The Amish Christmas Matchmaker

“Ya. You do.” Martha walked over to her bruder, who held up a hand and allowed her to pull him to his feet.

Annie glanced up in time to see Levi driving away in Old Simon’s buggy. She’d missed talking to him today, but that was okay. She’d tell him the good news first thing Wednesday.

By the time Levi showed up at the Kauffmann place on Wednesday, he’d completely forgotten Annie’s plan to find him a girl. He’d been focused on other things. He’d talked with several of the local families at the wedding, and three had come back to ask him questions after the church service. At this rate, he might get to Texas earlier than he’d thought. He might have enough interest to send down a scouting group before fall turned into winter.

He was mucking out the horse stalls early Wednesday morning, before they’d even had breakfast, when Annie showed up in the barn.

“Gude mariye, Levi.”

He wiped the sweat out of his eyes and squinted at her.

As usual, she looked fresh and energetic. Normally she seemed aggravated when she saw him, as if she’d swallowed unsweetened lemonade. Today she was smiling broadly. Why the change in attitude?

Then he remembered their deal and literally slapped himself on the forehead.

“Problem?”

“Just remembering what you talked me into.”

“I didn’t talk you into anything. I simply made a suggestion and you agreed.”

She grinned at him as she had on Saturday. He could still feel her hand in his, the way her eyes had widened as she’d glanced up into his eyes, and then how she’d snatched her hand away as if she’d been stung by a bee. What was that about?

She didn’t waste any time ruining his morning. She pulled a folded sheet of paper from her apron pocket and waved it at him. “I wrote down the information you need for your date.”

“My date...”

Her plan was bound to be a trap. He didn’t know how, but he was sure that it must be designed to ruin his goal of moving to Texas.

“Her name is Martha Weaver. Here are directions to her house as well as the number for the nearest phone shack.”

He took the piece of paper and stared down at her tidy handwriting. “Guess I’m stuck doing this.”

“You’re lucky to date Martha, actually. She’s levelheaded, nice looking—”

“Then why isn’t she courting or married? There must be something wrong with her.”

“And she’s my best friend.”

“Oops. Sorry if what I said sounded rude.”

“It did, but I’m not surprised. Men your age only want to step out with the prettiest, thinnest girls.”

“That’s not true.”

Instead of arguing, Annie walked into the stall and around the perimeter. “Martha has a sweet tooth. You might think about taking her to the pie pantry.”

“I have dated before, you know.”

“Oh, you have?”

“Don’t look so surprised.”

“I’m not surprised.”

He could tell that she was holding in her laughter, which irritated him more than it probably should have.

“I wonder if your mamm has breakfast ready.”

“Oh, ya. That’s what I came out to tell you.”

“You could have led with that.”

“And miss the chance to tease you?”

“Is that what you’re doing? And why are you in such a chipper mood this morning?”

“Who wouldn’t be in a good mood on such a beautiful morning?”

He had been too—until Annie showed up with her dating instructions. He hadn’t fully thought this through when he’d agreed to her dating scheme. His few attempts to date back in Lancaster had been a disaster. The women he’d met were only interested in settling down and having babies. He had nothing against either, but they’d had no patience for his talk of moving to Texas, especially when they’d heard that he was saving every dime in order to make the move possible.

Dreamer.

Naive.

Immature.

He’d been called all sorts of things, always with a smile, a touch on the shoulder, and a look of pity. Well, he didn’t need anyone’s approval or sympathy, and he didn’t need another woman who was going to try and set him straight.

“What are you frowning about?”

Instead of answering, he carried the pitchfork into the main room of the barn, then returned to pick up the muck bucket. Annie was still there, leaning against the wall, a smile on her pretty face, arms crossed, studying him.

“You don’t have to look at me that way.”