pulled into the barnyard and parked behind Eli. Her hair was pushed back under her head covering, and her emotions were flushed with pleasure after the run.
How can Eli think about leaving this life? Is that not what he is planning, or are his thoughts, instead, just all muddled up thinking about the girl? Muddled up thoughts can be straightened out. On purpose would be another matter .
They unhitched the horses quickly and were back outside to help Daett when he pulled up.
“Runnin’ away from the old man?” her father said, throwing his lines on the ground as they all pitched in to help unhitch.
“Can we unload the bales after dinner?” Eli asked. “I’m starved.”
“I suppose so,” Daett allowed. “They aren’t goin’ anywhere.”
Their mom, Lizzie, had sandwiches and glasses of lemonade set out on the table. They gathered quickly without many words and followed Daett as he bowed his head.
“Thank You, dear Lord,” he prayed, “for this day You have given us. Thank You for Your loving kindness, for breath in our bodies, and for grace for our souls. Thank You that Ella could be with us again. You know we need the help, but more than that, we are glad she could be with us.
“Let Your Almighty power be with us and bless this food. Be with those who have not, the orphans and the homeless who suffer. We ask that Your hand reach them and that You comfort their hearts. In our plenty, we lift our hearts in great thanks. We are not worthy. Only You and Your great name are worthy. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Ella let the air out of her chest with a long sigh. The sandwiches in front of her eyes drifted in and out of focus. She pressed back her tears as she realized that such moments with her family would now be rare not just because she’d moved away, but because of the moves the others would make. Life moves on. Things could not be stopped, even if one wanted them to.
“How are things comin’ along?” Mamm asked to no one in particular.
“Three wagons full already,” Daett declared. “Pretty good, I would say. It sure was nice of Ella to help.”
“I’m glad to,” she said, reaching for a second sandwich.
“This is a good year for hay,” Eli said. “The second and third cuttings might be just as good.”
“Yah,” Daett agreed, “if the rains come like we hope.”
“They have come so far,” Monroe said.
“That can always change,” Daett said in a solemn voice. “Everything can change—and so fast.”
Ella wished with all her heart that the evening was here already, that things would never change, and that she could be certain they never would, but, of course, that could never be. Great change could well be ahead for us—changes none of us could imagine or anticipate. When boys go out with Englisha girls, anything can happen. Things can also happen if I say no to a marriage proposal from a certain bishop .
“You’re enjoying your house?” Monroe asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“It’s really nice,” Clara said, and Ella nodded. “I want to move over to Ella’s house,” Clara continued. “I want to live with Ella and stay there all the time.”
“You’re a little young for that,” Mamm said. “You’d best be thinkin’ about stayin’ home. And, besides, we need you here.”
“Ella’s putting ideas into the child’s head,” Monroe said, “because she’s lonely there in that big house, that’s why.”
“That’s why she needs a husband,” Eli offered, “right quick, I’m thinkin’.”
“You can keep your thoughts to yourself,” Ella informed them.
“I’ll be speakin’ them if I want to,” Eli said with a laugh. “I think Dora agrees with me, don’t you, Dora dear.”
“Tell me why I should stick up for you?” Dora retorted.
“Cause I’m such a nice fellow.” Eli smiled an evil smile.
He sure is mighty full of himself. Tonight is just ahead, and with this attitude, things do not look well at all .
How can Eli think about leaving this life? Is that not what he is planning, or are his thoughts, instead, just all muddled up thinking about the girl? Muddled up thoughts can be straightened out. On purpose would be another matter .
They unhitched the horses quickly and were back outside to help Daett when he pulled up.
“Runnin’ away from the old man?” her father said, throwing his lines on the ground as they all pitched in to help unhitch.
“Can we unload the bales after dinner?” Eli asked. “I’m starved.”
“I suppose so,” Daett allowed. “They aren’t goin’ anywhere.”
Their mom, Lizzie, had sandwiches and glasses of lemonade set out on the table. They gathered quickly without many words and followed Daett as he bowed his head.
“Thank You, dear Lord,” he prayed, “for this day You have given us. Thank You for Your loving kindness, for breath in our bodies, and for grace for our souls. Thank You that Ella could be with us again. You know we need the help, but more than that, we are glad she could be with us.
“Let Your Almighty power be with us and bless this food. Be with those who have not, the orphans and the homeless who suffer. We ask that Your hand reach them and that You comfort their hearts. In our plenty, we lift our hearts in great thanks. We are not worthy. Only You and Your great name are worthy. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Ella let the air out of her chest with a long sigh. The sandwiches in front of her eyes drifted in and out of focus. She pressed back her tears as she realized that such moments with her family would now be rare not just because she’d moved away, but because of the moves the others would make. Life moves on. Things could not be stopped, even if one wanted them to.
“How are things comin’ along?” Mamm asked to no one in particular.
“Three wagons full already,” Daett declared. “Pretty good, I would say. It sure was nice of Ella to help.”
“I’m glad to,” she said, reaching for a second sandwich.
“This is a good year for hay,” Eli said. “The second and third cuttings might be just as good.”
“Yah,” Daett agreed, “if the rains come like we hope.”
“They have come so far,” Monroe said.
“That can always change,” Daett said in a solemn voice. “Everything can change—and so fast.”
Ella wished with all her heart that the evening was here already, that things would never change, and that she could be certain they never would, but, of course, that could never be. Great change could well be ahead for us—changes none of us could imagine or anticipate. When boys go out with Englisha girls, anything can happen. Things can also happen if I say no to a marriage proposal from a certain bishop .
“You’re enjoying your house?” Monroe asked, interrupting her thoughts.
“It’s really nice,” Clara said, and Ella nodded. “I want to move over to Ella’s house,” Clara continued. “I want to live with Ella and stay there all the time.”
“You’re a little young for that,” Mamm said. “You’d best be thinkin’ about stayin’ home. And, besides, we need you here.”
“Ella’s putting ideas into the child’s head,” Monroe said, “because she’s lonely there in that big house, that’s why.”
“That’s why she needs a husband,” Eli offered, “right quick, I’m thinkin’.”
“You can keep your thoughts to yourself,” Ella informed them.
“I’ll be speakin’ them if I want to,” Eli said with a laugh. “I think Dora agrees with me, don’t you, Dora dear.”
“Tell me why I should stick up for you?” Dora retorted.
“Cause I’m such a nice fellow.” Eli smiled an evil smile.
He sure is mighty full of himself. Tonight is just ahead, and with this attitude, things do not look well at all .
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