Jedidiah's Bride. Rebecca Kertz

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      Chapter Three

      “I’ll be going home tomorrow,” Jedidiah said to her family as they lingered over the remainder of their meal. “Arlin and I came to Spence’s Bazaar—the Sale, you call it?” Sarah nodded. “We had many things to sell—and we sold everything we had. My uncle is eager to head back to his family. He has five daughters, and he worries about them.”

      Sarah silently wished he could stay longer.

      “I understand that Arlin made Ruth’s new vegetable bin,” Daniel Mast said.

      Jed paused in the act of eating potato salad. “Ja. Arlin works well with wood. Just like my vadder and my brother Noah.”

      “How many brothers and sisters do you have?” her mother inquired.

      “Six brothers and a little sister. My mam keeps busy but she enjoys all of us. Mam grew the vegetable plants Sarah purchased in her greenhouse.”

      Sarah checked her mother’s reaction. She smiled as if she enjoyed hearing about Jed’s life in Pennsylvania. Sarah didn’t like the thought of him leaving.

      “There is Arlin by the barn talking with Ned Troyer.” Jed flashed her a grin, and Sarah blushed.

      “I’d better help bring out the desserts.” She stood and resisted the urge to straighten her bonnet.

      “I’m eager for a slice of your pie, Sarah,” her dat said.

      “Me, too.” Jed’s soft voice vibrated down her spine.

      Sarah hesitated when Arlin stopped by to chat. Jed introduced Arlin to her family. “Mam likes the vegetable bin I bought for her,” she told Jed’s uncle with a smile. “Hers needed replacing, and yours is well made.”

      Arlin looked pleased. “I hope it gives you many year’s of gut use.”

      “I’m sure it will,” Mam said.

      Soon, Arlin left to rejoin his cousin Pete at another table, and Sarah grabbed leftovers from the food table to carry inside. After the desserts were put out, she returned to her family...and Jed.

      “Dessert!” Timothy exclaimed, climbing over the bench and running toward the food. Thomas jumped up and raced after him, eager to get there first.

      Ervin stood and straddled the bench, watching his young brothers choose sweets from the dessert table. “Mam, Dat, want anything in particular?”

      “I’d like to try one of Sally Troyer’s strawberry tarts,” her mam said.

      Sarah started to rise. “I’ll get it.”

      She shook her head. “Sit. Your brother will get it for me.” She flashed Ervin a smile.

      Ervin rose and Toby followed. “I’m thinking of chocolate cake,” Toby said, and his older brother grinned.

      Feeling Jed’s gaze, Sarah shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “Mam, can I get you some lemonade?” She wasn’t used to sitting. It made her feel guilty when she knew how much her mam needed her.

      Timothy and Thomas returned to the table, each carrying plates that threatened to tip and spill. “Jedidiah!” they cried in unison, “we got cake!”

      “Looks good!” Teasingly, Jed reached out as if to grab Thomas’s plate. “What is that? Carrot cake?” he asked.

      Thomas nodded and cradled his plate protectively. “It tastes good. Want me to get you some?”

      “It looks delicious, but I’ll go over and get some myself—when your sister Sarah is ready for dessert.”

      The boys turned to Sarah. “There are lots of cakes and pies, Sissy,” Timothy said.

      Hearing her name on Jed’s lips infused her with pleasure. “I’m thinking about chocolate-cream pie,” she said. She could feel Jed’s regard, and although feeling a bit shaky, she managed to smile at him. “I’m ready for dessert. Shall we go?” She stood and smoothed out her apron.

      Jed grinned and rose. “Chocolate-cream pie?” he asked as they headed toward the dessert table.

      “Maybe,” Sarah said with amusement, “or maybe not. I won’t know what I want until I see it.”

      He chuckled. “I’m thinking I’ll have more than one thing.”

      “I may, too,” she replied with a sudden feeling of gladness. The day was bright and sunny, and life was good.

      The lingering memory of Jed’s answering laughter did strange things to her insides as Sarah selected a slice of chocolate-cream pie and a piece of peanut-butter fudge.

      Jed, she saw, chose peach cobbler and a piece of her cherry pie. His favorite kind of pie, she remembered, pleased.

      Sarah enjoyed spending the day in Jed’s company. She liked seeing him with her family. She knew her parents well enough to know when they liked someone, and they liked Jedidiah. It was too bad that he lived in Pennsylvania. She reminded herself that this was simply a day to remember. Tomorrow Jed would leave and Sarah would never see him again. It was just as well, since she needed to be near for Mam.

      Soon it was afternoon and the women had begun to clean the tables and collect СКАЧАТЬ