by Kelly Long
Titus seemed to be best friends with everyone. He was natural and likable and could keep conversations going without Katie, even while she felt included in all of them. Titus wasn’t like Adam, who never stopped talking. Titus seemed eager to introduce Katie to the neighbors, but didn’t act irritated if she didn’t say more than hello. She found herself talking to everyone because she was genuinely interested in getting to know the people who thought so highly of Titus. Titus’s endearing manner helped her forget herself and turn her heart outward.
After their fourth delivery where Mrs. Overton, an Englischer, had paid Katie ten dollars extra for a loaf of wheat bread, Titus cupped his hand around Katie’s elbow and helped her back into the sleigh. Once settled in, she picked up the list and her heart sank like a stone in the pond.
Next stop, Adam Wengerd’s house.
Titus was uncannily sensitive to subtle expressions on her face. “Is everything okay? Are you getting cold? We can go home, if you want, and you can stick your feet in the woodstove. I mean . . . I didn’t mean in the woodstove. By the woodstove. But not too close, because you don’t want to burn your toes.”
“I’m fine,” Katie said, because how could she explain the struggle raging inside her? Was Adam her last, best choice?
She chastised herself. How could she wonder about such a thing after only two weeks? She needed to give the relationship more time. It was silly to entertain doubts this soon.
“Are you missing home again?” Titus said, looking at her with so much sympathy, she felt like bursting into tears.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Christmas will be very different this year.”
“What is Christmas like at your house?”
“We have greenery and candles at every window, just like Anna does.” Last week, Anna had directed Titus to hang pine boughs and adorable little Christmas bows that Anna had crocheted herself. “On Christmas Day, Mamm makes chicken and corn and butter rolls. After dinner, we set twelve candles on our table and light them one by one. The person who lights the candle gets to choose a Christmas song, and we sing it before lighting another candle. My dat always lights the last candle, and we sing ‘Stille Nacht’ before going to bed.”
“And you’ll miss that.”
Katie nodded and blinked away the tears in her eyes. “I suppose when I marry, I’ll make new family traditions.”
Titus’s toothpick drooped precariously on his bottom lip. “Maybe Adam will want to carry on with your family’s traditions.”
She could barely force out the words in a whisper. “Maybe he will.” She couldn’t imagine Adam ever finding out about her family traditions. He never stayed silent long enough for her to tell him anything.
Katie bit her tongue. How could she think such a thing about the boy who was going to save her from becoming an old maid?
Titus drew a piece of paper from his coat pocket. Snowflakes made small tapping noises as they fell onto the paper. “I was saving this for later,” he said, “but maybe it will cheer you up.”
The mere thought of another poem tugged a smile from Katie’s lips. Did Titus ever have a selfish thought?
His cheeks glowed red from the cold. “Katie is pretty. Katie is sweet. Eating her potpies is such a treat. I hope she’ll be happy, I don’t like her sad. I hope she’ll discover Bonduel ain’t so bad.” He folded the paper and seemed to grow even redder. “I know ain’t isn’t a real word, but it fit with the rhythm better.”
Katie didn’t need her coat anymore. Her face felt as hot as if she had a fever. Did Titus really think she was pretty? Her heart knocked on her chest like a woodpecker on a telephone pole. Maybe pretty had been the only word that fit in the poem, but for sure and certain, she wasn’t going to ask.
“It’s very nice,” she said.
“Not half as nice as you are.” He gazed at her as if he believed every word of that poem, then seemed to remember he was supposed to be driving them somewhere. He picked up the reins, jiggled them slightly, and clicked his tongue to get the horse moving. “Where to next?”
She didn’t want to say it. Titus withered like a failed soufflé every time she mentioned Adam. He practically shriveled up when Adam came over. Had Adam been mean to him in school or something? Titus was so nice, Katie couldn’t imagine anyone ever being mean to him. “We . . . uh . . . next is the Wengerds.”
Just as she expected, Titus seemed to shrink about five inches. He attempted a smile. “Ach. Okay. Adam’s house next.”
“I haven’t been there for nine years,” Katie said, as her heart did a little flip. Would she be living there someday?
Titus guided the horse onto a short driveway right off the main road. “Here it is,” he said, giving her a wide smile that seemed a little sad.
Two bare oak trees stood in front of Adam’s mint green–colored house with a hunter-green metal roof. A smaller house sat right beside the big one. Adam had told her that his brother and his family lived on the farm. This must be his brother’s house. Directly behind the smaller house was a country red barn that looked as if it had recently been painted.
Katie pulled the small cake box from the bigger box.
“I’ll wait here,” Titus said, “so you and Adam can have a few minutes alone.”
Katie grimaced. She wasn’t particularly comfortable being alone with Adam. She never knew what to say. But what a silly thought that was. She never had to say anything when she was with Adam.
She set the cake box on the seat of the sleigh, then found the box of fudge, the nut-brown bread, and the loaf of honey wheat bread in one of the bigger boxes. Adam had hinted that his mamm liked whole wheat bread, and Katie was eager to please her.
She glanced at Titus. He had his toothpick clamped between his teeth. How mean had Adam been to him in school? She set the rest of her baked goods on the seat and jumped from the sleigh. Surely she could manage everything in one trip so Titus wouldn’t have to help. If she tucked the box of fudge under her elbow, she might be able to carry it all.
Titus saw her difficulty at once. He shot to his feet so fast, he probably pulled a muscle. “Here. I can help.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I’d be very sad if I dropped Adam’s cake.”
He returned her smile with one just as sheepish. “Last week I dropped the apple pie you made for the Johnsons.”
Katie caught her breath. “Ach, du lieva. I hope they weren’t mad about it.”
Titus shook his head and grinned. “They paid full price and said they’d scrape it out of the box.”
“If that ever happens again, I’d be happy to make them another one. I’m sorry, Titus. I’ve asked too much of you. I should be the one doing the deliveries.”
“I like delivering. Folks are always wonderful happy to see me when I have a plate of your cookies in my hand. I’ve become very popular.”
Katie studied the snow caking her boots. “I don’t wonder but you were already the most popular boy in Bonduel.”
He tied the reins and jumped from the sleigh. “Nah. Cousin Norman thinks I’m thickheaded, Aunt Esther scolds me, and Mammi Anna has given up on teaching me how to knit.”
“That’s not true. Anna can’t talk about you without smiling. She thinks you’re more wunderbarr than triple chocolate cake.”
Titus’s lips curled into that modest smile he often wore. “I think you’re more wunderbarr than triple chocolate cake.” He immediately swiped his hand across his mouth—without dislodging his toothpick—and lowered his eyes. His boots must have been as interesting as hers were.
Katie felt as if she was standing right next to a glowing fire. It was turning out wonderful warm for such a cold December day. Just how much did Titus like triple chocolate cake?
Titus carried the loaves of bread, and Katie got the box of fudge and the cake. In silence they trudged across the Wengerds’ lawn and up to Adam’s front door. Katie felt a little flustered. Would his mater even remember her? Would Katie have to try to make conversation with t
he whole family? What if she couldn’t think of anything to say?
Titus studied her face, and he seemed more worried than she was. “If you get stuck, ask them about hunting. They like to hunt. Or you could talk about food. Most everybody eats. Sometimes.” He frowned. “I didn’t mean that some people don’t eat. I mean, I know everybody eats. They all eat, all the Wengerds. They might like to talk about it, if you can’t think of anything else.” He reached into his pocket. “Do you want a toothpick? Sometimes I chew on my toothpick when I don’t know what to say.”
Katie crinkled her brows together. “I . . . I think I’ll be okay.” She was only stopping by to deliver a few baked goods. They’d be here two minutes at the most. Or maybe she should try the toothpick.
“They’re going to love you, all of them.”
“I hope so.” If they didn’t, Adam would never propose.
Titus, always so kind, knocked on the door when he saw that she couldn’t quite muster the courage to do it herself.
Adam immediately answered, as if he’d been waiting for her just inside. He burst into a smile. It was a very good sign. “Katie.” His smile faded slightly when he glanced at Titus. “Titus brought you for a visit?”
Katie infused her voice with extra enthusiasm. “We’re doing bakery deliveries.”
Adam’s eyebrows rose on his forehead. “Bakery deliveries? Wonderful-gute. Are you making lots of money?”
Katie didn’t quite know how to answer that. She’d never been very gute at math. “I brought you some presents,” she finally said, hoping Adam would forget about the money. She handed him one of her boxes. “Here is some chocolate swirl fudge.”
Adam peeked inside the box. “Without nuts?”
Katie could almost feel the embarrassment travel up her neck. “Jah. I’m sorry about last time.”
“It’s okay,” Adam said. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know I don’t like fudge with nuts.”
Katie relaxed slightly. It was wunderbarr of him to be so forgiving. She handed him the other box. “And this is a triple chocolate cake with no sprinkles, no coconut, and no chocolate chips. I hope you like it.”
Adam smiled, showing all his straight white teeth. “Like it? I’ll love it. You know chocolate cake is my favorite.”
“And these,” Katie said, taking the loaves of bread from Titus’s arms, “are for your mamm. Honey whole wheat and nut-brown bread.”
Adam set the two boxes on the small table next to the front door and took the loaves from Katie. “This is perfect, Katie. My mamm will be pleased. I don’t think she’ll like the nut bread, but you made the effort and that’s what’s important.”
Titus took a small step closer to Katie. “The nut-brown bread is so gute, I can eat a whole loaf by myself.”
Adam acted as if Titus hadn’t said anything. He placed the loaves of bread on the table, opened the cake box, and took a whiff. “Smells gute and looks gute, too. A little small, but that gives me a good excuse not to have to share with my bruders.”
Katie glanced at Titus with an apology in her eyes.
He smiled and winked at her.
She melted like butter on the griddle.
And almost forgot Adam was standing there.
Katie pried her gaze from Titus and back to Adam. “Well then, I hope you enjoy the food.” Adam didn’t offer to pay her. He never paid, and she didn’t expect him to. The baked goods were in exchange for a possible proposal.
Adam’s expression brightened. “Why don’t you stay? My mamm hasn’t seen you since you got back, and my brothers have been asking about you.”
Panic tightened a hand around Katie’s throat. She had only planned on being here for two minutes. “Well . . . we . . . have to finish our deliveries.”
Adam cocked an eyebrow and laid a hand on Titus’s shoulder. “You don’t mind making the deliveries by yourself, do you, kid? Katie and I want to spend some time together.”
Katie tried to hide her reluctance. “I should help Titus finish.”
Titus’s toothpick trembled. “I can do the deliveries. Nothing should stand in the way of true love.”
True love? Was that what this was?
Adam smiled. Or smirked. Sometimes Katie couldn’t tell the difference. “Okay then, kid. Make your deliveries, and be back in an hour.”
Titus didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed at being bossed around. He gave Katie a boyish grin that made her feel better about her staying. If a boy as kind and thoughtful as Titus thought she was as wunderbarr as triple chocolate cake, then maybe Adam would come to see her that way, too. The thought gave her confidence.
“I will come in an hour,” Titus said, giving her one last nod before trudging back across the snow-covered lawn.
Adam invited her into the house. He picked up the two loaves of bread and led her down a dark hall to the kitchen. Adam’s mamm stood at the sink, three of his brothers sat at the table, and his sister swept the floor. Katie held her breath. They looked up when she and Adam entered the room.
“You remember Katie,” Adam said, nudging her forward.
An awkward silence fell as they stared at her, no doubt expecting her to say something clever. She felt like she had a mouthful of sawdust. Could she turn around and march out the door?
Not without ruining her chances with Adam.
She’d have to be extra brave.
“So,” she said, her heart beating in her throat, “I hear you like to hunt.”
CHAPTER 6
Adam Wengerd was a real nice guy. Titus had always thought so. He was one of the best softball players in school, he had nice teeth, and word was that he was a gute shot with his rifle.
Would Adam mind very much if Titus courted his fiancée?
Of course, Titus didn’t want to hurt Adam’s feelings or anything like that, but something niggling at the back of Titus’s brain told him that Adam and Katie wouldn’t suit each other. It didn’t seem right that Katie should marry someone who didn’t like fudge with nuts.
Titus adored fudge with nuts. It was probably his favorite food ever.
He rubbed the stubble along his jaw. He should feel guilty for wanting to court Adam’s girlfriend. If Adam and Katie were meant for each other, Gotte would not like it if Titus got in the way. But Titus couldn’t stop thinking about Katie or stop writing poems about her. Poems just came to him when he milked the goats. They reminded him of Katie.
Not that she looked like a goat. Katie was prettier than any grand-prize goat at any county fair. Katie wasn’t mischievous like Beth or always hungry like Judy. She baked delicious cakes and cookies and breads. The goats could only make milk. Katie’s eyes were brown, and neither of his goats had such chocolaty-brown eyes. And she was so kind, she could have been an angel. Titus liked her kindness most of all.
Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure why his goats reminded him of Katie. She was nothing like them. But he liked her all the same.
He liked her more than a million goats and a million blocks of fudge with nuts.
A lot more.
Would that make Adam mad?
Of course, a girl like Katie probably wasn’t interested in Titus. Cousin Norman often reminded Titus how thick he was, and Katie was so smart, she could add fractions in her head. He’d seen her do it just the other day when she needed to double a recipe. A girl like Katie deserved a bishop’s son and a thousand goats.
Norman was right. How could Titus be so dim-witted as to think that Katie would even give him a second glance?
Titus tromped toward the barn through the waist-deep snow with his shovel in one hand. Last night had made down hard with over three feet of snow. Titus had risen extra early this morning to come up to Huckleberry Hill and shovel the sidewalk so Dawdi wouldn’t have to. Of course, the lane was still buried in snow, but the sidewalk was clear if Katie needed to use it.
He had left the horse and buggy at home and hiked up the hill in his snowshoes. The snow was too deep for the horse, but Titus manag
ed well enough with his snowshoes. He’d retrieved the shovel from Dawdi’s toolshed and shoveled the walk in almost complete darkness and heavy snowfall. Gute thing he had his Viking beanie. The strap to his headlamp rested right on top of his beanie and the Viking horns held it in place. Mammi probably didn’t even realize how smart she was.
Titus paused to shovel the snow away from the barn door so he could open it. Then he pulled it open and stepped inside. With the light of his headlamp, he located the matches and lit the propane lantern. Judy and Beth both greeted him with a baa, and Iris, the cow, swished her tail.
Dawdi would be in to milk Iris soon. Titus would have gladly done it for him, but Dawdi said milking the cow every morning kept him young and that Titus had the Christmas goats to look after and they were quite enough for one boy to take care of.
Titus didn’t think it was too much at all. Taking care of the Christmas goats meant he got to see Katie every day. He got to deliver her goodies. Even though she had only gone with him on deliveries three separate days, he liked to pretend she sat beside him every time. He imagined that smile and those brown eyes and the way the wind teased little wisps of her hair out from under her bonnet.
He could feel another poem coming on.
Titus glanced around, as if more than Judy, Beth, and Iris might see him, and pulled a cardboard box from under Dawdi’s workbench. He set it on the bench and pulled out two pieces of fudge with nuts, half a round of mozzarella cheese, and a loaf of Katie’s famous cinnamon bread.
He hardly dared hope for a day when Katie would make something special just for him, the way she made Adam a triple chocolate cake almost every day. But for now, he was content to secretly buy her baked goods and keep them stashed in the barn.
He sat down on the old chair next to the workbench, and Judy immediately came close, wanting some of his breakfast. Not wanting to be left out, Beth nudged his leg with her nose. Titus took a piece of cinnamon bread, tore it in half, and fed a half of that to each of his goats. It was Christmastime. They deserved special treats too.
