sour?’’
Man—this guy’s good!
If she changed the subject quickly, Sam would know the truth. If she made up something, she’d be ticked at herself. ‘‘Maybe it’s best not to talk about where I’ve been and who I was . . . back then.’’
Back then? Who am I kidding?
‘‘Well, I know you live somewhere near Denver . . . and you were Louisa Stratford then, same as now.’’ He looked at her with serious eyes. ‘‘But what’re you hidin’?’’
Let it go already, she wanted to say, but bit her tongue.
He reached for her gloved hand. ‘‘Your beau—your man—is he waiting for you to find your way? Is that why you’re here for the time bein’?’’
She shook her head. ‘‘No one’s waiting. And I guess I could say I had lost my way. But not anymore.’’
‘‘ Des gut, then,’’ he said too quickly. ‘‘That’s just right fine with me.’’
Yikes . . . Louisa sat back against the seat as the realization hit her full force. He’s falling for me .
Chapter 6
O n Monday morning, Courtney arrived early enough to join the Zooks for breakfast. Annie observed her reaction to Mamm’s overflowing platters: eggs, bacon, and sausage, along with homemade waffles and cornmeal mush, all laid out in a neat row in the center of the table. Or maybe it was not the variety of food that caught this Englischer’s attention. Still, Courtney’s soft green eyes were wide with something that looked like wonder, and she had little to say during the meal, as if she had many more thoughts than words.
Omar and Yonie were exceedingly friendly, almost too much so, Annie thought, asking Courtney about Colorado weather and suchlike. Luke eyed Courtney suspiciously, though, and held back, as was his usual way.
My brothers must wonder how many worldly women I’m going to invite into the house! Daed and Mamm must be wondering, too, thought Annie, hoping Courtney’s stay wouldn’t ruffle too many feathers. Her arrival in Paradise had already raised Mamm’s eyebrows, beginning with Courtney’s staying at the B&B rather than at the Zooks’ home. Still, Mamm had cordially welcomed Courtney this morning, though Annie noted her parents were not overly friendly. Even Mammi and Dawdi were quieter than usual.
Daed’s stern words of rebuke were still floating in Annie’s head. Goodness knows she was not interested in yet another straight talk from her father. In no uncertain terms Daed had let it be known that her sinning days were to be a thing of the past. And she felt his eyes on her too often.
Six months is a long time to stay far from my art, she thought. But, then, so is forever . She contemplated the life vow she was expected to make to the church come next fall, feeling she had little choice as each day passed. She also knew that her promise to her father would be up in mid-July.
‘‘Pass the bacon, Annie,’’ Daed spoke up.
Quickly she reached for the large plate and passed it to her right, to Luke, who then handed it on. ‘‘Would ya like some sausage, too?’’ She leaned forward, able to see Daed sitting at his usual spot at the head of the table.
‘‘Jah, sausage. Es gut .’’ Her father’s gaze caught hers briefly. He wore his black work suspenders and a bright green shirt. ‘‘And more coffee, Mamm.’’
Her mother jumped to her feet. Courtney looked shocked, as if she’d never before seen a woman wait on a man.
Well, won’t she be surprised all round?
Annie’s thoughts flitted back to the first few weeks of Lou’s visit, back last November when she’d arrived here in a yellow taxi cab. Late into the night, the first several weeks, they had whispered about the vast differences between the Plain life and the fancy. The role of husbands and wives being one of the bigger discussions, she recalled. According to Lou, worldly men often catered and even kowtowed to their women. And English women, more often than not, were eager to be the boss of the house. Eager, too, to run
Man—this guy’s good!
If she changed the subject quickly, Sam would know the truth. If she made up something, she’d be ticked at herself. ‘‘Maybe it’s best not to talk about where I’ve been and who I was . . . back then.’’
Back then? Who am I kidding?
‘‘Well, I know you live somewhere near Denver . . . and you were Louisa Stratford then, same as now.’’ He looked at her with serious eyes. ‘‘But what’re you hidin’?’’
Let it go already, she wanted to say, but bit her tongue.
He reached for her gloved hand. ‘‘Your beau—your man—is he waiting for you to find your way? Is that why you’re here for the time bein’?’’
She shook her head. ‘‘No one’s waiting. And I guess I could say I had lost my way. But not anymore.’’
‘‘ Des gut, then,’’ he said too quickly. ‘‘That’s just right fine with me.’’
Yikes . . . Louisa sat back against the seat as the realization hit her full force. He’s falling for me .
Chapter 6
O n Monday morning, Courtney arrived early enough to join the Zooks for breakfast. Annie observed her reaction to Mamm’s overflowing platters: eggs, bacon, and sausage, along with homemade waffles and cornmeal mush, all laid out in a neat row in the center of the table. Or maybe it was not the variety of food that caught this Englischer’s attention. Still, Courtney’s soft green eyes were wide with something that looked like wonder, and she had little to say during the meal, as if she had many more thoughts than words.
Omar and Yonie were exceedingly friendly, almost too much so, Annie thought, asking Courtney about Colorado weather and suchlike. Luke eyed Courtney suspiciously, though, and held back, as was his usual way.
My brothers must wonder how many worldly women I’m going to invite into the house! Daed and Mamm must be wondering, too, thought Annie, hoping Courtney’s stay wouldn’t ruffle too many feathers. Her arrival in Paradise had already raised Mamm’s eyebrows, beginning with Courtney’s staying at the B&B rather than at the Zooks’ home. Still, Mamm had cordially welcomed Courtney this morning, though Annie noted her parents were not overly friendly. Even Mammi and Dawdi were quieter than usual.
Daed’s stern words of rebuke were still floating in Annie’s head. Goodness knows she was not interested in yet another straight talk from her father. In no uncertain terms Daed had let it be known that her sinning days were to be a thing of the past. And she felt his eyes on her too often.
Six months is a long time to stay far from my art, she thought. But, then, so is forever . She contemplated the life vow she was expected to make to the church come next fall, feeling she had little choice as each day passed. She also knew that her promise to her father would be up in mid-July.
‘‘Pass the bacon, Annie,’’ Daed spoke up.
Quickly she reached for the large plate and passed it to her right, to Luke, who then handed it on. ‘‘Would ya like some sausage, too?’’ She leaned forward, able to see Daed sitting at his usual spot at the head of the table.
‘‘Jah, sausage. Es gut .’’ Her father’s gaze caught hers briefly. He wore his black work suspenders and a bright green shirt. ‘‘And more coffee, Mamm.’’
Her mother jumped to her feet. Courtney looked shocked, as if she’d never before seen a woman wait on a man.
Well, won’t she be surprised all round?
Annie’s thoughts flitted back to the first few weeks of Lou’s visit, back last November when she’d arrived here in a yellow taxi cab. Late into the night, the first several weeks, they had whispered about the vast differences between the Plain life and the fancy. The role of husbands and wives being one of the bigger discussions, she recalled. According to Lou, worldly men often catered and even kowtowed to their women. And English women, more often than not, were eager to be the boss of the house. Eager, too, to run
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