Read Online The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis - Free Book Online

Just seeing him again, sensing the lovely feeling of attachment between them, she wished he might get snowed in here for days on end.
    Then, remembering her mother was sitting nearby, Joanna introduced her. “Eben, this is my mother, Rhoda Kurtz.”
    Eben set down his duffel bag and shook her hand. “Denki for allowing me to visit your daughter.”
    Mamma’s eyes glinted her approval. “I daresay you’ve had yourself a long day.” She rose and went to the stove. “Would ya like something hot to drink? Coffee, tea . . . some cocoa?”
    Eben kindly accepted some coffee, and Joanna offered to take his coat and hat, which he gave her. She turned toward the utility room but thought better of it. Eben’s outer clothes ought to be hung elsewhere. They looked so nice . . . and new. Surely he hadn’t put himself out just for her!
    Joanna slipped into the sitting room and hung Eben’s coat in there, then, returning, she found Eben and Mamma talking quite freely, and she felt momentarily sad that Cora Jane wasn’t around to meet him, too.
    â€œMy husband’s still in the barn, but he’ll be along soon,” Mamma was saying.
    Joanna eventually showed Eben into the sitting room, knowing Mamma wouldn’t mind setting the table and putting supper on for the four of them. Joanna had so enjoyed preparing the special meal, delicious recipes in the family for generations: dinner in a dish and Hickory Hollow salad. Dessert was lemon sponge pie, which she dearly loved to make and eat.
    â€œI’m eager for you to meet my father,” Joanna said as they sat down. “Just a little warning, though—he’s quiet. Rarely says much.”
    â€œAh, I have uncles like that.” He laughed a little. “You kinda get to know what they’re thinkin’ after a while.”
    â€œThat’s exactly right.”
    Eben smiled at her and leaned forward slightly. “You’re even prettier than when I first met ya, Joanna.”
    She lowered her head. “Ach, Eben . . .”
    â€œYou truly are,” he said, reaching for her hand. “After supper, I say we go riding . . . just the two of us.”
    She agreed, unable to pull her eyes away from his.
    â€œWe’ll have us a nice time,” he said.
    She knew they would. Goodness, she knew it as well as her own name!
    Then, hearing Mamma in the kitchen, she let go of his hand and settled back in the chair.
    Eben winked at her before looking around, resting his hands on the upholstered arms of the chair—Mamma’s favorite. “A pleasant spot, jah?” He glanced toward the corner windows.
    â€œMamma likes to read her devotional books and the Bible here where the light streams in.”
    He picked up a magazine with the title Ladies Journal: Inspiration and Encouragement by Women of Faith. He thumbed through and stopped at a particular page. “Well, look at this—an article on natural homesteading.”
    Joanna leaned over to see.
    â€œIt mentions the bugs folks need in a healthy garden. How ’bout that?”
    This brought a fond chuckle; then he began to read from the article. “Listen to this: ‘Hoverflies and chalcids will consume aphids, white flies, and stinkbugs’ . . . oh, and even grasshoppers in alyssum.” He looked at her. “Do you plant alyssum?”
    â€œIn the late spring, jah.” She found it interesting how casual and familiar they were together. “May I see that article?”
    He handed her the magazine, holding it open. “Looks like men might even enjoy some of these columns. My father would, I think,” he added. “He’s not much for reading, though. Mostly the Bible.”
    â€œSame with mine. But he does faithfully read The Budget and the Farmers’ Almanac —just not in that order.”
    In a few minutes, Mamma softly called them for supper, though