hazily, her mind moving away from sleep. Had she become so lonely she would simply settle for whoever came along after Silas Good?
I can’t let that happen. She threw off the covers and inched out of the comfortable bed. Swinging her legs over the side, she was glad for the rag rug that lay beneath her feet. She pushed her bare feet into her slippers, shivering in the dawn’s early light as she ventured onto the cold floor.
Finding her bathrobe, she snuggled into its warmth and opened her top drawer to find her long johns. Rose was so chilled, she put them on under her nightgown, then headed down the stairs to the bathroom just off the kitchen. It hadn’t struck her till just this minute that it was a no-Preaching Sunday. Right quick, she remembered her noontime plans with Mose and Ruthann. She was fairly certain the invitation had much to do with whatever fellow would be sitting across the table from her, but even if not, she could happily entertain herself with her little nephew and nieces. All under the age of five, Jonas, Barbara Ann, and Sally were sweet children.
Rose closed the bathroom door and began to run the bathwater, hoping her father wouldn’t mind when he came to shave his upper lip later and discovered precious little hot water left. That had become a problem with Brandon’s almost daily showering next door. Talk about having to make do with a spoonful of water! She laughed at her own joke, thinking now of Hen and the man she loved, living on the other side of this wall, trying to put things back to the way they had been before Mattie Sue was born.
Lately, Rose had seen glimpses of something between them—a measure of sweetness. With all of her heart, she hoped they would in time rediscover how much they cared for each other, if for no other reason than for Mattie Sue’s sake. And the Lord’s, Rose thought, splashing cold water on her face.
While she brushed her teeth at the sink, she wondered if the groundhog had seen his shadow and gone back to his burrow for six more weeks of winter. She smiled at the notion that a marmot could predict the end of the coldest season.
She finished her bath quickly, her excitement for the day taking her full attention now. Mose had also dropped a hint to Dat that Rose wasn’t the only guest coming to dinner today, confirming her suspicions. But just who could it be?
Wouldn’t Cousin Melvin call me silly for wondering? She knew without a doubt he would. But then, so would her old friend Nick. Ach, for double sure!
After Rose was dressed and had breakfast under way for her parents, she looked through her basket of finished dolls for market to find one or two for her nieces. She noticed one on which she’d purposely stitched a downturned mouth after hearing from Dat about Nick’s going to college. Even now, she felt distressed when she thought of it, knowing the world had grabbed him and would never let him go.
Of course, she wouldn’t think of taking the sad-faced doll along to give to Barbara Ann or Sally. Instead, she picked out two matching faceless dolls—twins, really. Of course, except for the color of their dresses, all the girl dolls she made looked quite alike .
After a breakfast of cornmeal mush and tasty sausage, Rose washed and dried the dishes, then went in to read the Bible to Mamm, two chapters from Matthew that focused on some of the parables. Mamm especially liked the one about the kingdom of heaven being likened unto a treasure hidden in a field.
“God’s treasures are our truest gifts,” Mamm said in a near whisper. “Things not of this world.”
Rose knew what her mother meant: gifts such as comfort, peace, joy, love . . . and healing. “Beth Browning told me she’s still prayin’ for you, Mamm.”
Her mother’s eyes welled up with tears. “What a dear young woman.” Mamm wiped her eyes with a hankie.
Rose closed the Bible. “Beth seems wise beyond her years in some ways.” Like an old soul.
“I’m glad you’re
I can’t let that happen. She threw off the covers and inched out of the comfortable bed. Swinging her legs over the side, she was glad for the rag rug that lay beneath her feet. She pushed her bare feet into her slippers, shivering in the dawn’s early light as she ventured onto the cold floor.
Finding her bathrobe, she snuggled into its warmth and opened her top drawer to find her long johns. Rose was so chilled, she put them on under her nightgown, then headed down the stairs to the bathroom just off the kitchen. It hadn’t struck her till just this minute that it was a no-Preaching Sunday. Right quick, she remembered her noontime plans with Mose and Ruthann. She was fairly certain the invitation had much to do with whatever fellow would be sitting across the table from her, but even if not, she could happily entertain herself with her little nephew and nieces. All under the age of five, Jonas, Barbara Ann, and Sally were sweet children.
Rose closed the bathroom door and began to run the bathwater, hoping her father wouldn’t mind when he came to shave his upper lip later and discovered precious little hot water left. That had become a problem with Brandon’s almost daily showering next door. Talk about having to make do with a spoonful of water! She laughed at her own joke, thinking now of Hen and the man she loved, living on the other side of this wall, trying to put things back to the way they had been before Mattie Sue was born.
Lately, Rose had seen glimpses of something between them—a measure of sweetness. With all of her heart, she hoped they would in time rediscover how much they cared for each other, if for no other reason than for Mattie Sue’s sake. And the Lord’s, Rose thought, splashing cold water on her face.
While she brushed her teeth at the sink, she wondered if the groundhog had seen his shadow and gone back to his burrow for six more weeks of winter. She smiled at the notion that a marmot could predict the end of the coldest season.
She finished her bath quickly, her excitement for the day taking her full attention now. Mose had also dropped a hint to Dat that Rose wasn’t the only guest coming to dinner today, confirming her suspicions. But just who could it be?
Wouldn’t Cousin Melvin call me silly for wondering? She knew without a doubt he would. But then, so would her old friend Nick. Ach, for double sure!
After Rose was dressed and had breakfast under way for her parents, she looked through her basket of finished dolls for market to find one or two for her nieces. She noticed one on which she’d purposely stitched a downturned mouth after hearing from Dat about Nick’s going to college. Even now, she felt distressed when she thought of it, knowing the world had grabbed him and would never let him go.
Of course, she wouldn’t think of taking the sad-faced doll along to give to Barbara Ann or Sally. Instead, she picked out two matching faceless dolls—twins, really. Of course, except for the color of their dresses, all the girl dolls she made looked quite alike .
After a breakfast of cornmeal mush and tasty sausage, Rose washed and dried the dishes, then went in to read the Bible to Mamm, two chapters from Matthew that focused on some of the parables. Mamm especially liked the one about the kingdom of heaven being likened unto a treasure hidden in a field.
“God’s treasures are our truest gifts,” Mamm said in a near whisper. “Things not of this world.”
Rose knew what her mother meant: gifts such as comfort, peace, joy, love . . . and healing. “Beth Browning told me she’s still prayin’ for you, Mamm.”
Her mother’s eyes welled up with tears. “What a dear young woman.” Mamm wiped her eyes with a hankie.
Rose closed the Bible. “Beth seems wise beyond her years in some ways.” Like an old soul.
“I’m glad you’re
Similar Books
