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

he quickly averted his gaze.
    “We should get home, soohn ,” Dat said.
    “ Ja. It will be suppertime before we know it.”
    “You just ate lunch,” his father reminded him.
    “And carrot cake,” Eli said with a laugh. “With chocolate chips. I’m hoping for another piece.”
    He felt Martha’s gaze and experienced a kick to his stomach at the amused look in her brown eyes. “What can I say?” he told her. “I like sweets.”
    “ Ja , I gathered that.”
    Dat adjusted his hat. “Martha, we’ll see you soon.”
    Martha nodded her thanks. “I appreciate your help.”
    “Our pleasure,” his father said.
    Eli was aware of her as she walked them to their buggy.
    “Martha, may I take a quick look inside the barn?” Dat eyed the structure across the yard.
    “ Ja , feel free,” she said.
    And then Eli found himself alone with her as his father headed toward the outbuilding. He watched Dat disappear inside the barn before he turned to the woman beside him. The silence between them seemed charged.
    “Looks like the gut weather will hold for tomorrow’s planting,” he said conversationally. Martha nodded. Eli became more aware of her during the ensuing silence. “No critters in your yard.”
    His comment made her smile, as if she enjoyed the memory of the chase. “ Nay. Thanks be to Gott .”
    She was beautiful when she smiled, Eli realized. Her whole face lit up, and the brightness was reflected in her warm brown eyes. “If any of them get out, you know where to find me.”
    She laughed. “If I can leave them alone long enough to get you.” Today, she looked lovely in a dress in spring green with matching cape and apron. Except for those small hairs at the back of her neck that he’d noticed earlier, her dark hair was rolled, pinned and tucked up neatly beneath her white head covering.
    He liked standing beside her, wished there was more time for them to have a conversation. Eli was curious about her, her family back in Indiana, about her marriage to Ike. He furrowed his brow. Not that he’d ever ask.
    He took off his hat and brushed a hand across his nape before he put his hat back on. As their gazes collided, she quickly averted her glance. He became intrigued about why she seemed embarrassed to be caught looking at him.
    His father reappeared, drawing their attention. “I didn’t find anything useful,” Dat said with regret as he rejoined them. “Not to worry, though. We’ll get what we need in town.”
    “ Danki , Samuel.”
    “We haven’t done anything yet.”
    Her smile was rich and warm. “ Ja , you have.”
    Samuel flipped open his pad and jotted down some more notes. “Time to go,” he said when he was done.
    Eli nodded. “We’ll see ya tomorrow, Martha.” He looked forward to tomorrow’s farmwork. He skirted the buggy to climb into the passenger side.
    “Would you take lead?” his father said offhandedly as he flipped open his notepad.
    “Ja.” He climbed into the driver’s seat as his father got in on the other side. “Have a gut day, Martha.”
    “You, too, Eli. Samuel. Have a blessed day.”
    Eli clicked his tongue, flicked the reins and drove their vehicle toward home. He really was looking forward to tomorrow’s farmwork. Because most of the community will be there to help out. He enjoyed working beside his father, brothers, and neighbors. Hard work. Delicious food and the satisfaction of putting in a full day’s work. It had nothing to do with the fact that the farm belonged to Martha King.

Chapter Six
    W ednesday morning, Martha woke before dawn. The community men were coming to plant her fields today, and there was much for her to do to get ready. She dressed and then set up a food table on the back lawn. It was a cool early May morning, but she couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. She returned to the house and put on the coffeepot. While the coffee perked, she unwrapped muffins, coffee cake and the fresh bread she’d made yesterday. She then pulled out