The bishop turned to his enkelin. “It won’t be a waste.” He swung his gaze to Eli. “I’ll check with Andrew and see if he’ll allow us to use his wagon without a fuss. It’ll be more convenient.”
“Seriously?” Rainbow Girl threw her hands up and headed toward the doorway. “Men think they always know what’s best.” She disappeared inside, still muttering.
Eli frowned. But men did. Even with all that makeup, he could remember how cute she was when she got mad.
Bishop Bontrager clasped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll see the value of it in time.”
A part of Eli found a little pleasure in her being upset with him. She had rejected the community and her family, so she had no say in matters. Another part longed to mend this breach. It rankled to have her angry with him when he’d done nothing wrong, but it shouldn’t, and that rankled even more.
The bishop held out the tip of the measuring tape. “Take it down to that corner of the haus so we can figure out how much lumber to purchase.”
Eli wasn’t sure this was a gut idea, but he was the bishop, so Eli did as instructed.
Andrew Bontrager came around the corner. “What are you doing, Vater?”
“Eli is going to help me build another bedroom onto the haus.”
“What do you need a second bedroom for?”
“I think you know.”
Andrew pointed toward the dawdy haus’s back doorway. “For her?”
“Ja.”
Eli glanced toward the haus. Rainbow Girl stood there with her arms crossed. He hadn’t seen her return to the opening.
“Why bother? She’ll only leave again. Then all the time and materials and work will be for nothing.”
So Andrew didn’t believe she would stay. Did he want her to leave? Did Eli? Ne. He definitely wanted her to stay. Didn’t he?
The bishop held his hands out to his sides. “‘We should...be glad; for this thy brother—’ or sister in this case ‘—was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’ Where is your forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness is for the repentant. Something she is not.” Andrew spun around and strode away.
Bishop Bontrager gazed toward his enkelin. “He’ll come around, Dorcas.”
“Why’s that? Because he didn’t inherit your stubborn streak?” She disappeared inside.
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