Restless Hearts Read Online Free

new purchase from top to bottom,” he agreed. The girls he’d grown up with had had plenty of spirit, giving as good as they got, but Fiona was different. Defensive, almost, and the cop part of his mind wondered what she had to be defensive about.
    â€œIt’s a beautiful house, really. It’s just been neglected.” Her smile flickered, and he thought her pride of ownership was getting the better of her wariness with him. “Once I have the renovations done, you won’t know it’s the same place.”
    â€œWhat do you have in mind to do?” He was happy to keep her talking about the house, because it seemed to put her at ease. Since she was moving in, she was part of his responsibility, and he liked to stay on friendly terms with folks.
    â€œMy living quarters will be up here.” She gestured. “At first I thought I’d have to install a kitchen on this floor, but there’s actually a back staircase that leads down to the current kitchen, so I can just use that.”
    â€œA remnant from the days when people had servants, I guess. What happens downstairs?”
    â€œThe old parlor will make a perfect waiting room.” She started down the steps, gesturing as she talked, and he followed. “The other rooms will have to be partitioned to make an exam room and an office, maybespace for classes. The birthing clinic where I worked in San Francisco ran a lot of childbirth classes, but I don’t know how much demand there will be here.”
    He shrugged, coming down the last step to stand beside her in the hall. “You may be surprised. Plenty of women among the Plain People prefer home births and might enjoy the classes. You should be able to build a good practice, if you stay.”
    â€œIf?” Her eyebrows shot up at his words. “I’m not going to all this trouble with the intent of leaving. Why would you say that?”
    He shrugged. “You wouldn’t wonder if you knew how this state has been losing medical personnel to other places. We’ve seen too much coming and going, mostly going, to take anything for granted. Folks just start to rely on someone and then find they’ve moved on to greener pastures.”
    Especially city-bred people like you, he thought but didn’t say.
    â€œI’m not going anywhere.” She stroked the intricate carving of the newel post. “This place is going to be my home.”
    Her voice actually trembled with emotion on the last word, touching him, making him want to know what lay behind that emotion, but he didn’t figure he had the right.
    He was here because it was his duty to protect and serve all the residents of his township, he reminded himself. Not because he had a personal interest in awoman like Fiona Flanagan, with her quick tongue and urban manners.
    â€œWell, if that’s what you plan to do with the house, I guess you’re going to need someone to do the carpentry work, won’t you?”
    She nodded. “Is there any chance you might be able to recommend someone?”
    â€œThere are a couple of possibilities among the Amish carpenters, it being fall and the harvest is in. I’ll see what I can do.”
    â€œAmish,” she repeated, and he couldn’t tell what emotion tightened her face for an instant.
    â€œThey’re good carpenters, and this is an Amish community. I’d think you’d want an introduction to them.”
    â€œYes, of course, that would be perfect.” Whatever the emotion had been, it was gone. “Do you think they’d be able to start soon?”
    She looked up at him with such appeal that for a moment he’d do most anything to keep that hope shining in her eyes.
    â€œI’ll see if I can get hold of Mose Stetler. Maybe he can come over today or tomorrow.”
    â€œThank you so much.” All her wariness was washed away by enthusiasm. “Thank you.”
    â€œNo problem.” He took a reluctant