Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) by Rebecca Kertz Page A

only late if I think it is, and I don’t,” he said. He paused, his expression changing. “Maybe it is time for me to go.” He seemed to watch her closely as if he’d hoped she’d encourage him to stay. She didn’t. “I’ll put the paint and tools into the barn.”
    “Put them wherever you’d like.” She turned, eager to get some distance between her and this man who was having a strange effect on her. She left him for her garden to finish planting her tomato and pepper plants. Eli stayed in her thoughts as she continued to plant her seedlings. Later, after she’d realized that he must have left, she relaxed. She didn’t expect him to say goodbye. He had already told her that he was leaving.
    Suddenly he was there at the edge of her vegetable garden, making her gasp at his unexpected presence. The man hadn’t gone after all.
    “Martha.”
    She stood, her heart thundering in her chest. “Ja?”
    “Do you need help?”
    “Gardening?”
    He nodded. “I have some time before I have to be home for supper.”
    “That’s kind of you, Eli, but I’m finished for the day.” The last thing she needed was to spend more time with Eli Lapp.
    He reviewed her day’s handiwork. “You should water them.”
    She looked at him, slightly annoyed. “I plan to.” Was it all men who gave instructions without being asked?
    “I’ll help you. Do you have a watering can?” He grinned, and she realized that he’d cornered her into reluctantly accepting his help.
    “I use a bucket.”
    He looked about as if searching for it. “Where is it?”
    “In the barn.” She gazed at him, surprised by him, not for the first time. There were many facets to Elijah Lapp.
    Eli headed toward the barn and was back within moments, having found the bucket easily. He filled it at the outside water pump. Then he carried it to her garden and gently poured a generous amount of water over each seedling and plant.
    Martha quickly went into the house for an iced tea pitcher and filled it with water at the kitchen sink.
    Despite her hope that he would go, Eli stayed, and they watered plants together, he using the bucket, she the pitcher, refilling their containers at the pump, until every seeding was thoroughly watered with a good chance for survival.
    When they were done, Eli silently returned her bucket to the barn. She set the pitcher on the steps and then waited. After his help, it was the least she could do. After he came back, they walked together toward his buggy without a word.
    “That was kind of you to help with my plants,” she finally said. He didn’t answer her at first, and she wondered what he was thinking.
    “’Tis easy to be kind to you, Martha,” he said quietly. Before she had a chance to react, he climbed into his vehicle and waved. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
    She watched him leave with a flutter in her chest and warmth in her heart. The man was too easy to like. She couldn’t help that she did.
    Friends, he’d said. I will enjoy his friendship and that is all.
    She didn’t want to think about how she’d feel one day years from now when Eli decided to court and marry one of those young girls who gravitated toward him at Sunday and church gatherings. Martha frowned. She didn’t want to think about any of that now or anytime soon.

Chapter Ten
    T he roar of an engine followed by several rapid loud beeps woke Martha. Startled, she sprang out of bed and ran to the window on the driveway side of the house. To her shock, another large delivery truck was backing into position directly below the window. It was light outside but just barely. Had she overslept?
    Windows , she thought. It was a delivery of the last windows that Samuel had ordered. She couldn’t go down to sign for them. She wasn’t dressed!
    Panic set in as Martha debated what to do until she saw Samuel and Eli talking with the deliverymen as they unloaded the windows onto the back lawn. She watched through a crack in the white window curtains.