Missing Your Smile by Jerry S. Eicher

Author:Jerry S. Eicher
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736942447
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Thomas held his horse by the reins as the two buggies beside him took off from Deacon Ray’s dark barnyard.

Where is Eunice? The singing had been over for ten minutes, and his instructions had been plain. Come out right away. I’ll be parked next to your brother’s buggy. Eunice’s brother was gone now, and still the girl hadn’t come. Soon there would be questions asked about why he was sitting here waiting. His sisters would usually be picked up at the end of the walk, so that wouldn’t suffice as an explanation.

Freddy shook his head, for once pulling against the reins. He might be slow on the road, but standing still while the other horses took off was apparently a humiliation even he was unable to bear.

Across the dark open space beside him another dim buggy light came on. A boy, his features shadowed by his hat, held up his buggy shafts. He swung his horse under them with a quick movement of his hands.

Thomas sighed. Does Eunice plan to make me drive to the front walks? Perhaps forcing me to show my hand for all to see? Coming from her this is entirely possible, he thought. Susan would never do this, but Eunice obviously isn’t Susan.

A woman’s form dashed out of the shadows, a hand clutching bonnet strings. His dim buggy lights caught the color of her dress—a light, dusty blue. How like Eunice, he thought. She would wear a flashy dress on the night I’m taking her home. Come to think of it, Eunice usually wears flashy dresses. At least all she could fit into the Ordnung.

Thomas turned his buggy wheels to the right. The least he could do was be polite. It would be a pleasant evening spending time with Eunice. That is, if his expectations were correct.

“Good evening!” Eunice said, pulling herself up the buggy steps. She sat down beside him, her dress brushing against his legs. “Sorry I’m late. Barbara and I got to talking, and time slipped away.”

“That’s okay,” he said, letting out the reins. Freddy took off with a jerk, pulling the front buggy wheels sideways on the gravel.

“Wow!” Eunice said, her voice rising. “What a horse. I didn’t know you had such a go-getter.”

“He’s nothing special,” Thomas said. The girl might as well get her thinking straight from the first. “He just got a little anxious waiting while the other horses took off.”

“Now, Thomas, you don’t have to be modest around me,” Eunice said. “Really. I just saw what I saw with my own eyes. My guess is your horse can pass most of the ones on the road.”

Thomas didn’t say anything for a long moment. He finally managed to get some words out. “I’m afraid not. Freddy is quite a slowpoke.”

“Oh, no,” she said, groaning. “I thought I was going to get a fast ride tonight. My brother Nelson’s horse can barely lift its feet most nights going home from the singing.”

“I’m afraid my horse is no faster than your brother’s,” Thomas said, not looking at her.

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