An Empty Cup by Sarah Price

Author:Sarah Price [Price, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Sagas, Historical, Romance, General
ISBN: 9781477824856
Google: cz3_oQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1477824855
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Published: 2015-04-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

On Tuesday, after morning chores were finished, Rosanna used the kick scooter to visit Reuben at the shop. Since his workload had picked up so much, he no longer came home for the noon meal, and so she thought she’d bring him some dinner.

At first she’d been surprised by how little he’d been home recently, as this was the time of year when work was typically slower. Reuben had attributed the increase of business to the rising cost of gasoline. It hindered the Amish from hiring drivers, and the long distances they had to travel by buggy were wearing on the horses’ harnesses.

Rosanna, however, had learned that someone else had laid claim to being the source of demand for Reuben’s goods.

The previous Friday morning, Rosanna had been heading to the market in the van with the other Amish. As she rode in the back, Rosanna praised God several times that this was her last Friday covering for Annie Yoder. Apparently gasoline hadn’t been too expensive for the Yoders to travel out west to visit family!

During the first leg of the trip, Jonah Yoder, a distant cousin of Annie’s husband, had commented to Rosanna, “Met that young woman managing Reuben’s shop. Sure seems lively, that one.”

Rosanna was quick to correct him. “She’s not managing the shop. Just working the front desk.”

“That so?” Reaching up, he scratched the bare skin under his nose. “Heard it’s been awful busy in there.”

“Lots of orders, ja,” Rosanna agreed.

“Heard from that woman . . . what’s her name . . . yet?” he asked, trying to recall it.

“Nan,” she responded drily.

He nodded. “That’s it. Nan told me she’s been doing extra marketing these past few weeks, drumming up the business and all.” He gazed off into the distance, unaware that Rosanna felt as if the wind had been knocked from her lungs. “Shame she can’t do the same for my daed’s wood shop.”

Rosanna didn’t respond. She knew that it was better to silence her tongue than to speak evil.

Over the weekend, Jonah’s words echoed in her ears. With Reuben working long hours, he seemed to talk less and sleep more whenever he was home. On Sunday she’d caught him asleep on the porch, his Bible on his lap and his mouth open while he dozed. She didn’t wake him for supper, but covered a plate so the flies wouldn’t get on his food and left it on the counter. But when he finally woke, he merely shuffled into the bedroom and crawled into bed.

By Tuesday she had decided to take a ride down to the shop to find out what exactly was happening there. If Nan was spreading stories of her grandiose business acumen and taking credit for an increase in sales, Rosanna wanted to see firsthand if it was true.

After leaning the scooter against the side of the shop, she smoothed down her freshly laundered black apron and made certain the hem of her green dress was straightened. No sense in visiting if she

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