Luke.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ve actually thought about boarding dogs, but the notion of grooming dogs has never occurred to me. It’s something to consider for the future.”
“If you got into boarding and grooming dogs, would you continue to breed them, too?”
“Probably so.”
“At least the dogs you raise are well cared for, and you always make sure they get good homes.”
“Jah. John Peterson is taking good care of Flo, and the same holds true for the Larsons and Esta Wengerd.” Martha’s forehead wrinkled. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to keep in close contact with everyone who buys my dogs.”
“Most folks who spend the money to buy a purebred dog will see that it’s cared for, don’t you think?”
“I hope that’s always the case.”
Luke glanced up at the house. “I didn’t wake your folks when I threw pebbles at your window, I hope.”
She shook her head. “Mom and Dad have been down with the flu. I’m sure they’re asleep.”
“What about Ruth?”
“She went to the Christmas program at the schoolhouse with the Wengerds, and she’s not back yet.”
Luke blew out his breath, wishing he could say all that was on his mind.
Martha pulled her jacket tighter around her neck and shivered. “It’s sure cold out here. I wish I could invite you in for some hot chocolate, but—”
He held up his hand. “It’s okay; I understand. If your daed knew you were out here talking to me, that would be bad enough. If he found me sitting in your kitchen sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies, he’d probably have a heart attack.”
She playfully poked his arm. “Who said anything about cookies?”
He snickered. “Guess my stomach was doing some wishful thinking.”
“I don’t know when or how it’s going to happen, Luke, but I feel confident that one day Dad will finally realize you’re a good man.”
“And that I’m not the one responsible for the attacks against your family,” he added.
“That, too.” Martha groaned. “I’m sure you heard about some of my daed’s cows being shot a few weeks ago.”
He nodded and was about to express his concerns, when he heard the distinctive clippety-clop of a horse’s hooves on the road out front.
“That might be Abe bringing Ruth home,” Martha said.
“I’d better go in case it is.” Luke started to walk away but turned back. “Would it be all right if I come over to see you at Irene’s place sometime? I’d like to talk some more about the attacks and who I think might be responsible.”
“I’d like that, too, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to talk in front of Irene or Carolyn. Maybe we can meet somewhere in town.”
“Okay. When and where do you want to meet?”
She shrugged. “The next few weeks will be busy with Ruth and Abe’s wedding coming up, so I probably won’t have much chance to meet with you until that’s behind us.”
“I understand. If we have a minute to talk after the wedding, maybe we can decide on a time and place then.”
The sound of the horse drew closer. Luke turned and saw the silhouette of a horse and buggy starting up the driveway. He had to go. “Have a Merry Christmas, Martha,” he called before racing around the side of the house and into the field.
A s Ruth stood in front of the stove, stirring a pot of chicken soup, she thought about last Christmas Eve and how her whole world had been turned upside down. When they’d climbed into Martin’s buggy that night, Ruth had never imagined it would be the first and last Christmas Eve she would spend with her husband.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay here with Mom and Dad so you can join Grace and her family this evening?” Martha asked, halting Ruth’s thoughts.
Ruth turned and forced a smile. “You stayed home last night so I could go to the Christmas program at the schoolhouse. It’s your turn for an evening out.”
“I wouldn’t mind staying home again.”
“I’ll be fine here with
“You’re welcome.”
“I’ve actually thought about boarding dogs, but the notion of grooming dogs has never occurred to me. It’s something to consider for the future.”
“If you got into boarding and grooming dogs, would you continue to breed them, too?”
“Probably so.”
“At least the dogs you raise are well cared for, and you always make sure they get good homes.”
“Jah. John Peterson is taking good care of Flo, and the same holds true for the Larsons and Esta Wengerd.” Martha’s forehead wrinkled. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to keep in close contact with everyone who buys my dogs.”
“Most folks who spend the money to buy a purebred dog will see that it’s cared for, don’t you think?”
“I hope that’s always the case.”
Luke glanced up at the house. “I didn’t wake your folks when I threw pebbles at your window, I hope.”
She shook her head. “Mom and Dad have been down with the flu. I’m sure they’re asleep.”
“What about Ruth?”
“She went to the Christmas program at the schoolhouse with the Wengerds, and she’s not back yet.”
Luke blew out his breath, wishing he could say all that was on his mind.
Martha pulled her jacket tighter around her neck and shivered. “It’s sure cold out here. I wish I could invite you in for some hot chocolate, but—”
He held up his hand. “It’s okay; I understand. If your daed knew you were out here talking to me, that would be bad enough. If he found me sitting in your kitchen sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies, he’d probably have a heart attack.”
She playfully poked his arm. “Who said anything about cookies?”
He snickered. “Guess my stomach was doing some wishful thinking.”
“I don’t know when or how it’s going to happen, Luke, but I feel confident that one day Dad will finally realize you’re a good man.”
“And that I’m not the one responsible for the attacks against your family,” he added.
“That, too.” Martha groaned. “I’m sure you heard about some of my daed’s cows being shot a few weeks ago.”
He nodded and was about to express his concerns, when he heard the distinctive clippety-clop of a horse’s hooves on the road out front.
“That might be Abe bringing Ruth home,” Martha said.
“I’d better go in case it is.” Luke started to walk away but turned back. “Would it be all right if I come over to see you at Irene’s place sometime? I’d like to talk some more about the attacks and who I think might be responsible.”
“I’d like that, too, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to talk in front of Irene or Carolyn. Maybe we can meet somewhere in town.”
“Okay. When and where do you want to meet?”
She shrugged. “The next few weeks will be busy with Ruth and Abe’s wedding coming up, so I probably won’t have much chance to meet with you until that’s behind us.”
“I understand. If we have a minute to talk after the wedding, maybe we can decide on a time and place then.”
The sound of the horse drew closer. Luke turned and saw the silhouette of a horse and buggy starting up the driveway. He had to go. “Have a Merry Christmas, Martha,” he called before racing around the side of the house and into the field.
A s Ruth stood in front of the stove, stirring a pot of chicken soup, she thought about last Christmas Eve and how her whole world had been turned upside down. When they’d climbed into Martin’s buggy that night, Ruth had never imagined it would be the first and last Christmas Eve she would spend with her husband.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay here with Mom and Dad so you can join Grace and her family this evening?” Martha asked, halting Ruth’s thoughts.
Ruth turned and forced a smile. “You stayed home last night so I could go to the Christmas program at the schoolhouse. It’s your turn for an evening out.”
“I wouldn’t mind staying home again.”
“I’ll be fine here with
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