Going Home by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Author:Wanda E. Brunstetter
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781597896092
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Chapter 13

She likes pets, and so does her daughter, Noah thought, as he watched Faith chuck the ball across the room for Amos, while Melinda stroked Griggs behind his ear.

Sandy returned to the room a few minutes later with a tray of cookies, some of her peanut brittle, and a pitcher of cold apple cider. When she placed the tray down on a small table, the girls scampered over with expectant expressions.

“Are you two hungry?” Hank asked with a chuckle.

“Jah,” they said at the same time.

“Just don’t eat too much.” Faith shook her head. “Or you’ll spoil your appetites for the meal Noah’s made us.”

Susie grinned. “I’m always hungry, so it won’t matter how many cookies I eat.”

“Just the same, I don’t want you filling up on cookies when there’s a meal to be eaten.”

The girls each took two cookies and a glass of cider and then settled themselves on the floor again.

After visiting with Hank and his wife awhile and sampling some of Sandy’s delicious peanut brittle, Noah finally ushered his guests outside to one of the picnic tables. He opened the small cooler he’d packed that morning and spread the contents on the table. He had invited Hank and Sandy to join them, but they’d declined because of work they had to do.

“How do you expect us to eat all this food?” Faith asked when he placed a plate of golden fried chicken in front of her.

“Just eat what you can.” He added a jar of pickles, a plastic container full of coleslaw, a loaf of brown bread, and some baked beans.

They paused for silent prayer and then dug right in. Melinda and Susie ate two drumsticks apiece, and Faith devoured a thigh plus a large hunk of white meat. Noah was glad to see her eating so well. She was far too skinny to his way of thinking. He was also pleased to see how much Faith had relaxed. Either she was feeling more comfortable in his presence or her playtime with Hank’s hounds had done the trick. Noah figured he’d made some headway in befriending Faith. Now if he could only think of something to say that might give him an indication of whether she was planning to go back on the road again. He debated about asking her outright but decided that might put a sour note on the day. Besides, what if it wasn’t true? Maybe Faith’s mother had been wrong.

When the meal was over, Susie looked for wildflowers, while Melinda played with Amos and Griggs. Noah suggested that he and Faith sit on a quilt under a cluster of shady maples, as the afternoon had become hot and humid.

Faith leaned back on her elbows and stared up at the sky. “Sure is peaceful, isn’t it? I can see why you enjoy coming to work here every day.”

Noah nodded. “Working with the pine trees gives me much satisfaction.”

“How come you’re not married and raising a family by now?” she asked suddenly.

Noah’s ears burned, and the heat quickly spread to his face.

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