His Suitable Amish Wife. Rebecca Kertz
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Название: His Suitable Amish Wife
Автор: Rebecca Kertz
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Women of Lancaster County
isbn: 9781474096652
isbn:
“Ja, you do, Reuben. I wish I could do more for you.”
“You do more than enough, Sarah. I shouldn’t have allowed you to stay. You’re a young woman and you have your own life to live.”
He heard Ethan whimper from the other room. Sarah went to check on him but was back within seconds. “He settled again,” she told him.
Reuben rose and went to the sink, where he washed his dishes. “Why don’t you take a walk?” he suggested. “’Tis beautiful outside.”
She grinned. “I think I will.”
He watched his sister leave the house with sadness. He shouldn’t have allowed her to stay behind when his family moved. But he’d had no idea how he would manage without a caretaker for Ethan. He had to fix the house and to work to provide for Ethan and so he had the money for paint and building supplies. He glanced down at the kitchen floor with a frown. It was in terrible shape. When he selected the paint, he’d have to price new wood for the floor.
An image of Ellie settled in his mind. She was a hard worker. She’d gotten the house cleaned in a short time, especially considering how bad everything was. He’d tried his best to do what he could, but his work schedule mostly kept him from working on the house.
He hadn’t meant to be rude to Ellie. The truth was it bothered him to have her near, although he had no idea why. She’d been kind to Sarah and good with Ethan. Why should it upset him that she had entered his house and won the hearts of his sister and his son?
He put away the clean dishes and filled up his water glass again. It had been hot working on the roof, but if he hadn’t finished it now, he would have suffered worse temperatures as the summer lengthened.
Ellie hadn’t agreed not to come back, he realized with sudden awareness. A small smile played on his mouth as he thought of her stubbornness. He had to make sure he sent her on her way if she returned. If she didn’t listen, he would go to the bishop as she’d suggested.
Reuben continued to wonder how to handle Ellie Stoltzfus if she came back as she all but promised. Then his chest tightened with loss as he went into the gathering room to check on his sleeping son. It was wrong to notice another woman when his wife and the mother of his child, his precious Susanna, was dead.
On Monday, Ellie returned to the Miller house to teach Sarah how to cook. “You’ll need a large stockpot. I saw one in that bottom cabinet,” she said, gesturing.
Sarah opened a door and grinned. “Here it is.”
“Gut. First, we’ll put in the chicken, then cover it with water. I bought chicken breasts because it’s easier. You can use a whole chicken, but then you’d have to remove the meat from the bones. With the whole chicken, however, you’d get delicious chicken stock. I went to Whittier’s and bought a container of chicken broth, which is easier and just as tasty. Just add a couple of tablespoons of the granules to the pot while you cook the chicken.” She regarded Sarah with a pleased smile as she followed instructions.
The teenager beamed at her. “What next?”
Ellie went on to explain what other ingredients were necessary in making chicken corn chowder. Sarah followed her directions to the letter, then reduced the gas flame under the pot. She stood back and grinned. “I can remember that,” the girl said.
“Ja, you can,” Ellie said with approval.
“Now what?”
“I brought all the ingredients for making a strawberry pie.” She handed Sarah a recipe card. “Follow these instructions and you’ll do fine.” It was getting late. Ellie looked at her watch. “I need to get home.” She had come well past noon after cleaning for the Brodericks. Reuben would be home from work soon and she didn’t want him to find her here. She picked up her cell phone from the counter as she got ready to leave. She stared at Sarah a long moment. “Do you have paper and pencil? I want to give you my cell phone number. If you need me for any reason, call me. Will you do that?”
“Ja, I promise,” Sarah said. “There’s a pay phone across the road.”
“Gut.” Ellie finished writing her name and cell phone number, then handed the paper to Sarah. “I hope Reuben enjoys his supper.”
“He will.” Sarah followed her to the door. “Danki, Ellie.”
“’Twas my pleasure, Sarah.”
“Will you come back to clean next week?”
Ellie agreed, then left the house. Reuben had pulled his buggy into the yard. Her heart started to race as he approached her. He didn’t look happy. His mouth was tight and his eyes were cold.
“I told you that I didn’t want you to clean house for us.”
“I didn’t clean.” She lifted her chin as she glared at him. “I came to see Sarah.” And his son.
He blinked. The tension left his expression and his blue eyes warmed slightly. “Have a nice night, then, Ellie.”
Heart beating hard, she gave a jerk of a nod, then climbed into her pony cart and left. As she drove home, her thoughts went to Reuben, who’d surprised her. He didn’t mind her visiting his sister? Apparently not. As long as she didn’t clean. She could work with that, she decided. She wanted to be there for Sarah and Ethan. She’d visit early in the day if she could. If the house became a little cleaner while she was there, then all the better. Ellie frowned. She had a feeling that Reuben would make sure the place stayed spotless, even if he didn’t get enough sleep.
She sighed and turned her thoughts to her parents. She’d be home in time to help Mam with supper. When she drove into the barnyard fifteen minutes later, Ellie smiled. She waved to her father, who was in the yard with Jeremiah, his beloved dog. She’d been shocked when Dat had decided to get a dog. Her sister Nell, the animal lover of the family who was married to a veterinarian, must have had more influence on their father than the family had realized.
Ellie heard Jeremiah bark as she climbed out of the buggy. Her father approached with his dog on his heels. “Dat,” she greeted. “Taking Jeremiah for a walk?”
“Ja.” Dat regarded her with affection. “You’re home early.”
She nodded. “Finished with the Brodericks, then went to the Millers, a new family in Happiness.” Her lips curving, she said, “I was teaching Sarah Miller how to cook. She never had much of a chance to learn with older sisters who did most of the cooking.”
Dat’s brows furrowed. “The Millers?”
“Ja. An Amish family who recently moved into our church district.” She glanced off into space, envisioning the vast amount of work that still needed to be done to Reuben’s house. “The family moved into that old English place we’ve passed and commented on.”
“Do they need help with the renovations?”
“Nay, СКАЧАТЬ