Read Online Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge - Free Book Online Page B

“You can sew?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œOkay.” She took a critical look of my Amish ensemble. “If you would like,” she said, “I can make you a new dress.”
    I sat down next to her. “I’m not going to be here that long…”
    â€œI’m quick. I could have a dress for you in a couple of days.”
    â€œOnly if you want to…”
    â€œMay I measure you?” She didn’t stop for an answer. “I’ll get my tape.”
    â€œShouldn’t we…” Was it proper to be fitted in the family room? But then, I didn’t suppose the Amish were all that concerned with the finer points of tailoring. I waited. If she wanted to make me a dress, who was I to stop her?
    I started writing in my head—
Within a few days, Sara wanted to sew for me. But why?
    She returned a moment later, arms laden with fabric, a tape measure, and a pincushion shaped like a cupcake. “I ain’t opposed to taking in the dress you’re wearing.”
    â€œDo whatever you want. Do you enjoy sewing?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œWhen did you learn?”
    â€œI started when I was eight,” she answered, pinning my dress along the sides. “This dress was made for someone larger than you. You’re also wearing a real bra.”
    As opposed to fake ones?
    Sara must have read my expression. “We usually make undergarments to hold and…flatten.” She began to blush.
    â€œOh.” No lift and separate here, then. I stuck my hands on my hips. “Well, what do you need me to do?”
    She regained her composure. “To start, I need the length of your torso, arms, and legs from the waist.”
    I held out my arms. “Should I stand like this?”
    â€œYou could, but I left my notepad in the kitchen.”
    â€œAh.” I put my arms down.
    For all of her quiet Amishness, Sara possessed a surprisingly acerbic wit. There was a real teenager struggling to get out.
    Heaven help us.
    She came back from retrieving her notepad and started with measuring my arm. I stood very still. “Do you sew all the family clothes?”
    Sara scribbled a number. “Most of them. Sometimes Mother and Leah help with the hemming.”
    â€œLeah sews?”
    â€œElizabeth is learning. All Amish women sew.”
    But Leah and Elizabeth were so young. I couldn’t imagine wielding a needle and thread at that age.
    Nor could I imagine feeding cows, but the children took care of the livestock on a regular basis.
    â€œYou’re going to be here tomorrow?” Sara asked, after measuring my torso.
    â€œYes.”
    Sara looked over her shoulder toward the kitchen. “Could you take me to town?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI need to take mending back to Levi.”
    â€œYou do Levi’s mending?”
    â€œShh!” She waved her hand at me. “Not so loud.”
    I lowered my voice. “Why are we whispering?”
    â€œNormally Grandma takes me to town, but she can’t for a week and suggested you take me.”
    â€œWhy are we whispering?”
    Sara glanced again at the kitchen. “I don’t want my mother to hear and tell anything to Father.”
    â€œDoesn’t your father wonder why you have normal clothes in your mending pile?”
    â€œI mend them in my room. Can we take your motorcycle?”
    â€œWhat?” I forgot to whisper.
    â€œShh!”
    â€œSorry,” I spoke in a hush again. “I don’t have a second helmet.”
    â€œThat’s okay.”
    â€œNo, it’s not okay. It’s illegal, and even if you had a helmet, I don’t think you could ride and keep your skirt free.”
    â€œWhat if you borrowed Grandma’s car?”
    â€œI thought she was busy.”
    â€œShe might not need her car.”
    â€œWell, let me know.”
    Truth be told, being jarred by the buggy all the way to Levi’s didn’t appeal to me.

    Apparently Sara was a