I should ask someday, Britta mused, but she felt shy about bringing up a past she knew nothing about.

CHAPTER
3

Susie relished the sunshine and the pleasant day and even caught herself laughing at times while walking with Del Petersheim at the farm auction. Earlier, she had seen Britta and Hazel near the food stand, though it had been a while since. She couldn’t help but notice Britta’s surprised look when she’d spotted Del with her.

I should’ve told her ahead of time, Susie thought, despite not being one to talk much about the fellows she’d casually dated through the years. Only Obie Yoder was privy to who she’d gone out with, because of course he’d seen her leave Singings with other young men from time to time, although not recently. She actually wondered now if Obie had noticed the way she’d backed away from other fellows, hoping to give him a chance. Likely not.

“What’re ya interested in bidding on?” Del asked, drawing Susie’s attention back to him. He’d been scrutinizing the driving horses and field mules up for sale and had just finished admiring a large hay rake and plow. “You’ve been so patient while I look around.”

“Well, I’d like to poke around in the house, if ya don’t mind,” she replied, motioning in the direction of the old farmhouse.

“Need some extra kitchen gadgets?” Del asked as he quickened his pace with her.

“Without ’em, there’d be no delicious meals . . . or baked goods,” she teased.

He chuckled. “From what I’ve heard, you know your way round the kitchen.”

She was curious where he could have heard that, then remembered Allen had sometimes hired Del. Could it be Allen and Sarah had put in a good word for her?

Have they been playing matchmaker? she wondered, waving to two of her cousins, Laura Ann and Miriam Mast, as they came down the back steps.

On the way inside, Susie asked Del if he’d ever tried his hand at cooking.

Del chuckled. “Should I count the one and only burnt omelet?”

She smiled. “My Dat used to make chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. And plain ones, sometimes, for supper, too, with chicken and gravy. I don’t know where he learned how,” she said while navigating her way through the crowded kitchen.

“One of my uncles likes to help his wife with the cooking, ’specially during the winter months when the field work’s done,” Del said, following her. “He tinkers around in the kitchen, even makes noodles from scratch.”

“His wife must be real happy ’bout that,” Susie said, spotting a bin of small kitchen tools in the corner.

“Lookin’ for anything specific?”

“Jah. Bulk packages of cheesecloth would be nice, and Mamma could use another carrot grater.”

“Yous still makin’ goat cheese to sell?” Del asked, standing near.