Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) by Rebecca Kertz

drove toward the market, while she shopped, paid for her groceries, then drove home.
    Later that evening she scolded herself for worrying needlessly about her reaction to Eli Lapp. She finally put things into perspective. He was her friend’s son, and he’d been kind to her. Gratitude. That was all it was.

Chapter Five
    T he next morning Eli sat next to his father as he steered their buggy toward Martha’s farmhouse. As he’d suspected, Dat was pleased to do the work for the widow. “Amos is worried about her,” he’d said when Eli had first mentioned it to him. “He knew that his bruder had ignored the haus repairs. I imagine that Martha has been wanting things fixed for some time.”
    “Then ’tis gut that we can help her,” Eli had said, and his father had agreed.
    It was a warm and sunny day. Spring flowers had burst into bloom, adding a splash of color to the houses built along the main roadway. Residents, both English and Amish, were outside tending to chores in their yards or on their farms.
    Eli and his father lifted a hand in greeting to Abram Peachy, church deacon and friend, who was driving his buggy in the opposite direction. “Abram,” Dat greeted him as their vehicles drew abreast of each other. “Nice to see you on a fine day such as this.”
    “Should have more of the same tomorrow,” Abram said. “’Twill be a gut planting day for Martha’s.”
    “ Ja , you’ll be there then?” Dat asked.
    Abram bobbed his head. “ Ja, ja. Wouldn’t miss it. Martha’s family.”
    “We will see you tomorrow, Abram,” Dat said, and they went their separate ways.
    They rode in silence until they reached the King property. As Dat steered the horse into the widow’s driveway, Eli spied Martha in the backyard hanging laundry.
    She glanced back as if sensing their presence and waved.
    “She knows we’re here.” Eli watched as she stopped what she was doing and approached with a smile.
    “Martha,” his father greeted her as he climbed from the vehicle.
    “Samuel.” She gave him a nod. Her gaze slid in his direction. “Eli.”
    “ Hallo , Martha.” She looked well, he thought. The fresh air and spring warmth clearly agreed with her.
    “You’re out early this morning,” she said.
    “Is this a bad time?” Samuel asked.
    She shook her head. “ Nay , this is the gut time. It’s kind of you to come.”
    “Do you have a list of what you want done or would you prefer to show us?” Eli felt himself the focus of her brown gaze. His thoughts flashed back to her seated on the ground, laughing, after one of her escaped animals got the better of her.
    “I’d prefer to show you.”
    Dat indicated his pad and pencil. “I’ll make a list.”
    “If you follow me, we’ll start around front.”
    Eli trailed behind as Martha and his father discussed the areas of the house that needed their attention—and there were a lot of them, too many for him to remember. Fortunately, his father took notes as Martha explained what needed to be done. Eli found his thoughts wandering to the tiny dark tendrils of hair at her nape below her kapp .
    “Eli.”
    He shook himself from his thoughts. “Ja, Dat?”
    “Can you start work next week?”
    “ Ja , I’m available.” Eli allowed his gaze to shift again to Martha. He was charmed to see her suddenly pink cheeks, and he smiled. He turned to his father. “Monday?”
    Dat looked up as he closed his notepad. “ Ja . That will give us Thursday to take another look around to see exactly what materials we need.”
    “And you’ll write up a proposal?” Martha asked.
    “ Ja , I’ll check on some prices and let you know.” His father paused, and his smile for her was reassuring. “Amos and I have been friends and neighbors nearly all of our lives. You can trust us to do a gut job for a reasonable price.”
    Martha’s expression warmed. “I know,” she said without hesitation.
    Captivated by her features, Eli stared for a moment until she glanced his way, and