Abram's Daughters 03 The Sacrifice by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

and Sam nearly engaged already. How awkward for her for them, really. Yet I'm determined for her to have a right nice time, thought Gid, holding the reins. Leah must feel comfortable notonly with me, but with my sister and her beau.
    Surely the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle, the shimmer of the first evening star shortly after sunset, and the fact Leah's best girlfriend was along for the ride would enhance her first outing in his black courting buggy. Gid dared not to go so far as to think his mere presence might make the evening altogether pleasant for her.
    Behind them in the second seat, Sam began to tell a joke to Adah. Both Adah and Sam laughed out loud when the tall story was over. Gid felt like letting loose with hearty laughter himself, but Leah was only smiling, not laughing at all, so he remained silent. He was, in general, much too self-conscious. He wanted to be himself, to relax and enjoy the ride, the night air so warm and agreeable for such a trip. Frankly he felt nearly helpless to wind down, and it was obvious Leah felt the same.
    He was indeed thankful for Sam's wholehearted chortle, which continued for several more jokes, at least until well past Rohrer Mill Road. Soon the horse turned north at Paradise Lane, taking them closer to the Strasburg Pike and then west, past the railroad depot and into the town of Strasburg.
    "Did ya hear of the boy who attended his first singing, hooked up with a wild bunch, drank himself full of moon-
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    hine, and passed out on the front seat of his own carriage?"
    lam asked.
    "Ach, what happened?" Adah asked innocently. , "From what I heard and this is true his horse simply
    rut red on home, the drunk youth sleepin' all the while in the
    Km-"
    Gid had heard such stories, too, and he said so but added |uickly that there were "some fatal accidents happening Jflder those kinds of circumstances, too." He didn't especially Vnnt to be a wet blanket, but, truth was, several young men Hid been killed that way when their horses galloped right ,h rough a red light at a dangerous intersection, the carriage file broadside by an unsuspecting automobile.
    His comment stirred up some talk from Leah, and a few ninutes later Sam jumped in with more jokes. With an Dward sigh, Gid realized the evening was going to turn out Ust fine. He felt the tension drain from his jaw, and when he jould do so discreetly, he saw that Leah, too, seemed much {lore tranquil now, her hands not so tightly clasped in her lap.
    It was on the ride home from Strasburg, as they made the (end onto Georgetown Road, that Gid spotted two open bug' ies riding side by side at a fast pace. "Look at that!" he said.
    Both Leah and Adah gasped.
    "Pity's sake, what're they doin'?" Adah hollered. ;
    Leah held on to the seat with both hands. "Somebody's a Summkopp!"
    "Worse than a blockhead," Gid added.
    57
    'i'llMiM58 : ' ' . " fO e d e r L y J-, e u? I s .'''.
    "I should say!" Adah said.
    "Let's not get too close, in case. .. ." Leah's voice trailed off.
    "Don'tcha worry none," Gid reassured her, wanting to touch her hand but refusing to take advantage of the harrowing situation. Instead, he steered the horse onto the right shoulder and slowed down, allowing some distance between his buggy and the two speeding carriages ahead.
    Suddenly he heard a girl's voice from one of the buggies. "Elias, stop!"
    "Ach no," Leah whispered.
    "What?" Gid leaned near. "Do you recognize someone?"
    "My sister .. . Hannah." She turned in her seat now that they had rolled to a halt. "She may be dating one of the deacon's sons."
    "Then he oughta know better!" Adah was standing up behind them now for a better look.
    The deafening sound of a car horn pierced the stillness. Quick as a wink, one of the buggies fell behind the other, and Gid breathed a sigh of relief. "Too close for comfort."
    "You can say that again." Leah put her hands on her throat.
    Gid waited a few more minutes, then clicked his cheek and his horse pulled forward. "We