A Home for Lydia (The Pebble Creek Amish Series) by Vannetta Chapman Page A

allowing a visitor to better see what still needed to be done.
    But as she climbed down from the buggy, her eyes were seeing something else as well, and her fingers were tapping against her book bag.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to come inside for a bite to eat? You’re bound to be hungry.” Miriam reached out to pull back the strings of Grace’s prayer kapp . It was something Grace had seen mothers do for their daughters a hundred times, but she hadn’t thought anyone would ever do it for her.
    She smiled at Miriam, shook her head, and then she threw her arms around her waist and gave her a tight hug.
    “All right, then. Danki for that.”
    “I’m going to draw at the river.” Grace turned and began to run down toward the bank.
    “Be careful,” Miriam called.
    “I will!”
    She heard her father talking to the other men, and Miriam had been right—her stomach was growling even now. But her hunger pains would wait. The sun was slanting through the trees just so, splashing on top of the water as it sloshed and splattered past the cabins. Another hour and she’d miss what was left of the morning shadows.
    Sitting with her back against a red cedar tree, she pulled out her pad and pencil, and she began to draw.
    Directly in front of her was the water, and to the right was the corner of one of the cabins. Chokeberry covered the cabin’s side, and though someone had cut much of it down, bluebirds were searching among the branches for early fruit. She knew they wouldn’t find any, but perhaps there was something else they could eat there. She’d have to ask Miss Bena. Although the woman was severe, she knew more about birds than anyone else Grace had ever met.
    A fish splashed in the river at the exact same moment a red-tailed hawk dove, just barely missing the fish.
    Grace paused, thinking of the circle of life, of how the fish had narrowly escaped and how the hawk would continue searching or go hungry.
    She bent back over her tablet and continued to sketch.

Chapter 12
    A aron met the stares of the group of folks sitting around the table in the cabin’s office. His onkel Ervin had set the room up to resemble a comfortable Amish kitchen and sitting room—a real Amish home. In other words, it looked nothing like Amish Anthem.
    He stared down at his notes and cleared his throat.
    It didn’t help that he’d known these people only two days. Or maybe it did.
    They had no expectations of him. So what if his plan didn’t work? He’d pack up Elizabeth and children, put them on the bus to Indiana, and take them back home.
    His arm brushed against Beth’s picture, still in his pants pocket, still weighing on his mind. The young girl would probably prefer to stay here, as Elizabeth most likely would. If he could help them to do so, it would be better for everyone. Of that he’d convinced himself last night.
    Lydia waited impatiently, watching him.
    Miriam held her baby as she sat next to Gabe, who was reaching for a second piece of cake. David seemed in no hurry. The man appeared to have one speed—measured and deliberate. Seth hadn’t shown up this morning, but Aaron would need him as well.
    “I know you’re wondering why I asked you to go to town with me today.”
    “Seemed to be a waste of time,” Lydia muttered.
    Instead of ignoring her comment and her bad attitude, Aaron turned toward her and forced his voice to be calm and reasonable. He would need Lydia on his side most of all. He couldn’t run the cabins without her, though he would rather. The last thing he wanted was a front desk attendant with a sullen manner.
    She hadn’t been rude to the guests last night, though. He’d watched her as she’d tried to convince them to stay. Lydia was good with Englischers .
    No, the problem and the cause for her bad attitude lay elsewhere.
    “Why did it seem to be a waste of time?”
    Lydia looked surprised that he’d asked her and all but speechless that he was waiting for an answer. They had worked so hard