Читать книгу A Secret Amish Love - Rebecca Kertz - Страница 11

Chapter Two

James admired the beautiful scenery as he drove his silver Lexus deeper into Lancaster County Amish country. Farmhouses surrounded by acres of corn dotted the landscape. Cows and sheep milled in pastures near Amish residences. Flowers bloomed in riotous color in gardens next to white front porches, while lawns were a splash of verdant green from the summer rains that had showered the earth recently. Familiar dark and solid-colored clothing flapped in the breeze, bringing back memories of James’s teenage years living in an Amish community.

Seeing the Amish woman Nell again reminded him that it had been too long since he’d visited his mother and stepfather, so instead of going back to his apartment as he usually did, he turned in the opposite direction, toward the farm where he’d lived from the age of fifteen until he’d left Lancaster County at eighteen to attend college in Ohio.

His stepfather and mother’s farm loomed up ahead. The beauty of it nearly stole his breath even while he felt suddenly nervous.

He didn’t know why. He knew they both would be glad to see him. It wouldn’t matter to them that he’d moved into the area over two months ago and had stopped by only once. He’d set up his practice here because he’d wanted to be closer to his family. Yet, for some reason he’d stayed away.

He drove over the dirt road that led to his stepfather’s farmhouse and pulled into the yard near the barn. He didn’t see the family buggy. He parked out of the way of the barn door, in case whoever had taken out the vehicle returned.

There was no sign of anyone in the front or side yard as James turned off the engine and climbed out of his car. He paused a moment with the door open to stare at the house that had once been his home.

It had been hard moving into this house after his father had died and his mother had married Adam. It wasn’t that he didn’t want his mother to be happy. But he’d missed his dad. Grief-stricken, he’d been a terrible son, bitter and angry and difficult to control. But Adam was a kind man, who seemed to understand what James was going through. Because of Adam’s understanding, patience and love, James had grown to love and respect his stepfather.

James shut the car door. He was here, and he would wait for everyone’s return, not run like the frightened teenage boy he’d been when he’d first moved into Adam Troyer’s house. He wandered toward the backyard and saw a woman taking laundry down from the clothesline.

“Mom?” He hurried in her direction.

She stiffened, then with a garment in her hand turned slowly. She was too young to be his mother although the resemblance to her was striking. His eyes widened. “Maggie?”

“Ja, bruder.” Her mouth firmed. “You finally decided to pay us a visit.”

It had been too long since he’d seen his younger sister. He felt a rush of gladness that quickly turned to hard-hitting guilt.

“You weren’t home when I last visited.” He regarded her with affection. “It’s good to see you, Mags.”

“Nobody calls me that but you.” She dropped a garment into a wicker clothes basket.

He grinned. “Yes, I know.”

Warmth entered her expression. “So you really did move back to Happiness.”

“I did—close to two months ago.” He held up his hand. “I know. I should have come again sooner. I’ve been struggling to grow my veterinary practice but...” He sighed. “It’s no excuse.”

He gazed at his little sister who was now a woman. He regretted missing her teenage years. He hadn’t been here for her while she was growing up. He’d left home, driven to follow in his late father’s footsteps. He’d attended college in Ohio, then went to Penn Vet for veterinary school. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “I have a gut life. Mam and Dat are wonderful and Abby—” Her eyes widened. “Have you seen our little sister yet? You won’t recognize Abigail, James. She’s eighteen now.”

Regret overwhelmed him, and James closed his eyes. “I missed too much.”

“You’re here now,” she reminded him softly. She was quiet a moment as she studied him. “You’ll have time to see her now.”

“And Matt and Rosie?” he asked of his stepsiblings.

Maggie smiled. “They are doing well. You wouldn’t recognize them either.” She studied him silently. “Matt is nineteen and Rosie’s sixteen.” She eyed him with curiosity. “Are you happy, James?”

Was he? No one had thought to ask whether or not he was content with his life—not even himself. He should be more than pleased with what he’d accomplished, but was he? He honestly didn’t know.

“I enjoy helping animals, and my work reminds me of the time I spent with Dad. But happy? I’m working on it. What about you?”

A tiny smile came to her lips, and her green eyes sparkled. “Ja, I’m happy.”

He stared at her, intrigued. He grinned. “You’re being courted!”

She looked surprised and pleased that after all these years he still could read her so well. “Ja,” she confessed. “His name is Joshua Fisher. He’s a kind man.”

“How old is Joshua Fisher?”

His sister narrowed her gaze at him. “Why?”

He didn’t answer her.

She sighed. “He’s twenty-one.”

“I’m pleased for you, Maggie.” Warmth filled him as he studied her. “You like the Amish way of life.” Like him, she was raised English until their father died and their mother had brought them from Ohio to live in his grandparents’ home in Lancaster County.

Her gaze slid over him. “You didn’t seem to mind our Amish life,” she reminded him. “Once you’d adjusted.”

It was true. He had learned to appreciate the life he’d once rebelled against. The quiet peace that came from working on the farm when he was a boy eventually had soothed his inner turmoil over losing the father whom he’d loved, admired and always wanted to emulate.

“Where’s Mam?” he said, slipping easily back into Pennsylvania Deitsch, considering how long he’d been away.

Maggie eyed him shrewdly. “In the haus.” She paused. “Dat’s there, too.”

“He’s done working for the day?” His stepfather was a hardworking man, just like his own father had been. Would Adam scold him for staying away?

James experienced a sudden onset of uneasiness. The man who’d married his mother had been a good father to him, and he’d repaid him by being difficult and mean during those first months...and then he must have hurt Adam, leaving home when he did to follow the path he’d set out for himself away from their Amish village.

“Ja, you came at the right time. Mam and Abigail are making supper. Will you stay?”

He felt his tension leave him as he acknowledged the truth. “Ja.” He knew this was an open invitation. It was the Amish way to be hospitable and never turn a single soul away. “Will they be glad to see me?” he murmured. He studied the house. “I guess I’ll head inside.”

“James!” his sister called as he started toward the house. He stopped and faced her.

Maggie’s gaze was filled with warmth and understanding. “’Tis gut to see you. Our eldre will be happy that you’ve come. Please, James, don’t stay away too long again.” She pretended to scowl. “I’ve missed your ugly face.”

James couldn’t stop the grin that came with the lightening of his spirit. “You’ll be eager to get rid of me now that I’m living close and can visit frequently.”

She shook her head. “Nay, I won’t.” She regarded him with affection. “I’ll always be happy to see you, big bruder.”

They eyed each other with warmth. “I’d better go,” he said. “You’ll be in soon?”

“A few moments more and I’ll be done here.”

“I’ll see you inside then.”

Despite anticipating a warm welcome, James felt his stomach burn as he crossed the yard toward the back door leading into his mother’s kitchen. He drew a deep cleansing breath as he rapped on the wooden door frame.

The door swung open within seconds to reveal his stepfather, who blinked rapidly. “James?” Adam greeted softly as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

James offered a tentative smile. “Hallo, Dat.” He watched with awe as happiness transformed his stepfather’s expression.

“Come in!” he invited with a grin as he stepped back to allow him entry. “Your mudder will be pleased to see you.” He regarded James with affection. “I’m glad you’ve come back to visit.” His eyes brightened as if Adam fought tears. “You look well, soohn. Your clinic is doing gut?”

James suddenly felt as if a big weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he entered the house. “It’s doing better now, Dat.” He needed this homecoming. Adam was still the warm, patient and kind man he’d always been, and James was so thankful for him. “It was hard to get started at first. I’m getting more patients, though.”

Adam smiled. “I’m happy for you, James. I’m certain that you’ll make a success of it.” He gestured toward the kitchen table. “Sit, sit. I’ll get your mudder.”

James sat, aware that the house held all the wonderful cooking smells reminiscent of those he’d loved and remembered from his childhood.

Before Adam could leave to find her, his mother entered the kitchen from the front of the house. “I thought I heard voices, husband. Who—” Her eyes widened as they filled with tears of joy. “James!” She beamed at him. “You’re back.”

James grinned. “Hallo, Mam. I’m sorry I haven’t been back sooner.”

His mother brushed off his apology. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She met her husband’s gaze with a pleased, loving smile. “He’s come home again,” she whispered huskily.

Adam moved to his wife’s side and placed a loving hand on her shoulder. His smile for her was warm. “Ja, he has.” He captured James’s gaze. “And he is happy to be here.” His stepfather grinned when James nodded. “I know ’tis near suppertime, Ruth, but why don’t we have tea first?”

James watched his mother put on the teakettle. He had to stifle the urge to get up and help, knowing that it would upset her if he tried. In her mind, a woman’s work was in the house while a man’s work was on the farm or at his business. Adam’s farm was small but large enough to provide for his family. His stepfather made quality outdoor furniture for a living, and Adam was good at his work.

The teakettle whistled as Mam got out cups, saucers and tea bags.

“It’s gut to be back,” James said sincerely. It was good to see his family and the farm.

He made a silent vow that he would return more frequently to spend time with the family he loved and missed, he realized, during the years he’d been away from Happiness, Pennsylvania.

* * *

Her father came into the room as Nell was drying the last of the supper dishes. “Dochter, when you’re done, come out onto the porch. I want to talk with you.”

“I’ll be right out, Dat.” She was putting away dishes when her sister pitched in to help. “Danki, Ellie.” Nell hung up her wet tea towel on the rack when they were done.

“He’ll not bite you,” Ellie said softly.

Nell flashed her a look. “I didn’t think he would.”

“Then stop looking scared. Dat loves us.” Her lips twitching, she teased, “Even you.”

“I know, but I’m afraid he’s angry that I didn’t come right home from Aunt Katie’s.”

“He’s not angry,” Ellie assured her.

“Disappointed? Upset?”

“He was worried. Joshua didn’t come until it was too late for him not to worry.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t know that Bob would send Joshua.”

“Nor could you foresee the accident that would keep Joshua from getting to us sooner.”

“Then why does he want to talk with me?”

Her sister shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”

Nell nodded. “I guess I better go then.”

She couldn’t regret her afternoon at the clinic. She’d had a taste of what it might have been like if she’d accepted James’s job offer as his assistant. She loved animals. She enjoyed spending time with them, caring for them, holding them. After her sister Meg became gravely ill, and Michael—the man she’d loved—had died, her animals had been Nell’s only solace.

Working the afternoon at Pierce’s Veterinary Clinic, she believed, was God’s reward for doing the right thing.

Her father was standing on the front porch gazing at the horizon when Nell joined him.

“Dat?”

“Gut, you’re here.”

“Dat, if this is about today, I’m sorry that you were worried. I called Bob as soon as I knew that I’d be staying. I didn’t know about Joshua and the accident.”

“This isn’t about today,” he said, “although I was worried when you didn’t come home.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You did what you should have. Joshua explained everything.” He turned to stare out over the farm. “’Tis about something else. Something I’ve been meaning to talk with you about.”

“What is it, Dat?”

“You’re twenty-four, Nell. ’Tis time you were thinking of marrying and having a family of your own. Other community women your age are married with children, but you have shown no interest in having a husband. I’m afraid you’re spending too much time with your animals.”

Nell’s heart lurched with fear. He’d talked previously of marriage to her but not negatively about her animals. “Dat, I enjoy them.” She inhaled sharply. “You want me to get rid of them?”

He faced her. “Nay, Dochter, I know you care for those critters, and as unusual as that is, I wouldn’t insist on taking anything away that gives you such joy. But having a husband and children should be more important. You’re getting older, and your chances at marriage are dwindling. You need to find a husband and soon. If not, then I’ll have to find one for you.”

“How am I supposed to get a husband, Dat?” She’d loved Michael and hoped to marry him until he’d died of injuries from an automobile accident.

She knew she was expected to marry. It was the Amish way. But how was she to find a husband?