Woman of Grace Read Online Free Page A

did.”
    “It’s bad this year. Since Abby’s already been exposed in caring for Wendell and Frank, it’s probably best she stays away from Ella. And that leaves only Hannah to help you. As much as you might hate to admit it, right now she’s the only solution to your problems.”
    “Easy for you to say,” Devlin muttered, not feeling at all mollified. “But then your mistakes aren’t thrown in your face every time she walks into your house.”
    “Sounds like you shot yourself in the foot one time too many, cousin.” Conor managed a wry grin. “Just hope you’re man enough to take it.”
    Devlin’s lips quirked. Leave it to Conor to always point out the obvious, if sometimes painful, truth. “Yeah, I hope so, too. Guess, for Ella and my kids’s sakes, we’ll find out.”

    Hannah finished buttoning the lace collar of the fresh nightgown she had just put on Ella. After pulling up the sheet and blankets to cover the other woman, she retrieved the basin of now dirty wash water, washcloth, and towels.
    “Is there anything else I can do for you, Ella?” She glanced down at the woman’s pale face. “If not, a nice nap before dinner is in order.”
    Ella smiled wanly. “Yes, I am rather tired. Do you think, though, that I might hold Bonnie for a few minutes? My fever’s been gone for two days. I thought I might try to nurse her.”
    It had been over a week now since the baby’s birth, and almost as many days since Ella had last tried to nurse. It seemed likely, by now, her milk had all but dried up. Still, Hannah couldn’t blame her for wanting to try. She had given life to the child; she wanted to be the one to nourish and mother her.
    “I’ll fetch Bonnie. I nursed her two hours ago.” Hannah shot her a quick smile as she began to walk away. “She’s a greedy little feeder, that one is, though. She just might be hungry again.”
    “You’ve been such a blessing to us, Hannah. What would we have done without you?”
    Hannah halted, embarrassed and not knowing quite how to respond. “Abby said it’s our Christian duty,” she offered finally, “to help each other in any way we can. I’m trying hard to learn to do that.”
    “And you’re learning it well. I’m just thankful I’m here to reap all the benefits.”
    Hannah laughed and headed again for the door. “Well, I’m just as thankful to be here, too.”
    “Another blessing, I’d say.”
    “I suppose so,” she amicably agreed, before walking from the room.
    As she reached the kitchen, she found Devlin seated at the kitchen table, working on some ledgers. In spite of their unspoken if temporary truce, Hannah couldn’t help but stiffen defensively. Though he said nothing, she could feel his barely restrained hostility. Only a thin veneer of civility coated the still evident loathing he felt for her.
    She marched to the sink nonetheless, emptied the basin, rinsed it, and set it aside to dry. Then, after washing her hands, she strode to the wooden cradle set near the cookstove and picked up a sleepy Bonnie.
    “Where are you going with my daughter?”
    Hannah stiffened. Whatever was wrong now? she wondered. “Ella wants to hold her for a few minutes, before she takes a nap.”
    He glared at her briefly, then tugged at his mustache and resumed his scribbling in the ledger. “Good. It’s about time Bonnie got to know her mother.”
    Rather than waste more of it with me? Hannah silently finished Devlin’s sentence for him. She bit the inside of her lip, then chewed on it in frustration. Would nothing she did matter to him? Was there any restitution she could ever make that would wipe the slate clean? But then, why should she even care?
    “I agree,” Hannah forced herself to reply. She cuddled Bonnie closer and inhaled deeply of the baby’s sweet scent, then straightened. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’ve got an eager mother waiting to see her child.”
    Never once looking back up, Devlin made a dismissing motion with his hand. “I