Diclaimer: I don't own anything related to the book.
Chapter 7: Having Fun
Leah was getting ready for the Barn dance. She dressed in her dark green dress. She fixed her hair. She didn't put any make-up since Amish don't wear any. She heard a knock on the front door and Mary's voice.
"Leah? Are you ready?" Mary yelled from downstairs.
"Yes, I am coming down." Leah said walking down the stairs and "Hello Ethan."
"Hello Leah. You look very nice." He said placing his hands together in front of him.
"You do too. Is that a new shirt?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said looking down at it.
"Mary, I will be home later. Do not stay up and wait for me. I will be fine. I am with Ethan and Charity." Leah said.
"Al right. You too have fun and be safe." Mary said.
Leah and Ethan walked outside to his buggy. He helps her in and then he gets in. He wrips the reins and they take off to the Yoder barn dance.
"I promise not to fall asleep on you again." Leah said smiling.
"I do not mind." Ethan said.
"How long will we be there?" Leah asked.
"As long as you want to." Ethan said turning on to another dirt path.
"Where is Charity?" Leah asked. She was going too.
"With Jonah. He is giving her a ride to the dance and back." Ethan said.
"Oh." Leah said. Charity wanted to ride with him again and she got her wish.
They got to the barn dance. Music was blaring and manny buggys and cars were there. Many newly sixteen boys were experimenting in her old world.
Ethan stopped his buggy and got out and helped Leah out. They walked hand in hand to the dance. People looked at them. Only because the arrived, not because he was Amish with an English girl. Leah headed over the refreshment table and grapped a cup of punch. Ethan headed over to his friends. Leah looked around for Charity.
"Hello." A young man said.
"Hi." Leah said.
"My name is George Goode." He introduced himself.
"Leah." She said shaking is hand. Leah did not want to be in that spot anymore and started to look for Ethan, hoping he would save her.
"Are you looking for someone?" He asked looking over his shoulder.
"Yes." She said. She could not find Ethan.
"Someone special?" He asked.
"Yes, someone special, which is me." Ethan said putting his arms over her shoulders from behind. George lowers his head and walks away. Leah turns to face him.
"Thank you for rescuing me." Leah said.
"You looked like you needed me." Ethan said putting his arms down.
"Yes. He was making me uncomfortable." Leah said.
"How so?" Ethan asked.
"I felt like he was trying to get somewhere with me and I did not like him. He seemed new and young." Leah explained.
"You did not like me at first." Ethan recalled whatshe had said a few weeks again.
"But he just had a vibe about him that I did not like." Leah said.
"I understand. Shall we dance?" He asked.
"Yes." Leah replied.
Ethan and Leah danced to a bunch of songs and even a slow one. Then they decided that the were hungry and went to eat some goodies. Then they went outside to talk.
"You dance very well Ethan." Leah said.
"As for you too." Ethan said.
"I haven't seen Charity anywhere." Leah said and asked "Have you?"
"Yes, she was dancing with Jonah." Ethan said taking a bite of a cookie.
"Ethan, I have not gotten a letter back from my mother. I sent her one and she did not reply. I am worried." Leah said.
"Maybe she went to on a trip and has not got your letter yet." Ethan said trying to make her feel better.
"I do not know. She would have told me." Leah said standing closer to Ethan.
"She will send you a letter soon enough." Ethan said putting an arm over her shoulders. Just then they saw Martha walk to the entrance on the arm of Thomas Dane. Ethan's face redden by this. Martha and Thomas walked into the dance.
"Is that her new love?" Leah asked.
"Yes. She never wanted me." Ethan said hanging his head low.
"Her loss and my gain. I gained the love of someone great and she lossed that great love." Leah said trying to cheer him up.
"You have a way with words that make me in a better mood." Ethan said lifting his head.
"She is no longer important to you. Do not care about her, care about the people who care about you." Leah said placing a hand on is back.
"Like you?" Ethan said in a better mood.
"Yes and your family. Ethan, those people care more about you than anyone else and do not forget it." Leah said.
"Thank you, Leah, you put me in a good mood. Now I wan to dance." Ethan said pulling Leah into the barn. They danced until their feet hit.
"When Ethan was certain Jonah was to take Charity home. Ethan lead Leah to his buggy. They got in and took off.
Leah didn't have any lessons or chores the next day. So she decided that she would go to the Longacre's and visit with Ethan and Charity. Ann dropped her off and she walked up the house. Knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Tillie Longacre answered.
"Hello, Mrs.Longacre." Leah said politly.
"Well Leah, what brings you here?" Tillie asked.
"I did not have any chores or lessons today, so I thought I come by and visit with Charity." Leah said. And Ethan she did not want to say. Tillie let her in and found that it was only their mother, Oma, and baby Nathan.
"That is nice of you." Tillie said.
"He is such an adorable baby." Leah said refering to Nathan.
"Isn't he? He looks so much like Ethan when her was a baby." Tillie said picking up Nathan.
'So Ethan was always cute. She wished she could see what her looked like as a child but of course, the Amish never take pictures and don't like their pictures taken.' Leah thought to herself.
"So tourist season is coming up. Are you going to have a stand?" Leah asked recalling last year.
"No, we do not plan to set up a stand since my Rebekah died working one." Tillie said sadly. That's right. Rebekah died last year when a idiot crashed into her stand and killed her.
"Oh." Leah said quietly and asked "So where are they others?"
"They walked to the lake. My husband saw something there and wanted to show the children." Tillie explained. She put Nathan back down and went to baking.
"Do you need any help Mrs.Longacre?" Leah asked walking over to her.
"No, but is was really kind of you to offer." Tillie said. Leah could feel something that wasn't right.
"I am not trying to be rude, but do you not like me?" Leah asked.
"I like you Leah." Tillie said.
"I feel like you do not. Like I am intruding on something?" Leah said.
"No, dear Leah. I have not got used to the idea of an English girl becoming Amish just so can be with my boy." Tillie expalined.
"I know it is hard, I am getting used to it myself." Leah said.
"He was promised the Dewberry girl and then you came." Tillie said.
"Yes, and she broke his heart. She did not care about him the way I do. I love your son with all my heart and will take care of him like a wife is suppose to. Mrs. Longacre, I love Ethan with all my heart and will never hurt him like Martha did. She did not love him." Leah explained.
"Is this true?" Tillie asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Longacre. I am trying to become Amish because I love him that much. If I did not love him like this, I would not be here." Leah said.
"Well, Leah. I am happy you love Ethan and are doing this for him, but I will have to get used to you not being English." She said and "If you want to help, you may."
Leah helped her bake her bread and cleaned up before the rest of the family returned. Tillie and Leah talked as Oma went to take a nap with Opa.
"Leah, you are here?" Ethan asked seeing her when he walked in.
"Yes, I did not have anything to do today so I thought I would come visit Charity." Leah said and Charity smiled.
"She also helped me with the supper bread. She is a very fine cook." Tillie said walking over to Mr. Longacre and kissing him on the cheek. Leah watched them. After all these years, they are still so much in love. She wished her mother could find someone like that.
"Let us go outside, Leah, and we can talk." Charity said pulling Leah outside. They went for a little walk.
"Did you have fun last night?" Leah asked.
"Yes, and I rode in Jonah's buggy." Charity said smiling. She had more to tell.
"Anything else?" Leah asked.
"Promise not to tell anyone?" Charity asked. Leah nodded and Charity said "He gave me my first kiss."
"Oh Charity, I am so happy for you. First kisses are always special." Leah said hugging Charity.
"It was wonderful, Leah, and I cannot wait for another." Charity said.
"That is how I felt. I thing every girl goes through that feeling. The feeling of love and happiness." Leah said.
"I like when I talk to you. You do not tell and you always have something to say." Charity said and "You are a true friend, Leah."
"You are to, Charity. I hope we will be for a long time." Leah said.
"Yes, Leah, we will. I know of it." Charity said.
Leah and Charity talked for awhile before Ethan caught up to them.
"Charity, you are needed." Ethan said. Charity nodded and walked to the house.
"Was that just a way to have her leave?" Leah asked looking over at Charity's figure.
"No, she was needed and I wanted to tell her." Ethan said.
"Would you mind coming over this weekend for supper?" Leah asked.
"I can try." Ethan said.
"It is my night to cook and I want you to taste my food." Leah said.
"You want my approval?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, so you know how I cook and if it is good. I wouldn't want you to not taste my food and then marry me and not like it." Leah explained.
"I am sure I will like." Ethan said.
"Ok, come over Saturday evening at six and we will have supper. Ann and Mary will be there." Leah said.
"I will come." Ethan said.
Saturday night, Leah was working on her supper. She checked on the bread and stirred the gravy. Mary set the table and Ann is getting the drinks, which is milk.
They heard a knock on the door and Leah answered it.
"Good Evening Leah." Ethan said giving her a kiss.
"Hello Ethan, come in." Leah said letting him in. He said hello to the sisters.
"Do you need any help?" Ethan offered.
"No, you are the guest. You may sit down and wait. It will be done soon enough." Leah said going back to the food.
Leah served them her meal. They pray and get eatting. When they are finished and the sisters cleaned up. Leah told them that she and Ethan were going outside, as usual.
"Supper was good." Ethan said taking her hand.
"Thank you. I am glad you liked it." Leah said.
"I approve." Ethan said. Leah smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Leah was sitting at the table when Ann walked in.
"Leah, I have something for you." She said holding up a letter. Leah took and saw it was from her mother. She took and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She tore open the envelope and starts to read.
Dear my Leah
I miss you too and is happy you are not backing down. It's wonderful that you are learning new things, but how to you manage without a tiolet? I'm kidding. I have met someone. His name is Mike Kelsch. He is very nice and charming. How are things going between you and Ethan? I hope he is still nice to you and I hope you are having fun. I love you.
Love
Mom.
Leah put the letter down and chuckled. Not only is her mother happy, but she found someone.
P.S. What da ya Think? I hope you like it and review if you do.
Chapter 7: Having Fun
Leah was getting ready for the Barn dance. She dressed in her dark green dress. She fixed her hair. She didn't put any make-up since Amish don't wear any. She heard a knock on the front door and Mary's voice.
"Leah? Are you ready?" Mary yelled from downstairs.
"Yes, I am coming down." Leah said walking down the stairs and "Hello Ethan."
"Hello Leah. You look very nice." He said placing his hands together in front of him.
"You do too. Is that a new shirt?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said looking down at it.
"Mary, I will be home later. Do not stay up and wait for me. I will be fine. I am with Ethan and Charity." Leah said.
"Al right. You too have fun and be safe." Mary said.
Leah and Ethan walked outside to his buggy. He helps her in and then he gets in. He wrips the reins and they take off to the Yoder barn dance.
"I promise not to fall asleep on you again." Leah said smiling.
"I do not mind." Ethan said.
"How long will we be there?" Leah asked.
"As long as you want to." Ethan said turning on to another dirt path.
"Where is Charity?" Leah asked. She was going too.
"With Jonah. He is giving her a ride to the dance and back." Ethan said.
"Oh." Leah said. Charity wanted to ride with him again and she got her wish.
They got to the barn dance. Music was blaring and manny buggys and cars were there. Many newly sixteen boys were experimenting in her old world.
Ethan stopped his buggy and got out and helped Leah out. They walked hand in hand to the dance. People looked at them. Only because the arrived, not because he was Amish with an English girl. Leah headed over the refreshment table and grapped a cup of punch. Ethan headed over to his friends. Leah looked around for Charity.
"Hello." A young man said.
"Hi." Leah said.
"My name is George Goode." He introduced himself.
"Leah." She said shaking is hand. Leah did not want to be in that spot anymore and started to look for Ethan, hoping he would save her.
"Are you looking for someone?" He asked looking over his shoulder.
"Yes." She said. She could not find Ethan.
"Someone special?" He asked.
"Yes, someone special, which is me." Ethan said putting his arms over her shoulders from behind. George lowers his head and walks away. Leah turns to face him.
"Thank you for rescuing me." Leah said.
"You looked like you needed me." Ethan said putting his arms down.
"Yes. He was making me uncomfortable." Leah said.
"How so?" Ethan asked.
"I felt like he was trying to get somewhere with me and I did not like him. He seemed new and young." Leah explained.
"You did not like me at first." Ethan recalled whatshe had said a few weeks again.
"But he just had a vibe about him that I did not like." Leah said.
"I understand. Shall we dance?" He asked.
"Yes." Leah replied.
Ethan and Leah danced to a bunch of songs and even a slow one. Then they decided that the were hungry and went to eat some goodies. Then they went outside to talk.
"You dance very well Ethan." Leah said.
"As for you too." Ethan said.
"I haven't seen Charity anywhere." Leah said and asked "Have you?"
"Yes, she was dancing with Jonah." Ethan said taking a bite of a cookie.
"Ethan, I have not gotten a letter back from my mother. I sent her one and she did not reply. I am worried." Leah said.
"Maybe she went to on a trip and has not got your letter yet." Ethan said trying to make her feel better.
"I do not know. She would have told me." Leah said standing closer to Ethan.
"She will send you a letter soon enough." Ethan said putting an arm over her shoulders. Just then they saw Martha walk to the entrance on the arm of Thomas Dane. Ethan's face redden by this. Martha and Thomas walked into the dance.
"Is that her new love?" Leah asked.
"Yes. She never wanted me." Ethan said hanging his head low.
"Her loss and my gain. I gained the love of someone great and she lossed that great love." Leah said trying to cheer him up.
"You have a way with words that make me in a better mood." Ethan said lifting his head.
"She is no longer important to you. Do not care about her, care about the people who care about you." Leah said placing a hand on is back.
"Like you?" Ethan said in a better mood.
"Yes and your family. Ethan, those people care more about you than anyone else and do not forget it." Leah said.
"Thank you, Leah, you put me in a good mood. Now I wan to dance." Ethan said pulling Leah into the barn. They danced until their feet hit.
"When Ethan was certain Jonah was to take Charity home. Ethan lead Leah to his buggy. They got in and took off.
Leah didn't have any lessons or chores the next day. So she decided that she would go to the Longacre's and visit with Ethan and Charity. Ann dropped her off and she walked up the house. Knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Tillie Longacre answered.
"Hello, Mrs.Longacre." Leah said politly.
"Well Leah, what brings you here?" Tillie asked.
"I did not have any chores or lessons today, so I thought I come by and visit with Charity." Leah said. And Ethan she did not want to say. Tillie let her in and found that it was only their mother, Oma, and baby Nathan.
"That is nice of you." Tillie said.
"He is such an adorable baby." Leah said refering to Nathan.
"Isn't he? He looks so much like Ethan when her was a baby." Tillie said picking up Nathan.
'So Ethan was always cute. She wished she could see what her looked like as a child but of course, the Amish never take pictures and don't like their pictures taken.' Leah thought to herself.
"So tourist season is coming up. Are you going to have a stand?" Leah asked recalling last year.
"No, we do not plan to set up a stand since my Rebekah died working one." Tillie said sadly. That's right. Rebekah died last year when a idiot crashed into her stand and killed her.
"Oh." Leah said quietly and asked "So where are they others?"
"They walked to the lake. My husband saw something there and wanted to show the children." Tillie explained. She put Nathan back down and went to baking.
"Do you need any help Mrs.Longacre?" Leah asked walking over to her.
"No, but is was really kind of you to offer." Tillie said. Leah could feel something that wasn't right.
"I am not trying to be rude, but do you not like me?" Leah asked.
"I like you Leah." Tillie said.
"I feel like you do not. Like I am intruding on something?" Leah said.
"No, dear Leah. I have not got used to the idea of an English girl becoming Amish just so can be with my boy." Tillie expalined.
"I know it is hard, I am getting used to it myself." Leah said.
"He was promised the Dewberry girl and then you came." Tillie said.
"Yes, and she broke his heart. She did not care about him the way I do. I love your son with all my heart and will take care of him like a wife is suppose to. Mrs. Longacre, I love Ethan with all my heart and will never hurt him like Martha did. She did not love him." Leah explained.
"Is this true?" Tillie asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Longacre. I am trying to become Amish because I love him that much. If I did not love him like this, I would not be here." Leah said.
"Well, Leah. I am happy you love Ethan and are doing this for him, but I will have to get used to you not being English." She said and "If you want to help, you may."
Leah helped her bake her bread and cleaned up before the rest of the family returned. Tillie and Leah talked as Oma went to take a nap with Opa.
"Leah, you are here?" Ethan asked seeing her when he walked in.
"Yes, I did not have anything to do today so I thought I would come visit Charity." Leah said and Charity smiled.
"She also helped me with the supper bread. She is a very fine cook." Tillie said walking over to Mr. Longacre and kissing him on the cheek. Leah watched them. After all these years, they are still so much in love. She wished her mother could find someone like that.
"Let us go outside, Leah, and we can talk." Charity said pulling Leah outside. They went for a little walk.
"Did you have fun last night?" Leah asked.
"Yes, and I rode in Jonah's buggy." Charity said smiling. She had more to tell.
"Anything else?" Leah asked.
"Promise not to tell anyone?" Charity asked. Leah nodded and Charity said "He gave me my first kiss."
"Oh Charity, I am so happy for you. First kisses are always special." Leah said hugging Charity.
"It was wonderful, Leah, and I cannot wait for another." Charity said.
"That is how I felt. I thing every girl goes through that feeling. The feeling of love and happiness." Leah said.
"I like when I talk to you. You do not tell and you always have something to say." Charity said and "You are a true friend, Leah."
"You are to, Charity. I hope we will be for a long time." Leah said.
"Yes, Leah, we will. I know of it." Charity said.
Leah and Charity talked for awhile before Ethan caught up to them.
"Charity, you are needed." Ethan said. Charity nodded and walked to the house.
"Was that just a way to have her leave?" Leah asked looking over at Charity's figure.
"No, she was needed and I wanted to tell her." Ethan said.
"Would you mind coming over this weekend for supper?" Leah asked.
"I can try." Ethan said.
"It is my night to cook and I want you to taste my food." Leah said.
"You want my approval?" Ethan asked.
"Yes, so you know how I cook and if it is good. I wouldn't want you to not taste my food and then marry me and not like it." Leah explained.
"I am sure I will like." Ethan said.
"Ok, come over Saturday evening at six and we will have supper. Ann and Mary will be there." Leah said.
"I will come." Ethan said.
Saturday night, Leah was working on her supper. She checked on the bread and stirred the gravy. Mary set the table and Ann is getting the drinks, which is milk.
They heard a knock on the door and Leah answered it.
"Good Evening Leah." Ethan said giving her a kiss.
"Hello Ethan, come in." Leah said letting him in. He said hello to the sisters.
"Do you need any help?" Ethan offered.
"No, you are the guest. You may sit down and wait. It will be done soon enough." Leah said going back to the food.
Leah served them her meal. They pray and get eatting. When they are finished and the sisters cleaned up. Leah told them that she and Ethan were going outside, as usual.
"Supper was good." Ethan said taking her hand.
"Thank you. I am glad you liked it." Leah said.
"I approve." Ethan said. Leah smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Leah was sitting at the table when Ann walked in.
"Leah, I have something for you." She said holding up a letter. Leah took and saw it was from her mother. She took and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She tore open the envelope and starts to read.
Dear my Leah
I miss you too and is happy you are not backing down. It's wonderful that you are learning new things, but how to you manage without a tiolet? I'm kidding. I have met someone. His name is Mike Kelsch. He is very nice and charming. How are things going between you and Ethan? I hope he is still nice to you and I hope you are having fun. I love you.
Love
Mom.
Leah put the letter down and chuckled. Not only is her mother happy, but she found someone.
P.S. What da ya Think? I hope you like it and review if you do.