She blinked back tears. “And I will miss you.” She bit her lip. “I had fun today and this evening. I will thank the Lord for the moment when you stepped in to save my brothers.”
His smile was warm. “Did you know I first thought you were their mother?”
She looked stunned. “You did?”
“Ja. And I was disappointed, for I knew you must be wed.”
Her brothers’ buggy pulled into the barnyard. He glanced their way and seemed to feel the same urgency that she did. “I am glad you weren’t wed or I would not have had this time with you.” He grew quiet and then said, “I regret that the Lapp family farm is not in Kent County, Delaware.”
Ervin and Toby had climbed out of their wagon and approached them.
“Farewell, Sarah Mast,” Jed said, sending her a look that she would never forget.
“Farewell and safe journey, Jedidiah Lapp. Give my regards to Arlin.”
He nodded and then spoke briefly to her brothers before he climbed back onto the wagon and turned the horse for the Miller home.
* * *
Sarah stood, watching as the wagon headed down the lane, overwhelmed by a bittersweet mixture of sadness and pleasure.
Ervin came to stand next to her. “You like him.”
“Ja.”
“He lives far from Delaware.”
“I know,” she whispered, then managed to grin at her brother. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for bed.”
Ervin studied her a moment and seemed satisfied by what he saw. “I could use something to eat.”
Sarah laughed. “What?”
“Pie?”
“There may be a slice of apple or chocolate cream left.”
Ervin grinned. “Singing makes me hungry,” he said as they headed into the house.
Toby had already gone inside. Apparently, the singing had made him hungry as well, for he was already in the kitchen, delving into the extra cookies she’d made yesterday afternoon.
Later that night, as she lay in bed unable to sleep, Sarah thought of Jedidiah Lapp and the time she’d spent with him. As she chose to remember the warmth of his cinnamon-brown eyes and quick, ready smile instead of the fact that tomorrow he would be gone, Sarah finally fell asleep with a pleased smile on her face.
But when she woke the next morning, she thought of him leaving...then she tried not to think of him any more as she went about her daily chores and checked to see if her mother needed anything.
Still, she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
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