Free A Hope Springs Christmas by Patricia Davids Page B

aunt, slicing loaves of homemade bread into thick slices. “ Aenti Emma, I have need of your assistance.”
    “Anything, child. What can I do for you?”
    “I need some help with matchmaking.”
    Emma looked up with a wide grin. “Has some fine man finally caught your eye?”
    “ Nee, it is not a match for myself. I have a friend who needs a wife. How do I go about getting him to spend time with a possible mate?”
    Emma scrutinized Sarah’s face. “Is this someone I know?”
    “I would rather not say.”
    “Now I’m intrigued,” Emma said, reaching for a second loaf to begin slicing.
    “I don’t want either party to feel they are being pressured into a relationship.”
    “In that case, you must find something they have in common or give them each a task that requires the help of the other person.”
    Sarah looked over and saw Fannie Nissley enter the room. “Aunt, do you know if Fannie is seeing someone?”
    Emma looked around to see who might be listening and then leaned closer. “She and Elijah Miller have been keeping company all summer. I expect her father will make an announcement soon.”
    Sarah crossed Fannie off her list. Just then, Sally Yoder approached the table and put down a box.
    Sally said, “I’ve made a dozen peach pies. Here is the first half if you’d like to slice them. I’ll bring in the rest.”
    Peach pie was Levi’s favorite. It was like a sign from the Almighty. Sarah laid her knife aside and said quickly, “Sally, let me give you a hand.”

Chapter Six
    L evi stood near a group of men all about his own age. The majority of them wore beards indicating their married status. The recently harsh weather and the price of hay and grain dominated the conversation. Levi didn’t farm, and the price of feed meant little other than it would cost more to keep his horses over the winter.
    Like many of the Amish who no longer lived on the farm, he kept two buggy horses in a small stable behind his house. Soon, the twins would start asking for courting buggies and high-stepping trotters. He wouldn’t begrudge them the cost even though the money would come out of his bank account. Money he’d worked hard to save so that he might one day buy his own shop in far away Colorado.
    He had always assumed his family members would be content to move with him, but now he wasn’t so sure. Was Grace really ready to marry? If the boys started courting, would they want to leave Hope Springs?
    He was surprised out of his musings when Sarah spoke beside him. “Levi, will you help us carry in some of the food?”
    Sally Yoder stood slightly behind Sarah. He didn’t mind leaving the men, for he was rarely more than an onlooker in the group. He nodded and followed them toward the buggies lined up along the lane.
    At the fourth one, Sally stopped and opened the back door. He accepted a large cardboard box from her. She picked up a smaller one.
    “Be careful with that, Levi,” Sarah cautioned. “It’s full of peach pies that Sally baked herself. Peach is Levi’s favorite kind of pie. Did you know that, Sally?”
    “I didn’t.” Sally gave her a puzzled glance.
    Sarah smiled. “You two go back to the house. I’ll be along in a moment.”
    When they were out of earshot, Sally said, “I could’ve managed on my own, Levi. I don’t know why Sarah thought I needed help.”
    “I don’t mind,” he mumbled.
    “Danki.” She blushed as she glanced at him.
    She was a pretty girl with bright red hair, fair skin and a dusting of freckles across her nose. She was about the same age as Grace, but he didn’t know her well. He couldn’t think of anything to say. He was glad to be doing something useful, but the box wasn’t heavy. Sally was right. She could’ve carried it easily.
    He glanced over his shoulder. Sarah was still standing by the buggy with a satisfied grin on her face. When she saw him looking, her grin vanished. She immediately started walking toward the barn. He couldn’t shake the feeling