Read Online Ella's Wish by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page A

“I think your hat’s a little big for your head,” Ella told Eli just so he would know how she felt about it.
    Dora chuckled, and Eli laughed heartedly. “You are a good one, if I must say so myself.”
    Ella felt a rush of emotion swell up in her heart. How I love him and so much the more now that he’s in trouble . Tears stung her eyes, and Eli gave her a strange look. She managed a smile, and it seemed to satisfy him at least enough to make the conversation move on to other topics—safer conversations than what surely lay ahead.

Ten
     
    T he sun hung red in the evening sky by the time they pulled the last wagon of bales up to the elevator.
    “I haven’t felt so exhausted in a long time,” Ella said, “but it feels gut anyway.”
    “It’s gut to get you out of that big house,” Eli said.
    “Would you two quit chattering? There are still chores to do,” Dora snapped. “Let’s get the bales of hay up to the mow.”
    Eli and Monroe looked at each other, shrugged, and shook the straw off their hats.
    “I think I’ll save my breath with her,” Eli muttered as he and Monroe headed into the barn to climb back into the haymow.
    “They are gut brothers,” Ella said, making a point to look at Dora. “You don’t have to snap at them.”
    “I guess I’m tired, and discussing Eli’s troubles is still ahead,” Dora admitted.
    Ella stretched her arms, brushed the strings of straw off her head covering, and got ready to throw down the first bale of hay.
    “I’m too tired to worry how I look,” Dora muttered as she pulled the starter rope of the elevator motor.
    The engine took off with a sputter. The steel chain engaged and caused its usual racket as Ella threw on a bale of hay. For a moment, she thought she had lost her aim. The bale teetered on the edge and then jerked upward as the teeth on the elevator chain caught it. Dora shook her head and climbed up and over the wooden slats. Together they swung in turns. The long line of bales angled off toward the haymow above them until the last bale left the floor of the wagon visible.
    Dora jumped off the wagon, fetched the water jug, and drank deeply before passing it to Ella. Ella let the stream of water run into her mouth and overflow before she swallowed. The taste was heavenly. She took the jug with her into the barn in case the thirst returned before they were done milking.
    Ella pulled the three-legged stool off the wall and sat down beside the first cow. Relief spread all the way through her as her back and leg muscles relaxed. Driven by their hunger for the evening meal, they all milked as fast as they could. Eli had half the cows loose by the time Ella finished her second cow. She jumped back against the wall, her full milk bucket held high, as the cows moved out. Eli could be excused for his haste, so she didn’t say anything. They were all in a hurry.
    Eli let in the second round of cows as Ella emptied her bucket of milk into the strainer. She picked up her stool again and sat down, careful the one leg didn’t settle into the gutter in her tired state of mind. Dora, looking as tired as she felt, finished her third cow first.
    “I’ll finish the last two,” Eli offered as he let the cows out again. “We have a lot of dry ones, so there are only two more.” He slapped a few backsides to speed things up.
    Ella followed Dora to the house. Neither of them said much. Dora’s usually dark face was even darker than normal. Ella noticed the look of concern on her mom’s face when they arrived in the kitchen.
    “Need any help?” Ella asked.
    “You girls can set the table. I’m almost done here.”
    Ella opened the silverware drawer and took out an assorted handful while Dora got the plates from the cupboard. Out in the washroom, the door slammed, and water splashed roughly in the bowl.
    “They still make a lot of racket, even when they’re washing,” Dora muttered.
    “ Da Hah be praised,” Daett said loudly as he stepped into the kitchen.