It was a lie, but I couldn’t burden a new friend with the petty problems between Nadine and me—especially since he was the subject of our dispute. Elijah seemed to pick up on my annoyance with the situation, but smiled softly at me.
“Why don’t the two of you ride, and I’ll walk alongside. There certainly isn’t enough room on this horse for the three of us,” he said.
There wouldn’t be three of us if my sister wasn’t so bossy and controlling.
We laughed lightly, alleviating some of the tension between my sister and me. He assisted the two of us onto Eli, which was slightly awkward at first, being our first time on a horse. Nadine took full advantage of his assistance, using the opportunity to flirt with my Elijah. Even though he hadn’t made known his intentions toward me, I still felt that we were meant for one another, just from the way he looked at me. Along the way, Nadine monopolized nearly the entire conversation, causing anger to rise in me like it hadn’t in years. I pushed aside the angry thoughts, hoping Elijah wouldn’t pick up on it.
When we finally reached the schoolhouse, I was so eager to be rid of my sister that I decided I should remain outside for a minute to put a halt to my fuming. Elijah must have finally noticed my agitation, for he stalled in giving assistance to us in dismounting the horse.
Nadine, in her impatience, tried showing off by trying to dismount the horse on her own, and fell to the ground in her unsuccessful attempt. Unable to hold in my anger any longer, I let out the most un-lady-like guffaw, but quickly apologized. Nadine ignored my apology and pushed aside the hand that Elijah offered. She dusted herself off, then, stormed into the school. This left me to deal with my guilt and embarrassment in facing Elijah’s silence alone. If ever I was to get off on the wrong foot with someone, the embarrassment of strife between Nadine and me didn’t present well. How could I ever convince him that I could be the one for him after what he’d just witnessed?
“I'd like to say a prayer for the two of you,” he said after a minute or so.
I was shocked by his offer. I thought he would walk away from me after I’d been so unsympathetic toward my sister. Still, he looked at me with kindness showing in his eyes.
“My father told me that there’s differences in our beliefs—not just the way we live.” I stumbled over my words.
“My papa was brought up in the Old Order, and I was, too, until five years ago. My father’s relatives in Pennsylvania brought about the change under the leadership of their Bishop. Now we embrace even more liberal ways in our Ordnung.”
I knew if we didn’t end our conversation soon, I would be tardy, but I didn’t want to go in and leave things the way they were.
“May I say a prayer for you anyway?” he asked humbly.
I nodded my approval and he urged me to go into the schoolhouse. I stalled for a minute to watch from the top step as he rode away in a cloud of dust on Eli.
Amish Winter of Promises: Book Four Page 13
