left.”
Wayne did as he was instructed, and in five minutes they pulled into Martha’s driveway. It was snowing harder.
“If it’s all right, I’ll just leave Jonas in the car and run in to check on Martha.” Katie Ann opened the car door after Eli nodded.
“What a beautiful woman,” Wayne said as they watched Katie Ann walk up the sidewalk to Martha’s front porch.
Eli cleared his throat. “Ya, she is.” Stroking his beard, he kept his eyes on her.
KATIE ANN KNOCKED hard on the door until Martha finally answered in her pink housecoat and matching slippers. Her hair was atop her head in the butterfly clip.
“I’m just checking on you.”
“Come in out of the cold.” Martha grabbed her arm and pulled her across the threshold, then peered past her to the car in the driveway. “Who’s that, and where’s my baby?”
“Eli hired a driver. His name is Wayne, and Jonas is in the car. I only have a minute. I just wanted to hear what the doctor said. Do you just have a bad cold?”
Martha nodded. “Yes. Just a cold. I’m fine. Now you go play with that handsome Eli.”
She grinned, but Katie Ann was not fooled. Martha was the first one to complain about the slightest ailment, and it was disturbing that she wasn’t offering up much information.
“Did he give you some medicine? Is it the flu?”
Martha tugged Katie Ann toward the door. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve got medicine.”
Katie Ann shook free of Martha’s grip and squinted her eyes as she spoke. “Martha, are you not telling me something?”
“Oh, good grief. I’m fine, Katie Ann. Go and have fun today.” Martha opened the door and pushed the screen wide as she stepped out on the porch in her robe. She cupped a hand above her brow and peered across the yard. “Although this weather isn’t the best.”
Katie Ann moved onto the covered porch, pulled her black coat around her, and glanced up. “Ya. It’s snowing even harder now.”
Martha chuckled. “Good snuggling weather, I’d say.”
Katie Ann narrowed her eyes at Martha. “What did I tell you? Eli and I agreed to be just friends.”
“Whatever.” Martha rolled her eyes, then her expression suddenly changed. “Hey, real quick. What did Lucy want? Money, huh?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“I knew it.” Martha shook her head. “The tramp wanted money, and you probably gave her some.”
“We’ll talk about it later. I have to go.” Katie Ann turned her back to Martha and eased down the porch steps. She glanced over her shoulder. “Stay out of the weather and get well.”
“Katie Ann Stoltzfus!” Martha yelled, and Katie Ann cringed. “Did you give that woman money?”
Katie Ann raised her hand and waved Martha off as she neared the car.
“I knew it!” Martha yelled as Katie Ann opened the door and crawled back in.
She’d deal with Martha later. Today she was looking forward to seeing some sights in the San Luis Valley, although as it snowed harder she started to worry about having Jonas out in the cold.
“I’m afraid most of our sightseeing may have to be done from the car.” Eli twisted in his seat and smiled.
He smiled a lot, and Katie Ann thought again about what Martha said, that the man was just happy. Katie Ann knew it couldn’t hurt her to have a bright light in her world, and as Eli waited for her to answer, she wondered if she should have agreed to this outing. She reminded herself that a person can never have too many friends and that as long as she kept her relationship with Eli in perspective, all would be well.
“It’s snowing harder,” she said softly, wondering if he was going to cancel their outing.
“There’s a diner about fifteen miles north of here,” Wayne said. “If you folks are hungry, they have the best pancakes in the area. Maybe this snow will ease up while you’re eating.”
Katie Ann could see Wayne struggling to see through the flurries coming harder now. She waited for Eli to respond.
“I could go for some pancakes.” Eli patted his stomach in the front seat before twisting around to face her. “Katie Ann, what about you?”
She’d eaten cereal that morning, but a cup of hot coffee sounded nice. “Ya. That’s fine.”
Jonas stretched in his seat, his eyes wide, but Katie Ann was glad that he appeared content. On the way to the diner, Eli questioned Wayne about the area . . . and about farming. Katie Ann had heard Samuel talk about the challenges of farming in Colorado, since the