A Simple Faith: A Lancaster Crossroads Novel Read Free Page B

there’s a chance for a profitable side business. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, this one.”
    Hope fluttered in Elsie’s chest as she twisted her small hands together under the table.
Please say yes, Dat
. It would make a world of difference for their little shop.
    “And what about Bishop Samuel? I don’t want to take any chances and sign a contract that would have us selling graven images.”
    “This is a very different matter,” Elsie explained. “We would be selling approved items to vendors in the city.”
    “And I’ve already spoken with the bishop, just to be sure.” Fanny lifted her gaze from the table, her soft eyes on her husband. “Samuel says it doesn’t violate the Ordnung.”
    “Then there’s no reason not to give it a try.” Tom turned to Elsie. “You’ve been pushing me on the shop, I know that, but I have to say, you’ve taken it in a good direction. More folks are stopping in now, a lot more customers. We’ve been turning a good profit for the past few months.”
    Joy welled up inside Elsie. Dat had noticed.
    “We’ll go into the city in the next week or two, in the afternoon,” Dat said. “Caleb and I need to finish the roof first. You’ll get us a spot in George’s van?”
    Elsie nodded, pleased to have Dat’s approval. She would call George today, from the shop.
“Denki,”
she said, knowing her father would not regret this. Already the shop was the family’s major source of income. With a little more sprucing up and a chance to sell to countless people in Philadelphia, the shop would make them a very comfortable living, with enough profits to get Dat’s business on its feet.
    At last, Elsie’s hard work and planning were beginning to pay off.

    After breakfast, Elsie and Emma shared the cleanup. They moved quickly and efficiently, scouring the cast-iron skillet and drying dishes, mindful of the time limit. Emma had to get to the schoolhouse in time to greet her students, and Elsie had the shop to open in Halfway.
    “Was that a bit of matchmaking?” Emma asked as she wiped a bowl.
    Elsie smiled. “I knew someone in the community would help out. It might as well be Gabe.”
    “Denki. It would be nice to see more of him.” Emma’s relationship with the tall, blond Gabe King had been a secret until recently. Now every young person in the community knew she was Gabe’s girl, though word hadn’t yet spread to their father.
    Elsie wondered what their dat would think about his oldest daughter choosing the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. A glimmer of longing flickered through her at the thought of falling in love. It was every girl’s lifetime wish, but Elsie could never attach herself to that dream. Anyone looking at her knew from the start that she was not an ordinary girl.
    “Church is at Gideon Yoder’s this Sunday,” Emma said, bringing Elsie’s thoughts back to the bubbles floating between them. “There’ll be a bonfire at the singing, and it’s bound to be a good time. Won’t you come along, Elsie?”
    “We’ll see,” Elsie said, warding her sister off gently. Since she’d turned old enough to attend youth events, Elsie had learned that it was better to waffle about going than to downright refuse. Emma just didn’t understand why Elsie felt uncomfortable at social gatherings.
    “Something tells me you have no intention of going.”
    “How do you know?” Elsie looked down at the suds, a thousand bubbles with a thousand iridescent reflections. A village of bubbles in different sizes, though all of them were shiny and bright. “I didn’t say that.”
    “But I can read between the lines. When you teach thirty pupils in a one-room schoolhouse, you begin to know what they’re thinking. As if there were thought balloons over their heads, like in a comic. Jeremiah Miller can’t wait until recess. Rose Beiler would like to sit all day practicing the curly loops in her handwriting. And you? Your balloon says that there’s no