Read Online Just Plain Sadie by Amy Lillard - Free Book Online Page B

Mennonites were as varied as the Amish in their traditions and beliefs, but for the most part, the Mennonites had electricity in their homes, drove cars, and didn’t dress as plain as the Amish did. But did that really make them so different?
    â€œIt’s okay. Thanks again.” She shut the door and took Daniel’s hand, leading him up onto the sidewalk.
    Ezra waited a moment for them to get clear of the vehicle before he backed it up into the street. He gave them both one last small wave. Then he was gone.
    * * *
    Ezra drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he drove home. He was going to get a lot of flak over Sadie. He could see it coming in the surprised gleam in his mother’s eyes and the twisted smirk Logan had given him. Why couldn’t two people be just friends? Why did everybody have to put romantic labels on everything if two different genders were involved? It was ridiculous, really.
    The moment she had touched his lips with the napkin, something exploded inside him. He wasn’t sure what. He’d never felt that way before. But he felt a little dejected when she moved away. What was he supposed to make of that?
    That he was attracted to Sadie. But that didn’t mean anything. Sure, she was the only girl to spark his interest in a long time. Maybe even ever. But that didn’t mean he could act on it. And so what if he did? The Amish and the Mennonites alike talked about not judging, then they proceeded to judge each other to a fault. If he wanted to see Sadie again, why should he not?
    Friends and family alike would have trouble with any relationship he might forge with Sadie Kauffman. He was pretty sure his mother didn’t want him dating anyone. Since his father had left, she relied heavily on him to take care of things. She couldn’t remarry since her husband was still alive, though as far as they knew he could be dead, remarried, or living in another country. They hadn’t heard from him since he walked out seven years ago. In that aspect, Ezra couldn’t blame her for being a little bitter. He himself had hard feelings toward his father. Jakob had treated them both unfairly, walking out without a word or any communication since that date.
    But Ezra wasn’t thinking about marrying Sadie Kauffman. He had too much on his hands at the ranch, too many things he still wanted to do. Aside from the issues of their faith, he had too many responsibilities as it was to add another. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t spend time with her. After all, he’d already told her he’d pick her up next Saturday and bring her sister out to the ranch. Now he had to figure out what to do with the desire to see her again until then.
    * * *
    â€œSadie! There you are!” Chris pushed out of the restaurant and hustled to her side. He’d been waiting for a while now. Waiting on her to come back from this unplanned excursion.
    â€œYes, here I am.” Sadie looked down at her brother. “Daniel, why don’t you go on in the restaurant?”
    Daniel nodded and did as she bade, leaving Chris the privacy he needed to find out exactly what was going on.
    â€œIs that the Mennonite?” He nodded toward the blue truck rolling down the street. “The one from the market?”
    â€œYes.” A frown worked its way across Sadie’s brow. Chris hadn’t meant to get her on the defensive. She’d said that she wasn’t marrying him when he returned from Europe, but what was she doing running around with a Mennonite guy on a Saturday night?
    â€œIs that why you came here?” Sadie asked. “To find out if he was the Mennonite?”
    Chris shook his head. He was making a mess of this. “No, it’s Rook night.” He and Sadie along with William and Hannah had started playing Rook on Saturday nights. It was a fun time to get together and enjoy each other’s company, and he wasn’t about to let a Mennonite come