our kinder, your mushrooms
and my boxes and chests. As for children, we are getting a late start and are
going to have to work real hard to catch up.”
“I like your ideas—all of them.” She barely got the words out
before he kissed her hard. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him just
as good back. When she came up for air, her head still spinning, she said,
“We’ve kind of had a crazy courtship, so far. You think Bishop Esh would let us
have a church and wedding service on the bridge this spring?”
“This spring? I’ve been thinking about six weeks away—the new
year, a new life—but if you want a wedding on the bridge, we can try. Abby, my
love, you’re a gem!”
* * * * *
Fallen in Plain Sight
Marta Perry
To my loving husband, as always.
CHAPTER ONE
“I F YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL , Sarah Elizabeth Weaver, you
will end up a maidal, as lonely and sad as that old
man you work for.” Mamm had what she obviously
considered the last word as she drew the buggy to a halt by the Strickland
house.
“Mamm…” Sarah hesitated, ready to
jump down, but not wanting to leave her mother for the day with harsh words
between them. “I know you want to see me married, with a home and family of my
own. But I’m just not ready.”
Her mother shook her head, a mix of sorrow and exasperation on
her face. “When will you be ready? Independence is all very gut, but having someone of your own is better, that’s certain sure. Ach, well, go on to work.” She waved her hand
toward the huge old Victorian house, its gingerbread trim and fancy touches a
far cry from a simple Amish farmhouse. “But think on it. All of your friends are
starting families already.”
“I will, Mamm. ” Sarah slid down.
Easier to say that than to argue over a subject on which they’d never agree.
Anyway, not all her friends were married. She still had two
dear ones, Abby and Lena, who weren’t. But since they all lived far apart, their
only connection was the round robin letters they sent from one to the other.
They understood, even if Mamm didn’t.
But she couldn’t take comfort in Abby’s unmarried state much
longer. The long-awaited letter she’d received yesterday had contained
surprising news. Her friend would soon wed Ben Kline. They’d been brought
together at last after Ben’s return from the Englische world. That news from Abby had probably been what started Mamm on her current train of thought about
marriage.
Sarah waved as her mother clicked to Bell and the buggy moved
onto Springville’s main street. Mamm had stopped
saying it, but they both knew who she had in mind for a son-in-law. She and
Jacob’s mother had been planning their children’s marriage since the two of them
were in their cradles.
But if they’d been serious about marrying Jacob and her off to
each other, they’d have been better not bringing them up so close that they were
like brother and sister. Jacob was her best friend and the brother she’d never
had, but to think of falling in love with him was laughable. Why couldn’t Mamm see that?
Sarah unlocked the door into the back hall off the kitchen,
pausing there to hang up her black bonnet and sweater and straighten the apron
that matched the deep green of her dress. Getting dressed for work was
simplicity itself when you were Amish. She’d had a choice between green, blue
and purple dresses, all cut exactly the same.
Exactly the same, just like all her working days. She’d been
taking care of the house for elderly Englischer Richard Strickland for over three years, and nothing ever changed, because that
was how he liked it. Probably that was partly due to his bad eyesight. He didn’t
want to trip on anything that had been moved.
She went on into the kitchen, reaching automatically to pick up
the breakfast dishes on the table. And stopped. The table was bare, except for
the napkin holder and salt and pepper shakers that always sat in the center.
Every day she let herself in the back
and my boxes and chests. As for children, we are getting a late start and are
going to have to work real hard to catch up.”
“I like your ideas—all of them.” She barely got the words out
before he kissed her hard. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him just
as good back. When she came up for air, her head still spinning, she said,
“We’ve kind of had a crazy courtship, so far. You think Bishop Esh would let us
have a church and wedding service on the bridge this spring?”
“This spring? I’ve been thinking about six weeks away—the new
year, a new life—but if you want a wedding on the bridge, we can try. Abby, my
love, you’re a gem!”
* * * * *
Fallen in Plain Sight
Marta Perry
To my loving husband, as always.
CHAPTER ONE
“I F YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL , Sarah Elizabeth Weaver, you
will end up a maidal, as lonely and sad as that old
man you work for.” Mamm had what she obviously
considered the last word as she drew the buggy to a halt by the Strickland
house.
“Mamm…” Sarah hesitated, ready to
jump down, but not wanting to leave her mother for the day with harsh words
between them. “I know you want to see me married, with a home and family of my
own. But I’m just not ready.”
Her mother shook her head, a mix of sorrow and exasperation on
her face. “When will you be ready? Independence is all very gut, but having someone of your own is better, that’s certain sure. Ach, well, go on to work.” She waved her hand
toward the huge old Victorian house, its gingerbread trim and fancy touches a
far cry from a simple Amish farmhouse. “But think on it. All of your friends are
starting families already.”
“I will, Mamm. ” Sarah slid down.
Easier to say that than to argue over a subject on which they’d never agree.
Anyway, not all her friends were married. She still had two
dear ones, Abby and Lena, who weren’t. But since they all lived far apart, their
only connection was the round robin letters they sent from one to the other.
They understood, even if Mamm didn’t.
But she couldn’t take comfort in Abby’s unmarried state much
longer. The long-awaited letter she’d received yesterday had contained
surprising news. Her friend would soon wed Ben Kline. They’d been brought
together at last after Ben’s return from the Englische world. That news from Abby had probably been what started Mamm on her current train of thought about
marriage.
Sarah waved as her mother clicked to Bell and the buggy moved
onto Springville’s main street. Mamm had stopped
saying it, but they both knew who she had in mind for a son-in-law. She and
Jacob’s mother had been planning their children’s marriage since the two of them
were in their cradles.
But if they’d been serious about marrying Jacob and her off to
each other, they’d have been better not bringing them up so close that they were
like brother and sister. Jacob was her best friend and the brother she’d never
had, but to think of falling in love with him was laughable. Why couldn’t Mamm see that?
Sarah unlocked the door into the back hall off the kitchen,
pausing there to hang up her black bonnet and sweater and straighten the apron
that matched the deep green of her dress. Getting dressed for work was
simplicity itself when you were Amish. She’d had a choice between green, blue
and purple dresses, all cut exactly the same.
Exactly the same, just like all her working days. She’d been
taking care of the house for elderly Englischer Richard Strickland for over three years, and nothing ever changed, because that
was how he liked it. Probably that was partly due to his bad eyesight. He didn’t
want to trip on anything that had been moved.
She went on into the kitchen, reaching automatically to pick up
the breakfast dishes on the table. And stopped. The table was bare, except for
the napkin holder and salt and pepper shakers that always sat in the center.
Every day she let herself in the back
Similar Books
