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And I doubt I’ll ever like it here. I mean, what’s to like? We’re stuck living with Samuel and his kinner, and—”
    “We won’t be living with him forever,” Timothy interrupted. “As soon as we find some suitable property, I can start building a house.”
    “But it’s the middle of November, Timothy. Even if we could find the perfect property right away, you’d never get a house built for us before winter sets in.”
    “You’re right, but spring will come sooner than we think.”
    “I can’t imagine us being cooped up with Samuel and his rowdy kinner throughout the winter months.” Hannah frowned. “If we have to live here, I’d really like to have a place of our own.”
    “And we will—just as soon as I can get one built.”
    “Can’t we see about buying a house that’s already built? We could move in quicker, and our stay with Samuel would be brief.”
    He shrugged. “Samuel said there’s not much for sale in this area right now. He feels fortunate to be renting the house owned by Esther’s folks.”
    “What’s going to happen after he and Esther are married?” Hannah asked. “Will they continue renting the place from her folks, or will they end up buying it?’
    “I’m not sure. Samuel hasn’t said anything about that. And as far as I know, he and Esther aren’t officially engaged yet.”
    “I’ll bet they will be soon. Samuel needs a mudder for his kinner, and it’s pretty obvious that he’s smitten with Esther.”
    “I don’t think smitten is the right word for what my bruder feels for Esther,” Timothy said. “All ya have to do is watch how they interact to see that they’re obviously in love with each other.”
    Hannah looked down at Mindy and stroked her soft cheek. Well, at least I have you , she thought. That’s something to be thankful for. Mindy, you are my one constant blessing .

C HAPTER 5
    W ake up, sleepyhead.” Timothy shook his wife’s shoulder.
    “I’m tired. It can’t be time to get up already.” Hannah moaned and pulled the quilt over her head.
    Timothy nudged her arm through the covers. “It’s Monday morning, and Samuel and I need to get an early start because we’ll be working out of the area today. Allen will be coming by to pick us up soon.”
    Hannah just lay there, unmoving.
    “Hannah, please get up. I was hoping you’d fix us some breakfast and pack lunches for us to take to the job.”
    She pulled the covers aside and yawned noisily as she sat up. “Oh, all right.” Her long, tawny-brown hair hung around her shoulders in an array of tangled curls. Hannah’s thick hair had always been naturally curly—which meant she had to work hard at getting it parted down the middle, twisted on the sides, and pulled back into a bun. When she took it down at night, she spent several minutes brushing it out. During the first year of their marriage Timothy had often brushed Hannah’s hair. That had been a special time for him, when he felt really close to her. He hoped they could bring those days back again now that they were making a new start.
    Timothy leaned down and kissed Hannah’s cheek. It was warm and soft, and he was tempted to forget about going to work with Samuel and stay here with Hannah. But he knew he couldn’t do that. He had to earn a living and provide for them.
    “I’ll see you downstairs in the kitchen,” he said, before giving her another quick kiss. Then he moved away from the bed and stopped for a minute to gaze at Mindy, sleeping peacefully on a cot across the room, her golden curls fanned out across the pillow. She looked like an angel, lying there so sweet. Mindy could have shared a room with Penny, of course, but Hannah had insisted that their daughter needed to be close to them—at least until she felt more familiar with this new place. Timothy figured it was just an excuse. Hannah, following in her mother’s footsteps, was too clingy and overprotective where their little girl was concerned.
    Mindy’s so sweet and