An Amish Year Read online

  Eli swallowed and sat taller, tempted to tell her that he loved to cook, but he wasn’t sure if that would sound unmanly, so he chose another version of the truth. “I’ve done a lot of cooking since mei fraa died two years ago.”

  Elizabeth gazed at him from across the table. “I bet you miss someone cooking for you. I met both your kinner last Sunday; they are lovely. Does Grace do most of the cooking?”

  Eli swallowed the last of his pie, then chose another safe version of the truth, since he did most of the cooking. “She does some of the cooking, but she stays busy keeping the haus clean, doing laundry, and mending Ben’s clothes. I think my sohn is growing so fast that he’s popping buttons. It seems like Gracie is always letting out hems or sewing on buttons.”

  “That is a lot for a young girl to do.” Elizabeth shook her head. “My husband passed recently. I miss him very much, but I also miss having someone to take care of. I bet you miss being taken care of?”

  “I did in the beginning. Leah—that was mei fraa’s name—did all the cooking, and there wasn’t a day that I didn’t come home to a hot supper.” He paused when he saw that Elizabeth had a faraway look in her eyes. “I know it hasn’t been long since you lost your husband. I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times, but it does get easier.”

  She seemed to force a smile. “It’s lonely sometimes.”

  Eli nodded as he recalled the months following Leah’s death. Even in a roomful of people, he’d never been lonelier in his life. “I heard that your husband had a long battle with cancer. I also heard that you took very gut care of him.”

  “Danki for saying so.” Her cheeks took on a rosy hue as she tipped her chin down.

  “Leah died instantly.” Eli took a deep breath, remembering the heavy steps he took to the morgue to identify his beloved wife. “She was in her buggy when a car hit her.” As much as Eli missed Leah, he’d thanked God every day that Ben and Grace hadn’t been with her. Elizabeth’s eyes locked with his, and Eli had to wonder which was worse—losing someone unexpectedly or watching them suffer month after month.

  Elizabeth shook her head, still watching him. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  Eli nodded. “Danki. And I’m sorry for yours. What kind of cancer did your husband have?”

  “A brain tumor. When we found out about John’s cancer, he was already in a bad way, and . . .”

  Eli listened to Elizabeth for the next hour, detailing every phase of John’s battle. He commented when the conversation called for it, but it was clear that Elizabeth was in a different place than he was in the grieving process. The first year is the hardest. Amos had obviously thought Elizabeth was ready to move on, but Eli wasn’t sure. But they did have two things in common. They both liked to cook, and they’d both endured a terrible loss. Elizabeth was also easy on the eyes. Just the thought made him think of Ruth and her incredible beauty. But pretty on the outside didn’t always mean pretty on the inside, and he was going to keep an open mind about his possibilities.

  When the room grew silent, Eli snapped back to the present.

  “I am so sorry,” Elizabeth said as she covered her face with her hands. “I have spent the past hour boring you with details about a man you didn’t even know.”

  Eli reached over and lightly touched her arm until she uncovered her face. “Elizabeth, if anyone understands, I do.” He offered her a tender smile and held it until she smiled back.

  “Danki, Eli.” She eased the chair back and stood up. “I have overstayed my welcome, but please let me know if there is anything I can do for your family. If your daughter Grace needs help with anything, I’m a stone’s throw away. I live alone, and I’d welcome the company.” She winked at Eli. “Tell her I’ll even cook, if she’d like.”

  “That sounds gut.” Eli said a quick prayer asking God to forgive the lie. Grace was worse than Ben when it came to Eli finding a wife, and he doubted his daughter would enjoy spending time with anyone who might be vying for her father’s attention. Eli had never approved of courting more than one person at a time, so if he asked out Elizabeth, he would be passing on Ruth. At least for now.

  Elizabeth moved around the table and stopped in front of Eli, then touched him on the arm. “Please call on me for anything you or your family might need,” she said again. She exhibited such sincerity, mingled with a loneliness Eli remembered well.

  “Would you like to go to supper with me next Saturday night?” Eli filled with warmth when Elizabeth’s face lit up, but when she frowned after that and shook her head, Eli felt his heart drop.

  “Nee, I am not going to let you take me to supper. You are going to come to my haus where I can make you a proper home-cooked meal.” She gave her head a taut nod. “You deserve that.”

  Eli smiled. “It’s a date then.”

  Chapter Four

  MIRIAM RAN HER HAND ACROSS SWEAT BEADED ON HER forehead. The crisp October air was refreshing.

  “You played gut today, Miriam.” Wayne brushed by her, smirking, as he made his way to where Grace was sitting. The other girls had already left, but when Wayne leaned down and kissed Grace, Miriam’s stomach churned. A tasteless show of public affection. Once again, she found herself wanting to smack that boy. But instead, she glared at him as she walked by, then nodded at Grace, whose face immediately flushed.

  As Miriam untethered her horse, she glanced at Grace again. Even though she didn’t know the girl, it was hard not to worry about her. She kept hearing a tiny voice in her head, asking if she’d really done enough to warn Grace about Wayne Huyard. But Wayne had been right about one thing. She’d played gut today—even hit a home run. They’d been taught not to keep score, but Miriam knew that every person on that field was tallying points, and today Miriam’s team had won.

  When she pulled up to her small haus, Kiki was waiting on the porch.

  “Wie bischt, sweet girl.” She scooped up the orange-and-white tabby, scratched behind her ears, and opened the door with her other hand. A pungent odor met her, and she carried Kiki with her until she found the source. The trash can in the kitchen.

  Pinching her nose, she bundled the trash and headed for the door. She was almost down the steps when she heard horse hooves. She spun around, still holding her nose, and peered down the road. It wasn’t until the buggy got much closer that she recognized the driver. The new guy. She couldn’t remember his name.

  Miriam hurried down the remaining steps, dropped the bag next to the house, and met him before he even got out of his buggy. “Wie bischt,” she said as he stepped down. What could this man want? Is he going to ask me out again? She was pretty sure she’d made her answer clear. Miriam didn’t date. She couldn’t. What was the point? She’d accepted God’s plan for her years ago.

  “Wie bischt,” the man said. “We met briefly after worship service. Eli Byler.”

  Miriam folded her arms across her chest. “Ya, I remember. You asked me out. You’re not here to do that again, are you?”

  He held up both palms, grinned slightly, and shook his head. “Nee. I think you made it perfectly clear that taking you out was never going to happen.”

  Miriam stifled a smile as she took in Eli’s appearance, wishing things were different. Eli had a gentle smile that crooked up on one side, and his dark hair and beard were specked with gray, even though his features suggested he was in his thirties. “Then why are you here?” she finally asked.

  “I’m looking for mei daughter, Grace.” Worry lines creased his forehead. “She said she was going to the Lantz haus to watch her friend Wayne play baseball, but she didn’t come home when she said she would.” He paused, shrugged. “Anyway, Amos told me that you play baseball sometimes, and I wondered if you saw her there.
I drove by the Lantz haus, but all the players had left.”

  “She was there. And I saw her and Wayne leave together.” Miriam took a quick breath. “How old is Grace?”

  “She’s fifteen. And very responsible. It’s not like her not to come home when she says.”

  Miriam squinted as she stared at Eli. “She’s not even in her rumschpringe, but you let her date?”

  Eli frowned. “She’s not dating. She just went to watch a friend play baseball.” He looped his thumbs under his suspenders and stood taller. “Besides, she’ll be sixteen in a couple of months. She’s had such a hard time with this move, I guess I’ve given her some liberties a little early. And Amos said Wayne is a gut boy, a hard worker.”

  Miriam rolled her eyes. “Ya, he’s a hard worker all right.”

  “What does that mean?” Eli folded his arms across his chest like Miriam’s.

  She wasn’t sure whether or not to spill the beans about Wayne. All the girls already thought she was a snitch, but she loved those girls and felt a certain responsibility. She didn’t even know Grace.

  “I’d just keep a close eye on your daughter,” she said. “Boys that age . . .” Biting her bottom lip, she watched the furrows of Eli’s brow deepen. “I’m sure she’s fine,” she added, trying to backtrack, but it was too late. She’d already set the stage, and she could tell by the way Eli was scowling that she’d said too much. But Eli was a man. Surely he remembered what it was like to be a teenage boy.

  “I’m sure I’ll find her, or she’ll show up at home. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” He got back into his buggy.

  “Eli, wait.” Miriam took a few steps until she was right next to the buggy. She was pretty sure she knew where Wayne and Grace had gone, but when she opened her mouth to tell Eli, the words didn’t come out. Grace would be horrified if her father caught her in an inappropriate situation with Wayne. But maybe that’s exactly what needed to happen so Eli could keep his daughter safe. She thought about it for a few more seconds, then said, “I’m sure she’s fine, and if I should happen to hear anything, I’ll make sure she knows you are looking for her.”

  “Danki.”

  Miriam stood in the yard until she saw Eli turn the corner, then she let out a heavy sigh and huffed back to the side of the house to grab the trash. It would have been nice to curl up on the couch with Kiki and bury her head in a good book. But now she was going to have to go tell Grace that her father was looking for her.

  Grace wiggled free of Wayne’s tight hold as he kissed her in a way that was making her uncomfortable, and his hands were traveling again. “I can’t, Wayne.”

  He eased away, breathing hard and frowning. Cupping her cheek gently in his hand, he said, “I know it might seem wrong, but when two people really like each other, it’s just natural to want to be closer.”

  Grace’s breathing was ragged, and alarms were going off in her mind, but Wayne spoke with such tenderness. And he was so cute. If he really cared about her, maybe there was no harm in letting him take things a little further. But she quickly tossed the thought aside as her mother’s face flashed in front of her, and the thought of disappointing her was too much to bear, even if Mamm’s view was from heaven. She shook her head, and Wayne dropped his hand.

  “I think you’d better take me home. I’m already late.” Grace doubted her father had even noticed, but if she was gone much longer, he might. Or maybe not. From her seat next to Wayne in the buggy, it was easy to see why he had chosen this spot. From the highway, they’d turned onto a dirt road, followed wagon-wheel ruts across a pasture, and arrived at this cluster of trees with barely enough room for a buggy. There was an overlook about fifty feet away and a creek below. Secluded and pretty. The perfect make-out spot.

  “Fine.” Wayne twisted in his seat, and Grace was startled by his gruff tone.

  “Are you mad?” She reached for his hand at the same time he grabbed the reins, so she slowly returned her hand to her lap.

  “Nee. I’m not mad.” He dropped the reins and sighed. “It’s just . . .” He turned to look at her and pressed his lips together, and for a moment, she thought she saw his lip tremble. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I’m feeling something I’ve never felt before. And it wonders me if you are feeling the same way. I’m worried that you’re not.” He hung his head, and this time Grace reached for his hand and latched on.

  “Ach, Wayne.” Her words sounded dreamy, but she felt like she might burst with emotion. “I am feeling something. I really am.” As he turned to face her, she leaned over and kissed him on the mouth, and as he returned the kiss, Grace knew that it was going to take more than just a few kisses to hold on to someone like him. But they both jumped when they heard a buggy come up the path.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Wayne said as he abruptly pulled away from Grace and stepped out of the buggy. “This is ab im kopp, you following us around.”

  “I’m not off in the head, Wayne. I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here.” Miriam spat the words as she approached them. “But Grace’s daed showed up at mei haus looking for her.”

  Grace brought a hand to her chest, then stepped out of the buggy. Following a brief thrust of adrenaline that shot through her veins, she realized that even if she got in trouble, her father did care about her. Deep down, she knew he did, but he’d been so preoccupied that it was good to know she’d been missed.

  Miriam scowled at Grace before she looked back at Wayne. “And I knew you’d bring her to make-out mountain, or whatever you boys are calling it these days.” She pointed a finger at him. “You’d best get Grace home. Now!”

  Grace couldn’t get back in the buggy fast enough. She wasn’t sure who she was more scared of, Miriam or her father.

  Surprisingly, Wayne didn’t respond to her. He just hurried back to the buggy and stayed quiet on the ride home.

  Grace sat on the couch, staring at the floor as Eli paced the living room. He wasn’t sure how strict he should be with Gracie. He wanted her to make friends and to be happy here, but too much freedom could also lead to trouble at her age. And how much had Leah talked to Grace about boys?

  “I was worried about you. When you didn’t come home, all I could think about was . . .” He stopped pacing and locked eyes with Gracie when she looked up. “You know, your mamm. What if there had been an accident?”

  She pulled her eyes away, leaned back on the couch, and folded her arms across her chest. “Sorry.”

  You don’t sound very sorry. Eli stroked his beard, thinking and praying he was saying the right things. Grace had already told him that Miriam had gotten word to her that Eli was looking for her. He was grateful to Miriam for that.

  “Can I go upstairs now?”

  Eli stared at his beautiful daughter, and in his mind’s eye, he could still see her as a little girl, running into his arms. Now he couldn’t recall the last time Gracie had initiated a hug, and it was hard for him to acknowledge that his little girl was growing up.

  “There’s someone here anyway,” she said, standing up.

  Eli looked out the window, and sure enough, a buggy was heading up the driveway. “All right. We can talk more about this later.”

  Grace padded across the living room in her socks, then scurried up the stairs.

  “See what Ben’s doing up there,” Eli hollered before he walked onto the porch. When he saw who his visitor was, he couldn’t keep the smile from his face. Two female visitors in one day.

  Ruth floated her way to him in total perfection, like the angel he’d made her out to be the moment he’d laid eyes on her.

  “Please forgive my unannounced vi
sit, but I wanted to welcome you and your family to Paradise.” She handed him a pie. “I’ve brought you an apple crumb pie.”

  When Ruth smiled, Eli went weak in the knees. “Danki,” he managed to say, even though he felt tongue-tied. “How nice of dooo . . . I mean, you.” He nervously chuckled. “Um . . . would . . . would you like maybe to come have a chunk?” He blinked his eyes a few times. What is wrong with me? “I mean a slice. Not a chunk.”

  Ruth laughed, and Eli felt like his body was lifting off the ground when she said she’d love a slice. So together they floated into the house, and Eli had never been more grateful to be freshly bathed and dressed in his Sunday blue shirt. He hadn’t realized until this moment that he’d grabbed his newest shirt reserved for worship service. He invited Ruth to sit in the living room, and he fetched two slices of pie, then two cups of coffee. The pie wasn’t nearly as good as Elizabeth’s, but it was merely a passing thought.

  “I met your precious kinner last Sunday, Grace and Ben. I’m guessing Grace is fourteen or fifteen, and Ben . . . maybe ten?”

  Eli nodded from his spot on the couch next to Ruth. “Close. Gracie is fifteen, almost sixteen, and Ben is eleven.”

  “How wonderful,” Ruth said, setting her plate on the coffee table after only a couple of bites. “I have four kinner. Stephen is six, Carolyn is seven, Eve just turned eleven—same age as your Ben—and Mary is thirteen.”

  “Aren’t big families wunderbaar? Together we have six kinner.” Eli felt his face turning fire-engine red, since he apparently already had them married off and raising their six children together, but when Ruth smiled, Eli smiled too. Then he hung on Ruth’s every word for the next thirty minutes.

  “What is wrong with Daed?” Ben whispered to Grace from the top of the stairs. “He don’t sound right.”

  Grace rolled her eyes. “He’s trying to impress that lady.”