The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall Page A

hand, he tugged at it. “Come on. We can ride to my place, tie the colt to the back of the carriage, and head for Ada’s.”

    Deborah rose. “You’ll go with us too, won’t you, Lena?”
    Lena’s eyes moved to Jonathan for a moment. “No, I … I have things I need to do.”
    Deborah studied her. Lena and Jonathan were usually inseparable on Sundays.
    “Or I could go to my place and get the colt while you spend a little more time with your friends.”
    “Okay,” Deborah agreed.
    Deborah went inside and found Ada in the sunroom, talking with two women and two men. Waiting for a break in the conversation, she looked out one of the windows. Jonathan crossed the road to where most of the horses were tethered to the sides of hay wagons. A wagon loaded with fresh hay under a shade tree kept the horses happy until they were needed again.
    The discussion paused, and Deborah quickly explained what was going on and asked Ada how she wanted to handle the afternoon. All but Israel excused themselves, saying they’d catch Ada in a minute but they needed to get their containers out of the kitchen first.
    “Did you want to ride with me and Jonathan in the buggy or go with Ephraim in Robbie’s truck?”
    “When are you leaving, Deborah?” Israel asked.
    “Pretty quickly. Maybe fifteen minutes?”
    Was that a trace of disappointment on Israel’s face? Deborah knew that he’d not courted anyone in the thirteen years since Lena’s mother and the others had died. Ada hadn’t either.
    “Ada.” Israel spoke softly. “If you want to stay and visit family and friends for a while, I don’t mind taking you home later on.”
    “Oh no, I couldn’t …”
    Deborah placed her hand on Ada’s back, pressing her fingers firmly and hoping Ada took the signal. “Since you’re here and it’s a visiting day … us girls will be fine for a couple of hours without you.”

    “But it’ll take Israel two hours round trip.”
    Israel’s eyes danced with laughter. “A minute or two more than that if I can beg a cup of coffee.”
    Ada’s hands moved to her hips, and she huffed. “Coffee? Well, I guess there’s probably some left in the percolator from this morning. Can I serve it to you cold, or must I warm it up first?”
    Was Ada flirting? Deborah wanted to make a quick exit before she interrupted whatever it was these two were doing. She kissed Ada on the cheek. “See you later.”

Ten
    From Anna Mary’s bedroom, Deborah kept watch out the window, waiting for Jonathan to return. Her girlfriends, all eight of them, talked nonstop, but there was no hint about the stunt Cara and Deborah had pulled on Lena. Deborah figured she’d better watch her back. Everyone seemed united in their innocence, as if Deborah and Cara hadn’t brought a salty, yucky cake to Lena four days ago. Whatever their game plan, Deborah would try to be ready for it.
    When Jonathan pulled into the driveway with the colt tethered to the back of the carriage, she gave everyone a hug and invited them to Hope Crossing when they had time. She hurried outside, and as soon as Jonathan saw her, he got out of the rig. He came around to her side and offered a supportive hand. Getting in and out of these boxes known as carriages, even with the little footstep, wasn’t easy, but she’d never had someone help her before—except her Daed when she was a little girl.
    “The chestnut colt looks really sturdy and energetic,” Deborah commented as she sat.
    “Ya, I think he’s a good one.” He made sure her dress was inside before he closed the door. He went to the driver’s side and got in.
    “I appreciate you loaning us a horse.”
    “My pleasure, Deborah.”
    “Especially when you’re eating all those cakes and pies.”
    A wonderful smile filled his face as he slapped the reins against the horse’s back. “Ya.”

    The horse picked up speed as they left the driveway, and so did Deborah’s thoughts. There had to be a way to make Ada’s House a success.