gray beard and worn black hat. “You are raising racehorses?”
Eli smiled. “Mostly I raise and train carriage horses.I bought my first Standardbred when I was a teenager. I was looking for a fast horse to impress my girlfriend.”
“How did that work out?”
“The courtship did not, but the horse did. I got interested in the breed, began to study trade magazines and it wasn’t long before I was breeding them myself. Back then I couldn’t afford the stud fees of high-profile stallions. I got very goot at losing money at what my wife called my foolishness.”
“Isn’t horse racing and betting against your religion?”
“ Ja, it is a worldly thing and thus forbidden to us.”
“Okay, then I’m confused.”
Eli’s grin widened. “There is nothing wrong in breeding a fine horse. They are God’s creatures, after all. If you can sell that horse for an honest price, there is nothing wrong with that, either. This one’s brother is doing well on the racing circuit this year.”
John smiled as understanding dawned. “I see. If the fine horse should win a race or two for some new owner, then the next foal from your mare will be worth even more money.”
“ Ja. It is all in the hands of God. I try to remember to keep Him first in my life for He rewards His faithful servants.”
“When will you sell this fellow?”
“After the first of the year I will take him to the Winter Speed sale in Delaware, Ohio.”
The place meant nothing to John.
Eli said, “My daughter has taken a keen interest in you.”
John was surprised by the abrupt change of topic. “Your daughter has been very kind.”
“She has a goot heart. It was the same with her mother.” Eli’s voice became wistful.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Karen told me what happened.”
Eli turned to John. In a low steely voice, he said, “I would not want to see my daughter’s kindness repaid with sorrow. Be careful of that, John Doe.”
Taken aback, John stared at Eli. The last thing he wanted was to cause trouble for the woman who’d shown him so much kindness. He nodded solemnly. “I will, sir. I promise.”
Late the following morning, Karen stopped the buggy where the lane met the highway and gave a sidelong glance at John seated beside her. He turned the collar of his coat up against the cold drizzle, but his excitement at finally getting to do something shimmered in his eyes.
“Which way would you like to go?” she asked.
“Which direction is the nearest interstate?”
She pointed north. “If you go through town and then take Yoder Road north about twenty-five miles you will reach the interstate.”
“Let’s go toward Hope Springs then and stop at the farms between here and the town. If I’m not from the area I most likely came in on a major highway.”
Slapping the reins against Molly’s rump, Karen sent the mare trotting down the blacktop. “I have one stop I need to make at the Sutters’ farm. Are you certain you are not from this area?”
“No. Except that no one has reported me missing from around here. And no one has recognized me from the TV piece the local news ran on me. Do you mind if I try my hand at driving?” he asked.
Surprised by his request, she said, “ Nee, I do not mind. Do you know how to drive a horse?”
“I think I can. I’ve been watching you do it.” Taking the reins, he sat up straight and guided Molly down the highway.
After watching for a few minutes, Karen said, “That is goot. I think you’ve done this before.”
John smiled at her. “I think you’re right.”
“Perhaps you are ex-Amish.”
The moment the words left her mouth her heart sank like a stone. If John had taken the vows of their faith and then left the community, all would shun him. She would have to shun him.
He didn’t seem to notice her concern. “The sheriff did discuss that possibility.”
Dismissing the idea as unacceptable, she said, “You don’t speak or understand our language. Surely you could not
Eli smiled. “Mostly I raise and train carriage horses.I bought my first Standardbred when I was a teenager. I was looking for a fast horse to impress my girlfriend.”
“How did that work out?”
“The courtship did not, but the horse did. I got interested in the breed, began to study trade magazines and it wasn’t long before I was breeding them myself. Back then I couldn’t afford the stud fees of high-profile stallions. I got very goot at losing money at what my wife called my foolishness.”
“Isn’t horse racing and betting against your religion?”
“ Ja, it is a worldly thing and thus forbidden to us.”
“Okay, then I’m confused.”
Eli’s grin widened. “There is nothing wrong in breeding a fine horse. They are God’s creatures, after all. If you can sell that horse for an honest price, there is nothing wrong with that, either. This one’s brother is doing well on the racing circuit this year.”
John smiled as understanding dawned. “I see. If the fine horse should win a race or two for some new owner, then the next foal from your mare will be worth even more money.”
“ Ja. It is all in the hands of God. I try to remember to keep Him first in my life for He rewards His faithful servants.”
“When will you sell this fellow?”
“After the first of the year I will take him to the Winter Speed sale in Delaware, Ohio.”
The place meant nothing to John.
Eli said, “My daughter has taken a keen interest in you.”
John was surprised by the abrupt change of topic. “Your daughter has been very kind.”
“She has a goot heart. It was the same with her mother.” Eli’s voice became wistful.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Karen told me what happened.”
Eli turned to John. In a low steely voice, he said, “I would not want to see my daughter’s kindness repaid with sorrow. Be careful of that, John Doe.”
Taken aback, John stared at Eli. The last thing he wanted was to cause trouble for the woman who’d shown him so much kindness. He nodded solemnly. “I will, sir. I promise.”
Late the following morning, Karen stopped the buggy where the lane met the highway and gave a sidelong glance at John seated beside her. He turned the collar of his coat up against the cold drizzle, but his excitement at finally getting to do something shimmered in his eyes.
“Which way would you like to go?” she asked.
“Which direction is the nearest interstate?”
She pointed north. “If you go through town and then take Yoder Road north about twenty-five miles you will reach the interstate.”
“Let’s go toward Hope Springs then and stop at the farms between here and the town. If I’m not from the area I most likely came in on a major highway.”
Slapping the reins against Molly’s rump, Karen sent the mare trotting down the blacktop. “I have one stop I need to make at the Sutters’ farm. Are you certain you are not from this area?”
“No. Except that no one has reported me missing from around here. And no one has recognized me from the TV piece the local news ran on me. Do you mind if I try my hand at driving?” he asked.
Surprised by his request, she said, “ Nee, I do not mind. Do you know how to drive a horse?”
“I think I can. I’ve been watching you do it.” Taking the reins, he sat up straight and guided Molly down the highway.
After watching for a few minutes, Karen said, “That is goot. I think you’ve done this before.”
John smiled at her. “I think you’re right.”
“Perhaps you are ex-Amish.”
The moment the words left her mouth her heart sank like a stone. If John had taken the vows of their faith and then left the community, all would shun him. She would have to shun him.
He didn’t seem to notice her concern. “The sheriff did discuss that possibility.”
Dismissing the idea as unacceptable, she said, “You don’t speak or understand our language. Surely you could not
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