Free Just Plain Sadie by Amy Lillard Page B

can’t make it is all.”
    â€œI understand.” She didn’t really, but what was she supposed to say? If they were such good friends, why couldn’t he confide in her what was going on in his life? Why did he just leave her hanging?
    She sighed. It seemed the more they tried to pull together, the more they ended up being pushed apart. She hated it. If they couldn’t survive in Wells Landing together, how could they ever make it through him going to Europe?
    * * *
    After she got home, Sadie made Daniel a snack and waited for his bus to arrive. He came in, all smiles and hugs as he usually was, a bright ray of sunshine in a gray January world. Sadie shook off those thoughts. She was letting things get to her, and she shouldn’t. Chris, Lorie leaving, all of it seemed to be building on her and weighing her down, making her wish things were different, when she knew better. She’d have to pray about that tonight, not trusting God to give her what she needed. But how could He know what she needed when she didn’t even know herself? She almost laughed out loud at her ridiculous thought. This was God she was talking about; He knew everything. The problem was could she recognize what she needed when God provided, if she didn’t know what it was now?
    Daniel swung his feet under the table as he ate his cheese and crackers. “It’s bowling night,” he said.
    Sadie smiled. He might not be able to recite the days of the week in order, but he knew Thursday was the night she and Chris went bowling. “Yes, it is. But I’m not going. Not tonight.” She had called Hannah before she left, leaving a message at the phone shanty just down from her house. There would only be the two couples there tonight at the lanes, seeing as how they hadn’t replaced Jonah and Lorie yet. But even two couples could have fun bowling.
    â€œWhy not?” Daniel’s head bobbed again as he continued to swing his legs.
    â€œI don’t have anybody to bowl with.”
    â€œEzra.” Bob, bob, bob.
    Her heart started to beat at the sound of his name. She unhitched her breath and looked at her brother. “Ezra?”
    Daniel nodded, and along with the kicking of his feet the action was almost dizzying. “You like him, jah? ”
    More than I should.
    â€œThen go bowling with him.”
    Daniel continued swinging his feet, eating his crackers, and otherwise looking around as if he hadn’t said anything momentous. She could ask Ezra. Why not? If he liked bowling, surely he would come. And then she wouldn’t have to miss. They could have a good time. And everyone would be happy. Right?
    Sadie smiled at Daniel. “That’s a good idea. I’ll go call him now.”
    * * *
    Ezra was pitching the alfalfa hay down from the hayloft when his phone started buzzing in his pocket. It went off periodically during the day, with most people leaving a voice mail message for him about meat that they wanted, special orders, and the other various products and services he had on his ranch. But something possessed him to look at the screen this time. He took off his leather work gloves, slapped them against one hip, then tucked them into the back pocket of his jeans. He fished out the phone and looked at the screen. It was a 918 number, but that wasn’t saying anything. Most of his customers were local. He hesitated a bit longer before deciding to answer the phone.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œEzra?”
    Sadie. “Yes?” He wasn’t sure why he acted like he didn’t recognize her voice. Despite the fact that they could only be friends, it wasn’t a good idea to let her know exactly how much he liked her.
    â€œThis is Sadie Kauffman. I wanted to thank you again for giving me and Daniel a tour of your ranch.”
    Surely that wasn’t why she had called. He hoped it wasn’t. She’d thanked him four or five times on Saturday. And it was really no big