She quickly shook her head.
“I’ll feed them,” Micah said, and held out his hands.
She handed the apples to him. “Be careful. They are very big animals.”
“I’m used to them. You should learn not to be scared of them.” He walked to where the team was waiting.
“He’s right, you know,” Ethan said.
Clara shook her head. “Some things are easier said than done. Overcoming a fear, even a senseless one, is not so easy.”
Ethan didn’t have a senseless fear to overcome. His was real and soul deep. No matter how much he cared for someone, how much he loved them, he was never loved in return. He needed to remember that when Clara’s smile tempted him to think otherwise.
Chapter Ten
Clara noticed a change in Ethan’s attitude during the meal. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was except he seemed cooler, less friendly, but only when he was speaking to her, not when he spoke to the children. He gave them his undivided attention, and she felt a twinge of envy.
What had she done wrong? The mantle of insecurity and trepidation she tried so hard to shed slipped over her shoulders again. As soon as Ethan was done eating, she quickly began to gather the dishes and repack her basket. “We should get going, children. We have kept your onkel Ethan from his work long enough.”
A pained expression flashed across his face, then was gone. He rose to his feet. “There’s no rush. The horses could use a longer break.”
She wanted to stay, but she wasn’t sure if he meant it or if he was simply being polite. Knowing how much he cared about his horses and his work, she decided to test a safe topic. She gestured to the grove of trees. At least a dozen trees that had been marked with a yellow X were still standing. “What is it that you’re doing here?”
“It’s called restorative forestry. I’m doing single-tree selection. What do you see when you look at this grove?”
“Trees.”
That pulled a grin from him and made her happy. “Trees marked with yellow paint,” she added quickly.
“Those are the ones I plan to harvest.”
She left her basket on the stump and moved to stand beside him. “Some of them don’t look as if they would make good lumber.”
“That’s right.” He seemed pleased with her comment. It gave her courage a boost.
“If you aren’t taking trees for the best lumber, what are you doing?”
He swept his arm toward the hillside. “This grove hasn’t been logged in fifty or sixty years, maybe longer. Because of that, we have what’s called an uneven-aged stand. Some very old trees all the way down to saplings sprouting where they can.”
“Is that bad?” Clara glanced around to check on the children. Micah and Amos were petting the horses. Lily was sitting on her log chair playing with several cups on the tabletop.
“It’s not bad. It’s the way a forest develops naturally. Your grandfather wants to maintain that, but gain a little income from the lumber. My job is to take out diseased trees, storm-damaged trees and ones that are overcrowded. That will allow the young trees to grow stronger and faster. In a few years, they’ll be worth a lot more. Good trees can be harvested out of here every ten to twenty years this way. He’s looking ahead, protecting an investment and a forest at the same time, not just gaining all he can from a clear-cut.”
“Why have you marked some of the big ones?”
“I’ll also fell some of the most mature trees, like a few of those black walnuts. They’re high-quality veneer woods. They’ll bring a pretty price at the sawmill. The other trees will be used for firewood, posts and poles or pulpwood.”
“Veneer as in furniture wood?”
He nodded and hooked his thumbs through his suspenders. “Authentic handcrafted Amish furniture. I’m pleased to be a part of that.”
“I can understand why.”
It was pleasant here in the dappled shade cast by the forest. A rich, loamy scent hung in the cool air and mixed with the pungent odor of freshly cut wood. Last year’s leaves and fragments of walnut shells made a noisy carpet on the forest floor. A pair of squirrels dashed across it from one tree to the next in search of food or just for fun, scattering leaves as they ran.
Clara could see why Ethan enjoyed working in the woods. It wasn’t quiet. Tree branches creaked overhead, birds sang, leaves rustled in the wind, but it was a serene place.
“Those walnuts are massive. Can your horses pull those out after you’ve cut them down?”
He began walking toward his team. Clara stayed by his side. “I normally cut my logs to under three thousand pounds and about eight and a half feet long. My fellows can pull that weight for about a thousand or fifteen hundred feet without trouble. If the ground is like this, with a little slope in their favor, they can go farther. If I must ask them to go uphill, I cut the logs smaller.”
They had reached the boys and the horses. Ethan stopped and rubbed his jaw as he looked at his nephews. “Would you like to watch me cut down a tree? Clara, you and the children go back by the table.”
She did as he asked. He picked up a chain saw and walked out to one of the trees he had marked. He slowly circled it, then he looked at her. “Which way should I make it fall to do the least amount of damage to the neighboring trees?”
Clara shook her head. “I don’t see any way you can miss other trees completely.”
Micah pointed slightly uphill and to the left. “I would drop it in that direction.”
“Why?” Ethan asked with a grin for the boy.
“It will miss almost everything except that group of saplings.”
“Very good. The saplings are too close together. They won’t grow well. They need to be taken out, anyway.”
Ethan put his yellow ear protectors on and pulled the chain saw’s cord. It roared to life, sending the birds fleeing the area. The serenity of the forest became a thing of the past. He notched the trunk of the tree where he wanted it to fall and then he went around to the other side and began cutting through the wood. He glanced up repeatedly and Clara realized he was watching to make sure the tree didn’t topple back on him.
A chill crept down her spine. No matter how much he enjoyed his job, it was dangerous. Particularly for a man working alone.
A sharp crack rent the air as the tall poplar began to fall. Even though Clara was prepared, she was still surprised by the violence of it and the way the ground shook when the tree hit. Ethan stepped up onto the fallen tree and began to trim away the branches. Then he cut the trunk into manageable-sized logs. He killed his chain saw, pulled off his ear protectors and said, “Micah, bring up my team.”
Aghast, Clara shouted after the boy. “Nee, you are too small to handle them.”
Micah just shook his head. “I’ve been working around horses like these for years.”
“Years, my foot.” Clara clasped her hands and fell silent. She had shoes older than that boy.
He unfastened their bridles from the trees where they were tied and led the big pair to Ethan. Ethan took the reins, climbed onto his logging arch and, with a few quiet words, he maneuvered the team to back up to the log. Hopping down from his vehicle, he pulled a heavy chain from a box on the back and looped it around the log. He looked at Micah. “Always set the chain so that it rolls the log slightly when the horses tighten it. That way, it takes less work for them to get it moving.”
He demonstrated his technique, secured the chain and climbed onto his logging arch. He gave the command and the horses threw themselves into their collars. The big log rolled slightly and then straightened out behind Ethan. It left only a shallow groove in the dirt as he pulled it along. Clara and the children walked down to where he was unhooking the log beside the others he’d cut.
“Very impressive,” Clara admitted. He had the hors
es completely under his control, using only his voice and a light touch on the reins.
“Can I cut down a tree?” Amos asked.
“When you are as tall as Clara I’ll consider it,” Ethan said.
Amos measured his head against her apron front with his hand. She ruffled his hair. “It won’t be long, and you’ll tower over me.”
He looked pleased with the prospect.
“Can we go home now?” Lily asked. “I’m tired.”
They still had a long walk ahead of them. It had seemed like a good idea to have the children wear off some energy on the way to see Ethan, but she hadn’t considered that Lily might be too tired to walk home. Clara gathered her basket and hooked it over her arm, then she took Lily’s hand.
Ethan said, “It was nice having the children eat with me. We should do this again sometime.”
That made her feel better. It wasn’t her presence that had upset him. “We will.”
“You’ll have to bring more of that good cobbler,” Ethan said with a smile.
She ducked her head at his compliment. “I’m glad you liked it.”
As Clara walked down the hill with the children, Lily began limping. Clara stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“My foot hurts.”
Clara slipped off Lily’s shoe and saw she had a blister on the back of her heel. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. The next time we come I’ll drive the cart.” Clara realized she was going to have to carry the child. She gave the basket to Micah and lifted Lily.
Amos said, “Onkel Ethan is coming this way.”
Clara looked back. He was driving toward them. When he pulled up alongside, he said, “Let me give you a lift to the house.”
“Yeah!” Amos and Micah climbed onto the tool box behind Ethan.
Clara hesitated. The bench was mighty small. “Lily has a blister on her heel. If you take her, I can walk the rest of the way.”
Ethan held out his hand. “No point in that.”
“Clara. I want to go home,” Lily said with a pout.
It wasn’t any different than sharing a buggy seat or a wagon seat, she told herself. Clara nodded and handed Lily up to him. He sat her on his lap and reached for Clara. She put her hand in his and he lifted her easily up beside him.
She was right. The bench was tiny. It was made for one person. She was pressed against Ethan from shoulder to knee. She scooted over as far as she could. He transferred Lily to her lap.
“Ready?” Ethan asked.
The horses started with a jolt. Clara nearly fell off. Ethan threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. “Careful. I don’t want to lose Lily or my best nanny.”
Clara could barely breathe. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest, but it wasn’t caused by fear. Ethan had his arm around her. Once she had her balance, he moved his arm, but the warm, strong feeling of his embrace remained with Clara for the entire ride home.
Her grandfather came out of the house when Ethan stopped in front of the gate. Clara scrambled down with Lily and moved away from the small cart. Her grandfather eyed her for a long moment before turning his eagle-eyed gaze on Ethan. “How is the logging going?”
“I’ve got a quarter of the trees felled and cut. I’ll be done by tomorrow.”
“Goot.” Her grandfather patted the hip of the closest horse. “You have a fine team. I hear there will be a horse pull at the Fourth of July fair in town. Are you going to enter?”
“Nee. My fellows are working horses.”
“They could win, Onkel Ethan. I know they could,” Amos said.
“Perhaps, but they could also get hurt trying to pull a weighted sled that is too heavy for them. Are you going to the fair, Joe?”
He shook his head. “’Tis a bunch of nonsense and noise. I will stay here where I have peace and quiet.”
“Are we going to the fair?” Lily asked.
Ethan nodded. “If you are good for Clara this week, I will take you to the fair.”
Lily grinned at Clara. “I’m always goot.”
“Me, too,” Amos shouted.
“Are you going, Clara?” Lily asked.
“Ja, my sisters and I plan to go.”
“That’s good ’cause it won’t be fun without you, will it, Onkel Ethan?”
“Nee, it won’t be fun without Clara,” he said quietly.
She hoped he couldn’t see how excited she was by the prospect of spending a carefree day at the fair with him and the children.
* * *
On Wednesday, Clara returned to her normal routine. Ethan had finished his work for her grandfather, so she went to his house to look after the children. She arrived early enough to share breakfast with him and the children. After they finished eating, the boys went out to start chores, and Lily went into the living room to play with her doll. Ethan stayed at the table. Clara poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down with him. “What are your plans for today?”
“Adrian Lapp came by last night and asked me to help him clear some deadfall from the creek on his place. We’ll cut it up for firewood. There isn’t enough to haul to the sawmill. What about you?”
“Cooking, cleaning, counting the children to make sure someone hasn’t run off, cooking some more.”
He arched one eyebrow. “Are you bored with your job here?”
“Not at all,” she assured him. She wasn’t. Her work was fulfilling. She took a sip of coffee and realized how nice it was to share this part of the morning with someone who wasn’t one of her sisters. She and Ethan were becoming friends, and that was as it should be. She shouldn’t look for more.
“Do you think teaching school will be more exciting?” he asked.
“I hope it will be both exciting and rewarding.”
“Have you heard from the school board?”
She stared at the cup in her hands. “I have a second interview on Tuesday the fifteenth.”
“I hope they hire someone else. Is that bad of me?” He bent sideways and peered out the window.
“You just don’t want to break in a new nanny.” She turned in her chair to see what he was looking at. Amos was on the barn roof.
Clara shot out of her chair and ran to the door. She heard Ethan laughing behind her. She turned to glare at him. “Do something.”
“He got up there. He can get down.”
“Ethan Gingerich, you go get him before he falls!”
He unfolded his tall frame from his chair and strolled to her side. He pulled his straw hat from the peg on the wall and settled it on his head before he smiled at her. “Teaching may be more rewarding, but I don’t see how it can be more exciting than this crew.”
Clara followed him, crushing her apron between her fingers as she willed Amos to stay safely where he was. She was afraid shouting at him might frighten him and make him fall.
Amos sat down with a dejected look on his face when he spotted them. Ethan hooked his thumbs under his suspenders and rocked back on his heels. “What are you doing up there, Amos?”
“Nothing,” he answered slowly. He scooted back from the edge.
Clara held up her hands. “Stay still. Don’t make any sudden moves. You’ll be all right.”
Ethan looked around. “How did you get up there?”
“With a ladder.”
“Where’s the ladder now, Amos?” Ethan asked.
Amos hesitated. Finally, he said, “Micah took it.”
“Micah!” Ethan yelled at the top of his voice. Clara jumped.
Micah came out of the barn dragging the ladder behind him. The look on his face said he knew he was in trouble. “I was going to put it back in a minute.”
Ethan crossed his arms. “Your minute is up.”
“Wow! Can I climb up there?” Lily asked
from behind Clara.
Unaware that the child had followed them, Clara snapped at her. “Never! Not ever!”
“Aw! Why do the boys get to have all the fun?” Lily trooped back to the house, dragging her doll by the hand.
Clara glared at Ethan, who pressed a hand to his mouth to cover his grin. “Are you afraid of heights, too, Clara?”
She raised her chin. “A little, and don’t you dare laugh at me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He picked up the back end of the ladder, then he and Micah set it in place.
Clara’s stomach lurched when she saw Amos stand and take hold of the top rung. Ethan gestured for her to join him. She walked closer. He said, “Come on. Up you go.”
“What?” She took a step back.
“The only way to get over the fear of something is to do it. Climb the ladder and help Amos down.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“He’ll have to stay up there all day if you don’t.”
She took a second step back. “He’s your child. You go get him.”
“You’re his nanny. It’s your job to take care of him.”
She realized they were all grinning at her. She dropped her wadded apron, smoothed the front of it and squared her shoulders. “Nannies do not climb ladders.”
Turning on her heels, she marched toward the house. When she glanced back, Amos was already halfway down. He hadn’t needed any help at all. Ethan and Micah were grinning from ear to ear and slapping their hands together. Laughing, at her expense.
She stomped into the kitchen. “Odious boys.”
Lily was at the table feeding a leftover biscuit to her doll. “They aren’t being good. They should stay home from the fair.”
Clara smiled at her and looked out the window over the sink. Ethan had the front of the ladder while Micah and Amos brought up the rear from the tallest to the smallest. Together, they carried it into the barn.
“I should make them stay home, but something tells me I’ll enjoy the fair even more if they are there.”
* * *
The morning of the Fourth dawned clear and bright, without a cloud in the sky. Clara and her sisters giggled and chatted like schoolgirls as they got ready to go to town. They were as excited about spending a day at the fair as any kinder. None of them had experienced a Fourth of July celebration. The uncle who raised them believed it was too worldly and sinful. The sisters had only listened to stories told by their friends about the wonders of carnival rides and of fireworks.
The Amish Nanny Page 12
