bills. He slapped the money down, then sauntered back to his saddle, which he easily hoisted onto his broad shoulders. He was almost to the door when he pivoted toward Aaron. “Did you know that I escorted that new girl from Pennsylvania home from the gathering last night? Allison Troyer, that’s her name.”
Aaron gritted his teeth. Did James have to brag about everything he did?
“Allison sure is cute,” James said with a crooked grin. “Don’t you think so?”
“I hadn’t noticed.” Aaron’s fingers made a fist as he fought for control. He knew it would be wrong to provoke a fight, but at the moment, he felt like punching James in the nose.
Just then, the front door swung open and Paul stepped into the room, carrying a wicker basket. “How are you, James?”
“Doin’ real good,” James replied with a nod.
“I see you’ve got what you came for.” Paul motioned to the saddle perched on James’s shoulders.
“Jah. I’m headed home.”
James made no mention of how much the cleaning and oiling had cost, and Aaron figured James had only made an issue of it just to see if he could get a rise out of him. The ornery fellow had a knack for irritating folks—especially Aaron.
“Well, I’d best be on my way. I might stop by the Kings’ place sometime soon and see if their niece wants to go out with me.” James had his back to Aaron, so Aaron couldn’t see the fellow’s face, but he had a feeling there was a wily-looking smile plastered there. “See you later, Paul. You, too, Aaron.”
When the door shut behind James, Paul placed the basket on the desk in front of Aaron. “You ready to eat, son? There are a couple of roast beef sandwiches in here, as well as a carton of your mamm’s tangy potato salad.”
Aaron shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat something. Besides, your mamm worked hard making our lunches. She’d be real disappointed if you didn’t eat yours.”
“Oh, all right.” It would be a shame to let a tasty roast beef sandwich go to waste on account of his dislike for James Esh.
“I just got around to checking for mail, and I discovered a letter in the box for you,” Aunt Mary said as she entered the kitchen, where Allison was cutting slices of ham for their lunch.
“Is it from my daed?” Allison asked.
“No, it’s from someone named Sally Mast.” Aunt Mary placed the mail on one end of the counter. “If you’d like to read it now, I’ll take over making the sandwiches.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? Sally’s my best friend, and I sure do miss her. I’d like to see what she has to say.”
“I don’t mind at all. Enjoy your letter, and feel free to answer it now, too.” Aunt Mary moved over to the counter, took the knife from Allison, and started slicing the ham.
“Danki.” Allison could hardly believe how agreeable Aunt Mary seemed to be. If Aunt Catherine had been getting the mail, she wouldn’t have told Allison she had a letter until lunch had been served and the dishes had been washed and put away.
Allison thumbed through the mail until she located Sally’s letter. Taking a seat at the table, she opened the envelope and silently read her friend’s letter:
Dear Allison ,
How are things in Missouri? Do you like it there? Have you made any new friends?
I miss you. We all do—your daed, Peter, and the rest of your family .
Allison grimaced. Sally didn’t mention anything about AuntCatherine missing me. She’s probably hoping I’ll decide to stay here in Missouri and never come home .
“Is everyone all right at home?” Aunt Mary asked. “That frown you’re wearing makes me think something might be wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Allison said with a shake of her head. “Sally’s letter says I’m missed.”
“And I’m sure you’re missing your family back home, too.”
“Everyone but Aunt Catherine,” Allison mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing. It wasn’t
Aaron gritted his teeth. Did James have to brag about everything he did?
“Allison sure is cute,” James said with a crooked grin. “Don’t you think so?”
“I hadn’t noticed.” Aaron’s fingers made a fist as he fought for control. He knew it would be wrong to provoke a fight, but at the moment, he felt like punching James in the nose.
Just then, the front door swung open and Paul stepped into the room, carrying a wicker basket. “How are you, James?”
“Doin’ real good,” James replied with a nod.
“I see you’ve got what you came for.” Paul motioned to the saddle perched on James’s shoulders.
“Jah. I’m headed home.”
James made no mention of how much the cleaning and oiling had cost, and Aaron figured James had only made an issue of it just to see if he could get a rise out of him. The ornery fellow had a knack for irritating folks—especially Aaron.
“Well, I’d best be on my way. I might stop by the Kings’ place sometime soon and see if their niece wants to go out with me.” James had his back to Aaron, so Aaron couldn’t see the fellow’s face, but he had a feeling there was a wily-looking smile plastered there. “See you later, Paul. You, too, Aaron.”
When the door shut behind James, Paul placed the basket on the desk in front of Aaron. “You ready to eat, son? There are a couple of roast beef sandwiches in here, as well as a carton of your mamm’s tangy potato salad.”
Aaron shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat something. Besides, your mamm worked hard making our lunches. She’d be real disappointed if you didn’t eat yours.”
“Oh, all right.” It would be a shame to let a tasty roast beef sandwich go to waste on account of his dislike for James Esh.
“I just got around to checking for mail, and I discovered a letter in the box for you,” Aunt Mary said as she entered the kitchen, where Allison was cutting slices of ham for their lunch.
“Is it from my daed?” Allison asked.
“No, it’s from someone named Sally Mast.” Aunt Mary placed the mail on one end of the counter. “If you’d like to read it now, I’ll take over making the sandwiches.”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? Sally’s my best friend, and I sure do miss her. I’d like to see what she has to say.”
“I don’t mind at all. Enjoy your letter, and feel free to answer it now, too.” Aunt Mary moved over to the counter, took the knife from Allison, and started slicing the ham.
“Danki.” Allison could hardly believe how agreeable Aunt Mary seemed to be. If Aunt Catherine had been getting the mail, she wouldn’t have told Allison she had a letter until lunch had been served and the dishes had been washed and put away.
Allison thumbed through the mail until she located Sally’s letter. Taking a seat at the table, she opened the envelope and silently read her friend’s letter:
Dear Allison ,
How are things in Missouri? Do you like it there? Have you made any new friends?
I miss you. We all do—your daed, Peter, and the rest of your family .
Allison grimaced. Sally didn’t mention anything about AuntCatherine missing me. She’s probably hoping I’ll decide to stay here in Missouri and never come home .
“Is everyone all right at home?” Aunt Mary asked. “That frown you’re wearing makes me think something might be wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Allison said with a shake of her head. “Sally’s letter says I’m missed.”
“And I’m sure you’re missing your family back home, too.”
“Everyone but Aunt Catherine,” Allison mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing. It wasn’t
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