Free Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace) by Beth Shriver Page A

nodded, “Jah, you’ll be doing a lot of what Annie usually does.”
    Hanna tilted her head. “I suppose so.”
    “Helping your mamm with all the extra chores.” He continued as if he hadn’t heard her, thinking of the void he felt for Annie. “Filling in for her.”
    She brightened suddenly, almost glowed, as if something had shot off in her mind.
    John noticed but couldn’t make sense of it. “Have you heard whether Annie made it safely?”
    Hanna stopped beaming, but still there was a gleam in her eyes. “No, John. I haven’t.”
    John looked out at the field of barley they would soon be cutting and stripping for a good part of their days. It hadn’t been long since Annie had left, but he knew she was around modern communication and that Abraham could get the call at his shop in town and let them know she was at her destination. He’d never wished for the use of such things, but in this case he’d make an exception. If she wanted to be left alone during the rest of her time there, that was fine, but he at least wanted to know this much.
    Hanna touched his arm, and he turned his attention back to her. “I’m sure she’s fine, John. We’ll just have to make do without her for a while. You know how she is when she gets something into her head. There’s no changing her mind.”
    He grinned and grunted his understanding. That much was true. Annie Beiler wouldn’t stop until she finished what she set out to do.

  Chapter Nine  
    T HE LITTLE BRICK house didn’t prepare Annie for the energy inside. Rudy introduced her to his family. His daed, Levi, a stocky construction worker with gentle eyes, rose from his chair to meet her, unlike his daughter, Essie, who narrowed her eyes at Annie, arms crossed over her chest. Annie walked into the small kitchen to see Rudy’s mother, Elizabeth, cooking a scrumptious meal that smelled of cinnamon and spices.
    Elizabeth stirred a sauce in a flat pan and reached for the lid from an overflowing pot just as the timer went off. “Oh, Annie, I apologize. I’m running late with dinner.”
    “Let me help.” She walked over to the timer and studied it.
    “It means the rolls are done in the oven.” Elizabeth placed the lid on the counter from the pot as the sauce began to bubble. “I didn’t time things too well, especially with you coming in.”
    Annie took the rolls out of the oven and set them down on a pot holder. She went to the stove and turned down the heat to the sauce. “Maybe that will help.”
    Rudy walked in and grabbed an apple. “Looks like you’re a natural,” he said with a smirk.
    Annie shrugged. “I’d like to help out while I’m here.”
    “That’s good, since Essie doesn’t.” Rudy rubbed the apple on his sleeve and took a bite.
    Essie sneered as she walked into the room. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you like doing chores.” She pushed one foot out and leaned back.
    “Leisure and chores don’t compete. They’re both a natural part of life.”
    “Give me a break.” She shook her head.
    Annie felt as if she were speaking in another language. “I try and do everything with the same mind-set. It’s one’s spirit that makes the difference.”
    “There’s some truth in that.” Elizabeth gave Essie a look before turning back to her sauce.
    Levi returned and sat at the table. “How long will you be staying with us, Annie?”
    “I’d like my room back as soon as possible.” Essie glared at her brother. “I didn’t appreciate you just dropping our ‘guest’s’ suitcase in my room.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
    “She’ll stay for as long as she needs to, Essie.” Levi lifted his chin a notch.
    Annie didn’t know when to speak, but with the first bit of silence since she’d walked in the door she thought she’d clarify her plan. “I just need to take care of some things, and then I’ll be on my way.”
    “You’re welcome here, Annie.” Levi took a drink and set the glass on the wood table.
    She glanced at