Читать книгу Jedidiah's Bride - Rebecca Kertz - Страница 11

Chapter Three

“I’ll be going home tomorrow,” Jedidiah said to her family as they lingered over the remainder of their meal. “Arlin and I came to Spence’s Bazaar—the Sale, you call it?” Sarah nodded. “We had many things to sell—and we sold everything we had. My uncle is eager to head back to his family. He has five daughters, and he worries about them.”

Sarah silently wished he could stay longer.

“I understand that Arlin made Ruth’s new vegetable bin,” Daniel Mast said.

Jed paused in the act of eating potato salad. “Ja. Arlin works well with wood. Just like my vadder and my brother Noah.”

“How many brothers and sisters do you have?” her mother inquired.

“Six brothers and a little sister. My mam keeps busy but she enjoys all of us. Mam grew the vegetable plants Sarah purchased in her greenhouse.”

Sarah checked her mother’s reaction. She smiled as if she enjoyed hearing about Jed’s life in Pennsylvania. Sarah didn’t like the thought of him leaving.

“There is Arlin by the barn talking with Ned Troyer.” Jed flashed her a grin, and Sarah blushed.

“I’d better help bring out the desserts.” She stood and resisted the urge to straighten her bonnet.

“I’m eager for a slice of your pie, Sarah,” her dat said.

“Me, too.” Jed’s soft voice vibrated down her spine.

Sarah hesitated when Arlin stopped by to chat. Jed introduced Arlin to her family. “Mam likes the vegetable bin I bought for her,” she told Jed’s uncle with a smile. “Hers needed replacing, and yours is well made.”

Arlin looked pleased. “I hope it gives you many year’s of gut use.”

“I’m sure it will,” Mam said.

Soon, Arlin left to rejoin his cousin Pete at another table, and Sarah grabbed leftovers from the food table to carry inside. After the desserts were put out, she returned to her family...and Jed.

“Dessert!” Timothy exclaimed, climbing over the bench and running toward the food. Thomas jumped up and raced after him, eager to get there first.

Ervin stood and straddled the bench, watching his young brothers choose sweets from the dessert table. “Mam, Dat, want anything in particular?”

“I’d like to try one of Sally Troyer’s strawberry tarts,” her mam said.

Sarah started to rise. “I’ll get it.”

She shook her head. “Sit. Your brother will get it for me.” She flashed Ervin a smile.

Ervin rose and Toby followed. “I’m thinking of chocolate cake,” Toby said, and his older brother grinned.

Feeling Jed’s gaze, Sarah shifted uncomfortably on the bench. “Mam, can I get you some lemonade?” She wasn’t used to sitting. It made her feel guilty when she knew how much her mam needed her.

Timothy and Thomas returned to the table, each carrying plates that threatened to tip and spill. “Jedidiah!” they cried in unison, “we got cake!”

“Looks good!” Teasingly, Jed reached out as if to grab Thomas’s plate. “What is that? Carrot cake?” he asked.

Thomas nodded and cradled his plate protectively. “It tastes good. Want me to get you some?”

“It looks delicious, but I’ll go over and get some myself—when your sister Sarah is ready for dessert.”

The boys turned to Sarah. “There are lots of cakes and pies, Sissy,” Timothy said.

Hearing her name on Jed’s lips infused her with pleasure. “I’m thinking about chocolate-cream pie,” she said. She could feel Jed’s regard, and although feeling a bit shaky, she managed to smile at him. “I’m ready for dessert. Shall we go?” She stood and smoothed out her apron.

Jed grinned and rose. “Chocolate-cream pie?” he asked as they headed toward the dessert table.

“Maybe,” Sarah said with amusement, “or maybe not. I won’t know what I want until I see it.”

He chuckled. “I’m thinking I’ll have more than one thing.”

“I may, too,” she replied with a sudden feeling of gladness. The day was bright and sunny, and life was good.

The lingering memory of Jed’s answering laughter did strange things to her insides as Sarah selected a slice of chocolate-cream pie and a piece of peanut-butter fudge.

Jed, she saw, chose peach cobbler and a piece of her cherry pie. His favorite kind of pie, she remembered, pleased.

Sarah enjoyed spending the day in Jed’s company. She liked seeing him with her family. She knew her parents well enough to know when they liked someone, and they liked Jedidiah. It was too bad that he lived in Pennsylvania. She reminded herself that this was simply a day to remember. Tomorrow Jed would leave and Sarah would never see him again. It was just as well, since she needed to be near for Mam.

Soon it was afternoon and the women had begun to clean the tables and collect the leftovers. Sarah rose. “Time to help Mary in the kitchen.” And it was time to check on her mother, who had gone inside moments earlier.

“I enjoyed spending time with your family,” Jed said, his brown eyes glowing.

Sarah averted her glance from the warmth in his gaze. “It was a nice day.”

“Sarah!” Mam stood at the screen door. “Would you please bring in the rest of the desserts?”

She smiled in her mother’s direction. “Ja, Mam.”

“Please see me before you leave,” Jed said. “There is something I’d like to talk with you about.”

Warmth curled in her belly as she nodded. “Is everything all right?”

“Ja, of course. I want to talk with you about the singing here this evening.”

A singing, she thought. It had been a long time since she’d attended a singing. But thoughts of her mother’s health tamped down her joy. How could she leave Mam? She heard Jed talking with her older brothers as she headed toward the house. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend a few more hours with him before he left for home?

Later, after the women had cleaned up after the meal and put away the food, Sarah came out of the Miller house and spied Jed seated in a chair on the front porch.

He stood when he saw her. “I spoke with your brothers. They are attending the singing tonight. Will you come?”

“I don’t know if I can.... Mam...”

Jed nodded as if he understood.

“I’d like to come,” she was quick to add. “I’ll be sorry to see the day end.” Then she glanced away as she wondered how he might have interpreted her words.

“The day is not over,” he said softly. “Your mother seems well today.”

“Ja, ’tis true.” Sarah wanted nothing more than to stay. “I’ll check with Mam to see if she needs me.”

“Your brothers will be there,” he told her. His voice dropped. “I’d like to take you home afterward.”

Sarah’s heart started to race. Wouldn’t it be exciting to go to the singing and be driven home by Jedidiah Lapp! “I’ll check,” she said and fled back into the house to ask her mother. Her heart beat wildly as she entered the kitchen and searched for Mam. It had been a long time since she’d gone to a singing. For months now, concern for her mam had kept her home.

But Mam had done surprisingly well this day. Was it possible that her mother would be fine and that she could attend?

She caught sight of her mother seated in a chair in the Millers’ great room. “Mam.” She approached, almost afraid to ask; she didn’t want to be disappointed. “There is a singing tonight—”

“Ja!” Mary Miller said. “It will be gut for you to go.”

Sarah didn’t want to miss it, but she wouldn’t put her wishes above her mother’s needs.

“Sarah,” her mam said with a smile, “you should stay.” She frowned as if it had just occurred to her how much her youngest daughter had missed during these past months. “It’s been a long time for you.”

“It’s all right,” Sarah assured her. “I’ll come home with you and Dat, but if you are feeling well enough, I’d like to return. Ervin and Toby are going. I can ride back with them.”

“Or you could stay and one of my sons can take you home,” Mary Miller said. “I’m sure P.J. would be happy to see you home.”

“I’d be happy to bring her home,” Jed said as he stepped into the room.

Sarah felt his presence immediately. It vibrated in the room, making her fully aware of him. She watched her mother study the young man and nod. “As long as you get home safely,” Ruth directed toward her daughter. “Where is your dat?” She stood, wobbling a little on unsteady legs before righting herself.

“Daniel is outside near the barn with Pete, Arlin and Ned Troyer,” Jedidiah offered. Someone called him from outside. “Arlin,” he explained with a smile before he left to return to the men who were gathered out in the yard. Sarah felt the loss of his presence.

“And what of the twins?” her mother asked. As if exhausted, she sat down again. “Have you seen them?”

“They are outside with my two youngest.” Sally Troyer reached back to retie her apron strings. “They are getting along just fine. Perhaps your boys would like to spend the night with my Joseph and John.”

Her heart gave a little lurch. Without the twins to wreak havoc on the house, Sarah could attend the singing, leaving her mother to rest quietly with her dat nearby.

“I think Timothy and Thomas would like that,” Mam said. She focused her gaze on Sarah. “You’d like to go?”

Sarah nodded. “Ja, but I can stay home if you need me.”

“Nay,” she said, “there is no reason for you to stay. I will be fine. Now, where did you say Daniel is?” Her eyes lit up as she spied her husband out the window. “Ah, there he is!”

“I’ll tell him we are ready to go,” Sarah said with quiet joy.

Mam frowned. “I thought you’d stay.”

Sarah shook her head. “I will see you settled before I return with Ervin and Toby.”

Her mam’s expression grew soft. “You are a gut daughter.” She stood a bit wobbly but managed to right herself without help. “I will come with you to get your vadder.”

“I can bring back clean clothes for the twins,” Sarah offered as she helped her mother across the room.

“No need,” Sally assured her. “They will be fine.” She grinned, apparently pleased with the turn of events. “I’ll tell them they’ll be staying with us tonight.”

Sarah could hear her young brothers’ whoops of happiness as she and her mother joined her father outside. “Sounds like they are excited to be spending the night with the Troyers.”

Daniel grinned. “It will be a nice quiet evening for us,” he said.

Her mother’s smile was weak but genuine. “I did well today,” she declared. With help, she climbed into the buggy and sat down.

“Ja, Mam.” Sarah set a blanket about her mother’s legs. “Time to go home and rest.”

Once Mam was situated comfortably, Sarah climbed into the back and then gazed out the window as Dat pulled the buggy away from the farmhouse down the dirt lane toward the main road. She thought she’d caught a glimpse of Jed watching them as they drove away.

This evening, she would be spending more time with Jedidiah Lapp. Heart thumping, she thought of the evening ahead with barely controlled excitement.

* * *

Jed stood on the Millers’ front porch and watched as buggies and wagons arrived with young people who had come for the evening’s singing. There was still no sign of either Sarah or her brothers. Would she come or did her mother need her?

Why should I care if she stays home? It wasn’t as if he’d ever see her again. Still, the memory of her smiling face and blue eyes lingered in his thoughts. He had enjoyed his time with her family. The afternoon had passed quickly—too quickly.

He shouldn’t think of Sarah. He was too old for her. What was she? Seventeen? Eighteen? He’d thought he’d found someone he might love in Annie Zook, but he’d been wrong. If he’d hurt her, Annie hadn’t shown it. Sarah was vulnerable. She’d spent a long time caring for her mother. She hadn’t been to a singing in months. He had no right to monopolize her time, but he couldn’t help himself.

If she comes, then I’ll enjoy the evening with her and then say goodbye. She would find someone else here in Delaware to love. She would want to stay near her family, and he needed to be home in Happiness.

It was growing late and still there was no sign of any of the Masts. Jed stepped down from the porch and crossed the yard, more than mildly disappointed.

Suddenly, a buggy came barreling down the dirt drive to pull up quickly behind the line of vehicles. Jed saw Ervin and Toby jump down from the vehicle, but no sign of Sarah. He waited for the brothers to join him before entering the barn.

Just as he had given up hope of seeing her again, Jed watched Sarah climb out carefully after her brothers, balancing a plate in one hand. Ervin helped his sister, grabbing the plate from her hand. The siblings turned and spied Jed standing in the yard. Ervin waved, and Toby followed his eldest brother, while Sarah came slowly behind.

Jed felt a sudden lightening of spirit. Sarah was here, and he would get to spend more time with her, if only for a few hours.

He grinned at Sarah’s brothers, and then he waited with a soft smile as Sarah caught up to them. “Nice night for a singing,” he said, noting her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

“Ja,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the joy.” She gestured toward the plate Ervin held out to her. “I brought cookies—chocolate chip.”

“This will be a gut night, Sarah,” he whispered as the brothers went into the barn ahead of them.

She gave a barely perceptible nod as they followed. Then, there were greetings from the others who had come. Jed noticed that his cousin P.J. seemed particularly happy to see Sarah. P.J., Pete’s eldest son, was closer in age to Sarah than he. He tried not to be upset by the fact that once he left, it could be P.J. who would eventually keep company with Sarah and perhaps win her heart.

Don’t let it bother you tonight, he thought. They had this one night together, and he planned to enjoy every single moment of it.