. .”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just felt it was best to clear the air. I’m planning to stay for a short while to do some sightseeing, so I’m sure we will be seeing each other, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me.”
She lowered her head and rubbed her forehead. “I’m in mourning, and it would be inappropriate to . . . to . . .”
Eli ran a hand the length of his beard and shook his head. “No worries. I know you recently lost your husband, and we . . . well, we’re in two different places in life.” He shrugged. “But we could sure give them all something to talk about.” He grinned. “You said you haven’t seen much of the area. Would you and Jonas like to spend the day doing some sightseeing with me?”
Katie Ann was shaking her head before he even finished his sentence. “ Nee, nee . I’m not going to fuel gossip. And besides, it’s much too cold for Jonas to take a buggy trip anywhere.”
Eli chuckled. “It must be different here than where I come from. Gossip might be frowned upon, but it’s plentiful just the same.”
Katie Ann started to agree, but Eli went on. “And no buggy ride for me. I’m going to hire a driver. You should take advantage of my offer and see some sights while I’m here visiting.” He grinned. “And providing a ride with a heater.”
It was a tempting offer, but inappropriate. “ Danki . But I think not.”
“Why?”
Katie adjusted Jonas in her arms and stiffened. “Because I just can’t shuck my chores around here and go on a frivolous outing with you.”
“Why?”
She narrowed her brows. “Because I just can’t.”
Eli drank up the last of his coffee. “Okay. I just thought it might be nice for two friends to share a sightseeing trip together.”
He stood up as if preparing to leave. Finally . She rose from the couch, too, and allowed herself a few moments to dream about seeing more of the San Luis Valley, maybe even the sand dunes. She’d heard about the massive mounds just an hour away. “Where are you planning to go?”
Eli chuckled. “Aha. You are interested, just a little?”
Katie Ann shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe.” She had felt a bit claustrophobic as of late. And she’d never admit it, but it would be fun to see Vera, Lillian, and especially Martha’s reaction to her spending time with Eli. And besides, Eli’s plans for his future were so completely opposite of her own that he suddenly seemed safe . Maybe even someone she could be friends with.
“Tomorrow there isn’t worship service, so I thought I would spend the day with Elam, Vera, and the kinner . Monday I was planning to travel to the Great Sand Dunes. Have you heard of them?”
Katie Ann’s heart leaped as she considered the possibility. “ Ya . I have. David took Emily there before they were married, and they said it is quite the sight.”
“I can be here with a driver on Monday at nine o’clock. How does that sound? You, me, and Jonas can have a nice lunch somewhere and see some things neither of us has seen before.” He raised a brow. “Always more fun to sightsee with a friend.”
Suddenly she remembered Lucy. “I’m sorry. I forgot that, um . . . the woman you saw earlier . . . she’ll be here Monday morning.”
Eli walked toward the front door. Katie Ann followed, watching him pull his hat and coat from the rack.
“I’m wide open on Tuesday too.”
She took a deep breath and wondered if spending time with Eli would be acceptable. It wasn’t like they were teenagers. And Eli had made it clear that he sought nothing from her but friendship. Before she could answer, Eli spoke.
“I hope that you and the woman named Lucy have a nice conversation.”
It was a strange thing to say, in light of what he had seen, and it was clearly an invitation for Katie Ann to share about Lucy, which was not going to happen. “Danki ,” she said smoothly.
He looked at her, waiting.
“I’m sorry about the display
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just felt it was best to clear the air. I’m planning to stay for a short while to do some sightseeing, so I’m sure we will be seeing each other, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me.”
She lowered her head and rubbed her forehead. “I’m in mourning, and it would be inappropriate to . . . to . . .”
Eli ran a hand the length of his beard and shook his head. “No worries. I know you recently lost your husband, and we . . . well, we’re in two different places in life.” He shrugged. “But we could sure give them all something to talk about.” He grinned. “You said you haven’t seen much of the area. Would you and Jonas like to spend the day doing some sightseeing with me?”
Katie Ann was shaking her head before he even finished his sentence. “ Nee, nee . I’m not going to fuel gossip. And besides, it’s much too cold for Jonas to take a buggy trip anywhere.”
Eli chuckled. “It must be different here than where I come from. Gossip might be frowned upon, but it’s plentiful just the same.”
Katie Ann started to agree, but Eli went on. “And no buggy ride for me. I’m going to hire a driver. You should take advantage of my offer and see some sights while I’m here visiting.” He grinned. “And providing a ride with a heater.”
It was a tempting offer, but inappropriate. “ Danki . But I think not.”
“Why?”
Katie adjusted Jonas in her arms and stiffened. “Because I just can’t shuck my chores around here and go on a frivolous outing with you.”
“Why?”
She narrowed her brows. “Because I just can’t.”
Eli drank up the last of his coffee. “Okay. I just thought it might be nice for two friends to share a sightseeing trip together.”
He stood up as if preparing to leave. Finally . She rose from the couch, too, and allowed herself a few moments to dream about seeing more of the San Luis Valley, maybe even the sand dunes. She’d heard about the massive mounds just an hour away. “Where are you planning to go?”
Eli chuckled. “Aha. You are interested, just a little?”
Katie Ann shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe.” She had felt a bit claustrophobic as of late. And she’d never admit it, but it would be fun to see Vera, Lillian, and especially Martha’s reaction to her spending time with Eli. And besides, Eli’s plans for his future were so completely opposite of her own that he suddenly seemed safe . Maybe even someone she could be friends with.
“Tomorrow there isn’t worship service, so I thought I would spend the day with Elam, Vera, and the kinner . Monday I was planning to travel to the Great Sand Dunes. Have you heard of them?”
Katie Ann’s heart leaped as she considered the possibility. “ Ya . I have. David took Emily there before they were married, and they said it is quite the sight.”
“I can be here with a driver on Monday at nine o’clock. How does that sound? You, me, and Jonas can have a nice lunch somewhere and see some things neither of us has seen before.” He raised a brow. “Always more fun to sightsee with a friend.”
Suddenly she remembered Lucy. “I’m sorry. I forgot that, um . . . the woman you saw earlier . . . she’ll be here Monday morning.”
Eli walked toward the front door. Katie Ann followed, watching him pull his hat and coat from the rack.
“I’m wide open on Tuesday too.”
She took a deep breath and wondered if spending time with Eli would be acceptable. It wasn’t like they were teenagers. And Eli had made it clear that he sought nothing from her but friendship. Before she could answer, Eli spoke.
“I hope that you and the woman named Lucy have a nice conversation.”
It was a strange thing to say, in light of what he had seen, and it was clearly an invitation for Katie Ann to share about Lucy, which was not going to happen. “Danki ,” she said smoothly.
He looked at her, waiting.
“I’m sorry about the display
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