His Suitable Amish Wife. Rebecca Kertz

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ good humor reached his eyes, startling blue in intensity, as he studied her. “But it’s not. It’s Elizabeth.”

      “How did you know that?” Then it hit her. For whatever reason, Meg must have mentioned it to him.

      He shrugged. “Why does it matter?”

      She stiffened. “It doesn’t.”

      Reuben masked his expression as he took in the supplies she held. “How long will you be here?”

      “No more than an hour.”

      He assented with a jerk of his head. “Fine. When you’re done for the day, consider yourself absolved of doing anything more. You can tell Bishop John that you did your duty.”

      But what about tomorrow or next week? The man, like his sister, was stretched to the limit. Ellie had the strongest urge to convince him that it would be best if she cleaned his house on a regular basis. There was too much for him to do to worry about the inside of the house. He had his construction job—Meg had told her about it—and his work fixing up the house and a messy yard to clear. He might think she’d agreed because of her silence, but she would come back whether or not he liked it.

      Reuben spun on his heels and left. Less than five minutes later, she heard him on the roof again. This time the sound was of him nailing down new shingles; the noise continued for the rest of the time she was there. When she went downstairs before leaving, it was to find Ethan awake and on Sarah’s hip. The eight-month-old saw her and gave her a sloppy grin. When he extended a chubby hand toward her, Ellie took it and kissed the back of his fingers.

      “All done,” Ellie said to Sarah as she gathered up her supplies.

      “Will you be back?”

      Ellie glanced toward the back door. “I’ll try. Your bruder doesn’t want me here, but I think ’tis best if I return, don’t you?”

      Sarah bobbed her head. “Ja, please. I’ll handle Reuben.” She gazed at her surroundings. “Can you come back next week?”

      “Ja, I’ll have to check my work schedule, but I can always come after one of my other jobs.” Ellie smiled at the girl as Sarah accompanied her to the door.

      “Ellie?”

      She met the girl’s gaze. “Ja?”

      “Can you teach me how to make a few recipes? I never cooked much while I was growing up. I have older sisters who did most of the cooking. I’d like to make Reuben something more than breakfast or sandwiches for supper. I’m sure he is especially tired of eggs, toast and sausage, although he never complains.”

      Warming to Sarah, Ellie grinned. “I’ll find some simple recipes to start.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “And I’ll bring the ingredients so Reuben will be surprised.”

      The teenager beamed at her. “Danki, Ellie.”

      “You are more than willkomm. I’ll see you next week unless you’re visiting on Sunday. ’Tis Visiting Day.”

      Sarah shook her head sadly. “Not this week. Reuben isn’t ready to go visiting.”

      “I understand.” And Ellie did. The man was going through a lot with having to raise Ethan on his own after losing his wife. She felt overwhelmed by compassion for him. He’d had a tough time, and he still had a long road to travel before he’d feel as if God had blessed him with a good and happy life.

      “Any particular dishes Reuben likes?”

      “Chicken corn chowder and strawberry pie.”

      “I’ll see what I can do,” Ellie promised before leaving.

      * * *

      Reuben had finished the roof. It was almost noon when he climbed down the ladder and headed in to wash up. He rounded the house and saw Ellie. She was loading her cleaning implements into the back of her buggy. She stepped back and untied her apron strings, then folded the garment neatly and placed it on the seat with her supplies. She turned to walk around to the other side of the vehicle and saw him. He saw her stiffen and raise her chin.

      Reuben experienced a tightening in his chest. She was beautiful, and it wasn’t the first time he’d noticed her. In fact, he’d thought her pretty as a young teenager. The shade of her light blond hair and her bright blue eyes were striking. But she’d been just a kid, younger than Meg, who’d been quick to smile at him and draw his attention. While he may have glanced occasionally Ellie’s way, he’d known that she was too young for him. He’d wanted to get married, and Meg was the right age. And she was pretty like her sisters, although her coloring was different.

      When he’d asked to take Meg home after the first singing he’d attended in their church district in years, he’d felt comfortable in Meg’s presence. He’d liked her a lot. After the next singing, when she’d agreed to ride with him again, he’d felt as if he was on to something. He had easily imagined Meg as his wife...until it had all gone wrong, and he’d been forced to walk away and not look back. Not toward Meg, who he’d discovered was in love with Peter Zook. Not toward Ellie, who had still been too young to be a wife or mother.

      Now, he was hungry and thirsty as he entered the house. Sarah turned from the kitchen counter with a sandwich on a plate for him. She smiled as she handed it to him. “’Tis just strawberry jam with peanut butter,” she said.

      He grinned. “Just what I needed.” He looked around the room. “Where is Ethan?”

      “Napping again.”

      “He’s able to sleep through all the noise?”

      Sarah nodded. “He’s a sound sleeper.”

      Reuben took a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water. Then he sat at the table to eat his sandwich. “Have you eaten?”

      “Ja. I decided to take advantage of Ethan’s nap time.”

      “Ellie left?” he asked, knowing well that she had.

      “Ja. She did a gut job with the house. Perhaps you should let her wash all the walls.”

      He tightened his jaw. “I’ll buy the paint tomorrow so I can start on the rooms downstairs.”

      “Why don’t you like her?” Sarah studied him curiously.

      “I like her well enough. What makes you think I don’t?”

      “You weren’t very pleasant to her. She only came to help.”

      “I don’t need her charity, Sarah.”

      “She doesn’t consider helping us charity, Reuben. She’s a nice woman. She likes helping her friends.” Sarah paused. “She’s my friend.”

      Reuben softened his expression. “You’re easy to like, Sarah. Everyone can’t help but love you.”

      To his surprise, his sister blushed. “When do you have to go back to work?”

      “Monday. СКАЧАТЬ