Just Plain Sadie Read Free

hired a driver to come to the market so they could shop and spend time together. So much for that.
    Chris smiled. “Just the way I like it.”
    Last week, those words would have made her heart pound in her chest, but today they only made her sad. Her time with Chris was growing smaller each day.
    Together they made their way through the milling shoppers. The market was a great place to find fresh produce and other ingredients for the restaurant. Normally, Sadie loved coming and wandering through the stalls and stands, learning of new foods and tools. A little of anything and everything could be found at the market.
    â€œAre you serious about Europe?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question, but it had been building inside her for days. Ever since Chris had told her about his plans.
    â€œ Jah. Of course.”
    She nodded.
    â€œYou haven’t told anyone, have you?”
    â€œNo.” And she wouldn’t. Not until he broke the news to his parents.
    Chris pointed up ahead. “There it is.”
    Sadie recognized the sign. “Hein Ranch,” it read. “Exotic Meats and Animals.” But the man standing at the booth was not the one who had been there earlier.
    This man was . . .
    She stumbled as he turned to face her.
    The most handsome man she had ever seen.
    A Mennonite.
    â€œCan I help you?” he asked. His voice was smooth, not too deep. Just right. In fact, everything about him was just right, from his sun-streaked blond hair to his dark brown eyes.
    He wore faded blue jeans like she had seen Zach Calhoun wear, an orange and white checkered shirt, and black suspenders. Suddenly she felt more than plain in her mourning black. Not that it mattered.
    â€œ Jah , I was here earlier talking to a guy about some bison meat.”
    â€œThat was my cousin. He was watching the booth for me. Ezra Hein,” he said with a nod.
    â€œSadie Kauffman. Nice to meet you,” she returned. “He gave me some quotes when we stopped by earlier. I have them here.” She reached into her bag and pulled out the piece of paper with the price per pound that the cousin had written down for her. Her hands were trembling as she handed it to Ezra.
    â€œThat’s a lot of meat,” he said.
    â€œMy family owns a restaurant in Wells Landing.”
    He nodded.
    Was it her or was this conversation awkward? Probably because instead of talking about meat and restaurants, she’d rather be talking about anything else with him.
    He had to be the most intriguing man she had ever seen. Attractive, polite . . .
    She pushed those thoughts away. He was a Mennonite, and she was Amish. He was handsome, and she was plain. What would a guy like him want with a girl like her?
    â€œDo you get the meat locally?” she asked, trying to remember all the things Mamm had wanted her to ask.
    â€œYou could say that. We raise them ourselves, then send them to a butcher in Tulsa. He packages everything there and we pick it up when it’s ready.”
    â€œReally?”
    He smiled. “Yes. We also have ostriches and deer, if you’re interested. All of our stock is organically fed. Even the camels.”
    â€œCamels? You don’t eat them, do you?” She tried to not make a face. But camel meat?
    Ezra laughed. “No, we keep them for brush control.”
    â€œCamels, ostriches, bison, and deer? That sounds like quite a farm.”
    â€œIt’s a ranch, really. You should come out and see it sometime.”
    She would like nothing more. And suddenly Chris going to Europe didn’t seem like the end of her world. “I would like that.” She smiled. “So can you supply us with that much bison?”
    He nodded. “Of course. When would you like delivery?”
    She waited as he worked out the details of the order. Then she signed the papers, handed him a business card for the restaurant, and shook his hand, loving the feel of his strong grip and his warm, calloused