Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis Read Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Ellis
English world, he should have emulated their ways. People didn’t like those who were different.
“And they all lived happily ever after,” Pete concluded.
“Huh?” Cal’s head snapped up. “Really?”
“No,” Pete said, frowning. “Everybody died. All hands were lost at sea. What’s the matter with you? They even wrote a song about that story.”
“Sorry. I can’t keep my mind on anything. Don’t take it personally, Pete. Good story—as much of it as I heard.” Cal jammed his hands into his pockets and stared out at the cold, gray water.
Pete pulled up his jacket collar and turned his back to the north wind. “You gotta show up at the hall at least three times a week, Cal. Otherwise, they consider it the same as refusing work and cut off your unemployment checks.”
Cal released a bitter laugh. “I sure can’t afford to let that happen. You think I live in a dump now? Just imagine my next place if I lose my benefits.”
“Then you had better pull yourself together, man. Take a shower and show up at the union center. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow so you don’t have to take the bus.” He slapped Cal on the shoulder. “Now let’s go get something to eat, my treat. It’s freezing out here.”
Cal looked once more at Lake Erie, stretching farther than the eye could see. Somewhere beyond the lake lay Canada. Behind him, some seventy miles to the south, lay Wayne County—a place he was never going back to. “I’ll be cleaned up and shiny as a new penny by six thirty. And thanks, Pete. You’re a good friend.”
S IX
W ith the address tucked safely in her purse, Sarah tried calm her racing heart. She couldn’t believe Albert had parted with the envelope. He had not, however, allowed her to see her bruder ’s letters. No matter. She had no desire to see Caleb’s private correspondence, only to learn his whereabouts. Albert had possessed two different addresses. Two letters had been mailed more than a year apart. According to the postmarks, her envelope contained his most recent address. I will write to him—
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves on pavement pulled her from her plans. Some fool in a buggy was trying to pass her! It was dangerous enough when a car passed on roads without buggy lanes, but an Amish buggy? Even though the road ahead was flat and straight, a horse couldn’t accelerate the way a motor vehicle could to clear the lane quickly. She tugged hard on the reins to slow her mare.
“Sarah!” A male voice called.
This particular fool apparently knew her. She glanced to the left and recognized the ruddy complexion of Adam, her beau.
“Turn into the next driveway,” he called, slapping the reins against his horse’s back. His buggy lurched forward and he passed safely.
She followed him into the next farm drive, which fortunately had a turn-around. Once the horses had stopped side by side, she leaned forward to find him grinning at her. “Have you lost your mind?” she asked.
Adam laughed, set the brake, and jumped down. “Maybe so, but I couldn’t believe my good fortune in seeing you.” He approached with flushed cheeks, wearing the scarf she’d knitted for him last Christmas. “I thought I would have to wait for Sunday’s preaching service.” He lifted his boot to her buggy’s bottom step.
“It’s a good thing someone wasn’t driving fast from the opposite direction when you were on the wrong side of the road.” She crossed her arms over her coat. “That was very foolish.”
“I am a fool for love.” He leaned in for a kiss.
She turned her face so he met her cheek instead of lips. “You’ll have lots to be thankful for tonight in your prayers.”
“I will,” he agreed. “Say, where were you coming from? The only people I know on that old gravel road are the Sidleys.”
She turned toward him again. “ Jah , they are who I went to see.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You went to visit Albert Sidley?” A muscle in his neck jumped
“And they all lived happily ever after,” Pete concluded.
“Huh?” Cal’s head snapped up. “Really?”
“No,” Pete said, frowning. “Everybody died. All hands were lost at sea. What’s the matter with you? They even wrote a song about that story.”
“Sorry. I can’t keep my mind on anything. Don’t take it personally, Pete. Good story—as much of it as I heard.” Cal jammed his hands into his pockets and stared out at the cold, gray water.
Pete pulled up his jacket collar and turned his back to the north wind. “You gotta show up at the hall at least three times a week, Cal. Otherwise, they consider it the same as refusing work and cut off your unemployment checks.”
Cal released a bitter laugh. “I sure can’t afford to let that happen. You think I live in a dump now? Just imagine my next place if I lose my benefits.”
“Then you had better pull yourself together, man. Take a shower and show up at the union center. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow so you don’t have to take the bus.” He slapped Cal on the shoulder. “Now let’s go get something to eat, my treat. It’s freezing out here.”
Cal looked once more at Lake Erie, stretching farther than the eye could see. Somewhere beyond the lake lay Canada. Behind him, some seventy miles to the south, lay Wayne County—a place he was never going back to. “I’ll be cleaned up and shiny as a new penny by six thirty. And thanks, Pete. You’re a good friend.”
S IX
W ith the address tucked safely in her purse, Sarah tried calm her racing heart. She couldn’t believe Albert had parted with the envelope. He had not, however, allowed her to see her bruder ’s letters. No matter. She had no desire to see Caleb’s private correspondence, only to learn his whereabouts. Albert had possessed two different addresses. Two letters had been mailed more than a year apart. According to the postmarks, her envelope contained his most recent address. I will write to him—
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves on pavement pulled her from her plans. Some fool in a buggy was trying to pass her! It was dangerous enough when a car passed on roads without buggy lanes, but an Amish buggy? Even though the road ahead was flat and straight, a horse couldn’t accelerate the way a motor vehicle could to clear the lane quickly. She tugged hard on the reins to slow her mare.
“Sarah!” A male voice called.
This particular fool apparently knew her. She glanced to the left and recognized the ruddy complexion of Adam, her beau.
“Turn into the next driveway,” he called, slapping the reins against his horse’s back. His buggy lurched forward and he passed safely.
She followed him into the next farm drive, which fortunately had a turn-around. Once the horses had stopped side by side, she leaned forward to find him grinning at her. “Have you lost your mind?” she asked.
Adam laughed, set the brake, and jumped down. “Maybe so, but I couldn’t believe my good fortune in seeing you.” He approached with flushed cheeks, wearing the scarf she’d knitted for him last Christmas. “I thought I would have to wait for Sunday’s preaching service.” He lifted his boot to her buggy’s bottom step.
“It’s a good thing someone wasn’t driving fast from the opposite direction when you were on the wrong side of the road.” She crossed her arms over her coat. “That was very foolish.”
“I am a fool for love.” He leaned in for a kiss.
She turned her face so he met her cheek instead of lips. “You’ll have lots to be thankful for tonight in your prayers.”
“I will,” he agreed. “Say, where were you coming from? The only people I know on that old gravel road are the Sidleys.”
She turned toward him again. “ Jah , they are who I went to see.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You went to visit Albert Sidley?” A muscle in his neck jumped