it could’ve been so much worse.”
Levi nodded. His gaze once more dropped to his feet. “Reckon I should get back to work.”
“As should I. I have left Sally alone for too long.”
“I forgot. Ben Lapp needed a part. Sally must be having trouble finding it for him.”
“I’ll take care of it.” She took another step back but discovered she was reluctant to leave him. The frown had returned to his face. She knew he was once again thinking about his brothers.
“Levi, would you like me to ask Bishop Zook to have a talk with the boys?”
“Do you think it would help?”
“It can’t hurt.”
“I will speak to him about them. They are my responsibility.”
“And none of mine. I understand.” She gave a half-hearted, embarrassed smile and hurried toward the carriage shop front door. She heard him call her name. She stopped and glanced back.
He said, “I’m grateful for your counsel.”
Her heart grew light again. “I only want to help.”
She pulled open the door and went inside. She found Ben Lapp leaning against the counter. Sally stood on the other side, smiling at him as she said, “The right hub nut is threaded to the right and the left hub nut is threaded to the left so they won’t spin off the wheel while it’s turning.”
“For only working here one day you sure seem to know a lot about the equipment.”
Sally blushed a becoming shade of pink. “I try to pay attention. Some people think I ask a lot of questions, but it’s only because I want to learn new things.”
Sarah walked behind the counter with Sally. “And I’m sure that Levi was happy to answer all your questions.”
“Actually, he didn’t seem happy to answer any of them. Ben helped me finish the inventory of the tall cabinets. He’s been wonderfully patient with me.” She smiled sweetly at him.
He shrugged off her compliment. “It was no trouble. What are you doing for Christmas, Sally?”
“ Mamm is cooking a big dinner for the family on Thursday. We have cousins coming from Kilbuck to visit for the long weekend. What about you?”
“That’s funny because my folks and I are traveling to my uncle Wayne’s place. My grandparents live with his family. His farm is down near Kilbuck. My family goes there and your family comes here.”
The young pair were so focused on each other that Sarah began to feel invisible. “Ben, Levi said you needed a part. What can I get for you?”
Sally answered her. “He needed a left hub nut. I found it for him, but I didn’t know how much to charge. We’ve just been waiting for you or Levi to come back.”
Sarah rang up the amount on the cash register. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Ben. There was a problem with the Hershbergers’ buggy.”
“I didn’t mind.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off of Sally.
“Are you staying in Kilbuck long?” she asked.
“Just until Friday evening.”
“That means you’ll be back in time for the barn party on Saturday.” Sally spoke with a nonchalance that was a dead giveaway his answer was important.
“I’ll be back in plenty of time. Who’s having a hoedown?”
“There’s going to be one at Ezra Bowman’s farm. Maybe you could come by for a while.”
Sarah looked at Sally in surprise. “I thought that was the night of Leah Belier’s winter picnic?”
Sally shrugged. “It is. I didn’t hear about the hoedown until last night. It should be loads more fun than an old picnic. Leah will understand if I don’t come.”
A troubled look crossed Ben’s face. “Ezra Bowman belongs to the Sparkler gang, doesn’t he? Do you run with that crowd? I hear they’re a pretty wild bunch.”
Sally raised one eyebrow. “We’re not goody-goodies, but you shouldn’t judge us without getting to know us. Some of them are kind of wild, but most them are like me. Ordinary Amish kids just looking to enjoy their rumspringa .”
Ben pulled out his wallet and handed Sarah the money he owed. “I’ll think about it. It could be
Levi nodded. His gaze once more dropped to his feet. “Reckon I should get back to work.”
“As should I. I have left Sally alone for too long.”
“I forgot. Ben Lapp needed a part. Sally must be having trouble finding it for him.”
“I’ll take care of it.” She took another step back but discovered she was reluctant to leave him. The frown had returned to his face. She knew he was once again thinking about his brothers.
“Levi, would you like me to ask Bishop Zook to have a talk with the boys?”
“Do you think it would help?”
“It can’t hurt.”
“I will speak to him about them. They are my responsibility.”
“And none of mine. I understand.” She gave a half-hearted, embarrassed smile and hurried toward the carriage shop front door. She heard him call her name. She stopped and glanced back.
He said, “I’m grateful for your counsel.”
Her heart grew light again. “I only want to help.”
She pulled open the door and went inside. She found Ben Lapp leaning against the counter. Sally stood on the other side, smiling at him as she said, “The right hub nut is threaded to the right and the left hub nut is threaded to the left so they won’t spin off the wheel while it’s turning.”
“For only working here one day you sure seem to know a lot about the equipment.”
Sally blushed a becoming shade of pink. “I try to pay attention. Some people think I ask a lot of questions, but it’s only because I want to learn new things.”
Sarah walked behind the counter with Sally. “And I’m sure that Levi was happy to answer all your questions.”
“Actually, he didn’t seem happy to answer any of them. Ben helped me finish the inventory of the tall cabinets. He’s been wonderfully patient with me.” She smiled sweetly at him.
He shrugged off her compliment. “It was no trouble. What are you doing for Christmas, Sally?”
“ Mamm is cooking a big dinner for the family on Thursday. We have cousins coming from Kilbuck to visit for the long weekend. What about you?”
“That’s funny because my folks and I are traveling to my uncle Wayne’s place. My grandparents live with his family. His farm is down near Kilbuck. My family goes there and your family comes here.”
The young pair were so focused on each other that Sarah began to feel invisible. “Ben, Levi said you needed a part. What can I get for you?”
Sally answered her. “He needed a left hub nut. I found it for him, but I didn’t know how much to charge. We’ve just been waiting for you or Levi to come back.”
Sarah rang up the amount on the cash register. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Ben. There was a problem with the Hershbergers’ buggy.”
“I didn’t mind.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off of Sally.
“Are you staying in Kilbuck long?” she asked.
“Just until Friday evening.”
“That means you’ll be back in time for the barn party on Saturday.” Sally spoke with a nonchalance that was a dead giveaway his answer was important.
“I’ll be back in plenty of time. Who’s having a hoedown?”
“There’s going to be one at Ezra Bowman’s farm. Maybe you could come by for a while.”
Sarah looked at Sally in surprise. “I thought that was the night of Leah Belier’s winter picnic?”
Sally shrugged. “It is. I didn’t hear about the hoedown until last night. It should be loads more fun than an old picnic. Leah will understand if I don’t come.”
A troubled look crossed Ben’s face. “Ezra Bowman belongs to the Sparkler gang, doesn’t he? Do you run with that crowd? I hear they’re a pretty wild bunch.”
Sally raised one eyebrow. “We’re not goody-goodies, but you shouldn’t judge us without getting to know us. Some of them are kind of wild, but most them are like me. Ordinary Amish kids just looking to enjoy their rumspringa .”
Ben pulled out his wallet and handed Sarah the money he owed. “I’ll think about it. It could be
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