It was a warm September. After her hard work that morning, Emma decided to wash up and change into fresh clothes. She wouldn’t need a sweater or jacket today. The weather at the end of September was often changeable, sometimes warm, sometimes cool. Today promised to be a warm one. When she came back downstairs, she heard Daniel’s voice from the direction of the kitchen. He was seated at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee before him.
“Emma,” Missy said with a smile, “Daniel’s here.”
“Daniel,” she greeted. There would be no ignoring the man. She glanced quickly at the wall clock and felt slightly annoyed that it was only seven forty-five with Daniel already there. She started to bring up the subject of walking to work, then thought better of it. She’d talk with Daniel about it later.
“Did you want coffee?” Missy asked.
“Nay, but I appreciate the offer,” Emma said. She locked eyes with Daniel. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready.” Her heart pumped hard as she exited the house and went out in the backyard where they’d tied up Jeremiah earlier. She unclipped his tie-out line, then put on his leash. Then she walked him around the yard a bit before Arlin appeared at the door to the barn. “Would you like him inside?” she asked.
Arlin shook his head. “I’ll take him into the barn with me.”
Emma had recently learned that Arlin liked to make birdhouses, small tables and shelves as well as other wooden items. She’d seen the items in one back corner of the barn set aside for his workshop, and she’d been impressed not only by the craftsmanship but the way he’d painted some of them to sell in local gift shops for tourists. She smiled as she handed Arlin his dog’s leash.
“I see Daniel is here. You ready for work?”
Emma nodded. “I know it was only my first day, but I enjoyed yesterday.”
“Gut,” the man said with gruff affection. Emma heard a screen door open as Arlin looked past her before he met her gaze again. “Daniel,” he murmured.
She turned to watch with skittering nerves as Daniel approached. “Onkel,” he said with a smile. To Emma’s surprise, the younger man bent down to pet Jeremiah, spending a few moments lavishing attention on his uncle’s dog. Both surprised her. Not all Amish cared for animals that didn’t serve a specific purpose like a horse pulling a carriage or chickens laying eggs or cows providing milk. Emma had always loved all animals, but this little black-and-white furry creature held a special place in her heart. The dog had been kept in the barn and had offered Emma the comfort she’d desperately needed as she’d tried to get a good night’s sleep in a stranger’s building. Only they were not strangers anymore. Now she knew that the house and the barn had belonged to Arlin and Missy Stoltzfus.
Daniel rose to his feet. “Ready?” he asked Emma as he placed his straw hat onto his head. He looked handsome in a light green shirt with denim pants and black suspenders. He wore heavy-duty tan work boots. Everything about him proclaimed him a strong male personality. Emma thought of her father, who’d been more studious and quieter, but she and her mother had loved him dearly.
Missy came out of the house. “Don’t forget your lunches,” the woman said as she approached. She handed Emma and Daniel each a paper bag. “Chicken salad sandwiches,” she told him.
Daniel grinned. “My favorite.” The sight of his sparkling eyes and smile hit Emma like a brick to her midsection.
“Mine, too,” she murmured truthfully.
“We should go,” Daniel said. Near the passenger side of the buggy, he held out his hand to her. She drew a calming breath and accepted his help, aware of his warm fingers around hers.
“Did you sleep well?”
She got situated in the front seat of the buggy, then stared at him. “Why do you ask?”
He sighed. “You look tired.”
“I’m fine,” she said shortly.
Daniel remained silent as he skirted the buggy and climbed into the other side. “’Tis going to be like this, is it?” he said stiffly.
“Like what?”
“You don’t like me, I get it, but can’t we be...kind to each other?”
She blinked rapidly, suddenly on the verge of tears. Her intention wasn’t to be unkind. She’d suffered enough unkindness in her life and hated the idea that she made someone feel that way. “I’m sorry.”
He looked surprised as he met her gaze. “I understand. I’m sorry, too. I wasn’t exactly kind to you. It was rude of me to suggest that I have doubts about you.”
Emma suddenly felt vulnerable and didn’t know what to say. “We can start over,” she suggested softly after Daniel had climbed onto the driver’s side.
His lips curved as he regarded her with warmth. “We could.”
Emma decided to wait until the ride home to discuss another way for her to get to work. She wanted to prolong the easy moment between them. Once she told him what she wanted, Daniel would be unhappy with her once more.
The drive to the Yoders’ store took less than fifteen minutes. Emma took notice of the speed of the buggy. Fifteen minutes in a carriage that went how fast? Not fast at all, she realized. Therefore, the store was how far? Two miles? She could walk two miles easily enough.
Daniel pulled in front of the store and waited for her to get out. She’d seen his instinctive move to get out to help her, but he’d held back, probably because of her reaction earlier.
She hesitated a moment, then regarded him softly. “Thank you, Daniel,” she said sincerely. Without waiting for his response, she headed toward the store. The front door was locked, so she went around to the back entrance, which was open. Upon entering, she immediately saw Henry at the table, drinking a cup of coffee.
“Gut mornin’, Henry.”
He looked surprised to see her. “You’re early.”
“Daniel had to be at work by eight thirty this morning, so he dropped me off early.”
The man nodded. He held up his mug. “Would you like coffee?”
“Ja.” He started to rise. “I can get it,” she said. She grabbed a mug and went out front to the pot resting on the small single gas propane burner. She poured coffee into her cup, then added one sugar before going into the back room again. “How’s Leah feeling?” she asked.
Henry smiled warmly. “My wife is fine. Slept in this morning, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her.”
“She needs her sleep,” Emma murmured with a smile.
He nodded as he gestured to a second chair at the table. “Have a seat.”
She stiffened. Had she done something wrong the previous day?
“You’re not in trouble. You did a gut job yesterday.”
She gaped at him. “Danki.” She frowned. “Then what?”
“I need to take Leah to the doctor today.”
“Is she oll recht?”
Henry inclined his head. “Ja, just a routine visit.”
She felt an overwhelming sense of relief. “What do you need from me?”
“Can you handle the store by yourself?”
“Ja, of course—”
“Gut.” Henry smiled. “We’ll be gone for most of the morning. I want to take her out to lunch afterward.”
Emma grinned. “She’ll like that. She works too hard.”
The good humor left his expression. “She does, but she doesn’t think so.”
“Give her a day to remember. It will be gut for her.”
“I will.”
Henry left through the back door, and Emma checked that everything was ready for her to open the store. She felt confident as she unlocked the door.
Her morning was uneventful. No customers came by until it was close to ten. Then Missy and Arlin Stoltzfus came into the store together. Emma eyed them warily as they approached the counter. Had they come to check up on her, much as Daniel had done the day before? Still, she greeted them warmly.
“We wanted to see you at work,” Missy said with a smile. The woman looked genuinely happy to see her. “And frankly I need a few things.”
Emma nodded. “Can I help you find something?”
“Nay, I know my way around.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure you do.”
Arlin stood at Missy’s side, watching his wife fondly as she pulled a list from beneath the waistband of her apron. “Is Leah up at the haus?” he asked.
“Henry took her for her doctor’s appointment this morning.” Emma met his gaze. “Then he’s taking her out to lunch.”
The man’s eyes warmed. “He’s a gut man.”
“Coffee?” When Arlin nodded, Emma fixed him a cup of coffee and set it on the counter close to him.
A few minutes later, she rang up Missy’s purchases and watched as they headed out. “We’ll see you at home later,” the woman said.
Home, Emma thought as she watched the couple leave. Arlin and Missy considered their house her home.
Wasn’t that wonderful?
* * *
Daniel was silent when he came to pick her up after work at three. Emma wondered if he’d had a bad afternoon or if it was just her that bothered him. Then she recalled that Henry had set three o’clock as the end of her workday. That would greatly infringe on his own work hours. Another reason to insist on her finding another way to and from work.
“Where are we going?” she asked with concern when he’d gone in a direction opposite from the Arlin Stoltzfus residence.
“Into town. I need to pick up a few items at the supermarket. Things that Leah and Henry don’t carry.”
“Downtown Lancaster?” she asked, growing anxious. What if Bryce had filed a missing persons report and the police were searching for her? Worse yet, what if Bryce, having recalled where she’d been found the last time, decided to come looking for her himself?
Her heart began to race in fear. She clutched the side of the buggy, her chest tightening as she struggled to breathe. “I need to get home,” she said. “Please take me home.” Emma swallowed hard. “I have chores to do.”
Daniel must have recognized her fear, for minutes later he had steered the horse into the parking lot of a shopping center and turned the vehicle around. He didn’t say another word as he drove her home.
Fifteen minutes later, Daniel drove his vehicle onto the Stoltzfuses’ dirt driveway. He didn’t say anything at first. Emma wanted to get out. In fact, she went to move, but his hand on her arm stopped her. “What are you afraid of?” he asked softly.
She closed her eyes, seeking God’s guidance. When she opened them, she saw concern and caring in Daniel’s golden-brown gaze. “The last time I was in downtown Lancaster,” she said, “the police found me and sent me back to my foster family.” She drew a sharp breath. “I can’t risk it happening again.”
He studied her thoughtfully. Then he nodded, and Emma could feel only relief. She turned to get out.
“Wait,” he said. Suddenly he was beside her, waiting to help her get out of the vehicle.
His hands encircled her waist as he gently lifted her from the carriage and set her down.
“Daniel—”
“Ja?”
His intense gaze made her blush. “I appreciate the ride home.”
He nodded, his eyes still focused intently on her. “I’ll be by for you in the morning. Sleep well, Emma.”
She remembered she’d wanted to talk about her walking to work. “Daniel—”
He shook his head. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Mam needs groceries.”
Emma felt guilty for keeping him from the grocery store.
“Have a nice night, Daniel,” she breathed softly before she headed inside.
She looked out the window once she was inside and saw that Daniel hadn’t driven away yet. He stared at the house with an odd expression. Their gazes locked, and she pulled back from the glass, stunned by the riotous feelings inside her.
“Emma?” Missy called from the gathering room. “That you?”
“Ja, ’tis me,” she said before she made her way to where Missy sat, sewing, in the great room.
“Did you have a gut day?” the older woman asked.
“Ja, I did.” Emma realized that she meant it, although the drive home had been fraught with tension and worry. Was Daniel still outside in the buggy? Or had he finally left? She ignored the urge to check as she joined Missy by taking a chair next to hers. “What are you doing?”
“Making squares for our quilting bee next Wednesday at my sister-in-law Katie’s haus.” She smiled. “You’ll meet her on Sunday. Katie is Daniel’s mudder.”
Would she see Daniel on Sunday as well?
“Tomorrow is your last workday at the store for the week. On Saturday, if you’d like,” Missy said, “you can help me with the baking for Visiting Day.”
“I’d love to help you.”
Missy smiled. “I’ll show you how to make an upside-down chocolate cake and a couple of pies.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Emma said. And she realized that she wanted to learning everything Missy was willing to teach her. She loved that everyone in this community was so warm and friendly. She hadn’t felt this safe in a long, long time.
* * *
Daniel couldn’t get Emma out of his mind all night. That a simple trip into town frightened her continued to haunt him. What must she have endured to be so scared? She told him she’d been brought into police custody and returned to her foster family. He felt an anger boiling up that he knew was wrong. He said a silent prayer to the Lord to calm himself. He found it difficult as he realized that her foster family had hurt her. What had they done to her?
He dozed a few hours before waking well before sunrise. He wanted to talk with Emma, learn the truth. He didn’t know why, but he felt protective of her. He would never fight anyone. It wasn’t the Amish way, but if someone threatened her, he’d do all he could to ensure she was safe.
With the knowledge that he’d be up well before the rest of his family, Daniel got ready for his day, then quietly went downstairs. He put the coffeepot on the stove and waited for it to perk. He took down several mugs for himself and the rest of his family. He’d drink a quick cup, then take care of the animals before heading over to his aunt and uncle’s house to get Emma.
Daniel couldn’t see her revealing any more information to him. If he was correct in his thinking, reliving her time with her foster family would be too hard. The coffee finished brewing, and he poured himself a cup, fixing it to his liking. He sat for a moment at the kitchen table sipping coffee, his mind wandering in several directions, consumed with Emma. Today was her third day of work, and according to Henry, she’d been doing well. She had proven trustworthy and hardworking, both traits he valued highly.
Finishing up his coffee, he rose and debated about having another cup. As he reached for the pot, his brother Joseph entered the kitchen. “You’re up early.”
“Ja. Couldn’t sleep,” Daniel said. “What about you? Something on your mind?”
“Nay. Fell asleep early last night. Thought I’d get a head start on my chores.”
“Want coffee first?”
“Ja.” Joseph took the filled cup from him.
Daniel poured himself a second cup, then sat down across from his younger brother. “What are you up to today?”
“Thought I’d help Dat around the farm. You?”
“Have to take Emma to work, then head over to the construction site.”
Joseph stared at him. “Tell me about Emma.”
Daniel stiffened. “What about her?”
“What’s she like? I heard she was staying with Missy and Arlin.”
He nodded. “She is. She’s a...” He wasn’t sure what to say.
“Some kind of distant cousin, I’m told.”
“That’s what they say.”
“Why do you need to take her to work?” his brother asked.
“She’s helping Leah and Henry at their store. I’m trying to help Missy and Arlin.”
“That makes sense.” Joseph took the last swallow of his coffee and set the mug down. “I’m going to head out to the barn. Take care of the animals.”
“You need help?”
“Nay, I can handle it.”
The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew their attention. Their little sister Hannah entered the kitchen. Daniel took one long look at her and realized that she wasn’t little any more. She was sixteen, an age that worried him.
“Mornin’,” Hannah greeted.
“There’s coffee,” Daniel said, motioning to the coffeepot and mugs on the counter. He watched her nod and fill up a mug.
“I’ll see you later, Daniel,” Joseph said.
“Ja.” He returned his attention back to Hannah. “What are your plans for today?”
“Helping Mam with chores.”
Daniel breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then I may take a ride into Lancaster,” she added, and Daniel nearly groaned.
“You are going there alone?”
“Nay, I thought I’d take Ruth Peachy with me.”
His eyes widened. “Why?”
Her eyes gleamed as Hannah lifted her chin. “Because I’m allowed.”
The arrival of his parents forestalled any further conversation about his sister’s rumspringa plans. Daniel looked at the wall clock and realized it was time to pick up Emma.
Minutes later as he pulled onto his uncle’s property, he saw Emma sitting on the stoop, watching as he drove in. He got out of the carriage and approached her.
“Emma, you ready?”
She nodded. “Daniel, I need to talk with you first.”
He eyed her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t keep bothering you for a ride. Starting tomorrow, I plan to walk to work.”
Daniel shook his head. “Not a gut idea, Emma. ’Tis dark until nearly seven forty-five. You don’t want to walk when it’s dark.”
Finding Her Amish Love Page 7
