snow’s put roses in your cheeks and a sparkle in your eyes.”
Rhoda surveyed the baked goods on the counter and then snatched a biscuit rich with
crumbled sausage and cheese. “If I had my way about it, I’d hitch up the sleigh and
go ridin’ today. But I’m workin’ two jobs now—the responsible adult, ya know,” she
added with a chuckle. “What can I do for ya, Mamma? You’ve been bakin’ up a storm
already, even if we might not have many customers today.”
“It never goes to waste,” Miriam said as she scraped the last of her egg from her
plate. “Want me to fry ya some bacon or—”
The bell on the wall jangled, which meant the phone was ringing in the shanty behind
the café. Miriam wondered who might be calling at this early hour. Had the three Schrocks
decided not to open their quilt shop today?
“I’ll grab that.” Rhoda dashed out the door without her coat.
“Here’s my chance for one more kiss,” Ben whispered as he rose from the stool. “Better
get these lanes and your lot cleared out.”
“You’re a fine man for lookin’ after us this way, Ben.” Miriam savored the feel of
his lips on hers. “Come inside every now and again to warm up. I’ll make some cocoa
for ya.”
“I love ya ever so much, Miriam,” he murmured.
“ Jah , and don’t I know it! You’re a lucky man,” she teased softly.
As he stepped outside, Rhoda came in on a gust of snowy air. “That was Andy Leitner,
sayin’ their school’s been called off,” she reported. “He asked if I could be there
so his mamm won’t have to keep track of the kids all day. Hope it’s all right that I went ahead
and called Sheila.”
“Well, there’s something we Plain folks don’t worry about. Our Willow Ridge scholars’ll be walkin’—or
their dats ’ll hitch up the sleighs and drive them to the schoolhouse—like it was any other day.”
Glancing outside again, Miriam spotted two bundled figures coming down the Brennemans’
lane. “For sure and for certain Hannah and Rachel can handle anybody we’ll have eatin’
here today, so don’t you worry about it, honey-bug. Get your things together, and
tell Sheila to take her time on the roads, hear me?”
“ Jah , Mamma, I’ll do that.” Rhoda bussed her forehead with a kiss. “ Denki for understandin’. If my workin’ for the Leitners causes ya problems, just tell me
straight-out, all right? It’s not my intention to leave ya shorthanded.”
“Go on with ya now,” Miriam said, waving her off. “It’s gut that Andy cares enough about his kids to have ya there. I’ve heard tell that a lot
of English parents have no idea where their youngsters go after school, or what sort
of mischief they get into while their mamms and dats are away at work. Askin’ for trouble, they are.”
The door closed against the snow with a whump , leaving Miriam in a kitchen that was silent except for the hum of the big freezers
and fridges. She savored the hush of this fragrant kitchen where she had found a whole
new life since Jesse had passed.
Jah, Lord, Rhoda’s ready for a new life, too , she prayed. And meanwhile, I ask Ya to be with her and Sheila and Andy—all the folks who have
to run the roads today. I’m ever so grateful to be workin’ right here on my home place,
doin’ what I love with a fella Ya created just for me.
As Rhoda walked up the driveway toward Andy’s house, along a cleared path the width
of a snow shovel blade, she sensed the kids might show their naughtier sides today
because they’d been given an unexpected vacation. As Andy let her inside, she was
glad she could help him out. He hadn’t even driven to work yet and he looked weary.
“Rhoda, you’re a lifesaver,” he murmured. “A couple of the other interns went home
with the flu yesterday, so I’m going in early to cover some of their patients. When
Taylor and Brett heard school was called off, they jumped back
Rhoda surveyed the baked goods on the counter and then snatched a biscuit rich with
crumbled sausage and cheese. “If I had my way about it, I’d hitch up the sleigh and
go ridin’ today. But I’m workin’ two jobs now—the responsible adult, ya know,” she
added with a chuckle. “What can I do for ya, Mamma? You’ve been bakin’ up a storm
already, even if we might not have many customers today.”
“It never goes to waste,” Miriam said as she scraped the last of her egg from her
plate. “Want me to fry ya some bacon or—”
The bell on the wall jangled, which meant the phone was ringing in the shanty behind
the café. Miriam wondered who might be calling at this early hour. Had the three Schrocks
decided not to open their quilt shop today?
“I’ll grab that.” Rhoda dashed out the door without her coat.
“Here’s my chance for one more kiss,” Ben whispered as he rose from the stool. “Better
get these lanes and your lot cleared out.”
“You’re a fine man for lookin’ after us this way, Ben.” Miriam savored the feel of
his lips on hers. “Come inside every now and again to warm up. I’ll make some cocoa
for ya.”
“I love ya ever so much, Miriam,” he murmured.
“ Jah , and don’t I know it! You’re a lucky man,” she teased softly.
As he stepped outside, Rhoda came in on a gust of snowy air. “That was Andy Leitner,
sayin’ their school’s been called off,” she reported. “He asked if I could be there
so his mamm won’t have to keep track of the kids all day. Hope it’s all right that I went ahead
and called Sheila.”
“Well, there’s something we Plain folks don’t worry about. Our Willow Ridge scholars’ll be walkin’—or
their dats ’ll hitch up the sleighs and drive them to the schoolhouse—like it was any other day.”
Glancing outside again, Miriam spotted two bundled figures coming down the Brennemans’
lane. “For sure and for certain Hannah and Rachel can handle anybody we’ll have eatin’
here today, so don’t you worry about it, honey-bug. Get your things together, and
tell Sheila to take her time on the roads, hear me?”
“ Jah , Mamma, I’ll do that.” Rhoda bussed her forehead with a kiss. “ Denki for understandin’. If my workin’ for the Leitners causes ya problems, just tell me
straight-out, all right? It’s not my intention to leave ya shorthanded.”
“Go on with ya now,” Miriam said, waving her off. “It’s gut that Andy cares enough about his kids to have ya there. I’ve heard tell that a lot
of English parents have no idea where their youngsters go after school, or what sort
of mischief they get into while their mamms and dats are away at work. Askin’ for trouble, they are.”
The door closed against the snow with a whump , leaving Miriam in a kitchen that was silent except for the hum of the big freezers
and fridges. She savored the hush of this fragrant kitchen where she had found a whole
new life since Jesse had passed.
Jah, Lord, Rhoda’s ready for a new life, too , she prayed. And meanwhile, I ask Ya to be with her and Sheila and Andy—all the folks who have
to run the roads today. I’m ever so grateful to be workin’ right here on my home place,
doin’ what I love with a fella Ya created just for me.
As Rhoda walked up the driveway toward Andy’s house, along a cleared path the width
of a snow shovel blade, she sensed the kids might show their naughtier sides today
because they’d been given an unexpected vacation. As Andy let her inside, she was
glad she could help him out. He hadn’t even driven to work yet and he looked weary.
“Rhoda, you’re a lifesaver,” he murmured. “A couple of the other interns went home
with the flu yesterday, so I’m going in early to cover some of their patients. When
Taylor and Brett heard school was called off, they jumped back
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