“What does any of that have to do with me?”
He took her hands in his and gently caressed them. “Because until I met you, I had mostly decided I would leave. But now I would like to stay and court you, especially if the possibility of marrying you exists.”
“Surely you’ve had other opportunities in your own community.”
She silently chided herself the minute the words left her mouth, but she needed to know if he was serious.
“Jah,” he admitted. “There were plenty of opportunities handed to me, but none that I cared to accept.”
Levinia pushed down the giddiness that tried to overtake her. “Why would you want to court me instead of someone like—someone like mei schweschder?”
Why can’t I keep from putting mei foot in mei mouth?
Nate squeezed her hands fondly. “I’ve had my fill of offers from selfish, spoiled girls like Bethany. I want a fraa who will put me first, just as I would put her first. I want a beautiful, giving woman—like you.”
CHAPTER 7
Levinia stood abruptly, allowing her gaze to focus on Nate’s bare chest. “I’m not certain we should be here alone—without an escort. If you are serious about courting, mei daed will never agree to it if he thinks we’ve acted improperly.”
“The girls in my own community in Ohio put a light in their windows at night, and the guys come around and take them courting in their buggies until the wee hours of the morning. Don’t they do the same here?”
“Jah, Bethany leaves the haus nearly every night. She is a wild one. If mei daed were to ever find out, he would not approve, but I make excuses for her behavior and cover for her.”
Nate caught Levinia staring at him, and tucked his hand in hers. “You haven’t told me if you would consent to being courted by me.”
Levinia blew out a discouraging sigh. “You’ve only just met me. You don’t really know enough about me yet to make that kind of decision.”
He squeezed her hand. “I know all I need to know about you. I heard the kind words from you when you rescued me, and the prayers you said for me. You are a humble servant who has been taken advantage of by your familye. Perhaps you are the one in need of rescuing.”
Levinia couldn’t help but agree with him, but she would never admit to such a thing. In as much as she would enjoy this mann’s company, she could not accept his proposal of courting—especially if it could lead to marriage. She had an obligation to her daed and Bethany, and to the memory of her dear bruder, Daniel.
Nate tucked his hand under her chin and lifted gently to set her gaze back on him. “What has you so worried? Is it because you don’t know mei familye? I will be happy to introduce you to mei cousin, Adam. I think we are close to the Troyer farm, jah?”
Levinia stiffened. She knew Nate. He hadn’t visited their community in some years, but she remembered him. Adam was friends with Daniel, and the three of them spent an entire summer working the neighboring farms after the big hail storm that took out the early crops. There was a lot of replanting that year. Working bees had kept Levinia busy with the women in the community to keep the working men from going hungry.
Nate smiled. “You’re thinking of the hail storm. I do remember catching fireflies at dusk and sipping lemonade that a certain young lady made for me.”
“I made it for the menner who were working to replant the fields.”
Nate pushed out his lips and smiled. “My mouth is still all puckered up from that tart lemonade given to me by the prettiest girl in the whole county.”
Nate pulled her close and placed his puckered lips against hers.
Caught off guard, Levinia was too stunned to return the kiss. The next one, however, she eagerly took pleasure in.
He deepened the kiss, consuming her with his every breath. His impulsive passion seemed to employ a responsive urgency in her. He wanted her—every bit of her.
Levinia’s flighty heartbeat didn’t interfere with her insatiable hunger for Nate’s sweet, warm kisses. All thoughts focused on the feel of his lips against her mouth, her cheeks, and her neck. It was making her dizzy with delight, but she was powerless to stop him—not that she wanted to. She was ready to give herself to this man who made her feel more alive than she’d felt her entire life. She was a part of him already, and no ghosts of the past could separate them.
Bethany washed down the last bite of snitz pie with a big gulp of milk as she watched angrily from the kitchen window for her older sister to leave the loft.
What is she doing up there?
More than half an hour had passed since Bethany had brushed by Levinia as she’d exited the small living space above the barn where they’d hidden the handsome Englischer.
He was handsome.
And Bethany had her intention set on him.
She tapped her foot against the wooden floor, becoming angrier with each tap.
How long would she wait for Levinia to exit the loft?
Another possibility suddenly crossed her mind. What if he’d hurt her sister? Their daed had warned them about trusting Englischers too many times to remember.
But Nate was injured.
What if he was faking?
After all, he’d asked her to leave, claiming to be too tired for company. Surely he wouldn’t be entertaining Levinia—would he? Bethany’s anger and jealousy turned full-circle, and recycled itself in her mind, bringing her such angst she couldn’t escape the kitchen fast enough. She quickly conquered the distance between the haus and the barn, climbing the stairs lightly so as not to alert the Englischer and interrupt possible cover-up of his wrongdoing against Levinia.
Bethany fully intended to catch the Englischer, but wanted to remain quiet in case her sister was in trouble. The element of surprise could mean the difference between saving Levinia and getting caught in the man’s trap along with her sister.
She tiptoed up the last few stairs and peeked inside the screen door.
They were nowhere to be seen.
All was quiet—too quiet.
Bethany’s heart beat rapidly at the thoughts that flashed through her mind of Levinia lying dead on the floor while Nate hovered over her with a weapon in his hands. Just because he was handsome didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of being a dangerous killer, did it?
Focus, she chided herself. Levinia could be in danger.
Carefully opening the screen door only enough to squeeze through, Bethany was relieved she’d managed to slip through without the hinges creaking. She shook as she padded quietly across the linoleum floor of the small kitchen toward the bedroom door. She paused before looking in the room, momentarily wondering what she would do if she should catch him hurting Levinia.
Lord, help me to save mei schweschder if she should be in trouble. Give me strength to deal with whatever I find behind this door.
Nothing could have prepared Bethany for what she saw as she peered around the doorframe. Too stunned to speak, Bethany stood there observing Nate and Levinia engaged in a steamy sequence of kisses. At first, she wondered if the way he was holding her was possibly against her will, but it was soon evident that Levinia was an all-too-willing participant in the inappropriate scene unfolding before her eyes.
Anger rose up in her. She’d wanted to explore that very option with the handsome Englischer. But here was her older sister—her very plain older sister gaining the attention from the very man who’d just rejected her less than an hour ago.
Jealousy filled her.
What did Levinia have that Bethany didn’t have? What did he see in her? She was shaped like a boy, and could easily pass for their brother, Daniel. Bethany had gained enough attention from the local boys to know she was physically desirable. Levinia, on the other hand, had never been on even one date.
What if that was the appeal? What if her innocence was what attracted him to her? Perhaps, then, her sister was indeed in danger of being compromised by this Englischer. She had to put a stop to his plot against Levinia
before he compromised her.
She cleared her throat, but neither of them stopped mauling each other.
Clearing her throat again, she shuffled toward them, making them aware of her presence.
Levinia jumped up from the edge of the bed, leaving the shirtless Englischer feverishly wiping his mouth in her wake. Holding her hands up to her obviously angry sister, Levinia sent Bethany a pleading look.
“I can explain,” she quickly offered.
Bethany pursed her lips. “What is there to explain? I clearly saw this stranger—this Englischer taking advantage of you!”
“That’s not true,” he said in his defense. “I’m not a stranger, and I’ve asked Levinia if I can court her.”
Bethany took an aggressive step toward Nate and gritted her teeth at him. “It sounds to me like you’ve done this before. Courting Levinia? You really expect her to believe such lies? You saw her as a vulnerable opportunity—nothing else. I’d be willing to bet you make a habit of taking advantage of innocent girls!”
“You’re right. Because this isn’t the first time I’ve broken a few ribs and gotten lucky enough to be stowed away on an Amish farm by an unsuspecting woman such as Levinia!” he scorned her. “Listen to how narrish you sound.”
Bethany gasped. “And now you mock us by using the Amish language against us?”
Nate was growing impatient with Bethany’s accusations. “I used the word because I am Amish!”
Bethany looked at Levinia to confirm the lie he was telling. Right on cue, she defended him.
Bethany turned and walked toward the door. “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies. I’m getting Daed. Surely he will settle this—mann-to-mann!”
CHAPTER 8
Levinia chased after Bethany as she ran down the steps that led to the loft. The screen door slammed behind her, and she worried Nate would think her to be uncivilized for her abrupt reaction to her sister’s threat. When she caught up with Bethany, Levinia looped her fingers in the crook of her sister’s arm, forcing her to stop running from her. “I’m not going to tolerate the disrespect you’ve shown me any longer. You are nothing short a spoiled boppli and I won’t allow you to threaten me. If you want to tell daed, I’ll be telling him what you do every night when you sneak out of the haus.”
Bethany pulled in a breath and narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Levinia grabbed Bethany’s arm and began to pull her toward the kitchen door. “Let’s go tell daed everything and then we’ll both fall under the ban!”
Bethany began to cry. “Please don’t tell. I don’t want to be shunned. I can’t take care of myself out there in that big world without you and daed to take care of me. You’re right! I’ve been acting spoiled for a while now—since about the same time Daniel went to Heaven. I didn’t think you cared about me anymore because you’re always so moody.”
Levinia pulled Bethany into her arms. “Of course I still care about you! All we seem to have anymore is each other. Since Daed lost Daniel, he won’t forgive me for not saving him, and that has made me feel sad.”
Bethany sniffled. “Daed doesn’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault. You called for an ambulance. You did everything you could to stop the bleeding, but Gott reached down from Heaven and took him from us.”
“Daed doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t even look at me anymore, and he barely speaks to me. I think he stopped loving me.”
“Ach, Levinia, he still loves you. Don’t talk like that. I think he’s just sad is all.”
Levinia hung her head. “He doesn’t forgive me any more than I forgive myself. I shouldn’t have called that ambulance. I panicked. All that blood…”
Her breath caught in her throat and she suppressed a strangled sob. “I didn’t mean to let him or Daed down. I wish I could have taken Daniel’s place. Daed would have been better off.”
Bethany grabbed Levinia by the arms and gave her a gentle shake. “Don’t you ever let me hear you talk like that again! I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You don’t care about me any more than Daed does. You both take me for granted and take advantage of mei gut nature.”
Bethany let go of Levinia’s arms and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry I’ve let you take all the responsibility around here. I promise I’ll learn how to cook and all the other things I ain’t gut at.”
Levinia sniffled. “I love you, dear schweschder.”
Bethany gave Levinia a squeeze. “I love you too. I’m sorry I don’t say that to you often enough.”
Wiping her tears, Levinia looked into Bethany’s eyes with a seriousness she’d never shown before.
Bethany waved a hand at her and scoffed.
“Don’t worry. I ain’t gonna tell Daed about Nate, but I gotta know; is he really Amish?”
“Jah, he’s Adam Troyer’s cousin.”
Bethany waggled her eyebrows. “So you really are going to court him then?”
Levinia shrugged. “I don’t have time, and besides, I’d feel guilty.”
“Those kisses I witnessed didn’t look like they were full of guilt. What do you have to feel guilty over? Daed and I can take care of ourselves.”
Levinia shrugged.
“What is it, dear, schweschder?”
“I would feel bad going on with my life and being happy when…when Daniel can’t enjoy his life anymore. He’ll never get married or have kinner, so why should I be able to?”
Bethany furrowed her brow with concern. “He may never get married or have kinner, but he’s in Heaven. He’s not missing out on life. Maybe he’s missing it on this earth, but he has eternal life now. He’s not unhappy, and he wouldn’t want you to be unhappy either.”
Levinia smiled. “When did you get to be so wise?”
“Because you raised me!”
They both giggled and Levinia pulled Bethany into a sincere hug. “I’m sorry for the things I said to you—about you being spoiled.”
“You shouldn’t apologize for telling the truth. I have been acting spoiled. I’ve let you do all the work around here, and that hasn’t been fair to you. I’m sorry for that. I’ll try harder from now on.”
Levinia blew out a sigh of relief. “That would be wunderbaar!”
“So what are you going to do about Nate?”
Levinia shrugged. “I don’t know what I should do.”
Bethany laughed. “When a mann that handsome asks to court you—you give him your consent!”
“But…”
“Don’t make excuses, Levinia. He looked serious about you. And you deserve to be happy. Don’t worry about Daed; I’ll take care of him for a change. In the meantime, go to Nate and tell him you will consent to courting him. If you don’t, someone else will. He’s a handsome catch.”
Levinia knew in her mind that it was the logical and right thing to do—for the sake of her future. This was her chance to really be happy, and Bethany was right about Daniel. He would want her to be happy. Nate certainly made her feel like the happiest woman in the entire county—maybe even the history of mankind—if such a thing was possible.
Giggling with giddiness, Levinia turned around and started toward the stairs to the loft. She turned and paused to wink at her sister.
“Go and be happy—promise me you’ll be happy.”
Levinia smiled brightly. “I intend to.”
Levinia made fast tracks to the stairs that led to her future—a future filled with happiness with a very handsome, Amish mann who wanted to court her.
CHAPTER 9
Levinia stepped into the room where her potential betrothed lay snoring lightly. She gently placed her hand upon Nate’s bare chest, feeling the gentle rhythm of his heart that beat in perfect tempo with her own. She couldn’t help but smile as he covered her hand with his, but remained asleep. She definitely wanted this man. She wanted every part of him. But in the back of her mind, all she could hear were her father’s reprimands the day of Daniel’s death. The very reprimands
that filled her with too much guilt to live her life to its fullest potential.
Though she tried to block out his angry words, she couldn’t help but drift back to that dreadful day…
Levinia hung precariously over the top of the split-rail fence watching her twin bruder repair the barbed wire at the top of the chicken pen.
“Look at that one, Daniel,” Levinia squealed. “It looks like a mann holding an umbrella—with a big roaring lion ready to leap out at him.”
Daniel took his attention off his work and looked up into the sky to humor his twin. “They just look like clouds to me, but if you say so, then I believe you can see things in those clouds.”
“You have to use your imagination, dear bruder.”
Daniel took another look. He couldn’t bear to disappoint his sister. “Well since I’m older—and wiser than you are, I’ll leave the imagining to you.”
“Ach, you are only older by twelve minutes! That doesn’t automatically make you wiser.”
Daniel tightened the wire and connected the end to assure the chickens stayed in and the foxes stayed out. “Of course it does. I’m too old to indulge in silly girl games of watching the clouds. Don’t you have some laundry to hang on the line?”
Levinia sighed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get rid of me.”
“That’s narrish. I wouldn’t dream of trying to get rid of my favorite twin!”
Levinia furrowed her brow. “You say that all the time, but you know I’m your only twin.”
Daniel chuckled. “That’s why you’re mei favorite!”
“Nee, you patronize me!”
“Don’t let Daed hear you using big words like that or he’ll know about those unapproved books you’ve got hiding in the loft.”
Levinia gasped. “How did you know about those books?”
“I know more than you think I do.”
“And you haven’t told Daed?”
“Nee, I figured if he found out he’d put you under the ban, and I, for one, would not be able to live even one day without listening to your musings. They keep me grounded where I belong.”
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