
    “Of course. You were in an accident, right?” He nodded his head slightly, signaling her to agree.
    “Ah, yes?”
    “My job is to assist everyone and anyone I can. You count.”
    His comment spurred a laugh. “Thanks for that. I’ve been so stressed, I didn’t think I could laugh.”
    “The Lord makes sure there’s no journey we can’t handle.”
    His statement brought her up short. “You’re a Christian?”
    “You bet. You can’t have this job and not be. Well, that’s my opinion. We all need miracles and the Grace of God on a daily basis.”
    What a strange conversation they were having. Never would she have believed it was possible to be talking about faith and car accidents all at the same time.
    But here they were.
    His words made her feel a thousand times better. With Zack standing by her side, waiting on the side of the road didn’t seem all that bad. “I’m glad you’re here.”
    Something sweet and genuine flickered in his eyes. “Ihope you don’t find this weird, but I’m glad you’re here, too.”
    To Leah’s surprise, she suddenly hoped that her tow truck was going to be stuck in traffic for at least a little while longer.

Chapter 8
     
    December 21, 2:00 P.M.
    Levi knew the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast was only two miles from State Highway 32, as the crow flies. The driver he’d hired had had no trouble locating the inn, or getting to it fairly quickly—which Levi’s wallet had been thankful for. So he knew that it was fairly close to the city.
    But from where he was standing now, surrounded by clusters of shrubs and trees with snow-glistening leaves and limbs, they might have been in the thick of the wilderness. No cars could be heard rumbling near the entrance of the Brenneman property. No echo of semis and trucks could be detected from the interstate.
    All that could be heard—outside of Hannah Lundy’s laughter in the barn—were the faint cries of birds as theydarted back and forth through the trees. Those trees had held his interest for some time as he glanced around, noting with appreciation the size of the age-old oaks as well as the peaceful hush created by the layered skirtlike limbs of the pine trees. He didn’t live on a farm, and his work schedule was such that he had little spare time for long walks or hikes.
    And his mind, of course, had been unable to do anything but grieve.
    But now, as his head cleared and the opportunity arose, he found himself looking forward to being outdoors for a change. He was also eager for the day’s activity. A hunt.
    “I could have sworn we were just going to chop wood,” he said when Henry Brenneman came close.
    “We were, but then my
daed
had a better idea.” He grinned slowly. “I’d rather track a deer than chop wood any day of the week.”
    “I’ll side with you. I’ve never hunted before, but I have chopped my share of wood.”
    As they continued to wait for the other men to join them, Henry looked Levi over. “I’m glad you’re wearing layers. It gets warm out here.”
    “‘Warm’ is a relative thing,
jah?
It’s near fifteen degrees.”
    “Yes, but we don’t hunt like old people. No strolling among the brambles for us.” He pushed his shoulders back a bit. “We men like to carry on at a good clip.”
    Again, Levi felt himself grinning. He’d missed this—the banter of masculine bravado, found only in the company of other men his own age. It reminded him that he was still young, hardy and alive.
    Thirty minutes later, Levi