Sarasota Dreams Read Online Free

knew a couple of them, ya. But don’t get so alarmed. One of them was your grandpa. He and Paul got there right before we arrived, and they didn’t like it any more than we did. So they offered to take us home.”
    It must have been scandalous at the time, but everything obviously worked out fine, since Grandma and Grandpa were still married and Helga was still married to Paul. They lived in Pinecraft, just two blocks away from the Penners. Paul had a small candy store not far from the community with a corner nook featuring Helga’s crafts.
    “I think your grandpa should be done with the kitchen chores by now. We need to get on back.”
    “Grandma, before we go any farther, I want to know something.”
    “Just ask me, Mary. Don’t drag it out.”
    “If you had it to do over again with Mama, would you have done anything different?”
    Grandma’s soft expression instantly returned to a scowl. “It never does anyone any good to have regrets. It’s too late to look back and say what I should have done, so I won’t even think about it like that.”

Chapter 2
    Abe pulled out his cell phone and punched in the number of his favorite ride into town. It was too difficult in this modern world to drive a horse and buggy. Accidents on the highway left many of the Mennonites and Amish dead or with debilitating injuries, so he relied on the services of folks who made their living transporting those who didn’t drive cars.
    David answered right away. “Sure thing. I can be there in fifteen minutes.”
    “That’ll be just fine.” Abe finished getting ready, then went out to wait on the front porch.
    The large white van pulled into the shell-encrusted driveway exactly fifteen minutes later. “Where to, Abe?” David asked as Abe slid into the van.
    “Penner’s.”
    David chuckled as he pulled out onto the road. “That Penner’s place must have some great food for you to go there every day.”
    “Not every day,” Abe reminded him. “They’re closed on Sundays.”
    Abe saw the look of amusement on David’s face, but at least the man had the decency not to continue this train of thought. “How’s the farm doing? I can’t help but notice the changes. Seems like there’s something different every time I come out here.”
    “Ya, I’ve made a few changes in the last year.”
    “Things must be going well then.”
    “Can’t complain. We work hard, though.”
    “So when do you think you’ll need some more workers? I have a couple friends who are out of work.”
    “Out of work? Why?” Abe folded his arms and stared out the window as they whizzed past alternating farms and patches of palmettos.
    David shrugged. “Layoffs. The economy’s been rough lately.”
    “So I’ve heard.” Abe could use another worker or two, but they had to be able to jump right in without much supervision. “Any of your friends have farming experience?”
    “Probably not.”
    “Can’t use ’em then.”
    “How about you meet them first, before you make a decision? I can’t speak for all my buddies, but I think a couple of them would be good at farming if they knew what to do. They’re hard workers, too.”
    Abe pondered that thought for a moment before crisply nodding. “I s’pose that would only be fair. I’ve already asked around the Mennonite community, and no one else is beating my door down for a job.”
    “Thanks, Abe. I’ll send my friends your way. Is it okay if they call your cell phone?”
    “Of course. How else would they get hold of me?”
    “True.” David snickered. “I bet you’re a tough man to work for.”
    “No. Just fair. I expect people to earn their wages, and I pay them what they’re worth.”
    “Interesting concept,” David said. “Too bad more people aren’t like you.”
    Abe slowly shook his head. “That might not be such a good thing. God created us all different for a reason.”
    “Good point.” David pulled into the Penner’s parking lot. “Want me to pick you up here at a certain