zapped. The thrill she had felt earlier when she’d been alone with Eli at the lake had diminished some, too.
Until today, Laura had usually been able to charm anyone she met. Not only had she not charmed Eli’s parents, but she was quite sure that she’d probably alienated them. If they had known that she was hoping to see Eli again and had even fantasized about asking him to leave the Amish faith and join her in the modern English world, she was sure they would have told her to leave their home at once.
Laura looked forward to her date with Eli next Saturday, but she knew she would have to take things slow and easy. She didn’t want to scare Eli off by making him think there was more to their relationship than friendship. That’s all there was at this point, but she was hoping for more—so much more.
CHAPTER 6
Saturday dawned with an ugly, gray sky and depressing, drizzling rain. Laura groaned as she stared out the window of her dorm room. She figured Eli probably wouldn’t show up for their rendezvous now. If they went for another buggy ride, they would be drenched in no time, and she doubted that he would want to pass the time sitting in some restaurant or wandering through a bunch of tourist-filled souvenir shops with her. They weren’t supposed to meet until two o’clock, so with any luck, maybe the rain would be gone by then.
Laura turned from the window and ambled over to her desk, fully intending to get in a few hours of study time. Her mind seemed unwilling to cooperate, however, so she pushed the books aside and painted her fingernails instead.
By noon, the drizzle had turned into a full-fledged downpour. Laura could only hope Eli wouldn’t stand her up.
She hurried downstairs and was almost to the door, when Darla showed up in the hallway.
“From the way you’re dressed, I’d say you’re going out. What I’d like to know is where you’re heading on a crummy day like this.”
Laura offered a brief smile and held up her green umbrella. “I’m going to Paradise.”
Darla’s forehead wrinkled. “I figured you would be up in your room studying for that test we’ll be having on Monday.”
Laura shrugged. “I can’t concentrate on schoolwork today. Besides, I’m supposed to meet Eli at the variety store.”
Darla’s frown deepened. “Are you chasing after that Amish fellow?”
“Of course not. Eli and I are just friends, and he’s offered to show me around the area. That’s all there is to it.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Well, do whatever you want, but don’t come crying to me when you get your toes stepped on.”
Laura turned toward the door. “I’ve got to go. See you later, Darla.”
***
“Where are you heading?” Mary Ellen asked as Eli started for the back door. “Out to work in your shop?”
He turned to face her. “Thought I’d go to the farmers’ market today.”
“Did you rent a table again?”
“Nope. Figured I’d just browse a bit. See if there’s anyone else selling handmade wooden items and maybe pick up an idea or two.”
Mary Ellen motioned toward the refrigerator. “We’re about out of root beer. If you see some of the good homemade kind, would you pick up a couple of jugs?”
“Jah, sure. Anything else you’d like me to get?”
She contemplated a moment, then shook her head.
“Guess not, but knowing me, I’ll think of something after you’ve gone.”
He chuckled and headed out the door. “I’ll be home by suppertime, Mom. See you then.”
Mary Ellen moved over to the sink with the last of the breakfast dishes. She would let them soak while she drank a cup of coffee and read the Amish newspaper. “Sure hope that boy of mine isn’t meeting the fancy English girl he brought over here last week,” she muttered as she ran water into the sink. “The last thing this family needs is for Eli to fall in love with someone outside our faith and decide to leave.”
***
As Pauline stepped onto the Yoders’ back
Until today, Laura had usually been able to charm anyone she met. Not only had she not charmed Eli’s parents, but she was quite sure that she’d probably alienated them. If they had known that she was hoping to see Eli again and had even fantasized about asking him to leave the Amish faith and join her in the modern English world, she was sure they would have told her to leave their home at once.
Laura looked forward to her date with Eli next Saturday, but she knew she would have to take things slow and easy. She didn’t want to scare Eli off by making him think there was more to their relationship than friendship. That’s all there was at this point, but she was hoping for more—so much more.
CHAPTER 6
Saturday dawned with an ugly, gray sky and depressing, drizzling rain. Laura groaned as she stared out the window of her dorm room. She figured Eli probably wouldn’t show up for their rendezvous now. If they went for another buggy ride, they would be drenched in no time, and she doubted that he would want to pass the time sitting in some restaurant or wandering through a bunch of tourist-filled souvenir shops with her. They weren’t supposed to meet until two o’clock, so with any luck, maybe the rain would be gone by then.
Laura turned from the window and ambled over to her desk, fully intending to get in a few hours of study time. Her mind seemed unwilling to cooperate, however, so she pushed the books aside and painted her fingernails instead.
By noon, the drizzle had turned into a full-fledged downpour. Laura could only hope Eli wouldn’t stand her up.
She hurried downstairs and was almost to the door, when Darla showed up in the hallway.
“From the way you’re dressed, I’d say you’re going out. What I’d like to know is where you’re heading on a crummy day like this.”
Laura offered a brief smile and held up her green umbrella. “I’m going to Paradise.”
Darla’s forehead wrinkled. “I figured you would be up in your room studying for that test we’ll be having on Monday.”
Laura shrugged. “I can’t concentrate on schoolwork today. Besides, I’m supposed to meet Eli at the variety store.”
Darla’s frown deepened. “Are you chasing after that Amish fellow?”
“Of course not. Eli and I are just friends, and he’s offered to show me around the area. That’s all there is to it.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Well, do whatever you want, but don’t come crying to me when you get your toes stepped on.”
Laura turned toward the door. “I’ve got to go. See you later, Darla.”
***
“Where are you heading?” Mary Ellen asked as Eli started for the back door. “Out to work in your shop?”
He turned to face her. “Thought I’d go to the farmers’ market today.”
“Did you rent a table again?”
“Nope. Figured I’d just browse a bit. See if there’s anyone else selling handmade wooden items and maybe pick up an idea or two.”
Mary Ellen motioned toward the refrigerator. “We’re about out of root beer. If you see some of the good homemade kind, would you pick up a couple of jugs?”
“Jah, sure. Anything else you’d like me to get?”
She contemplated a moment, then shook her head.
“Guess not, but knowing me, I’ll think of something after you’ve gone.”
He chuckled and headed out the door. “I’ll be home by suppertime, Mom. See you then.”
Mary Ellen moved over to the sink with the last of the breakfast dishes. She would let them soak while she drank a cup of coffee and read the Amish newspaper. “Sure hope that boy of mine isn’t meeting the fancy English girl he brought over here last week,” she muttered as she ran water into the sink. “The last thing this family needs is for Eli to fall in love with someone outside our faith and decide to leave.”
***
As Pauline stepped onto the Yoders’ back
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