Free A Quilt for Jenna by Patrick E. Craig

you love me?” he broke in.
    â€œMore than anything, but—”
    â€œIf you loved me more than anything, you could leave this place and come with me,” he said, his voice rising with emotion.
    â€œReuben, why would you ask me to do something you know I can’t do? You’re asking me to disobey my father and leave the only home I’ve ever known. Is this any way to build a new life? I would be bitter because I would always feel that you manipulated me into coming with you, and I would regret hurting my father and my people so deeply. Surely you wouldn’t want me to do that.”
    As she looked at Reuben she felt something slipping away from her, and she wanted to reach out and clutch at it, but she couldn’t see it or feel it, and a nameless dread filled her heart.
    â€œJerusha, I’m leaving Apple Creek. Will you come with me or not?”
    â€œPlease, Reuben,” she begged him, “don’t ask me to go away from everything I know. What would we do for money? Where would we live?”
    â€œI have some money, I have a car, and I have a job offer in Colorado,” he answered. “I told the man I would be bringing my wife, and that’s all right with him. We would have a place to stay on a ranch, and I would work with his horses. The pay is good. I could save up my money, and then we could go out to California.”
    â€œA car! But cars are forbidden! And how did you get a job offer so far away?”
    â€œI have friends.”
    Jerusha looked at Reuben. His face was red, and he was breathing hard, and his hands held hers with a steel grip. Something in him suddenly frightened her, something she was just now seeing for the first time. It wasn’t bad, but it was unknown. All her life she had lived in the safety of her family, her work, and her faith. But this man had stolen her heart, and now he wanted to pull her out of the shelter of her life and push her into a place she had never wanted. It was as though she had come to a crossroads with a sign that said, “Beyond this place there be dragons,” and this man wanted her to walk with him into this fearsome and mysterious new land.
    She tore away from him and stood trembling, staring at his face. Then she turned and ran back to her home and her family and safety. Reuben looked after her, and then he turned and walked away.

    The little girl was cold, very cold. Her only waking thoughts were of her mama.
    â€œMama, come find me...I’m so cold,” she would murmur and then sink back into a dream-filled sleep.
    She had been in the car for a night and another whole day. It was the end of the second day of the storm, and as she lay quiet she thought she heard a soft voice speak to her.
    â€œDon’t be afraid, little one, I’m here.”
    â€œAre you my mama in heaven?” asked the little girl.
    â€œNo, my child, I’m not your mama, but I have been sent to help you.”
    â€œWill I go to see my mama?” asked the little girl.
    â€œNot now,” said the gentle voice. “You must lay still. I will stay with you and keep you warm...”
    The gentle voice faded away, and then the little girl felt the strangest sensation, as though she were being covered by thick, warm feathers.

C HAPTER T HIRTEEN
    The Heart of the Beast

    M ARK K NEPP GOT UP FROM HIS CHAIR and walked slowly to the pile of wood by the heavy cast-iron stove. The old white and black coonhound lying on a rug by the fire didn’t stir as Mark grabbed several more pieces of wood. The stove was already glowing red from the fire inside, but it wasn’t keeping the chill out of the house. He opened the fire door and put in the freshly split oak. Then he went into the bedroom and rummaged in the closet until he found the wool pullover sweater hanging in the back. He put it on over his Pendleton shirt and returned to his living room. He sat down in the overstuffed chair in front of the stove and scooted