A Daughter's Quest Read Online Free Page B

story behind the picture. Constance walked down the center aisle and chose a seat about halfway toward the front of the sanctuary. She slipped off her cape, folded it, and placed it on the bench beside her. Then she removed her gloves and put them in her reticule on top of the cape.
    Constance continued to study the picture, finally noticing other tiny sheep dotting the hillside in the background behind Jesus. Flowers scattered around His feet. She had never seen anything as beautiful as the window, and she basked in the warmth it brought to her heart. A faint hope rose that God would take care of her and help her keep the promise to her father.
    Soon after she sat down, the service began. When the pastor finished the opening prayer, a woman went to the pump organ, and a profusion of musical notes filled the room. The hymns they sang were familiar to Constance, so she joined in with all her heart.
    When she put her wrap on the seat beside her, it made an effective barrier between her and those who shared the same pew. Not having someone sitting with her didn’t detract from her enjoyment of the service. By the time the pastor started his message, she was glad she had come, even though she didn’t know anyone.
    “‘The secret things belong unto the L ORD our God. …’” The pastor read a verse from Deuteronomy that Constance had never noticed before. “‘But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.’”
    Of course, Constance loved the New Testament, and she read it much more often than she did the Old Testament. But these words spoke straight to her heart. Too bad Mother’s Bible had fallen apart more than a year before. If she still had it, she would look up the words and read them for herself. While the preacher continued his message, Constance started to pray silently that God would help her find Mr. Mitchell. She could conclude her business with him and return to her beloved mountains before very long.

    Since Hans had started having a hard time going to sleep, sometimes he overslept. Because of this, he slipped into the church after the singing started and took a seat on the back pew. He didn’t usually sit that far back. It made him feel as if he were a spectator instead of a participant in the service. He liked to be close to the front so nothing would distract him from worship. Jackson was a biblical scholar, and his messages always gave Hans a lot to think about. Often, he would return home and reread the passage of Scripture and mull over Jackson’s words for days, noting how they applied to his own life.
    When he was settled in his seat, Hans glanced toward the front. His attention snagged on a woman sitting about halfway down on the opposite side of the aisle. The tilt of her head and set of her shoulders caused his heartbeat to accelerate. He glanced down and took a deep breath before raising his head again. There were other single women in the congregation, but none made him feel this way.
    Besides, maybe Constance Miller wasn’t single. Just because no one came with her didn’t mean that she didn’t have a husband back home. At that thought, something unsettling dropped into his chest.
    She probably was a believer. She sang every word of the hymns without looking at a hymnbook. The church only had a few scattered around the pews anyway.
    Hans noticed that no one sat beside her. For just an instant, the idea of taking that empty space entered his mind, but he dismissed it, turning his attention to the words of the song. How could he be so interested in a woman he might not be able to trust? Besides, it would start gossip about both of them.

    After the final prayer, Constance picked up her cape and fastened it around her shoulders before gathering her handbag and gloves.
    “Hello.” The cheery feminine voice came from behind her.
    Constance turned to see a woman not much older than herself. A smile wreathed the petite