Free Grace's Forgiveness by Molly Jebber

fine sermon.
    Mark drew in a breath. The message was good, but the man’s subject matter touched a little too close to home.
    After they finished their meal, the women gathered baskets and loaded them in their wagons.
    Ever since he met Grace, he sensed a spark between them. The more he talked to her, the more he liked her. They had skirted around their emotions with longing looks and kind words. She had captured his heart. He gestured her aside. “Your parents are delightful. Your daed offered me an open invitation to visit him at any time. You’re blessed to have such gracious parents.”
    “Mamm and Daed have soft hearts. I’m pleased you’re comfortable around them.”
    Levi and Sarah joined them, and they quieted. “We wanted to say farewell before we left. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” The couple sauntered off to retrieve their wagon.
    “I should go home and check on my animals, but I don’t want to leave you.” Mark darted his eyes around. No one paid attention to them. He squeezed her hand for a moment. She didn’t jerk it away. Her soft skin and dainty fingers warmed his heart. He released it before anyone noticed.
    Her face pinked. “Join Sarah and me for dinner tomorrow.”
    “I look forward to it.” He waited until she’d reached her parents then walked to the barn to retrieve his buggy. On the way home, he laughed at the deer frolicking in the meadow. He nodded to the stagecoach driver passing by.
    He liked the direction his life was taking, and especially the prospect of having Grace as a potential fraa. He was twenty-two and didn’t want to wait much longer to wed and start a family. Precious Grace might be the one. Jah, this had been a perfect day.
    Arriving home, he secured his horse. Last night he’d searched for a larger kettle he remembered packing when he left Lancaster. Where had he put it? Maybe he’d find it in the old trunk he brought from home. In the corner of the barn, he peeked inside.
    He gasped and lifted a flour sack. He hadn’t packed this bag. Dropping it, he ran outside and scanned his property. Quiet, and no one in sight, he rushed to the trunk. Who put it in here? He reached for it and untied the bundle. A box of Blue Diamond matches and a jar of water lay inside. Had the same intruder who’d sought shelter in his barn left this here? Abel? He shook his head. Abel would ask him for help. The stranger must be hiding from the law or too proud to ask for food and shelter. Why had this stranger chosen his barn to stash his belongings? He didn’t want any trouble. He stuffed it where he found it. Maybe the owner would kumme back and claim his stash, and he’d confront him. He’d keep a close eye out.

Chapter Four
    Grace woke to the rooster’s crow Monday morning. She blinked a few times and sat up in bed. Her life had taken a wilkom change meeting Mark. His face flashed in her mind before she went to bed and when she opened her eyes. She’d pictured herself living with her parents or in a small home alone for the rest of her life. Mark presented possibilities she hadn’t allowed herself to dwell on. She hoped their interest grew and resulted in marriage. She was enjoying the hope she felt in her heart that she may experience being a fraa and mamm someday. She rose, dressed, and joined Mamm in the kitchen. “Bacon smells delightful.”
    Sliding the rest of the bacon from the skillet onto a plate, Mamm raised her eyebrows. “You’re chipper this morning.” She gave her a mischievous grin. “Does Mark King have anything to do with your cheery mood? You like him, don’t you?”
    She suspected her mamm worried her dochder would remain a spinster. Grace had wondered if God planned to have her remain unwed, since more than one man had rejected her daed’s offer to arrange a marriage with her.
    She remembered waiting for her daed to kumme home and the first time he’d left to ask a man to marry her. The man had met her in church. He’d stared at the ground, and