The Storekeeper's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter Read Free Book Online

Caleb stood near the front of the buggy and stroked the horse’s ear. “I don’t like storms any better than you, but we need to be gettin’ home.”
    The horse snorted and nuzzled Caleb’s arm. He patted the animal’s head and hopped into his open carriage.
    “Sure wish I’d driven one of Pop’s closed-in buggies today,” Caleb mumbled. “By the time we get home, we’ll both be near drowned.” He pulled the brim of his straw hat down and leaned into the wind. From the way the rain pelted the ground, there might be some flash flooding in the area.
    Caleb drove the horse and buggy as fast as he could. He’d only gone a short ways, when he came upon a gusher of muddy water running over the road and into a nearby field. Several cars had pulled onto the shoulder, obviously stalled.
    “Guess there’s some good in us Amish usin’ real horsepower. At least my buggy’s got no engine to peter out on me.”
    By the time Caleb reached the halfway point between the town of Paradise and his folks’ farm, the floodwaters had become a hazard. He noticed a herd of horses owned by one of the English farmers who lived in the area. They stood up to their flanks in a lake of murky, brown water.
    Caleb wondered if the pond at the back of his folks’ farm might be flooded, too. If it was, Pop would need Caleb and his brothers to put the animals in the barn.
    Moving on down the highway, Caleb spotted a closed-in buggy sitting on the shoulder of the road. He swiped his hand across his rain-drenched face and squinted. It looked like Abraham Fisher’s horse and buggy. Was something wrong? Were the Fishers stranded? Maybe they’d had an accident.
    Caleb guided his horse to the edge of the road and stopped behind the rig. He jumped down and sprinted around to the right side, where he knew the driver would be sitting. When he peered through the window, his heart lurched. Abraham Fisher was hunched over, his head leaning against the front of the buggy, but there was no sign of Naomi or her baby brother.
    Caleb grasped the handle and opened the door. Abraham didn’t budge, although he could see by the rise and fall of the man’s shoulders that he was still breathing.
    “Abraham, can ya hear me?” Caleb touched the storekeeper’s shoulder. There was no response, so he shook the man’s arm.
    Naomi’s father jerked upright. “Ach , my! What are ya doin’, boy?”
    “I thought you might be hurt or had broken down.”
    Abraham yawned. “I ain’t hurt—just pulled over to take a little nap. With the rain comin’ down so hard, it was gettin’ difficult to see, and since I’ve been minding the store by myself most of the week, I was feelin’ kind of tired.”
    “You’ve been at the store by yourself?” Caleb’s mouth dropped open like a broken hinge. “But I came by on Mondaag , and Naomi was helping you.”
    Abraham grunted. “Jah, well, Monday was the only day I had my daughter’s help. She’s been home the rest of the week, takin’ care of her sick sisters.”
    “Everything’s okay with you then?”
    The storekeeper frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    “Like I was sayin’ ... I saw your buggy pulled to the side of the road and figured I’d better stop and see if you were hurt or anything.”
    “Except for bein’ tired, I’m right as rain.” Abraham shook his head. “Sure hope this storm lets up soon. It’s gonna cause a passel of trouble if the creeks and ponds should flood.”
    Caleb didn’t bother to tell Abraham about the swamped farm he’d already seen. He figured it would be best if they both headed for home. He tapped the side of Abraham’s door. “Guess I’ll be on my way then. Glad you’re not hurt.” The only response was a muffled murmur.
    When the door shut, Abraham took up the reins.
    Caleb hurried to his own buggy, shaking his head. The storekeeper hadn’t even said thanks.

CHAPTER 4
    Naomi stood at the kitchen sink with a sponge in her hand. She needed to hurry. They’d soon be