“Ach, Luke! We didn’t know you were back,” Irene said, jumping up from the table.
Luke glanced at Nancy and saw her face flush pink. Nope. She hadn’t said a word.
“I’ll get you a plate and utensils.” Irene bustled to the kitchen.
“No worries,” he called after her.
“You saw your folks?” Philip asked.
“Jah. And then, I rode about the district, getting to know it again.”
Philip raised his brow at that. “Not much has changed, I reckon.”
Luke laughed and slid onto the bench across from Nancy. “You’re right in that.”
“But isn’t that gut?” Nancy asked.
Luke looked at her. “What? That nothing changes?”
Her flushed cheeks grew a deeper red. “Well… There isn’t anything wrong with things staying the same.”
He shook his head. “I suppose not.”
She looked down at her plate. “Unless, they get better.”
He frowned. “Not sure you can have it both ways.”
The minute the words left his mouth, he felt the tension in the room rise. He felt Philip staring at him, but he kept his eyes on Nancy. She met his gaze, and he saw something flicker in her eyes, but he couldn’t read what it was. The moment she saw his interest, it was like she’d drawn a curtain between them.
He sighed.
“Here you go,” Irene said, back from the kitchen. She handed him his dishes.
He took them, glad to have something to do. He dished himself a hefty helping of steamed veggies and took two chicken legs from the platter. “Thank you, Irene.”
“Nancy cooked it, so you’ll have to thank her.”
He glanced across at Nancy once again. “Thank you.”
She pursed her lips and nodded slightly in acknowledgement. His breath seeped out between his lips. She was a strange one, that Nancy Slagel.
At that moment, he missed Ariel’s easy smile.
Chapter Nine
Nancy sat on her bed, brushing out her long hair with angry strokes. What was the matter with that Luke Rupp, anyway? Had he made it his life mission to bother her? No one had kissed her since Mark Lapp. And Mark had been her beau! Other than that, no kisses at all. Oh, she remembered when she was a little girl, her mother would kiss her sometimes. But that was about it.
People in her district didn’t go about kissing each other. And Luke Rupp knew that. Her fingers went up to touch her cheek again. Her skin still felt hot—which she knew was not only impossible but ridiculous.
She swallowed.
It had felt good. His kiss. It had felt good.
Which made it even worse.
Two days later, Nancy received a letter from Linda. This time, when Philip handed her the envelope, she didn’t fear it was from Susan. She knew it would be from Linda.
“Go on outside,” Irene had said with a smile.
Nancy was holding a screaming Zeke, and Irene peeled him from her shoulder.
“You can’t read a letter in peace in here. Go on with you.” She gestured Nancy right out the door.
“Debbie, you want to come with me?” Nancy asked, holding out her finger for the girl to clasp.
“Nee, she doesn’t,” Irene said. “Go on with you. Have a moment to yourself.”
Nancy felt guilty leaving Irene with both children, especially with Zeke crying his head off. She was the mother’s helper, after all. Yet, she was eager to read her letter.
“All right. But I won’t be long.”
“Take as long as you want.” Irene laughed, over the protests of Zeke. “Some women have ten children and more. I’d be a pretty sad woman if I couldn’t handle two.”
Nancy smiled and stepped out the front screen door. She settled onto the porch swing and opened the envelope.
Dear Nancy,
Guess what? Mamm and Dat told me that I can come to Hollybrook! Isn’t that wonderful gut news? Dat has already arranged the transportation for me. He asked Abraham to drive me. I think he’s the same Mennonite gentleman who drove you, isn’t he?
We have it arranged for six days from now. That will give me time to hear back from you if this isn’t all right. Can you please ask Irene? Assure her that I will help with the care of the babes and the house. I certainly expect to work and help however I can while I’m there.
Oh, Nancy! I’m so excited to come and see you. And to see Irene and Philip and the children. I also am bringing a lap quilt for Aenti Doris. I told Mamm that I was certain Doris didn’t need any more lap quilts. But evidently, Mamm and Doris used to share this quilt when they were just kinner. Mamm says that the two of them would wiggle underneath it and cuddle when Grossmammi would read them Bible stories.
Anyway, I’ve already packed it. You will probably laugh at me, but I’ve already packed Dat’s old suitcase with everything I’m bringing. In truth, Dat’s suitcase is barely hanging together, but you took the newer one. Six more days, Nancy! And I’ll be there.
Will you check with Irene and Philip to make sure it’s fine? We can share a room again, just like always.
Your sister,
Linda
Nancy smiled through the entire reading of the letter. She couldn’t be happier at the news. She missed Linda. It would be lovely to have her around again. She refolded the letter and put it back inside the envelope, and then she went inside.
“Gut news, I hope?” Irene asked as she shifted Zeke to her other shoulder. The baby had stopped crying and was happily sucking on his first two fingers.
“The best news. Irene, would it be all right for Linda to come and visit for a spell?”
Irene raised her brows. “Why, that would be perfect! I’ve been missing your entire family lately, and to have Linda come… And she can meet Zeke and see how Debbie has grown.”
“She asked me to tell you that she’d work hard to help in any way she can while she’s here. And she can share my room with me.”
Irene laughed. “You don’t have to convince me, Nancy. I’m delighted to have her. And Philip will be pleased, too. I’m not worried about her working.” She laughed again. “If I recall, that girl hardly lets anyone finish their meal before toting the dishes right off the table and into the kitchen.”
Nancy giggled. “Jah. That’s Linda, all right.”
“When is she coming?”
“In six days…” Nancy considered. “Nee. A bit sooner, I’m thinking. It probably took one day for her letter to get here. I’ll write her back right away and tell her it’s fine.”
Irene clucked her tongue. “Surely, she knew that without asking.”
Nancy smiled. “She wanted to be polite. But I will say this, she’s already packed her suitcase.”
Irene grinned. “That’s more like it.”
The day before Nancy expected Linda to arrive, she was out in the front yard, tidying up the flower beds. The tulip and daffodil bulbs had been in bloom for a week or so, but there were leftover weeds and grasses to be pulled from the winter. Nancy enjoyed digging in the dirt, especially as the weather shifted into spring. She knelt, loosening the more stubborn weeds with her trowel before yanking them out.
“Looks fun.”
Nancy turned to look up at Luke. He stood with his hands on his hips, watching her.
“I like gardening,” she said. They hadn’t spoken directly since the kiss episode, and truth be told, she was glad of it. She still hadn’t figured out what they could possibly say to each other after such a breech in decorum.
Well, it looked like she wouldn’t have to wonder any further. There he stood, speaking to her. He studied her for a moment, and then said, “You have a smudge of dirt on your left cheek.”
Nancy’s hand flew up to wipe at it. She had forgotten completely that she was wearing her garden gloves which were covered in dirt.
Luke laughed. “You just made it worse.”
Nancy pulled off one glove and then brushed at her cheek. She must look a fright with dirt on her face.
Which, naturally, he would point out. She squirmed under his gaze. For some odd reason, his mentioning the dirt on her face seemed intimate somehow. Her throat went dry, and she swallowed with difficulty. Why did he always have such a strange effect on her? She didn’t like it.
“It’s better now,” he said, squatting beside her. “Jah. Much better.”
He was close. Too close. Is this how the Englisch spoke to one another? With their faces up in each other’s space like this? Without thinking, she moved away a bit, leaning back on her haunches.
Clearly, he noted her movement because his face colored, yet his eyes didn’t waver from hers. “Am I making you nervous?” he asked, his tone low and resonant.
She blinked rapidly. What a thing to ask. She stiffened and resumed her former position, closer to him. “Nee. Of course not.” Her words had more snap than she’d intended.
A slow smile tugged at his lips. “Gut. I’d hate to think that you are afraid of me.”
Quick irritation swelled through her. “Why should I be afraid? Are you dangerous or something?” But she didn’t need to ask. She already knew the answer. Yes. Yes, he was dangerous.
“Hardly,” he answered. He stood, brushing off his knees as if he’d knelt right in the flower bed. “The flowers look fine. What you’re doing. It’s right nice.”
“Thank you,” she muttered.
“So, did I overhear correctly? Is your sister Linda coming? Your younger sister, right?”
Her irritation slipped away as she thought about Linda’s imminent arrival. “Jah. Probably tomorrow.”
“I remember her, too.” He adjusted his straw hat. “Not as well as I remember you, though.”
Nancy dropped her gaze back to the flower bed.
“Have you told Linda about me?”
Nancy wanted to cry out in frustration. How arrogant was the man? “Nee,” she said quickly. Too quickly. And then her face flamed with guilt. She’d just lied to him. Flat out lied.
He looked taken aback. “Oh. Sorry. I just assumed you had, since I’m here and all.” He shrugged and turned to go.
“Luke?”
He gazed back down at her. “Jah?”
“I did.”
“You did what?”
“I told her you were staying here.” Nancy could feel her face burn red.
An easy smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll see you at the noon meal, Nancy Slagel.”
And he walked away.
She sank onto her haunches again and watched him walk away. His gait was long and easy, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
Nancy had swept the floor, changed the sheets on the extra bed in her room, and cleared out the top drawer of the dresser. All was ready for Linda. She expected her sometime that morning. The drive wasn’t that far, and she assumed Linda would want to make an early start.
Yesterday afternoon, Nancy had baked three apple pies, using the apples Irene had down in the cellar from last year’s harvest. Apples weren’t a major crop in Indiana by any means. For some reason, they just didn’t grow that well. But Irene had two Fuji apple trees that had produced a decent crop, and she still had a bushel left in the cellar.
“Apple pie is one of Linda’s favorites,” Nancy explained.
“Smells so gut, I’d like to indulge right now,” Irene said, watching Nancy take the pies from the oven.
“But you’ll wait, right?”
Irene laughed. “Goodness! I hope I have that much self-control. But my, they do smell gut.”
Debbie tugged on Nancy’s dress. Nancy bent down to her. “Yes, honey. What do you want?”
“I firsty,” she said.
Nancy laughed. “I’ll get you a drink.”
Later, Nancy had to chase Philip away from the pies, too. Only her solemn promise that everyone would get plenty the next day saved them.
Nancy was back on the front porch again, with Debbie playing at her feet. Every time she heard any noise from the road, her ears perked up and she prepared to bound out of the swing to greet Linda. After an hour or so, and after reading Debbie four books and finally sitting on the porch floor with her to play blocks, Nancy despaired of Linda ever coming.
The screen door squawked open and Irene stuck her head outside. “No sign of her yet?”
Nancy sighed. “Nee, and Debbie is getting mighty restless. I guess I might as well come back inside and work on the noon meal.”
“I’ve already got it underway.”
“Is Zeke still sleeping?”
“Jah. But he should be up from his nap soon.”
Nancy stood. “Come on, Debbie, let’s go inside.”
As soon as Nancy turned toward the door, she heard the crunch of gravel and the sound of a motor car. She swirled around and watched as the white van approached. Linda! She had finally arrived. Nancy’s pulse increased, and she skipped down the steps to meet her sister.
The van pulled up right next to the porch, and Nancy’s wide grin fell from her face. Her hands clenched at her sides. It wasn’t Linda who climbed out of the van at all.
“Susan?”
Chapter Ten
Susan chewed the corner of her lip before putting on a huge smile. “Hello, Nancy. And Irene … how nice to see you.” She bent down. “And here’s little Debbie. Gracious, how you’ve grown.”
Nancy’s mind whirled. Had this been the devious plot all along? Had Linda only pretended she was coming? Had she planned from the beginning to send Susan in her stead, so she could force Nancy to forgive Susan and mend fences? No. Surely not. Linda wouldn’t be so deceitful.
Susan moved to stand right in front of Nancy. “How are you?” she asked. Her expression was wary, and in truth, she looked a bit pathetic standing there. Clearly, she knew full well that she wasn’t going to be met with joy.
Nancy blinked at her. “Where’s Linda?”
Susan rubbed her hands together and drew in a long breath. “She got sick last night. Her stomach hurts, and she was awake all night, vomiting. She could hardly come in that condition, could she?”
It wasn’t really a question, so Nancy didn’t answer.
Irene stepped forward and grabbed Susan’s suitcase. “I’m so sorry to hear that. But how lovely that you came instead. It’s wonderful gut to see you, Susan.”
Susan turned to the driver, who had gotten out of the van. “Thank you, Abraham. So, you know when to come and get me, right?”
“One week from today. I’ll be here.” He tipped his head in farewell, got back into the van, and took off.
Nancy hadn’t moved. She was still grappling with the fact that she was going to have to be with Susan all week. Not to mention that she would have to share a room with her. She stood like a fence post, her mind and heart battling it out. She knew her Christian duty was to be kind and loving, but her heart wanted to spurn Susan. Her heart wanted to reject her sister and hurt her as badly as she’d been hurt.
She sent up a desperate prayer for grace.
“Come on inside,” Irene was saying, leading Susan up the steps. “The boppli is still sleeping, but he should be awake soon. Ach, he’s a precious one. Come on, Debbie.”
Nancy heard the screen door slam behind them, but still, she stood. She took a deep breath. All right. This was her chance to be gracious. This was her chance to demonstrate her faith. She gritted her teeth.
A noise at her side alerted her to someone’s presence. She turned to look, and of course, it was Luke. Her shoulders slumped. Why did he have to turn up at that precise moment? As if she would possibly want him as a spectator to her anguish.
“Your sister here?” he asked. “I heard the van.”
“It’s Susan.”
“Susan?” He paused, looking confused. “I thought it was Linda who was coming.”
“She’s sick.
He studied her. “So, why are you standing here outside? Why aren’t you in there with Susan?”
Nancy scowled at him. “It’s none of your business!” She clapped
her hand over her mouth. What did she always have to be so blunt with him?
His eyebrows shot up, and his lips parted. “My. My. I do declare, Nancy Slagel. You sounded exactly like my Englisch friends right then.”
Her hands curled into fists. Again, with that? She glared at him. What a comparison to make. Being likened to the fancy people was something every Amish person avoided. But Nancy couldn’t make herself storm off. Nor could she make herself go inside and chat happily with Susan and Irene.
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “I take it you don’t much like this sister.”
The anger seeped from Nancy, and she suddenly felt like she needed to sit down. “She stole my beau, Mark Lapp. She stole him from me.”
Luke’s expression reflected his surprise. “Did she now?” He took her arm and pulled her up onto the porch and led her to the swing. “Sit down. Take a minute,” he said quietly.
He didn’t sit with her, which was a relief. But he didn’t leave her, either.
“I’d like to hear that story sometime,” he said, speaking in a low, kind tone. “It must have been awful for you.”
Nancy shook her head. She had no inclination to tell him anything, even though he was acting quite decently toward her. She, on the other hand, was acting like a child. She was hardly a lovesick teen, floundering about at a youth singing. She was a grown woman.
She stood and squared her shoulders, walking to the door. “Thank you, Luke. But I’m fine now.” She nodded to him and pulled open the screen door.
“Nancy?”
She paused. “Jah?”
“I’d still like to hear that story sometime.”
She could feel his compassion like a warm quilt draped across her shoulders. She blew out her breath and blinked. The man flustered her. Not knowing what to say, she nodded again.
Once inside the house, she heard voices coming from the kitchen. Taking a bolstering breath, she went in there. Susan gave her a forced smile, but her relief that Nancy had at least come inside was clearly evident. So, her sister wanted to make amends, or so it appeared. Nancy was a bit perplexed. Susan had never displayed much remorse before. Maybe her conscience had finally kicked in.
Amish Romance: The Mother's Helper (Nancy's Story Book 1) Page 5
