Free Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) by Rebecca Kertz Page B

other again in Lancaster County at the home of William and Josie Mast, Sarah’s cousins, who were the Lapps’ neighbors and friends. But Sarah’s mother’s health had been an obstacle to their future happiness until Ruth Mast had made a full recovery after heart surgery. Daniel and Ruth Mast had encouraged their daughter Sarah to follow her heart and begin a life with Jedidiah in Happiness.
    Seeing his brothers happy with their chosen wives made Eli long for a love like theirs and a family of his own.
    “The windows along the back are the worst,” Dat said, interrupting Eli’s thoughts. “We’ll start with those.”
    Jedidiah frowned. “Why do any windows need to be replaced? Didn’t Ike just buy the place?”
    “Five years ago. The windows were installed before Ike bought the farm,” Dat explained. “He left them in although the weather had taken a toll on them long before he purchased the property. And he didn’t paint them, which made matters worse.”
    Jed examined a lower-level window with peeling trim. “These are going to take some work.”
    Eli, who followed with Isaac, answered, “ Ja, but we’ll get it done.” What had Ike been thinking to ignore needed repairs to the house yet buy new farm equipment?
    “Eli, why don’t you let Martha know that we’re here?” Dat said. “Isaac, Jed, grab the lumber Eli unloaded.”
    “Ja, Dat,” Isaac said as he moved to obey with Jed lending a hand.
    Eli knocked softly on Martha’s back door. It was early, and he hoped that she was awake. Most women in his Amish community were up at dawn or before, but Martha was a widow who lived alone. Her work and sleep schedule might be different.
    When she didn’t appear after several moments, he knocked a little louder. This time the door opened immediately. Drying her hands on a kitchen towel, Martha appeared unsurprised to see him. “Eli,” she greeted him. “Ready for work?”
    “ Ja , we’ll be at the back of the house this morning.” He studied her, noting how her blue dress complemented her dark hair and brown eyes.
    Martha flipped the towel over her left shoulder. “The windows?” He nodded. “Gut.”
    They gazed at each other for several seconds until Martha seemed suddenly eager to do her chores.
    “Try not to worry,” he found himself saying as he backed up to go.
    Her lips curved. “I’m not worried. I know I hired the right crew.”
    Eli returned her smile. “We’ll try not to make too much noise.”
    “You’ll have to use a hammer, ja ? Make whatever noise you need to get the job done.”
    “As if we can help it,” he teased. He left with the mental image of her bright brown gaze and warm smile. His father and brothers were discussing where to start when he rejoined them. “Martha knows we’re here.”
    “Gut.” His dat eyed the back of the house. “Jedidiah, let’s start with the second-story windows.”
    “Ja, Dat.” Jedidiah put the ladder against the house, then tested to see if it would hold.
    “The windows are scheduled for first delivery.” He pulled a pencil from behind his ear and jotted notes onto a clipboard. “They should be here at any time. Isaac, I’d like you to scrape the paint peeling off the window trim. Start with those on the back side.”
    Isaac grabbed a paint scraper and went to work. Eli figured that he’d be sanding that same trim.
    The truck from the local lumber company arrived with the ordered windows. The loud beep beep of the delivery truck as it backed into the barnyard drew Martha to the back door to learn the cause of the commotion. When she saw the truck’s company logo, she went back inside and closed the door.
    Eli signed for the window and gave the delivery slip to his father. He then grabbed sandpaper and joined Isaac at the opposite side of the house from the dirt drive.
    “I don’t understand,” Isaac said. “Wasn’t the house finished a couple of years ago?”
    “ Ja , Ike must have been short on funds that he didn’t