Read Online Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) by Rebecca Kertz - Free Book Online

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