Grace Given (Touch of Grace) by Shriver Beth

Author:Shriver, Beth [Shriver, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, ebook, Christian, book, Fiction
Publisher: Charisma House
Published: 2013-01-08T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

GIDEON NOTICED THE sign had finally been put up at the entrance of their community, Meadowlark Valley. It was meant as a pun due to Texas’s flat land, but the small hills around the outskirts of all the farms gave off the “valley” effect.

Gideon drove his mamm to the community grocery store, not that she couldn’t drive the buggy herself, though. Living with five sons and her husband brought out both the toughness as well as the softness about her. Gideon admired both. She was stern when she had to be and was there to console and encourage when any of them needed it.

“Looks crowded.” He brought the horse to a halt and tethered the reins on an old fashioned hitching post, much like the one that was recently put up in town specifically for the Amish. The store was a log cabin with a full porch and rocking chairs that were mostly occupied by tourists.

“I don’t like to come on a Saturday, but I couldn’t get my tulip bulbs bundled up in time yesterday. Your brother had a young lady over last night and didn’t give me much warning.”

Gideon tucked his chin under in surprise. “Why didn’t I know about this?”

His mamm stopped unpacking the bulbs long enough to get his attention. “You’re busy, son.”

They took the crates packed with her multicolored tulip bulbs until their arms were full. “That’s true, but I’d like to know about occasions like that. I would have made time.”

“When, with all the chores you do, visits you make, and spending time with Elsie.” She wiped the dirt away as much as she could and started to walk to the store.

Gideon pushed a chunk of dried mud off one of the bulbs and asked himself if he was using his time wisely. He’d helped a young family whose baby was born prematurely and didn’t have a favorable prognosis from the doctors. Then there was the widow who lost her husband but was doing well with the assistance of her son. He spent time with his dawdi and mammi every week. There were always the deacons who informed him of the community’s needs and his studies. And then there was Elsie.

“Are you coming?” his mamm called as she stood by the door.

He took quick steps until he was next to her. “Do you feel I’m neglecting my own family?”

She reached for the door but stopped at his words. “Nee, you have a calling, son. I don’t know what for exactly, maybe not a minister or deacon, but someone who sees the needs of the community and has the compassion to act on it.” She put a hand up to his cheek. “And it will soon be time for courting. You’ll need to make time for that so you don’t have another year of being alone.”

Gideon was taken off guard. He wasn’t one of the young men who courted his first year and married, but there were others older than he that hadn’t yet either. And Elsie was younger; this was the first season her daed considered her old enough to court.

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