Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) (5 page)

His blue gaze brightened. She saw that she’d piqued his interest. “We can stop by if you’d like,” he said pleasantly. “Give you an estimate.”

She felt relieved. “That would be wonderful.
Danki.
”

“May we come tomorrow?” he asked when she turned to leave.

Martha faced him. “Morning?”

His expression filled with warmth. “What time?”

“Come anytime. I’ll be there all morning.” She felt her heart beating wildly as she turned back to her buggy and reached for a handhold. Eli was suddenly beside her, silently offering his assistance. Their gazes locked. His features held only polite indifference. Relieved, she allowed him to help her into her vehicle. After he released her fingers, she could still feel the warmth of his firm, gentle grasp. She opened her mouth but was suddenly at a loss for words.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Martha.”

She didn’t answer him, which bothered her as she sat a moment and watched while he sprang up into his wagon. Their gazes met, held, until he touched the brim of his hat and dipped his head.

Martha watched him leave before she followed the same path toward the road. The memory of their brief encounter stayed with her as she drove toward the market, while she shopped, paid for her groceries, then drove home.

Later that evening she scolded herself for worrying needlessly about her reaction to Eli Lapp. She finally put things into perspective. He was her friend’s son, and he’d been kind to her. Gratitude. That was all it was.

Chapter Five

T
he next morning Eli sat next to his father as he steered their buggy toward Martha’s farmhouse. As he’d suspected,
Dat
was pleased to do the work for the widow. “Amos is worried about her,” he’d said when Eli had first mentioned it to him. “He knew that his
bruder
had ignored the
haus
repairs. I imagine that Martha has been wanting things fixed for some time.”

“Then ’tis
gut
that we can help her,” Eli had said, and his father had agreed.

It was a warm and sunny day. Spring flowers had burst into bloom, adding a splash of color to the houses built along the main roadway. Residents, both English and Amish, were outside tending to chores in their yards or on their farms.

Eli and his father lifted a hand in greeting to Abram Peachy, church deacon and friend, who was driving his buggy in the opposite direction. “Abram,”
Dat
greeted him as their vehicles drew abreast of each other. “Nice to see you on a fine day such as this.”

“Should have more of the same tomorrow,” Abram said. “’Twill be a
gut
planting day for Martha’s.”

“
Ja
, you’ll be there then?”
Dat
asked.

Abram bobbed his head. “
Ja, ja.
Wouldn’t miss it. Martha’s family.”

“We will see you tomorrow, Abram,”
Dat
said, and they went their separate ways.

They rode in silence until they reached the King property. As
Dat
steered the horse into the widow’s driveway, Eli spied Martha in the backyard hanging laundry.

She glanced back as if sensing their presence and waved.

“She knows we’re here.” Eli watched as she stopped what she was doing and approached with a smile.

“Martha,” his father greeted her as he climbed from the vehicle.

“Samuel.” She gave him a nod. Her gaze slid in his direction. “Eli.”

“
Hallo
, Martha.” She looked well, he thought. The fresh air and spring warmth clearly agreed with her.

“You’re out early this morning,” she said.

“Is this a bad time?” Samuel asked.

She shook her head. “
Nay
, this is the
gut
time. It’s kind of you to come.”

“Do you have a list of what you want done or would you prefer to show us?” Eli felt himself the focus of her brown gaze. His thoughts flashed back to her seated on the ground, laughing, after one of her escaped animals got the better of her.

“I’d prefer to show you.”

Dat
indicated his pad and pencil. “I’ll make a list.”

“If you follow me, we’ll start around front.”

Eli trailed behind as Martha and his father discussed the areas of the house that needed their attention—and there were a lot of them, too many for him to remember. Fortunately, his father took notes as Martha explained what needed to be done. Eli found his thoughts wandering to the tiny dark tendrils of hair at her nape below her
kapp
.

“Eli.”

He shook himself from his thoughts.
“Ja, Dat?”

“Can you start work next week?”

“
Ja
, I’m available.” Eli allowed his gaze to shift again to Martha. He was charmed to see her suddenly pink cheeks, and he smiled. He turned to his father. “Monday?”

Dat
looked up as he closed his notepad. “
Ja
. That will give us Thursday to take another look around to see exactly what materials we need.”

“And you’ll write up a proposal?” Martha asked.

“
Ja
, I’ll check on some prices and let you know.” His father paused, and his smile for her was reassuring. “Amos and I have been friends and neighbors nearly all of our lives. You can trust us to do a
gut
job for a reasonable price.”

Martha’s expression warmed. “I know,” she said without hesitation.

Captivated by her features, Eli stared for a moment until she glanced his way, and he quickly averted his gaze.

“We should get home,
soohn
,” Dat said.

“
Ja.
It will be suppertime before we know it.”

“You just ate lunch,” his father reminded him.

“And carrot cake,” Eli said with a laugh. “With chocolate chips. I’m hoping for another piece.”

He felt Martha’s gaze and experienced a kick to his stomach at the amused look in her brown eyes. “What can I say?” he told her. “I like sweets.”

“
Ja
, I gathered that.”

Dat
adjusted his hat. “Martha, we’ll see you soon.”

Martha nodded her thanks. “I appreciate your help.”

“Our pleasure,” his father said.

Eli was aware of her as she walked them to their buggy.

“Martha, may I take a quick look inside the barn?”
Dat
eyed the structure across the yard.

“
Ja
, feel free,” she said.

And then Eli found himself alone with her as his father headed toward the outbuilding. He watched
Dat
disappear inside the barn before he turned to the woman beside him. The silence between them seemed charged.

“Looks like the
gut
weather will hold for tomorrow’s planting,” he said conversationally. Martha nodded. Eli became more aware of her during the ensuing silence. “No critters in your yard.”

His comment made her smile, as if she enjoyed the memory of the chase. “
Nay.
Thanks be to
Gott
.”

She was beautiful when she smiled, Eli realized. Her whole face lit up, and the brightness was reflected in her warm brown eyes. “If any of them get out, you know where to find me.”

She laughed. “If I can leave them alone long enough to get you.” Today, she looked lovely in a dress in spring green with matching cape and apron. Except for those small hairs at the back of her neck that he’d noticed earlier, her dark hair was rolled, pinned and tucked up neatly beneath her white head covering.

He liked standing beside her, wished there was more time for them to have a conversation. Eli was curious about her, her family back in Indiana, about her marriage to Ike. He furrowed his brow. Not that he’d ever ask.

He took off his hat and brushed a hand across his nape before he put his hat back on. As their gazes collided, she quickly averted her glance. He became intrigued about why she seemed embarrassed to be caught looking at him.

His father reappeared, drawing their attention. “I didn’t find anything useful,”
Dat
said with regret as he rejoined them. “Not to worry, though. We’ll get what we need in town.”

“
Danki
, Samuel.”

“We haven’t done anything yet.”

Her smile was rich and warm. “
Ja
, you have.”

Samuel flipped open his pad and jotted down some more notes. “Time to go,” he said when he was done.

Eli nodded. “We’ll see
ya
tomorrow, Martha.” He looked forward to tomorrow’s farmwork. He skirted the buggy to climb into the passenger side.

“Would you take lead?” his father said offhandedly as he flipped open his notepad.

“Ja.”
He climbed into the driver’s seat as his father got in on the other side. “Have a
gut
day, Martha.”

“You, too, Eli. Samuel. Have a blessed day.”

Eli clicked his tongue, flicked the reins and drove their vehicle toward home. He really was looking forward to tomorrow’s farmwork.
Because most of the community will be there to help out.
He enjoyed working beside his father, brothers, and neighbors. Hard work. Delicious food and the satisfaction of putting in a full day’s work. It had nothing to do with the fact that the farm belonged to Martha King.

Chapter Six

W
ednesday morning, Martha woke before dawn. The community men were coming to plant her fields today, and there was much for her to do to get ready. She dressed and then set up a food table on the back lawn. It was a cool early May morning, but she couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. She returned to the house and put on the coffeepot. While the coffee perked, she unwrapped muffins, coffee cake and the fresh bread she’d made yesterday. She then pulled out coffee mugs with fixings and debated whether to cook eggs now or closer to the workers’ arrival time. After the coffee had perked, she transferred the fragrant brew from the pot to a thermal decanter. Then she set about to make a second pot. When the coffee was ready, she brought the cups, coffee decanter and a thermos of hot water for tea outside.

Most but not all of the church community men would come to help out. Among the workers would be her relatives, the Amos Kings, all of the Samuel Lapps, the William Masts and the Abram Peachys. Mentally calculating to make sure she’d made enough food, Martha smiled. She always enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and the people coming were among her favorites.

The Samuel Lapps arrived first, just as the light of dawn brightened the sky. Samuel parked his buggy and climbed out, followed by his sons Isaac, Daniel and Joseph. Katie stepped out of the passenger side, followed by Hannah, the couple’s youngest child. But there was no sign of Eli.

Amos and Mae arrived soon afterward with their two sons, John and Joshua. Amos would be trying out Ike’s new farm equipment today, and Martha detected a hint of excitement among the men. Jacob Lapp came next with a small plow in the back of Horseshoe Joe’s wagon. Peter Zook rode in the front seat beside him.

Martha managed to stifle a frown. There was still no sign of Eli.

Smiling, Katie approached with her daughter.
“Guder Marriye!”

Martha’s lips curved in response. “And a fine day to you, Katie
.
”
She beamed at the woman’s daughter.
“
Hallo
,
Hannah.” A delicious scent wafted from the food dish in Katie’s arms. “You’ve brought breakfast.”

“
Ja
, egg casserole with sausage and potatoes,” Katie said. “Hannah, would you please put this dish on the table? Be careful. It’s still hot.” She handed her daughter the dish, which was wrapped in a heavy bath towel.

“Sounds wonderful.” Martha watched Hannah hurry to the food table and set down the casserole dish. The girl placed it beside a plate of muffins, then scurried back to her mother’s side.

Martha felt her gaze drawn to Samuel and Jacob, who, together with Peter Zook, hefted a small plow from the back of Horseshoe Joe’s wagon and set it safely on the ground. When they were done, Jacob headed in the women’s direction. “I understand we’ll have a lot of help today.”

Katie nodded. “
Ja
, my husband and sons and many more.” She smiled as Jacob reached them. “How’s Annie?”

“Tired and at home, I’m afraid.” Jacob looked apologetic as he met Martha’s gaze. “She wanted to come, but—”

“I told her to stay home and rest,” Martha interjected with a smile and saw his relief.

“Jacob, where’s Eli?” Hannah asked her big brother.

“He’ll be along.” He gestured toward the end of the dirt driveway. “Look!” Eli had made the turn from the paved road onto her farm property. He was riding on the back of a large plow drawn by two draft horses.

Martha watched with an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach at the sight of him. As if realizing that he was being watched, he halted, grinned at them, then took off his straw hat and waved with it.

“He’s a tease,” his mother said fondly.

“He’s a
gut
man,” Jacob reminded her, and Katie agreed with a silent nod. “Those are Joe’s horses and plow. Joe asked if he would help, and Eli would never say no to a friend who asked a favor of him.”

The blond man, who was the topic of discussion, settled his hat back on his head and drove the plow into the barnyard. Martha watched as Jacob met his twin brother.

“I thought you’d never get here,
bruder
,” Jacob teased as Eli climbed down from his seat.

“
Ya
think it easy to be driving down the street when there’s traffic?” Eli shuddered. “I worried that a speeding car would spook the horses and they’d drag me down the road never to be seen or heard from again.”

Peter gave a bark of laughter. “Those two? Not likely. Those horses are as tame as they get.”

“Have you ever steered along a busy road?” Eli asked, eyeing Annie’s brother beneath lowered lids. “And if so, why didn’t you bring them yourself?”

Peter shrugged. “I figured you’d do a better job of it.”

Eli’s lips twitched as if he hid a smile. “You can take them back later today. See how you like it.”

“Maybe,” Peter said noncommittally.

Martha was concerned about Eli’s frightening tale of large farm machines on busy roadways until she saw the twinkle in Eli’s eyes as she encountered his glance when Peter turned away.

Arlin Stoltzfus came, accompanied by his daughters, Meg and Charlie. The two young women joined Martha, Katie, Mae and Hannah in the yard not far from the food table.

“
Dat
said we didn’t have to come, but we wanted to visit,” Meg confessed to Martha.

“I’m glad you did. Come inside. We’ll put on a pot of tea, if you’d prefer, and sit until we’re needed to serve lunch or for sowing seed.”

* * *

“We’re nearly done,” Jacob said.

Walking beside the horses while his brother was behind the plow, Eli pulled off his hat to wipe his brow with his shirtsleeve. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

“I could eat something,” Jacob admitted. “It seems a long time since breakfast.”

“Martha made muffins and bread,” Eli pointed out as he continued to maneuver the horse into the field row. Mention of Martha brought back the memory of her smiling face. “And
Mam
brought an egg casserole.”

“I wasn’t hungry earlier.” Jacob handled the plow with the efficiency of years of experience learned at his father’s side.

“You’re usually always hungry,” Eli teased him as Jacob often did him. He loved his twin and was amazed how much alike they were in thought if not in physical features. Jacob had dark hair like their father and Jedidiah. He, their younger brother Daniel and their little sister Hannah had golden-blond hair, while their other siblings, Noah, Isaac and Joseph, had hair like their mother’s in varying degrees of sandy blond and brown.

“How’s Annie?” Eli wasn’t surprised that his sister-in-law hadn’t come. In her advancing pregnancy, she’d become more tired than usual. Caring for a twelve-month-old didn’t help her situation. Eli was actually surprised when Jacob had stopped by the house yesterday to ask him to drive Joe’s plow. Eli had agreed because he knew his father would have enough help with his brothers.

“Annie wanted to come, but I convinced her to stay home. She is exhausted. Miriam is minding EJ at the house so Annie can rest.
Grossmama
is happy to help as she gets to spend time with her beloved
gross soohn
.”

“You are a fortunate man,
bruder
. You have a woman who loves you, a precious son and another one on the way.”

Jacob smiled. “Someday you’ll find the woman you’re meant to marry
and
the life you want for yourself.”

“No time to think of marriage now. I need to open my carriage shop first.”

“You’ll open it. As hard as you’ve been working, you’ll have it within the few months, I’m sure.”

“I’d like to believe that.”

“Noah said you’ve been looking for a place.”

Eli nodded. “
Ja.
He thought I had enough to get started, but I don’t know yet where to search. Noah said he’d help me find a good location.”

“You’ll figure out where. The Lord will guide you.” Jacob became thoughtful. “Eli, the Lord blessed me with Annie, and I’ve never been happier or more at peace.”

“Time will tell what the Lord wants for me.”
Time and prayer
, he thought.

They worked each field row until they’d reached the end of their assigned area. “Let’s head back,” Eli suggested. On their return to the barnyard, he spotted Amos seated on his late brother’s shiny new plow, his sons, John and Joshua, walked alongside him.

“Appears Amos is done, too,” Jacob commented.

Eli saw his father with Isaac and Daniel, who had also finished plowing. It hadn’t taken the three teams long to work up the soil on Martha’s farm.

“What do you suppose is for lunch?” Jacob asked seriously.

“Food,” Eli declared, making his twin laugh. “And that’s
gut
enough for me.”

* * *

Martha watched as the work crews returned to the barnyard. “That didn’t take long,” she said as she pulled the plastic cover off a bowl of macaroni salad.

“There isn’t a farm in all of Happiness that can’t be plowed within a few hours when there are three crews doing the work.” Meg came to stand at Martha’s side.

“Do we have everything we need?” The young woman nodded. Martha asked, “Do you think they’re hungry?”

Meg chuckled. “Does a cow moo?
Ja
, they’ll be hungry. They’re men with healthy appetites, and they haven’t eaten in what—four
whole
hours?”

Charlie exited the house, carrying two pitchers of fresh homemade lemonade. “Where would you like these?” she asked.

Martha gestured toward the end of the table. She frowned. “Or do you think we should set up the drinks on a separate table?”

“
Nay.
There’s room here,” Meg said.

“The iced tea is ready, too. I’ll get it.” Charlie, a pretty girl with red hair, freckles and green eyes, returned to the house for the iced tea. She came back within seconds. Martha watched her approach. The girl’s dress was light green, a color that heightened her eye color. Like her sister Meg, Charlie was always ready to lend a helping hand.

Martha gave her a smile of thanks as Amos, his sons and Annie’s brother Peter headed in their direction; they were the first workers to come looking for food. “Amos, how’s the new plow?”

“Gut.”
Amos looked pleased. “Your horses drove it well.”

“’Tis much nicer than my
dat
’s
plow,” Peter said.

“Your
vadder
’s equipment does the job well enough,” Amos reminded him. “Look! Here come Jacob and Eli. They’ve finished as fast as we did.”

Peter frowned as he adjusted his hat brim as if to shade his eyes from the sun as he stared at the twin brothers. “But the newer plow does a better job than the old ones.”

“’Tis not the equipment that matters, Peter,” Katie offered. “It’s the one who does the work and does it well.”

Meg firmed her lips. “
Ja
, Peter, why should you care what kind of plow your
vadder
uses?” she said sharply. “The one he owns does the work just fine.”

At Meg’s sharp words, a shutter came down over Peter’s expression. Martha felt sorry for the young man. Peter wasn’t envious over Ike’s farm equipment. He was simply impressed by the new machinery, of which he’d never before seen the likes.

“Meg,” she warned, and Meg had the good grace to redden. Didn’t the girl realize that she had the power to hurt him deeply? It was obvious that Peter cared for her.

“What’s to eat?” Eli asked, breaking the tension as he approached with Jacob.

“Eli!” his mother scolded.

“What? I can’t ask about the lunch menu?”

Martha laughed out loud. “Food,” she said. “It’s on the table. You’ll have to look for yourself.”

Eli rewarded her with a dazzling smile before he hurried over to do just that. His “Looking
gut
!” made Martha chuckle again.

“I don’t know about that one
soohn
of mine,” Katie said.

“Two
soohns
.” Jacob grinned at his mother. “I was about to ask the same thing.”

Martha eyed him with amusement. “And I’d have given you the same answer.”

“The two of you are so much alike in some regards ’tis almost frightening.” Katie shook her head. Jacob went to join Eli near the food.

“Those boys,” Katie said, her lips curving into a reluctant smile.

“You are blessed to have such wonderful
soohns
.” Martha watched as the brothers circled the table and pointed out their favorite foods.

“
Ja
,
Endie
Katie,” Meg said. “My cousins are
gut
people.”

“That
doesn’t mean they don’t worry their
mudder
.”

“Why?” Martha asked, curious. From what she knew of the Lapp brothers, they were good men who loved their mother, their families and God, but not in that order. “Why do you worry about them?”

“Every one of my children has given me cause for concern over the years.”

“You can’t protect them, but you’d like to,” Martha said with understanding. She had prayed for the opportunity to become a parent, but the Lord had chosen other plans for her.

“Ja,”
Katie said. “Fortunately, my three oldest are happily married to their wives.”

Martha studied the men in question—Jacob and Noah...and Jedidiah, who had just arrived to help out. “The Lord has blessed them.”

“Ja,”
Katie said softly. “He did.”

For the next hour, the women served food to the workers. As Meg, Charlie and Katie filled plates, Martha checked to ensure there was plenty of food for everyone. Some of the dishes were disappearing fast. She went inside to refill platters and bowls and plates. After setting them on the food table, she returned to the house again to fetch two of the four cakes she’d baked yesterday. Martha saw the men eyeing them appreciatively as she set them on the table and uncovered them.

“Cake,” Eli said, sniffing appreciatively. He was the first in line for a slice of Martha’s mint chocolate-chip cake.

The other workers followed suit and came to wait for their share.