The Amish Baker. Marie E. Bast
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Название: The Amish Baker
Автор: Marie E. Bast
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
isbn: 9781474094825
isbn:
“Hullo. Sorry I’m late. My appointment took longer than I thought it would.”
“Don’t worry. I managed just fine.”
Hannah hurried to the sink and washed her hands while Sarah loaded a tray with cookies. “Have you baked the afternoon order yet?”
“Nein. I’ve been too busy.”
Hannah disappeared through the kitchen doorway. “I’ll start it.”
After the bell tinkled, a cool breeze swept over Sarah. She glanced up from cleaning the display case and froze as Bishop Yoder approached the counter.
“Do you have a cup of coffee and a slice of banana bread left? I’d like to sit and rest a spell.”
“Jah, but it’s the last cup of coffee in the pot so it’s free. Sit. I’ll bring it to the table.”
Her stomach roiled at the bishop’s presence. She poured the strong brew and laid a slice of banana bread on a plate. She drew a deep breath. He very seldom came into her bakery. His frau was one of the best cooks in the community. She carried a tray with his coffee and banana bread to the table and set it down in front of him. “Enjoy, Bishop Yoder.”
“Danki, Sarah. Please sit and join me.”
Her feet itched to move away. “Only for a minute—I have to start cleaning the display case for closing.”
“This will only take a minute.” He took a bite of the banana bread, then a sip of coffee. “This bread is very gut.”
She pulled a wooden chair away from the table and sat.
“I believe Alvin Studer came into the bakery and asked you to join him for a buggy ride. He is a gut man and his six kinner need a mamm.”
A shiver ran up her spine as she averted her eyes from the bishop’s face. “Jah. He did ask. I was busy and didn’t have time to talk with him.” It was only a little white lie.
“Sarah, it’s Gott’s will that you remarry. Each person in our church must lose the desire for self and think of the community. That is what we believe. Jah, it’s time for you to sell the bakery. It’s Satan’s lie that makes you think that a career outside the home is fulfilling. Alvin needs a frau and mamm for his kinner.” His eyes pierced hers like the tiny, sharp point on a straight pin.
The bishop was matchmaking her!
Plop...plop.
Caleb stopped and listened.
Plop. The sound cut through the still afternoon. He turned his head in the direction of the pond but couldn’t see past the grove of maple trees. Maybe an animal skittered over the water. He trained his concentration back to the job at hand.
Plop...plop.
Caleb listened. Jah, definitely coming from the pond. Surely Jacob hadn’t skipped school again to go fishing.
He laid his fence-mending tools on the ground and raced across the field. His long strides carried him quickly to the shade of the trees. Scanning the perimeter of the pond, his eyes came to rest on his six-year-old sohn reclining on the grass.
Caleb walked to within ten feet of the bu. “Jacob, what are you doing?”
Jacob sprang to his feet, almost losing his balance as he teetered on the edge of the pond. He stepped back and whirled around. “I’m th-throwing r-rocks in the water.” His head hung, but his brooding gray eyes peered up.
“Again, you skipped school. Are your chores done?” Caleb’s intent gaze froze Jacob to the spot.
Jacob shrugged his shoulders. “Nein.”
“Work on the farm takes priority over playing.” Caleb furrowed his brow. “You know chores always come first. Milk cows need to maintain a strict schedule.”
“I-I’m sorry,” Jacob whispered, almost too low for Caleb to hear.
“What has gotten into you?”
Jacob shrugged again with a blank face.
“Go and unhook the gate and let it swing open so the cows can come in from the pasture for milking. Then feed the chickens. After chores, go to the house and get on your knees and ask Gott to forgive your laziness.” Caleb turned and walked back to the fence but glanced over his shoulder to make sure Jacob headed toward the barnyard. Caleb shook his head as he watched the bu kick a stone in his path.
“Jacob, don’t take your anger out on the earth. Anger is a sinful thing. In prayer today, tell the Lord your transgression. Go, sit in silence and talk to Him about what you have done. We’ll discuss an extra chore for your punishment.”
Caleb watched as Jacob trudged to the barnyard with his shoulders slumped. He would leave the bu alone for a while to think about what he’d done.
His wife’s death had been hardest on his sohn. Jacob had cried for hours after the cancer took his mamm. Martha’s caring ways had woven a strong bond between her and the bu.
Caleb returned to the pasture. Holding a piece of wire fencing, he stretched it tight around the wood post, pulled the hammer out of his belt and drove a staple over the wire to secure it. He walked down the fence line, found another piece of loose fencing and fixed it. Mr. Warner, on the farm next door, didn’t much care for Caleb’s cows trampling down his corn.
He took a step back, removed his hat and wiped trickles of perspiration from his brow while he surveyed the work. After smacking the hat against his thigh to remove dust and moisture from it, he plopped it back on.
For a small bu, Jacob gave Caleb more problems than this old fence. Jacob, Jacob, Jacob, how do I get through to you?
He looked up toward heaven. Lord, what do I do with him?
Caleb had consulted the bishop about Jacob’s sadness after his mamm had died. “Time will cover the wound,” the bishop had said, “like a healing salve.”
Martha had passed over a year ago, but the salve hadn’t eased Jacob’s pain. At least, not yet.
Like Jacob, Caleb had thought about Martha a lot at first. He’d missed her terribly. Yet ever since the encounter with the pretty baker, he couldn’t erase the memory of Sarah’s smile, her chocolate-brown hair or those cinnamon-brown eyes. They started pushing the memories of Martha into a secret spot in his mind. Was it right to let new memories replace those he had of Martha? He touched his hand to his stomach, where Sarah’s nearness had stirred him. For sure and for certain, she was an attractive woman.
Was it too soon to remarry? Jah, his kinner needed a mamm, but a woman as nice-looking as Sarah must СКАЧАТЬ