Planted with Hope by Tricia Goyer Page A

screen door and peeked out.
    â€œThere you are,” Clyde had said. “I’d thought you’d gone to bed.”
    â€œOh no, just put Emma down.”
    It was then that Clyde had introduced him to Noah Yoder, and within thirty minutes Jonas had found himself agreeing tomeet the man before school, bright and early, to help plan the garden plot.
    Now, as two birds chirped overhead and a yellow and white butterfly danced by on the warm breeze, Jonas stood and surveyed the area.
    â€œI’m glad you want to help me figure this out.” Noah removed his hat and brushed his blond hair back from his forehead. “But don’t let anyone know you’re involved in this—not yet. Lovina has some things planned for this project—some people who want to get involved—but… ” Noah’s voice trailed off.
    â€œBut just as too many cooks can spoil the pot, too many gardeners can spoil the soil.”
    Noah chuckled. “I’ve never heard truer words.”
    Jonas held an ordinary college-ruled notebook and pencil in his hand as he walked the length of the area and then walked back to Noah. “What do you think of three rows of three raised beds? They’d run from north to south to catch the best sun. I’ve heard of using cement blocks, too, instead of wood. They last longer and they’re easy to set up.”
    Noah nodded. “I heard of a place where I could get good soil too. I know you have to get to school this morning, but if you have time this weekend I’d love for you to ride along with me to look at the dirt.” Noah offered a shy smile. “I know my way around a junkyard, but I’ve never been one to have a green thumb.”
    Jonas crossed his hands over his chest and chuckled. “ Ja , of course. I’ll see if Ruth Ann can watch Emma.”
    â€œYou can bring her if you’d like. I’m sure one little girl couldn’t get in too much trouble.”
    Jonas narrowed his gaze. “I wish that were so, but my daughter’s a little too much like me. You remember the incident at thepark, don’t you? Poor Hope Miller. I’m sure she was simply trying to enjoy a quiet walk.” He shook his head. “But even if Emma were on her best behavior, I don’t want her too involved, not yet. It’s going to be hard for her to keep a secret.”
    â€œ Ja , Lovina feels the same. She told Hope—” Noah paused and his eyes widened. “Uh, pretend I didn’t just say that.”
    Jonas winked. “Say what?” He looked to Noah and tried to hide his expression of joy, but inwardly his heart warmed. As he’d talked to Lovina he’d wished that she was thinking of Hope as the gardener to oversee this project.
    He turned his back to Noah and looked to the rising sun. Tenderness washed over him at the remembrance of Emma in Hope’s protective arms. For so long he couldn’t imagine another mother for his little girl, yet now this young woman in Pinecraft had stirred his thoughts in that direction. He felt both unworthy of someone like her and hopeful at the same time. And, even if she wasn’t interested in more than a friendship, this garden would be a gift. If Hope was a gardener, like Emma said she was, then he was happy to help.
    With thoughtful consideration, Jonas sketched out nine long raised beds. Then he walked over to Noah and held out the sketch. “There is so much space to use, but maybe this is enough to get started? And together we can run some pipes from that spigot to create a simple watering system. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours’ work.”
    His words were interrupted by a soft clapping sound, and Jonas’s head jerked up. He expected to see Lovina, or maybe their dat, but instead an older woman stood there.
    She was Amish, and she wore a simple brown dress and white kapp. Her white hair was combed neatly without a hair out of place. The woman wore