A Heart Once Broken by Jerry S. Eicher Page B

stairs, Rosemary met Ann on her way down.
    â€œWhy are you coming up?” Ann asked. “We have to get back to work. There’s still the pie fillings to make and supper after that.”
    â€œI’ll be right down.” Rosemary hid her face with the letter and pressed on. Mamm could explain once Ann arrived in the kitchen. She didn’t know what to say. A man had written her a letter. Did she even remember him? Likely not. He must be a shy fellow not to place his name on the return address.
    Rosemary slipped inside her room and opened the envelope. The single page slipped out. “Dear Rosemary,” she began to read. “Greetings in the name of the Lord. I hope this finds you and your family well. We are expecting a hard winter here in Ohio, and I expect things may appear even more bleak in upstate New York. Daett said yesterday that the almanac predicts the first snow fall by Thanksgiving.”
    Rosemary paused to turn the page over. The end of the letter read, “Your hopeful friend, Johnny Mast.”
    Rosemary took a deep breath. Johnny was the same age she was, with plenty of pimples on his face when she had seen him last. But he might have outgrown them by now.
    Rosemary scanned the last paragraph. “I hope you remember me. I certainly remember you, and I have a great faith that the Lord may stir in your heart what has been raised in my own. I have spentmuch time in prayer about this, Rosemary. Would you consider writing letters to me, and perhaps allowing me to visit you soon in New York? Please let me know of your answer at the soonest possible date.”
    Rosemary laid the letter down. Johnny Mast? She had nothing against him, but on the other hand, he wasn’t Clyde and he certainly wasn’t Ezra Wagler. Was there something wrong with her? Did she choose the wrong men? Was Johnny right for her and she was too blind or proud to see it? But if she accepted this offer to write him, there went her chance to gain Ezra’s attentions. And that after her brave words to the Troyer cousins on Sunday! Maybe she was proud. Lydia and Sandra hadn’t laughed at her plans, but perhaps they should have. One thing was for sure—she couldn’t play both Johnny and Ezra at the same time. And Ezra was far from a sure thing, while Johnny was…well, he sounded certain of himself, and she had never had a man interested in her who sounded certain of his feelings. But pimples? Could she stand that, even if they had gone away? Rosemary let the thought float around in her mind. The feeling wasn’t goot , but that might be her pride speaking.
    Rosemary jumped when Mamm called up the stairs. “Time for work, dear.”
    â€œComing,” Rosemary hollered back. She hid the letter in the bottom of her dresser drawer and hurried downstairs.
    â€œSo?” Mamm asked when she arrived.
    â€œJohnny Mast,” Rosemary deadpanned. “He wants to write and maybe visit soon.”
    â€œOh,” Mamm said, and fell silent.
    Ann giggled. “You’d make a goot match with him.”
    Rosemary winced but said, “I’ll have to think about it. That’s all I know.” She then busied herself with the cherry pie recipe.
    Mamm joined in with the work but didn’t offer any advice,though she seemed deep in thought. Did Mamm have an opinion? Rosemary would have to ask soon, if Mamm didn’t speak up.
    Rosemary found a large bowl and stirred in the ingredients. When Mamm still hadn’t said anything, Rosemary spoke. “Tell me what you think of Johnny, Mamm .”
    â€œAnn said it pretty well,” Mamm allowed. “And I’ve noticed lately that you’ve come out of your shell around boys, so perhaps this is all the Lord’s timing.”
    â€œSee, I was right.” Ann’s face glowed. “ Mamm agrees with me.”
    Rosemary didn’t answer as she continued to stir. Thoughts from the past drifted through her mind.