River of Mercy Read Online Free Page A

Duffy, the shop horse, take his time along the way.
    He was nearly to the crossroads when he spied a buggy in the ditch on the opposite side of the road. After another moment he realized that the young woman standing alongside was Emma Knepp.
    He saw Emma fairly often, sometimes in town with her dat or a brother. Seldom did he meet up with her alone. When he did, she always seemed awkward, hesitant even to carry on a conversation. He hated that. Their families had been friends for years, and he and Emma’s older brother, Joe, had spent a good amount of time together.
    But of course the Knepp family would disapprove of him these days for living Englisch . They were civil if they chanced to meet—Gideon had never joined the church, so he wasn’t under the Bann for living outside the community—but they showed no real warmth toward him. He sensed that Emma might like to be friends but was too reserved to respond to any gesture he might make in that direction.
    When they were younger, some of his friends liked to tease him about Emma Knepp having a crush on him, but he’d never thought much about it one way or the other. At the time, she’d simply been Joe’s little sister. And even if there had been something to their teasing back then, that was obviously no longer the case.
    He was surprised to realize that the thought brought a faint twist of regret.

    Relief warred with anxiety as Emma watched Gideon Kanagy pull his wagon to the side of the road and jump down, starting toward her. Stranded as she was, relief won. She wasn’t sure what it was about Gideon that flustered her so and made her feel like an awkward schoolgirl, but at the moment she couldn’t help but be glad to see him. Everybody knew that Gideon Kanagy could fix just about anything, and she wasn’t so proud that she wouldn’t be glad for his help.
    He smiled as he came toward her, his coat collar hiked up against the cold. “Emma? Looks as if you’re having a little trouble.”
    Emma nodded, avoiding his gaze as she pointed to the buggy’s right front wheel. “I don’t know exactly what happened. I hit something pretty hard and skidded into the ditch.”
    His smile faded. “Are you all right?”
    Emma waved off his question. “Ja, I’m fine. It was just a bump.”
    She watched as he appraised the buggy and then went to soothe Sugar, the chestnut-colored mare, who was growing more and more agitated.
    â€œWe need to unhitch her,” he said. “I’ll tether her to that maple tree for a bit.”
    After seeing to the horse, he came back and, going down on one knee, took a closer look at the wheel.
    â€œIt’s not that bad,” he said, straightening. “Just bent a little. I can fix it, but I need to get into town first, before the stores close. I’ve got to pick up some things for Mamm and Doc Sebastian. I’d better take you home for now and fix the wheel on my way back.”
    Emma fumbled for a reply. “Oh…that’s not necessary. It’s not that far. I’ll just walk.”
    He frowned. “I don’t think you want to do that, Emma,” he said. “You’re a good mile away from home, and this wind is pretty cold.”
    What to say? She couldn’t let Gideon Kanagy take her home! Her dat would have a stroke. To be seen at all with a rebel like Gideon, much less to be caught riding in his wagon with him, would taint her reputation and maybe even mark her to be as wild as Gideon himself.
    â€œOh, but I’m…I’m used to walking in the cold,” she stammered. “It doesn’t bother me.”
    His mouth twitched, and the glint that flickered in his eye made Emma feel as though he knew the reason for her discomfort—and was enjoying it.
    â€œWell, Emma,” he said, his tone dry, “it would bother me. Why, my mamm would never let me hear the end of it if she found out I’d let you