It took him and Martha over twenty minutes to capture the last two animals. While they chased them, Eli saw that his sister-in-law had climbed out of the buggy to wait. While he and Martha ran around, Annie kept her excited son firmly against her side while holding the plate of brownies in her other arm. His nephew clapped his hands and made gleeful noises as he and Martha finally cornered the goat and sheep. Diving for the lamb, Eli grabbed the animal while Martha caught the goat and fell to her knees to attain a better grip.
His breath came in harsh, rapid spurts, but Eli felt invigorated. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a good run. As he studied Martha, he noted her disheveled appearance. He knew that he looked no better. His lips twitched, but Eli managed to control the urge to laugh.
“We should move slowly,” Martha whispered, as if speaking in a loud tone would cause the goat to escape from her arms.
He nodded. “Wouldn’t want one of ’em to get away,” he agreed softly.
“Ja. You want to go first or shall I?” She looked young and approachable with her white kapp slightly askew and grass stains on her matching cape and apron. The goat began to struggle in earnest, and Martha shifted to get a firmer grip. “Why don’t you head toward the barn first?”
“Oll recht,” he said, eyeing her with concern. “Are you sure you’ll be able to hold her?”
She beamed at him. “Ja. I’ve got her gut now. I’m not about to let her go.”
Eli inhaled sharply. He gazed at her, entranced. The widow was breathtaking when she was happy. Since her husband’s death, Martha had been quiet, reserved. She’d been sad and grief-stricken whenever he’d caught a glimpse of her during church and on visiting Sundays. But during the past hour, she’d smiled and laughed...and looked like the happy young woman she’d been on the day she’d married Ike King.
Martha frowned, and Eli realized that he’d been staring. He quickly picked up the lamb and carried the frightened animal across the yard and into the barn. He gently placed it in the stall with its sibling. Then he returned to assist Martha with the goat.
His gaze quickly sought her as Eli stepped out into the bright sunshine. The animal was trying to chew Martha’s kapp strings. Martha shifted the goat to keep the strings out of its reach. “Fence first?” he asked. “Or goat?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Fence. I can hold her awhile longer, and I don’t want any of the other animals to get out.”
There were cattle and other sheep grazing in the distance. Eli went to the fence and quickly made a repair. Then he returned to carefully lift the goat from her arms and set the animal inside the secured pasture. Martha stood and brushed dirt and bits of grass from the hem of her skirt and her apron as he rejoined her.
Smiling, he shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll be able to get out the stains without a washing.”
She flashed him a rueful smile. “Ja.” She fell into step with him and they headed toward Annie and EJ. “Danki for your help.”
“My pleasure. I enjoyed it.” He felt his heart thump hard as they locked gazes. Startled, he quickly refocused his attention on his sister-in-law. “Annie, Jacob or Peter will come for you later.”
Annie nodded, then released EJ, who stumbled toward him on unsteady legs. Eli swung the boy high and then into his arms. “I have to leave, buddy. Your uncle Noah needs me for deliveries. He’s probably wondering where I am.”
“I’m sorry.” Martha looked apologetic. “I’ve kept you from your work.”
“It was worth it,” he assured her and meant it. “I needed the exercise.” And he’d enjoyed seeing this other side of Ike King’s widow. He grinned. “I haven’t had this much fun in years.” He gave his nephew a hug, then set him down. “Be a gut boy for your mudder.” He laughed when the child beamed an innocent smile at him.
Annie caught her son’s hand and drew him tenderly to her side. “Jacob will be disappointed that he missed the chase.”
Eli shrugged. “I think we did well considering. Don’t you, Martha?” He studied her, saw her smile and nod. “And Jacob would have been thick in the middle of it with us if he’d been here.”
Martha lifted a hand to straighten her head covering, but her hairpins had shifted, making it impossible for her to fix it. “Would you like something to drink before you go?”
“Nay. I appreciate the offer.” He stifled the urge to help Martha with her kapp. He grabbed his hat from the front seat of the wagon, finger-combed his hair and put his hat back on his head. He became conscious of Annie’s regard.
“What exactly did Noah want you to do today?” Her blue eyes twinkled as she studied him.
“I’ll be making deliveries for him.” Eli groaned and briefly closed his eyes as he realized that he was in no condition to greet Noah’s customers.
His sister-in-law snickered. “Not looking as you do now.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “You’re not the same size as Noah, but I imagine he’ll have clean clothes you can borrow.”
“But will he have enough soap and water?” Eli heard Martha laugh as he climbed into the buggy. The sound rippled over him, making him smile.
“You can wash up in the house,” she suggested. “I may be able to find something clean for you to wear.” She paused when Annie whispered in her ear. Eyes widening, Martha gave a short gasp of laughter. “On second thought, maybe you should ask Noah.”
“Ja, you’d best get moving, Eli,” Annie urged. “It looks like you have your work cut out for you before you make deliveries.” Laughter lurked in her blue eyes, and Eli scowled playfully at her.
“Danki, Eli,” Martha said. “I couldn’t have caught them without your help.”
“You would have eventually,” Eli said, “but I’m glad I was able to assist.” He readjusted his hat before he reached for the leathers. “It may be a gut idea to have your fence checked.” He gave them each a nod. “Martha. Annie. Have a gut day.”
With a click of his tongue and a flick of the leathers, he drove the vehicle toward the main road. A quick glance back showed him that Martha watched his departure. He smiled. The widow lingered in his thoughts as Eli pulled into the graveled lot next to his brother’s furniture shop. He tied his mare to the hitching post and turned as Noah exited the building.
“Where’ve you been?” Noah asked as Eli approached. His brother gaped at him as they drew closer. “What happened to you?”
Eli removed his hat to run a hand through his hair. “I took Annie to Martha King’s for Jacob.”
“You had an accident!” Noah gasped, eyeing him with concern. “Annie—is she all right?”
“Ja, she is fine. But there was no accident. I had a run-in with two sheep, a cow and a goat.” He chuckled at his brother’s puzzled look. “I helped Martha with escaped livestock.”
“And you got to looking this way how?”
Eli smiled crookedly. “They’re wily critters. The cow wasn’t hard to corner, but Martha’s two sheep and goat were too cunning. Martha fared worse than me.” He felt his mouth twitch before he allowed laughter to escape. “I actually enjoyed the chase. But I’m afraid I can’t make deliveries looking like this.” He gestured at his clothing. “Do you have a clean shirt and pants I can borrow?”
“Ja.” Noah gazed at him with twinkling brown eyes that held mischief. “Rachel will enjoy a gut laugh when she sees you.”
Eli gave him a sour look. “I’m not going to the house. If you don’t care how I look,