The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler

Author:Jan Drexler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Amish Romance;Christian fiction;Love stories;FIC053000;FIC042040;FIC042030
ISBN: 9781493419364
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

9

When Sunday morning worship was over, Ruby helped the other women of the church set out the cold foods for the fellowship meal. Cold meat, cottage cheese, tomatoes, and loaves of sliced bread were all available for folks to eat. Feeding so many people would have been a lot of work, except that many women and girls pitched in, including Roseanna.

Ruby watched her carry a bowl of cottage cheese to one of the tables. Roseanna often reminded her of herself at that age. Different from the other girls and not knowing why. At the same time, Ruby had never formed any close friendships. She chewed her lower lip. She didn’t want that same future for Lovinia’s daughter.

“I appreciate your help,” Ruby said, pulling the girl aside for a moment, “but the other girls your age are playing. Are you sure you don’t want to join them?”

Roseanna moved closer to her, whispering into her ear. “I can play with them later. Mamm used to help with the meal after church, and I can too, can’t I?”

“For sure you can.” Ruby gave her a quick hug. “If your mamm was here, she would be pleased.”

Roseanna grinned and went back to the kitchen for another dish. Ruby followed her, then stood back as Margaretta Stuckey came out the door with a plate of sliced tomatoes in one hand and a plate of cold meat in the other. Katie, Margaretta’s daughter and Jonas’s intended bride, was right behind her.

She stopped when she saw Ruby. Her eyes were rimmed with red. “Ruby, can I talk to you after the meal?”

“What’s wrong?”

Katie stepped closer to her. “I received a letter from Jonas yesterday, and I’m so worried about him. You know I can’t talk to Mama about it, and I don’t want to worry Lydia.”

“For sure.” Ruby patted her arm. “We can go for a walk together.”

Katie nodded her thanks as she went on.

An hour later, the meal was done, the dishes clean, and Ruby looked around for the children. Roseanna and Sophia were playing with the other girls, and Ezra was with Gideon, his head on his father’s shoulder. Daniel was asleep in Mamm’s lap, so she went to find Katie.

“We can walk along the road, if you’d like,” Ruby said.

“I don’t care where we go, as long as we’re alone.” Katie reached into the waistband of her apron, pulled out a folded letter, and handed it to Ruby. “I want you to read this and tell me if I should be as worried about Jonas as I am.”

“Are you sure you want me to read this? After all, Jonas might be my brother, but he’s your beau.” Ruby smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn’t help.

“We can sit on that log there,” Katie said, walking toward a log at the end of the Lehmans’ farm lane.

Ruby opened the letter.

July 7, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

My dearest Katie,

As you can see by the line above, I am not in Washington City at the moment. There was a large battle here in Pennsylvania during the first three days of July.

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