Dora leaned closer to Anne. “I heard a rumor that you are walking out with Joseph Lapp.”
Anne could barely contain her dismay. “Where did you hear such a thing?”
“My mother-in-law was at McCann’s Grocery last evening when Alma Miller came in. Alma said you and Joseph were out for a buggy ride yesterday morning and she saw he had his arm around you. In broad daylight. Alma was shocked. It’s not as if the two of you are silly teenagers. You are both baptized members of the church. So what’s the story?”
Anne decided to stall until she could think of a plausible explanation. “Mrs. Miller got it wrong. Nine pounds and ten ounces. Your son is growing like a weed.” She handed the squirming naked baby back to his mother.
“That’s because he eats all the time. I’m lucky to get anything done around the house.”
“Isn’t your husband helping?” Anne was happy to change the subject.
“With housework? Not a chance. His mother is staying with us, though. I don’t know what I would do without her. Lovina has been wonderful. When I first married her son, I thought she didn’t like me. But she sure likes her grandson. She calls him Gottes Shenkas.”
God’s gift. Anne smiled. The feeling of being close to God was one of the things she loved most about delivering babies. She took a seat at her desk and began writing her notes in Dora’s chart. “Babies have a way of bringing people together. They are pure and simple love from our Lord above.”
“Ja, they are.” Dora kissed her son’s forehead and began to dress him. “So how did Alma Miller get it wrong? Was Joseph with someone else? Or were you with someone else?” she asked with renewed interest.
Since the truth was generally the best way to go, Anne replied, “Joseph and I were together. My horse came up lame and Joseph offered to drive me to see Rhonda Yoder. That’s all. We are not walking out together.”
“Then he didn’t have his arm around you?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. Stick to the facts. “Actually, he did, but only because the horse bolted and I was thrown sideways. He saved me from being dumped off the seat.”
“Interesting.” Dora didn’t appear completely convinced. “I thought it was strange because I didn’t think you liked him. I thought you were sweet on Micah Shetler.”
“I’m not sweet on Micah and I never said I disliked Joseph. I disliked the fact that he wouldn’t keep his goats out of my garden. I was ready to complain to the bishop about it.”
“Is that why he’s putting up a new fence today?”
Anne looked up from her notes. “He is?”
“I saw him unloading a wagon full of mesh wire and T posts when I drove up.”
“Really.” She rose from her chair, walked through the house and looked out the kitchen window. Sure enough, Joseph was out in his pasture driving T posts into the ground. He had a row of them about ten feet apart along his existing fence. Leah sat in her stroller several yards away from him. A few of his goats were standing around sniffing her. Anne hoped they wouldn’t start eating the sweater the babe was wearing. Surely, Joseph would notice that.
“Is it true that his sister just left her baby with him?”
“Sadly, that is true. I have been helping him take care of Leah, and he has been doing chores for me in exchange.”
“It makes it easy that the two of you live so close together.”
“It does, but it also makes us food for gossips since we are coming and going between the two houses often. I hope you’ll set anyone straight who mentions we are walking out.”
“I will do that, but it’s a shame you aren’t seeing him.”
“Why do you say that?”
“A baby needs a mother. Joseph should marry if he intends to raise the child. It’s not right to let her grow up motherless. I hope he knows that. Has he said anything about taking a wife?”
“Nay, he hasn’t.” She frowned at the idea of another woman taking over Leah’s care. Was it something Joseph was considering? He hadn’t mentioned it.
“If he doesn’t wish to wed, my sister and her husband have been trying to have a baby for seven years. They would adopt that little girl in a heartbeat.”
Anne shook her head. “I don’t think he would give her up.”
“He would if he realized it was best for the bubbel. When do you want to see me again?”
“As long as you are feeling good and the baby is doing well, a month from today.”
“Sounds fine to me. You were a wonderful labor coach, Anne. You made the whole experience something Wayne and I will always remember and cherish.”
“You did all the work, Dora. Don’t give me the credit.” The two women hugged and Dora left with her son in her arms. Wayne sat in the buggy outside waiting on them. He waved at Anne and helped his wife into the buggy. They settled close together and he touched his son’s face lovingly.
After they left, Anne walked across her field to where Joseph was putting up the fence. She hated to tell him what she had heard, but she knew he needed to know. He’d taken his coat off and was working with his shirtsleeves rolled up. His forearms were tanned and muscular. He handled the heavy posts and sledgehammer with ease. Was Dora right? Should he marry to give Leah a mother?
“Wee gayt’s,” he called out as she drew near.
“Good day. I see you have been busy since you picked Leah up this morning. Why didn’t you leave her with me?”
He glanced at the baby trying to grab the closest goat. “I was missing my girl. She’s not been a bit of trouble. In fact, she put in the first six posts for me.”
The image of a baby driving a six-foot steel post into the ground made Anne giggle. “That explains why they’re crooked.”
He turned to look down the line. “They aren’t crooked.”
“And they weren’t put in by a baby, either. I can’t believe you are doing this.”
“It was time.”
She almost said “Past time,” but she held her tongue. “Dora Stoltzfus told me something I thought you’d want to hear.”
“Oh? What was that?”
“Alma Miller has been telling people that we are walking out together.”
“How would Alma Miller know such a thing?”
“She saw us riding together in the buggy.”
“That’s not a crime.”
“You had your arm around me in broad daylight, which seems to be a crime in Alma’s book.”
Joseph came to stand opposite Anne at the fence. “I hope you set Dora straight.”
“I did. I explained the circumstances, and I told her there was nothing between us. I’m taking care of Leah and that’s all there is.”
She waited to see his reaction because a part of her was beginning to hope that what she said wasn’t true. There was an attraction growing between them. At least on her part. Did he feel the same way?
* * *
Joseph cringed inwardly. Anne spoke so adamantly when she insisted there was nothing personal to their relationship. When he heard her put it so strongly, the words hurt. Maybe there wasn’t for her, but there was for him. He had started to care about Anne. How did he tell her that when she was trying to convince others of the exact opposite?
“I’d like to believe we are friends, you and I,” he ventured, waiting to see her reaction.
She plucked at a weed that had grown through the fence. “Of course we’re friends, but I’m not sure others will understand that.”
At least that was something. Her friendship was better than nothing, but he realized it wasn’t enough. Maybe in time she would come to think of him as more than a friend.
Was he foolish to hope her feelings would change? The only thing he could do was continue to offer his friendship. And that meant getting the rest of the posts in. “I s
hould get back to work.”
Anne remained at the fence. He could see she wanted to say something else. “Is there more?”
“More talk about us? Not that I know of. I need to ask you a favor, but in light of what I just told you, I’m not sure if I should.”
“I can’t say yes or no until I hear the question.”
“I’m out of several of the ingredients I need to make Leah’s formula. Daisy is still limping and I can’t drive her to town. Is there any chance you could drive me? I see that you’re busy. If you can’t, that’s okay. I think I can handle Duncan if you will allow me to borrow him, but Leah has to stay with you.”
He brightened at the chance to do something else for her. “You can’t take my horse. I would feel awful if something happened to you and I had to find a new nanny for Leah.”
He was rewarded with a tiny smile from her. “Only because you would have to find a new nanny?”
He rolled down his sleeves and pulled on his coat. “Should I have another reason?”
“Because you wouldn’t want to cause your friend pain and suffering?”
He moved to stand in front of her. Softly, he said, “That’s true. I would never want to hurt you, Anne.”
Her cheeks grew pink. “Danki. I would never knowingly hurt you, either. That’s why I wasn’t sure I should ask you to take me to town. What if there is more talk about us?”
“People will always talk. Leah needs her formula. Come to think of it, I need to pick up a few things, too. Shall we go to McCann’s Grocery or Miller’s General Store?”
He began pushing Leah’s stroller toward the gate. Anne walked along on her side of the fence. “McCann’s should have everything I need. What about you?”
“Miller’s. I need some small-gauge wire to fasten the fence to these posts. I don’t have enough on hand. We need to stop at the Beachy Craft Shop after that.”
“Why?”
“It’s a gathering place. We need to put out the word that you require the loan of a buggy horse until Daisy gets better so I don’t have to keep driving you places.”
Her expression fell. “I’m sorry it’s an inconvenience.”
He stopped to face her. “It’s not. But if others believe that to be true, our being seen together won’t be so remarked upon, and you will soon have a drivable horse.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I have them once in a while.” He started walking again. When they reached the gate, he opened it and pushed the stroller over to her side.
Anne looked the gate over with a puzzled expression. She swung it back and forth. “Did you fix my gate?”
“How come it is my poor fence, but it’s your fixed gate?”
She rolled her eyes. “Very well. Did you fix your gate?”
“I did, and I added a weight to it so that it will close on its own and swing in either direction.”
“You have been ambitious today.”
He enjoyed the admiration in her tone. He started making a mental list of other projects that might please her. “I’ll be back with the buggy in a few minutes.”
“Leah and I will be ready.”
* * *
The ride into Honeysuckle didn’t take long. They stopped at McCann’s Grocery first because it was closest. Anne got out. Joseph stayed put. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“I thought I would sit here looking annoyed and bored.”
She giggled. “In other words, normal for you.”
He started to smile but quickly smothered it. “I don’t want it to look like we are enjoying each other’s company. Now hurry up. And you’re right, annoyed and bored is normal for me.”
Anne chose to take Leah with her. Inside the store, she set the infant carrier inside one of the shopping carts and started down the closest aisle. It didn’t take her long to find what she needed, but it did take her a while to get out of the store. She ran into three different women she knew and had to explain to each one of them who Leah was.
By the time she got out, she thought Joseph would truly be annoyed with her for keeping him waiting so long. To her surprise, he was busy talking to the husbands of the women she had encountered. Five men were gathered around one of the buggy horses. Joseph caught sight of her and beckoned her over.
“What do you think of this mare?” The horse was a sturdy-looking black-and-white pinto.
Anne looked her over carefully. “She’s a very pretty animal.”
“Her disposition is just as sweet,” Calvin Miller said. His wife, Alma, was the one who had been spreading gossip about Anne and Joseph.
“Would you be willing to rent her to me for a week or two?” Anne asked.
“I’ll loan her to you for a week. No rent needed. Joseph was just telling us how his old goat lamed your mare.”
“She hates that goat,” Joseph added dryly.
“Because he’s a menace and you won’t keep him locked up,” she snapped, rounding on him.
Joseph folded his arms and scowled. “I was putting up a new fence when you decided you needed to come to town today. Don’t complain if he’s in your garden tomorrow because I didn’t get it done.”
A couple of the men snickered but quieted when Anne shot them a sharp look. She turned to Calvin. “I would deeply appreciate the loan of your mare. Can you bring her by soon? I would hate to tear Joseph away from his fence building if I need to deliver a baby again. Although I am grateful he found the time to take me out to see Rhonda Yoder yesterday.”
Calvin stroked his long beard. “I heard it was a near thing with her babe. The little fellow had a cord around his neck three times. It was Gottes mercy that saved him.”
All the men nodded and murmured in agreement. How did he and his wife gather so much information in such a short period of time? It was truly amazing.
Calvin patted the mare’s neck. “I’ll bring Pocahontas along to the church service tomorrow and you can take her home from there.”
“That would be wunderbar.”
Joseph unfolded his arms. “Goot. Can we go now? I need to pick up that wire at Miller’s General Store before they close.”
“I’m ready when you are,” she said with a stiff smile.
They walked away from the group and Joseph helped her up into his buggy. He whispered, “How was that?”
“You almost convinced me we don’t like each other.”
“Then we should confound them even further. It is getting late. How would you like to have dinner with me at the Mennonite Family Restaurant?”
“What reason will we give for going there?”
He rubbed his stomach. “Anne, I’m hungry. I haven’t had lunch or dinner today. I’ve been putting up fence and running you all over town.”
“Oh, in that case, danki. I’ll be happy to join you. They have a very nice buffet on Saturdays.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Anne waited in the buggy with Leah while Joseph purchased his wire. He was out of the store in record time. They left the buggy where it was and walked to the restaurant. It was busy inside, but the waitress was able to seat them at a small booth in the back corner and brought them two large glasses of sweet iced tea.
Most of the patrons were Amish families enjoying a special night out. A few were Englisch folk, tourists, from the way they gawked at those in Plain dress. The room was cozy with green-and-white-checked tablecloths and curtains on the windows. The benches in the booths were covered in solid green vinyl to match them.
Joseph stayed with Leah while Anne filled her plate. When she came back, she sat down and waited for him to return. He came back with two heaping plates of food.
Anne looked at him in amazement. “Can you really eat all that?”
“This will be a good
start. Did you see the dessert bar? I’m hankering for a big piece of that carrot cake.”
“Poor Margaret.” Anne shook her head.
He began to salt his mound of potatoes. “Who’s Margaret?”
“She’s the owner of this place and she’s going to lose money on you.”
He gestured toward Anne’s plate. “Nay, she won’t. You eat like a bird. We will balance each other.”
Anne coveted the warmth spilling through her veins. They did balance each other in many ways. She dropped her gaze to her hands folded on the table. Was she being foolish to believe it could lead to something more?
* * *
What did the soft expression on Anne’s face mean? Joseph knew she wasn’t indifferent to him. If she liked him, maybe she cared more than she let on.
Leah kicked and cooed in her basket. Anne picked her up, but Joseph said, “I’ll take her.”
He settled her on his lap, took the baby’s hands and held them between his own as he bowed his head to pray. Leah protested only briefly before keeping still. Joseph began silently reciting the Gebet Nach Dem Essen, the Prayer Before Meals.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we accept from Thy tender goodness. Give us food and drink also for our souls unto life eternal, that we may share at Thy heavenly table, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
He followed it with the Lord’s Prayer, also prayed silently, knowing he had much to be thankful for but still asking God to bring Fannie home soon.
Joseph lifted his head, signaling the end of the prayer for Anne. He patted Leah’s cheek and told her what a good girl she was. Anne looked pleased with both of them as she took Leah from him and settled the baby on her shoulder.
The smell of baking bread and pot roast filled the air. Joseph thought back to the food his mother used to make. Roast beef and roast pork, fried chicken and potatoes, schnitzel with sauerkraut, all served piping hot from her stove with fresh bread smeared with butter and vegetables from her garden. He hadn’t given a thought to how much work his mother had done without complaint until she was gone.
The Amish Midwife (The Amish Bachelors 2; Lancaster Courtships 3) Page 14
