Free The Amish Doll: Amish Knitting Novel (Bonus Knitting Pattern Included) by Karen Anna Vogel Page A

another woman before they were married and he blamed Eb for his sin. She didn’t think such a confession would hurt so much, but it did; she closed her eyes and prayed for strength. “I forgive, Rueben, and I’m not vain, but was she pretty?”
    “She was an Indian. From what I recall, yes, she was pretty, but I barely remember her. It meant nothing to me. We were all young and foolish.”
    She heard the sound of a car pulling in the driveway. Rueben got up and looked outside. “It’s Raven’s car and Joshua’s getting out.”
     
     

Chapter 7

    Joshua sipped his morning coffee and thought of Raven. How tenderly she cared for Eb while they waited for hours in the emergency room. She wanted to take care of him, too, insisting he stay at Appleton in a spare room. Jim and Marilyn were wise to protest, since the boys could all get sick.
    So, she was at Eb’s right now, sleeping on his couch. She’d go to work and check on him throughout the day. Raven even gave him her old cell phone and charged it in her car every time she visited. From what she’d said, she knew what it was like to be left alone and afraid when a little girl. Her aunt never kept the promise her dying mother asked her to keep. To care for Raven.
    He’d promised his mamm many things, if she should go on to eternity, and couldn’t imagine breaking his promises.
    Raven’s heart was pure gold, but who loved her like a woman needed to be loved? She’d mentioned she had no feelings for her old boyfriend in Florida. It felt too natural for him to want to take her in his arms and he barely knew her. He’d known Lottie since they were kinner but he still felt like there was a barrier between them.
    Joshua heard a buggy pull in. It was Bishop Byler. Such a nice man to always be checking on his mamm . He greeted him at the door, and soon knew this was a serious matter.
    “Joshua, I need to have words with you, in private.”
    “ Daed’s in the barn and mamm’s asleep. Sit down.” He grabbed the blue speckled coffee pot and filled a cup, placing it in front of the bishop, and then sat across from him. “What’s the matter?”
    Bishop Byler cleared his throat loudly. “You know Eb’s a shunned man, yet you’re seen over at his house. Why?”
    Joshua grimaced.  Lottie and her mamm saw him over at Eb’s yesterday. It was clear they reported it. “ Jah , I know he’s shunned. He was sick. We took him to the hospital.”
    “Oh,” the bishop stroked his long salt and pepper beard. “Well, you had that right. We don’t withhold the hand of fellowship to anyone in true need.” He took a swig of coffee. “So you only go over to Eb’s for emergencies then?”
    “Well, I shovel his sidewalk sometimes.”
    “Eb’s not too elderly to do that. He’s only in his fifties. Why would you do that?”
    Joshua didn’t have a good reason to help Eb.  He had to admit what was inside. “I miss him.”
    “We all miss him and pray he returns. I pray this with all my might. Until then, no contact unless an emergency. He needs to feel the sting of being away from the flock.”
    Joshua shifted on the oak bench.
    ~*~
    Light jolted Raven as she tried to open her eyes. She climbed out of bed, and with eyes shut, she made her way over to the window blind and pulled it down. One down, two more to go , she thought as she stumbled around the room. Her feet felt like lead and her head throbbed.  When she got all three blinds down she slowly opened her eyes. The pain was still there but not as sharp. Exhausted, she fell back into bed and thought of Eb. She must have caught what he had. Maybe Joshua did, too.
    Raven reached for her cell phone and called the house phone and soon heard Marilyn’s voice. “I’m sick. Joshua was exposed. Can you make sure he knows? A flu could kill Susanna.” Marilyn said she’d take care of everything.
    She laid her head on her pillow, thinking of Eb. Who would check on him now? She reached for her phone again.
    “Lawrence,