His Suitable Amish Wife. Rebecca Kertz

although her coloring was different.

      When he’d asked to take Meg home after the first singing he’d attended in their church district in years, he’d felt comfortable in Meg’s presence. He’d liked her a lot. After the next singing, when she’d agreed to ride with him again, he’d felt as if he was on to something. He had easily imagined Meg as his wife...until it had all gone wrong, and he’d been forced to walk away and not look back. Not toward Meg, who he’d discovered was in love with Peter Zook. Not toward Ellie, who had still been too young to be a wife or mother.

      Now, he was hungry and thirsty as he entered the house. Sarah turned from the kitchen counter with a sandwich on a plate for him. She smiled as she handed it to him. “’Tis just strawberry jam with peanut butter,” she said.

      He grinned. “Just what I needed.” He looked around the room. “Where is Ethan?”

      “Napping again.”

      “He’s able to sleep through all the noise?”

      Sarah nodded. “He’s a sound sleeper.”

      Reuben took a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water. Then he sat at the table to eat his sandwich. “Have you eaten?”

      “Ja. I decided to take advantage of Ethan’s nap time.”

      “Ellie left?” he asked, knowing well that she had.

      “Ja. She did a gut job with the house. Perhaps you should let her wash all the walls.”

      He tightened his jaw. “I’ll buy the paint tomorrow so I can start on the rooms downstairs.”

      “Why don’t you like her?” Sarah studied him curiously.

      “I like her well enough. What makes you think I don’t?”

      “You weren’t very pleasant to her. She only came to help.”

      “I don’t need her charity, Sarah.”

      “She doesn’t consider helping us charity, Reuben. She’s a nice woman. She likes helping her friends.” Sarah paused. “She’s my friend.”

      Reuben softened his expression. “You’re easy to like, Sarah. Everyone can’t help but love you.”

      To his surprise, his sister blushed. “When do you have to go back to work?”

      “Monday. Mike has a new job he wants us to start.”

      “I wish you didn’t have to work so hard,” she murmured.

      “I don’t work any harder than you do.”

      “Ja, you do, Reuben. I wish I could do more for you.”

      “You do more than enough, Sarah. I shouldn’t have allowed you to stay. You’re a young woman and you have your own life to live.”

      He heard Ethan whimper from the other room. Sarah went to check on him but was back within seconds. “He settled again,” she told him.

      Reuben rose and went to the sink, where he washed his dishes. “Why don’t you take a walk?” he suggested. “’Tis beautiful outside.”

      She grinned. “I think I will.”

      He watched his sister leave the house with sadness. He shouldn’t have allowed her to stay behind when his family moved. But he’d had no idea how he would manage without a caretaker for Ethan. He had to fix the house and to work to provide for Ethan and so he had the money for paint and building supplies. He glanced down at the kitchen floor with a frown. It was in terrible shape. When he selected the paint, he’d have to price new wood for the floor.

      An image of Ellie settled in his mind. She was a hard worker. She’d gotten the house cleaned in a short time, especially considering how bad everything was. He’d tried his best to do what he could, but his work schedule mostly kept him from working on the house.

      He hadn’t meant to be rude to Ellie. The truth was it bothered him to have her near, although he had no idea why. She’d been kind to Sarah and good with Ethan. Why should it upset him that she had entered his house and won the hearts of his sister and his son?

      He put away the clean dishes and filled up his water glass again. It had been hot working on the roof, but if he hadn’t finished it now, he would have suffered worse temperatures as the summer lengthened.

      Ellie hadn’t agreed not to come back, he realized with sudden awareness. A small smile played on his mouth as he thought of her stubbornness. He had to make sure he sent her on her way if she returned. If she didn’t listen, he would go to the bishop as she’d suggested.

      Reuben continued to wonder how to handle Ellie Stoltzfus if she came back as she all but promised. Then his chest tightened with loss as he went into the gathering room to check on his sleeping son. It was wrong to notice another woman when his wife and the mother of his child, his precious Susanna, was dead.

       Chapter Three

      On Monday, Ellie returned to the Miller house to teach Sarah how to cook. “You’ll need a large stockpot. I saw one in that bottom cabinet,” she said, gesturing.

      Sarah opened a door and grinned. “Here it is.”

      “Gut. First, we’ll put in the chicken, then cover it with water. I bought chicken breasts because it’s easier. You can use a whole chicken, but then you’d have to remove the meat from the bones. With the whole chicken, however, you’d get delicious chicken stock. I went to Whittier’s and bought a container of chicken broth, which is easier and just as tasty. Just add a couple of tablespoons of the granules to the pot while you cook the chicken.” She regarded Sarah with a pleased smile as she followed instructions.

      The teenager beamed at her. “What next?”

      Ellie went on to explain what other ingredients were necessary in making chicken corn chowder. Sarah followed her directions to the letter, then reduced the gas flame under the pot. She stood back and grinned. “I can remember that,” the girl said.

      “Ja, you can,” Ellie said with approval.

      “Now what?”

      “I brought all the ingredients for making a strawberry pie.” She handed Sarah a recipe card. “Follow these instructions and you’ll do fine.” It was getting late. Ellie looked at her watch. “I need to get home.” She had come well past noon after cleaning for the Brodericks. Reuben would be home from work soon and she didn’t want him to find her here. She picked up her cell phone from the counter as she got ready to leave. She stared at Sarah a long moment. “Do you have paper and pencil? I want to give you my cell phone number. If you need me for any reason, call me. Will you do that?”

      “Ja, I promise,” Sarah said. “There’s a pay phone across the road.”

      “Gut.” Ellie finished writing her name and cell phone number, then handed the paper to Sarah. “I hope Reuben enjoys his supper.”

      “He will.” Sarah followed her to the door. “Danki, Ellie.”

      “’Twas my pleasure, Sarah.”

      “Will you come back to clean next week?”

      Ellie agreed, then left the house. Reuben had pulled his buggy into the yard. Her heart started to race as he approached her. He didn’t look happy. His mouth was tight and his eyes were cold.

      “I told you that I didn’t want you to clean house for us.”

      “I didn’t clean.” She lifted her chin as she glared at him. “I came to see Sarah.” And his son.

      He blinked. The tension left his expression and his blue eyes warmed slightly. “Have a nice night, then, Ellie.”

      Heart