Mischief in the Autumn Air by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman [Chapman, Vannetta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2016-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Martha stood at the stove, sweat running down her neck though a nice breeze came through the window.

“Perhaps next year we should have a smaller garden.”

“Why would we do that?” Irene asked sharply.

Her aenti had been pleasant through breakfast, and Martha had hoped for a Saturday without argument. But now she was grumbling, a scowl etched on her face.

“I’m not sure we need this much canned food.” Martha gestured toward the rows of canned tomatoes, okra, and green beans. “We’ll never be able to eat this much.”

“Be grateful that Gotte has blessed us with such a harvest.”

“Ya. For certain, only I’m thinking we could reduce the garden next year. Even with a smaller garden, we’d be able to share with the neighbors and donate to auctions.”

Irene muttered something under her breath and stomped out of the room.

Martha continued to can the remaining cucumbers and allowed her mind to slip over the events of the last twenty-four hours.

Matt and Joshua had unloaded the furniture and driven away to make another delivery in South Bend, promising to pick them up within the hour. Martha and Eli had watched as Duncan had once again used paper and a pencil to rub off images of the new map pieces. It had taken a few minutes to put the various sheets in the proper order, and when they were done, it was obvious that something was still missing.

“The piece that Charity showed us,” Eli said.

Duncan had been kneeling in front of the coffee table. Now he sat back on his heels. “She still has a piece?”

“Ya, and I think we’ll be needing it if we’re to follow this map of yours.”

So it was decided that Duncan would drive to the auction house the next day and meet Eli. Together they would go to Jacob and Charity’s. Martha wasn’t about to be left out. She’d refused to leave work the previous day until Eli had promised he’d pick her up. Now they were due at her house in under an hour and she was still standing in the kitchen canning cucumbers. On top of that, she’d managed to irritate Irene once again. But then whatever she did bothered her aenti. Perhaps she wouldn’t worry too much over that one.

How she longed for the days she’d spent in Ohio with her best friend, Fannie. There was no task too burdensome with Fannie’s laughter and positive attitude to lighten things. Well, she would have to be the encouraging one in this household. That much was obvious.

She quickly finished up the canning, cleaned the kitchen, and was pinning a fresh kapp on her head when she heard the clatter of hooves. Hurrying out the door, she assured her aenti that she would be home before dinner. Martha was forty years old, and although she appreciated Irene’s willingness to give her a place to live, she couldn’t abide being treated like a child much longer. It was time to have a talk with Irene, but she dreaded that moment.

Duncan had pulled in behind Eli.

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