Ella Finds Love Again by Jerry S. Eicher

Author:Jerry S. Eicher [Eicher, Jerry S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736928069
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2011-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Twenty-three

Ivan had tied up the horse and was walking toward the house, baby Barbara in his arms. Mary ran ahead of him, her arms outstretched to Ella. Sarah was close behind…until she tripped and sprawled into the snow.

Ella, standing at the door watching, muffled a laugh. “Mary, go help your sister.”

“I’ll help her!” Ivan said, his voice carrying clearly in the still air. “Run on inside, Mary. You’re cold enough already.” He motioned with his hand as he bent over to help Sarah up and brush her off.

Mary needed no encouragement. She continued her dash toward Ella and then jumped into her arms. Her laughter peeled out as Ella caught her, pulling her close for a tight hug.

Ella lifted her gaze to face Ivan. He was close now, Sarah’s hand in his. Ella searched his face. There were dark rings around his eyes, his beard was disheveled, the cheeks were unshaven, and his hat was sitting crookedly.

“It’s gut to see you,” Ivan said, his eyes lighting up momentarily.

“Good morning.” Ella brushed the hair away from her eyes. “You look a bit troubled, Ivan. Are you okay?”

He laughed dryly, matching the morning air’s coolness. He didn’t seem to want to talk. Ella shivered but didn’t draw back. She took baby Barbara from his hands as her compassion for Ivan stirred.

“I’ll be goin’ then,” the widower said, turning to go.

“I take it none of you have eaten breakfast,” Ella said. “Ivan, why don’t you come inside? You can eat breakfast with the girls. I have plenty.”

He hesitated. “Perhaps I will,” he finally said with a weak attempt at a smile.

“Then come,” Ella held the door open. “It’s warm inside, at least.”

“I have the cows milked,” he said.

Ella forced herself to laugh. “Yah, I expected so. You wouldn’t come over without the cows milked.”

Behind her Mary bounced all over the living room before running back and grabbing Ella’s arm.

“At least one member of the family is in good spirits,” Ivan said, smiling wider now, seeming to relax.

He looks ready to open up about his troubles, Ella thought. But am I ready to hear them? Yah, I have to be, she decided. It was right that she give him her attention and an open ear if he wanted it. He might not make her heart pound, but he was the man she expected to marry.

“We’re all hungry,” Sarah interrupted. “Daett said we could eat here, and that’s why he drove so fast.”

“Really fast!” Mary exclaimed, bouncing up on a kitchen chair. “I want to eat now.”

“Then we’d better get all of you some food,” Ella said. “I had Joe and Ronda down for breakfast, but I made plenty extra just for you. So why don’t you girls sit still, and you can eat oatmeal while I make more eggs and bacon.”

“I heard about them losin’ their baby,” Ivan said, taking a kitchen chair as if he felt at home. “Is she okay?”

Ella nodded. “She came home from the hospital yesterday.”

Ella sat Barbara in her high chair and quickly dished out oatmeal for the girls, adding sugar and milk.

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