“Samantha!” Mary said, surprised.
“Hi Mary!” Samantha stood straight again as Andrew put his coat on and ran around the dining room table.
“Did you come all this way with Andrew’s coat?” Mary asked.
“Jah. It's a beautiful day for a walk.”
“You’re so sweet! Would you like some tea?”
“I don’t want to be a bother,” Samantha said.
“Nee not at all! We’re happy to have you here!” Mary gave them a smile and disappeared back into the kitchen. Melissa continued to stand in the doorway, staring at Samantha with wide green eyes.
“Melissa,” Joshua said, “come say hi to Miss Samantha. This is Andrew’s school teacher.”
Melissa hesitated, and then she came over to Joshua, taking a hold of his hand and watching Samantha shyly.
“Melissa, this is my teacher!” Andrew said. He hurried back over to stand beside Melissa. “You’ll really like her when you get to go to school.”
“Say hi, Melissa,” Joshua prompted.
“Hi,” Melissa said quietly.
Samantha smiled warmly at the little girl. “Hello Melissa. How are you?”
“I’m gut.”
“That’s a lovely dress.”
“Mary made it for me.”
“She did a wonderful job,” Samantha said.
Melissa smiled up at Samantha. “Mary also made a dress for my dolly.”
“Wow!”
“Do you want to see?” Melissa asked eagerly. All of her shyness was quickly disappearing.
“I would love to see your dolly.”
Melissa hurried upstairs to her room. Joshua chuckled. “It’s a gut thing you’re having tea with us. She may not be quiet around you ever again.”
Samantha grinned. “I’m glad.”
“We can sit on the porch, it’s so nice outside,” Joshua said.
“I’d like that.”
Joshua had a swing and two rocking chairs on the porch, and he and Andrew sat on the porch swing while Samantha sat in one of the rocking chairs. Mary showed up not long after and handed a cup of tea to Joshua and Samantha.
“Danke Mary!”
“Danke, Mary.”
“You’re both welcome!” Mary gave Joshua a smile and then she went back into the house.
“How’s your work going?” Samantha asked.
Joshua wanted to say that it was fine. But as he stared into Samantha’s beautiful face, her eyes searching his, he found himself being honest. “Not gut. It’s been a difficult day.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. My mamm still loves her rocking chairs. You truly have a gift.
“Well, Daed is a Woods,” Andrew said pointedly.
Samantha and Joshua laughed. “Jah, he is. And your daed is a very talented carpenter.”
Joshua had always been told that, and he had been able to build a thriving business with his talent, but hearing it from Samantha, especially right now, made him smile a little. “Gott deserves that praise, not I.”
“Jah. But you still have to use the talent He gave you, and we’re glad you do.”
“Danke".
"From the sound of it, I know your kinner are glad you use your Gott-given talent.”
“I hope so.”
Melissa walked out, her dolly in her hands. “This is my dolly, Miss Samantha.”
“Oh she's lovely!” Samantha said, with a wide smile. Melissa crawled up into her lap, and she showed Samantha the purple dress and talked about the adventures her dolly had had that day. It wasn’t long before Andrew left Joshua’s side and climbed up into Samantha’s lap, and she balanced both children while they talked about their toys.
After such an incredibly difficult, sorrowful day, weeks, months really, it was comforting to sit in the sunshine, a warm breeze filtering over them, and see his children actually smile and laugh. Mary and his mother did all they could, and the children loved them, but Samantha was a kind, friendly outsider that did not carry the weight of loss that Joshua and his sister did. And the children were clearly drawn to her light-hearted warmth.
As Joshua watched, he felt his heart being tugged. Samantha lifted her head, smiling at him, and he returned it, his breath slowly leaving him as they stared at each other. He took a sip of his tea to break their gaze, feeling shocked.
Joshua knew what he was feeling, but he didn’t understand how this could be. Jessica had only been laid to rest ten months ago. Was he that heartless, that he was already interested in another woman?
Before he knew it, Joshua was smiling overtop his cup again as Samantha bounced Andrew and Melissa on her knees as if they were riding a horse, making noises to go with it. He couldn’t help it – seeing his children happy, and seeing Samantha so carefree and joyful sent life into his veins again.
Gott, I don’t understand, Joshua thought. I still miss Jessica so much. How can I already fall in love again?
Samantha began feeling incredibly bashful under Joshua’s gaze. He was watching her with a smile, but he never looked away, and he kept searching her face as if he were trying to find an answer to a question.
Joshua had taken her breath away when he’d come to greet her at the front gate. Samantha had forgotten how handsome of a man he was, with his locks of coffee-brown hair under his straw hat, and the most intense pine-green eyes she’d ever seen. He cradled his teacup in one large, calloused-looking hand. His other hand had been wrapped around the front of his chest when they first sat down, but now it rested against the back of the swing seat, as if he had relaxed. And she couldn’t help looking into his eyes more and more.
Mary poked her head out of the front door . “Did you want to stay for dinner, Samantha?”
Surprised, Samantha glanced up at the sky, and realized the sun was very low. “Ach. I would love to, but my parents are probably wondering where I’m at, and Mamm and I were going to work on a quilt for the Jennings tonight.”
“Joshua, I’ll get the kinner started eating, if you want to take Samantha home?” Mary said.
“Jah, Danke Mary.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Samantha said.
“It was very kind of you to come all this way to bring Andrew’s coat,” Joshua said. “It’s the least I can do. Let me get the horse hooked up.”
Andrew and Melissa gave disappointed sighs. “Does Miss Samantha have to go?” Andrew asked.
Samantha laughed. “Jah. But I will bring noodles over tomorrow.”
“Yay!” Andrew exclaimed. Melissa gave Samantha a hug, much to her surprise and delight, and they scampered into the house.
Mary smiled. “It’s good to see them having fun.”
“I’m sure you’ve been a huge blessing to them,” Samantha said. “How’s your wedding preparations going?”
“Gut!” Mary glanced towards the barn, where Joshua was preparing. “I just wish it wasn’t while my brother was grieving.”
Samantha put a hand to Mary’s shoulder. “Gott knows what He’s doing. Maybe it’s a time of celebration they can look forward to during this time.”
“Jah, danke Samantha. Gott does know what He’s doing. I’m glad Andrew left his coat.” Mary grinned at her. “I think Joshua is too.” And with that startling comment, Mary bid her a good evening as she walked back into the house, leaving Samantha blushing out on the porch.
Had Mary really been suggesting what Samantha thought she had? Maybe I’m just taking things that way, she thought. Once she was calm again, she made her way to Joshua's buggy. He helped her into the buggy before getting in himself, and he gave a light flick of the reins.
“It was very kind of you to come out all this way,” Joshua said. “I know it’s a ways from your own haus.”
“It really was not a problem,” Samantha said, smiling. “Especially in this weather, I enjoyed the walk.”
“It is lovely.” Joshua’s eyes glanced at her, and Samantha felt herself start to blush again.
I am losing it! “Your kinner are
wonderful.”
“Danke. I just wish I could do more for them,” Joshua said. He sighed. “I feel like I’m failing them right now.”
“Why?”
Joshua took a breath. “I can’t seem to work more than a few hours a day. Productive work, I mean. While my mamm and Mary are doing everything they can to keep my household running, I’m still…struggling.”
“It’s okay,” Samantha said gently. “It’s just a part of the process. You can’t expect to be unmoved. No one is invincible but Gott.”
“Jah.” Joshua nodded his head. “You are right. I guess I just feel like I should be strong for my kinner.”
“I’m sure,” Samantha said. “I won’t pretend to understand what you and your kinner are going through. But I will continue to pray for you.”
Joshua smiled at her, the sunlight filtering through the leaves around his face. “I’m glad you came today.”
“So am I.” It had slipped out a little more eagerly than Samantha had meant it to, and she hesitated, about to start blushing again.
Joshua looked at her face and then turned his attention down a road that branched off to the right. “This way, right?”
“Jah.” Samantha inhaled the sweet wind that poured through the buggy, and exhaled with a happy sigh. “I wish the weather could stay like this forever. I’m not sure I’m ready for the cold.”
Joshua chuckled. “Jah. The one gut thing with all of my woodwork mistakes is that we’ve already got plenty of firewood.”
Samantha giggled, and then immediately felt bad for it. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.”
“Nee, it’s okay,” Joshua said. “Let me know if you need firewood, I’ll probably have extra before long.”
Now Samantha actually laughed, and she held a hand over her mouth to stop herself. But then Joshua grinned at her, and they both chuckled. “So what’s your favorite piece to work on?” she asked.
“Hmm. I really like rocking chairs,” Joshua said. “Desks are good. Headboards. I’m not sure that there’s much that I don’t like to do,” he added. “I'm particularly fond of projects with a challenge. Something with an unusual request or odd measurements. Like a desk that has to get through an unusually small doorframe but needs to be a sufficient size to still work.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“And what do you like best about teaching?”
Samantha hummed as she thought about it. “I love to learn and I love sharing that excitement with others. But my favorite thing is to watch the light come to someone’s eyes when they realize something they had never thought about before, or they find the answer to a problem they’ve been trying to figure out. Each time I see someone ‘get it,’ it just makes me want to teach a thousand times over.”
“Teaching is a gift, and one that I don’t have,” Joshua said. He chuckled “I don’t know what I’m going to do if Andrew wants to learn woodworking.”
“How did you learn?” Samantha asked.
“My daed was a great teacher,” Joshua said. “He would show me how to do something, explain how to do it, show me again, and then guide me along as I did it myself. But I don’t remember how he explained everything. I never thought about learning woodworking to teach it, back then.”
“Jah. But you’re a gut woodworker. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
"Danke for your vote of confidence," Joshua chuckled.
“Well, if you ever want to visit, you’re welcome to,” Joshua said as they arrived at Samantha's house. “I’d love to have you there.” The words slipped out before Joshua could catch them.
Samantha felt her breath catch a little, and she stole a glance at Joshua. He was staring straight ahead, and she saw him look at his hands for a minute, as if he were just realizing what he said. Which just made her even more bashful. “I would like that,” she heard herself say.“Danke, Joshua.”
“And Danke, Samantha, again for coming all the way out today, and for the visit,” Joshua said.
“I’ll bring noodles tomorrow.”
“You could come for dinner, if you like.” Joshua grinned. “We’ll have noodles.”
Samantha laughed. “That sounds gut.” She started to climb out of the buggy, and then paused as Joshua threw the reins around her family’s fence post and came around to help her down. “Danke.”
“My pleasure.” Joshua, towering over her, tipped his hat to her.
“Have a gut evening!”
“You too.”
What was she doing, getting interested in a widower? Joshua hadn’t even been widowed a year. And yet when Samantha paused on the porch to wave to Joshua as he left, he waving back at her, her heart thumped with joy.
Even if Joshua was interested, Samantha thought as she watched the buggy disappear down the road, I just took my new teaching job. I love it! I couldn’t leave it so soon. And Joshua and his kinner need a homebody, not a wife and mamm that works as a school teacher. Gott, why would You present such a dilemma to my heart?
Of course, this assumed the relationship went anywhere. She was going over to give the Woods' noodles, and probably help them cook it. Maybe it would just be a pleasant time and they would become friends and nothing more.
Just thinking about seeing Joshua again made her smile, and Samantha took a huge breath of the late summer breeze again.
When Joshua had stabled the horse, there was only a faint glow left in the sky. But his heart was beating with life again, for the first time in ten months, and he looked forward to tomorrow.
As Joshua lay on his bed that night, he was well aware of the empty pillow beside him. He closed his eyes and began to pray. He had prayed for a number of things that he usually did – peace for himself and his family, for Mary’s upcoming wedding, and more. But he kept coming back to the one prayer he had been praying all day: Gott, am I ready for another relationship? Are the kinner ready? I pray for Your wisdom and Your guidance for both Samantha's life and for mine.
It had been dark for a long while by the time Joshua was finished praying, and he found his mind returning to Samantha’s beaming smile and heart-melting laugh over and over again. She made him feel alive again. One thing he knew for sure, was that he wanted to spend as much time as he could with her.
Joshua suddenly had an idea come to his mind. He had no idea where it had come from but he was excited about the thought, his mind churning as he formed the wooden pieces in his head, trying to figure out how to fit them together.
* * *
Chapter 3
It was cloudy and raining the next Friday when school was done for the day, but Samantha couldn’t have been happier. She had had dinner at the Woods’ almost every night that week and the week prior, and tonight was no different. Now, Andrew just waited for Samantha to finish up to walk home with her, chatting with her and Kristen and running around the empty schoolroom.
Samantha was fairly certain that Kristen, along with probably half of Chesterfield County, knew that something was going on between her and Joshua Woods. But try as she could, she was drawn to Joshua and his children, and every time Joshua invited her over for dinner, she couldn’t refuse. Her own parents and siblings had teased her about it, although outside of her family no one had talked to her about it directly.
“I can see Andrew’s ready to go,” Kristen said. She and Samantha chuckled as Andrew beckoned to Samantha.
“Hurry, Samantha!” Andrew said. He and Melissa had stopped calling her Miss Samantha a week ago.
“Have a gut weekend, Kristen!” Samantha said. She slung her satchel over her shoulder. “I appreciate all your help! It was another great week.”
“Jah, you’re welcome! Have a gut weekend too, and a gut visit!” Kristen said. “I’ll lock the school up.”
"Danke, Kristen." Samantha put her cloak on and made sure her bonnet was in place before she and Andrew hurried out of the school. To their surprise, Joshua and Melissa were waiting outside the school in Joshua’s buggy, and they waved at them. Samanth
a helped Andrew up into the buggy and then she climbed in after him. She and Joshua shared a warm smile.
Now that it had been two weeks, Samantha realized that her family and Kristen were right – there was a difference in Joshua. He smiled a lot more easily, and the dark circles under his eyes were gone. She didn’t want to be so prideful as to claim it was her doing, but she certainly wondered if her visits had played a part. Joshua’s mother and sister always hinted at it when they were at Joshua’s house.
As for herself, Samantha was completely taken with Joshua. He was incredibly kind, sincere, and hard-working, and he loved his children deeply. Not to mention he was quite handsome. However, she was still not settled on what this might mean for her teaching dream. She’d hoped to get married someday and leave the teaching job to someone else, but she had always assumed she’d get to teach for quite a few years, not just one year.
Samantha was drawn out of her thoughts, realizing that the Woods' had been talking about their day, and Melissa was tugging at her sleeve. “Sorry, Melissa, Jah?”
“I asked if you liked my new apron for my dolly?” Melissa lifted up the golden-haired dolly up, a white apron pinned over the doll’s purple dress.
“It’s lovely!” Samantha said. “Did Mary make that for you?”
“Jah!”
“How was school, Andrew?” Joshua asked.
“It was gut!” Andrew said. “We had a spelling test today, and I got all my words right.”
“Ach, gut,” Joshua smiled at Samantha. “And how was school for you?”
“Gut, as always. I love teaching the kinner and I'm so thankful to Gott for this blessing in my life.”
They had arrived at Joshua’s house at this point, and they paused by the front gate while Andrew jumped down and went over to open the gate, and then chased the buggy all the way back to the barn. Samantha and Melissa hurried into the house while Andrew stayed with Joshua to "help" stable the horse.
“Hello?” Samantha called when she walked into the house. There were already plates and silverware on the table, and she could hear someone in the kitchen.
AMISH ROMANCE: Amish Dreams Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 2
