Amish Treasures of the Heart by Sophia Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

along since she wanted so badly to hear it from his lips. “And why is that, Jake?”
    “Well if we’re to be married in November, that doesn’t leave much time to get everything prepared for a traditional Amish wedding like you want.”
    She suppressed a smile. “Jake Fisher, what kind of proposal was that?”
    “Who said I was asking?” he teased.
    “I did!” she answered.
    “Well,” he said, pretending to think about it. “You are my boss, and I have to do what my boss says!”
    She folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe I don’t want to be your boss.”
    “Why not?” he asked, playing along.
    “Because I’d rather be your fraa— your wife.”
    He tossed a couple of cucumbers into the wicker basket with the snap beans and tomatoes. “Well, then I suppose we better get busy on that celery patch—that is if you’ll have me.”
    “Are you asking this time?” she teased.
    He pulled himself up from the dirt and rested on one knee, pulling her hand into his. He kissed the back of her hand ever so gently and smiled. “Ellie Yoder, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    “ Jah— yes!” She threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his lips, but he pulled her gently away.
    “Now, hold on a minute. There’s more!” he said with a smile.
    She looked at him curiously.
    “Will you teach me how to clean out the nesting boxes without getting pecked to death, and show me how to gather the eggs without having to put my hands under the hens, and show me how to milk the cow, and…”
    “Yes to all of it,” she said with a giggle. “But only if you teach me how to rope that calf.”
    He laughed. “Oh, I can’t teach you that. We have to keep some mystery in our marriage!”
    “Jake Fisher,” she said with a reprimanding tone.
    “Alright, I’ll teach you. I suppose it’s only fair considering all you have to teach me.”
    He pulled her close and kissed her again. “And just think, we have a whole lifetime to learn it all. I love you, Ellie, and I can’t wait until November. Do you suppose we could plant some of that fast-growing celery?”
    She giggled. “Perhaps we might have to buy some from the grocery store in town.”
    “But isn’t that cheating?” he asked.
    She smiled. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.”
    He chuckled. “See, another reason why I love you so much.”
    “I love you too,” she said with a giggle, and planting another kiss on his lips.
     
    THE END!
 

FROM THE CHERRY ORCHARD…Bonus Material

    Cherry Pie
    Ingredients:
    5 cups fresh pitted and stemmed Bing cherries
2/3 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon fine salt
flour, for dusting the work surface
(see recipe for pie dough below)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon sanding sugar
     
Heat the oven to 400 degrees and arrange a rack in the middle. Set a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil on the rack. Combine the cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, ginger and salt in a large bowl and mix until the cherries are well coated; let sit at room temperature while you roll the dough, at least 20 minutes.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disk into a round approximately 12 inches in diameter and ¼ inch thick. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the dough, trimming off and excess but leaving enough to cover the edges of the plate; place in the refrigerator while you roll out the second disk of dough.
Roll the second disk into a round approximately 12 inches in diameter and ¼ inch thick. Cut into 12 1-inch-wide strips.
Stir the cherry filling to evenly incorporate all the juices, then turn it into the prepared pie plate. Dot the butter over the top of the filling. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together until smooth, then lightly brush the exposed edge of the crust with the egg wash.
To make the lattice, evenly