Read Online A Match For Addy (The Amish Matchmaker Book 1) by Emma Miller - Free Book Online Page B
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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“All right,” Gideon said. “Does everybody know ‘ Froggy Went a Courtin’’ ? The tricky part is that first the boys sing the song and the girls clap and sing the chorus, and then you switch on the second stanza. First one to mess up or clap when it isn’t their turn loses a point. Boys versus girls. The side that loses—that gets ten points first—has to do cleanup before we go home. Ready?”
“Just one thing,” Charley said. “Before you start the song, everyone unwrap their taffy and pop it in their mouth.”
“Oh,” Miriam called. “I have to warn you. Some are made with sugar and some with lemon.”
“Ne!”
someone yelled. “No fair!”
Addy grimaced, unwrapped her candy and put it in her mouth. The sweet flavors of butter, vanilla and sugar flooded her mouth. Gideon gave the signal and the boys began to belt out “ Froggy Went A Courtin’.” Laughing, Addy savored her treat, hoping that the whole evening was going to be as sweet and wonderful as her taffy.
Chapter Five
T he girls won the singing game, as Gideon had expected. He could always count on one of the guys to clap or start to sing the chorus when it wasn’t their turn. The defeat was declared amid a great deal of groaning on the boys’ side and cheers and laughter from the girls. Since he’d picked “ Froggy Went a Courtin’,” he was expected to name the next lead singer—the person to choose the song—and he called on Ellie.
She suggested “ She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain,” boys to stomp and clap, and girls to add appropriate hand motions, such as “urging on the six white horses” and “chopping the head off the old red rooster.” Enthusiasm rose with each chorus, and by the end of the tune, everyone was laughing so hard at others’ antics that they could barely get out the words.
Charley and Miriam passed out glasses of cold iced tea, along with bowls of popcorn and potato chips. After a noisy break for refreshments, Ellie nodded at Addy to choose the next song. For a moment, Addy seemed flustered and embarrassed to be called on. Her cheeks flushed as she picked up her songbook and fumbled through it. She looked up and saw
him
watching her.
“Page...” She lost her page and blushed even redder. Someone snickered, and Addy looked ready to burst into tears.
“‘ Amazing Grace’ ?” Gideon prompted.
Addy nodded.
“‘ Amazing Grace ,’” he repeated firmly. “I think we all know that one by heart.”
The others stood, and Ellie began the hymn, although by custom, it should have been Addy leading. Addy stumbled on the first word and then picked up a few notes later. Gideon couldn’t imagine why she was so rattled. At Sara’s, she never seemed reluctant to speak up, and her voice was amazingly good. At the end of the song, she pointed at Thomas, who chose a fast hymn. Two more followed before Miriam suggested a more serious one, and when it was over, asked for silent grace.
After the blessing of the meal, Charley waved the group to help themselves to sandwiches, fruit and cookies. The light supper took the better part of an hour, during which boys and girls talked freely. Gideon was pleased to get to know Charley’s sister Mary better, along with her friends: the vivacious Lilly, and another girl, Gerty, who’d come with a group from another church district. Gideon would have liked to have driven any one of them home. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a horse or a vehicle to take them; his only option was to offer to walk a girl home. Being a poor hired hand, he was learning, had serious drawbacks where dating was concerned.
When he admitted as much to his new male friends, Thomas called Menno over to the table where the boys were all gathered around plates of sandwiches. “Shouldn’t be hard to figure out a way to solve your problem,” Thomas said. “Titus asked Lilly to act as a go-between and see if Gerty would be willing to ride home with him. Lilly thinks Gerty
“All right,” Gideon said. “Does everybody know ‘ Froggy Went a Courtin’’ ? The tricky part is that first the boys sing the song and the girls clap and sing the chorus, and then you switch on the second stanza. First one to mess up or clap when it isn’t their turn loses a point. Boys versus girls. The side that loses—that gets ten points first—has to do cleanup before we go home. Ready?”
“Just one thing,” Charley said. “Before you start the song, everyone unwrap their taffy and pop it in their mouth.”
“Oh,” Miriam called. “I have to warn you. Some are made with sugar and some with lemon.”
“Ne!”
someone yelled. “No fair!”
Addy grimaced, unwrapped her candy and put it in her mouth. The sweet flavors of butter, vanilla and sugar flooded her mouth. Gideon gave the signal and the boys began to belt out “ Froggy Went A Courtin’.” Laughing, Addy savored her treat, hoping that the whole evening was going to be as sweet and wonderful as her taffy.
Chapter Five
T he girls won the singing game, as Gideon had expected. He could always count on one of the guys to clap or start to sing the chorus when it wasn’t their turn. The defeat was declared amid a great deal of groaning on the boys’ side and cheers and laughter from the girls. Since he’d picked “ Froggy Went a Courtin’,” he was expected to name the next lead singer—the person to choose the song—and he called on Ellie.
She suggested “ She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain,” boys to stomp and clap, and girls to add appropriate hand motions, such as “urging on the six white horses” and “chopping the head off the old red rooster.” Enthusiasm rose with each chorus, and by the end of the tune, everyone was laughing so hard at others’ antics that they could barely get out the words.
Charley and Miriam passed out glasses of cold iced tea, along with bowls of popcorn and potato chips. After a noisy break for refreshments, Ellie nodded at Addy to choose the next song. For a moment, Addy seemed flustered and embarrassed to be called on. Her cheeks flushed as she picked up her songbook and fumbled through it. She looked up and saw
him
watching her.
“Page...” She lost her page and blushed even redder. Someone snickered, and Addy looked ready to burst into tears.
“‘ Amazing Grace’ ?” Gideon prompted.
Addy nodded.
“‘ Amazing Grace ,’” he repeated firmly. “I think we all know that one by heart.”
The others stood, and Ellie began the hymn, although by custom, it should have been Addy leading. Addy stumbled on the first word and then picked up a few notes later. Gideon couldn’t imagine why she was so rattled. At Sara’s, she never seemed reluctant to speak up, and her voice was amazingly good. At the end of the song, she pointed at Thomas, who chose a fast hymn. Two more followed before Miriam suggested a more serious one, and when it was over, asked for silent grace.
After the blessing of the meal, Charley waved the group to help themselves to sandwiches, fruit and cookies. The light supper took the better part of an hour, during which boys and girls talked freely. Gideon was pleased to get to know Charley’s sister Mary better, along with her friends: the vivacious Lilly, and another girl, Gerty, who’d come with a group from another church district. Gideon would have liked to have driven any one of them home. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a horse or a vehicle to take them; his only option was to offer to walk a girl home. Being a poor hired hand, he was learning, had serious drawbacks where dating was concerned.
When he admitted as much to his new male friends, Thomas called Menno over to the table where the boys were all gathered around plates of sandwiches. “Shouldn’t be hard to figure out a way to solve your problem,” Thomas said. “Titus asked Lilly to act as a go-between and see if Gerty would be willing to ride home with him. Lilly thinks Gerty
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