Seasons of Sugarcreek 02. Spring's Renewal by Shelley Shepard Gray

Author:Shelley Shepard Gray [Gray, Shelley Shepard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religious, Fiction
ISBN: 9780061852367
Amazon: 0061852368
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Published: 2010-04-27T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

“She’s here,” Clara’s mother said on Sunday morning when they were packing the buggy to go to church. “Timothy’s sweetheart Ruby arrived yesterday.”

“Oh. Well, I hope she enjoys her stay,” she murmured as casually as she could manage.

“Several people saw Tim and Ruby at the Sugarcreek Inn. I heard he looked very smitten.”

Clara fought to keep her expression neutral. “That is gut. She traveled a long way to see him.”

Her mother narrowed her eyes as she grabbed her cape from the hook by the door and fastened the hook and eye closure. “Perhaps they will declare themselves while she is here. That would be exciting.”

“Yes.” Clara knew her mother was saying those things just to get her feelings in knots.

“If your paths cross, make sure you don’t say too much to him after church. We don’t want her to feel jealous.”

“Muddah, I will be fine. Stop acting like I’m a child.”

“I just don’t want you to embarrass yourself.”

“I won’t. Let’s go.”

Silence filled the buggy as they left the driveway and began the trip to the Millers’ home, the place for church that week. After they’d only ridden half a mile, small drops of rain began peppering the windshield.

Daisy, their buggy horse, shook her head a bit as she continued on.

“It’s supposed to rain all day,” her mother said gloomily.

As if on cue, the drops became bigger. “I think you’re right.”

“We need the rain, though. Did you notice the peppers and the zucchinis? They’re not near as big as they usually are by April.”

“Yes, the rain will help them.”

Forty-five minutes later, they pulled into the Millers’ yard. Clara yanked on Daisy’s reins, then raised the brake so her mother could get out in front of their barn. After her mother alighted, she directed Daisy over to an area where the rest of the buggies were parked. Once settled, she got out as well and made sure Daisy was securely tied to the hitching post.

By now the rain was falling harder. The sudden storm was creating an ocean of mud around the Millers’ farm. Red dirt and clay mixed in with the gravel to create an oozing mess. Clara shook her head in irritation. Now she would have quite a chore that afternoon, cleaning up her boots, Daisy’s hooves and legs, and the buggy’s wheels.

As the raindrops continued to fall, she picked up her pace, keeping her eyes to the ground in an effort to dodge the puddles.

“Clara, hold on,” Gretta called out. “I’ve got an umbrella. Come here and get underneath it with me.”

“Gladly!”

Once they were under the umbrella, Gretta hooked Clara’s arm and started chatting. “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been worried about you.”

“Why?”

“Once Ruby arrived…well, I wondered how you’d take it.”

“I haven’t seen them together. But it’s okay. We’re simply friends, you know.”

“I know. But still…” Her voice drifted off as they reached the covered area in front of the barn’s main entrance. After shaking her umbrella, Gretta set it along the wall with the dozen others, then faced Clara again.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.