Lancaster Hearts (Out of Darkness - Amish Connections (An Amish of Lancaster County Saga)) by Ruth Price Page B
Authors: Ruth Price
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Rachel were in competition, then Rachel was decidedly winning. Judith wasn't even sure how to reclaim a place in the contest, let alone if it was even a good idea to try.
“ We'll be back to claim you at 4:30, ” Annie said. “ Right here, if that's okay. ”
“ Ja, and danki, ” Judith said. The class would take two hours, and from there Judith had planned to join Isaac for a light lunch and then show him to the library before doing her afternoon classes. With Rachel along, that meant that the other girl would mon opolize Isaac's attention, and then they'd be left to sort themselves out for the rest of the day. Worse, with Rachel dressed Plain, by having the two of them walking together alone in view of the entire town would send a clear signal that the two were courting. Had they taken their Kneeling Vows, this would have been a clear violation of the Ordnung, and it did pose some risk to their reputations, though if Isaac proposed, these technicalities would hardly matter. It had been a risk that Judith was also prepared to take, though she had less to fear dressed as an Englischer, and with her own odd reputation besides. Most people were half convinced Judith was going to leave, what with her spending weekdays and most nights outside of the community. She even stayed over at a rooming house run by a Mennonite family on Tuesdays-Saturdays, so that she wouldn't be too exhausted for her classes.
When Isaac had closed the van door again behind them, Judith gestured towards the community center. “ The class starts at 9:45, ” she explained. “ We should go upstairs and get checked in, I suppose. And see if we can't get you added to the group. ” Judith nod ded at Rachel, hopeful that the annoyance wasn't obvious on her face.
Rachel giggled, her fingers shielding her lips. “ I must admit, it seems a bit immodest to be so close to a stranger, ” she said. “ But I suppose if it's necessary at points. ”
Judith led the way. She'd been to this community center twice, once to ask about how to sign up for her high school classes, and once for a talk on biology and genetics that had gone almost entirely over her head. The CPR class was in the same room as that previous talk, and Judith lead them to the stairs. Though it was three flights up, the old Englischer elevator with its jerky movements and occasional clunking sound when it passed from one floor to the next made Judith nervous. The place, like most Englischer buildings, was air-conditioned, and the cool air dried the sweat on Judith's skin. When they reached the third floor, Judith shoved the door open. They entered a hallway carpeted in an industrial yellow shade that reminded Judith of hotdog mustard. The walls were painted with murals of various chubby animals walking along a green, grassy hill.
Rachel pointed to one of the chipmunks and giggled again. “ Isn't it sweet, Isaac? ”
“ Ja, ” Isaac said. His lack of enthusiasm bolstered Judith's mood.
In front of the room where the class was going to be held sat a folding table with a woman behind it. She looked to be in her mid-forties, with stark black hair pulled back into a French braid that was then clipped into a bun at the nape of her neck. She w ore a bright, flowered shirt a skirt that flowed down to her ankles, a pair of cream-colored sandals peeking out from the hem. In front of her sat a paper, in front of that a box of magic markers and nametag stickers. She smiled when she saw Judith. “ You're Judith, right? Weren't you at the genetics lecture last month? ”
Judith blinked, trying to place the woman, whose smile widened. She said, “ No, I don't think we talked, but you were in the picture in the newsletter. It's rare we get someone under sixty for the daytime talks. ” Her gaze rested on Rachel and Isaac. “ But it makes sense. You're Amish right? ”
“ Ja, ” Judith said. “ These are my friends, Isaac and Rachel. I called about Isaac, but I hadn't realized Rachel wanted
“ We'll be back to claim you at 4:30, ” Annie said. “ Right here, if that's okay. ”
“ Ja, and danki, ” Judith said. The class would take two hours, and from there Judith had planned to join Isaac for a light lunch and then show him to the library before doing her afternoon classes. With Rachel along, that meant that the other girl would mon opolize Isaac's attention, and then they'd be left to sort themselves out for the rest of the day. Worse, with Rachel dressed Plain, by having the two of them walking together alone in view of the entire town would send a clear signal that the two were courting. Had they taken their Kneeling Vows, this would have been a clear violation of the Ordnung, and it did pose some risk to their reputations, though if Isaac proposed, these technicalities would hardly matter. It had been a risk that Judith was also prepared to take, though she had less to fear dressed as an Englischer, and with her own odd reputation besides. Most people were half convinced Judith was going to leave, what with her spending weekdays and most nights outside of the community. She even stayed over at a rooming house run by a Mennonite family on Tuesdays-Saturdays, so that she wouldn't be too exhausted for her classes.
When Isaac had closed the van door again behind them, Judith gestured towards the community center. “ The class starts at 9:45, ” she explained. “ We should go upstairs and get checked in, I suppose. And see if we can't get you added to the group. ” Judith nod ded at Rachel, hopeful that the annoyance wasn't obvious on her face.
Rachel giggled, her fingers shielding her lips. “ I must admit, it seems a bit immodest to be so close to a stranger, ” she said. “ But I suppose if it's necessary at points. ”
Judith led the way. She'd been to this community center twice, once to ask about how to sign up for her high school classes, and once for a talk on biology and genetics that had gone almost entirely over her head. The CPR class was in the same room as that previous talk, and Judith lead them to the stairs. Though it was three flights up, the old Englischer elevator with its jerky movements and occasional clunking sound when it passed from one floor to the next made Judith nervous. The place, like most Englischer buildings, was air-conditioned, and the cool air dried the sweat on Judith's skin. When they reached the third floor, Judith shoved the door open. They entered a hallway carpeted in an industrial yellow shade that reminded Judith of hotdog mustard. The walls were painted with murals of various chubby animals walking along a green, grassy hill.
Rachel pointed to one of the chipmunks and giggled again. “ Isn't it sweet, Isaac? ”
“ Ja, ” Isaac said. His lack of enthusiasm bolstered Judith's mood.
In front of the room where the class was going to be held sat a folding table with a woman behind it. She looked to be in her mid-forties, with stark black hair pulled back into a French braid that was then clipped into a bun at the nape of her neck. She w ore a bright, flowered shirt a skirt that flowed down to her ankles, a pair of cream-colored sandals peeking out from the hem. In front of her sat a paper, in front of that a box of magic markers and nametag stickers. She smiled when she saw Judith. “ You're Judith, right? Weren't you at the genetics lecture last month? ”
Judith blinked, trying to place the woman, whose smile widened. She said, “ No, I don't think we talked, but you were in the picture in the newsletter. It's rare we get someone under sixty for the daytime talks. ” Her gaze rested on Rachel and Isaac. “ But it makes sense. You're Amish right? ”
“ Ja, ” Judith said. “ These are my friends, Isaac and Rachel. I called about Isaac, but I hadn't realized Rachel wanted
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