LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter One

      Thunder rumbled in the distance. A peek out the window showed another band of drenching rain coming in from the west.

      Finished with a sink of dishes, Verity Schrock wiped the sweat from her face on the sleeve of her dress and hurried out of the steamy kitchen with several ladies following on her heel.

      It seemed lately she rushed from one task to another, never finding time to sit down and enjoy a moment of the day.

      Fanning her hot face, she quick-stepped down the hall, ready to join the cluster of singers regathering in the great room.

      She’d been up since five, long before the old rooster had had a chance to give his first crow of the morning. An experienced cook, she enjoyed the task of making a tower of assorted shoofly pies, a chocolate cake with rich mocha icing, and for herself, a gooey pan of rich golden-brown apple crumble, her favorite dessert.

      Taking in a calming breath and clearing her voice, she surveyed the room for the soprano singer’s section and found Bunhild, the community’s seasonal matchmaker standing in the place she usually occupied. Purposely avoiding the meddling old woman, she slipped into the end of the alto singer’s section.

      Acting as if she were listening to the song director’s instructions, Verity situated herself closer to Clara Hilty, who was making a point of ignoring her best friend since childhood while holding back a fit of giggles behind her petite hand.

      With her gaze straight ahead, Verity’s finger searched for and found Clara’s rib cage, and gave her very pregnant friend a playful poke.

      Clara jumped, nearly knocking over the young lady standing in front of her.

      Everyone in the lines turned and glared their way.

      “Shame on you, Verity,” Clara muttered out the side of her mouth.

      Verity leaned in close to her friend’s ear. “You should have warned me Bunhild showed up for singing practice. I could have hidden in the kitchen closet until she’d left.” Putting on a heavy Pennsylvania Dutch accent, Verity held back her own giggles as she muttered in Clara’s ear, “Those Lapp bruders are still marriage-minded, and looking for a pretty young woman like yourself to wed.”

      Clara laughed out loud, amused by Verity’s rendition

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