An Amish Courtship on Ice Mountain by Kelly Long

Author:Kelly Long [Long, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“Do you want me to manage the reins, Joel?” Martha asked the question for what seemed like the fifth time and was frustrated once more by the shake of his dark head, now absent its white bandage.

“I’m fine, Martha. Don’t worry.”

She sighed to herself and glanced down at Trotter’s broad rump as the horse quickly ate up the distance to Ice Mountain. She had persuaded Joel to rest for a full day, but then he’d insisted on rising, eaten a hearty breakfast, and kissed her into agreeing that they should geh home.

An hour slipped by, and soon the wild ferns that were unique to Ice Mountain began to appear. Tiny buds of forsythia dotted pale brown branches, and the pines seemed to take heart and stand taller, shaking off winter’s burden. The lichen, the rock, and the bright green mosses all stood out in royal greeting to Martha’s heart as she realized that it was spring.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Joel asked, and she nodded. He whistled softly. “But not half as pretty as you, Martha Umble.”

She knew her cheeks flamed in a blush, but she smiled at him all the same. Here was her husband—the one of her heart’s desire and dreams! And Gott had made it possible that they should wed.

Martha waited as Joel paid Mr. Ellis for Trotter’s time and the buggy, and she was glad when the kind Englisch man offered her husband a stout walking stick.

The hike up the mountain was a good mile or so, and she watched him out of the corner of her eye, trying to make sure that he was not exerting himself overmuch. There had been no mention of stopping at the Ice Mine—even for a few minutes. Whatever he had seen there, he didn’t want to share, and Martha shied away from raising the issue.

The smell of the clean, fragrant mountain air was invigorating to the senses, and Martha rejoiced inside when they cleared the tree line at the head of the trail.

“I’m anxious to see how my family fared,” Martha said softly as they walked over the pine needle–laden floor of the woods leading to the community.

He squeezed her hand comfortingly. “May is very capable; no harm will have come to them.”

Martha nodded, trying not to wonder about May’s capabilities and telling herself sternly that Joel had married her and not the young healer of the mountain.

Then she realized that the small path they were on would lead directly past Sol Kauffman’s store—an easy spot for one and all to learn word that she and Joel were together. “We’re going past the store?”

“You betcha, sweetheart.” Joel gave her a quick smile. “There’s no better place to get the word around about us. We’ll stop by Sol’s, and then we’ll swing past my mamm’s to break the news, and then I’ll see you home to your folks . . . our folks. Is that all right?”

A thousand thoughts suddenly spilled in a tumult through her mind. “Joel?” She wet her lips and plunged into the chaos of her thinking.

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