Grandma and Grandpa Raber if Mom and Paul are still at the hospital with Emma.”
Bessie’s lower lip protruded. “I’m sure Grandpa and Grandma can manage on their own for a couple of hours.”
Aaron contemplated the idea. Grandpa’s arthritis had gotten so bad over the years that he could barely walk, and Grandma’s bad back made it difficult for her to do much. While it was true that they could manage a few hours alone, he would feel better if someone were at home in case a need arose.
“I’ll talk to Mom about it when she calls later today. If they don’t mind you going, someone can probably drive you over tothe Kings’ place on Friday evening.”
Bessie smiled and reached for Sarah’s hand. “While you’re here, would you like to go out to the barn and see the baby goat that was born a few days ago?”
“Sure!” Sarah turned to Allison. “Would ya like to come along?”
Allison shook her head. “You two go along. I’ll visit with Aaron awhile.”
Sarah and Bessie scampered out the door, and Allison moved toward the workbench where Aaron stood.
“Are you minding the shop on your own today?” she asked.
“Jah. Probably will be until Emma gets out of the hospital.”
She leaned close to the piece of leather he’d been working on. “Is harness making hard work?”
“Sometimes, but I enjoy what I do.” Aaron motioned to the leather. “It’s a good feeling to make a bridle or harness.”
“The harness shop back home repairs shoes, too,” Allison said. “Do you do that?”
Aaron shook his head. “Paul thought about doing some shoe repair, but we get enough business with saddles, harnesses, and bridles. I doubt he’ll ever do shoes.”
Allison drew in a deep breath as she scanned the room. “I can’t get over how nice it smells in here.”
“You really think so?”
“I do. I think it would be fun to work in a place like this.”
“You might not say that if you knew what all was involved.”
“Why don’t you show me?”
“All right.” As Aaron gave Allison a tour of the shop, he demonstrated how he connected a breast strap to a huge, three-way snap that required some fancy looping, pointed out numeroustools they used, and showed her two oversized sewing machines run by an air compressor. He was surprised to see how much interest she took in everything.
“These are much bigger than the treadle sewing machine Aunt Mary uses.” Allison smiled, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “She’s been teaching me how to sew, and I’ve learned to make a faceless doll.”
“I’ll bet that required some hand stitching, too.”
She nodded. “Tiny snaps had to be sewn on the clothes.”
“Nothing like the big ones we use here.” He motioned to the riveting machine. “That’s where we punch shiny rivets into our leather straps.”
Allison followed as Aaron moved to the front of the store. “What were you working on when the girls and I first came in?”
“I was getting ready to cut some leather, but the thing’s so long and heavy, I may need to wait until Paul’s here and can help me with it.”
Allison’s eyes lit up like copper pennies. “I’d be happy to help.”
“You wouldn’t mind holding one end while I do the cutting?”
“Not at all.”
Aaron handed one end of the leather to Allison, and she held it while he made the necessary cuts. They’d just finished when the shop door flew open, and Sarah rushed into the room. “The gees have all escaped! Bessie and I need your help gettin’ them back in their pens!”
Aaron grimaced. How was he supposed to get any work done if he had to waste time chasing after a bunch of goats?
Allison smiled and said, “I’m sure Aaron has a lot of work todo here in the harness shop, but I’d be happy to help you round up the goats.”
“That’s okay. I can take the time to get those gees back where they belong.” Aaron didn’t want Allison to think he was willing to let the girls round up the goats on
Bessie’s lower lip protruded. “I’m sure Grandpa and Grandma can manage on their own for a couple of hours.”
Aaron contemplated the idea. Grandpa’s arthritis had gotten so bad over the years that he could barely walk, and Grandma’s bad back made it difficult for her to do much. While it was true that they could manage a few hours alone, he would feel better if someone were at home in case a need arose.
“I’ll talk to Mom about it when she calls later today. If they don’t mind you going, someone can probably drive you over tothe Kings’ place on Friday evening.”
Bessie smiled and reached for Sarah’s hand. “While you’re here, would you like to go out to the barn and see the baby goat that was born a few days ago?”
“Sure!” Sarah turned to Allison. “Would ya like to come along?”
Allison shook her head. “You two go along. I’ll visit with Aaron awhile.”
Sarah and Bessie scampered out the door, and Allison moved toward the workbench where Aaron stood.
“Are you minding the shop on your own today?” she asked.
“Jah. Probably will be until Emma gets out of the hospital.”
She leaned close to the piece of leather he’d been working on. “Is harness making hard work?”
“Sometimes, but I enjoy what I do.” Aaron motioned to the leather. “It’s a good feeling to make a bridle or harness.”
“The harness shop back home repairs shoes, too,” Allison said. “Do you do that?”
Aaron shook his head. “Paul thought about doing some shoe repair, but we get enough business with saddles, harnesses, and bridles. I doubt he’ll ever do shoes.”
Allison drew in a deep breath as she scanned the room. “I can’t get over how nice it smells in here.”
“You really think so?”
“I do. I think it would be fun to work in a place like this.”
“You might not say that if you knew what all was involved.”
“Why don’t you show me?”
“All right.” As Aaron gave Allison a tour of the shop, he demonstrated how he connected a breast strap to a huge, three-way snap that required some fancy looping, pointed out numeroustools they used, and showed her two oversized sewing machines run by an air compressor. He was surprised to see how much interest she took in everything.
“These are much bigger than the treadle sewing machine Aunt Mary uses.” Allison smiled, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “She’s been teaching me how to sew, and I’ve learned to make a faceless doll.”
“I’ll bet that required some hand stitching, too.”
She nodded. “Tiny snaps had to be sewn on the clothes.”
“Nothing like the big ones we use here.” He motioned to the riveting machine. “That’s where we punch shiny rivets into our leather straps.”
Allison followed as Aaron moved to the front of the store. “What were you working on when the girls and I first came in?”
“I was getting ready to cut some leather, but the thing’s so long and heavy, I may need to wait until Paul’s here and can help me with it.”
Allison’s eyes lit up like copper pennies. “I’d be happy to help.”
“You wouldn’t mind holding one end while I do the cutting?”
“Not at all.”
Aaron handed one end of the leather to Allison, and she held it while he made the necessary cuts. They’d just finished when the shop door flew open, and Sarah rushed into the room. “The gees have all escaped! Bessie and I need your help gettin’ them back in their pens!”
Aaron grimaced. How was he supposed to get any work done if he had to waste time chasing after a bunch of goats?
Allison smiled and said, “I’m sure Aaron has a lot of work todo here in the harness shop, but I’d be happy to help you round up the goats.”
“That’s okay. I can take the time to get those gees back where they belong.” Aaron didn’t want Allison to think he was willing to let the girls round up the goats on
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