Elijah And The Widow. Rebecca Kertz

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      Martha rejoined her friend at the table. A heavy knock resounded on her back door. “Who on earth...?” Answering it, she was startled to see her brother-in-law with three Lapp men—Samuel and his sons Jacob and Eli.

      “Amos!” she exclaimed with surprise. “Is everything oll recht?”

      “Ja, Martha, all is fine,” her brother-in-law assured her. “We’ve come to discuss your farm.”

      An older version of her late husband, Amos wore wire-rimmed spectacles.

      She allowed her gaze to stray briefly to the twins, especially Eli, who’d entered the house behind Amos and Samuel. Like the other men in the room, Eli had taken off his hat and held it. “I planned to seek your advice on who to hire to plant my fields.”

      With a smile for his wife, Jacob went to Annie’s side and gathered EJ from her lap. The boy was happy to go to his father. Jacob smiled as he held his son close. “Martha, there’s no need to hire workers. We’d like to do the planting for you.” He hesitated before continuing. “We’ll need seed. We can order it for you.”

      “’Tis already been bought.” She felt uncomfortable being the focus of so much male attention. “After Ike purchased the new equipment, he ordered and paid for seed in advance. He mentioned that delivery would be this spring, but I have no idea when.”

      “Do you know where he bought it?” Eli asked, drawing her gaze.

      “I have the receipt. I think he bought it from the same place as you, Amos.” She’d found the receipt on the floor near her clothes chest recently. After its discovery, she’d been thankful that Ike had prepaid for the seed. She didn’t know why he had, except that it might have had to do with his excitement over his new farm equipment.

      “If you’ll get it, I’ll check on the delivery date for you. Will Wednesday of next week be gut for you?”

      “But what of your own properties?” Martha was grateful for their help, but not at the risk of taking them from their own farmwork.

      “We’ll be done before then,” Samuel assured her.

      “Your help means a lot to me.” She felt the onset of emotional tears and blinked to clear them.

      Eli smiled. “Friends and family help each other.”

      The memory of his grimy face and dirty clothing as Eli had chased after her animals flashed into her mind. The pleasure from the image startled her. “I’ll get the receipt,” she said before she hurried upstairs to her old room. The bill of sale was right where she’d put it, inside the trunk near the foot of the bed she’d once shared with her husband. Then she returned quickly to the waiting men and handed Amos the receipt.

      Her brother-in-law nodded with satisfaction as he studied it. “Ja, same place.” He stuck the receipt into the crown of his hat. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

      Martha inclined her head. “Danki.”

      “Are you ready to go home?” Jacob asked his wife.

      “Ja.” Annie smiled at her handsome husband, who lovingly cradled their young sleepy son. She turned to Martha. “It’s been a lovely day, Martha. Will you stop by our haus soon? We can visit while EJ naps,” she said.

      “I’d enjoy that,” Martha agreed. “After the planting, if you’re feeling up to it.”

      “I’ll make dessert for Wednesday,” Annie offered.

      “No need. There will be more than enough food.” She’d make sure of it.

      Amos and Samuel put on their hats as they stepped outside. Martha followed more slowly with Annie and Jacob. She watched as Jacob, using one hand, helped Annie into their vehicle before he handed her their son. Amos and Samuel stopped to talk near their vehicles. Then Amos got into his buggy and left, while Samuel Lapp waited by his vehicle as he looked back toward the house. “Martha, have you seen Eli?”

      “Here, Dat,” Eli’s deep voice startled her from behind, causing her to spin to face him. “Martha.”

      “Eli! I didn’t realize you were still inside.”

      “Annie forgot EJ’s hat.” He held up the child’s small black-banded straw hat to show his father, and with a nod Samuel climbed into his vehicle.

      Eli returned his attention to Martha. Her heart pounded as she gazed up at him. There was something about him with his golden locks, azure eyes and charming smile that did something strange to her insides. Alarmed by the feeling, she didn’t smile back.

      “If you need anything, just ask,” Eli said. “All of us Lapps are handy with construction tools.”

      “That’s kind of you.” And it got Martha to thinking. The house needed repairs. Maybe after the planting she could hire the Lapps.

      “Eli?” his father called through the open buggy window.

      “Coming, Dat.” He seemed reluctant to go. “It didn’t take long to finish Noah’s deliveries,” he said as if she’d asked. “Some customers weren’t at home. As you see, I found clean clothes.” He started to cross the yard, then paused to grin back at her. “Don’t be chasing livestock while I’m not here,” he teased.

      Martha had to smile. “I won’t.” Senses tingling, she watched as he climbed into his father’s buggy and while they drove away from the farmhouse down her dirt lane. Eli Lapp was too charming, too handsome and too young—seven years younger—for her to give him another thought. She was getting ahead of herself. So what if she noticed an attractive man when she saw him? It didn’t mean anything. She was still determined to remain single and manage on her own.

Chapter Three

      Martha carried a large chocolate cake as she exited her farmhouse. She smiled at Meg Stoltzfus, who waited on the front porch.

      “Let me,” the girl said as she took the cake plate.

      It was visiting Sunday. Meg, the young woman who’d stayed with her after Ike’s death and through the winter, wanted to ride with her to the Samuel Lapps, their hosts. Meg often visited or attended church with her since moving back home. Despite their ten-year age difference, Martha and Meg had become good friends.

      “How does your vadder feel about your riding with me again?” Martha asked as they headed toward her buggy. She didn’t mind driving alone, but Meg wanted to come for reasons of her own, and Martha enjoyed the company.

      Meg leaned inside Martha’s vehicle and set the cake on the back floor. She grinned as she straightened. “I enjoy the extra room. It feels crowded in the back of Dat’s buggy.”

      Martha approached the Stoltzfuses’ carriage. “Morning, Arlin.” She smiled. “Nice to see you again. Missy, you, too.” Missy was Arlin’s wife. “I hope you don’t mind Meg coming with me again. She’s a wonderful girl. I enjoy her company, СКАЧАТЬ