David’s father, Samuel.” Mamm cocked her head to one side and pressed her lips together. “So interesting. I’ve never known anyone who came from the other side.”
“I’m teaching the girls about the Bible.” Betsy raised her smal chin and smiled at their father.
Emily remembered Betsy’s Bible lesson with Anna. “Betsy, why don’t you just behave like a normal little girl, play and have fun when you have friends over?” She knew the question was harsh, and there was that word again— normal . When Betsy’s mouth fel into a frown, she softened her tone. “I mean, I’m sure Anna and Elizabeth’s parents teach them about the Bible at their own home. Maybe they’d like to put a puzzle together or play a game?”
Betsy scrunched her face into a pout. “You can’t learn much by doing that.”
“Sometimes you just need to have fun, Betsy.” Emily took a smal bite of meatloaf.
Levi grunted as he reached for a slice of bread. “Maybe you oughta take your own advice.”
Emily slammed her fork down. “You’re not exactly running around here al happy, Levi. Maybe you best not tel me how I’m supposed to feel, or act, or be . ..” She felt tears building in the corners of her eyes.
“That’s enough,” Mamm warned each of them. “This is not proper behavior for the supper table.”
Jacob pushed his plate back. Her oldest brother didn’t like any type of confrontation, and Emily saw him cringe before he quickly bowed his head in silent prayer, then excused himself. “I’l go get the horses secured in the barn. Supposed to be real cold tonight, I heard.”
“That’s what I heard too.” Mamm pointed toward the den. “I already hauled in some extra logs.”
Emily watched as Jacob pushed his chair in and left the room. She’d never been as close to Jacob as she was to Levi, but al that had changed recently. When Levi withdrew inside himself for reasons none of them could understand, Jacob had stepped in and seemed to silently understand Emily’s pain. He was much like their father in that regard.
She didn’t hear much of the rest of the conversation. She picked at her food, but for once, there was no ugly replay going on in her mind. Instead, she was thinking about David Stoltzfus. A handsome, single man. And, apparently, a nice person. But Emily knew that she needed to avoid him, not get close to him. She reached up and grazed the scar with her finger. What would someone like David Stoltzfus want with her anyway?
Just the same, she planned to avoid the singing on Sunday somehow.
DAVID HAD NEVER seen a group of women so excited about a commode before.
Lil ian rushed to Anna and Elizabeth the minute they walked in with him. “We have a bathroom in the haus , mei maedels !” She pointed toward the stairs. “Go see!”
Anna and Elizabeth squealed al the way up the steps as Lil ian fol owed.
“Glad to make the women folk happy.” His father rounded the corner from the kitchen toting a steaming cup in his hand. “We just got here yesterday, but they made it clear that it was their first priority.” Daed chuckled, then surveyed the den. Boxes were everywhere, but David knew his father was looking beyond the obvious clutter. “Lots of work to do on this haus , son.”
David sighed. “Where do we start?” He scanned his immediate surroundings. Wooden floors rotted in places, cabinet and screen doors barely on their hinges, and chips of blue paint fal ing from the wood-planked wal s. He could even feel cold air from outside seeping between the cracks as they stood there.
“Tomorrow I think we best start caulking these wal s. We’re gonna have a hard winter to go through, and best to get things weathertight before we worry about the looks of the place.”
David nodded. “Sounds gut .” He looked toward the kitchen. “I don’t smel any supper,” he said in a whisper.
“Lil ian said she can’t cook in the kitchen with al the clutter, so we’re having ham sandwiches. It’s
“I’m teaching the girls about the Bible.” Betsy raised her smal chin and smiled at their father.
Emily remembered Betsy’s Bible lesson with Anna. “Betsy, why don’t you just behave like a normal little girl, play and have fun when you have friends over?” She knew the question was harsh, and there was that word again— normal . When Betsy’s mouth fel into a frown, she softened her tone. “I mean, I’m sure Anna and Elizabeth’s parents teach them about the Bible at their own home. Maybe they’d like to put a puzzle together or play a game?”
Betsy scrunched her face into a pout. “You can’t learn much by doing that.”
“Sometimes you just need to have fun, Betsy.” Emily took a smal bite of meatloaf.
Levi grunted as he reached for a slice of bread. “Maybe you oughta take your own advice.”
Emily slammed her fork down. “You’re not exactly running around here al happy, Levi. Maybe you best not tel me how I’m supposed to feel, or act, or be . ..” She felt tears building in the corners of her eyes.
“That’s enough,” Mamm warned each of them. “This is not proper behavior for the supper table.”
Jacob pushed his plate back. Her oldest brother didn’t like any type of confrontation, and Emily saw him cringe before he quickly bowed his head in silent prayer, then excused himself. “I’l go get the horses secured in the barn. Supposed to be real cold tonight, I heard.”
“That’s what I heard too.” Mamm pointed toward the den. “I already hauled in some extra logs.”
Emily watched as Jacob pushed his chair in and left the room. She’d never been as close to Jacob as she was to Levi, but al that had changed recently. When Levi withdrew inside himself for reasons none of them could understand, Jacob had stepped in and seemed to silently understand Emily’s pain. He was much like their father in that regard.
She didn’t hear much of the rest of the conversation. She picked at her food, but for once, there was no ugly replay going on in her mind. Instead, she was thinking about David Stoltzfus. A handsome, single man. And, apparently, a nice person. But Emily knew that she needed to avoid him, not get close to him. She reached up and grazed the scar with her finger. What would someone like David Stoltzfus want with her anyway?
Just the same, she planned to avoid the singing on Sunday somehow.
DAVID HAD NEVER seen a group of women so excited about a commode before.
Lil ian rushed to Anna and Elizabeth the minute they walked in with him. “We have a bathroom in the haus , mei maedels !” She pointed toward the stairs. “Go see!”
Anna and Elizabeth squealed al the way up the steps as Lil ian fol owed.
“Glad to make the women folk happy.” His father rounded the corner from the kitchen toting a steaming cup in his hand. “We just got here yesterday, but they made it clear that it was their first priority.” Daed chuckled, then surveyed the den. Boxes were everywhere, but David knew his father was looking beyond the obvious clutter. “Lots of work to do on this haus , son.”
David sighed. “Where do we start?” He scanned his immediate surroundings. Wooden floors rotted in places, cabinet and screen doors barely on their hinges, and chips of blue paint fal ing from the wood-planked wal s. He could even feel cold air from outside seeping between the cracks as they stood there.
“Tomorrow I think we best start caulking these wal s. We’re gonna have a hard winter to go through, and best to get things weathertight before we worry about the looks of the place.”
David nodded. “Sounds gut .” He looked toward the kitchen. “I don’t smel any supper,” he said in a whisper.
“Lil ian said she can’t cook in the kitchen with al the clutter, so we’re having ham sandwiches. It’s
Similar Books
