The Amish Marriage Bargain. Marie E. Bast

Чтение книги онлайн.

      Thad smiled. “I noticed you worked late in your sewing room. We’re a family and that means we help each other out. Occasionally, we forget to set our alarms. No harm done. Sit. Breakfast is ready.” He placed the platter on the table and sat.

      After silent prayer, May dribbled syrup on her French toast and took a bite.

      He scooted a slice onto his plate and ladled strawberries over top. “Mmm, your garden strawberries are gut. I picked them fresh this morning.”

      May tossed him a she-could-hardly-believe-it stare.

      A knock on the door pierced the silence, then the screen door popped open. Lois Plank, the midwife, and her son Elmer stepped in.

      “Hullo. Come in and sit.” Thad motioned with his free hand.

      “It smells gut in here.” Elmer stuck his nose in the air and took a couple of deep whiffs. “Only it’s a little late for breakfast.”

      Lois raised a brow at Elmer’s nosy remark. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve come to give Leah her twelve-month checkup.”

      “Of course!” May stood and pulled Leah out of her high chair. Lois followed May into the other room.

      “How’s the cheese business, Elmer?” Thad leaned back in his chair and glanced at his guest. “Looks like you dashed over here right from your factory.”

      Elmer brushed a hand down the front of his shirt. “Jah, Mamm doesn’t like to drive all over the township by herself when she makes her rounds.”

      Thad listened to Elmer drone on, naming all the other homes they would visit today. When the women returned to the kitchen, May sat Leah in the middle of the floor with her toys.

      “Lois, Elmer, would you like a cup of coffee?” May grabbed the pot off the stove and placed it on the hotplate as she sat. “Please sit.”

      “Nein. I have other appointments. We need to get going.” Lois motioned for Elmer to head for the door, which he ignored.

      Thad cut into another piece of French toast, put it in his mouth and watched Elmer scurry to May’s side, slipping into the chair next to hers.

      Thad sniffed and breathed in a tangy whiff of cheese stuck to Elmer’s shirt. The smear of ripened cheddar from Elmer’s aging room seemed to mingle with his blue cheese spot. Thad stifled a smile. Elmer called himself a cheese artisan.

      “How are you, May?” Elmer’s voice dripped with concern. He leaned toward May, put his arm around the back of her chair and pressed in closer. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.” He tossed Thad a better-not-try-to-stop-me look, quickly adding, “Thad, are you attending the meeting tonight over at the Millers’ dairy on the USDA’s organic standard?”

      “Wouldn’t miss it.” Thad glared at the cheesemaker. He wanted to tell Elmer to stay away from May, but she’d resent his interference.

      Elmer leaned even closer to May. “I noticed your garden has a lot of beans ready to harvest, and you’ll probably want them for your vegetable stand. Why don’t I stop back later and help you pick them? It’ll be cooler this evening.”

      “Danki, Elmer, but aren’t you going to the meeting?”

      “I’ll go late. They chew over everything before they get down to business.” Elmer threw Thad a sly smile.

      “Are you sure you don’t want a cup of coffee?” May started to stand.

      Lois shook her head. “Danki, we need to go if we’re going to stick to our schedule. Elmer, it’s time.”

      The screen door squeaked open and the distinctive shuffle that followed pulled Thad to his feet. “Gut mornin’, Mamm.” His cheeks burned as he caught a hint of judgment in her eyes.

      “What’s going on in here?” Gretchen took a deep breath and looked around. “Are you still lollygagging over breakfast? You should be out in the field, jah?” She tossed a sour glance at Thad, then turned toward the table with a stern look. “May, you need to get up earlier and get the food on the table by five thirty. April never ran her haus like this. There are beans in the garden to be picked and canning that needs to be done.”

      Elmer stood and gave a nod. “Gut mornin’, Gretchen. Nice to see you. I forgot you and Aaron were staying in Thad’s dawdi haus while the one on Jonah’s farm was being refurbished.”

      “It’s nice to see you, too, Elmer. Lois, you checking on our Leah?”

      “Indeed. She’s a sweet little thing and in gut health. No worry with her, Gretchen. May, don’t forget about the quilting frolic in three weeks.”

      “Jah, it’s on my calendar.”

      Elmer held the screen door for his mamm. “See you later, May.”

      Thad pulled his hat from the peg on the wall and headed out the door with a sideways glance at May. She sent him a glare.

      He’d hurt May when he’d tossed her aside for her sister. There was no way to apologize for that but his sharp-tongued mamm only made things worse. “Come on, Mamm, I’ll walk you out.”