Caring for Her Amish Family by Carrie Lighte

Author:Carrie Lighte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-27T19:54:03+00:00

* * *

Josiah knew that Anke had sensed the change in his attitude toward her and Will because he’d seen the way she’d set her jaw after he’d barely mumbled denki when Will had given him the plate of cookies he’d made.

In contrast with Anke’s stony countenance, the child’s expression was one of perplexed sweetness. Josiah knew Will looked up to him and the boy was undoubtedly confused by his sudden indifference. He so regretted offending Anke and hurting the boy’s feelings that he’d almost returned to the daadi haus to apologize. But how would he excuse his behavior? He couldn’t very well have said, I’m concerned that if I continue being friendly with you, I might be ostracized. And not just me, but my bruder and his wife, too. No, that would only hurt Anke and Will further. It was better to pull back without any explanation.

On the way home Josiah stopped at the smaller of the town’s two grocery stores because its deli department offered premade meals. While not nearly as delicious as homemade food, they were a lot tastier than anything Josiah could have made for himself, but they were costlier, too. What would I have done if Anke hadn’t given me the job repairing the daadi haus? he ruminated as he stood in line, still feeling guilty about his behavior. I would barely be able to afford to eat butter and noodles every night.

While he was thinking, someone behind him tapped his shoulder. He turned around to see Iddo Stoll, New Hope’s deacon, standing behind him. “Are you in line for the bachelors’ special?” he asked, gesturing toward the glass display case of heated, precooked food.

Josiah laughed. “Jah. I’m buying supper.”

“I am, too. My wife, Almeda, is out of town, so I’ve got to hunt and forage until she returns from visiting her schweschder in Serenity Ridge,” Iddo joked.

“How long is that?”

“She’s coming back tomorrow. And to be honest, she had prepared four days’ worth of meals before she left.” The older man patted his stomach. “But I doubled up on yesterday’s supper so here I am now.”

“Well, I’d recommend the beef stroganoff over the hinkel,” Josiah suggested. “By this time of evening, the hinkel is a little dried out from sitting beneath that warming light.”

“Sounds like you’ve been getting your food here often. No one has hosted you for supper yet? That surprises me. Usually the leit in New Hope are a little more welcoming.”

Josiah didn’t want to mention that he’d been too busy working on Anke’s daadi haus to really connect with any of the people from the district during the week. “Oh, the leit have been very welcoming—a group of them invited me to go snowshoeing with them. And one of the weibsleit brought me Long John Rolls.”

The deacon raised an eyebrow. “Honor Bawell?”

“Jah.” Josiah was perplexed by how he’d guessed.

“She brought me some, too, in Almeda’s absence.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “It was very kind of her and I appreciated the gesture.

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