Elijah And The Widow. Rebecca Kertz

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СКАЧАТЬ seated in the backseat of the vehicle. “Hallo.” The girls returned her greeting.

      “Dat, can I ride with Martha, too?” Charlie, named Charlotte at birth, was Meg’s youngest sister. Charlie’s nickname had worked out well since Martha’s niece, who lived in Happiness, too, was also named Charlotte. The older Charlotte was happily married to Deacon Abram Peachy.

      Arlin frowned while he seemed to struggle with his daughter’s request.

      “I don’t mind if she rides with us, Arlin, but it’s entirely up to you.” Martha made the offer carefully; she didn’t want to offend.

      “Ja, Dat, it will be fun if Charlie rides with us.” Meg beamed at him. “I promise we’ll take gut care of her. This afternoon we’ll ride home with you.”

      Finally, Arlin gave a curt nod. “Oll recht,” he said, glancing back toward his youngest. “You may go with Martha and Meg.” There were murmurs from the backseat as Charlie scrambled from the vehicle on her mother’s side. He held up a hand. “Don’t ask!” he warned his other daughters. “The rest of you will ride with your mudder and me this morning.”

      Ellie Stoltzfus leaned forward between her mother and father. “We are comfortable right here with you, Dat.”

      The man’s expression softened. “We should go,” he said gruffly. “Katie will be wondering where we are.”

      Friends and families gathered to spend time with each other on visiting Sundays. Unlike church days when service started early, visiting occasions began leisurely with folks leaving for their destination midmorning. Martha enjoyed visiting family and friends.

      “I’ll follow you,” Martha told Arlin, and the man nodded.

      As Arlin steered the horse back toward the main road, Martha, Meg and Charlie climbed into Martha’s vehicle, and Martha drove her horse to follow. The Lapp farm was on the opposite end of their village. As they drove past the William Mast property, Martha spied William and Josie approaching in their gray family buggy. “Morning, William. Josie,” she called. She waved to the couple and their three children, who happily waved back. Martha continued to steer past Jacob and Annie’s house, the Joseph Zook farm and Zook’s Blacksmithy.

      “Looks like Jacob and Annie may have already left,” Meg commented. “I don’t see anyone at their house.”

      “Ja,” her sister said. Charlie leaned forward and gestured past Meg and Martha toward a residence on the left side of the road. “Look! There are Noah and Rachel. And their baby!”

      Martha caught sight of Rachel and Noah exiting their house. “Noah! Rachel!” She slowed her buggy and waved.

      The couple grinned and returned the wave. “Martha! Heading over to Mam and Dat’s?” Noah said as he cradled his daughter lovingly against his chest.

      “Ja. ’Tis a great day for visiting.”

      “Ja, a fine one indeed,” he called back pleasantly. “We’ll see you when we get there.”

      “Who else do you think will be coming?” Meg asked as Martha drove on to catch up with Arlin.

      “Not Reuben Miller, if that’s why you’re wondering,” Charlie said. “Ya know he’s not from our church district. Mostly likely, he’ll be visiting his own friends and neighbors.”

      Meg got quiet. “I didn’t ask about him.”

      Martha shot her a sympathetic look. “Have you seen him recently?” This past winter Martha had become Meg’s confidante. She’d heard all about Meg’s feelings for Reuben Miller, who had shown an interest in the girl last year at a youth singing. Reuben had sat across from Meg and paid her special attention during two additional singings, but then had become noticeably absent ever since. “Meg?”

      “Nay.” Meg kept her eyes on the road ahead. “It’s been a while.”

      “The Zooks will be there,” Charlie offered, obviously trying to cheer up her sister. “Peter should be with them.”

      “Peter.” Meg groaned. “The last thing I need is that boy following me with those dark puppy dog eyes of his.”

      “Meg, what’s the matter with you?” her sister exclaimed. “Peter is a nice boy, and he likes you.” She sighed dramatically. “And he’s so handsome.”

      “Too handsome for his own gut,” Meg replied irritably. She drew a sharp breath. “Reuben is nice and as handsome as Peter.”

      “I’m sure he is,” Martha interjected. “But I imagine that your sister is concerned because Reuben doesn’t visit you as often as he should. Peter clearly likes you and wants nothing more than to make you happy.” Directly ahead, Arlin slowed his horse, and Martha followed suit, pulling to rein her horse behind him. “I’ve never seen Peter bother you or be a nuisance to anyone.”

      Meg shrugged. “Just ’cause he keeps his distance doesn’t mean he’s not annoying,” she said stiffly.

      Martha stifled a smile. Meg always reacted strongly whenever Peter Zook’s name was mentioned, a strange thing considering her claims that she harbored no feelings for him.

      “Reuben’s probably busy with farmwork,” Meg offered.

      “Ja, most likely,” Charlie said softly as she leaned in her seat to be closer to Meg. “I only want you to be happy, Meg. I hope Reuben visits you soon since you like him so much.”

      Meg rewarded her with a smile. “I know you want me to be happy, Charlie. I want the same for you.” She stayed silent a moment. “What if Reuben thinks I’m not interested in him? Maybe that’s why he’s stayed away.”

      Martha doubted it but kept her thoughts silent. “The Kinzer Fire Company Mud Sale is in June. So is the Lancaster County Carriage and Antique Auction. Maybe you’ll see Reuben at those events.”

      Mud sales were fundraising events exclusive to Lancaster County, where the Amish community helped to raise money for local fire departments. Each Saturday throughout the spring, members of their Happiness community donated craft and other items to be auctioned off to the highest bidder as well as food for sale for those attending the event. Mud sales got their name because typically the ground was muddy in the aftermath of spring rain showers when these sales or events took place. Those who attended mud sales frequently knew enough to bring their rain boots.

      During the winter months, she and Meg had crocheted pot holders, sewn aprons and made other craft items for local mud sales. Most of their items would go to the two sales she had mentioned to Meg—the Kinzer Fire Company Mud Sale and the Lancaster County Carriage Auction—because they benefited the fire companies closest to their Happiness community. Every weekend through late winter and early spring there’d be other mud sales at different locations. There were also one or two that took place during August.

      “He did tell me he’d worked as auctioneer at the Kinzer Mud Sale two years ago,” Meg said brightly.

      Martha smiled as she continued to follow Arlin’s vehicle as it turned onto the dirt road to the Samuel Lapp farm. “Then there’s a gut chance you’ll see him there.”

      “Look! There’s Annie!” Charlie exclaimed as Martha СКАЧАТЬ