When Hope Blossoms Read Free Page B

added to his unapproachable appearance. “I caught these two on my land, snipping branches from one of my apple trees.”
    Amy turned toward the children. “That was very, very dangerous. Parker, I want you to promise me you won’t climb any more trees.”
    Parker gave his customary “Huh?” Then he blinked twice and nodded. “Okay, Mom.”
    Amy took hold of Adrianna’s shoulder. “And you should never pick flowers without asking permission first. Tell Mr.—Mr.—” She blew out a huff, turning again to the man. “Your name, please?”
    “Roper. Tim Roper.”
    Amy turned Adrianna to face the man. “Tell Mr. Roper you’re sorry.”
    “I’m sorry, Mr. Roper.” Very little repentance colored Adrianna’s tone, but Amy decided to address the issue more fully later—after he had departed. Adrianna pulled on Amy’s skirt. “I’m thirsty. Can I have a drink?”
    Bekah stepped forward. “I’ll take them in and help them wash up.”
    The trio headed for the house. Amy watched them go, noting Parker’s stiff gait. Maybe she should make a doctor’s appointment for him, just in case. Falls could be dangerous, as she knew far too well.
    Eager to return to her children, she gave Mr. Roper a smile. “Thank you again for bringing them home. We’re new here, and I’m sure their curiosity carried them away. It won’t happen again.” She started for the house.
    “It better not.”
    The man’s disparaging tone halted Amy. She slowly turned to face him.
    He scowled, folding his arms over his chest. “Those trees are my livelihood. I can’t have your kids over there, picking the branches bare. All my other neighbors respect the boundary. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your kids on your own side of the fence.”
    Mr. Roper’s blunt, condescending manner of speaking raised Amy’s hackles, but a biblical admonition winged through her conscience: “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” She drew in a slow breath, giving herself a moment to pray for patience before replying. “I apologize, Mr. Roper. If there’s anything I can do to make up for the damage to your tree, I—”
    He waved a hand in dismissal. “No need. Just keep them home from now on. It isn’t safe to let kids run wild that way.”
    His words cut Amy to the core. How many times had she berated herself for the long-ago day when she’d let Parker run after Gabe rather than keeping him close to home? If she’d made a different choice, maybe he’d be whole. Maybe Gabe would still be with them. Her chest constricted, hindering her breathing as tentacles of guilt wrapped around her heart.
    “Now that we’re clear, I need to get back to work.” Mr. Roper whirled on his bootheel and slid onto the seat of his cart. He gave the key a twist, and the engine coughed. With a scowl, he twisted the key again. A stuttering click-click-click came in response. He slapped the steering wheel, then let his head drop back, releasing an aggravated grunt.
    Although Amy preferred to escape to the house, she couldn’t leave the man sitting in her driveway in a dead cart without offering assistance. She took a hesitant step forward. “Can I—”
    “Does your husband have an extra can of gasoline sitting around?” His gaze whisked across her cap and the black dangling strings. “Or maybe a vehicle—a truck or tractor—he could use to tow this thing to my place?”
    Amy gulped, taken aback by the brusque question. “I . . . I’m a widow, Mr. Roper.”
    His face flooded red. He grabbed off his hat, leaving his short-cropped brown hair standing in sweat-stiffened spikes. “I beg your pardon. I just assumed, since you purchased a farm, that . . .”
    Amy understood his confusion. Dad had questioned the wisdom of her choosing the farmhouse rather than one of the houses in town, but she’d grown up on a farm. She’d loved the open space and feeling of freedom in living away from town.
    She explained, “The land will be used to grow corn, wheat, and