Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis Read Free Book Online Page A

while his jaw tightened. “Do I have something to worry about? Has another man stolen your heart?”
    If he’d meant the questions to sound lighthearted and teasing, he did not succeed. But Sarah took pity on him. “No, Adam. I haven’t fallen for Albert, but I am concerned about his family. I intend to ask my daed to speak to the bishop. They might need the district’s help and are too proud to ask. That farm needs maintenance on the outside, and I would expect on the inside too. Plus, their cellar probably isn’t well stocked since Mrs. Sidley’s passing. To my knowledge, none of her sons has married.” She smiled sweetly. “I think they could use a work frolic, and the district could stock them up with canned goods before winter.”
    Adam rubbed his stubbly chin. “That’s a good idea.” He waited to see if more was forthcoming. After a few quiet moments he asked, “But why did you go there in the first place?”
    Sarah let out a great sigh. “If you must know, I went to see if Albert had an address for Caleb. He was my brother’s only Amish friend after he started working.”
    Adam grit his teeth for no apparent reason. “And did he?” he asked.
    “ Jah .” She patted her purse. “I have his address in case mamm decides to write. She was feeling mighty blue the day we were baking Christmas cookies. Time doesn’t seem to have eased her sorrow.”
    Adam leaned into the buggy and kissed her forehead. “You have a generous heart, Sarah Beachy. I’m a lucky man.”
    “That you are, but I want to get home before full dark.”
    He stepped back. “Good idea. I’ll see you on Sunday. After the preaching service, we’ll have the whole afternoon to visit.” He smiled and then hopped up into his buggy. “I’ll follow you until the turnoff.”
    “You just keep to your side of the road,” she called before clucking her tongue to her horse.
    They set off with Adam close behind her. Despite darkness and a light snow beginning to fall, Sarah felt safe and protected all the way home.

     
    Second Sunday of Advent
     
    The snow that had begun Saturday afternoon continued throughout the night. Sarah and everyone else in the county awoke to eight inches of fresh new powder. Fortunately, the hosting family, the Troyers, lived on a state route. The Highway Department snowplows had been out early clearing the pavement, so the Beachys, and most other district families, arrived at the preaching service on time.
    As soon as daed parked their buggy, Sarah and her sisters jumped down and headed for the house. They each carried a basket with something for the lunch table. Rebekah had baked corn muffins, Katie carried mamm ’s broccoli casserole, and Sarah brought jars of spiced apple rings. Because the Troyer home was the largest in the district, they held church services in their front room instead of in an outbuilding. Adam and his brothers had already moved out the normal furniture and set up long rows of benches. As Sarah helped organize the food in the kitchen, she spied Adam passing out hymnals. He looked so handsome in his black vest, coat, and starched white shirt.
    He winked impishly when their gazes met, and she quickly averted her eyes. With church about to start, she didn’t need to be thinking romantic thoughts. Not that anyone could accuse me of having overly passionate ideas.
    She thought Adam to be handsome, dignified, and responsible. By all estimates he would make a good spouse. So why hadn’t she accepted his proposal and allowed their engagement to be announced? The problem lay with her. She wasn’t ready to quit her job and start having bopplin …babies that could one day grow up to break her heart. Amish families set no store by fancy clothes, furniture, or personal possessions, but they did take pride in their children.
    What happens if your son grows up and turns his back on the Amish way of life? Or the daughter you molded to be just like you runs off with an Englischer and never looks