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

could follow the buggy your sister's in," he suggested. ,, . .. .
    "Gut idea," Adah said. .] ',.... \
    "Jah, let's follow'em!" Sam said.
    Leah said no more, and Gid wondered if she was worried the Stoltzfus boy might feel threatened somehow, that trailing them might cause a rift between herself and her younger sis-
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    Iits. He certainly understood if she was thinking that way. I i-ah might've told him, if the two of them had gone riding ;ilone, that Abram's other daughters she and Sadie, at least had surely endured enough strain between them to last ;i lifetime.
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    Xiannah said not a word to Mary Ruth as they slipped into the house through the kitchen door. She was so upset with Elias and Mary Ruth for egging him on all she wanted to do was hurry and undress for bed. At least in my dreams I won't be ridin with the likes of Elias Stoltzfus! she thought, heading for the stairs.
    Once the two of them were situated in bed, scarcely needing even a sheet, with the room so stuffy and warm, she was careful to sigh ever so lightly, hoping Mary Ruth wouldn't mention anything. She felt done in from having clung to her seat for dear life, and literally, too! Goodness, she was fairly sure the driver of the car coming straight at them tonight scarcely had enough time to sound the horn, let alone pray that the wild buggy driver could get out of his way.
    "I know what you're thinkin'," Mary Ruth whispered on the pillow next to her.
    Hannah inhaled and held her breath for a moment, then let it out gradually. "Honestly, I felt I saw my whole life flash in front of my eyes tonight." , ;
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    I "I don't think we were ever in any real danger, Hannah.
    I fur pity's sake!"
    I "t, >li, but we were1. Didn't you see how close that car came
    l|ii Inning us?"
    I Mury Ruth was quiet, stirring only enough to turn her
    Ihnk I" Hannah.
    I "Weren't you frightened, Mary Ruth?"
    I "1 did feel the hairs on my neck stand straight up, but that
    Ivviin only from excitement, nothin' more. Frankly it was lots
    It'll Inn." Mary Ruth pulled on the sheet, leaving little for her
    [twin, "Resides, Elias is a right gut driver, really he is."
    I I limnah thought her sister was sadly mistaken. "Well, if
    [thill's what you call fun, then maybe we'd best not go double
    Icoiirring anymore."
    I "If that's what you want" came the empty reply.
    I .She has no sense of good judgment, Hannah thought. Maybe
    IMiiry Ruth preferred to court alone, after all. If so, Hannah
    Hidn'i quite know how she felt about that, though it would
    [give her and Ezra more time to get to know each other. That
    Knight be a good thy^g; however, she wasn't so sure it would
    Ifcu1 wise to encourage Mary Ruth and Elias to court alone. She
    IhnU'd to think of her twin ending up the way Sadie had . . .
    llnd like Aunt Lizzie evidently, too, according to Mamma's
    Hi vount of things most private. : : !, ,
    I Leah was becoming more and more eager to get home, Ihii'k to the comfort of her soft bed. The carriage seat felt hwhil hard now, and Gid seemed too eager to keep driving jlnnind in circles. Adah and Sam were silent in the second llciil behind them, and she wondered if Adah had dozed off
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    on Sam's shoulder. Surely they weren't smooching, knowing Adah.
    Looking to her left, away from Gid, Leah recalled her firstever kiss. Jonas had shown no hesitancy whatsoever, and as much as she had delighted in the feel of his lips on hers that afternoon in the meadow, she'd also heard clearly Mamma's admonition: Save lip-kissin' for your husband. . . .
    Well, obviously she and Jonas had been only betrothed, not married, so according to Mamma, she had no business yielding to his embrace. And every day that passed, she pushed away the warm thoughts of her former beau, wishing to high heavens she'd waited to let her husband be the first to kiss her, whoever that was to be.
    She had been meaning to ask Aunt Lizzie about all this,