Read Love's Sweet Surrender for Free Online Page A

to let you stay. My goodness, you’ve been busy in here.”
    Lily smiled at her friend’s remark. “Yes, well, I was up late last night getting things in order. I’ll probably be busy most of this afternoon getting lessons ready for the children tomorrow.”
    Madge patted her arm. “No, that won’t do. Sunday is the Lord’s Day and a day of rest. You need to relax today.”
    “I know, but I have so much to do before school starts tomorrow. I’m hoping to meet some of the children today, so I might have some idea of their ages before then.”
    “I’m sure there will be several at church. Just about everyone in town comes every week. If you are ready, we can walk over together.”
    “That would be very nice. Thank you.” They walked through the door together, and Lily locked it behind her.
    Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
    Report ebook piracy to [email protected].

    32
    Sandy Sullivan
    They walked in silence toward the church, but Lily's thoughts drifted to her savior from the train, and she wondered if she could ask Madge about him.
    After several minutes she asked, “Madge, can I ask you a question?”
    “Yes, of course, my dear. What’s on your mind?”
    “Were you at the town meeting last night?”
    “Yes. I was sitting near the back. Why do you ask?”
    Perfect. Madge should have seen the man in the back since she sat near there.
    “There was a man standing near the back of the church during the meeting. I believe that I might know him. Can you tell me his name?”
    “Near the back of the church, you say?” Madge tapped her fingers to her lips. “Let me see if I remember who was back there. What did he look like?”
    “Tall, with blond hair, blue eyes, a broad chest, and he was wearing a brown shirt and trousers, with a gun tied to his thigh.” After she gave her description, she realized she had described him perfectly, much to her embarrassment.
    A knowing smile rippled across Madge's mouth. “Ah… that, my dear, is Seth Sanford. He is one of the most eligible bachelors in our little town.”
    “Sanford?” Lily questioned, testing the name on her tongue. “I think the boy that I sent for my trunks at the train station the other day was a Sanford.
    Johnny, I think.”
    “Yes, he’s one of Seth’s children. Johnny is the eldest of three. Seth has two boys, Johnny and Jarod, and one little girl named Anne. They live outside town to the east. Seth runs cattle out there, but don’t expect those children to be at church today, even though they need to be—poor dears.”
    Madge obviously thought the children needed the Lord's guidance, but Lily wondered why they wouldn't be there.
    “Why is that?” Children need religious structure in their lives too.
    “Seth hasn’t set foot in church since his wife died about six months ago.”
    When they reached the churchyard, they were swallowed up in the crowd waiting for services to start. All further conversation was cut off concerning Seth, much to Lily’s disappointment.
    After church, she received several invitations for Sunday supper, and she wasn’t able to get to the weeding in her garden until much later in the Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.
    Report ebook piracy to [email protected].

    Love’s Sweet Surrender
    33
    day. Once she had returned home, she quickly changed into one of her more worn frocks in order to not ruin her good Sunday clothes. She wandered out to the garden and pulled up a small stool that she had found in the pantry so that she could sit comfortably while she pulled weeds.
    Two hours later the weeds were gone. A tired sigh rushed from between her lips as she stood and arched her back, trying to relieve the kinks.

    * * * *

    With a load of supplies in his strong arms, Seth Sanford walked out of the general store toward the wagon parked nearby. His attention snagged on the new teacher across the road when she stood and stretched her back. Her back arched, pushing her