Sarah could hear her young brothers’ whoops of happiness as she and her mother joined her father outside. “Sounds like they are excited to be spending the night with the Troyers.”
Daniel grinned. “It will be a nice quiet evening for us,” he said.
Her mother’s smile was weak but genuine. “I did well today,” she declared. With help, she climbed into the buggy and sat down.
“Ja, Mam.” Sarah set a blanket about her mother’s legs. “Time to go home and rest.”
Once Mam was situated comfortably, Sarah climbed into the back and then gazed out the window as Dat pulled the buggy away from the farmhouse down the dirt lane toward the main road. She thought she’d caught a glimpse of Jed watching them as they drove away.
This evening, she would be spending more time with Jedidiah Lapp. Heart thumping, she thought of the evening ahead with barely controlled excitement.
* * *
Jed stood on the Millers’ front porch and watched as buggies and wagons arrived with young people who had come for the evening’s singing. There was still no sign of either Sarah or her brothers. Would she come or did her mother need her?
Why should I care if she stays home? It wasn’t as if he’d ever see her again. Still, the memory of her smiling face and blue eyes lingered in his thoughts. He had enjoyed his time with her family. The afternoon had passed quickly—too quickly.
He shouldn’t think of Sarah. He was too old for her. What was she? Seventeen? Eighteen? He’d thought he’d found someone he might love in Annie Zook, but he’d been wrong. If he’d hurt her, Annie hadn’t shown it. Sarah was vulnerable. She’d spent a long time caring for her mother. She hadn’t been to a singing in months. He had no right to monopolize her time, but he couldn’t help himself.
If she comes, then I’ll enjoy the evening with her and then say goodbye. She would find someone else here in Delaware to love. She would want to stay near her family, and he needed to be home in Happiness.
It was growing late and still there was no sign of any of the Masts. Jed stepped down from the porch and crossed the yard, more than mildly disappointed.
Suddenly, a buggy came barreling down the dirt drive to pull up quickly behind the line of vehicles. Jed saw Ervin and Toby jump down from the vehicle, but no sign of Sarah. He waited for the brothers to join him before entering the barn.
Just as he had given up hope of seeing her again, Jed watched Sarah climb out carefully after her brothers, balancing a plate in one hand. Ervin helped his sister, grabbing the plate from her hand. The siblings turned and spied Jed standing in the yard. Ervin waved, and Toby followed his eldest brother, while Sarah came slowly behind.
Jed felt a sudden lightening of spirit. Sarah was here, and he would get to spend more time with her, if only for a few hours.
He grinned at Sarah’s brothers, and then he waited with a soft smile as Sarah caught up to them. “Nice night for a singing,” he said, noting her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.
“Ja,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the joy.” She gestured toward the plate Ervin held out to her. “I brought cookies—chocolate chip.”
“This will be a gut night, Sarah,” he whispered as the brothers went into the barn ahead of them.
She gave a barely perceptible nod as they followed. Then, there were greetings from the others who had come. Jed noticed that his cousin P.J. seemed particularly happy to see Sarah. P.J., Pete’s eldest son, was closer in age to Sarah than he. He tried not to be upset by the fact that once he left, it could be P.J. who would eventually keep company with Sarah and perhaps win her heart.
Don’t let it bother you tonight, he thought. They had this one night together, and he planned to enjoy every single moment of it.
Chapter Four
Sarah felt gladdened by the greetings of her friends and neighbors as she entered the barn and took a seat across from Jedidiah. She was conscious of Jed’s presence as she smiled and returned Miriam Yost’s wave. She hadn’t seen Miriam in a long time. She liked the young woman. Sarah suddenly realized how much she’d missed socializing with her friends since her mother had become ill.
“Sarah,” Pete and Mary Miller’s oldest son, P.J., greeted her. “It is gut to have you with us again.”
She smiled at him. “It is nice to be here.” She sensed Jed watching her, and she flashed him a glance.
His eyes warmed as their gazes met. He smiled, and Sarah felt her breath catch. His attention was focused on her, and she felt the touch of his brown gaze as if he’d brushed her arm or captured her hand with his fingers.
But there was nothing untoward in his regard of her, she realized. The thoughts—the feelings—were all hers, and she pulled herself together, prepared to enjoy the events of the night’s singing.
To her surprise, P.J., also known as Pete Jr., began the singing with his choice of hymn from the Ausbund. He sang the first verse before everyone joined in. As Jed joined in, Sarah heard his pleasant, vibrant tone. She was pleased when he began the second hymn, the Loblied, his voice rising in praise of the Lord. She could feel his conviction, his passion for God, and Sarah knew that her thoughts of him were accurate. He was a gut man with a kind heart and true love for the Lord. She sang out happily, her voice rising with the others as they finished the hymn they had all sung that morning during church services.
After a third hymn, Miriam Yost’s brother Joseph suggested they stop for some refreshment.
“You are always wanting to eat,” his sister teased.
Joseph shrugged. “We can sing another hymn, if you’d prefer.”
“I could use one of Sarah’s cookies,” Jed said.
Sarah flushed as everyone turned to look at her. Jed’s smile put her at ease, and she sent him a silent message of thanks.
As it was, the majority decided light refreshments were in order before they continued with hymns and games.
Lydia Miller, Mary and Pete’s only daughter, had made lemonade and iced tea for all to enjoy. Sarah helped Lydia to distribute drinks, before she grabbed her plate of cookies and a platter of lemon bars that Miriam Yost had made for the occasion.
Jed, Sarah noticed, was quick to choose one of her cookies. He took a bite and flashed her an appreciative smile. Everyone had left their seat to mingle in the open area of the large barn.
Jed took another bite of the cookie. “You will let me take you home tonight, won’t you?” he asked.
“My brothers are here—”
Jed gestured toward where Ervin was deep in conversation with Elizabeth Yoder. Not far from Ervin, Toby chatted with Elizabeth’s older sister Alice. “I think Ervin and Toby have plans to take those two home. Wouldn’t you rather ride with me?”
Sarah hesitated. She knew she’d rather have Jedidiah take her home, but she didn’t know if she should go with him. Yet, how would she feel riding along with her brothers and the Yoder sisters?
“I will ride home with you,” she said quietly so that no one but Jed would hear.
Jed grinned. “Gut! I will look forward to taking you,” he said as the others began to head back to their seats.
Sarah was conscious that Jed allowed her to precede him, and as she sat down, she tried not to look at him, but she couldn’t help herself.
She found him studying her with an intensity that made her feel odd inside. She couldn’t say that she disliked the feeling. Being the focus of this kind man’s attention was not unwelcome. He leaves tomorrow, she reminded herself. I will never see him again.
Will he write? she wondered. She wasn’t