“But it won’t be dark when I leave at three. Remember I don’t have to be at work until nine. It will be bright by that time.”
He still didn’t like the idea. What if something happened to her before she made it to the store? Everything inside him wanted to argue with her, but he knew it wouldn’t do any good. “Can we talk more about this after work?”
“Ja, we can, but my mind is made up and you won’t be able to change it.”
We’ll see, he thought. Somehow, he would convince her that walking to the store wasn’t wise. He could talk with his aunt and uncle, see what their thoughts were on Emma’s decision. “Where are Missy and Arlin?”
“They left for Meg’s an hour ago. Something about babysitting for Timothy while Meg and Peter head into town for an appointment.”
“Do you have your lunch?” he asked.
Emma arched an eyebrow at him. “Ja. You?”
He couldn’t stop the small smile that cropped up at the sight of her sassy spirit. “Ja. Made myself a sandwich last night.”
“Let’s go, then,” she said sharply.
Daniel gazed at her intently. “You’re being bossy.”
She blushed. “Sorry,” she murmured.
Hiding his urge to laugh, Daniel watched as Emma climbed into his buggy unaided before he got in and drove to Yoder’s Country Crafts and General Store.
Chapter Eight
Today was Thursday and payday. Henry paid Emma, who refused to take the money. “I owe Leah for the clothes,” she said.
“Nay, you don’t, Emma,” Henry said pleasantly. “Take it. You’ve earned it. If you won’t take your pay, then I’ll not have you working at the store. You’ve made things easier for us. You deserve the little money we can pay you. The garments were a gift.”
Emma blinked rapidly as a lump rose in her throat. “Please take it back.”
Leah’s husband shook his head. “Nay.”
She saw the firm resolve in Henry’s expression and finally accepted the cash. Henry smiled in approval. Since he and Leah refused to take her money, she’d find another way to repay them. Did he really believe that during her short time working for them she’d made their lives easier? It was true she’d worked alone at the store while Henry had taken Leah to the doctor, but that was nothing compared to what they’d done for her.
Her first purchase from Leah and Henry’s store was a wallet. She slipped the remainder of her money inside for safekeeping, then cleaned up the counter. At the end of the workday, Emma realized Daniel hadn’t stopped by to check up on her, but he would be coming soon to take her home. The knowledge that she had a little money went a long way in improving her outlook for the future.
Just then, the bells on the front door jingled. Emma’s stomach began to flutter as Daniel approached. Would he want to bring up the topic of her walking to work again?
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
She inclined her head. “I’ll tell Henry I’m leaving for the day.”
Henry came out from the back room. “Hallo, Daniel. Come for Emma?”
“Ja.” Daniel locked gazes with her.
“I was just coming to let you know he was here.”
Henry smiled at her. “See you tomorrow, Emma.”
Emma smiled. “Ja.” She glanced at Daniel and saw his thoughtful look. “We should go,” she whispered. She followed him out of the store.
He didn’t say a word until they were outside in the sunshine. “Emma—”
“I’ll be walking to work tomorrow, Daniel. You’ll not change my mind.” She saw him scowl, but he didn’t argue right then, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he did. Emma felt triumphant as she sat back and enjoyed the ride home, until she realized that Daniel wasn’t going to accept her decision. Soon, possibly tomorrow, they’d be arguing the safety of her walking to work.
* * *
The next morning Emma got ready for work. She would be walking to the store today. She figured it was two, maybe three miles at the most. At least, she hoped so.
“Did you make your lunch?” Missy asked.
“Ja, I used some of the chicken salad that was left. That’s oll recht, ja?”
The older woman smiled. “Ja, you can have anything you’d like from the kitchen.” She pulled eggs and butter from the refrigerator. “What time is Daniel coming for you?”
“He’s not,” Emma said. “I told him I’d walk to work this morning.”
Missy frowned as she melted butter in a pan then cracked open the eggs into it. “Do you think that’s a gut idea?”
“I walked here from Maryland,” she told her.
“If you’re certain...”
“I’ll be fine,” Emma assured her. “I don’t have to be at work until nine. I’ll leave at eight. Once I know how long it will take me, I can adjust my departure time.”
Missy nodded, but Emma could see the worry in her expression. “Missy, I can’t keep putting Daniel out. He has to work. I know he usually works later than I do, yet he’s had to leave early to bring me home.”
“I don’t think he minds.”
Emma wasn’t so sure of that. She’d heard what he’d said when she’d been hiding in the barn. He was saving to open a business. The earnings from his current job would finance his future harness shop.
At eight o’clock, Emma grabbed her lunch bag and started to walk in the direction of the store. She hadn’t walked far when she heard the sound of buggy wheels behind her. She didn’t stop. The carriage drew up next to her, finally snagging her attention.
“Emma.” The shock of Daniel’s voice halted her.
“What are you doing here, Daniel?” She continued walking, and he steered his buggy alongside her.
“You wanted to walk so I’m following along beside you to make sure you arrive at the store safely.”
She jerked to a stop. “Nay, you’re not.”
Daniel arched an eyebrow. “Ja, I am.”
“Daniel—”
“’Tis for the best, Emma. Let me do this, ja?”
“But you have to go to work.”
“Ja, I do, but I’ll go in a little late. It will be worth it to know that you reached the store without incident.”
“But you’ve got a business to save up for.”
He looked surprised. “And how did you know that?”
“I heard you that first day in the barn.” She was across the road from him, but he kept even with her, slowing the horse’s pace to hers. “Daniel, you need to go.”
“Nay.”
She heard a car come up behind her. She turned, saw it was a patrol car and experienced a moment’s terror. She kept her head down, hoping the police officer wouldn’t stop. He didn’t. He seemed to be in a hurry. Fortunately, Daniel had pulled off to the side of the road. He halted the horse and stared at her as if he saw and understood her fear. Once the officer passed, Emma met Daniel’s gaze, then closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. “Fine, I’ll accept a ride from you, but only because I don’t want you to be late for work,” she said. Daniel started to get out. “Nay,” she warned, “I can get in by myself. ’Tis too dangerous for you to get out and help me. Cars drive past too fast along this road.”
Emma climbed into his buggy and settled in the seat. She didn’t look at him, and he didn’t drive on.
“Emma...”
“We should go.”
He sighed before he finally flicked the leathers and drove back onto the road. Minutes later he steered the horse into the store parking lot, close to the hitching post. Daniel didn’t say a word. Emma met his gaze, saw emotion in the brown depths of his eyes and felt something swell inside her.
“Daniel...”
“I’m sorry, Emma. I had to follow you,” he said before she could continue. “I was worried.”
She softened toward him. “That’s sweet of you, but—”
“But you no longer need me to take you to and from work,” he finished for her.
Emma hesitated. It was true that she didn’t need him for transportation, but mostly she was worried about taking advantage of his generosity, especially when he had a job that was important to his future. “Ja, although I appreciate the concern.” She recalled her reaction to seeing the police cruiser and shuddered.
“My brother Joseph will pick you up at three today,” Daniel said. “He works on my dat’s farm and he’ll be finished well before then.”
She didn’t like that he’d dictated who she should ride with. She hadn’t met Joseph. She didn’t want to ride with anyone. “Daniel—”
“Please, Emma.”
His soft, imploring tone startled her, and she shot him a glance. How could she resist? “Fine, but today only.”
His grin made her breath catch. “Gut.”
He started to climb down from the buggy. “I can get out on my own,” she told him. She knew he was trying to be kind, but she didn’t want that. Her feelings about him already confused her.
He nodded, and she could feel his regard as she stepped down from his vehicle. “Danki, Daniel.”
“I’ll see you again sometime soon.”
“Ja,” she said. Visiting Day was this weekend. She knew she would see him there.
The workday went quickly for Emma. Customers entered the store, buying items for the weekend. She was kept busy helping them find the things they needed.
A quick look at the clock revealed that it was nearly three. Would Daniel’s brother come for her as promised?
Minutes later, a young man with dark brown hair and blue eyes entered the store. He smiled as he approached the counter. “Emma,” he said, “I’m Joseph.”
He was good-looking but in a different way than Daniel. His smile remained on his face as he studied her. It didn’t appear as if he felt put out by coming for her. “I’m sorry that you got stuck with me today,” she said. “I could have walked home.”
Joseph frowned. “I don’t think that’s a gut idea. Besides, I don’t mind. ’Tis nice to get out and about.”
Leah came out from the back of the store. She’d been up at the house taking a nap. Her blue eyes lit up when she saw Daniel’s brother. “Joseph! What a pleasant surprise!”
The young man grinned. He seemed to be close in age to Emma. “I’ve come to take Emma home.”
Leah glanced in her direction. Emma gazed back, trying to keep her thoughts hidden. “That’s nice of you,” her friend told Joseph. She turned toward Emma. “I’ll see you on Sunday if not before,” she said.
Emma only smiled.
“Ready, Emma?” Joseph asked.
“Ja. Take care, Leah,” she said before she preceded Joseph out of the store.
Unlike Daniel, he didn’t offer to help her into his vehicle, a large open carriage with four huge wheels. He simply untied his horse from the hitching post as Emma climbed into the high seat. Joseph got in. Emma held on tight as the carriage lurched as he flicked the leathers before he steered the horse onto the road.
He was quiet as he drove toward the Stoltzfus house. Finally, he turned to her. “How old are you?” he asked.
Emma looked at him, trying to figure out why it was important for him to know. How much of her background was he told?
“Seventeen,” she murmured.
Joseph smiled. “I’m eighteen.” He returned his attention to the road. “So, you’re a cousin of Endie Missy.”
Emma didn’t know what to say and realized he’d been told only her cover story. “Ja.”
“First time visiting Happiness?”
“Ja. My parents are gone, and I have no bruders or sisters.”
He studied her briefly with concern. “I’m sorry.”
She smiled. “Don’t be. I’m fine. Besides, they are with the Lord now, ja?” She hoped so, anyway. Her parents had been labeled sinners. She prayed that God had taken them home to reside in heaven with Him.
The house rose up on the left. Joseph made the turn and pulled up by the side door. Missy was taking clothes down from the line. Emma frowned. “I told her I’d help with those.”
“Then ’tis a gut thing I brought you home,” Joseph said with good humor.
She saw the teasing twinkle in his eyes and decided she liked Daniel’s younger brother. “I appreciate the ride.”
“You’re most willkomm. Shall I pick you up Monday after work?”
“I don’t want to impose. If I haven’t made other arrangements, I’ll let you know.”
The young man nodded.
Emma went to the clothesline. “Missy, I’ll help with this. I’m not doing enough chores,” she said.
Missy glanced at her. “You do more than enough, Emma.” Her gaze went beyond her. “Joseph!”
Emma was surprised to see that Joseph had followed her. “I couldn’t leave without saying hallo,” he said. “I’m the one who brought Emma home today.”
Missy looked from one to the other. “That was nice of you.”
“Daniel insisted,” Emma muttered.
“It was my pleasure,” Joseph assured her with a smile.
Emma began to unpin the remaining garments from the clothesline. She ignored the conversation between aunt and nephew. When she was done, despite Missy’s protests, she picked up the wicker laundry basket and took it inside the house. Missy followed moments later.
“’Tis important for me to help,” Emma said.
Missy looked at her with a soft expression. “You help out plenty. But you can help me cook for Visiting Day if you’d like.”
She nodded. “Danki. I’ll be happy to.”
The next morning she and Missy baked the upside-down chocolate cake, one of Missy’s well-known and sought-after specialties, and a number of pies. Emma enjoyed working with the pie crust, kneading it on a floured table, then rolling it out into two circles. She made an apple pie first.
“The apples this time of year are fresh and crisp,” Missy told her. “Perfect for pie making as well as eating.”
“It smells delicious,” Emma said with a grin.
“I’ll teach you to make a shoofly pie next.” Missy smiled at her. She wore a quilted apron tied around her waist. She gave one to Emma, which she quickly donned. Both aprons had been handmade by Missy.
“What is shoofly pie?”
“It’s thick and sugary and delicious. We call it shoofly because if set on the windowsill to cool, flies swarm around it eager for a taste.”
Emma wrinkled her nose. “Eww.”
Missy laughed. “Don’t worry. We won’t let that happen.”
By late afternoon, she and Missy had made not only cake and pies but four loaves of bread, macaroni salad and a roast beef. “We don’t do any cooking or housework on Sundays, Emma.” She pulled the roast beef from the oven and set it on a hot mat on the worktable. “As I explained earlier, tomorrow we’ll have visitors. It’s not a church service day but a day when family and friends get together to enjoy one another’s company. My sister-in-law and her family will be coming. So will Leah and my other daughters. It should be a nice day.”
Emma was nervous. Would she be able to act like she belonged? How much did the family know about her background? Daniel knew and so did Leah, Charlie and Ellie. But what of the others? Of Leah’s sisters Meg and Nell? She hoped and prayed that she fit in well enough that everyone would accept her as one of them.
Sunday morning Emma got up and dressed in clean garments before she rolled and pinned her hair, then covered it with a white prayer kapp. Their visitors would be coming at 10:00 a.m., Missy had told her the day before. It was seven now, later than usual for her to rise. She descended the stairs and found Missy in the kitchen setting out muffins and
jam for breakfast.
“I’m going to feed the animals,” Emma told her.
Missy shook her head. “Arlin got a head start. The animals are taken care of.”
Emma flushed guiltily. “Where’s Jeremiah?”
As if recognizing his name, the family dog lifted his head from his dog bed in the corner of the room.
“Ah, there you are!” Emma exclaimed. “Would you like to go for a walk?” She grabbed his leash and the dog ran toward her, eager to be outdoors. “Let’s go, then.”
She took him across the yard, waiting a minute for him to do his business before she took him into the barn. Arlin was inside watching his horses eat with their noses deep in their feed buckets. “Good morning, Arlin.”
The man turned and smiled at her. “Mornin’, Emma.”
“I’m sorry I overslept.”
“You needed your rest.” The warmth of his expression relaxed her.
“I hope you don’t mind that I brought Jeremiah with me.”
The man smiled affectionately at his dog. “Nay. I’m sure he was ready for a stroll.”
“Missy said that breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
“I’ll head over, then, and wash up.” He started toward the door.
“Arlin.”
He turned to her with raised eyebrows.
“Danki,” she said softly.
“Nothing to be thanked for, Emma. You’re always welcome in our haus.”
Emma felt overwhelmed with emotion as she accompanied Arlin on the walk back. As she entered the kitchen, she felt her mouth water. She was hungry, tempted by the fresh muffins on the table accompanied by several jars of jams and jellies. Since she’d moved in with the Amish couple, she’d been well fed. Just shy of a week, she was already feeling stronger than when she’d first arrived. And this simple breakfast, she thought, was only the start of a day that would be filled with food and fellowship.
The day was unseasonably warm but not humid. After breakfast, Missy and Emma opened all the windows to let the fresh air into the house. Emma was pouring glasses of cold tea when she heard the sound of buggy wheels on the dirt driveway. The first of their visitors had arrived. She picked up a glass and went to the window as a gray family buggy pulled in near the barn.
Finding Her Amish Love Page 8
