Forevermore Read Online Free Page A

Here.” Annie hurriedly gave him a third serving, then held the server over the last of the shepherd’s pie. “Jakob?”
    He accepted with alacrity.
    Once he took the first bite, Emmy-Lou said in a tearful tone, “It’s all gone and I wanted more.”
    “Here.” He shoveled his fork under a hefty bite.
    “Hold your horses.” Miss Ladley tipped her head down and asked in a loud whisper, “Did you remember to save room for a cookie?”
    “I forgot.” Emmy-Lou sat up straighter. “Daddy, I’m almost all full-up.”
    Annie sighed softly. “I’ll be sure to give you more next time.”
    “Okay.” Emmy-Lou held up two fingers. “Daddy, they made two of those. I helped carry the other one out to the springhouse.”
    Knowing there’d be another of these fine dinners didn’t disappoint him in the least. Jakob smiled at his daughter. “It is gut, you helping.”
    “Emmy-Lou’s a good weeder, too.” Miss Ladley picked up a wedge of watermelon. “Your daughter’s a fine worker.”
    A few minutes later, Jakob looked about the table. Every last plate was clean—even Annie’s, which didn’t happen often. A small thread of relief darted through him. She didn’t eat much at mealtime, and as far as he could tell, she didn’t nibble all day long the way Naomi had when she was expecting. When Naomi had only a month to go, she’d needed to leave some of her buttons open beneath the cover of her apron; Annie’s belly bulged, but not with the same abundance that bespoke a fat, healthy child. If he hired Miss Ladley, maybe she could coax Annie into eating more.
    “Jakob?” Phineas gave him a questioning look.
    Miss Ladley glanced over Emmy-Lou’s head. “Some of the families I helped just say grace before the meal. Others, they go before and after. What about you?”
    “Both.” He bowed his head and mentally translated so Miss Ladley would be able to share the prayer in English. “Our hearts are grateful, you have satisfied us now. Let us in work, joy, and pains rest in your love! Amen.”
    Miss Ladley didn’t raise her head. She kept her eyes closed and whispered, “If’n y’all don’t mind, I’d feel better if you said it together the way you normally do.”
    “But Daddy said it funny. I don’t know it that way,” Emmy-Lou piped up.
    Miss Ladley reached over and curled her hand about Emmy-Lou’s. “Dankbar sind Dir unsere Herzen . . .”
    They all joined in once she started. Afterward, Miss Ladley stacked the dishes. “I don’t come to change things. I just come to help out.”
    Jakob shot his sister a questioning look. Annie chewed on her lip and said nothing. That action tattled, though. She was unsure.
    “You surprised me.” Phineas chuckled. “I’ve never heard German spoken in that accent, though.”
    “It’s ’cuz she has two tongues. I only got one.” Emmy-Lou stuck hers out again. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “When I grow up, will I grow another one?”
    “They don’t mean what you have in your mouth, Liebling, ” Jakob explained. “Tongue also means speaking another language.”
    “Oh.” Emmy-Lou looked disappointed.
    “There’s a hymn from a man what wisht he had a thousand tongues.” Miss Ladley carried dishes to the sink. “He said he’d use ’em all to praise God.”
    “He’d look silly.” Phineas grabbed a cookie.
    “He’d sound grand, don’t you think, Mrs. Erickson?”
    Annie nodded. “I suppose so.” She started toward the sink with more dishes.
    Miss Ladley took them from her. “That niece of yours—she’s been itching to go see them kitties. How ’bout you grabbing cookies and taggin’ ’long? Emmy-Lou, you want your auntie to see Milky’s litter, don’t you?”
    “Yeah!”
    “The dishes—” Annie protested.
    “I’d like a cookie, too, Annie.” Jakob beckoned her. He wanted one last chance to make sure she’d be happy if this woman stayed—if she did, then he’d see if Miss Hope Ladley would agree to what he offered and with the