Plain Jayne Read Online Free PDF

oldest, Elizabeth.”
    â€œI’m not the oldest!” Elizabeth squealed, revealing a missing front tooth. “I’m only five!”
    â€œAnd they’re all playing hooky from school today.”
    Another round of giggles and disagreement. “It’s grading day,” Leah said. “No school.”
    â€œOh, right,” he said. “They’re all out of school and they’re all having lunch with us.”
    â€œYou’re staying for lunch!” Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his shoulders, preventing him from putting her down.
    But she had to get down anyway, because Martha ordered a group hand washing. Each child, except Sara, had a surprising amount of grime coating their fingers.
    Lunch consisted of chicken potpies, cooked cabbage, rolls, stewed tomatoes, and sliced apples hidden under layers of brown sugar and oatmeal.
    I enjoyed the potpie and decided that if I didn’t think about the calories, they didn’t count.
    I ate a sparing amount of cabbage.
    And avoided the tomatoes.
    The rolls and apple dessert were divine—I knew Gemma would want the recipes.
    I asked some questions about the farm and how the family spent their day. Martha gave simple, short answers. They began working at dawn and retired for the day around nine. The younger children attended school during the day while the older ones worked. Amos helped his father on the farm while Elam worked as a bricklayer in town. Sara made most of the family’s clothes and mended on demand.
    I tried to scribble down notes as I ate.
    After the plates were cleared away, Martha showed me around the farm with the children following like ducklings. They ignored the rain and I tried to follow suit, even as the raindrops seeped into my clothing.
    Once inside the barn, Samuel, Leah, and Elizabeth showed me the animals they took care of. Samuel had a pig, while Leah and Elizabeth watched over a pair of lambs. I could hear Levi mentioning something to Martha, but I couldn’t make out the words.
    We trudged back a few moments later. Levi hugged them all around. I shook Martha’s hand and waved at the kids. Then Levi opened the truck door for me, and I climbed in. Samuel and Leah ran after the truck for alittle while, feet bare in the mud. Levi relaxed when they turned back to the farmhouse.
    â€œI hate it when they do that,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t think they really understand how dangerous cars can be.”
    â€œYour truck is probably one of the only motorized vehicles that comes on their property.”
    â€œBuggy accidents happen every year. They should know better.”
    â€œHow many accidents? I remember seeing reflectors and lights on the buggy in the…” Buggy barn? Garage? What did they call the buggy-storing shelter?
    Levi didn’t seem to notice my terminological confusion. “Lights and reflectors don’t negate the fact that they’re still unprotected on the road. Even motorcyclists wear helmets, and the wood buggies leave the Amish every bit as exposed as a biker. They may as well be walking down the highways.”
    I didn’t know what to say. “They seem to like you.”
    Levi’s hands began to fidget on the steering wheel. “I’ve known them for a long time.”
    â€œThrough your business?”
    â€œNo, before that. They’re…my family.”

Chapter 4
    A s Levi’s words sank in, I felt myself stiff en. “Wow. Okay. Your family. Right. You see, in journalism school they teach us to begin with the most important information.”
    â€œI know I should have explained earlier—”
    â€œI don’t know. Do you think that would have been helpful?”
    I replayed scenes from lunch over and over in my head. Everything made sense now. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t picked up on it before now.
    â€œI don’t know why I didn’t say anything.”
    â€œHey, your call. By the way,