Hope Rekindled by Tracie Peterson

Author:Tracie Peterson [Peterson, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical
ISBN: 0764206141
Google: sHcKeJWVANQC
Amazon: B005IULFO2
Goodreads: 9462364
Publisher: Bethany House
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Christopher handed Euphanel some money. “I want you to have it for the children. Deborah and I talked, and we’re putting off the wedding trip.”

Euphanel shook her head. “I wouldn’t hear of it, Christopher. We’re getting by just fine. We’ve been remaking old clothes and using up material on hand to see to their needs. The garden is producing in abundance, and G.W. and Arjan killed two hogs just last week and you brought in food not long ago. We have plenty to feed them and they’re earning their keep—believe me.” She threw him a broad smile. “You hang on to this money in case you need something.”

“But you bought them new shoes. Those didn’t come free. I should have seen that they needed them, but it didn’t even cross my mind.”

Euphanel led him to a chair. The summer kitchen was hot and steamy from cooking, but Christopher barely noticed. He had far more on his mind. He’d tried everything he could to get a nice sum of money together, but folks were bad off. Those who could pay usually did so in trade—a chicken here, a sack of pecans there.

“You seem worried.” Euphanel went back to the oven and peeked at her bread.

Christopher wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of his fears with this woman. She would be his mother-in-law soon—at least he hoped she would—but Euphanel Vandermark was also strong and capable. She’d endured far more than taking on someone’s orphaned children.

“There isn’t much money to be made in this area,” he finally said. “If the mill were back up and running, and if Albright hired me on to be the company doctor, then things would be better. Still, I can’t see that happening.”

Euphanel listened and nodded. “And it’s hard to take on a wife and family without an income.”

“Exactly. Deborah loves it here and I know she would hate to move, but it might be necessary.”

“It happened that way for me, as well. I loved Georgia, and the last thing I wanted to do was move to Texas. Still, it was necessary for many reasons.” She lifted a pot lid. Steam roiled from the pan and filled the air with the undeniable scent of molasses and brown sugar.

“Smells good,” he told her.

“It’s my special beans.” She gave the pot a stir, then replaced the lid. “Secret recipe.” She smiled and sat beside Christopher. “Deborah will do what has to be done. My daughter is strong and knows that life is unpredictable. She is also determined to overcome obstacles.”

“I know, but I don’t want to be the one to take her from her family and all that she loves. It’s bad enough I’d be saddling her with an instant family. She worries about how that will affect her ability to help me.”

“I know. We talked. Christopher, you and I both know that life doesn’t always look the way we think it should, especially when you’re out of step with the times. Deborah has always been that way.

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