Eliza did not object again, but the closer they got to her great-aunt’s, the more nervous she felt, lest she be seen with an Old Order fellow. My parents would have my hide, she thought. Though she couldn’t deny there was something charming about nightfall while with such a handsome young man.

When they reached the end of Joanna’s pebbled walkway, Eb waited as Eliza headed around to the back door.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw him still there, and a little shiver ran up her spine. He likes me too much. . . .

Chapter 24

Anna awoke late into the night. Sighing, she mentally pictured the corner writing desk and the long letter she’d written to Mamm before saying her prayers. In it, she’d mentioned Martin Nolt, in case Wanita had said something to Mamma about Anna’s seeing him twice now with his friends.

No official dates yet, but he winked at me today, Anna thought again, smiling at the memory.

She stretched beneath the sheet and yawned. Then, closing her eyes, she realized that Atley Brenneman had not come to her mind even once since she’d started spending time with Mart.

That has to mean something, she thought as she drifted back to sleep.

The next morning, Sadie turned over in bed and reflected on the proverb Glen had read during their Bible reading last evening. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

Sadie smiled, thankful now that her husband cared enough to caution her as he had. Glen was right, she thought. Others in the family need my time and attention, too. Not just Anna.

———

The cloud cover that hung around all day yesterday had moved out of the area overnight. Presently, the vivid red of the sunrise reminded Anna of the glory she felt at the dawning of each Lord’s Day, and she quickly dressed to go walking in the woods. There, alone with God and His creation, she could pray aloud and feel ever so close to her Savior.

When she came to the tree house, she walked up the steps to the first level, then on to the second, gazing out at the beauty in every direction as she breathed in the fresh scent of a new day.

After her walk, she returned to the house and dressed in preparation for worship at her church, renewed from a good night of sleep, the nature walk, and prayer.

As she arrived at the meetinghouse later that morning, she was met by Heidi Denlinger in the church foyer, who again invited her to sit with her and Eleanor. After visiting quietly about the week, Heidi whispered that Lester had inquired if Anna was seeing anyone. “I told him I didn’t know,” Heidi added with a quick smile.