direction.
“What about me?” Irene asked.
“Thee is welcome to come witness me humble myself or thee can go visit with one of thy school friends.”
“I believe thy humbleness will be much more entertaining.” Irene's lips twitched.
“I figured thee would see it that way.” Flora nodded in the opposite direction. “Come on.”
With her heart outpacing her, Flora set off down the hill to where the Millikans were preparing their carriage on the side of the dirt road. Eli Millikan adjusted the harness and reins around the family's two horses. Holly Millikan was the first to notice their approach. A smile lit her face, and she hurried toward them, her hands outstretched in greeting.
Nearing sixty, Friend Holly's silver hair framed her face beneath her black bonnet. Her brown eyes held a deep regard and warmth that gave Flora encouragement. Thin lines etched her eyes and mouth without detracting from her looks, but rather enhancing her years of wisdom. Hers was a comforting expression that made one want to confide in her.
Warm hands gripped Flora's and then reached out to welcome Irene as well. “Good to see thee this morning. I'm so glad I got a chance to greet thee both.” She squeezed Flora's hand in emphasis.
“Indeed,” Flora nodded. “I hope thee is doing well?”
“I am.” She leaned close and lowered her voice. “Although I had hoped to have my Bruce home a little longer before he set out on one of those dangerous missions again. I've put him in the Lord's hands, but a mother still worries.” She lowered her eyes and shook her head as if ashamed that she couldn't help worrying.
“I understand.” Flora's heart filled with compassion, and she rubbed Holly's arm. “If I had a son, I'd feel the same way.”
“Oh, Friend Flora, now I shall worry about thee as well. And thee, too, Irene.” She glanced from her to Irene. “But I do have one small favor to ask.”
“Anything,” Flora said, nodding.
“Will thee make sure my Bruce eats well? I fear he lost too much weight on his last mission and there weren't two nice young ladies such as thyselves to feed him.”
“On that score, I believe I can put thy mind at ease.” Flora gave her hand a reassuring pat. “I'll make sure he eats plenty.”
Bruce and Silas walked up and greeted them with wide grins. Bruce walked with assurance and Silas with a nonchalant swagger.
“We were thinking of calling on thee,” Silas said. “Perhaps this afternoon will do? The weather is perfect for a buggy ride after the midday meal.”
“I promised Mother I'd help her cook the midday meal and then we must can some of the vegetables for winter.” Flora glanced at her sister, who was gazing up at Silas with wide, admiring eyes. “I thank thee, but perhaps Irene would?”
“I'd love to,” Irene said, her face flushing a pink as bright as their spring garden roses.
“Friend Bruce, may I speak with thee about the mission?” Flora asked, pinning her gaze upon him before she lost her newfound courage.
His eyebrows rose and his lips dropped into a frown.
“In private?” Her chest beat like a drum against her ribcage. “Please?”
“Excuse me.” He nodded to the others and stepped away with her.
They walked down the road side by side. As the silence lengthened, their arms grazed. Warmth flooded her. She imagined her face turning the same color as Irene's had a moment earlier.
“Flora, I know thee didn't want to go on a stroll. What's on thy mind?”
His tone wasn't unkind, but it was inquisitive. She took a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure where to begin.” She stopped and glanced up into his green eyes. His reddish-blond hair was combed gently over to the side of his forehead beneath his black hat. His oblong face now fitted his man's frame very nicely. Irene was right. Bruce Millikan had turned out to be very handsome indeed.
“Flora?” He leaned forward, his gaze searching hers in concern.
“I'm sorry…for not forgiving
“What about me?” Irene asked.
“Thee is welcome to come witness me humble myself or thee can go visit with one of thy school friends.”
“I believe thy humbleness will be much more entertaining.” Irene's lips twitched.
“I figured thee would see it that way.” Flora nodded in the opposite direction. “Come on.”
With her heart outpacing her, Flora set off down the hill to where the Millikans were preparing their carriage on the side of the dirt road. Eli Millikan adjusted the harness and reins around the family's two horses. Holly Millikan was the first to notice their approach. A smile lit her face, and she hurried toward them, her hands outstretched in greeting.
Nearing sixty, Friend Holly's silver hair framed her face beneath her black bonnet. Her brown eyes held a deep regard and warmth that gave Flora encouragement. Thin lines etched her eyes and mouth without detracting from her looks, but rather enhancing her years of wisdom. Hers was a comforting expression that made one want to confide in her.
Warm hands gripped Flora's and then reached out to welcome Irene as well. “Good to see thee this morning. I'm so glad I got a chance to greet thee both.” She squeezed Flora's hand in emphasis.
“Indeed,” Flora nodded. “I hope thee is doing well?”
“I am.” She leaned close and lowered her voice. “Although I had hoped to have my Bruce home a little longer before he set out on one of those dangerous missions again. I've put him in the Lord's hands, but a mother still worries.” She lowered her eyes and shook her head as if ashamed that she couldn't help worrying.
“I understand.” Flora's heart filled with compassion, and she rubbed Holly's arm. “If I had a son, I'd feel the same way.”
“Oh, Friend Flora, now I shall worry about thee as well. And thee, too, Irene.” She glanced from her to Irene. “But I do have one small favor to ask.”
“Anything,” Flora said, nodding.
“Will thee make sure my Bruce eats well? I fear he lost too much weight on his last mission and there weren't two nice young ladies such as thyselves to feed him.”
“On that score, I believe I can put thy mind at ease.” Flora gave her hand a reassuring pat. “I'll make sure he eats plenty.”
Bruce and Silas walked up and greeted them with wide grins. Bruce walked with assurance and Silas with a nonchalant swagger.
“We were thinking of calling on thee,” Silas said. “Perhaps this afternoon will do? The weather is perfect for a buggy ride after the midday meal.”
“I promised Mother I'd help her cook the midday meal and then we must can some of the vegetables for winter.” Flora glanced at her sister, who was gazing up at Silas with wide, admiring eyes. “I thank thee, but perhaps Irene would?”
“I'd love to,” Irene said, her face flushing a pink as bright as their spring garden roses.
“Friend Bruce, may I speak with thee about the mission?” Flora asked, pinning her gaze upon him before she lost her newfound courage.
His eyebrows rose and his lips dropped into a frown.
“In private?” Her chest beat like a drum against her ribcage. “Please?”
“Excuse me.” He nodded to the others and stepped away with her.
They walked down the road side by side. As the silence lengthened, their arms grazed. Warmth flooded her. She imagined her face turning the same color as Irene's had a moment earlier.
“Flora, I know thee didn't want to go on a stroll. What's on thy mind?”
His tone wasn't unkind, but it was inquisitive. She took a deep breath. “I'm sorry. I just wasn't sure where to begin.” She stopped and glanced up into his green eyes. His reddish-blond hair was combed gently over to the side of his forehead beneath his black hat. His oblong face now fitted his man's frame very nicely. Irene was right. Bruce Millikan had turned out to be very handsome indeed.
“Flora?” He leaned forward, his gaze searching hers in concern.
“I'm sorry…for not forgiving
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