Sisters of the Heart - 03 - Forgiven Read Online Free Page B

all of the burdens.
    She smiled as she picked up the knife and cut two generous pieces and placed them carefully on plates. “I heard the fire inspectors saying they’d be back today to visit with you. I guess we’re going to have a lot to think about.”
    Biting into the warm, moist cake, he paused for a moment, just enjoying the simple goodness of the treat. After he put his fork down, he said, “I’m worried, Katie. I’m worried about Winnie and the animals and rebuilding and finding the time to rebuild. But I’m also terribly worried about the cause of the fire. The inspectorsaid the culprit was most likely a tossed cigarette. It just doesna make sense. Who would be smoking in my barn?”
    A dark shadow flickered across her face as she pushed her plate to one side. “Well, now. That is a difficult question. I’m not sure.”
    Something in her voice led Jonathan to believe that there was something she wasn’t saying. “But you must have an idea, right?”
    “Well…I might.”
    “Come now, Katie. Tell me what you think. Do you reckon it was maybe an English teen trying to find a place to get away?”
    “All I know is that it wasn’t me or you or Mary and Hannah.”
    Hastily swallowing his latest bite of cake, he looked at her frankly. Yes, his frau most certainly had an idea about the smoker in his barn. “Who do you think, Katie? I’m out of ideas. I’ve racked my brain, but for the life of me, I canna think of anyone who would even think of such a thing.”
    Reluctantly, she looked at him. “Maybe it was an Amish teenager,” she said quietly. “Maybe someone was having a little smoke and something went terribly wrong. An accident. I don’t think it was an Englischer teen. There are many other places to smoke and carry on besides an Amish farm. No…I reckon it was an Amish teen. An Amish boy or girl experimenting with smoking.”
    “That could never happen.” No member of the community would lurk around other people’s property. Besides, if it was someone who was Amish, he would have come forward and admitted his mistake.
    “Sure it could. We Amish aren’t perfect, you know. We all make mistakes time and again.”
    He pushed away his plate. It no longer looked appetizing. “Yes, but…”
    With a hard glare, she stopped his words. “Oh, honestly, Jonathan. Don’t be so naïve. I smoked. I experimented.”
    She was such a perfect wife he sometimes forgot her dark history. “Well, you’re the exception, Katie. I’m sure most Amish kinner don’t act out like you did.”
    “Like me?”
    “Jah, like you,” he fired back. “Your running-around years were difficult—you’ve said so yourself. Neither Winnie nor I ever did the things you’ve admitted to doing.”
    “I thought you said you understood about my past,” she said quietly. “I thought you forgave me.”
    “I have.” Feeling frustrated, Jonathan reached for her hand. “I’m not angry with you, I’m just sayin’ I don’t think an Amish teen burned down my barn.”
    In a huff, she stood up. “Well, I think differently, not that you seem to want to listen to my views. Now, excuse me while I go tend to the girls’ rooms.” Like a whirling dervish, Katie jumped to her feet, slapped the cake plate onto a counter with a thump, then swirled toward the front hallway.
    He called out to her before she disappeared completely. “Katie, what did I say?”
    Her feet slowed. “It’s not worth talking about.”
    “I think it is. I thought you were tryin’ to teach me how to be more open. To communicate better!”
    When she turned around, Jonathan noticed tears had filled her eyes. “Katie, please talk to me.”
    “Perhaps you could begin to listen with your ears and your heart. Don’t say one thing and mean another.”
    “I wasn’t doing that.”
    “I think you were. I think you said you forgave me, but you didn’t really mean it.”
    Her words caught him off guard. Had he done that?
    Before he could say a word, she spoke