A Change of Heart by Beth Wiseman

Author:Beth Wiseman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

JAMES WATCHED MARIAN STOMP ACROSS THE FRONT YARD and toward the barn, her expression familiar. Those beautiful lips of hers were pinched together and curved into a frown. She was about to scold him for something, and James strained his mind to think what he might have done to irritate her.

He finished washing his hands at the pump outside the barn, flung them a few times in the hot air, then wiped them on his pants. “And what brings mei lovely fraa out to the barn when it’s nearly suppertime?” He raised his eyebrows and grinned, hoping to lighten her mood.

Marian stopped in front of him and planted her hands on her hips. “James Petersheim, you cannot punish Leah to the house when it suits you, then allow her to go out with Aaron. She just told me that you said she could go out with Aaron and his aunt tonight.” She pulled off her black sunglasses and stared him down. “It ain’t right to keep the girl from her other friends but agree to let her spend time with Aaron.”

James tugged on his beard for a moment. “She likes to run with those Englisch girls, and when she ain’t doin’ that, she ’s writing those stories. I like it better when she ’s here working, like she ’s supposed to be. She ’s been slacking with her chores again, and you know that.”

“Yet you allow her to go out with Aaron?”

James hung his head slightly, then looked back up at her. “That boy might be Leah’s only chance for marriage. How can I say no?”

Her look softened, but not much. “James . . .” She shook her head. “Finish up out here. Kathleen has supper ready.”

Screeching tires pulled their attention to the Cadillac turning onto the driveway, and they both watched the automobile come barreling down the drive as if there was some sort of emergency. The car pulled to a halt with a jerk.

“That looks like Aaron in the front seat,” Marian said. “I reckon that big-haired woman driving is Ruth?”

James shrugged as he and Marian waited for their visitors to exit the vehicle.

“Hello, hello!” The woman was dressed most peculiarly, and James recognized her right away as she crossed the yard and came toward them, waving.

He cautiously waved a hand in her direction. She was wearing bright pink breeches that hit her about midcalf, and her blouse sported more colors than a full rainbow. She had on big gold fancy rings and loud dangly bracelets to match.

Ruth.

“James and Marian, how gut to see you both!” She thrust her hand at James, and he hesitantly took hold, thinking it just didn’t sound right for her to be using the Dutch. “Been a long time. I didn’t see you at the hospital. That nurse wouldn’t let us in the back where you were with Edna. And I don’t think I saw you during my last couple of visits. So gut to be here.” She finally released his hand and offered Marian the same forceful handshake.

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