Hannah's Courtship. Emma Miller

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СКАЧАТЬ are nearly old enough to—” The word breed stuck in his throat and he felt his throat clench.

      “It’s all right, Albert,” Hannah assured him with a sweet, mischievous smile. “I’m a farmer. I understand the process. Unless you’re raising the alpacas just as a hobby, you’ll want young ones to add to your herd and to sell to help cover expenses.”

      “Exactly.” He drained the last of his tea. “Is it all right if I walk back and take a look at the stable, to see what I’d need to do to bring the animals home?”

      “Of course. I’ll come with you.” Hannah rose and they walked side by side across the yard toward the second, smaller barn and the outbuildings. “There’s a small attached pound, a loafing shed and a seven-acre pasture with good grazing, beyond that. As you can see, this field is far back, away from the road.”

      “It looks perfect.”

      “I’m fortunate. My son-in-law Charley believes in good fences. I don’t know what I’d do without him doing the heavy work on the farm.”

      “Miriam picked a good husband,” Albert agreed. Neither of them mentioned that his nephew, John, had seriously courted Hannah’s daughter Miriam, before she’d accepted Charley’s offer of marriage. John had been hurt and disappointed at losing Miriam, but that was before he’d met Grace. Now both couples were happily married, and Hannah had the satisfaction of knowing that her Miriam would remain securely in the Amish faith.

      “There’s no reason for you to stop by every morning,” Hannah said as she unlatched the door to the stable. “Our windmill pumps fresh water into the stable and to the trough in the loafing shed. One of us can easily do the first feeding when we tend the other animals. I know that mornings are your busiest time of the day.”

      “They are,” he agreed. “But I wouldn’t want to put you out. You’re doing me a big favor by letting me keep them here.”

      “There’ll be no talk of favors,” she said, smiling so hard that a dimple appeared on her cheek. “We’re just old friends, helping each other out.”

      Hannah showed him the empty small barn with the spacious box stalls, the feed storage area and the door that led into the pound or corral, as horse people liked to refer to it. The stable was as clean as he’d expected. Alpacas were herd animals so they wouldn’t really need individual stalls, but he was glad to see that there were two separate wooden enclosed areas where an injured animal or an expectant female could be cared for. A narrow staircase against one wall led to a half loft overhead.

      She pushed open the wide back door. It was built in the old Dutch manner, split, so that the top half could be swung open with the bottom remaining fastened. “You can see what the fence is like from here,” she explained.

      As he’d expected, Hannah’s wooden posts were solid, the stock wire was tight, and the open loafing shed dry and clean. He couldn’t have designed anything better for the alpacas if he’d had the time to build out at his farm. Hannah’s place was also closer and more convenient to get to. He was sure this would work out fine. “I’ll not be a bother to you,” he promised.

      “I know you won’t. But I warn you, you may have to chase off my grandchildren. I think your alpacas are going to be a big hit with them.”

      “The animals are gentle and sweet-natured,” he assured her. “I think that you’ll be a fan, too.”

      As they were leaving the barn, Albert heard the rattle of buggy wheels on the driveway and saw a horse pulling a two-wheel cart coming up the driveway. An Amish woman was driving the open carriage.

      Hannah raised her hand to shade her eyes from the late afternoon sun. “Why, that looks like Aunt Jezzy!” she exclaimed. “What a nice surprise.”

      “I’ll be getting back to the office,” Albert said. He was a little disappointed. He’d been hoping to talk with Hannah a little longer. He had a lot of questions to ask, like if Hannah had straw for bedding to sell, or if she thought he’d be better off ordering woodchips for the stalls. “I don’t want to interfere with your company.”

      “You’ll do no such thing,” Hannah said. “Wait right here for a moment until I see if Aunt Jezzy has come on an errand or has time to visit. Don’t move an inch, Albert.” She hurried over to meet the older woman who’d, until not long ago, had been part of her household. Aunt Jezzy had recently married and lived not far from Byler’s Store. Today, she didn’t have her husband with her; she was alone in the cart.

      Hannah greeted her aunt and the two exchanged hugs. They were talking, but they were too far away for Albert to make out what they were saying. Then Hannah turned back and motioned to him. “Aunt Jezzy’s come to spend the night with me,” she called. “And we’d love it if you’d stay and share supper with us. I’ve got chicken and dumplings.”

      Albert’s first thought was to refuse. He glanced at his watch. They closed the clinic early on Fridays, and he hadn’t had any emergency calls. But surely Hannah was just being polite; she didn’t really want him to stay. He couldn’t remember anything particular in the refrigerator, but he could always stop and pick up a frozen pizza on the way back to his apartment. “Thanks,” he said. “It’s kind of you, but I—”

      “Homemade coleslaw, some of Anna’s yeast rolls and rice pudding with raisins for dessert,” Hannah tempted. “Come on, Albert. I know you love chicken and dumplings.”

      He did. Next to chicken and dumplings, another frozen pizza sounded about as good as a Frisbee with a little ketchup drizzled on it. “You’re sure I won’t be a bother?” He walked toward them. “I really should...”

      “Accept our invitation,” Hannah urged. “I know Aunt Jezzy would love to hear about your alpacas.”

      Albert considered the situation. Jezzy’s visit was his good luck. As accepting as the Amish were of him, they had their rules. One was that he couldn’t be in a house alone with a woman or a girl of any age. He hadn’t seen Susanna or Rebecca around, but having Hannah’s aunt present made it perfectly acceptable for him to join them for the evening meal.

      “All right,” he said, giving in graciously. “I never could pass up a home-cooked meal that I didn’t cook.” He chuckled. “And I’d walk a mile in bare feet for homemade rice pudding.”

      * * *

      Hannah smiled as Albert finished off a second helping of chicken and dumplings. It was always good to have company, and having Aunt Jezzy come by when she did was a delight. It was nice to see a man eat heartily at her table. Hannah guessed that Albert made do for himself with fast food and sandwiches more than he should. At least that’s what Grace had shared when she was visiting a few days earlier.

      John and I worry about Uncle Albert, Grace had said. Since John’s grandfather passed away, Uncle Albert’s all alone in that apartment over the office. He never was much of a cook, according to John, and we’re concerned for his health. Sometimes, John says he makes do with bologna-and-cheese sandwiches or just peanut butter and crackers for supper. And he starts work with coffee and a donut.

      Albert’s a man who enjoys plain country cooking when it’s put in front of him, Hannah thought. She’d believed that Grace’s husband, John, had the biggest appetite she’d seen on a normal-size man, but now she knew where John had gotten it. Albert was so polite that he was almost shy. He had to be coaxed to take a decent portion, then seconds, but it was clear he savored every bite. СКАЧАТЬ