Free Finding the Way (The Amish Millers Get Married Book 5) by Ruth Hartzler

Benjamin was a goody goody Amish man,
whereas he was, well, a little on the wild side.
    Nash sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Gott that Jessie had not seen him talking to the man about
the horse. Nash did not have the money to buy a buggy horse, let
alone a buggy, yet, as he had to sell his car and pay his gambling
debts first, but he wanted to make himself known to the horse
dealers. And to think that he had nearly been caught looking at the
horse by the self-righteous Benjamin Shetler. Oh well, there was no
way that Benjamin would figure out he was talking to a dealer about
his intention to buy a buggy horse later on, let alone returning to
the community.
    * * *
    Jessie walked away with Nash, speaking to the
kitten which she was holding close to her. She was pleased that she
finally had found a replacement for her much loved cat, Calico. She
was also pleased to see that Nash was so caring over the kitten. He’ll make a gut husband , she thought. He’ll be gut to
the kinner. I’ll just have to straighten him out first .
     

 
    Isaiah 40:31.
    But they who wait for the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
     
    Chapter
16
    Sarah and Benjamin continued on their way,
taking care not to step in the worst of the mud. “I suspect those
two might be courting,” Sarah said, expecting Benjamin to
disagree.
    “I think you might be right,” he said with a
chuckle. “I also think that Nash is in the market for a buggy
horse.”
    “ Nee ! Really?” Sarah tugged on her
prayer kapp . “That means that he’s going to come back to the
community.”
    Benjamin laughed. “ Jah , and perhaps he
wants to take a certain young lady on a buggy ride.”
    With that, the atmosphere at once turned from
jovial and companionable to tense and drawn. Sarah was at once
upset again that Benjamin had never asked her on a buggy ride, and
after stealing a glance at Benjamin, she could see he was
self-conscious too. Her happiness had fled, leaving a gloomy black
cloud of disquiet in its place.
    Still, the mud sale was not a place where one
could remain miserable for long. “Goodness me,” Sarah said,
pointing to a strange creature standing beside a tall Englischer .
    “That’s an alpaca.”
    Sarah was intrigued. “What do they do?”
    “They have fleece, like sheep, only they’re
way more expensive. Don’t go too close,” Benjamin warned. “Some of
them spit, although that one looks friendly enough.”
    Sarah hung back, admiring the animal, and
then stepped aside as two cute ponies were led past, their golden
bodies contrasting with their long, white manes and tails.
    “Oh they’re so cute,” Sarah gushed.
    Benjamin chuckled. “A little too short for
you to ride.”
    “They’d be gut for kinner .”
Sarah rolled her eyes at her own stupidity, as soon as she said the
words. How could I be so thoughtless , she thought, saying
that so soon after Benjamin mentioned the buggy ride . She stole
a glance at Benjamin and saw that he too was most uncomfortable, to
the extent of wringing his hands.
    “At least it’s warm today,” Benjamin said,
interrupting the silence. “I went to a mud sale earlier in spring
and I froze.”
    Sarah agreed, and they walked off again. The
noise was overwhelming, and it seemed that every large tent had an
auctioneer making a sound that to Sarah seemed like yodeling. In
one tent there were Amish quilts of every type and size, and Sarah
made a mental note to return there later with Mrs. Miller. Another
tent was full of antiques, and the bidding was spirited. Yet
another tent had all kinds of furniture, dressers, tables, and
chairs, and the area outside the tents was just as crowded. One
tent was filled with all types of well groomed buggy horses, along
with mules, and even adorable, little ponies. Everywhere Sarah
looked, she could see lumber, plants, field sprayers, pressure
washers, lawn tractors,