Free Christmas at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard Page B

Amos. I love you.”
    â€œOh, Mattie,” he whispered as he grabbed her hands. “We’ll make a wonderful life together. You’ll see!”
    â€œWe will,” Mattie murmured with a decisive nod. She squeezed his fingers as she returned his gaze, a gesture that suggested she wanted to hold on to him forever.
    Sunlight shimmered on her dark hair and the breeze played with her long kapp strings. Mattie looked younger and happier than she had in years—even more beautiful than when he’d adored her as a young girl—and Amos knew he’d remember this special moment forever.

Chapter Six
    Sunday afternoon, Rosetta lingered in the kitchen after the noon meal’s dishes were done, hoping the phone would ring. Bishop Floyd had allowed her and her sisters and renters to keep the phone in the lodge kitchen because so many people shared it. Even so, it was silly to think Truman might return the message she’d left him only ten minutes earlier, because he often took his mother to afternoon activities at their Mennonite fellowship hall on Sundays. But the idea Rosetta wanted to discuss with him made her feel as bubbly as a bottle of soda somebody had shaken.
    Mattie was getting married!
    Rosetta still felt giddy after hearing the news. Mattie had come home from her picnic and announced that she and Amos planned to marry on the twenty-first—not even two weeks from today! Mattie’s face had been aglow as she’d entered the lodge, and Amos had worn a smile that suggested the two of them had talked about many important issues, and perhaps had done a little smooching, as well. Rosetta thought it was wonderful that the two of them had rekindled the love they’d shared years ago. If anyone deserved a happy life with a steadfast, affectionate man, it was Mattie.
    Rosetta reached for the folder of recipes she’d torn from The Budget and had jotted on odd scraps of paper. If she looked for something new to bake, at least she’d have a feasible reason to be in the kitchen—besides waiting for Truman to call. The Kuhn sisters were napping. Mattie had gone upstairs to share her news with Christine, Laura, and Phoebe. Preacher Marlin and his family were taking a walk around the Promise Lodge property to enjoy the fine fall weather, and all the Lehmans were spending the day at the bishop’s new house. As winter approached and the ground got covered with snow, Rosetta suspected the lodge building wouldn’t be as busy, because most folks would be eating meals and spending their evenings in their homes.
    With Mattie moving to Amos’s place, Rosetta was glad she’d have Ruby and Beulah for company this winter. She was a bit disappointed that more unattached Plain ladies hadn’t written to say they’d move to—
    The ring of the phone made Rosetta jump. She laughed as her recipes fluttered to the floor with the swish of her skirt. “ Jah , hello?” she said as she grabbed the phone. “Promise Lodge Apartments. This is Rosetta speaking.”
    A chuckle tickled her ear. “ Jah , dearie, I’m old and alone and I’d like to rent a room at your place,” the caller said. Her voice had an odd timbre to it, as though this lady might’ve suffered some damage to her vocal chords.
    â€œYou’re in luck,” Rosetta said. Maybe her prayer for more tenants was about to be answered! “We still have several rooms with nice views. We can convert them into apartments or—”
    â€œI’ll be right over to check them out,” Truman said in his normal voice. “But I suppose I’d have to wear a dress to live there, wouldn’t I?”
    Rosetta laughed at herself for not checking the caller ID number on the phone’s screen—and then laughed at her mental image of the muscular landscaping designer in a cape dress and kapp . “ That would give the bishop something to talk about!”
    â€œBut I doubt