promise.”
“Is there something you need?”
“Yes. A ride.”
“What?” Impossible . What was he thinking? She couldn’t be seen driving the Englischer to town. Besides, he had a car. “I’m sorry. I don’t have time today. I have many errands to run. You understand, no?”
He walked around to the other side of the buggy and opened the door. “I must have run over something the other night. I’ve got two flat tires and only one spare. So, I’m grounded here with no wheels unless you can take me to get a couple of tires. I won’t slow you down on your errands.”
Rebecca and Mary Ellen would see them leaving, and no telling who might see them at the market. No, no . But she was at a loss as to what to say.
Kade sat down on the double seat beside her and closed the door.
She turned to face him. “Mr. Saunders—I mean, Kade—you can’t come with me.”
“Why?”
“Well, because . . .” She heard her last word squeak out in frustration. “It wouldn’t be appropriate.” She held her chin high.
“What exactly would be inappropriate about it?” He shifted sideways in the seat and faced her. His leg brushed against her knee. She jumped and scooted away from him.
“Ohhh,” he said as he drew out the word. “I think I see.” He rubbed his chin and kept his eyes fixed on her. It was most uncomfortable, and she could feel a blush rising from her neck.
“It would be improper for you to be seen with me,” he continued, more as a question than a statement.
“ Ya .” She drew her eyes from his and looked down.
“So, let me get this straight.” He paused, but held his position next to her. “It’s okay for us to ride together in a car when you need something. But now that I need something, it’s not all right to be seen together?”
There was humor in his tone, but Sadie found her circumstances anything but amusing. This was serious. And he had a point. How was she supposed to argue? She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“Never mind.” He opened the door and stepped down. “I’ll call someone to come out here and take care of it.” He shook his head.
“ Danki , Kade.” She tried to sound chipper and waited for him to respond.
But he just stood there, staring at her. She wanted to look away, but his eyes seemed to lock with hers.
“Well, okay, then,” he finally said.
Kade closed the door and turned away without looking back. He began walking toward the cottage.
Sadie felt badly about his predicament, but it didn’t outweigh the relief she felt at not having to spend the morning with him or risk being seen. What if Bishop Ebersol or one of the elders saw them together? Sadie knew she was already pushing the limits by housing a single man in the cottage. It had only been allowed because those in charge knew it was difficult to lease the cottage this time of year and that Sadie needed the income. Carting him around town would be looked down upon.
She motioned the horse into action with a gentle flick of the reins
Monica was about two hours from Lancaster County. After three days of driving, potty stops, food breaks, and unfamiliar hotels, she was exhausted. It would have been a ten-hour drive if she had been traveling alone, but with Tyler, that was impossible. Her restless five-year-old was only good for about two hours in the car, and even that was a struggle. She was hoping they could make it to the place she knew Kade was staying without another delay.
In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t imagine what would bring Kade all the way to the heart of Amish Dutch country in the winter. Kade hated the cold.
She glanced over her shoulder at Tyler, who had dozed off, and noticed how much he looked like his father.
Monica knew she’d made a mistake by not agreeing to joint custody of Tyler. Turns out, it had backfired on her. She never realized how much work it would be raising Tyler, and it had gotten harder and harder each year. How nice it would have been
“Is there something you need?”
“Yes. A ride.”
“What?” Impossible . What was he thinking? She couldn’t be seen driving the Englischer to town. Besides, he had a car. “I’m sorry. I don’t have time today. I have many errands to run. You understand, no?”
He walked around to the other side of the buggy and opened the door. “I must have run over something the other night. I’ve got two flat tires and only one spare. So, I’m grounded here with no wheels unless you can take me to get a couple of tires. I won’t slow you down on your errands.”
Rebecca and Mary Ellen would see them leaving, and no telling who might see them at the market. No, no . But she was at a loss as to what to say.
Kade sat down on the double seat beside her and closed the door.
She turned to face him. “Mr. Saunders—I mean, Kade—you can’t come with me.”
“Why?”
“Well, because . . .” She heard her last word squeak out in frustration. “It wouldn’t be appropriate.” She held her chin high.
“What exactly would be inappropriate about it?” He shifted sideways in the seat and faced her. His leg brushed against her knee. She jumped and scooted away from him.
“Ohhh,” he said as he drew out the word. “I think I see.” He rubbed his chin and kept his eyes fixed on her. It was most uncomfortable, and she could feel a blush rising from her neck.
“It would be improper for you to be seen with me,” he continued, more as a question than a statement.
“ Ya .” She drew her eyes from his and looked down.
“So, let me get this straight.” He paused, but held his position next to her. “It’s okay for us to ride together in a car when you need something. But now that I need something, it’s not all right to be seen together?”
There was humor in his tone, but Sadie found her circumstances anything but amusing. This was serious. And he had a point. How was she supposed to argue? She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“Never mind.” He opened the door and stepped down. “I’ll call someone to come out here and take care of it.” He shook his head.
“ Danki , Kade.” She tried to sound chipper and waited for him to respond.
But he just stood there, staring at her. She wanted to look away, but his eyes seemed to lock with hers.
“Well, okay, then,” he finally said.
Kade closed the door and turned away without looking back. He began walking toward the cottage.
Sadie felt badly about his predicament, but it didn’t outweigh the relief she felt at not having to spend the morning with him or risk being seen. What if Bishop Ebersol or one of the elders saw them together? Sadie knew she was already pushing the limits by housing a single man in the cottage. It had only been allowed because those in charge knew it was difficult to lease the cottage this time of year and that Sadie needed the income. Carting him around town would be looked down upon.
She motioned the horse into action with a gentle flick of the reins
Monica was about two hours from Lancaster County. After three days of driving, potty stops, food breaks, and unfamiliar hotels, she was exhausted. It would have been a ten-hour drive if she had been traveling alone, but with Tyler, that was impossible. Her restless five-year-old was only good for about two hours in the car, and even that was a struggle. She was hoping they could make it to the place she knew Kade was staying without another delay.
In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t imagine what would bring Kade all the way to the heart of Amish Dutch country in the winter. Kade hated the cold.
She glanced over her shoulder at Tyler, who had dozed off, and noticed how much he looked like his father.
Monica knew she’d made a mistake by not agreeing to joint custody of Tyler. Turns out, it had backfired on her. She never realized how much work it would be raising Tyler, and it had gotten harder and harder each year. How nice it would have been
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