close up she didn’t recognize him, but five years was a long time. She nodded politely. “Sorry, but I don’t remember you, Sam. Sometimes when a person goes to many weddings in a row, they start to blend together.” She offered her hand hesitantly to shake. “This is Martha and Sarah Hostetler.”
Sam nodded to the other girls as he shook Emma’s hand. His focus remained on Sarah longer than necessary. “Shucks, that’s okay, Emma. I might not have remembered you either, but I asked my ma what you looked liked. She’s seen you somewhere else since the wedding.”
Emma’s forehead furrowed with confusion. “Why would you ask your mamm about me?”
Sam rocked on his heels, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve got a friend who was hoping to run into you again, and we both thought you might show up today.”
Martha and Sarah watched her while suppressing grins.
The bottom of Emma’s stomach seemed to give way. “And who might your friend be?” Her voice resembled the squeak of a mouse.
Sam turned and waved at the road. No one was standing in the vicinity he was looking, but then James Davis popped from behind an ancient oak tree, and he began walking toward them.
“Yet another stranger,” whispered Sarah.
“And this one’s English,” added Martha.
“Oh, my goodness.” Emma could manage nothing else.
Sam Yoder leaned forward. “Martha, Sarah, why don’t we join that game over there?” He pointed in the general direction of the volleyball field. “They sure can use more people, considering the number of times the ball hits the ground. You don’t have to worry about Emma. My friend is as harmless as a mayfly.”
Both girls looked at Emma warily. “Is that what you want us to do?”
“ Jah, go on ahead. I’ll be there shortly. I know this Englischer from my wool business.”
Martha cast her a worried backward glance as they walked off, but Sarah had already struck up a conversation with Sam.
“Good morning, Miss Miller,” James said upon reaching her. “Are you surprised to see me?” He had on clean blue jeans and a navy shirt with short sleeves. For a moment, his arm muscles drew her attention. Plain men never bared their upper arms.
Pulling her attention away from his biceps, she said, “Shocked is more like it.” She took a step backward from his close proximity.
James hooked a thumb in his pocket. “Good kind of shocked? Or the kind when you discover a snake in your boot?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “That remains to be seen. I didn’t know English people came to these parties.”
“Sam Yoder invited me along. I think mainly because he wanted a ride.”
“Yes, I imagine so. Well, are we going to play volleyball or not?” She felt nervous and fluttery again with him so close. She started walking toward the nets.
“That’s why I came. I love the game! I strongly suggest you join the same side that I do.” He easily caught up and fell into step beside her.
She smelled the spicy, cinnamon scent of his gum again. “Why should I do that?” she asked.
“Because then you’ll end up on the winning team.” He laughed and pulled one of her kapp strings, something her bruders did too many times to count. But this felt quite different.
A new volleyball game was getting ready to start as James and Emma walked up. Because people arrived at the same time from the opposite direction, they did end up on the same side of the net. Emma took a spot in the front row, while James squeezed into the middle of the pack. After some successful volleys back and forth, a few assists, and even one blocked spike, Emma relaxed into the game.
The day was sunny but not too hot. A light breeze refreshed overheated skin. The other players were loud, but friendly and noncompetitive. Emma played well and shouted encouragement to her fellow teammates. When other girls kicked off their shoes to play barefooted, she did the same. The thick grass felt cool and soft between her
Sam nodded to the other girls as he shook Emma’s hand. His focus remained on Sarah longer than necessary. “Shucks, that’s okay, Emma. I might not have remembered you either, but I asked my ma what you looked liked. She’s seen you somewhere else since the wedding.”
Emma’s forehead furrowed with confusion. “Why would you ask your mamm about me?”
Sam rocked on his heels, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve got a friend who was hoping to run into you again, and we both thought you might show up today.”
Martha and Sarah watched her while suppressing grins.
The bottom of Emma’s stomach seemed to give way. “And who might your friend be?” Her voice resembled the squeak of a mouse.
Sam turned and waved at the road. No one was standing in the vicinity he was looking, but then James Davis popped from behind an ancient oak tree, and he began walking toward them.
“Yet another stranger,” whispered Sarah.
“And this one’s English,” added Martha.
“Oh, my goodness.” Emma could manage nothing else.
Sam Yoder leaned forward. “Martha, Sarah, why don’t we join that game over there?” He pointed in the general direction of the volleyball field. “They sure can use more people, considering the number of times the ball hits the ground. You don’t have to worry about Emma. My friend is as harmless as a mayfly.”
Both girls looked at Emma warily. “Is that what you want us to do?”
“ Jah, go on ahead. I’ll be there shortly. I know this Englischer from my wool business.”
Martha cast her a worried backward glance as they walked off, but Sarah had already struck up a conversation with Sam.
“Good morning, Miss Miller,” James said upon reaching her. “Are you surprised to see me?” He had on clean blue jeans and a navy shirt with short sleeves. For a moment, his arm muscles drew her attention. Plain men never bared their upper arms.
Pulling her attention away from his biceps, she said, “Shocked is more like it.” She took a step backward from his close proximity.
James hooked a thumb in his pocket. “Good kind of shocked? Or the kind when you discover a snake in your boot?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “That remains to be seen. I didn’t know English people came to these parties.”
“Sam Yoder invited me along. I think mainly because he wanted a ride.”
“Yes, I imagine so. Well, are we going to play volleyball or not?” She felt nervous and fluttery again with him so close. She started walking toward the nets.
“That’s why I came. I love the game! I strongly suggest you join the same side that I do.” He easily caught up and fell into step beside her.
She smelled the spicy, cinnamon scent of his gum again. “Why should I do that?” she asked.
“Because then you’ll end up on the winning team.” He laughed and pulled one of her kapp strings, something her bruders did too many times to count. But this felt quite different.
A new volleyball game was getting ready to start as James and Emma walked up. Because people arrived at the same time from the opposite direction, they did end up on the same side of the net. Emma took a spot in the front row, while James squeezed into the middle of the pack. After some successful volleys back and forth, a few assists, and even one blocked spike, Emma relaxed into the game.
The day was sunny but not too hot. A light breeze refreshed overheated skin. The other players were loud, but friendly and noncompetitive. Emma played well and shouted encouragement to her fellow teammates. When other girls kicked off their shoes to play barefooted, she did the same. The thick grass felt cool and soft between her
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