After he saw her sorry state, she had no hope he’d ask her out again. The girls Zach dated would probably never dream of sweating.
There was nothing she could do about it. She couldn’t very well sit in the car and wait for him to leave. He’d see her anyway when he came out to his car. Groaning, she opened her Honda door and crunched her way through the snow to the house. She went into the house and waited for the people inside to recoil in disgust.
Zach sat on the edge of the sofa next to Mammi with a ball of red yarn at his feet and a pair of knitting needles in his fists. His tongue stuck partway out of his mouth, and his brows were pulled together in concentration. An unrecognizable tangle of yarn hung from his knitting needles.
“Cassie,” Mammi said from her perch on the recliner. “I’m teaching Dr. Reynolds how to knit.”
Zach focused all his attention on his disastrous pile of yarn. “I’m making a pot holder in case I ever own a pot.”
Mammi beamed as if Zach were her prize pupil. “He’s giving it a very good try yet.”
Zach held his needles like two tennis rackets and tried to loop the yarn without dropping them. “What she means to say is, ‘I’m really bad at this.’ It’s the piano teacher secret code.”
Cassie couldn’t hold back a smile. Just when she thought the doctor couldn’t get any more endearing, he surprised her. His eagerness was as cute as a pet store full of puppies.
A pleasant ache grew in her chest and throbbed through her veins. She suddenly wanted Dr. Reynolds to drop those knitting needles, march across the room, and kiss her silly.
She didn’t even care that she was sweaty.
The knitting needles and that concerned, almost grim look on his face made him that much more attractive.
Oh, sis yuscht. She was in trouble.
“Insert the right needle into the loop on the left needle,” Mammi said, using her own pair to show Zach how to do it. “Good. Now wrap it under and over the right needle. You see? Easy.”
Zach listened to Mammi’s every instruction as if he were getting a tutorial on how to do brain surgery. Cassie sincerely hoped he was better at brain surgery, because the knitting looked hopeless.
Cassie hung her coat on the hook, wondering if she should make a beeline for the shower before Zach got a good look at her. Too late. He glanced up, and his face broke into a smile. “Wow,” he said. “You look great.”
“A bigger lie never was told in this house,” Cassie said.
He pinned her with an earnest gaze. “I’m not lying. That green goes great with your eyes.”
She turned her face slightly so he wouldn’t notice the blush. “It’s okay, you don’t have to—”
“And your hair . . .” He stopped short. “Is it okay to tell you how pretty you are? Some women get offended by that.”
Mammi leaned close to his ear. “Whatever you do, don’t tell me I’m pretty. The Amish aren’t supposed to notice such things. It makes us proud.”
Zach grinned and nodded. “Okay.”
“But praise my granddaughter all you like. She has lovely hair and nice skin. She gets them from her dawdi.”
Zach peered at Mammi. “She definitely gets her good looks from you, Anna. But don’t tell any Amish people I said that.”
“I’ve always tried to look pretty for Felty’s benefit, but save your praise for Cassie. She’s the one who’s not married yet.”
Zach turned his eyes to Cassie. “I’m just getting started.”
“Not if you want to concentrate on your knitting,” Mammi said.
Zach lifted his hands to show Mammi. He’d somehow gotten his index finger knitted into his pot holder. “I’m afraid Cassie has distracted me.”
Mammi smiled kindly, so as not to discourage him, but even she could see he was a lost cause. “Maybe we should take a break. You can always come back another day and finish. It’s going to be a very nice pot holder once you’re done with it.”
To his credit, Zach acted as if he were disappointed about not finishing his knitting project. He gave Mammi a slight smile before wrestling his finger out of the middle of the yarn and depositing his needles on the table next to Mammi’s recliner.
He stood and clapped his hands together. “Now, what else can I do?”
“Cassie’s doing laundry today.” The way Mammi said it made it sound fun.
Zach’s eyes lit up. “By hand?”
“Sort of,” Cassie said.
“I’d love to help.”
“Are you sure?” Cassie said. “You’ve already burned yourself. I’d hate it if you smashed a finger.”
“Sounds exciting. I didn’t even know that was possible doing laundry.” Cassie took him to the washroom, a small space next to the bathroom.
“It’s better not to let Norman catch me knitting. There’d be no recovering from that,” Zach said as he followed close behind.
“I don’t know which is worse to Norman, knitting or laundry. If you’re trying to establish your manhood, you’d better not come within ten feet of the washroom.”
“In my world, a real man does laundry, no matter what Norman thinks.” He rolled up his sleeves. “How is it done?”
The washer was little more than a square tub with an agitator in the bottom and a wringer propped on the side. While Zach watched, she turned on the hose that Mammi kept there and started to fill the laundry sink and tub. Once she filled the tub, she measured a capful of soap and let Zach pour it into the water.
He pointed to the gas-powered motor next to the washer. “Is this a lawn mower engine?”
She smiled. “Something like that. The exhaust pipe runs out the window but the motor is very loud. Do you want to start it?”
“It’s because I have muscles, isn’t it?”
“Yes. That’s why I wanted your help with the laundry. I don’t know how I will be able to do it without you.”
Zach pulled the starter cord, and the engine roared to life.
“It’s noisy,” Cassie said, raising her voice to be heard over the hum of machine.
“Do you see that knob at the front of the washer?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“Pull it out, and the agitator will start.”
He bent over and pulled the knob. The agitator swished the water around and bubbles began to form on the surface. “It’s like my washing machine at the apartment,” he said, “except smaller and noisier.”
“I’m glad to know you do laundry.”
He curled one side of his mouth. “Only when I run out of underwear.”
She picked up the laundry basket and propped it on her hip. “The clothes go in one at a time. And be careful not to get your hand caught in some moving part. I’d hate to be responsible for ruining your promising medical career.”
He grinned. “I think I could practice pediatrics with a hook.”
She shook her head. “Kids are scared enough of the doctor as it is.”
Cassie had been very selective about what she’d put in the laundry basket. None of her clothes and positively no underwear, to spare both her and Zach the embarrassment. They put in Mammi’s dresses and Dawdi’s trousers. The agitator pulled each article under the water as it rotated back and forth.
Cassie placed the lid on the tub. “We have to let it wash for a few minutes.”
“That’s a pretty cool invention,” Zach said, then laughed. “I guess they got cooler and cooler through the years.”
“I think this one is older than me.”
“You’re nice to let me tag along.”
Cassie ignored the way the butterflies in her stomach fluttered wildly. She’d like to have him tag along more often. “You won’t think I’m so nice when we hang these on the line.”
He winced. “Outside?”
“You might get frostbite. It’s not too late to back out.”
He gave her a wide grin. “Bring it on.”
“The clothes don’t really dry. They freeze. Sometimes you see icicles hanging off
pant legs or frost forming on dresses. Once they’re frozen solid, we bring them in and hang them to finish drying inside. Unmentionables dry inside all year round.”
“I’m glad you mentioned the unmentionables. I was wondering.”
They gave the washer about ten minutes before removing the lid and examining the clothes. “Okay,” Cassie said, “this is the fun part. But also very perilous.”
“More dangerous than frostbite?”
“Yes. If you get your fingers caught in the wringer, they’ll be squished and you’ll definitely be wearing a hook.”
He nodded cheerfully. “No fingers in the wringer. Got it.”
She turned off the agitator and turned on the wringer. The two rollers rotated in opposite directions to pull the clothes between them and wring out the water.
“Put clothes the long way in.” Cassie showed him how to feed clothes into the wringer.
“Cool,” Zach said. “I can do that.”
He carefully fed the clothes in one side, while Cassie caught them coming out the other side and dropped them in the laundry sink for a rinse.
Once everything was rinsed, she fed them back the other way through the wringer and Zach caught them on the other side and piled them in the basket.
He insisted on carrying the basket outside to the clothesline. They both bundled in their winter coats, boots, and bright red scarves. She put his beanie on his head and tied the scarf around his neck while he held the basket at the ready. When they walked outside, the sun peeked from behind the clouds and the thermometer on the porch read thirty-two degrees. Nice and warm for a February day.
“It feels like it’s almost maple sugaring time,” Cassie said as she gave Zach a handful of clothespins.
“You mean when you collect the sap?”
“It needs to get a little warmer. We usually start at the end of February, first part of March.” The cold stung her fingers as she hung a pair of trousers on the line. “Dawdi gathers the family together and announces that the sap is running. It’s very exciting, especially for the children. We do maple syrup and huckleberry jam every year.”
He took another pair of trousers from the basket. “I’d like to see that.”
She glued her gaze to the clothespins but watched him out of the corner of her eye. “I’d like you to be there.”
He smiled so wide she thought his lips might fly off his face. She contained a smile, but couldn’t keep her heart from skipping around in her chest.
She showed him how to pull the line and hoist the clothes higher into the air. The clothesline ran through a pulley hanging from the eaves of the house. Many clothes could be hung on the line at once.
“Have you seen Austin this week?” she asked.
“Every day.”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s a brave little kid. I think I would have cried uncle a long time ago. The problem now is that Dr. Perez says the antibiotics aren’t working. He’s got heart valve damage. He’ll probably have to have surgery.” He fumbled with one of the clothespins before using it to pin one of Mammi’s aprons to the line. “I almost went to church last Sunday, but then I had to admit a patient to the hospital.”
“Jamie finally got to you?”
“Nah. I wanted to check on the three guys who were so eager to ask you out. See if they deserve you or not.”
Even though she could tell he was teasing, Cassie’s mouth suddenly felt as dry as one of her aging art professor’s lectures. “I’m not . . . they’re not . . . You don’t need to worry.”
“I guess I feel a little protective of the girl I milk cows with.”
She liked the thought of Zach watching over her, even if he didn’t really mean it.
He studied her face. “Is it politically incorrect to say that? Because I’m not implying you can’t take care of yourself. I know how guys have treated you before.”
She lowered her eyes. “Church guys are safe.”
“Oh.” For whatever reason, he suddenly seemed to shut down, as if he didn’t want to talk to her anymore.
What had she said, and how could she get him to smile at her again? “You . . . you don’t need to worry,” she stammered, “because I’ve already been out with them.”
He looked uncertain and a little ill. “All of them?”
She stretched her lips across her teeth. “After I told Peter I wasn’t interested, Brandon kind of swooped in. Then Greg didn’t waste any time once I let Brandon down.”
She could tell he tried hard not to smile. He wiped his hand across his mouth and picked up one of Dawdi’s shirts. “Well, okay. Good. I guess I don’t have to come to church, after all.”
“There was a new guy there last week who hasn’t asked me out yet.”
He peered at her suspiciously and narrowed his eyes. “You’re making that up.”
“He’s from Florida, and he’s got the most attractive tan. And really white teeth, like Brad Pitt. And a red Mustang. He just graduated from Florida State. That isn’t a party school, is it?” she said, batting her eyelashes and trying to look as blissfully innocent as possible.
“I have a hunch this guy from Florida doesn’t exist.”
“But can you be sure?”
He huffed and puffed. “Fine. I’ll be at church next week to check out Mr. Florida State. But I guarantee he doesn’t know how to do laundry the Amish way.”
“He might not even be there.”
“He’ll hear I’m coming and run squealing all the way back to Florida.”
She giggled. “Probably.”
From that side of the house, they could see a single horse and buggy clomping and crunching up the snow-covered lane.
Cassie groaned inwardly. Norman had promised to come today with Luke and Elmer Lee under the pretense of readying supplies for maple syrup time. But he’d also instructed Cassie to have a batch of bread pudding hot and ready in the oven. Elmer Lee loved bread pudding with raisins and dried cranberries, and Norman expected Cassie to feed the three of them supper with bread pudding for dessert.
And to wear the pink dress Mamm had given her.
Norman would be indignant when he found her in workout clothes hanging laundry with Zach Reynolds instead of baking in the kitchen in her charming pink dress. Well, it wasn’t her fault Norman was three hours early.
Zach stiffened. Norman was surely the last person he wanted to see, even including the imaginary Mr. Florida State.
Norman stopped the buggy alongside the two identical cars. Luke jumped out and unhitched the horse with the skill and swiftness of someone who had done it hundreds of times. Unhitching the horse meant they were planning on staying for a while. She hadn’t expected anything less, but her stomach still felt as if she’d swallowed a bag of lead pellets.
Luke waved to them as he led the horse to the barn. Norman stepped out of the buggy. Elmer Lee unfolded himself. Buggies weren’t all that accommodating to long legs.
Norman marched in Cassie’s direction with Elmer tagging along behind. Norman came close to Cassie and leaned his head until their foreheads were almost touching. “I told you to wear the pink dress,” he hissed so Elmer Lee, still a few steps behind, wouldn’t hear him. “Those pants you are wearing are indecent. Too tight.”
Cassie’s stomach felt as if it would sink to her toes. “I came from the gym and haven’t had time to change.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zach standing ramrod straight with his fists clenched at his sides and the muscles of his jaw twitching slightly.
“I told you I’d be here at nine. I made sure to be late so you’d be ready,” Norman said.
“You said noon.”
Elmer Lee finally caught up to Norman. Her brother took a step back and pulled Elmer Lee forward. Elmer Lee looked her up and down as if he were inspecting a horse. “Hello, Cassie.”
“I’m sorry she’s not wearing her Plain dress today,” Norman said. “I know you don’t like it when she wears pants.”
�
��I like the pink dress,” Elmer Lee said. “And a kapp would show me that you are devoted to God.”
Cassie held her breath. She could endure the humiliation, but Zach looked as if he were about to explode. He had told her that he thought Norman was a bully. But she could handle him. The last thing she wanted was for Zach to make a scene.
Zach crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet into a wide stance. “Cassie goes to church every week. That seems pretty devoted to me.”
Norman glared at Zach. “Devotion to a false creed is damnation.”
“Browbeating in the name of devotion is hypocrisy.”
“What do you know?” Norman said. “My sister doesn’t even care that she has broken our mater’s heart and hurt our entire family. Jesus would have us go after the lost sheep. It’s our duty as Christians and my duty as a brother.”
Cassie was on the verge of tears. The arguing was worse than Norman’s sharp words. She knew how to absorb the hurt that Norman inflicted on her. She didn’t know how to make peace between two angry men, especially when she had been the cause of the contention.
As Zach opened his mouth to reply, he glanced in Cassie’s direction. Whatever he was going to say died on his lips. Holding up his hands as if stopping traffic, he took two steps backward. “I’m not here to argue. I’m just here to hang clothes, and the sooner I get done, the less chance there is for my fingers to freeze.”
He dragged the laundry basket to within easy reach, turned his back on the rest of them, and began hanging clothes as if trying to beat a storm.
Cassie couldn’t relax, but her heart swelled with gratitude for that show of meekness. He had truly turned the other cheek. Norman never did.
“You best go change, Cassie,” Norman muttered.
Cassie did as she was told even though it was the cowardly way out, even though Zach probably despised her for her weakness. Even though it meant Norman had won.
Let him have his little victory. It would be little comfort if his harshness compelled her to turn her back on her family forever.
Huckleberry Hearts Page 19
