the STRUGGLE Read Online Free

both Allen and Samuel on a job in Crittenden County.” He shifted, feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden. “You know, with this being the Lord’s Day and all, guess we really shouldn’t be talkin’ about work.”
    Titus gave a nod. “You’re right, so why don’t we go find Samuel and some of the other men here and see if we can get a game of horseshoes started?”
    Timothy smiled. “Sounds good to me. Let’s go!”

    “Everything looks so different here,” Hannah said after they left the Yoders’ place and were heading down the tree-lined road in their horse and buggy toward Samuel’s house. “The grass in the fields is an ugly brown, and from what I can tell, there aren’t many houses or places of business nearby. Christian County is nothing like Lancaster County at all.”
    “That’s true,” Timothy agreed, “but it’s peaceful and much quieter here, and there aren’t nearly so many cars or tourists.”
    “I’ve gotten used to the tourists. In fact, if it weren’t for the tourists, my daed’s bulk food store wouldn’t do nearly as well as it does.”
    “Guess you’re right about that, but I still think it’s nice to be here where the pace is slower.”
    Hannah grimaced when Mindy, who was asleep in her lap, stirred restlessly as their buggy bounced over the numerous ruts in the road. She turned in her seat a bit to look at Timothy and frowned. “The pace may be slower here, but the roads in Christian County need some work, don’t you think?”
    “I suppose, but there are some rough roads around Lancaster, too.”
    Hannah knew her husband was trying to look on the positive side of things, but so far she didn’t like one thing about being here. In fact, Timothy’s bright outlook actually irritated her. Every time she complained, he had some way of twisting things around to make it all sound good.
    “See that driveway over there?” Timothy pointed to the right. “It leads to the bed-and-breakfast I told you about. It’s run by a young English woman, Bonnie Taylor.” He gave Hannah a dimpled smile. “I met Bonnie when I came here for Titus and Suzanne’s wedding, and she seemed very nice. Samuel and Allen did some work on her house before she opened the B&B, and Esther’s been working for her part-time ever since. She helps Bonnie in the mornings before heading to Samuel’s to keep house and watch the kinner. Then she goes back to help at the B&B again in the evenings after Samuel gets home from work.”
    Hannah grunted in response. She wasn’t interested in hearing about the B&B or the woman who owned it. She wished Timothy hadn’t gone to his brother’s wedding, because it wasn’t long after that he’d come up with the crazy notion to move here.
    Maybe I should have gone with him to the wedding , she thought. Then I could have discouraged him from the very beginning .
    “So what did you think of the church service today?” he asked, moving their conversation in a different direction.
    She sighed. “It was okay, I guess.”
    “Did you hear what the bishop said in his message about remembering to count our blessings and learning to be content?”
    “I…I don’t really remember.”
    “Well, he said contentment helps to keep one’s heart free from worry. It also teaches us to live simply and think of others more than ourselves. I think his message was a good reminder for us, don’t you?”
    Hannah stiffened. “What are you trying to say, Timothy? Do you think I’m supposed to be thankful and content that you forced me to leave the home I loved and come here to a place I already hate? How can you even accept that someone else will be living in our house in Pennsylvania?”
    Timothy gripped the reins a bit tighter. “You only think you hate it here because you didn’t want to move, but if you’ll give it half a chance, I think you might change your mind. Besides, the house in Pennsylvania is not ours anymore, remember?”
    “Jah, you made sure of that, didn’t you?