Read Online A Match For Addy (The Amish Matchmaker Book 1) by Emma Miller - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emma Miller
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Family Life, Potential, Religious, Christian, Inspirational, Marriage, Heart, matchmaker, Amish, Faith, true love, spinster, Happiness, Rules, Suitors, Seven Poplars, Hired Hand, Stability
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triumphant end with Mary’s team winning 15-12. Charley Byler appeared and directed the two teams to change players. Someone appointed Gideon captain of the red team, and he insisted that Thomas, Ellie, Violet and Addy play on his side. They tied up the game several times until finally the other team won by the required two points. Addy didn’t mind. She had played well, and even though she hadn’t scored any points, she’d kept up an adequate defense. Best of all, she’d enjoyed herself immensely.
After the game, everyone moved on to the actual singing part of the frolic and Addy’s cousin Miriam made an announcement. Instead of sitting boys on one side of the long table and girls on the other, they were mixing things up.
There was a short break so that the guests could choose from iced tea, lemonade, water or soda pop before proceeding to collect their hymn books and take their places. Miriam and Charley, as chaperones, didn’t sit on the singing benches but made themselves busy setting out bowls of chips, cookies and popcorn.
“Everyone line up,” Charley instructed. “Now every third person trade places with the neighbor on their left.” There were giggles and comments as everyone did as he asked. “Good,” he declared. “Now every fourth person trade places with the second.” He kept on until no one in the group was standing with any of the friends with whom they’d arrived.
One of the younger Beachy children came out with a wooden bowl. In it were homemade taffies, each wrapped in wax paper, some candies white, others black. “Everybody choose one,” Charley said. “Now line up again, and find a seat on either side of the table. Don’t open your candy yet. Wait until I tell you.” Guests began taking their places. “Not there, Menno,” Charley called. “Boy, girl, that’s it.”
Soon everyone was seated, if not quiet. To her surprise, Addy found herself beside Gideon.
“Is this the way you always do things here?” Gideon whispered.
“Ne,”
she whispered back. Sitting as close as they were on the backless bench, it would be difficult not to accidently brush against Gideon. She sat up straight, determined not to let that happen. What would he think if her knee touched his? Or if she shifted her foot and stepped on the toe of his shoe? What was Charley thinking?
Gideon grinned at her. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”
Mary was one of the lead singers, and she silenced the group by choosing the first hymn. It wasn’t one of the slow, High German hymns usually sung at Sunday worship, but a faster one, more of a gospel tune. There were no instruments. Guitars, harmonicas or electronic music weren’t permitted in the Seven Poplars community, but everyone was used to singing without accompaniment.
As Ellie had warned her, Gideon sang with enthusiasm and volume, if not perfect pitch. Addy thought it charming. Who cared if he was a little off-key? Everyone was having such a good time. She doubted anyone but those sitting on either side of him even noticed.
Thomas picked the second hymn, one so familiar that no one, not even Gideon, needed the hymn book to follow the words. They sang all six stanzas and ended with applause. Then Charley said, “Why don’t we let our newest arrival pick the next song? Gideon? Would you like to choose?”
“We do clapping games at home,” he said. “Is there any rule against it here?”
Charley grinned and shook his head. “Not as long as you keep your hands where we can see them,” he teased.
Laughter rang out around the table.
“Just remember,” Charley went on, “Bishop Atlee is up there in the hayloft watching every move you make.”
Again, there was laughter. No one was offended by Charley’s remarks, which was one of the reasons he and Miriam made such good chaperones. Addy had been afraid that after they had their baby, they’d be too busy for young people’s frolics, but so far, they’d been making the events
After the game, everyone moved on to the actual singing part of the frolic and Addy’s cousin Miriam made an announcement. Instead of sitting boys on one side of the long table and girls on the other, they were mixing things up.
There was a short break so that the guests could choose from iced tea, lemonade, water or soda pop before proceeding to collect their hymn books and take their places. Miriam and Charley, as chaperones, didn’t sit on the singing benches but made themselves busy setting out bowls of chips, cookies and popcorn.
“Everyone line up,” Charley instructed. “Now every third person trade places with the neighbor on their left.” There were giggles and comments as everyone did as he asked. “Good,” he declared. “Now every fourth person trade places with the second.” He kept on until no one in the group was standing with any of the friends with whom they’d arrived.
One of the younger Beachy children came out with a wooden bowl. In it were homemade taffies, each wrapped in wax paper, some candies white, others black. “Everybody choose one,” Charley said. “Now line up again, and find a seat on either side of the table. Don’t open your candy yet. Wait until I tell you.” Guests began taking their places. “Not there, Menno,” Charley called. “Boy, girl, that’s it.”
Soon everyone was seated, if not quiet. To her surprise, Addy found herself beside Gideon.
“Is this the way you always do things here?” Gideon whispered.
“Ne,”
she whispered back. Sitting as close as they were on the backless bench, it would be difficult not to accidently brush against Gideon. She sat up straight, determined not to let that happen. What would he think if her knee touched his? Or if she shifted her foot and stepped on the toe of his shoe? What was Charley thinking?
Gideon grinned at her. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”
Mary was one of the lead singers, and she silenced the group by choosing the first hymn. It wasn’t one of the slow, High German hymns usually sung at Sunday worship, but a faster one, more of a gospel tune. There were no instruments. Guitars, harmonicas or electronic music weren’t permitted in the Seven Poplars community, but everyone was used to singing without accompaniment.
As Ellie had warned her, Gideon sang with enthusiasm and volume, if not perfect pitch. Addy thought it charming. Who cared if he was a little off-key? Everyone was having such a good time. She doubted anyone but those sitting on either side of him even noticed.
Thomas picked the second hymn, one so familiar that no one, not even Gideon, needed the hymn book to follow the words. They sang all six stanzas and ended with applause. Then Charley said, “Why don’t we let our newest arrival pick the next song? Gideon? Would you like to choose?”
“We do clapping games at home,” he said. “Is there any rule against it here?”
Charley grinned and shook his head. “Not as long as you keep your hands where we can see them,” he teased.
Laughter rang out around the table.
“Just remember,” Charley went on, “Bishop Atlee is up there in the hayloft watching every move you make.”
Again, there was laughter. No one was offended by Charley’s remarks, which was one of the reasons he and Miriam made such good chaperones. Addy had been afraid that after they had their baby, they’d be too busy for young people’s frolics, but so far, they’d been making the events
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