by Ruth Reid
“I have a cookie for you, if you’d like to come inside,” Mrs. Stanly told Samuel.
The boy started to push off the seat, then stopped. He couldn’t just jump off the wagon and go inside. Disappointment spilled from his eyes as though for the first time he realized his limitations.
Balancing the dresser off the back end of the wagon, Andrew explained, “We’re in a bit of a hurry today.”
With Mr. Stanly’s help, it didn’t take long to unload the furniture. When it came time to leave, Mrs. Stanly walked with him to the wagon. She handed Samuel a cookie and Andrew the folded quilts.
“Do you know if they are for sale?”
Andrew climbed onto the wagon bench. “I’ll ask.”
“She has more,” Samuel added.
The woman touched Samuel’s arm. “Ach, please tell your sister that I’d love to see them.”
Andrew’s heart warmed when he saw Samuel nod enthusiastically. He was a devoted youngster and the kind of son he’d love to have one day. Andrew touched the brim of his hat and nodded to Mrs. Stanly, then waited until she was inside before flicking his reins on the horse. Maneuvering Jack so that the empty wagon wouldn’t travel too fast down the driveway required both concentration and skill. Samuel’s hands gripped the bench, but the boy remained quiet until they were off the hill.
After they were on flat ground, Samuel snickered.
“What’s so funny?” Andrew glanced at him sideways and smiled.
The five-year-old covered his mouth. “Judith made a quilt for her marriage bed.”
Andrew looked at the quilt draped over Samuel’s shoulders and the others folded on the bench beside them. “Which one?” He found the thought of his furniture covered with her wedding quilt unsettling.
“Nett these.”
Andrew couldn’t explain the hint of disappointment he felt. He would have been honored if one had been the wedding quilt. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder if Judith would marry Levi once she’d forgiven him.
“Why aren’t you married?”
Samuel’s question jolted Andrew.
He cleared his throat, thinking how he should phrase his words. “I’m waiting on God to prepare the woman’s heart.”
Samuel’s face crinkled. “What does that mean? She doesn’t like you?”
“Something like that.”
“My mamm says everyone should pray they find a mate.”
Andrew blew out a breath. “It’s complicated when you get to be my age.”
Samuel mimicked Andrew’s long exhale. “I wish you’d marry one of my sisters.”
Andrew snorted. “Does it matter which one?” It mattered to him. He could never marry someone as vain as Martha. But hearing Samuel categorize them together fed Andrew’s curiosity.
“Either one. There are too many girls in my haus.”
Andrew chuckled. “That’s understandable.” Not that he knew what it was like, having grown up with only brothers.
He pulled into the Fischer driveway, set the brake, and jumped off the wagon. After releasing the strap, he lifted Samuel into his arms.
Judith opened the back door. “Did you have fun?”
Samuel nodded. He looked at his sister, then at Andrew. “I know which one,” he said.
Andrew jostled Samuel in his arms so that he could whisper into his ear. “Let’s keep that our secret.”
But he wondered how long a five-year-old could keep silent.
Mrs. Fischer came out of the kitchen. “Andrew, the physical therapist will be here soon. Would you mind carrying Samuel to his bedroom?”
Samuel crinkled his face.
Andrew gave the boy a gentle shake as he carried him down the hallway. “You work hard for the medical person, and I’ll take you on my next delivery.”
“And I can drive?”
Andrew removed Samuel’s hat and ruffled his hair. “If you’re gentle with Jack. He’s an old horse.”
He left Samuel in his room and went to the door to hang the boy’s hat on the hook. Then he stepped into the kitchen where Judith, Martha, and their mother were seated at the table peeling apples. Andrew watched the thin skin of the apple Judith held fall to the table. He licked his lips, recalling the taste of their kiss.
Mrs. Fischer looked up from coring the apple she held. “Denki for spending time with Samuel. He gets lonely being the only boy in the house.”
Andrew nodded and looked at Judith as she continued to shave off the peeling. “Mrs. Fischer, may I take Judith for a walk?”
Mrs. Fischer’s paring knife stopped, and she looked over at wide-eyed Judith and smiled. “Jah, I think she could use some fresh air.”
Judith’s expression wasn’t as inviting. The look she’d given her mother narrowed when she looked at him.
“That’s not fair. These stupid apples are for her singing,” Martha grumbled.
“Hush!” Mrs. Fischer locked eyes with Martha before selecting another apple from the pile. She turned to Andrew and smiled. “Give Judith a minute to wash her hands.”
Judith put down the paring knife and stood. “We won’t be long,” she told her mother as she wiped her hands. She placed the towel on the counter and walked to the door.
Andrew followed.
Once outside, she turned to him. “Why did you put me on the spot in front of my mamm?”
“I have to talk with you about yesterday.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the house and walked toward the barn. “What about?”
About the kiss, he wanted to say. Did she feel the same connection?
Mr. Fischer came out from the barn and nodded at them on his way toward the house.
Andrew directed Judith toward the pasture. Neither spoke until they were at the orchard. Judith jumped to pick an apple out of her reach. Andrew pulled the branch closer. She picked one, handed it to Andrew, then picked another for herself.
“What about yesterday?” Judith took a bite of the apple.
Distracted by the juice from the bright red apple collecting in the corners of her mouth, he stammered. “I, um . . .” She took another bite, and he completely forgot what he’d planned to say. He motioned toward the path to the river. “Let’s keep walking.”
Her next bite was noisy, and he couldn’t restrain his laughter.
Judith stopped.
He dropped his gaze to the ground. “Your lips . . . tasted . . .” He looked up at her and cringed. “Like apple yesterday.”
Judith’s eyes widened and her breath sounded like it caught in her throat. She resumed walking.
Andrew had brought her on a walk to explain his action, and now he couldn’t find the right words. “I didn’t mean to kiss you like that.”
Judith stopped.
“I, um . . .” His stomach flipped as he peered into her piercing eyes. He waited for her to speak. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”
“In other words, if I hadn’t encouraged you—”
He reached for her hand holding the apple. “I do like the taste of apples.”
She flung the apple into the woods like it was poisonous and stared at him without blinking.
Andrew chuckled, but stopped when she dropped her head and stared at the ground. “Hey, I was joking.”
“I thought I’d only share that kind of kiss with my husband.”
Andrew swallowed, stunned by her honesty.
She lifted her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought that up.”
Andrew couldn’t process the meaning behind her statement. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I know you’re nett—” She bit her bottom lip and cut off her statement.
He stepped closer. “Nett what?”
“Interested in courting anyone.”
His gut twisted. “Who told you that?”
She looked down at the ground. “Levi.”
“And he knows all about chasing women, doesn’t he?”
She stared off in the direction of the woods. And
just when it seemed she planned to drag out her silence indefinitely, she spoke. “I didn’t mean it to sound like a jab just because you’re unmarried.”
“I suppose Levi told you why he calls me Bishop Junior.”
“Nay. I thought because you’re always so serious and . . .”
“And uninteresting.” He brought her into his arms and leaned toward her ear. “Should I be more like Levi?” He moved his mouth within a fraction of an inch from hers. “He would kiss you again.”
She wiggled loose and steeled her eyes on him. “I meant since Esther died, you haven’t been interested in another woman.”
Her heavy breathing made him wonder if her heart rate raced as his did. She took a step backward.
“And one more thing. I’m only interested in kissing the man I marry.”
A rush of air left his lungs. What had gotten into him? He hung his head. “I’m sorry.” He removed his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” He replaced his hat. “I’m a bit touchy about Levi calling me Bishop Junior. Especially since he knows that my father is . . . more than disappointed over the matter of me not being married. It seems I don’t measure up to the standard of a godly Amish man. I won’t ever be cast into the lot for ministry.” He scuffed the ground with his boot. “I wanted to marry Esther. I even bought a cabin.” He glanced up. Judith’s sympathetic eyes studied his without prying into his silence. “I never thought I could fall in love with someone again.”
“They say time heals old wounds.”
He opened his mouth, then clamped it closed. He wanted to ask if it meant her wound from Levi had healed, but he lost his nerve. Instead, he motioned toward the river. “I watched you when I left with Samuel. I know you want to see if Tobias is there.” He waved his hand. “Go on. I’ll wait here for you.”
Her warm smile caused his chest to swell. He’d already told her too much. He needed a few moments alone as well.
Chapter Twenty
From a hidden section on the path, Judith looked back at Andrew. He tossed stones into the river as though releasing something pent up inside of him. “Don’t become like Levi,” she whispered before turning to the trail.
She strolled along with her hands clasped behind her back. She had almost turned to mush in his arms, again. Her heart thudded when he said she smelled like apples. Unlacing her fingers, she placed her hand over her heart. Andrew wasn’t in sight, and her heart continued to knock against her ribs. She willed herself to take captive her thoughts. Andrew Lapp had made it plain that he’d never fall in love again. His warning, no doubt, not to make more of their friendship—more of their kiss.
She reached the river’s bend, anticipating the appearance of Tobias. Instead, she noticed a wooden box on the boulder and ran to see what it was. Judith picked up the box and touched the smooth sanded wood. It had to be Andrew’s handiwork. With suspended breath, she opened the lid. There was her rock.
Judith removed it from the box. In the palm of her hand, it glowed with shades of emerald and jade greens, sapphire and cobalt blues, and her favorite color, ruby. She felt the love of God wash over her, and joy sprouted like tulips after a spring rain.
A gentle breeze kicked up some fallen leaves, and she looked for Tobias in the direction of the wind. If he was there, he didn’t make himself visible. Judith waited a few more minutes, then placed the rock back into the wooden box and lowered the lid. Returning to the path, she had a sudden urge to run. She wanted to show Andrew the rock’s vibrant colors.
She sprang out from the wooded path, and as she approached him, his eyes widened.
He craned his neck to look behind her. “Something wrong?”
“Nay, I was excited.” She pushed the box against his chest. “Look inside.”
He smiled, lifting the lid.
“Isn’t the kaleidoscope pattern almost hypnotizing?”
He cocked his head sideways at her.
“I could look upon it all day, it’s so beautiful.”
He pulled the rock out from the box and rolled it over his palm. “It’s only a river rock, jah?”
“Jah, and when the sun hits it a certain way . . .” She looked up in the sky. With the developing gray clouds, the sun wouldn’t produce enough light to show him.
“You’re beginning to worry me.” He turned it over again, then clenched it in his fist.
“Don’t—” She cringed.
“What?” His brows furrowed. “You’re placing a frightening amount of emphasis on a stone.” He plopped it back into the box and closed the lid. “The Bible warns about false idols. You said the angel gave you this?”
He was concerned about her putting too much emphasis on a rock, but he’d built a box to put it in? No one else had his woodworking precision, and he’d certainly left the box down by the river knowing she would find it.
His posture shifted, and the lines between his eyes took root. “Judith,” he said, “it says in the Bible to test all spirits.” His eyes glazed. “Satan was an angel too. He’s the Great Deceiver.”
She cleared her throat. “You think I’m being deceived?”
He closed his eyes, tipping his face toward the sky, and his Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Her voice grew louder. “I know what I saw.”
“So you say, but were you spellbound? You sound as though you’re worshipping a rock.”
She caught a glimpse of the fast-moving clouds. “It’s going to rain. We better get back.” Without waiting for him, she headed for the house.
He mumbled something under his breath, trekking behind her. Once they reached the back of the barn, he stopped her from continuing to the house.
“Promise me you’ll pray about this.”
She lowered her head, but he lifted her chin.
“Promise me you’ll read the passage in Second Corinthians about Satan masquerading as an angel of light . . . There are fallen angels who pretend to be angels of righteousness.” He brought her closer to him.
She closed her eyes, hearing the worried tone in his voice.
“Promise me,” he whispered.
She swallowed. His breath was warm against her face. What was she doing, allowing him this close? Of course she planned to pray.
“I will.” She expected him to move away once she’d agreed. He didn’t.
He stared at her mouth the same as he had the day he kissed her. Then he sucked in a breath and leaned back. “Did Tobias say why God sent him?”
Judith shrugged. She could tell him about the dream, but even she didn’t understand the three roads and why she was told to choose. Besides, with him moving closer again, it was hard to concentrate on any one thing in particular.
As Andrew leaned toward Judith to kiss her, thunder boomed and lightning flickered across the dark sky. He stepped away. “I have a confession.”
Judith glanced nervously at the sky.
He cleared his throat. “When I kissed you, I knew Levi had already gone. I shouldn’t have . . . I’m sorry.” He cocked his head sideways. “I didn’t intend—”
Another bolt of lightning ignited the sky. Pelted by marble-sized hail, he grabbed her hand, and they ran toward the house. Before they reached the porch shelter, sleet had saturated their clothing.
“You can come inside and sit by the woodstove.”
Andrew looked up at the sky. “I should go before it gets worse.” Besides, the longer he stayed, the more he would want to kiss her again.
She seemed to accept his apology, but deep down he’d hoped for more, an admission of her own as to why she had kissed him back. He stepped away from her.
“I forgot to tell you. Mrs. Stanly, the woman who bought my furniture, is interested in buying one of your quilts.”
“I’ve never sold one. I don’t know how much to charge. Surely a quilt made with a machine would be far superior to my hand-sewn blocks.”
Andrew shrugged. “She examined them cl
osely. I know she liked them.” With his hair dripping beads of water down his neck, he wanted to shake himself dry like a wet dog. He removed his hat and shook the water from its brim instead.
Judith pulled a rag from her cape pocket and dabbed her face. Her wet hair looked darker, but he could still see the reddish streaks the summer sun had made. Her head covering lay flat against her hair, and now her teeth chattered behind purple lips.
“I see you’re cold. You need to go inside.” He reached for the doorknob and paused. “If you want, I’ll drive you to Mrs. Stanly’s house at the beginning of the week so you can show her your quilts.” He didn’t add that Samuel had told him about the one she was saving for her wedding bed.
Judith smiled. “Jah, that would be nice.”
Andrew looked at the gray clouds. As cold as it was, the sleet would turn into snow. He hoped it would hold off until after Judith’s singing. “I should go.” He turned his gaze to Judith. “Pray about what we talked about.” He waited until she nodded before he stepped off the porch. “I will pray too.”
Her expression was stiff. Maybe she didn’t like the idea that he would be praying. But how could he not? With so many of the community against her, the enemy was already involved in isolating her from others.
Andrew climbed onto the bench and looked back at the house. Judith had already gone inside. He shuddered. If they were not diligent to keep watch, Satan could deceive God’s elect.
Judith went straight to her bedroom. She gazed at the intricate details Andrew had put into the box. By worldly standards, the box would be considered plain, but to her, the dovetailed joints and the unstained birch wood were perfect in every way. But why hadn’t he said anything about making it for her? She ran her hand over the sanded bare wood as her thoughts drifted to Andrew’s confession.
He admitted he was sorry for kissing her. His regret made sense after he explained he could never fall in love again. Judith had known Levi was no longer standing there—she’d wanted to kiss Andrew, but not under those circumstances. Now thoughts of his firm lips pressing against hers would taunt her memory.
