It was a perfect spring day, with temperatures well into the upper seventies. As her father steered their family buggy close to the Samuel Lapp house, Leah noticed that everyone was outside enjoying the weather. Tables were set up on the back lawn and her male cousins were already playing baseball in the side yard. She felt a burst of excitement as she climbed out of the parked buggy and reached in to grab the two bowls of potato salad. It looked to be a good time spent with good people. Charlie and Ellie joined her as she watched the activity about the house.
“Do you think Endie Katie wants us to bring the food inside?” Charlie asked.
“Ja,” Leah said. “’Tis too early for lunch and we didn’t bring any breakfast foods.”
“There’s she is now!” Ellie exclaimed. “Let’s ask her.”
Mam and Dat appeared beside them as they headed to greet Leah’s aunt. Her uncle Samuel came out of the house behind his wife, and Leah watched as they talked a moment. The affection between the two wasn’t overt, but she could see the love they shared in the way they regarded each other—and the way her uncle placed a hand gently for a moment on her aunt’s shoulder. Leah felt a little twinge of pain as she realized she wanted a relationship like they had. She wanted a husband and a family. She straightened her spine. If the Lord wanted her to marry, then she would. If not, then she must be content with only a craft business in her future. She’d find joy in her shop and be grateful for her loving family and her friends. She had no right to feel anything else.
“Endie Katie!” Charlie exclaimed with a grin as her aunt and uncle approached. “We’ve got apple pie, cake, chowchow, green beans, and Leah made her German potato salad!”
“So much food,” Katie said, beaming. “Are you hoping to feed our entire community?”
When her aunt looked in her direction, Leah smiled. “Better too much than not enough.”
“Do you want everything in the kitchen?” Mam asked.
“Ja, that would be gut.” Katie turned to her brother. “Hallo, Arlin. I’m glad you’re here.”
Her dat eyed his sister with affection. “I wouldn’t miss this.” His voice softened. “I still thank the Lord that we moved home.”
“Ja. Happiness is a fine place to live,” Missy agreed. “I’m more than content to live here.”
Her father shot his wife a grateful look. Leah loved watching her parents together. There was so much love between her mother and father and her relatives with their spouses that she was pleased to be a part of the family. Not for the first time, she silently thanked the Lord for the blessings He’d given her throughout her life.
“Charlie!” a male voice called. “Want to play baseball?” It was their cousin Joseph Lapp. He tossed the ball back and forth between his hands. “I need someone gut on my team.”
Charlie laughed. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll show you up?”
Joseph shot her a grin. “Not if you’re on my team.”
“Let me put these cakes inside the house and then I’ll play.”
Leah laughed when she heard Joseph’s older brothers groan. “Not fair, Joseph. She’s younger than us,” Daniel complained.
On her way to the house, her youngest sister halted. “Already making excuses, cousin?”
The other members of Joseph’s team chuckled. “Sounds about right, Daniel,” Joseph said.
“Our teams will be even. You’ll be able to play now.” Joseph looked toward a spot out of Leah’s sight.
She froze when she recognized the dark-haired man as he stepped into her view. Henry Yoder. She stared at him, and he locked gazes with her. She noted the upward quirk of his lips. Her face heated as she felt a sudden spirt of irritation. He hadn’t come because he wanted to see her, had he? He arched an eyebrow as if reading her thoughts and she looked away. When she glanced back, she saw Isaac join him. The two men talked, and Isaac laughed at something Henry said.
He’d better not be talking about me!
Flushed with outrage, Leah continued to the house. Henry’s presence made her feel unsettled. All thoughts of apologizing to him vanished. She scowled. She could hide in the house, but she was no fool. He’d know immediately why she was avoiding him, and as he’d told her she was no coward.
* * *
He knew when he heard Joseph call her sister Charlie’s name that Leah would be close by. But seeing her again, despite the unhappiness in her expression as she glared at him, buoyed his spirits. He’d hoped she’d be here today, figured she would be since the Lapps were her family, but he couldn’t be sure. He hid a grin. She was upset to see him. He must have affected her more than he’d realized.
“I don’t think your cousin likes me,” he said to Isaac.
Isaac frowned. “Which one?”
“Leah.”
“Nay, not possible. Leah likes everyone. What makes you think she doesn’t?”
Henry’s gaze followed Leah as she headed toward the house. “She glares at me.”
His friend laughed. “You’re imagining things.”
“Nay. She hasn’t forgiven me for what I did to you.”
Isaac frowned. “That doesn’t sound like her.”
“Look at her. See for yourself.”
Leah had paused to glance back.
“She does look unhappy with you.” Isaac grew thoughtful. “Interesting.” He met Henry’s gaze. “Ellie told me that Leah wants to open a craft shop. Maybe you could offer to help her. You know about running a store and keeping books. She might soften toward you while you teach her all you know.”
Henry brightened and felt a sudden shifting inside of him. “That might work.”
“But be careful how you ask her,” Isaac warned. “Find time alone with her. Don’t let anyone hear about your offer or she’s liable to get mad and feel as if you’re forcing her hand. Besides, not many people know about her store plans.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“I know.” Isaac grinned. “You want Leah to like you? This might just be the way to do it.”
“What if she refuses my offer?”
“Then you try again later.”
“I don’t want to force her,” Henry said.
“You won’t force her. You’ll make the offer, then step back. From what Ellie says, Leah wants to own a craft shop badly.” Isaac glanced toward the gathering on the lawn. “The others are waiting. Ready to play ball?”
He nodded. As he joined the Lapp brothers and their friends for a baseball game, Henry wondered if Isaac was right. Would teaching Leah about running a store be the key to winning her friendship?
“Henry, you take left field,” Joseph shouted from first base. “Charlie, you play short stop.”
He nodded and hurried to take his position. There was nothing else to do right now but focus on the game. He’d figure out later what to do with Leah.
The baseball game was fun, with a lot of whooping and hollering as teammates ran around the bases. When he got up to bat, Henry hit a grand slam and sprinted around the bases, sending everyone before him home. As he slid onto home plate, Joseph was there to high-five him. Everyone on his team grinned while taunting