Kitabı oku: «The Amish Marriage Bargain», sayfa 2

Chapter Two

The next morning, Thad ran his hands through his hair as he entered the kitchen. “Mmm, sausage and eggs smell gut.”

“Thought it was my turn to treat you to breakfast this morning,” she turned and faced him. “How’d the dairy association meeting go last night?”

He pulled a chair away from the kitchen table and plopped down. “It doesn’t look like the USDA is in any big hurry to make changes. That means that many farmers are going to have to sell organic for the regular milk price. We’ll lose money, about 33 percent, by doing that, but it can’t be helped.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I know how hard you work.”

“Jah, well, times are changing.”

“Maybe you could sell the cows and put in all produce?”

“The reason why we diversify is because a storm could wipe out the whole crop. This way we still have milk money to fall back on. The president of the association called the newspaper and a reporter showed up. He was going to put a story in the paper. Maybe the Englisch politicians will take notice. I’m praying for that.”

May flashed him a hopeful smile.

“How’s Leah? When I’m outside, I don’t see her much.She’s not up yet?”

“She was up earlier playing and had her breakfast. Now she’s napping. We were outside all yesterday afternoon. She missed her nap, and went to bed early. It threw her off schedule.”

“How is your vegetable stand doing?”

“It’s doing very well. Lots of Englisch stop by the roadside stand wanting to buy fresh produce.”

“Ah, gut. At least there is something we grow that the consumers like to buy.”

They hadn’t talked this much since they’d courted. Yet, if he was going to persuade her to stay, they’d need to be getting along a whole lot better. She set the breakfast on the table and sat opposite Thad. After the blessing, she poured his coffee and dished up her plate.

She only tolerated him, but in all fairness, he had dumped her and married her sister. He truly regretted that.

They both wanted the farm to succeed. And he sure hoped her liebe for it and Leah made her come to the right conclusion. But he needed to know where he stood with May.

A flash of fear tugged at his gut as he aimed his gaze across the table. “Have you made a decision yet about leaving Iowa?”

She raised her head and he could read the surprise on her face.

The words popped out before he could bite them back. He knew he shouldn’t rush her. She needed time. He’d only push her into making a hasty decision. That probably wouldn’t be in his favor.

“Nein. I’m taking my time—a move to Indiana is final. It’s a big decision, and I want to get it right.”

A sigh whooshed out before he could stop it. That meant he still had time to sway her decision.

But how could he convince her to stay?

May lugged the baskets of tomatoes and bins of green beans and peapods to her roadside stand she had put at the end of the driveway by the white fence. She arranged the quart-size cartons of strawberries in rows, then sat the plastic bags and cash box on the opposite end of the table.

She blotted her forehead with her hand as she glanced at the blanket on the ground where Leah sat playing. Her pumpkin was the only sweetness in her life. For sure and for certain, she was going to miss that little bit of sugar if she headed to Indiana. She’d told Thad she hadn’t made a decision, but in truth, it was for the best that she moved. But she needed to consider it from all angles.

Someday Thad would want to remarry, and that would make it uncomfortable for her. Edna’s offer was only for a short while, and she needed to take advantage of her generosity.

A warm breeze danced across her face, drying the perspiration on her forehead. She turned in that direction, stood for a minute and fully enjoyed the blessing.

It reminded her of the times she and April had sat under a tree one summer and talked about buwe. Who was the cutest, which one had the best personality, and who owned the broadest shoulders? Thad and Alvin tied for the win in all categories. A few pangs of homesickness stirred in her, knowing these would be her last few weeks on the land if she decided to move.

May glanced toward the barn where Thad stood looking her way. It was hard even imagining losing the family’s farm.

She finished arranging her vegetable stand, then took a step back and glanced at the display in front of the white fence. Perfect.

She’d miss her garden and the stand, but surely Aent Edna had a patch behind her café and bake shop.

She picked up Leah and the blanket she was sitting and crawling on. Leah smiled so sweetly that it stole May’s heart as she swung the tyke around. Leah giggled while little wisps of taffy-colored hair bounced around her cherub face. “Mamm, more!”

“Nein, it’s time for your nap, little one.”

“Mamm,” Leah laughed.

May reached the porch and laid the blanket on a chair. She turned when she heard wheels rumbling into the drive.

Bishop Yoder climbed out of his buggy and walked a few steps in her direction. “Gut afternoon, May. Another hot July day, jah? Is Thad around?”

“I believe he’s in the shed boxing vegetables, Bishop. Would you like a glass of lemonade?”

He looked toward the shed, then back at May. “That does sound gut. Just a small one.”

He followed her into the kitchen and plunked down on a chair waving his hat across his face.

“Would you rather sit on the porch?”

“Nein. This is fine.”

She sat Leah on the floor by her toys, cut a piece of banana bread, poured a glass of lemonade and set them in front of him.

He took a bite of bread, then washed it down with the cold drink. “Mmm, they are both gut.”

“I’m just going to put Leah down for a nap, but I’ll be right back.”

She laid Leah in her downstairs crib and returned to the kitchen.

She poured herself a glass of lemonade and joined the bishop at the table. “It’s a hot day for visiting.”

“Indeed. Tell me, May, does Thad work the farm every day, and do you cook his meals?”

A chill ran up her back. “Jah.”

“How’s this situation working out for you?” He took another sip and waited for her reply.

“I’m not sure I understand the question, Bishop.” She rubbed her finger down the glass through the condensation.

“Jah, he jilted you years ago, is that right? So is it uncomfortable for you to live here? Together?”

“This is my family farm that Thad inherited from April, but Daed said I could stay here until I married.”

“But he’s here all day.” The bishop gestured with his hand to the outside.

“He lets me stay, so I watch Leah and cook the meals. That’s all. Otherwise, I see very little of him during the day.”

The bishop finished his refreshment, pushed his chair back and gave May a nod. “See you on Sunday.”

She froze in her chair, and waited until his footfalls left the porch. She looked out the window. What was that all about? Why was he asking such questions?

May sipped her lemonade, sat the glass down and dried her hand on her apron. No doubt, she wouldn’t like the answers to those questions.

Thad took off his straw hat, slapped it against his leg to shake the dust and soil off, and plunked it back on his head. He watched the youngies he’d hired to pick vegetables leave for the day, then he sealed the cartons of tomatoes, beans and peas going to market.

It was a hot day, but at least it hadn’t rained. He’d prayed for a sunny day, and Gott had answered. He sighed as his mind drifted to May.

They had started getting along, putting the past behind them. At least he hoped so. Their conversations seemed more relaxed, and she was at least still considering staying. Maybe her hesitation to make a decision about moving was due to the thought of leaving Leah.

The shed door squeaked open and pulled his attention to footfalls approaching. He tried to hold back a smile. Jah, May was coming out to talk. He peered over his shoulder, then jerked around in surprise as he saw the bishop approaching. “Bishop Yoder, hullo.”

“Hullo, Thad. I was visiting with May. She made some delicious banana bread and lemonade. Did you have some?”

“Ah, no, not yet, probably for supper. What brings you out here today?”

“An elder brought it to my attention that you and May were still living together.”

Thad’s back stiffened. “Nein, we aren’t living together. I inherited her family’s farm, and my parents are staying in the dawdi haus. Why bring this up now? April has been dead a year.”

“Exactly, your year of mourning is over and now it is not acceptable. So you live in the dawdi haus with them?”

“I still sleep in the same bedroom that April and I shared.”

The bishop kicked at a few peas that had landed on the floor before aiming his gaze at Thad. “To others in our district, they think this is not a gut arrangement. You are here all day and all night unchaperoned in the same haus. I heard that she was moving to Shipshewana to live with an aent?”

“Jah, that’s what she said, but I think she is having a hard time leaving Leah.”

“Is it just Leah that she is having the hard time leaving?”

Thad took a step back and clenched his teeth, then released. “I’m not sure I understand what you are talking about, Bishop.”

“You courted May before you married her sister, jah?” The bishop’s tone was the one he used for preaching.

“What are you saying, Bishop?” A rigidness seized Thad’s shoulders.

“It’s time May was married.”

Thad felt the blood drain from his face.

The bishop walked to the door, then glanced back over his shoulder. “You need to think seriously about how this living arrangement looks to others. It cannot be allowed to go on much longer.” The bishop walked out, letting the barn door bang closed.

Thad stared after him and scrubbed his hands over his face. Why, Gott, why have You done this? I was hoping May would decide to stay but this...this will drive her away. And if the bishop finds out Elmer is always hanging around, he’ll try to matchmake them. I had hoped to win her back.

The next morning, Thad’s gut clenched when he saw Elmer’s buggy pulling into the drive. What did he want? But he already knew. May.

Perhaps the bishop had sent Elmer out here to see May. Thad settled his feet like a bulldog with his paws planted squarely in the center of the walkway.

“Gut morgen, Thad.” Elmer smiled as he approached.

Thad nodded. “Elmer. What brings you out this way?”

“Come to help May in her garden and visit with her a while.”

Thad shot Elmer a cold stare, stepped off the walkway and stalked across the barnyard, the dust flying off the heels of his boots. He grabbed his toolbox off the shed’s workbench and headed back to the haus.

He shook his head and tried to clear May out of his brain. She had a right to a life of her own but all he could see were her smoky-gray eyes staring at Elmer. Those same eyes made his heart swell until he could hardly breathe. Her hair and skin smelled like strawberry blossoms on a sunny June day.

He took the porch steps two at a time, stopped and caught his breath before entering the kitchen. Bumping the screen door open with his hip, he maneuvered his toolbox through the doorway and set it on the floor, letting the door bang closed.

May and Elmer turned and scowled at his abrupt entrance. He looked up and locked on to her eyes, then let his gaze drop to her peaches-and-cream cheeks.

“What are you doing, Thad?” She squared her shoulders and lifted a brow. “Forget something?”

“Nein. I just remembered you wanted the doors fixed. Since Elmer was here, I thought it would be the perfect time to take off the swollen cupboard doors and fix them. Leah’s door also sticks from the humidity. It squeaked when I opened it. We can take it off the hinges and plane a couple of spots to make it level. Since Elmer has two gut hands, I figured he’d want to help.” Thad felt his face trying to smile but he controlled the urge.

Elmer pursed his lips and tossed Thad a displeased stare. “Jah, okay. Let’s get to it so I’ll have a few minutes to visit with May.”

“We’ll start with the kitchen doors.” Thad’s instincts kicked in and told him he was in trouble, but he wasn’t going to let Elmer have the upper hand before he tried to work things out with May.

He felt Elmer’s glare as they finished up in the kitchen. Of course, he forgot a couple of tools and had to go to the shed twice. Thad nodded toward the stairway that led to the second floor and to Leah’s room, but as he did, the glare in May’s eyes and her furrowed brow signaled he’d upset her plans for a nice afternoon with Elmer.

Gut. A pang of uneasiness settled in his stomach. May deserved a nice man to court her, and Elmer was a gut-hearted man with many skills that kept him in demand, like his cheese business. But Elmer was also a stern man who worked his employees hard and no doubt would demand his frau do the same.

As Thad picked up his toolbox, he shot another glance in May’s direction. A rosy blush tinged her cheeks like a January wind had just whirled through the room. She held her back straight as a yardstick and stared him down. He’d made his choice, married April, and now he should step aside and let May find happiness.

But he just couldn’t. After speaking to the bishop, he wanted one more chance. With May.

Jah, he had no right disrupting her time with Elmer. Regret crept up his back but a smile curved his lips as he turned to head upstairs.

He had tossed May aside to marry April, now he was trying to prevent her from courting Elmer. What was wrong with him? Why did he keep hurting her? She was a wunderbaar woman any man would be proud to have as his frau.

Guilt pushed out a frustrated sigh, and his insides warred. He needed to back away and let May have her chance at happiness. Elmer needed his chance at winning May’s heart. Thad owed her that, but why did it feel like a pitchfork was stabbing his heart?

May fumed under her breath as the men tromped up the stairs. She heard banging and pounding, feet shuffling around the wood flooring and a loud clink when the door hinge pin slid back into place.

When they came back downstairs, Elmer let out a loud sigh as he sat in the chair next to hers. Thad stomped toward the door, his toolbox clanging with tools shifting around as he gave her a nod. Her cheeks burned hot enough they could fry an egg.

“Job is done,” Thad announced as he clomped out the door and down the porch steps.

May turned to Elmer. “I’m sorry you got roped into helping him.”

“Nein, I wanted to help. Your cupboards are all fixed. I wouldn’t want a loose door to swing open and bump your head when you weren’t looking.” He smiled like a bu who had just received a dollar to buy some candy.

“My cheese factory is doing very well.” He glanced at May. “The artisanal cheese is a big seller. It’s fancy cheese for the Englisch, they liebe it with crackers. The cheddar with bacon bits is my most popular seller. My shop is even in the Iowa Cheese Club and on the Iowa Cheese Roundup.” He cleared his throat. “I’m building a haus and will be well established enough to marry soon.”

The twinkle in his eye warned May he wasn’t here just as her friend. She dropped her gaze as his hand started inching closer to hers. She jumped up, twisting her foot but stifled the yelp. “I’ll make some coffee and we’ll have a cookie. I made them the other day. Snickerdoodles.”

“That’s okay, May. Don’t go to any trouble. Please, sit and talk.”

“Nein. You deserve a little refreshment after driving all the way here and then helping Thad.” She hurried to make a small pot of coffee, and in the meantime, set a plate of cookies on the table. When the coffee was ready, she poured two cups, set them on the table and collapsed on the chair.

“You seem tired, May.”

“Jah, I am.” When they finished their coffee, she stood and walked him to the porch. As she waved goodbye, a movement caught her eye and she turned toward the dawdi haus.

Gretchen was watching them from her flower garden.

It was for the best that he went home. She needed time to think of a way to tell Elmer she didn’t liebe him and didn’t want to marry him.

And she needed time to think of an answer for Thad...and what was best for the rest of her life.

Chapter Three

Thad helped his youngies stack the vegetable boxes of tomatoes, carrots and bush beans onto the truck bound for Des Moines. This load would complete the contract he had with a local market chain. He heaved the last box up into the waiting hands of the Vickerson Transport Company man inside the truck, stacking and securing the boxes. Done.

The truck driver handed Thad the clipboard with the receipt. He reviewed it, signed it, took his copy and handed it back. It was 6:30 a.m. when the truck pulled away.

Thad pulled a hanky from his pocket and wiped his brow as he watched the truck pull out of the drive. “Ethan Lapp, you and Carl Ropp head to the barn and start milking, it’s getting late. The rest of you are on cleanup, follow me.”

While Thad supervised, the buwe cleaned the packaging room of vegetable scraps, foam pieces and boxing debris, then he had them scrub the area and store the unused cartons back on the shelves. When they completed the task, he had them disinfect the milking room when Ethan and Carl had finished with the last cow. After lunch, they spent the rest of the day weeding the north forty acres. At four o’clock, he gathered the three summer hires for a short meeting. “Danki for all your help, you work hard and did a gut job today. You can come back on Friday morning for your pay. If you don’t make it, I’ll drop your check in the mail.”

Daniel, the newest of his summer hires, stepped forward while the other two walked away. “Danki, Mr. Hochstetler. If you need help with anything else, give a shout.”

Thad patted him on the back. “Danki. I’ll do that.”

As the buwe stood by their buggies talking, Thad overheard a few discussions of what they were going to do with their money. He chuckled. Most planned to save it. However, a few sounded like they were going to fix up their buggies to attract a pretty mädel.

Rumbling wheels on the drive pulled his attention from the buwe to his daed’s buggy heading straight toward him. Daed parked under the shade of the oak tree and stepped down. He walked toward Thad with an uneasy look on his face.

“Something wrong, Daed?”

The older man took a couple of purposeful strides closer. “The bishop stopped to chat with me in town.” He kicked a stone with his foot as he stopped abruptly. “He said the elders didn’t like you and May living in sin together. Your year of mourning is over. What was allowed before, won’t be tolerated now.”

Thad’s jaw dropped. “That’s not true.”

Daed held up his hand. “Stop right there. Whether you are or not, it goes by appearance and what’s decent. You’re out here on the farm with May inside the haus. You wander in and out all day and spend the evenings together.”

“Who said that?” Thad’s back bolted up straight.

“Is it true or not?”

“Jah, but it’s my haus and May lives here, too. It was her daed’s farm, but you know all that.”

“You must marry May, or she must move out. I know what her papa said about her staying in the haus, but no doubt, he would thank me for looking out for her reputation. I worry that no nice bu will want to marry her.”

Thad stepped back so fast he almost fell. His hands and face turned cold as his blood drained to his feet. His throat tightened so he could barely speak. “Who...is spreading rumors?”

“The bishop said that several elders have mentioned it to him. Not just that, but he doesn’t want the Englisch neighbors to think that we condone living in sin. Not my words, his.” Daed’s voice turned sullen. “Did you tell May that the bishop paid you a visit?”

“She knows he was here, but we never talked about what he said.” Thad’s gaze dropped to the grass. His mind whirled. He didn’t want to lose May when they were just starting to get along. This would humiliate her, and for sure and for certain she’d move the three hundred miles to Aent Edna’s.

Thad rubbed a hand over his heart. It felt as though a hundred stampeding Holsteins had trampled on his chest. Gott, how do I make May understand? We need to get married—and fast. When I tell her, please ease her pain and confusion.

He paced the ground, then faced his daed. “How much time did the bishop say we could have to think about this situation?”

Daed hooked his thumbs under his suspenders and locked eyes with Thad. “She has to be told today. Either she moves out in the next couple of days, or you marry.” He gave Thad an easy pat on the shoulder. “She’s a fine woman and would make Leah a gut mamm. Do what’s right, Thad.” He nodded and headed back to his buggy.

Thad wandered to the bench he’d made a year ago and sat in the front yard. He stared at his daed’s buggy kicking up dirt and sticks as it sped across the barnyard to the dawdi haus. The dust swirled in the wind, then disappeared like May would probably do when he told her about the gossip.

He kicked at the grass underfoot. He could give May back the farm, and she could pay someone to run it. The outcome would no doubt be the same. Someone would gossip about her and that man. Then the bishop would make her marry him.

They were getting along better. Maybe she’d consider a proposal. Nein, what was he thinking? She had told him once she hated her sister’s secondhand clothes. She’d never want her secondhand husband.

He stood and walked around the haus toward the porch while a million reasons why their marriage was a bad idea bombarded his senses. Was it possible one of the buwe who worked for him was gossiping about him and May and his daed just didn’t tell him?

He reached the porch steps and halted, one foot still in mid-air, then he slowly lowered it to the step. He tried to budge the other foot from the ground, but it felt as if glue clung to the sole of his shoe making the task difficult. Finally, one step after the other, he reached the top, knocked on the kitchen door and entered.

May glanced his way, then finished taking Mason jars from the processing kettle. She checked the Kerr lids and set the jars to cool. She pushed the previous cooled jars to the back of the counter out of the way. She wiped her hands on a towel and turned from the sink. “Why did you knock, Thad? Did you want me to come out and help with something?”

“Nein, we need to talk.”

“Let me dish up the food and we can talk during dinner. Leah’s napping so it gives us a few minutes.” May set the bowl of boiled potatoes next to the meatballs, sauerkraut, green beans and cinnamon bread already on the table. She pulled her chair from the table, letting the legs scrape against the wood flooring, then sat. They bowed their heads for silent prayer.

Thad rubbed his hands across his trousers. “It was a warm one today.” His voice shook on the last word. Lord, please help me say what I must. After taking a bite, he took his napkin and blotted his mouth. “Mmm. This is delicious, but then your cooking is always gut.”

The hot food and warm kitchen teamed to coat his brow in perspiration. He swallowed hard, laid his fork down, took a deep breath, and told May about the bishop’s visit the other day and the bishop’s conversation with his daed today.

Her face went blank and her smoky-gray eyes turned stormy black.

“May, I adore you. I cared for you, nein, I loved you in a way when we courted, and I think you cared for me, too. We can get that back if we work at it. I’d like you to marry me. But if the answer is nein...then you’ll have to move out of the haus.”

His words speared May in the heart. “Who is gossiping about us?”

“If the bishop told Daed, he never told me.” Thad lowered his gaze. “I must say, you’re not as surprised as I thought you’d be.” He raised his chin to face her again.

“Your daed never indicated who complained, or maybe named a neighbor?” Her eyes locked with his.

“Nein. It might be one of the buwe that work on the farm. Maybe they told the bishop, or their folks, that I walk in and out of the haus whenever I please without knocking or something like that. Did they ever stop to think, it is my haus, and you are only the...nanny?”

May’s heart nearly stopped. Only the nanny?

“Look, May, I care about you, and I owe it to April to take care of you. We can get married and all will be well. What do you say?”

May stared at him in utter disbelief.

Leah let out a cry from her crib in the other room. She hurried and picked her up, changed her and snuggled her close as a tear threatened but May batted it away. How was she going to survive without seeing this sweet little girl?

She carried Leah to the kitchen, and set her down in the high chair. “I’ll get her food ready so we can talk.” She got her food and set her plate and cup on her tray.

“Okay, where were we?”

“May, you didn’t answer my question.”

She swallowed hard and looked Thad in the eye. “Before April died, she asked me to take care of her boppli. I stayed here to do just that, instead of going to Indiana, where Mamm’s family lives. Now I’m repaid by my friends and neighbors gossiping about me?”

“I—I’m sure it’s not like that...” Thad stuttered.

“Nein, apparently it is.” A knot tightened in the pit of her stomach. “I appreciate your offer of marriage, Thad, but that would keep you from marrying someone you loved.”

“Nein. I did not say it right before. I liebe you and want to marry you. We could make it work, May. If I hadn’t married April, we might have...” He stopped.

Her cheek twitched and heat rushed up her neck and burned all the way to her ears. She was sure her eyes shot lightning bolts.

In the silence, the ticking of the kitchen clock pulsed like the heartbeat of the haus.

Her life had just changed in a few seconds. The haus, the farm, Leah... Thad had everything. She had nothing once again. At least he’d given her a place to stay, for a little while anyway. Now, Gott had taken that away, too, but He stretched out two roads before her and she must choose.

“Thaddaeus Thomas Hochstetler. What’s going on? You should be in the field.”

May jerked around at the same time Thad did to see Gretchen with her hands perched on her hips.

“Mamm, people are gossiping about us living together, and we are discussing whether to marry or not.”

“You want to marry May? Nein. She’s nothing like her sister.” Gretchen huffed and glanced at the dozen jars of canned string beans on the counter, then her gaze dropped to the bucket sitting on the floor still full of beans to be canned. “April worked twice as fast as her.”

A flash of heat stormed through May’s body as she listened to Gretchen berate her. Ha, three votes against staying: Edna’s offer was one, her discomfort around Thad was two, and now Gretchen’s unkind words.

Thad grabbed his mamm’s arm and escorted her out of the haus. When he stomped back into the kitchen, his face was as pale as a whitewashed fence.

“I have a lot to think about, Thad. Can you look after Leah for a little while?”

He nodded. “I’m sorry about all this, May.”

Before she reached the stairs, Leah started to cry. She stopped and glanced at Thad. “You sure you’re okay with her?”

“Jah, we’re gut.”

Before May reached the stairs, Leah was crying. This was a gut test for Thad to see how he handled his tochter on his own.

May closed her bedroom door and collapsed on the bed. She didn’t want to marry Thad. She didn’t love him. She could barely talk to him.

But she loved Leah and that little mädel loved her like a mama. She could sell her rag rugs to help Thad and she could bake bread, rolls, pies and cookies and sell them at her roadside stand.

But the whole idea was just crazy. She and Thad didn’t liebe each other, not anymore, if they ever did.

She could hear Leah crying downstairs, then the sniffling grew closer, and closer and stopped. A tap sounded on her door.

She hesitated, then opened it. “Janie, what are you doing here?”

“That’s a nice greeting for a friend. I hadn’t seen you for a while so thought I’d stop by on my way to town. Mamm keeps me busy canning, but I wanted to see you. Thad said you were up here doing some thinking. He couldn’t quiet this one’s crying.” Janie gave Leah a squeeze.

Leah sniffled and held her arms out to May, sobs rocking her little shoulders while her nose ran. When Janie handed her over, Leah almost jumped into May’s arms.

May enveloped her in a hug, then wiped the tears and her nose. Leah laid her head on May’s shoulder with her arm stretched around her neck. “Shh. Everything will be okay.”

May pointed toward the bed and her friend sat. She confided her dilemma and watched Janie gasp with each new piece of information.

“What are you going to do? If you ask me, I think you should give Thad a second chance,” Janie whispered. “I think he’s cute, and I’ve always liked him. Plus, he’s tall with a muscular back and strong arms. Now, what mädel could resist that?”

“You’re guy crazy.” May lifted a brow. “I believe I have two choices—marry Thad or move to Shipshewana, where I would probably never see Leah again. And right now, she is the only joy in my life.”

“The decision to marry is for life. Amish don’t get divorced. I know you realize that, but I just wanted to remind you. Oh, here’s another idea. If they have a lot of gut-looking guys in Indiana, send me a letter, and I’ll move out there with you.” Janie chuckled.

May rolled her eyes at her sweet and funny friend. “Again, you’re guy crazy. The scary thing is, I’ve never been to Shipshewana, and I have no idea if I will like Indiana.”