Read Online The Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kelly Long - Free Book Online

hush descended on the store and Daniel knew he’d crossed a line, but he was thinking of Clara and his recent pursuit of her. He fully expected Clair to knock him down a few pegs and waited for the return of words.
    But the auld man merely smiled and stroked Benny’s head. “Ya don’t understand the point of the tale, Dan . . . It’s more about women being both wild and free, as well as wives who make a home and hearth. There’s many sides to a woman—and if you truly love her, you’ll spend a lifetime discoverin’ who she really be . . . that’s all.”
    Dan nodded ruefully, recognizing the gentle truth of the older man’s words. “I’m sorry, Clair. You know I meant no disrespect.”
    There was a brief silence until Clair laughed, breaking the tension and gut humor was restored to all.
    * * *
    Clara sat in her sister’s kitchen with Martha Umble—the bishop’s eccentric but kind wife—and listened to the auld woman as she helped make jam thumbprint cookies for the evening’s skating.
    â€œYes sir, when I was a girl, Joel Umble was the finest man on the mountain—still is, truth to tell. Though it would do no good to let him know and give him a swollen head as bishop, mind you.” Martha stuck her finger into the jar of blueberry jam and had a loud taste.
    Clara realized that there was a deep kinship between her sister and Martha and felt happy that they were willing to let her join in the chorus of friendship.
    â€œAre you going to skate tonight, Martha?” Sarah asked while Clara looked at her sister in surprise. A fall on the ice for one as auld as Martha would surely be dangerous to say the least.
    â€œWhat are you talking about, Sarah King? You know I can skate blindfolded if I’ve a mind to. Of course I’ll be skating. And what about you, Clara? Rumor has it hereabouts that you might circle the ice with Daniel Kauffman a time or two?”
    Clara felt herself flush. There was absolutely no place to hide anything of a person’s private life on Ice Mountain, but she knew that Martha meant no harm.
    â€œI don’t know. Daniel’s a gut . . . friend,” she finished rather lamely. Is he a friend? What is he to me? And how can he be anything to me when Seth is still my hus—No, he’s not, yet I cannot dishonor his memory. I cannot . . .
    â€œI can hear your thoughts churn like fresh butter, child,” Martha said, laying a blue-veined hand on Clara’s. “Don’t think so much. Don’t fear. Derr Herr has a plan for your life, and you can’t hurry His hand none, either.”
    Clara wet her lips. “I—I guess I’ve had trouble yielding to Gott much since Seth—well, because of the way he died.”
    Martha nodded, a wise look in her faded brown eyes. “Not only the way, but the timing of his death, I’d imagine . . . with you two married for not nearly a year. Nee , it is hard to understand Gott ’s ways and His timing and sometimes everything looks like a mess. But He’s still around. Still has your hand, child. You’ll see. You can mark my words on that.”
    Clara nodded, feeling some of the ice in her heart begin to melt under the other woman’s tender instruction. She realized that what her sister said about her becoming reclusive was more than true. I never let anyone in when Seth died. I didn’t want to talk about it, but now . . .
    Blinks baa ed loudly, disrupting her thoughts. She realized that much to the kinner ’s delight, the goat had edged a cookie sheet to the side of the table and was making merry with some of the raspberry jam thumbprint cookies.
    Clara sighed and swatted her away, then helplessly joined in the infectious laughter surrounding her.

C HAPTER 10
    D aniel was waved off by Edward when he would have helped carry wood to the bonfire setup.
    â€œ Geh make out with Clara,” Edward suggested with a