Read Online A Hope Springs Christmas by Patricia Davids - Free Book Online Page B

off and left you in a lurch, but mostly I’m sorry that you’re angry with me.”
    “I’m not angry with you,” he said quietly.
    “You’re not?” She took a step closer. When he didn’t say anything else, she moved to stand at the counter beside him. She gestured toward the hub he held. “You do good work.”
    “I’m not angry,” he said again.
    “It feels like you are. You won’t look at me. You wouldn’t come in to supper. Something is wrong. Is it because I can’t do the work as well as Grace?”
    “Nee.”
    She held her frustration in check. “Talk to me, Levi. I don’t know what to change if you don’t tell me. Do I have to get a blackboard so you can leave me messages?” she teased, trying to get him to smile.
    “It’s a joke to you, isn’t it?” he asked stiffly.
    Her teasing had backfired. “Of course not.”
    “Grace, the twins, me, we’re all a joke to you.”
    “Levi Beachy, what a mean thing to say. Grace is my dear friend. The twins frequently make me cringe or smile, but I don’t see them as a joke. I see them as outgoing, boisterous boys.”
    “I saw you and your aunt laughing at Grace and Henry’s argument. I reckon everyone will be talking about my sister’s poor behavior tomorrow.”
    She sighed. So that was it. “Levi, I was grinning at my own cleverness because I had convinced my aunt not to mention the incident.”
    He cast a sidelong glance of disbelief at her. “You did?”
    “Grace is my friend, Levi, just as Jonas was your friend. I had hoped that you and I could be friends, too.”
    He was silent for so long that she realized she had her answer. For reasons she didn’t understand, Levi wouldn’t accept her friendship. The knowledge hurt.
    “I’ll write to Grace and ask her to return as soon as possible. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.” She turned to leave.
    “Sarah, wait.”
    She stopped and looked back. His bright blue eyes were gazing intently at her. A strange quiver centered itself in her chest, causing a catch in her breath.
    He said, “I am now, and have always been, your friend.”
    The catch moved to her throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize that. Thank you, Levi.”
    “It’s what Jonas wanted.”
    He was right. Jonas would have wanted them to be friends. Why didn’t that cheer her? Perhaps because she wanted Levi to like her for herself and not because of her husband.
    * * *
    Early the next morning, Sarah decided to walk to the church service instead of driving her buggy. The preaching was being held at the home of David Nissley and his wife, Martha. Their farm was little more than a quarter of a mile beyond the Hope Springs town limits.
    A warm southern wind was melting the snow, making the sunshine feel even brighter. Rivulets of water flowed in the ditches, adding occasional gurgling to the symphony of morning sounds that surrounded her. Numerous Amish families, some on foot, most in buggies and wagons, were all headed in the same direction. Cheerful greetings and pleasant exchanges filled the crisp air. Everyone was glad to see a break in the weather.
    Sarah declined numerous offers of a ride, content to stretch her legs on such a fine morning. The icy grip of winter would return all too soon.
    She turned in at the farm lane where dozens of buggies were lined up on the hillside just south of the barn. The horses, most still wearing their harnesses, were tied up along the fence, content to munch on the hay spread in front of them or simply doze in the sunshine until they were needed to carry their owners home.
    The bulk of the activity was focused around the barn. Men were busy unloading backless seats from the large, gray, boxlike bench wagon that was used to transport the benches from home to home for the services held every other Sunday. Bishop Zook was supervising the unloading. When the wagon was empty, he spoke with his two ministers, and they approached the house.
    Sarah entered the farmhouse ahead of them. Inside, it