Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

sent word that he’d bring some men to come paint this weekend,” Elam continued.
    Emily nodded. “We thought you could use some help.”
    He looked away, and she couldn’t read the expression in his dark green eyes. “ Danki .” He turned back to her, his features blank.
    Nay, that wasn’t it. His expression was . . . controlled, as if he didn’t want her to see what was going on behind it.
    “He also said you would be coming by tomorrow to help Mamm .”
    He did?
    Emily tried not to let her surprise show. She should have expected as much. Just like she had told Mary last night, her father had set his mind to her marrying Elam Riehl. “ Jah, ” she said, hoping she didn’t look too stunned. What was it the Englisch said? Like a deer in the headlights?
    She supposed her vatter would get someone to take her place at the market or not open their stand at all.
    “Why are you here today?” she asked Elam, then backtracked when she realized how rude she sounded. “I mean, Becky usually tends your booth.”
    He gave a quick nod. “Her youth group went on an overnight fishing trip.”
    So he had to come to the market after milking the cows and helping his mamm get the younger kids off to school. No wonder his eyes drooped at the corners.
    “I’m sure she appreciates that,” Emily finally said.
    “ Jah, ” Elam said. “ Danki again.” He rapped his knuckles against the table in front of her, then turned back toward his booth.
     
     
    Elam could feel her eyes on him as he made his way back to his booth. It was strange being in town in the middle of the afternoon, and he was a little jumpy. There was just so much for him to do at the farm, but he and his mamm had agreed that Becky should be able to do as much as possible during her run-around time. As far as Elam was behind in the everyday chores, one more day wouldn’t matter.
    Oh, he kept up the milking and such. He had the girls to help him with that. But it took him nearly twice as long as it had when his father was well.
    That had been just a year ago, but it seemed like much longer.
    Elam was grateful that his father was still alive after the kick he’d received last September. Many a lesser man would have died. Yet as lucky as James Riehl had been, sometimes Elam could not help thinking he’d be better off if he had died.
    He couldn’t help those thoughts, and they stayed in his prayers each day. He didn’t mind the extra work, not really, but seeing his father barely able to get around, not able to do any of the things he enjoyed made Elam grieve for his father as if he had succumbed to the crushing blow that fateful day. In a way, Elam supposed he had.
    But it had not been God’s will. That much Elam understood, even if he didn’t understand the why.
    Dan Troyer had just preached on that very subject last church Sunday.
    They weren’t supposed to question God. There was a wisdom in all that He did. But Elam did question, he did wonder. He prayed for forgiveness, then prayed for understanding. Then he got up at three-thirty and milked the cows.
    Elam slid behind his table and checked his cooler to see how much milk he had left. Three more jugs and he would go home.
    He checked the sun. With any luck he’d make it there just in time to start the milking again.

Chapter Three
    “Whoa.” Emily pulled back on the reins and brought the buggy to a stop in front of the Riehl family’s house. She had prayed last night that it wouldn’t look as bad as she remembered, but it did. It looked . . . ragged, frayed around the edges, and in sore need of paint.
    She knew her father and the other men had made plans to come tomorrow and get the house and barn spruced up. In the meantime, she and her sisters would spend the afternoon helping Joy Riehl get everything in the house spick-and-span new.
    As if reading her thoughts, Joy came onto the porch drying her hands on a linen towel. She shaded her eyes against the bright noonday sun. “ Ach, Emily Ebersol,