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

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    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 ’splow,” 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