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

Chapter Three

Saturday morning found the five Stoltzfus sisters in the kitchen with their mother preparing food for the next day. This Sunday was Visiting Day, and the family would be spending it at the William Mast farm. Nell and her sister Leah were making schnitz pies made from dried apples for the gathering. Mam and Ellie were kneading bread that they would bake today and eat with cold cuts tomorrow evening after they returned home. Meg and their youngest sister, Charlie, were cutting watermelon, honeydew melons and cantaloupe for a fresh fruit salad.

“I’m going to Martha’s on Monday,” Meg announced as she cut fruit and placed it in a ceramic bowl. “We’re planning to work on craft items for the Gordonville Mud Sale and Auction.”

“What’s so special about the Gordonville sale?” Charlie asked.

Ellie smirked. “She’s hoping to see Reuben.”

Meg blushed. “I don’t know that he’ll be there.”

“But that’s your hope,” Nell said.

For as long as Nell could remember, Meg had harbored feelings for Reuben Miller, a young man from another Amish church community. She’d met him two years ago at their youth singing, after their cousin Eli had invited Reuben and his sister Rebecca, whom Eli liked at the time, to attend.

Reuben had struck up a conversation with Meg, and Meg immediately had taken a strong liking to him. Although the young man hadn’t attended another singing, Meg continued to hold on to the hope that one day they’d meet again and he’d realize that she was the perfect girl for him.

Nell eyed her middle sister. “Meg, if you see Reuben and find out that he’s courting someone, what are you going to do?”

Meg’s features contorted. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

“You could be hurt, but still you won’t give up...” Leah added.

Meg nodded. “I can’t. Not if there is the slightest chance that he doesn’t have a sweetheart. I know we spent only a few hours together, but I really liked him,” she admitted quietly. “I still do.”

“If you want a sweetheart, why not consider Peter Zook?” Nell suggested, anticipating Meg’s negative response.

“Peter!” her sister spat. “I don’t want Peter Zook’s attention.”

“Peter’s a nice boy,” Mam said.

“Exactly! He’s a boy.” She sniffed. “Reuben is a man.”

Nell held back a teasing retort. Peter was the same age as Reuben. He was a kind and compassionate young man who’d had the misfortune of falling in love with her sister, who wanted nothing to do with him. In her opinion, Meg could do no better than Peter Zook.

If only she could find someone her age who was kind, like Peter, to marry. An Amish friend she could respect and eventually regard fondly as they built a life together.

“I hope it works out for you, Meg,” she said as she squeezed her sister’s shoulder gently.

Meg smiled at her. “Danki.”

“Would you and Martha like help on Monday? I can make pot holders for the sale,” their youngest sister offered.

“That would be nice, Charlie,” Meg said. “Danki.”

The day passed quickly with the sisters chatting about many topics while they worked, including their Lapp cousins and who they expected to visit tomorrow at the Mast home.

Sunday morning arrived warm and sunny. At nine o’clock, their father brought the buggy close to the back door. The girls filed out of the house with food and into the buggy. Nell handed them the pies she and Leah had baked before climbing inside herself.

“Dat, Onkel Samuel and Endie Katie are coming, ja?” Leah asked as Dat steered the horse away from the house and onto the paved road.

“Ja, so your onkel said,” he replied.

“Endie Katie said the same when I saw her the other day.”

“Will all of our cousins be coming with their kinner? Noah and Rachel, Annie and Jacob, Jedidiah and Sarah?”

“I believe so,” Dat said.

Nell smiled. She enjoyed spending time with her male cousins and their spouses. And she was eager to see Ellen, William and Josie’s daughter, who had come to her aid and taken her and Jonas to the vet the day Nell had rescued him.

Buggies were parked on the lawn to the left in front of the barn when Dat pulled in next to the last vehicle.

Nell got out of the carriage first. Seeing her, Ellen Mast waved and hurried to meet her.

“Hallo, Nell! How’s Jonas?”

“He’s doing wonderfully. His leg is healed, and he’s gained weight. I’m about to start him on heartworm medicine.”

The young blond woman looked pleased. “I’m so glad. I think it was a gut thing that you were the one to rescue him. I’m sure he’s happy and well.”

Nell beamed. “I’d like to think so.” She and Ellen strolled toward the house as the other members of her family slowly followed.

Another gray family carriage parked next to theirs. “Look!” Charlie exclaimed. “’Tis the Adam Troyers!”

“Charlie!” Rosie Troyer called as she exited the vehicle. Abigail climbed out behind her and waved. The eldest sister, Maggie, and their brother Matthew followed and approached Ellen and the Stoltzfus sisters with a smile.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Ellie said with a smile. “I’m glad you could come.”

“Ja, we thought our oldest bruder was coming also, but he was called out on an emergency,” Maggie told them.

“Hallo, Ellen.” Matthew turned to Nell next with a smile. “Nell, ’tis gut to see you.”

Nell’s lips curved. “Matthew.”

Adam and Ruth Troyer approached. “Ellen, Nell. ’Tis gut to see you both. Ellen,” Ruth said, “is your mudder inside?”

“Ja, I last saw her in the kitchen.”

Loud, teasing male voices drew their attention. Nell’s Lapp cousins Elijah, Jacob, Noah, Daniel and Joseph hurried out into the yard and gathered on the back lawn. Moments later, they were joined by her friend Ellen’s younger brothers, Will and Elam.

Jedidiah came from the direction of the barn. “Found them!” he said, holding up a baseball bat and ball.

“Matthew! You going to play ball with us?” Isaac called.

“Ja, I’ll play.” With another smile in Nell’s direction, the young man left to have fun with Nell’s cousins.

“Nell, you watch the game and I’ll bring your pies inside.”

She smiled as she gave her pies to her friend. “Danki, Ellen.”

Ellen entered the house, leaving her alone with Maggie.

“I didn’t know you had another bruder, Maggie,” Nell admitted, focusing on Maggie’s revelation, as the baseball game began.

“Ja. He’s a doctor and seven years older than me. He left our community when he was eighteen.” Maggie’s eyes filled with affection. “I’ve missed him so much. I was able to spend time with him yesterday but still...” She grinned. “Fortunately, he’s moved closer to home, and we’ll be able to see him more often. I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually.”

Nell didn’t know why, but she felt an odd anticipation as if she were on the urge of learning something significant. “You said your bruder was called out on an emergency,” she said. “What does he do?”

“He’s a veterinarian. He’s recently opened a clinic here in Happiness.”

The strange sensation settled over Nell. Despite the difference in their last names, could James be Maggie’s brother? If the young woman’s sibling was a veterinarian, then she doubted that the man was a member of the Amish community. “What’s his name?” she asked, although she had a feeling she knew.

“James Pierce.” Maggie smiled. “He owns Pierce Veterinary Clinic. Have you heard of him?”

“Ja. In fact, ’twas your bruder who treated my dog, Jonas, after I found him.”

“Then you’ve met him!” Maggie looked delighted. “Is he a gut veterinarian?”

Startled by this new knowledge of James, Nell could only nod at first. “He was wonderful with Jonas. He’s a kind and compassionate man.” She studied Maggie closely and recognized the family resemblance that she previously hadn’t noticed between her and James. “How is he a Pierce and you a Troyer?”

“I am a Pierce.” Maggie grinned. “Abigail is, too. But we don’t go by the Pierce name. Adam is our stepfather, and he is our dat now. We were young when we lost our vadder. I was six, and Abigail was just a bebe. We lived in Ohio back then. After our vadder died, Mam moved us to Lancaster County where she was raised. She left Pennsylvania to marry Dat and start a life with him in Ohio. Mam was heartbroken when Dat died. She couldn’t stay in Ohio without her husband and decided to return home to Lancaster County.”

Maggie’s eyes filled with sadness. “I didn’t mind. I was too young to care, but James was thirteen and he had a hard time with the move. He loved and admired Dad, and he’d wanted to be a veterinarian like him since he was ten. James used to accompany Dad when he visited farmers to treat their animals. He was devastated by Dad’s death, and he became more determined to follow in Dad’s footsteps.”

Nell felt her heart break for James, who must have suffered greatly after his father’s death. “You chose the Amish life, but James chose a different path.”

“And he’s doing well,” Maggie said. “My family is thrilled that he set up his practice in Happiness, because he wanted to be closer to us.”

“He missed you,” Nell said quietly.

The young woman grinned. “I guess he did. I certainly missed him. I’m glad to have my big bruder back.”

Nell couldn’t get what she’d learned about James and the Troyers out of her mind. It didn’t help her churned-up emotions when, later that afternoon, James arrived to spend time with his family.

She recognized his silver car immediately as he drove into the barnyard and parked. Nell watched as he got out of his vehicle, straightened and closed the door. James stood a moment, his gaze searching, no doubt looking for family members. She couldn’t move as he crossed the yard to where William Mast and others had set up tables and bench seats. They had enjoyed the midday meal, but there was still a table filled with delicious homemade desserts, including the schnitz pies that she and Leah had baked yesterday morning.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away as James headed to the gathering of young people, including his sisters Maggie and Abigail as well as their stepsiblings, Rosie and Matthew.

Nell found it heartwarming to see that all of his siblings regarded him with the same depth of love and affection. She watched as James spoke briefly to Maggie, who grinned as Abigail, Rosie and Matthew approached him, clearly delighted that he’d handled his emergency then decided to come. She heard the siblings teasing and the ensuing laughter. Maggie said something to James as she gestured in Nell’s direction.

James turned and saw her, and Nell froze. Her heart started to beat hard when he broke away from the group to approach her.

* * *

“Nell!” Warmed by the sight of her, James smiled as he reached her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Her lips curved. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”

“So you know my family.” He didn’t know why the knowledge startled him. Not that he was upset. In fact, it was nice to know that before they’d even met, he and Nell had shared an undiscovered connection.

“I’ve known them a long time. I had no idea that your family is the Troyers.” She shifted her gaze to his sister Maggie. “Then I recognized the resemblance between you and Maggie.” She smiled. “I’ve always liked your sister. She’s a gut friend, and I like her sweetheart, Joshua Fisher, too.”

“Joshua is here?” James attempted to pick him out of the gathering.

“Nay. He couldn’t come today. His grossmudder is ill, and he thought it best to spend time with her and his family.”

He was pleased to hear that Nell thought well of the man his sister loved. “He’s a good man,” he murmured, his gaze on his sister’s smiling face.

“Ja, and he’ll make Maggie a gut husband.”

James settled his gaze on Nell’s pretty, expressive features. “I’m glad you think so. I haven’t met him yet, but I trust your judgment.”

Nell appeared startled. She blushed as if embarrassed by his praise. “I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”

They stood silently for several seconds. James felt comfortable with Nell, and she seemed to have relaxed around him, too.

“Nell.”

She met his gaze.

“I was going to stop by your house. I received a phone call from Michelle today. Her stomach virus has spread to her husband and children, and she won’t be back for days. Perhaps even a week. Janie isn’t due back from vacation for another week. Would you consider working at the clinic next week? I’ll pay you a good wage.”

She seemed suddenly flustered, but he could tell that she liked the idea. “I’ll have to ask my dat,” she said.

“May I talk with him? I may be able to help ease his mind.”

“I don’t know...” She glanced toward an area under a shade tree where a group of older Amish men were conversing.

“Are you afraid that he won’t like me?”

“Nay!” she gasped, her eyes flashing toward his. She softened her tone. “Nay. It’s not that.”

“Then let me speak with him.” He frowned. “Unless you don’t want the job.”

“I wouldn’t mind working at the clinic again.”

James grinned as he sensed the exact moment when Nell gave him permission to talk with her father.

He immediately knew who her father was when a man looked sharply at Nell and then him. “I’ll be right back,” James told her as he made his way to the man who’d left the group to approach.

“Sir,” James greeted him. “I’m James Pierce. Your daughter helped me last Thursday at my veterinary clinic.”

“Arlin Stoltzfus,” the man said as he narrowed his gaze to take stock of James, “and I wonder how you know that Nell is my dochter.”

“A gut guess?” James said, slipping into Pennsylvania Deitsch and noting the man’s surprise, which was quickly masked by a frown.

“What do you want, James Pierce?”

“A favor,” James said. He softened his expression.

“What kind of favor?” The man eyed him with doubt.

“First, would you feel better knowing that I’ve come to visit my family—the Troyers—and not Nell?”

Something flickered in the man’s expression. “You’re Adam and Ruth’s eldest son.”

“Ja, I have the gut fortune to have their love.”

The concern eased from Arlin’s expression. “I’m sure you are a gut man, James Pierce.”

“James,” James invited, and Arlin smiled. “But now that I’ve seen Nell here today, I’d like to ask your permission for Nell to work in the clinic next week.”

The man lowered his eyebrows. “Why?”

“I have no staff next week. My receptionist is taking care of her sick family as well as recuperating from illness herself. My assistant is away with her husband and not expected back until a week from tomorrow. I would need her to fill in for one week only.”

Arlin glanced toward Nell, who was talking with two young women. “Have you mentioned this to her?”

James shifted uncomfortably. “Ja, I wished to know if she was interested before I came to you.”

“And she is interested,” the man murmured, “which is no surprise, considering how much she loves caring for animals.”

Nell glanced in their direction, then quickly looked away, but not before James recognized longing in her expression. She wanted the opportunity to work in the clinic if only for a short time.

Nell’s father sighed heavily as he studied his daughter. His expression was light, and there was amusement in his brown eyes as he met James’s gaze. “She can work with you. She’ll be disappointed if I refuse permission.”

James smiled. “And above everything, you want your dochter’s happiness.” He watched with stunned surprise as Arlin waved at his daughter to join them. Nell approached, looking fearful as she glimpsed her father’s stern expression.

“You want to work for him?” he asked sharply.

“Ja, Dat, but only if you give permission.”

Arlin’s expression softened. “He belongs to the Troyers. I give permission,” he said, surprising James.

James grinned. “Monday morning, eight o’clock sharp. Can you be there?”

“I can be there,” Nell said. She turned toward her father. “I’ll have my morning chores done before I go.”

“Ja, I have no doubt of that,” Arlin said.

“Do you need a ride?”

Arlin narrowed his gaze. “She will take the family buggy.”

He nodded. “Danki,” he said.

“James!”

He glanced over and beamed as his mother approached. “I’m happy you could make it,” she said.

He regarded her with affection. “I’m happy I’m here.” His gaze flickered over Arlin and Nell who were standing next to him. “My staff is out, and Arlin has agreed to allow Nell to fill in for them next week.”

His mother’s eyes crinkled up at the corners. “You can rest easily with this one,” she told Arlin. “He’s a gut soohn.”

James felt a momentary unease. He didn’t feel like a good son. He’d left his family and his community to attend veterinary school and had little contact in the years that followed.

As if sensing his discomfort, his mother squeezed his arm. “He’s moved back into the area to be closer to us,” she said as she regarded him affectionately.

He did move to Lancaster to be close to his parents for he had missed his family greatly. The tension left him. Despite his past, he was determined that he would be a much better son and brother from this point forward.