Free Snowfall by Shelley Shepard Gray Page A

be this cold, we might as well have snow,” Martin’s partner, Floyd Miller, commented as they pruned another group of trees and loaded the boughs into the back of a cart.
    Martin, Floyd, and a couple of their part-time workers would then spend the next couple of hours fashioning the limbs into wreaths and garlands.
    That was an easy job, and a warm one, too, considering Martin took care to make sure they had gas-powered heaters in the metal building.
    But that seemed like a long time away, considering he and Floyd were at the top of the hill and feeling each gust of wind with every inch of their bodies.
    â€œYou have a point, but the snow would make things harder.”
    â€œIf we had snow, we’d have sleds.”
    â€œAnd shoveling.”
    â€œSales would be up. Snow puts people in the Christmas spirit.”
    Martin chuckled. “You have a point there. But the sales have stayed steady this year. We need to be happy with what we have.”
    As Floyd carefully trimmed another pair of branches, then tossed them into the wagon, he eyed Martin. “What’s going on with you?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNo, you’re different. You’re usually the one who is complaining or fretting.”
    â€œMaybe I didn’t want to be that person today.”
    â€œBecause?”
    â€œBecause of nothing.”
    â€œHmm.” Floyd cut another branch, inspected it, then added it to the pile. “How’s your new babysitter working out?”
    Against his will, Martin started. “Don’t know. It’s only her second day.”
    â€œBut what do the kinner say? And don’t say nothing because everyone knows that your children have something to say about most everything.”
    Martin weighed his response, then wondered why he even tried. “So far, they seem to like her.”
    â€œWho is it? Anyone I know?”
    â€œIt’s Ruth Stutzman. Do you know her?”
    Floyd’s eyes widened. “You’ve got Ruth over there?”
    â€œI guess you do know Ruth. So, um, what do you know about her?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNo, your reaction wasn’t nothing. What do you know about her?”
    â€œI know that she grew up outside of Charm.”
    â€œOh. I knew that, too.” He was curiously disappointed. Not that he wanted Floyd to pass on any dark secrets or anything, but he would have appreciated learning something new about her.
    Floyd tossed another handful of branches into the wagon. “Almost full.”
    â€œYep. We’ll be ready to take this into the barn after we trim another five to ten trees.”
    â€œDid you know Ruth is an orphan?”
    He stilled. “Not at all. Did she live in an orphanage or something?” Actually, he wasn’t even sure if he’d ever heard of an Amish orphanage.
    â€œShe was passed from relative to relative. She usually stayed for no more than a year at a time.”
    â€œHow do you know about this?”
    â€œI’m courting Kristy who is gut friends with Ruth. Strange, though. I could have sworn Kristy said that Ruth had taken a job over at Daybreak with her.”
    â€œShe had.”
    â€œSo why is she watching your kinner now?”
    â€œFrom what I understand, Daybreak had to lay a couple of people off. Since she was the last hired, she was the first to go.”
    â€œTough.”
    â€œUh-huh. Plus, after Lovina didn’t exactly work out, I think she felt like she needed to find me someone. So I think she convinced Ruth to take the job.”
    Floyd backed up a step and pretended to shiver. “Say no more. I’ve lived my life hoping Lovina won’t ever know who I am.”
    â€œShe’s not that bad.”
    â€œYes, she is.” He grinned. “Even Roman says so.”
    â€œReally? Roman is her grandson.”
    â€œHe would know.” Floyd walked to the next tree, eyed it carefully, then set to pruning. “Is Ruth planning to watch