Just Plain Sadie by Amy Lillard Page B

upon, and she couldn’t help what anybody else thought.
    â€œYou’ve met him. His name is Ezra. He’s a rancher. He raises the bison that we bought to serve in the restaurant. Among other things.”
    â€œ Jah , I know all this,” Mamm snapped. “I want to know why you saw fit to go bowling with him tonight.”
    How had her mother found out about that? “ Mamm , we’re just friends.”
    â€œYou know what your father always said.”
    â€œ Jah, I do. But that doesn’t apply. He’s a nice guy, and he wants nothing more from me other than friendship.” Her heart gave a funny flip-flop when she said the words. It felt like a fish out of water, gasping for air, tossing around to find what it needed to live. Why she felt that way was anyone’s guess.

Chapter Eight
    Sadie wasn’t the only one counting down the days till Saturday. Cora Ann was about as excited as any one girl could be. Sadie couldn’t help but smile as she bustled around Saturday, humming under her breath as she waited tables, filled water glasses, and otherwise floated through the restaurant.
    She half expected Mamm to tell them they couldn’t go, but when three fifteen came and the blue pickup truck pulled up out front, she only said for them to be careful and not come home too late.
    Sadie grabbed her coat while Cora Ann slipped her arms into hers, and together the two of them walked arm in arm out of the restaurant.
    Ezra smiled when he caught sight of them, giving them a tiny wave as they approached.
    â€œHi,” he said as he came around and opened the passenger side door.
    â€œHi,” she said. It wasn’t a date. They had decided that. They were friends. Nothing more. So why was she standing there acting all nervous?
    Her gaze snagged Ezra’s and they stood there for a moment just looking at each other while Cora Ann chatted on about all the dishes she had made with the bison meat.
    Sadie rustled herself around and turned to her sister. “Cora Ann, I’m sure Ezra isn’t interested in your bison-stuffed bell peppers,” she admonished as gently as she could.
    â€œHe might be.”
    Ezra laughed. “Only if you make some for me.” He waited for them to get in the truck, then shut the door behind them and went around to the driver’s side again.
    â€œOf course I will!” Cora Ann clapped her hands together in excitement. “When do you want them?”
    Sadie opened her mouth to protest, to tell Cora Ann that after today she’d probably never see Ezra Hein again unless they ordered more bison meat. And who said even then they had to see him? But Ezra spoke first.
    â€œI’m supposed to deliver some emu oil to the compounding pharmacy on Tuesday. How about then?”
    â€œDeal.” Cora Ann stuck out one hand to shake Ezra’s. “Unless you’d rather have the bison steak I made. I put horseradish sauce on it. Yum.”
    â€œEither one is fine with me. They both sound delicious. You decide.” He leaned forward a little as he pulled the truck back onto the road.
    Sadie wanted to believe that he did that so he could see her and not necessarily to watch the traffic. But it was a dream of her own making. Hadn’t they decided they could just be friends?
    Ezra and Sadie rode in silence while Cora Ann chatted nonstop all the way to Taylor Creek. She didn’t mind, though her thoughts went around in a circle the entire time. And she was more than glad when they pulled in front of the turnoff with its wrought iron sign declaring it “Hein’s Exotic Animal Ranch” for all the world to see.
    Ezra pulled his truck to a stop, and they all scrambled out, Cora Ann nearly climbing over Sadie in her haste to get out of the cab and see everything all at once.
    A rusty-colored dog with long, pretty hair came sauntering up, nudging Sadie’s hand as she watched Cora Ann run to the fence much like Daniel had