Page 5 of The Christmas House

A brief downpour did not keep folks from traveling to the two Amish weddings a short distance apart. The many gray buggies parked at the brides’ parents’ homes left the roads all but vacant by nine o’clock.

Since Liz didn’t offer buggy rides on Thursdays, she was available to run errands this morning for Mamm, and today Martha Rose had asked to ride along, once her usual egg customers had stopped by.

The sky was clearing now, the kind of November day that gave hope that winter might be milder this year or, wishful thinking, not come at all.

Liz took their older horse, Charlie, to the general store, where she and Martha shopped for a few items Mamm had requested, as well as coconut oil and corn syrup to make a big batch of peppermint taffy.

The colorful taffy was one of the many goodies their mother liked to have on hand for the grandchildren at Christmas, though everyone loved Mamm’s special recipe.

Even though it would have been easier to just purchase taffy tomorrow at the Friday market in Bird-in-Hand, they kept on with the tradition of making it from scratch, not wanting to miss out on the fun of pulling taffy at home, their hands all slathered with butter.

After the grocery items were stored in the back of the buggy, Liz and Martha headed over to their deacon’s house to drop off three knotted comforters Mamm had made to donate to the Christian Aid Ministries.

The deacon would then hire a van driver to take the comforters and other donations to Ephrata, where they would later be shipped to the clothing center in Shipshewana, Indiana.

As they rode, Liz offered a silent prayer for each recipient who would be made warm because of Mamm’s generosity. Once the donations were dropped off, Liz and Martha returned to the horse and carriage, the weather still unseasonably pleasant for November.

“Anything else you’d like to do?” Liz asked her sister as they opened the buggy doors and climbed in.

“Could we drop by Ella Mae’s to say hullo, and then go to the library?” Martha closed the carriage door on her side. “I need somethin’ new to read.”

Liz agreed. “Wouldn’t think of denying the bookworm in our house.” She grinned as she reached for the driving lines.

“Well, you could read more, too, but you take people on buggy rides instead,” Martha replied, smiling at her. “Ya don’t exactly have much leisure time, do ya?”

“I like to keep busy, ya know.”

They rode a ways in silence, Martha looking out the windshield on her side until she turned to Liz, breaking the quiet. “I forgot to ask how things went with the new guy along on your buggy rides the last two days.”

“Better than expected.”

“That’s gut. ” Martha folded her arms. “I’m perty sure Dat wanted to pair ya up with him while Adam’s in Somerset. Maybe just an excuse to do a little matchmakin’.” She gave a little chuckle. “Who knew Dat had it in him?”

Liz recalled what Dat had said about Matt not being spoken for. “You won’t believe it, but Matt groomed King after every two tours—once after the mornin’ ones and then again midafternoon.”

“Goodness.”

Liz nodded. “I told him that Adam only did that first thing in the mornin’ and then at the end of the day after we returned home. Between tours, there’s really not a lot of time for horse grooming.”

Martha was quiet for a moment. “Maybe Matt’s tryin’ to go the extra mile so he can keep workin’ with ya even after Adam returns.”

“Oh, he can make more money being a handyman. Besides, the understanding with Dat was that he’s just fillin’ in during Adam’s absence.”

“Hmm,” Martha murmured, then gave her a teasing grin. “If ya say so.”

Liz glanced at her sister, wondering why she seemed so certain about the motivations of a young man she’d never met.

Ella Mae greeted them at the back door with her usual sweet smile on her deeply lined face and invited them inside.

“I have some fresh tea a-brewin’.” There was that familiar sparkle in her big blue eyes, like she was expecting them.

Liz found this very appealing, even curious.

No matter when she’d come to visit, Ella Mae always made her feel welcomed.

Liz and Martha took their places on one side of the small square table near the kitchen window. The sunlight poured in, warming them, and the house filled with the lovely scent of honey-sweetened peppermint tea.

“It’s your day off, Liz, ain’t so?” Ella Mae said, bringing a floral teapot over and setting it down.

Liz smiled at this. “You remembered.”

“Ain’t much I miss, dearie.”

Martha exchanged a glance with her sister. “Let me help ya with the cups and saucers.” She scooted her chair back.

Liz doubted Ella Mae would comply, but she did, going over to the cupboard with Martha.

“See the matching floral ones up there?” Ella Mae pointed to the second shelf of her cupboard.

Martha nodded and took them down carefully.

Once they were seated, Ella Mae prayed aloud as she was known to do for even tea and cookies.

She wasn’t shy about it and let visiting folks know that it was important to be grateful for the little things, too.

When it came to matters of faith and the heart, the elderly woman was always plainspoken, and Liz found it refreshing.

One of a kind!

Ella Mae poured tea into their cups. “I’ve been thinkin’ it’s ’bout time for us to talk, Liz, since I s’pose you’re doin’ those Christmas House Buggy Tours again this year.”

“ Jah ,” Liz replied, suspecting what was coming. The woman had a heart of gold.

“ Des gut , then. Bring your riders by again at the end of that late-afternoon tour for hot cocoa and cookies.”

Liz paused, wanting to be considerate of Ella Mae’s health and time when the woman moved more slowly every year. “I realize it’s extra work, so just know I’m not askin’.”

Ella Mae chuckled lightly. “Well, I’m offerin’. So don’t think too hard on this.” Ella Mae’s bespectacled eyes met hers over her teacup.

“Well, if ya really want to, it’s only right that ya receive somethin’ in return ... like we agreed on last year.”

“ Ach , it’s such a joy to see everyone in such a cheery mood an’ all, outsiders or not. It’s gut to celebrate the Lord’s birthday with folk.”

Liz felt the same way. But she recalled how hard it had been to convince Ella Mae to accept any payment last year.

After all, the woman had to bake a new batch of cookies three times a week, and there was the cost of her delicious homemade cocoa mix and extra milk, too.

“I’d feel better if ya’d let me at least reimburse ya. It’s only fair.”

Ella Mae gave a mischievous little shrug. “How ’bout I decide what’s fair?”

Martha giggled a little. “ Glotzkopp —yous both are.” Her giggle now turned into an outright laugh, and Ella Mae joined in.

“ Jah , s’pose there are a few of us stubborn folks round here,” Liz replied, reaching for the pretty teacup and taking a sip.

At that, Ella Mae’s eyes shone, but Liz noticed that she still hadn’t agreed to take any compensation.

At the library, Liz sat in the buggy while Martha headed inside.

As she waited, Liz unexpectedly found herself wondering what Matt was doing today.

He had such a way with people that it was hard to imagine him wanting to do any other type of work, really.

So maybe Martha was right, maybe he was buttering Liz up by frequently grooming King.

Nee , she thought, he’s just fond of our horse....