Nate looked at him from across the seat. “We’ll have to work on that, won’t we?”
The next morning made Nate a firm believer in the power of prayer. As he and Bram sat down to breakfast, their parents’ unspoken questions filled the kitchen along with the aromas of the egg casserole Mamm was taking from the oven. Bacon, coffee, and cinnamon sticky buns made him think of how it would smell this good every morning, if he and Bram lived in a bed and breakfast. After they had prayed silently, images of capable, hard-working Martha gave him the confidence to speak up.
“Well, Bram and I had quite a day in Cedar Creek yesterday,” he began. “On the way into town, with the Coblentz girls’ buggy in tow, we ran across a farm that’s up for sale. The sealed bids have to be in by the thirtieth, and we’ve all four made big plans for the place.”
Before their startled mamm and dat could start firing questions at them, Bram chimed in with more details. “Jah, there’s a hundred and five acres. Plenty of space for the corrals and barns Nate’ll need for his trainin’ business, along with gut road access and space for an auction barn like I’ve been wantin’ to run.”
Mamm’s breath came out in a rush. “That’s a mighty big project for a fellow your age, Bram,” she replied in a tight voice. “And how do these girls figure in?”
“They’re going to open a bed and breakfast. The house that’s there has to come down,” Nate explained. “But Martha and Mary have ideas about how they want family living quarters on either end, with guest rooms and a big space for having church in the center—”
“And their dat has promised to build them houses when they get hitched, so that’ll be a big advantage, once Nate and I get the land.” Bram’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he heaped the steaming breakfast casserole onto his plate. “So if it’s all right by you, Dat, we’ll need to look the place over with the real estate fella in the next day or so and put in our bid.”
“Well, now.” Their mother set her fork on her plate, staring at them. “This is awfully sudden, boys. You’ve only just met these girls—and you both came home in a dither yesterday, after something they did or said.”
Dat leaned back in his chair to gaze at each of them in turn. “While I’ve told you I’d put up the money when you boys found places you wanted, I’m not sure I want to throw so much cash at a deal that’s blown up out of nowhere—even if these girls’ dat is known all over Missouri for his fine carpentry.”
“That’s why we want you to go along with us, to look the place over,” Nate replied. His heart was pounding so fast he could hardly think, but he couldn’t let these objections get in his way. Not if he was to start the life he’d always wanted. “Bram and I figure if we go in together on a place, it’ll save you money in the long run—”
“And we know it’s important to you that we keep the family together as much as possible,” Bram added. “Especially since it’s not likely we’ll find property here in town. Or in Cedar Creek, for that matter.”
“Are . . . are you sayin’ you’re ready to get hitched?” Mamm rasped.
Nate felt a smile flickering all over his face even as he tried to control it. “That wouldn’t have to happen in a hurry,” he hedged. “After all, it’ll take time for Bram and me to get our businesses established. Even so . . . as I think about it, Martha reminds me of you, Mamm. She prefers to be outdoors—really knows horses, too, and isn’t one bit afraid of hard work. She’s been taking some business classes to be sure their inn gets off to a gut start.”
“And Mary is a lot like Aunt Miriam,” Bram murmured, catching the spirit of convincing their doubtful mother. “She’s quite the gut cook, and has Miriam’s same energy about her in the kitchen—and she’s patient and caring with her younger brother and sister, too. Loves kids, Mary does.”
Their mother’s eyes were the size of saucers as she focused intently on her younger son. “Does this mean you’re joining the church, Abram Daniel Kanagy?”
Bram didn’t miss a beat. “Jah, I guess that’s about the size of it. The Coblentz girls have made it clear they won’t be leavin’ the faith, and that they’re a package deal. They’re a right pretty package, too.”
Dat laughed out loud while Mamm smacked the table with her hand. “Glory to God in the highest!” she exclaimed. “I don’t want you rushing into anything you’ll regret for the rest of your lives, but—”
“I believe we’ll visit that place as soon as you boys can set up a time,” Dat insisted. “Like you’ve said, opportunities for land are as scarce as hen’s teeth. And if your mother’s this excited about you joining the church, Bram, well, I know better than to mess that up, ain’t so?”
Nate heaved a huge sigh of relief and grinned at his brother. “See there? Nell Coblentz must be praying for us this very minute. Call that real estate fellow and let’s get after it! We’ve got a lot to accomplish these next couple of days.”
When her cell phone vibrated on Wednesday afternoon, Mary wiped the flour from her hands to grab it out of her apron pocket. The number on the little screen made her grin. She rushed out onto the porch so Joanna, who was stirring up a batch of brownies, wouldn’t eavesdrop.
“Bram? I was just thinking about you,” Mary said in a low rush. But then, when wasn’t she thinking about him lately? “What’s happening? How’s it going with the farm we looked at?”
“Gut to hear your voice, honey-girl,” he replied, and his words sent a tickle of lightning up her spine. “We walked around the place this morning with Dat and the real estate fella, and we just got back from submittin’ our bid. Now we have to wait until the end of the day on the thirtieth to see how it all comes out.”
Mary saw Martha coming from the chicken house and waved her over excitedly. “So how many people have put in bids?”
“They don’t tell you that part. Either they’ll call to say our offer was topped by other ones—”
“I hope that won’t happen,” Mary murmured. “Seems that all Martha and I can talk about is how we want to set up our B and B.”
“—or, if a few of the offers are close, they’ll ask if we want to increase ours,” Bram finished. “I’ve got to tell you, though, that when Dat saw the place and we did some figurin’ to come up with our bid . . . well, it boggled my mind. Even though there’s not much tillable land, it’s assessed at about two-hundred twenty thousand dollars.”
Mary closed her eyes. When her sister came up beside her, they stood with their heads together so Martha could hear the conversation, too. “Jah, when we asked Dat about a double house with extra guest rooms, he and Owen figured something like that, finished off real nice, would cost him a bit more than that even with donated labor. The cost of the barns and buildings you fellows will want is added onto that, so jah, it’s a huge investment, Bram,” she agreed in a tiny voice. “And it’s not like any of us are as old as most folks who run the businesses we’re talking about. Martha just came up to join me.”
“Hi, Martha!”
“Bram! So how did the place look?” Martha asked. “Were your parents okay with it, or . . .”
“Let’s just say Nate and I took their breath away when we told them what we’d been up to in Cedar Creek,” he replied with a chuckle. “But Dat likes the land. Agrees with us that the buildings are better off comin’ down, after these past few years of snow and rain and animals gettin’ inside.”
“So we’ll have the answer when we see you for New Year’s Eve?” Mary asked.
“That’s the plan.” Bram paused, as though he might have covered the phone with his hand to talk to Nate. “Um, what would you girls think if we brought you up to Willow Ridge then? The folks are trying not to let on, but they’re mighty curious about the girls who’ve got Nate and me so fired up about . . . settling down.”
Mary grabbed Martha’s hand, so giddy she couldn’t speak for a moment. “That seems only fair, since our folks have met you boys already. Might be the custom for Plain couples to keep their courtin’ more of a secret—�
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“But sometimes it’s best to get everything out in plain sight,” Martha said. “After all, both families have a lot riding on this, and, well—it’d be gut for us to get acquainted with your family and see where you fellows have grown up. Get things started off on the right foot for all of us.”
Bram let out a sigh that ended in a chuckle. “You girls are the best, you know it? We’ll fetch you bright and early on Tuesday. I’ll ask Mamm to get you a room ready—”
“Tell her we’ll bring along some bread and pies and cookies,” Mary insisted. “It’s the least we can do.”
Again Bram let out a little laugh. “She’ll be tickled to hear that. I’d never tell her this, but you’re way better at bakin’ than she is, Mary. And when Nate mentioned how Martha is more like her, preferin’ outside work to cookin’, he made some gut points with her.”
Mary and her sister laughed. “It sounds like we’re all set, then! We’ll look for you boys on Tuesday!”
Chapter Fourteen
“Mary? We’re gonna run a little late pickin’ you up.” Bram paused outside the real estate office Tuesday morning, glad to have Mary’s voice in his ear before he joined Nate and Dat inside. “We got called back to make another offer on the farm. Say a little prayer, will ya?”
“Oh, but this is gut news! I’ve been praying ever since you fellows left,” she answered. Her giggle did crazy things to his pulse. “If God wants us to have that place, we will, Bram. And if we don’t get this one, well . . . Martha and I aren’t giving up. In for a penny, in for a pound, we are.”
It struck him then just how deeply he cared for the redhead with the sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and how her faith was inspiring his own. Bram suddenly knew he would move heaven and earth to provide a place for Mary’s dreams to come true . . . because then his life would be set up for the very best he could hope for, as well. “Denki for sayin’ it that way, honey-girl,” he whispered. “I love ya. Really I do, Mary, and you’re the girl I’ve gotta marry.”
“Oh, Bram,” she breathed. “I . . . it’s all I can think about now, being your wife someday. It’s all going to work out wonderful-gut. I—I love you, too, Bram.”
“I love hearin’ you say that,” he murmured. “Gotta go. They’re waitin’ on me.”
When he stepped inside the agent’s office, he felt a goofy, lovestruck smile on his face, but he didn’t care who saw it. He shook Ken Carnahan’s hand and took the chair beside his brother. “Gut to see you again,” he remarked. “Our havin’ to come back means we’re still in the runnin’ for this place, ain’t so?”
Ken smiled from behind his cluttered desk. He was wearing a sweater with elbow patches and an open-necked plaid shirt, and appeared to be slightly younger than Dat. “Indeed it does, and I’m pleased folks like you are interested in the place. I have Amish neighbors and I’ve always been impressed by their work ethic—their willingness to serve as volunteer firemen and to keep their farms looking nice.” The realtor smiled at him and Nate as he shuffled some papers. “What sorts of plans do you have for the property, considering there’s so little tillable acreage?”
Behind them, the front door blew open and a tall man in a camel-colored overcoat stepped into the front lobby. As Bram told about the auction barn he envisioned, and his brother mentioned stables and corrals for training horses, Ken got up to close his office door. “Be with you in just a moment, Mr. Dana,” he told the fellow who’d just come in.
“And the girls we’re courtin’ figure to start a bed and breakfast someday,” Bram went on. “What with their dat, Amos Coblentz, helping out with that project, we hope to support ourselves pretty well once all these businesses get going.”
“Fine man, Amos is,” Ken remarked. “Watched his crew put up most of a barn in a day, and it’s a sight to behold. Now—if you’ll write the amount of your new bid here, and sign on the lines again, we’ll be all set. I know this is a big move for you boys, and I appreciate the chance to do business with you.”
“Tell the folks who’re selling this place we’ll pay them cash, too,” Dat said as he signed his name.
Once again, the magnitude of this offer . . . his parents’ commitment to his and Nate’s future, made Bram’s throat tighten as he and his brother signed their new, larger offer. He had a good feeling as they rose and shook hands all around, because Ken Carnahan seemed like a down-home sort of fellow who was genuinely interested in their success.
When they stepped into the entryway, however, the man who had come in grabbed his briefcase. “Couldn’t help but overhear the cute ideas you boys have for the Westview place,” he remarked in a deep Southern accent. His cowboy boots glimmered with fancy toe and heel trim and his tan Stetson was top of the line. “But I’ll be bringing in a new tire manufacturing plant, and our business will provide hundreds of jobs—not to mention that the taxes we’ll pay will go toward improving area schools and roads,” he remarked. “In times like these, such an investment can only benefit everyone in central Missouri, don’t you agree?”
Bram was too stunned to say anything. He went on outside, while behind him Nate murmured something like, “Jah, whatever.” When they reached the enclosed carriages, the three of them sighed.
“Well, that fellow sure knew how to take the wind out of a man’s sails,” Nate said. “Can’t see how our bid will top his.”
“Jah, I’m wishing I hadn’t heard what he had in mind for the place,” Bram remarked. “I’m not real crazy for the way he called our ideas cute, either.”
Dat crammed his broad-brimmed hat farther down on his head. “You’ve got your hearts set on that place, I know, but if you don’t get it . . . maybe the Lord’s got better property in mind for you. We’ll keep believing that. And meanwhile, your mamm and I are looking forward to meeting Martha and Mary later today. Be careful on the roads, now.”
“Jah. See you later, Dat. Denki for everything you’re doin’ for us.” They waved as their father’s rig headed back toward Willow Ridge.
Bram’s thoughts tangled like contrary reins as he pointed Felix north on the county highway. Nate sat silently beside him, stewing over the same thing . . . that other fellow’s attitude, and the insistence that his tire plant was a worthier use of the land they both wanted so badly. They rode several miles through the snow-covered countryside, keeping to the edge of the road so the occasional car could pass. When Bram’s cell phone rang, he handed the lines to Nate.
“Jah, this is Bram,” he said when he saw the number of the incoming call.
Ken Carnahan sighed. “The heirs of the farm instructed me to accept the highest new offer, and that would be the one Mr. Dana has made. I’m not one bit happy about it, but I wanted you to know so you wouldn’t be wondering and waiting over the New Year’s holiday.”
“Uh—jah, thanks,” Bram rasped. “I . . . guess we’ll keep lookin’, then. Let us know if other farms come on the market, will you?”
“I’d be happy to. You can come by for your earnest money check any time it’s convenient for you.”
As Bram ended the call, his eyes stung and his heart clutched. “Well, now. Mary said she and Martha were in this adventure with us all the way, but I’m not lookin’ forward to greetin’ them with this information.”
“Not the way I’d figured on us celebrating the New Year,” Nate agreed glumly. “It’s gut to keep the faith, like Dat said. But no matter how you slice it, losing this bid changes everything. The more I thought about it these past couple days, the more our businesses seemed so perfectly suited to that piece of property,” he continued in a rising voice. “We don’t need a lot of tillable land for our hay, so there’s no use in paying the higher price for that kind of property.”
“But a tire factory?” Bram demanded. “Can you imagine what troubles that’ll cause, with heavy construction equipment on this narrow blacktop? And then the car traffic everyday, when the factory workers drive to and from work?” he added. “Truth be told, Mr. Dana doesn’t impr
ess me as the type who’ll hire many local folks to run that plant, either.”
“Well, it’s out of our hands now.”
“Jah,” Bram said with another sigh. “And our mistake was figuring it was ever in our hands to begin with.”
Through the window of the front room they saw Felix pulling a rig up the lane and then noted the boys’ grim faces through the windshield. Martha grabbed Mary’s hand. “They’re trying to figure out how to tell us the bad news, Sister,” she murmured. “If they’d gotten the farm, they’d be jumping out and running to the house.”
“Jah, let’s figure out a way to commiserate without making the whole ride to Willow Ridge feel like a funeral parade. And let’s not let on to Mamma just yet.” Mary led the way to the kitchen to hug their mother, putting on the same determined smile Martha wore even though they wanted to cry. “We’ll see you next year,” Mary teased.
“Try to keep the party under control while we’re gone, all right?” Martha teased.
“I could say the same for you girls,” Mamma replied with a wry smile. “Give the boys and their folks our best. I know you’d like to get on the road again, so I don’t expect you to invite them in.”
“Denki, Mamma. See you in a day or so.” Martha slipped into her heavy black coat and bonnet and grabbed the big box of goodies they’d packed, which waited on the porch table along with their suitcases. Mary followed her outside with a pie carrier and a bread basket.
“Let me get this,” Nate said as he relieved her of her load.
Martha was careful not to react to his disappointment as she directed Bram to the porch for their luggage. When they were all four settled in the rig, and she sat beneath a blanket with Nate in the backseat, the buggy lurched into motion again.
The silence felt as heavy as wet snow for a few moments.
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