Love Still Stands Read Online Free

report to file for the insurance.
     I can get a guy out here tomorrow to take some pictures, see if he can lift a fingerprint
     or two.”
    There was no insurance to collect. They were self-insured, but the sheriff would never
     understand the Amish way of community care. Luke wouldn’t mind seeing someone punished
     for this mess, but it seemed unlikely the sheriff would catch the culprits and their
     punishment wouldn’t change the work that had to be done. Or give the newcomers goodwill
     in the community. “We don’t need a report. Right now, I have five children who need
     places to lay their heads tonight.”
    “It’s your call.” The sheriff slapped his hat back on his head. “I’ll spread the word
     y’all are here so the teenagers will find another place to entertain themselves.”
    “This happens a lot?”
    Luke wanted the question back the second he uttered it. He had spent only a few days
     in this part of the state, but it had seemed right for their needs. Reasonably priced
     land in large enough tracts that they could subdivide for their sons and stay close
     together. They could work hard and stay close to the earth and each other as God intended.
    “There’s not a lot to do in these parts, in case you haven’t noticed.” Sheriff McCormack
     looked grim. “The kids like to let off steam and sometimes they get carried away.
     I only have eight deputies for three shifts and it’s a huge county. The best I can
     offer is to stop by the high school and give the whole bunch of them a talking-to
     about respecting private property.”
    Not that it would do any good, his tone indicated.
    “Thank you for coming by, Sheriff. We’re happy to meet you.” Luke forced the words
     out. “We plan to be good neighbors. We don’t make much noise.”
    “Not a problem.” Again, his tone said otherwise.
    “We’ll be into town tomorrow for supplies. We’ll need propane, paint, wallpaper, plywood,
     drywall, and cleaning supplies.” In other words, the town might benefit in some small
     part from their business. “We’ll be on our best behavior.”
    “Best behavior. You’re a funny man, Mr. Shirack.” Sheriff McCormack laughed outright.
     “I’ll let my deputies know. The Amish folks are coming to town.”

Chapter 4
    G lancing at Emma Brennaman, who was sweeping the kitchen floor with great vigor, Bethel
     steadied herself against the one remaining kitchen counter. She didn’t want Emma to
     see her struggle to balance and clean at the same time. She propped one crutch against
     the wall. That way she had at least one of her hands free to scrub the cabinets and
     countertop. Once the trash and debris had been cleared away, the kitchen didn’t look
     so bad. Luke would need to replace one stretch of the countertop. The men had spent
     the previous evening examining the house room by room, boarding up the windows in
     case it decided to rain, and making lists of the supplies they would need to make
     the place livable. They all agreed it would take some doing, but it could be done.
     With time and money—money they could ill afford to spend. Still, it would be less
     expensive than tearing it down and starting over. So they went to work.
    A night in sleeping bags under tents had tickled William and Joseph, but for her it
     had been an agonizing experience. The pallet of blankets did little to soften the
     ground under her and her back ached with a throbbing ferocity that kept her eyes open
     most of the night. She could see why Leah had refused to do it, but not how she could
     take a baby into a house before it had been made safe. Long before dawn, Bethel arose
     to start work. No sense in tossing and turning any longer. Luke met her at the porch
     steps, looking like he’d slept about as well as she had.
    Now, several hours later, she was beginning to see a little progress. The men had
     removed the old electric appliances in the kitchen to make way for the wood-burning
     oven, propane-fueled