Read Online Plain and Fancy by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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bar. “Can I interest you in a glass of root beer and a giant, homemade pretzel?”
Laura nodded and released a sigh. “Oh, all right. I guess I can count calories some other time.”
***
Pauline wandered up and down the aisles inside the market building, searching for Eli. There was no sign of him anywhere, and she wondered if he had even come here today. Maybe he’d just told his mother he was going to the farmers’ market, when in fact he’d made plans to meet that English woman again. Maybe they’d gone on another picnic at the lake.
She shook her head. No, that wasn’t likely since it had been raining all morning.
“ Wie geht’s —how are you, Pauline?” Anna Beachy asked as she strolled up to her.
“I’m fine. And you?”
“Oh, fair to middlin’. Are you here alone, or did you come with your folks?”
“I’m alone. Came by to see if I could find Eli Yoder. Have you seen him around the market anywhere?”
Anna nodded. “Saw him over at Amos Hilty’s root-beer stand about ten minutes ago. He was with some English woman, which I thought was pretty strange.”
“Did you speak to him?”
“Just long enough to say hello, but then before I had a chance to say anything more, Eli said he was on his way out. He grabbed two jugs of root beer and rushed off like he was in a big hurry.”
Pauline felt as if her heart had sunk all the way to her toes. Not only had she missed seeing Eli, but her fears had been confirmed—he was with Laura again.
“I was just heading over to the snack bar to get a German sausage,” Anna said. “If you haven’t had lunch yet, maybe you’d like to join me.”
Pauline shook her head. “Thanks anyway, but I’m not so hungry.” She turned toward the exit door as a feeling of defeat threatened to weigh her down. At the rate things were going, she would never get Eli to marry her.
***
That evening, Laura lay on her bed, replaying the events of the day. As strange as it might seem, she was glad she and Eli had experienced the little disagreement about her weight. Despite the dissension it had caused, for the remainder of the day, Eli had been quite compromising.
A knock on the door stirred Laura from her musings. “Who is it?”
“Darla.”
Laura crawled off the bed and opened the door. “If you’ve come to give me another lecture, you can save your breath.”
Darla shook her head. “I wanted to apologize and see how your day went.”
Laura motioned her inside. “Actually, it went well. Eli and I drove to the farmers’ market in Bird-in-Hand, and I got a few more decorating ideas while we were there.”
Darla flopped onto the bed. “The Amish don’t believe in fancy decorations or adornments in their homes, Laura.”
“That’s what makes it so unique.”
“I don’t follow.”
Laura dropped down next to Darla, and her fingers trailed across the edge of the quilt covering her bed. “Take this, for example. It’s plain, yet strikingly beautiful. A quilt such as this is in high demand, which is why it was so costly.”
Darla shrugged. “To be perfectly honest, Amish decor doesn’t do much for me. Neither do Amish men.”
Laura clenched her jaw. She had a feeling this conversation might lead to another argument, and she wasn’t in the mood for one. “It’s been a long day, and I’m tired. Besides, I think it’s time to end this little discussion.”
“Sure, okay.” Darla stood and started for the door. “Oh, I almost forgot—you had a phone call while you were out exploring Amish land.”
“Who was it?”
“Mrs. Evans took the call, and she just told me it was some guy asking for you.”
“Hmm ... maybe it was Dad. But then why wouldn’t he have called on my cell phone?”
“I really couldn’t say, but I think Mrs. Evans left a note in your mailbox.”
“I’ll go check.” As soon as Darla disappeared into her own room, Laura ran down the steps and found the note in her mailbox. It read:
A man named Dean Carlson called
Laura nodded and released a sigh. “Oh, all right. I guess I can count calories some other time.”
***
Pauline wandered up and down the aisles inside the market building, searching for Eli. There was no sign of him anywhere, and she wondered if he had even come here today. Maybe he’d just told his mother he was going to the farmers’ market, when in fact he’d made plans to meet that English woman again. Maybe they’d gone on another picnic at the lake.
She shook her head. No, that wasn’t likely since it had been raining all morning.
“ Wie geht’s —how are you, Pauline?” Anna Beachy asked as she strolled up to her.
“I’m fine. And you?”
“Oh, fair to middlin’. Are you here alone, or did you come with your folks?”
“I’m alone. Came by to see if I could find Eli Yoder. Have you seen him around the market anywhere?”
Anna nodded. “Saw him over at Amos Hilty’s root-beer stand about ten minutes ago. He was with some English woman, which I thought was pretty strange.”
“Did you speak to him?”
“Just long enough to say hello, but then before I had a chance to say anything more, Eli said he was on his way out. He grabbed two jugs of root beer and rushed off like he was in a big hurry.”
Pauline felt as if her heart had sunk all the way to her toes. Not only had she missed seeing Eli, but her fears had been confirmed—he was with Laura again.
“I was just heading over to the snack bar to get a German sausage,” Anna said. “If you haven’t had lunch yet, maybe you’d like to join me.”
Pauline shook her head. “Thanks anyway, but I’m not so hungry.” She turned toward the exit door as a feeling of defeat threatened to weigh her down. At the rate things were going, she would never get Eli to marry her.
***
That evening, Laura lay on her bed, replaying the events of the day. As strange as it might seem, she was glad she and Eli had experienced the little disagreement about her weight. Despite the dissension it had caused, for the remainder of the day, Eli had been quite compromising.
A knock on the door stirred Laura from her musings. “Who is it?”
“Darla.”
Laura crawled off the bed and opened the door. “If you’ve come to give me another lecture, you can save your breath.”
Darla shook her head. “I wanted to apologize and see how your day went.”
Laura motioned her inside. “Actually, it went well. Eli and I drove to the farmers’ market in Bird-in-Hand, and I got a few more decorating ideas while we were there.”
Darla flopped onto the bed. “The Amish don’t believe in fancy decorations or adornments in their homes, Laura.”
“That’s what makes it so unique.”
“I don’t follow.”
Laura dropped down next to Darla, and her fingers trailed across the edge of the quilt covering her bed. “Take this, for example. It’s plain, yet strikingly beautiful. A quilt such as this is in high demand, which is why it was so costly.”
Darla shrugged. “To be perfectly honest, Amish decor doesn’t do much for me. Neither do Amish men.”
Laura clenched her jaw. She had a feeling this conversation might lead to another argument, and she wasn’t in the mood for one. “It’s been a long day, and I’m tired. Besides, I think it’s time to end this little discussion.”
“Sure, okay.” Darla stood and started for the door. “Oh, I almost forgot—you had a phone call while you were out exploring Amish land.”
“Who was it?”
“Mrs. Evans took the call, and she just told me it was some guy asking for you.”
“Hmm ... maybe it was Dad. But then why wouldn’t he have called on my cell phone?”
“I really couldn’t say, but I think Mrs. Evans left a note in your mailbox.”
“I’ll go check.” As soon as Darla disappeared into her own room, Laura ran down the steps and found the note in her mailbox. It read:
A man named Dean Carlson called
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