A Baby for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher Read Free Book Online Page A

would tell me no on the spot if she even thought I was romantically interested in her. After a week or so, I stopped by again and spoke with her for as long as it was comfortable. I asked her about her canned goods she had set out that day. I ended up buying a jar of peaches, since I do like peaches.
    “The following week we ran into each other in the grocery store in Libby. We exchanged the usual greetings, chatted for a few minutes, and moved on. My interest was growing greater even as I saw more and more the impossibility of it all. I went back the next day to her stand, hoping to catch her alone. When there were two cars parked along the road, I waved and kept going. An hour later I tried again, and there was no one there. I was as nervous as a youngster, Jake. I haven’t had a woman shake me up like this since I met Bernice when we were both in our teens.
    “Anyway, Mary said she was all out of eggs, that she had just sold the last carton and was about ready to close up the stand for the day. I said that was fine and some other things which I can’t remember. Nothing that I shouldn’t have said, just fumbling around. I know she saw through me, Jake. I don’t have any question about that. She could have gotten all cold and embarrassed, like women do when they want to send a not interested message. Instead, she smiled the sweetest smile and engaged me in small talk until I gathered myself up enough to leave. So there you have it, and I have no idea what to do from here.”
    “That’s a beautiful story,” Hannah said.
    “Perhaps,” Mr. Brunson said. “But that only makes it worse. Am I to elope with her?”
    “You’re too old for that,” Hannah said.
    Mr. Brunson laughed, “You can say that again.”
    “And it’s not honorable,” Jake said. “At least I hope you won’t consider that option. I don’t think that would be the right approach at all.”
    “Is that as a minister or your personal opinion?” Mr. Brunson asked.
    “Both,” Jake said, finishing his ice cream.
    “So where does that leave me?”

Seven
     
    Hannah stood on the porch, her arm around Jake’s waist, watching the taillights of Mr. Brunson’s truck bounce up the gravel driveway toward his house. The soft chirp of night creatures in the garden could be heard in the background.
    “You gave him gut advice on a very hard question,” Hannah commented.
    “You think so?” Jake muttered. “I don’t know sometimes. I’m just a young man, and this has all been so sudden. This thing of people coming to us for advice.”
    “Us? He came to ask your advice, Jake.”
    Jake pulled Hannah close to him, “Perhaps, but he also wanted yours. And you did really well.”
    “Thanks,” she whispered, snuggling up to him. “It’s chilly out here.”
    “Yes, it is. I think we’d better get back inside,” he said, opening the front door for her.
    Hannah stepped over the threshold and waited while Jake latched the heavy wooden door behind them.
    “Do you think he’ll take your advice?” she asked, sitting down on the couch.
    “I don’t know,” he said. “What do you think?”
    “I don’t think he will. He might want to forget about her, and even try by not stopping in at the egg stand again, but I don’t think it will work. I think he really loves her.”
    “But he’s English. Not that he can’t fall in love with Mary because he’s English, but they are both older, and how would they ever adjust to each other? I mean, we’re Amish, and marriage was a big adjustment for us. How will it be for him? And if Mary went English, that would be even worse.”
    “You’d have to excommunicate her, wouldn’t you?”
    “I wouldn’t,” Jake said. “You know that.”
    “But you’d have to agree to it, wouldn’t you?”
    “ Jah ,” Jake said, sitting down beside her and stroking her hand. “Are you going to hold that against me? You seemed really taken in with his story.”
    “I know you can’t help it, but it’s still awful.