Free The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer Page B

in the sunshine, is it?”
     he said in a whisper. “You’re gonna learn trust by walking in the shadows. By feeling
     constrained. By letting me lead.”
    After guiding Blue for fifteen minutes, Gideon took off the halter and untied the
     rope around the horse’s neck. With a pat on Blue’s hindquarters, Gideon let the horse
     know the lesson was over for the day. He carried the tack across the pastureand thought about heading back to his cabin to write a letter to Mem and Dat. Maybe
     he’d give them a chance to tell him the truth before he asked Edgar.
    Gideon had made it halfway across the pasture when he glanced over at the Wyse place
     again, fully expecting to see Lydia still talking on the phone. Instead, she stood
     near the front porch with two other bachelors—Amos and Micah. Micah’s buggy was parked
     out front, and his horse nibbled on the grass by the fence line.
    Lydia’s head tossed back, and her laughter spilled onto the breeze. His gut tensed.
     He pulled off his hat and wiped his brow with the back of his sleeve. What were those
     two doing there? They hadn’t cared enough about Mrs. Wyse to show up at the funeral,
     and now they were going to stop by?
    Gideon lowered his head. Of course—like his mem always told him—another’s actions
     weren’t his to judge.
    He kept walking, tried to ignore them, but Gideon knew the beautiful redhead stood
     behind the purpose for their visit.
I should just let them be
. But something inside propelled him that direction. He approached the fence, and
     Mr. Wyse’s dog, Rex, bounded toward him. Gideon reached down to pet the dog, and then
     climbed over the fence and approached the others.
    He fixed his eyes on Lydia, and she glanced his direction. “Is there an ice cream
     social I hadn’t heard about?”
    “Oh, no.” Lydia placed a hand over her chest and then looked back at the two young
     men. “They’ve come bringing Dat home. He walked down to the Kraft and Grocery, and
     he stumbled off the porch and banged up his leg. Annie had called my cell and was
     going to drive him home herself when Micah offered. Which was so kind.” Lydia smiled
     at him. “I can’t believe—”
    “Is he all right? Yer dat?” Gideon looked to the doorway.
    Lydia frowned. “I hope so. He limped inside and wouldn’t let me take a peek at his
     leg, but I’ll check on it. Said he tripped over a loose board on the front step. I
     hope that’s all it is.”
    “It’s been a hard few days for him.” Gideon glanced to Amos, Micah, and then back
     to Lydia. “But it was good to see you smile. I heard your laughter all the way out
     in the pasture.”
    “
Ja
, well it’s Micah’s fault.” She narrowed her gaze at the blond bachelor. “He’s the
     one who told me what Dat said.”
    Gideon pushed his hat farther back on his head. “What’s that?”
    Micah smiled. “When I asked Mr. Wyse if he wanted a ride, he said, ‘Suppose so. Seems
     to me my git ain’t goin’ very far.”
    Lydia laughed again. “It’s funny because Dat always used to ask me, ‘Lydia, are you
     ready yet? We best git going.’ I’d always tease him and ask what his ‘git’ was.”
    Then as quickly as the smile brightened her face, it faded. A shadow of memory moved
     across her eyes. “And then Mem would always respond the same.” Lydia sighed. “She’d
     always say, ‘My husband is getting so
crittlich
of late. Give yer daughter a moment.’” Lydia lowered her head. “It’s amazing how
     those little things that didn’t seem to matter mean the most now.”
    Lydia reached up, as if to fiddle with her
kapp
strings, and then dropped her hand. Gideon tried to picture her in Amish dress. He
     liked that thought.
    Lydia forced a smile and looked back at Micah. “I’ll get in now and check on Dat.
     Thank you so much for giving him a ride home.”
    Amos nodded. “
Ja
, of course. I hope he feels better soon.”
    Micah took a step closer. “Won’t you let us