Runaway Amish Bride. Leigh Bale

it open more often than that. Everyone knows the hours and they come in to buy their bread, pies and cookies for the week. A number of us make baked goods to sell. We use the same recipes for consistency. Sarah usually sells everything by close of business on Saturday evening.”

      “Ah, I see.”

      “Abby, we’re ready to go,” Naomi called to her from the doorway, wiping her hands on her long apron.

      Ruby ran to her grandmother. Jakob stood just behind Naomi, speaking to Bishop Amos Yoder. He shifted his weight, seeming a bit nervous. He glanced at Abby, and she wondered what the two men were discussing. When Jakob nodded and turned away, she breathed in silent relief. No doubt he was eager to get their shopping done so he could return home to his work there.

      “Goodbye,” Abby said.

      Lizzie waved farewell, but she still didn’t smile.

      Abby joined Naomi and stepped outside into the morning sunshine.

      “I see you’ve met Lizzie,” Naomi said.

      “Ja, she was nice and friendly, but she seemed kind of sad.” Her gaze drifted to the doorway where Lizzie had stepped outside with her empty basket. The young woman looked up, shading her eyes against the sun.

      “That’s because she’s still missing Eli,” Naomi said.

      “Eli?”

      “Eli Stoltzfus, her fiancé. He left a couple of years ago... I lose track of time. They were supposed to get married, but he wanted to go to college. The night before they were to be baptized together, he abandoned our faith and joined the Englisch in Denver. He didn’t even have the common courtesy to say goodbye or write Lizzie a note. Nothing. He just left.”

      “Oh, how sad,” Abby said, understanding how that must have hurt his familye and Lizzie.

      “I understand from his mudder that he is doing very well in school,” Naomi continued. “He hasn’t even written to Lizzie. He broke her heart, and she hasn’t been the same since. Now, she won’t attend the singings or even think about getting married. I fear she’s lost her trust in men.”

      Abby felt a powerful rush of sympathy. She didn’t trust men either. Her heart had been broken, too, but for different reasons. Neither she nor Lizzie wanted to marry. Not after the painful betrayal they’d experienced at the hands of men they should have been able to trust.

      Looking up, Abby saw Jakob leaning against the buggy, his ankles crossed. With the warmth of the day, he’d rolled the long sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows and pushed the straw hat back on his head. She blinked, thinking him the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

      Ruby was already sitting quietly in the back of the buggy, a perpetual smile on her face.

      Beneath the brim of his hat, Jakob watched his mother and Abby. From his calm exterior, he appeared to be patiently waiting for them. But Abby sensed a nervous energy in him. No doubt he was eager to return home.

      “We better go. I don’t want to keep Jakob waiting any longer,” Naomi said.

      Abby agreed. She hurried past Naomi and climbed into the back of the buggy with Ruby. Ever considerate, Jakob reached to help her, but she pretended not to notice and quickly sat beside the little girl. Ruby leaned against her. Unable to resist the girl’s open affection, Abby lifted her arm around her slender shoulders and cuddled the child close to her side.

      Jakob helped his mother. Naomi gave him a sweet smile and patted his arm. When she sat back, Abby heard her breathing heavily, as though she couldn’t catch her breath. It had been a hectic morning. No doubt the woman needed a rest from her busy day.

      Jakob rounded the buggy to climb into the driver’s seat, then took the leads and clicked his tongue. As the horse moved into a quick trot down the street, Abby wished that things could be different somehow. But Jakob loved his wife. He didn’t want her. And longing for something that could never be would only bring more discontent to Abby’s heart.