Read Online Ella Finds Love Again by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
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Surely not. Not even upstairs.” Her father’s voice rose.
Ella opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Apparently her daett did think her actions were questionable.
“Noah!” Lizzie whispered, her hand pulling on his arm. “Don’t be ask’n such things. This is Ella. ”
“Daett,” Ella began, her voice trembling, “Ivan was over at the dawdy haus all night.” Tears formed at the edges of her eyes. How could he think…
“It’s because of Eli,” Lizzie said, turning to Ella. “You must not hold this against your daett. He sees things wrong everywhere now. But he doesn’t mean it—really.”
“I am sorry,” Noah said, squeezing her arm again. “I shouldn’t allow my burden to spill over onto others. Will you forgive me, Ella?”
Ella felt her chest burning. Her daett had thought she would act inappropriately with Ivan. She met his eyes, still trying to hold back the tears.
“I am sorry,” Noah said again, and Ella wiped her eyes, reaching for his arm.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“Then let me get your horse on the road for you,” Noah said, moving toward the front of the buggy.
“He loves you,” Lizzie said, helping Ella up the step.
Inside, Ella held the reins while her daett guided the horse onto the road. He slapped the horse’s neck lightly, smiling, his hat pushed down on his head. The horse stepped forward and they were heading home.
Ella pulled Moonbeam to a complete stop at the main highway and glanced both ways. The road was completely empty of traffic. She slapped the reins and crossed, her horse trotting quickly and having no problem with the ice.
As she pulled up to Chapman Road and turned right, she could see that Joe had cleared the driveway all the way up to the barn. She had good renters in Joe and Ronda, and there was much to be thankful for. Pulling up to the hitching rail, she climbed down. As she reached for the tie rope under the seat, she turned to the girls and said, “Stay in the buggy.”
Mary and Sarah nodded, staying on the seat while she unhitched. Once the horse was safely in the barn, she helped the two girls out. They walked carefully in front of her over the crusted snow, as Ella followed carrying baby Barbara.
As they went down the steps to the basement door, Ella wondered if this dear house that had come to mean so much to her in such a short time would be her house much longer. Would she soon be living at Ivan’s place as his wife?
Nine
T he early morning rush was over, and Ella had the second load of wash done. The dresses and diapers hung behind curtains in the basement, safe from the threat of the snow and moisture outside. Wearily she pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down. The warmth from the stove quickly embraced her. She realized she’d soon be asleep if she stayed put. Ella got to her feet again.
For a moment she was tempted to work on the new blanket. Mary and Sarah were playing quietly around her latest quilt project. Baby Barbara was on her special blanket behind her, and Ronda wouldn’t be down to help with the quilt for another hour at least.
Yet Ella was determined to write in her journal today. She had wanted to ever since that evening at Ivan’s place when his mother passed on. Now would be an excellent time. She could take a few moments to begin her thoughts and then perhaps finish tonight after the girls were in bed.
So many emotions still swirled around her. Maybe clarity would come if she placed her thoughts on paper.
Ella added another piece of wood to the stove. With the damp wash hung to dry, the basement needed to stay warm enough. Even with the roaring fire she’d built, the moisture hung heavy in the air.
“We’re playin’ over here,” Mary said, glancing up and catching her gaze from the other side of the room.
“Yah,” Ella said, smiling toward the two of them. Baby Barbara’s eyes focused on her as Ella pushed aside the curtain that partitioned off their sleeping quarters. Basement life
Ella opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Apparently her daett did think her actions were questionable.
“Noah!” Lizzie whispered, her hand pulling on his arm. “Don’t be ask’n such things. This is Ella. ”
“Daett,” Ella began, her voice trembling, “Ivan was over at the dawdy haus all night.” Tears formed at the edges of her eyes. How could he think…
“It’s because of Eli,” Lizzie said, turning to Ella. “You must not hold this against your daett. He sees things wrong everywhere now. But he doesn’t mean it—really.”
“I am sorry,” Noah said, squeezing her arm again. “I shouldn’t allow my burden to spill over onto others. Will you forgive me, Ella?”
Ella felt her chest burning. Her daett had thought she would act inappropriately with Ivan. She met his eyes, still trying to hold back the tears.
“I am sorry,” Noah said again, and Ella wiped her eyes, reaching for his arm.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“Then let me get your horse on the road for you,” Noah said, moving toward the front of the buggy.
“He loves you,” Lizzie said, helping Ella up the step.
Inside, Ella held the reins while her daett guided the horse onto the road. He slapped the horse’s neck lightly, smiling, his hat pushed down on his head. The horse stepped forward and they were heading home.
Ella pulled Moonbeam to a complete stop at the main highway and glanced both ways. The road was completely empty of traffic. She slapped the reins and crossed, her horse trotting quickly and having no problem with the ice.
As she pulled up to Chapman Road and turned right, she could see that Joe had cleared the driveway all the way up to the barn. She had good renters in Joe and Ronda, and there was much to be thankful for. Pulling up to the hitching rail, she climbed down. As she reached for the tie rope under the seat, she turned to the girls and said, “Stay in the buggy.”
Mary and Sarah nodded, staying on the seat while she unhitched. Once the horse was safely in the barn, she helped the two girls out. They walked carefully in front of her over the crusted snow, as Ella followed carrying baby Barbara.
As they went down the steps to the basement door, Ella wondered if this dear house that had come to mean so much to her in such a short time would be her house much longer. Would she soon be living at Ivan’s place as his wife?
Nine
T he early morning rush was over, and Ella had the second load of wash done. The dresses and diapers hung behind curtains in the basement, safe from the threat of the snow and moisture outside. Wearily she pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down. The warmth from the stove quickly embraced her. She realized she’d soon be asleep if she stayed put. Ella got to her feet again.
For a moment she was tempted to work on the new blanket. Mary and Sarah were playing quietly around her latest quilt project. Baby Barbara was on her special blanket behind her, and Ronda wouldn’t be down to help with the quilt for another hour at least.
Yet Ella was determined to write in her journal today. She had wanted to ever since that evening at Ivan’s place when his mother passed on. Now would be an excellent time. She could take a few moments to begin her thoughts and then perhaps finish tonight after the girls were in bed.
So many emotions still swirled around her. Maybe clarity would come if she placed her thoughts on paper.
Ella added another piece of wood to the stove. With the damp wash hung to dry, the basement needed to stay warm enough. Even with the roaring fire she’d built, the moisture hung heavy in the air.
“We’re playin’ over here,” Mary said, glancing up and catching her gaze from the other side of the room.
“Yah,” Ella said, smiling toward the two of them. Baby Barbara’s eyes focused on her as Ella pushed aside the curtain that partitioned off their sleeping quarters. Basement life
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