When Tomorrow Came by Hannah Linder

Author:Hannah Linder [Linder, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781636094410
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

This was too dangerous.

He’d told himself from the very beginning, as they’d entered his cottage and prepared the food. Then again as they’d ventured on foot to this quiet little pasture. Then a third time while they partook of their meal and watched a small herd of sheep on the other side of the wooden fence.

She didn’t look dangerous.

Even if she was, he didn’t think he could defend himself.

With his back propped against a holm oak tree, Heath watched his sister’s abigail brush bread crumbs from her dress. She was talking, always talking. Some sweet little story that made her eyes smile, made a soft laugh escape every so often.

This wouldn’t last long, he was sure. Her infatuation with him, her interest and attentions. Her beautiful stories and clumsy explanations. How long before she bored of him?

He wouldn’t blame her. The danger was his own choice. Surely, when it ended, it wouldn’t hurt so very bad—would it?

“Shall we go and see the sheep?”

At the strange request, he leaned forward. “You want to?”

“Not that I like sheep especially, but it would be rather pleasurable. My father’s father was a sheepherder—or so I read in our Bible. Mother writes down accounts of all the family. What was your father’s father?”

“I don’t really know.”

“I already know your papa was a sailor. How very exciting life on the sea must have been, don’t you think? Is that what you shall do someday?”

He shook his head as he stood, then reached for her and tugged her up.

“Then what do you wish to be?”

Had anyone ever asked him that? The only one who had ever cared had been the rector—and he already knew. “I want to work for the church.”

“A clergyman?”

“Not exactly. Just someone who helps.”

She was quiet for a bit, walking beside him close enough that her sleeve bumped his, that he could hear the rustle of her dress—and his body tensed with the dread of what was coming.

But when she spoke, she mumbled nothing of bad decisions or nonsense or regrettable choices. Instead, she entwined her hand with his. “I think that is lovely, Heath Duncan, and I should be very proud of you for such a calling. I daresay, God should be very proud of you too.”

Proud? Could she possibly mean such a thing? Why did it make everything different? Warm blood suffused his soul, and he tightened his fingers around hers. Proud of me.

She didn’t seem to realize what she’d said. As they reached the edge of the fence, she leaned against the wood and laughed when a lamb cried out to a ewe. “Heath, look how that one races for its mother. Did you see how they called to one another? Almost as if they knew … as if they knew they belonged together. Isn’t it terribly amazing?”

He kept his gaze fixed on the herd and didn’t answer.

But his heart whispered, ’Twas amazing, indeed.

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