breaking into a broad smile.
For Bishop Jacob to be behind the plow must mean his son-in-law must be behind on his own plowing, Susanna figured. The bishop only helped with the chores now that he’d turned his farm over to his youngest daughter’s husband. They’d been married a few years now.
What would Bishop Jacob think if he knew about her little argument with Herman this morning? He probably wouldn’t be smiling. But maybe he would understand that all young married couples have issues to work through. Most of those problems surely didn’t involve things like celebrating Christmas or having an ex-boyfriend who was in the bann though.
Bishop Jacob wouldn’t be holding Matthew against her, would he? He hadn’t mentioned it when she and Herman had gone to ask if he would marry them. But if Bishop Jacob knew she was thinking again of Matthew, he might have something to say about it. His face would no doubt fall in disappointment. His high hopes in the young couple he had married only a few weeks ago would be troubled.
She knew Bishop Jacob had high hopes because he’d said so when she and Herman had arrived that Saturday evening to announce their wedding plans.
“ Gut evening,” Bishop Jacob had greeted them with a twinkle in his eye. This was obviously a routine he had seen many times before. “May I do anything for you?” he had asked, as if he didn’t have a clue.
Herman hadn’t missed a beat. Almost as if he had done this a hundred times before, he’d said, “May we have a few words with you inside?”
“Of course,” Bishop Jacob had said, opening the door wide.
Once they were all settled, Herman had wasted no time. “Susanna and I have agreed to wed. And we would like to be published in two weeks—if you have no objections.”
“Me? Have objections?” Bishop Jacob had laughed. “I’m expecting I’ll have no objections. After I’ve asked the few usual questions, of course. I’ve been observing your courtship, and I think both of you are making a very wise choice.”
Susanna had looked away from the bishop’s gaze that night. She still remembered how she’d felt though—all warm inside at his kind words. How gut it was to know she had been doing the right thing by dating Herman and agreeing to wed him. And she still felt that way. It was just that Herman and she were having a little trouble right now. But that would all be over soon, if Da Hah willed it. And surely He did.
Ahead of her, Mary’s house appeared, and Susanna pulled back on the reins. Bruce turned down the driveway like he knew exactly where she was going, coming to a stop at the hitching post beside the barn.
Susanna jumped down and unhitched. With a glance around, she stopped short, her hands on Bruce’s halter. Why was there an Englisha car parked behind the barn? Beside her, Bruce lunged forward, almost stepping on her as he came out of the shafts.
“Whoa, boy!” she muttered. “I wasn’t quite ready for that.”
Recovering, she led Bruce toward the barn. Mary would have an explanation once she arrived at the house. An Englisha car behind the barn would be hard to explain though. Any Englisha people who stopped in, whether they were buying produce from Mary’s garden or had business with her husband, Ernest, would park in plain sight.
“Howdy there,” Mary’s voice hollered from the front porch, jerking Susanna out of her thoughts.
“Hi,” Susanna called back. “I’m taking Bruce into the barn.”
“Do you need help?” Mary asked. “Ernest isn’t here right now.”
“Of course not!” Susanna hollered back with a laugh.
Now why would Mary ask such a thing? Mary knew she was perfectly capable of unharnessing a horse by herself. She must be in a teasing mood. But Mary wasn’t exactly a teaser. Well then, she must be in a gut mood with Thanksgiving coming up later this week. Getting ready for family gatherings always puts my family members in a gut mood, Susanna thought. She slid open the
For Bishop Jacob to be behind the plow must mean his son-in-law must be behind on his own plowing, Susanna figured. The bishop only helped with the chores now that he’d turned his farm over to his youngest daughter’s husband. They’d been married a few years now.
What would Bishop Jacob think if he knew about her little argument with Herman this morning? He probably wouldn’t be smiling. But maybe he would understand that all young married couples have issues to work through. Most of those problems surely didn’t involve things like celebrating Christmas or having an ex-boyfriend who was in the bann though.
Bishop Jacob wouldn’t be holding Matthew against her, would he? He hadn’t mentioned it when she and Herman had gone to ask if he would marry them. But if Bishop Jacob knew she was thinking again of Matthew, he might have something to say about it. His face would no doubt fall in disappointment. His high hopes in the young couple he had married only a few weeks ago would be troubled.
She knew Bishop Jacob had high hopes because he’d said so when she and Herman had arrived that Saturday evening to announce their wedding plans.
“ Gut evening,” Bishop Jacob had greeted them with a twinkle in his eye. This was obviously a routine he had seen many times before. “May I do anything for you?” he had asked, as if he didn’t have a clue.
Herman hadn’t missed a beat. Almost as if he had done this a hundred times before, he’d said, “May we have a few words with you inside?”
“Of course,” Bishop Jacob had said, opening the door wide.
Once they were all settled, Herman had wasted no time. “Susanna and I have agreed to wed. And we would like to be published in two weeks—if you have no objections.”
“Me? Have objections?” Bishop Jacob had laughed. “I’m expecting I’ll have no objections. After I’ve asked the few usual questions, of course. I’ve been observing your courtship, and I think both of you are making a very wise choice.”
Susanna had looked away from the bishop’s gaze that night. She still remembered how she’d felt though—all warm inside at his kind words. How gut it was to know she had been doing the right thing by dating Herman and agreeing to wed him. And she still felt that way. It was just that Herman and she were having a little trouble right now. But that would all be over soon, if Da Hah willed it. And surely He did.
Ahead of her, Mary’s house appeared, and Susanna pulled back on the reins. Bruce turned down the driveway like he knew exactly where she was going, coming to a stop at the hitching post beside the barn.
Susanna jumped down and unhitched. With a glance around, she stopped short, her hands on Bruce’s halter. Why was there an Englisha car parked behind the barn? Beside her, Bruce lunged forward, almost stepping on her as he came out of the shafts.
“Whoa, boy!” she muttered. “I wasn’t quite ready for that.”
Recovering, she led Bruce toward the barn. Mary would have an explanation once she arrived at the house. An Englisha car behind the barn would be hard to explain though. Any Englisha people who stopped in, whether they were buying produce from Mary’s garden or had business with her husband, Ernest, would park in plain sight.
“Howdy there,” Mary’s voice hollered from the front porch, jerking Susanna out of her thoughts.
“Hi,” Susanna called back. “I’m taking Bruce into the barn.”
“Do you need help?” Mary asked. “Ernest isn’t here right now.”
“Of course not!” Susanna hollered back with a laugh.
Now why would Mary ask such a thing? Mary knew she was perfectly capable of unharnessing a horse by herself. She must be in a teasing mood. But Mary wasn’t exactly a teaser. Well then, she must be in a gut mood with Thanksgiving coming up later this week. Getting ready for family gatherings always puts my family members in a gut mood, Susanna thought. She slid open the
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