Barbara.”
“Why’s that?”
“I talked with Alice the other day, and she said Barbara is awfully tired and acting depressed. She thinks this baby drained Barbara’s strength more than the other three did and wonders if she’s feeling down because it might be some time before she’s up to working at the harness shop again.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t return to work at all. Maybe she should sell the harness shop and concentrate on raising her boys.”
“I’ve thought the same thing.” Faith sighed. “I think my good friend needs a husband.”
Noah raised his brows. “Have you got anyone in mind?”
“Not really, but—”
He reached for her hand. “Now don’t go trying to play matchmaker, Faith.”
“Of course not. I don’t know of any available men here in our community other than Bishop John. And he’s much older than Barbara, so I doubt she’d be interested in him.”
Noah squinted. “Do you really think age matters so much?”
“Well, no, I suppose not.” She poked his arm playfully. “After all, I’m a few years older than you.”
“Jah, but only a few.”
“Since I don’t know who would be right for Barbara, I promise I won’t try to play matchmaker, but I can sure pray about the matter. She needs a husband, and her boys certainly need a daed.”
Noah nodded. “Speaking of a daed, my boss, Hank, is a lot happier since he and Sandy adopted little Johnny.
She smiled, remembering how, soon after she’d returned to Webster County, she had talked to Hank’s wife about her inability to have children and how pleased Sandy had been once she and Hank had decided to adopt.
Faith placed both hands across her stomach and struggled with her swirling emotions. Despite the fact that she’d been blessed with two special children, she longed to have more. But that was not to be.
For the last few weeks, Barbara had kept pretty much to herself. She was tempted to go out to the harness shop to see how things were going but didn’t want Paul to think she was checking up on him. Besides, she felt uncomfortable and defensive around him.
Barbara stared out the kitchen window. Two Amish buggies and a truck were parked in front of the harness shop. Business was obviously picking up. If Paul weren’t helping out, they would probably have to turn customers away.
A knock at the front door halted her thoughts. “Now who would be using that door?” she muttered.
When Barbara opened the door, her friend Faith Hertzler stood on the porch. “Guder mariye, Barbara. I brought you one of Noah’s lemon sponge cakes.”
“Good morning to you, too. The cake looks delicious.”
Faith smiled, and her blue eyes fairly twinkled as she stepped into the living room. “I thought it might fatten you up a bit. You’re looking awful skinny.”
Barbara took the cake and motioned Faith to take a seat on the couch. “I’ll put this in the kitchen and bring us a cup of tea,” she said.
“Sounds good. Oh, and Noah attached a verse of scripture to the cake. I added a little joke on the back side of the paper.”
Barbara nodded and smiled. “That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
A few minutes later, she returned with two cups of hot tea.She handed one to Faith and took a seat in the rocker across from her. “How come you used the front door?”
“Noah’s out in the harness shop seeing about having some new bridles made. As I was heading up to your house, I spotted your three boys playing in the front yard and went to visit with them a few minutes.” Faith chuckled. “I was too lazy to walk around back after the kinner and I finished chatting.”
Barbara frowned. “Aaron’s home from school already? I didn’t realize it was that late.”
“School let out early today. It’s the last day of school, you know.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Barbara thumped the side of her head. She didn’t know why she hadn’t remembered. It made her feel as if she were losing control when she forgot something.
“Why’s that?”
“I talked with Alice the other day, and she said Barbara is awfully tired and acting depressed. She thinks this baby drained Barbara’s strength more than the other three did and wonders if she’s feeling down because it might be some time before she’s up to working at the harness shop again.”
“Maybe she shouldn’t return to work at all. Maybe she should sell the harness shop and concentrate on raising her boys.”
“I’ve thought the same thing.” Faith sighed. “I think my good friend needs a husband.”
Noah raised his brows. “Have you got anyone in mind?”
“Not really, but—”
He reached for her hand. “Now don’t go trying to play matchmaker, Faith.”
“Of course not. I don’t know of any available men here in our community other than Bishop John. And he’s much older than Barbara, so I doubt she’d be interested in him.”
Noah squinted. “Do you really think age matters so much?”
“Well, no, I suppose not.” She poked his arm playfully. “After all, I’m a few years older than you.”
“Jah, but only a few.”
“Since I don’t know who would be right for Barbara, I promise I won’t try to play matchmaker, but I can sure pray about the matter. She needs a husband, and her boys certainly need a daed.”
Noah nodded. “Speaking of a daed, my boss, Hank, is a lot happier since he and Sandy adopted little Johnny.
She smiled, remembering how, soon after she’d returned to Webster County, she had talked to Hank’s wife about her inability to have children and how pleased Sandy had been once she and Hank had decided to adopt.
Faith placed both hands across her stomach and struggled with her swirling emotions. Despite the fact that she’d been blessed with two special children, she longed to have more. But that was not to be.
For the last few weeks, Barbara had kept pretty much to herself. She was tempted to go out to the harness shop to see how things were going but didn’t want Paul to think she was checking up on him. Besides, she felt uncomfortable and defensive around him.
Barbara stared out the kitchen window. Two Amish buggies and a truck were parked in front of the harness shop. Business was obviously picking up. If Paul weren’t helping out, they would probably have to turn customers away.
A knock at the front door halted her thoughts. “Now who would be using that door?” she muttered.
When Barbara opened the door, her friend Faith Hertzler stood on the porch. “Guder mariye, Barbara. I brought you one of Noah’s lemon sponge cakes.”
“Good morning to you, too. The cake looks delicious.”
Faith smiled, and her blue eyes fairly twinkled as she stepped into the living room. “I thought it might fatten you up a bit. You’re looking awful skinny.”
Barbara took the cake and motioned Faith to take a seat on the couch. “I’ll put this in the kitchen and bring us a cup of tea,” she said.
“Sounds good. Oh, and Noah attached a verse of scripture to the cake. I added a little joke on the back side of the paper.”
Barbara nodded and smiled. “That doesn’t surprise me at all.”
A few minutes later, she returned with two cups of hot tea.She handed one to Faith and took a seat in the rocker across from her. “How come you used the front door?”
“Noah’s out in the harness shop seeing about having some new bridles made. As I was heading up to your house, I spotted your three boys playing in the front yard and went to visit with them a few minutes.” Faith chuckled. “I was too lazy to walk around back after the kinner and I finished chatting.”
Barbara frowned. “Aaron’s home from school already? I didn’t realize it was that late.”
“School let out early today. It’s the last day of school, you know.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Barbara thumped the side of her head. She didn’t know why she hadn’t remembered. It made her feel as if she were losing control when she forgot something.
Similar Books
