A Taste of Faith by Kelly Long

Author:Kelly Long
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2013-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Our Daily Bread had been an Amish store since the 1950s. Owned and operated by the Lapp family, it was untouched by the tourist trade, being a discreet distance from any main road. The Amish in Paradise liked to joke that it was their Walmart, selling everything from farmware to household goods and fabric. Ann Lapp had continued the tradition set by her husband’s grandmother, that on Saturdays at two o’clock local women would gather in the store’s upstairs storage room to meet for a time of fellowship and prayer. It was a peaceful highlight of Fern’s week and provided a chance to catch up with women she might not otherwise see.

She entered the store to the good-natured greetings of various men, who liked to gather downstairs for their own time of talk, and made her way through the good-smelling place to the back stairs. She could hear the drift of feminine voices as she climbed and soon arrived at the upper room. Hiram Lapp always made sure that there were folding wooden chairs set up in a circle and plenty of tables for food.

Fern unwrapped her gingerbread and smiled as Eve Bender and Hannah King came over to greet her. Both women were good friends; Eve was a bit older than Hannah and Fern, but her beautiful face belied her age.

“Mm, gingerbread from Esther Zook’s recipe.” Hannah laughed. “I can’t wait.”

“Where is your mammi?” Eve asked.

Fern pushed away the worry she felt at the question. “Ach, she decided to stay home and have a bit of a rest.”

“Is she well?” Hannah put a concerned hand on Fern’s arm.

“She says so, but I don’t know. I’m trying to convince her to go see Dr. Knepp sometime soon. So, what did you ladies bring?”

Fern was soon absorbed in the general time of talk and catching up before Ann Lapp called for everyone’s attention and they all sat down to share prayer requests and concerns as well as items for praise. Fern was wishing that she could somehow share how she felt about Abram Fisher, but the thought made her embarrassed. She decided to continue to pray about the man alone.

***

After a hurried, hushed conversation with Hiram Lapp, Abram made his way as fast as he could through Our Daily Bread. He climbed the stairs and sought through the circle of bowed, kapped heads for Fern. Thankfully she was sitting nearby, in front of a flour barrel, and he sidled up to it to tap her gently on the shoulder.

“Fern,” he whispered. “Please come with me.”

She opened her eyes wide with surprise, then made to shoo him away, but he caught her hand in a tender grip. “Now, please.”

She rose, and he heard the telltale rustle of listeners as she went with him, but he didn’t have time to worry about it. He led her downstairs and through a surprisingly silent store, then out to the wagon full of quiet kinner.

“Abram Fisher, what is going on?” She glared up at him in the sunlight, and he bowed his head, dropping her hand.

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