Читать книгу Her Amish Child - Lenora Worth, Rachel Hauck - Страница 14

Josiah took off his hat and hung it on a peg Naomi indicated by the door. Then he sat at the kitchen table while the woman took Dinah with her and Raesha into another room to discuss whether or not they could rent the grossdaddi haus to him. He hadn’t thought this through and now he regretted blurting out his proposal to Raesha.

She obviously didn’t want him around. Did she find him revolting and unappealing or was she afraid he’d take the babe away in the middle of the night?

He’d been so frantic earlier while loading boards at the general store. With the weather turning bad and the idea of either sleeping in a cold house with a burned-out roof on one side or taking his buggy back the fifteen miles to get another room at the inn since he’d given up the one he had, Josiah had voiced his worries to Mr. Hartford.

That’s when the kindly storekeeper had suggested this solution. “The Bawell ladies are kind and they have often opened their home to those in need. They make money off their millinery shop and sell other items there—mostly for the tourists who come through. But they need all the income they can find. That’s a mighty big place.”

Josiah stood and stared out the wide window over the sink. Such a pretty spot, too. He barely remembered the Bawells but then, he’d tried to put his memories of Campton Creek behind him. He did remember that their son, Aaron, maybe a year or so older than Josiah, had spoken to him often at church gatherings and such. Raesha must have come along after Josiah and Josie had moved away.

A big mistake, that. His feisty younger sister had started acting out when she reached her teen years. He’d hoped she’d sown all of her wild oats during her rumspringa but Josephine Fisher was determined to see the world outside their small settlement. He still didn’t know if she’d ever been baptized.

But he did believe his troubled sister had been running from something.

Well, she’d seen the world all right. His heart bumped at the weight of seeing that bobbeli that only reminded him of his failure as a brother. Was the man she’d been engaged to the father of that baby? Or had she strayed?

If Dinah was even her child, of course.

He’d come back here to salvage the farm and maybe sell it to help pay back his cousin’s kindness. But he’d done that only in hopes of finding Josie. But if she’d been here and left this child with these kind women, she’d also done her homework.

What better place to abandon a baby?

He wondered if she’d come home, thinking to open up the house and instead, alone and afraid, had found it wasn’t livable. Had she dropped off her child in a fit of despair?

Could she still be in the area?

He’d reached Nathan Craig, a man known for tracking down missing Amish. Nathan had already talked to several people who’d seen a young woman fitting her description and carrying a baby. But she could easily blend in here among the other younger women. Someone could be hiding her. He didn’t know and now he had other things to consider. The house repairs and, possibly, an infant niece.

Thinking he’d leave and not bother these women again until they all went to the community center tomorrow, Josiah turned to leave.

“Josiah?”

He pivoted at the door to find Raesha standing at the edge of the big long living room. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was aggravated and cold and hungry earlier. Never mind me asking about staying here. I do not think that’s wise.”

“We don’t mind,” she said, but she didn’t sound sure. “I will have to clear it with the bishop and we’d lock the door to the long porch that connects the grossdaddi haus to this house. We don’t use that way much now so it’s usually locked anyway. We tend to go out the side door by the shop.”

“I would not harm you or bother you,” he said, hope gaining speed again. “I won’t show up on your doorstep again. I just need a place close by while I rebuild my house.”

“I understand,” Raesha said. “It makes sense and we do often rent out equipment and the occasional room. We often have relatives visiting for long periods and they find the grossdaddi haus comfortable.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s no bother,” she said. “But we will have to consider what to do if Dinah is truly your niece.”

“I had planned to sell the place, but I wouldn’t want to take her away.” He paused. “I told my onkel and cousins I’d be back. I borrowed traveling money from my onkel and one of my cousins is angry with me.”

Raesha’s expression softened at that. “I’m sorry to hear of your hardship. Maybe you can send them the money even if you decide to stay. It might take longer to pay off but at least they’d know you mean to do so. Once you have your house in order she—Dinah—would be right next door.”

He grabbed at hope. And he’d be right next to Raesha. “You could visit her often.”

“And watch her if you need us.”

They seemed to be reaching a truce of sorts.

Josiah gazed at the woman across the room, their eyes holding with a push and pull that reminded him of a rope tug.

“I did call Mr. Craig. People have seen someone matching her description in town and the woman was carrying a baby. But no one can be sure.”

“Then there is hope that she will return,” Raesha said. “I pray God will give us insight.

“If your sister comes back, we will do what we can for her,” Raesha said, her tone soft and quiet. “You can still do what you set out to do and Naomi and I will continue on.”

Josiah nodded and rubbed his face. “This is a gut plan, ja?”

“That remains to be seen,” Raesha replied. “Meantime, you are here and it’s storming out there. You will stay for supper.”

“I will?”

She smiled at the surprise in his question. “If you are so inclined.”

“I’m inclined,” he said. “Whatever’s simmering on that stove smells mighty gut.”

“Then sit by the fire and I’ll go and tell Naomi we have reached an agreement. We will discuss the details after supper.”

“You are a very forceful woman,” he said, moving across to the welcoming heat coming from the woodstove.

“I am a woman on my own with a mother-in-law I hold dear and with way more property than I can handle. I’ve learned to be forceful. Some frown on that, however.”

He smiled. “I’m not one of them.”

She inclined her head, her eyes going dark gray in the glow from the gas lamps. Then she turned and went into the other room to get Naomi.

* * *

Raesha let out a deep breath. “It’s settled.”

Naomi watched over Dinah. They’d found a huge straw basket that would make do for a bassinet for now and covered it with blankets so Dinah would be comfortable and safe. It sat by Raesha’s bed. She had a comfortable room that held the bed, two side chairs and a large but simply made armoire that had stored her clothes along with Aaron’s. His were gone now, donated to someone in need.

The room seemed cheerier with the big basket on the floor, a baby sleeping inside.

Naomi rose from the chair she’d taken near the baby’s bed. “Gut. Our neighbor is in need. We will help him as we can.”

“At what cost?” Raesha asked in a whisper.

“It costs us nothing to be kind,” her mother-in-law reminded her.

“But the baby—”

“Is not ours either way.”

“You’re right,” she said, feeling as if she were sitting on a fence and couldn’t decide which way to jump. “You’re right.”

“Let’s go and have our supper,” Naomi replied, taking Raesha by the hand. “A good meal will ease our concerns and maybe we can get to know Josiah a bit more, ain’t so?”

Raesha nodded. “Ja. I need to know all kinds of things.”

Naomi gave her a knowing look, her shrewd eyes still strong enough to see more than she let on.

“For the bobbeli’s sake.”

Raesha echoed that. “For Dinah’s sake. Nothing more.”

But there was a lot more going on here than an abandoned baby sleeping away and a stranger eating supper with them.

Her life had changed dramatically overnight.

But she wasn’t so sure she would like this change.

* * *

“The meal is wonderful,” Josiah said, glancing across the table at Raesha. “Do you share cooking duties?”

Naomi held up a wrinkled hand. “I used to run this kitchen but old age has slowed me down. But Raesha is a fast learner and her mother taught her well before she came to live with us.”

“We cook for special occasions and frolics, church gatherings and market days,” Raesha said, the coziness of the night making her mellow. “But for the two of us, we measure out and don’t waste anything.”

“A good rule,” Josiah replied. “Josie and I were not the best of cooks but we managed. When we first moved to Ohio, we were both so distraught. We’d lost our parents and our relatives didn’t much know what to do with us.”

“Did you live with some of them?” Raesha asked, her mind wound tight with so many questions.

“For a while we lived with our uncle but he had a large family to begin with. I made a little money doing odd jobs and we moved into a small house that my cousin owned near them. That worked for a while but Josie was not happy. It’s hard to explain death to a child who is old enough to grasp it but still young enough to want her parents.” He took a bite of the chicken casserole and broke off a piece of freshly baked bread. “She only got worse as she grew. I think she’d held a lot inside for a long time. We both had.”

“I’m sure you did your best,” Naomi said, her tone gentle.

“I tried.”

He looked so dejected Raesha again felt an overwhelming sympathy for him. “You were young, too. Did you seek help from the ministers or the bishop?”

“I tried to get Josie more involved in the youth singings and frolics. She always was shy and quiet. She wouldn’t speak up and she didn’t know how to fight for herself.” He looked down at the bread on his plate. “Our daddi didn’t like women to speak up much.”

Naomi shot Raesha a measured glance.

They both knew that the man was the head of the household but what most didn’t know or understand was that the woman was the heart of the household and kept things running smoothly, all the while holding things close to her heart and praying to God to show her the strength she needed each day.

“We all have our roles to play,” Naomi said.

“Ja, and some take their positions very seriously,” Raesha replied. “My husband, Aaron, was a gut man who followed the tenets of our faith but he was never harsh or cruel.”

“Nor was his father, my husband, Hyam Bawell,” Naomi said, nodding. “Different people have different ways of doing things.”

“I didn’t mean to imply I went against my father,” Josiah said, clearly shaken. “He took care of us and provided for us. But he never seemed content.”

Content.

That word echoed inside Raesha’s head. She’d been content a few days ago. Today, her life seemed confusing and unpredictable.

The man sitting across from her wasn’t helping matters.

She wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up at their door. Or if they’d hidden the baby away until he was gone.

But no, that kind of attitude went against her nature and she was very sure Naomi felt the same way.

“May he rest in peace,” she said. Then she looked over at Josiah. “And may you live in peace.”

Josiah’s eyes widened. “Denke. You have both been very kind to me.”

After they’d each had a slice of spice cake, Naomi stood. “My bedtime has arrived. I’ll help with the dishes and then I’ll say good-night. Raesha, you can give Josiah the keys to the grossdaddi haus. I trust him to do what is right.”

“And what about the bishop?” Raesha asked. “He still needs to hear what we’ve planned.”

“I will speak again with the bishop tomorrow when we are out and about,” Naomi said. She shrugged. “He probably will nod and bless us since he’s used to this house being a refuge for those in need.”

“Go on to bed, then, and sleep well,” Raesha replied. “I’ll take care of cleaning up.”

“Let me help,” Josiah said. He must have seen her shocked expression. “I batch myself. I know how to clean a kitchen.”

“That is kind of you,” she replied, acutely aware that they were alone but Naomi was in the next room. “Once we’re done, I’ll take you across the porch and show you where everything is.”

His rich brown eyes brightened. “It will be nice to have a dry, clean place to sleep.”

They went about their work in silence but Raesha had to wonder what he’d seen and done since he’d been away. Had this lonely, hurting man been sleeping out in the elements? He’d mentioned the inn on the other side of town. But where had he been before then?

Just one of the many mysteries surrounding her handsome new neighbor.

No, make that the handsome single man who would now be staying on her property.

Confusing and unpredictable.

But she couldn’t turn back now. She had a child to consider. Tomorrow would the beginning of something new either way.