A Sister's Test (7 page)

Martin pulled his gaze back to Abe. “I do want to hear it.”

Abe motioned to a couple of wooden stools. “Have a seat, and I’ll tell you about it.”

Martin listened as Abe told the story of how he’d taken an interest in Alma soon after she and her folks had moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania. “When Alma turned sixteen and started attending some of the young people’s functions, I asked if I could court her. Soon after our first date, I knew I was in love. Two years later, I asked if I could marry her,” Abe said, dropping his gaze to the floor.

Martin figured talking about Alma must have conjured up some nostalgic feelings. He wished he hadn’t brought up the subject of Abe and Alma’s courtship. “Sorry if I’ve upset you.”

“I miss my wife, but it’s good for me to talk about her.” Abe touched his chest. “Keeps her memory alive in here.”

Martin nodded solemnly. If he were married to Ruth and lost her the way Abe had lost Alma, he didn’t know how he could go on living. No wonder Abe slept so much when he wasn’t working. It was probably the only way he could deal with his grief.

“Want my advice, Martin?” Abe asked as he stood.

“Jah, sure.”

“If you’re in love with Ruth, don’t let her get away. Don’t waste a single moment you have together.”

Martin’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you saying I shouldn’t wait to ask her to marry me?”

“That’s got to be your decision. But if it were me, I wouldn’t wait too long.” Abe lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug. “One never knows what the future holds. One never knows how much time they have left on this earth.”

“You’re right, Abe. Danki for the good advice. I’ll be thinking on what you said.”

A few seconds later, the shop door opened, and Ruth stuck her head inside. “I’m on my way to work, so I can’t stay,” she said, smiling at Martin. “But I wanted to say hello.”

“Glad you did. It’s always nice to see you.” Martin moved toward the door. “I had a good time with you at the pond last Saturday,” he whispered.

She nodded. “I enjoyed myself, too.”

“Maybe we can do it again sometime soon.”

“That’d be nice.” She glanced toward her horse and buggy, parked outside the harness shop. “Guess I’d better go.”

Martin fought the urge to hug her; he knew it wouldn’t be appropriate. Especially with Abe right behind him, no doubt watching and listening to their conversation. “See you soon, Ruth,” he said. “Have a good day.”

As Martin returned to his workbench, Abe shot him a knowing look.

Martin grabbed a hunk of leather and set right to work. Every time he saw Ruth, he fell deeper in love with her. How long would he have to wait until he felt free to ask her to marry him?

As Ruth headed down the road toward the Schrocks’ place, the pleasant scent of wildflowers growing in the woods wafted through the open buggy flap, and she drew in a deep, satisfying breath. She was glad she had been able to stop by the harness shop to see Martin.

Ruth’s thoughts turned to Esta. She’d been pleased to see how well the child was doing. From what she could tell, the puppy had adjusted to its new home. As time allowed, she hoped to continue her visits to the Wengerds’ to check on Abe’s children.

Ruth was about to turn into the Schrocks’ place when a black truck whizzed past, causing the horse to whinny and veer to the right. She hadn’t been able to get a good look at the driver, but she thought he was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses.

“Sure wish folks wouldn’t drive so fast,” she muttered.

A few minutes later, she spotted a horse and buggy up ahead. It didn’t take her long to realize it was Martha’s rig. Ruth followed as the horse and buggy turned to the right and headed up the Schrocks’ driveway past the sign reading S
CHROCKS’
H
OME
C
OOKING
.

“How’d your visit with Esta go?” Martha asked as she stepped up to Ruth moments later.

“It went fine.” Ruth squinted. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming to speak with Irene.”

“Changed my mind. Since my dog business isn’t doing too well
yet, I figured I could use some extra money.”

“I doubt Irene will need us both.”

“Then I guess she’ll have to choose between us.”

Ruth frowned. She didn’t think it would be fair to put Irene in that position, and Martha should have realized it, too. “Never mind. You can have the job.”

Martha shook her head. “I won’t work for Irene if you want to. I just figured since you already have a job—”

“You’re right. I don’t need two jobs. I’d much rather spend my free time with Martin—and of course little Esta, who still needs extra encouragement.”

“Speaking of which, is the pup doing okay?”

“Seems to be.”

“I’m glad.” Martha motioned to the Schrocks’ house. “Guess I’d better go see what Irene has to say about me helping her.”

Ruth gave Martha a hug. “See you this evening.”

“Jah. Have a good day.” Ruth climbed back in her buggy, feeling good about things. Martha would be earning some extra money, Esta was getting along well with Winkie, and Martin was definitely showing interest. This was the beginning of a very good day.

O
ne early summer morning, Grace entered the barn to look for Martha. She drew in a deep breath, enjoying the pleasant, prickly aroma of fresh hay as she leaned against one of the wooden beams. She felt the baby kick and placed one hand against her bulging stomach. “I wonder if you’re a
buwe
or a
maedel
.”

“Are you talking to yourself or me?”

Grace turned and saw Martha heading toward her. “I was talking to my boppli, wondering if it’s a boy or a girl.”

Martha grinned. “I think Anna’s hoping for a maedel.”

“Jah, and speaking of Anna, I was wondering if you could watch her so Mom and I can go to town to get some material for baby things.”

“What time will you be back?”

“Soon after lunch, I expect.”

Martha nodded. “That should be okay, since I don’t have to be at Irene’s until three o’clock.”

“I’d forgotten about your new job. Would you prefer that we take Anna with us?”

“I’m sure you’ll be back in plenty of time. Besides, I enjoy spending time with Anna. It’ll be better than being out here alone, fretting over my failing business.”

“Things aren’t going so well with your plans to raise dogs, are they?”

Martha shook her head and handed Grace a breeders magazine. “I was reading this and spotted an ad about trading dogs to strengthen the breeding lines. I might consider doing such a thing if I had some extra dogs to trade.”

“I’m sorry Flo still isn’t pregnant.”

“I may allow Heidi to get pregnant again soon,” Martha confided, “since she did so well with her first batch of puppies.”

“She did okay giving birth, but things went a bit sour after that.”

“You mean with the one puppy dying?”

“Jah.”

“That was too bad, especially since you had just said Anna could have the pup.”

“Hopefully nothing like that will happen again,” Grace said firmly.

“I’m sure everything will work out.”

Grace touched Martha’s arm. “I’d better head back to the house. As soon as Mom’s ready to leave for town, I’ll send Anna to the barn.”

Martha held up the magazine in her hand. “Thought I’d sit on a bale of straw and thumb through the rest of this. Then I need to get busy and clean out the kennels. Maybe Anna can help.”

Grace started for the door but turned back. “We’ll probably stop by the bakeshop and see Ruth while we’re in town. Is there anything special you’d like me to bring home as a thank-you for watching Anna?”

Martha shook her head. “No payment’s needed. But if you’re stopping at the bakeshop, I wouldn’t turn down a couple of lemon-filled doughnuts.”

Grace chuckled. “Consider it done.”

Martha had just started cleaning Heidi’s cage when Anna darted into the barn. “Mama said I get to spend the morning helping you!”

Martha smiled. “It’s a good thing, too, because there’s lots of work to be done. I’m in need of a big helper like you.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“All the cages need to be hosed out.”

Anna’s forehead wrinkled. “That’s a dirty, smelly job, and Mama wouldn’t like it if I got wet.”

“How about if I do the hosing? When I’m done, you can put clean straw in the dogs’ beds.”

“Okay.”

Martha motioned to a bale of straw. “If you’d like to have a seat
over there, we can visit while I work.”

“I hope Heidi has some more puppies soon. I liked playing with ’em,” Anna said as she flopped onto the straw.

“You can play with Esta’s puppy whenever you go over to the Wengerds’.”

Crack!
The window shattered, and a small canister crashed to the floor. Anna screamed, and a terrible odor permeated the barn.

Martha’s eyes began to water. She grabbed Anna’s hand and ushered her quickly out the door.

“How come the window broke? And what was that awful smell?” Anna asked, rubbing her eyes.

Martha glanced around the yard. No one was in sight. “I think it was a homemade stink bomb. We’d better let Cleon and your grandpa know about this right away.”

Cleon had just begun to sand a new chair when the door to Roman’s shop flew open. Martha and Anna rushed into the room.

“I think the attacks are beginning again! Someone just threw a stink bomb through one of the barn windows!” Martha panted.

Roman looked up from the hunk of wood he’d been sanding. “Are you sure about that?”

“Of course I’m sure. I heard the window break and saw the cylinder hit the floor, and Anna and I definitely smelled the putrid stench.”

Anna nodded vigorously. “It smelled like rotten eggs, and it made my eyes water.”

Cleon dropped the sandpaper he’d been using and rushed across the room. “Are you all right?”

“She’s fine. It just took us by surprise,” Martha replied before Anna could respond.

“Did you see anyone?” Roman asked, moving over to Martha.

Martha shook her head.

“It was probably some prankster. I heard some English kids have been fooling around the area again, doing all sorts of goofy things.”

“I don’t know. I think maybe. . .” Martha’s voice trailed off when she noticed Anna’s wide-eyed expression. “I’d better go back to the
barn and get things aired out.”