“She has to be confused about what took place.” Jacob put his hands on each side of him on the log. “I know I am.” He crossed his legs. “Did you tell her you had a girlfriend?”
“That had nothing to do with business.” Samuel plucked a piece of bark from the log. “You think it mattered?”
“She seemed surprised.”
“I came down pretty hard, asking her whether she had someone. Does she think I misrepresented who I am? Or that I have double standards for men and women?”
“Do you?”
“Maybe.” Samuel tossed the piece of bark on the ground. “Probably. I’ve never considered working with a woman before, and being prejudiced seems a natural King trait. But it’s one that can change with a little practice and hearing a woman’s perspective. I’m willing to learn.”
“Catherine caught her off guard.”
“Unfortunately, the way Catherine pounced would have caused unease even if Rhoda had known about her. And I’m none too happy about that.”
Samuel fought the irritation trying to build. Catherine should’ve trusted him and respected him enough to let him explain later. He had always known that she relied on him too much, but her fix-it-and-fix-it-now ways had to stop.
In the two years they’d been dating, their relationship had always been stressed during the harvest. The work absorbed his time and energy, and she usually accepted it. What they didn’t need was for stress to start early, but with the issues on the back tierce, that’s exactly what was happening.
He plucked another piece of bark from the log. “Do you think that’s why she turned us down?”
“By itself, no. But it was a bad situation, and between that and my baggage, Rhoda never got a chance to see the benefits of working with us.”
“Your baggage?”
Jacob’s fingers trembled as he sat more upright and tapped them together. “Leah suggested we remodel the summer kitchen for Rhoda.” Jacob used his thumb to wipe sweat from his forehead. “You should’ve seen Leah’s confidence when she came up with a plan that could help us. And Eli jumped on board, volunteering to do all he could to assist me.” His eyes glistened as if he were tearing up, but surely not. Not Jacob.
Samuel’s heart pounded. He hadn’t thought of remodeling the summer kitchen. It had been designed for canning and cooking for large families. “It’s a solid idea. And since we can’t afford to hire a carpenter, maybe—”
“I can’t.” Jacob got up, staring at the broken-down summer kitchen. “I just can’t.”
Samuel stayed seated. He gritted his teeth, fighting to keep from screaming, Of course you can!
Several minutes ticked by, and finally Samuel stood. “Then we’ll find another way.”
But he knew there might not be any other way. He had money put back for building a home, but he couldn’t use that on a gamble they’d make enough profit to pay the property tax and replace his savings.
There were times in life when a man couldn’t do certain things. And Samuel couldn’t gamble with what savings he had.
And, clearly, Jacob couldn’t pick up a hammer again.
How could he have let things get so off course today? Now Jacob felt responsible for letting down Kings’ Orchard. Before then only Samuel and Eli carried that weight—Eli for not taking care of the back tierce and Samuel for not checking on Eli’s work.
Years from now when they looked back on this time, would they be able to accept that they had buckled under their shortcomings rather than battled against them?
TWENTY-SEVEN
“Leah!”
Leah moaned. Mamm was calling. But it was late on a Sunday afternoon, for Pete’s sake. Who wanted something done now? If she hadn’t needed to stay close to a bathroom because of her nausea, she’d have gone to the hayloft to read. She tucked her newest thriller under her pillow and went to the landing.
“Ya, Mamm?”
“Arlan’s here to see you.”
She probably should have brushed her hair and pinned it up afresh, but she hurried down the stairs. He stood in the kitchen, talking to her parents. His black hair was disheveled, and his clothes were crumpled. This was Arlan, all heart and passion and not the least bit interested in appearances.
They were good friends, and she regretted how little they’d seen of each other lately. He boosted her self-esteem, and unlike his sister he respected her opinion.
He smiled, showing a row of white and slightly crooked teeth. “Thought maybe you’d care to go for a ride.”
“You thought right.”
Mamm considered them. “Are you attending the singing?”
“I wasn’t planning on it.” Arlan glanced at Leah as if trying to read her thoughts.
“So what’s the plan?” Daed asked.
Leah hated when her parents did this. If she walked out the door on her own, they’d let her go without asking much of anything. But when a guy came to pick her up, they wanted answers.
Arlan didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “No exact plans. But there are several possibilities. My aunts have been making different kinds of ice cream for weeks and storing it in the freezer. They’re pulling all of it out this evening for a taste test to determine which one is everyone’s favorite. We might go by there or meet up with some friends and go wading in the creek. Or we may just go for a long ride. Whatever we do, I’ll have her home by ten, if that’s okay with you.”
Daed motioned for them to head out the door. “Go and have fun.”
She grabbed Arlan’s wrist. “Well, come on, then.”
He said a quick good-bye to her parents.
“Such a gentleman, always making sure my folks approve.” She climbed into his buggy.
He went around to his side and got in. “I’ve missed your sass, Leah. How are you?”
“Okay, I guess. Not up for eating ice cream.”
“You’re not feeling good?”
“No, I’ve been puking my guts out for weeks, but I’m losing weight.”
“Sounds like a bad diet plan.”
“Tell me about it. Maybe the problem is I’ve been missing you. What’ve you been up to?”
He drove the carriage onto the road, glancing at her more than where he was going. “Working a lot, moving from farm to farm, cutting and hauling hay. I’ve been waiting on the music store to get a new shipment of guitars. It should happen this week. And I’ve been going to a protestant church on our between Sundays. I’m still thinking about leaving the Amish.”
“So basically nothing new.”
“Not a thing, except Catherine’s discovered all my secrets.”
“Oh poor Samuel.”
“Your brother?” Arlan made a face. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, and you understand why I said it too.”
“True. You got me on that one. So what book are you reading now?”
They talked fast about everything. The odd but nice thing about him was he didn’t have to agree with her to like who she was.
“So that’s it?” Arlan studied her face. “You and Michael are done?”
“Ya, I guess so.”
“You’re not sure?”
“I’m positive. It’s just hard to say it out loud with any oomph. My heart keeps holding on, which is annoying, but it’s where I am. I believed he was who I wanted him to be, not who he was.”
“What’d you want from him?”
“A stupid fairy tale, I guess. I longed for him to be unable to live without me, for him to make me feel good about myself, and for him to take me away from here. Well, he can easily and gladly live without me. I’ve never felt worse about myself in my life. And I’m stuck right here in Harvest Mills for the rest of my days.”
He pulled onto the gravel parking lot of a little white church and parked the rig to the side. “I’ll take you away if you need it.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet to me. It’s a shame we didn’t fall in love.” She elbowed him.
“I don’t have to buy a guitar, an
d I can use that money to help support you.”
She chuckled. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you’ll need help with the baby.”
Her heart lurched, and a wave of nausea hit. She bolted out of the rig and walked toward the creek. Arlan followed her.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the muggy breeze made the lush trees rustle.
“I’m not pregnant!”
“But Catherine said—”
“Catherine?” Leah was sure Michael wouldn’t spread that rumor. Jacob was the only other person to know about her scare, and he wouldn’t tell. If the accusation had come from someone she’d attended parties with, she might be able to understand it, but Catherine? Anger burned through her. “Your sister is a liar. She probably said it just to make me look bad.”
“Don’t get mad at me. I’m on your side.”
“Where are Samuel and Catherine tonight?”
“My house, last I saw them. Samuel talked with me about music and attending non-Amish churches. I’m sure Catherine put him up to that.”
Leah marched back to the carriage. “Come on. She’s got some explaining to do.”
Arlan got in. “You sure you want to make a scene? Catherine’s not used to being confronted.”
“Of course not. She’s used to crying her way through an argument, and everyone around her gives in to whatever she wants. Well, not this time.”
It didn’t matter to Leah that she could’ve been pregnant. Catherine’s jumping to conclusions and telling lies had her fuming. If Catherine were as much of a saint as she pretended to be, she would’ve kept her mouth shut.
“Like I said, I’ve been sick a lot lately.” She watched the scenery through the open window as the horse trotted down the road. “Mamm made an appointment for me to see a specialist in about three weeks. So here’s the good news: I may be dying of some illness. But your sister is a liar.”
Arlan faced her. “Leah, what you’re going through is scary.”
“You bet it is. But Jacob is convinced it’s a bad case of nerves or some such, so I prefer his diagnosis.”
“You should have told me. Is there anything I can do?”
“Yeah, back me up when I confront your sister for saying I’m pregnant.”
“Okay. I mean, she did say it, and it’s not true, so she deserves what she gets, right?”
“Right.”
The horse clipped along, seemingly taking forever, and Leah’s stomach hurt worse by the minute. Jacob had to be right; the pain, nausea, and vomiting had to be a nervous stomach. That understanding brought her a lot of relief, but she wished she knew what to do for it.
Arlan pulled in front of his home, and she hopped out of the buggy.
He came around from the other side. “My guess is they’re in the sitting room, talking with my parents.”
“I’ll wait out here. No sense in getting your folks involved.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a minute with both of them.”
Leah went to the side yard and paced. Who did Catherine think she was, saying something like that?
Just then, Samuel and Catherine rounded the side of the house.
“Leah.” Catherine came to her, looking worried. But was it for Leah or for herself?
“You okay?” Samuel angled his head.
“No, I’m not. My stomach hurts all the time. I’m not sleeping for being sick,”—she glared at Samuel—“and your girlfriend is telling people I’m pregnant.”
Samuel frowned and turned to Catherine.
She looked panicked, as if she needed a way out of this mess. “I shouldn’t have shared my concerns with Arlan. But are you?”
Had she prepared for this moment? Leah gritted her teeth and doubled her fists. “Am—”
“Catherine.” Samuel’s eyes blazed.
“I … I don’t mean to be unkind. But she went out dressed like a tramp, got drunk, and has spent weeks being sick.”
Samuel grew still and quiet. Leah wasn’t sure who he’d turn to—her or Catherine—but one of them was about to get an earful.
“It’s nice to know”—his voice was like ice—“that my girlfriend cares so little about my sister that she can’t control her tongue.” Samuel’s eyes bored a hole in Catherine. “Daed listens to the chat line regularly, and clearly Rhoda said nothing about Leah’s night at her house, but you start rumors?”
“Rhoda?” Catherine stared at Samuel, and her ever-present tears began flowing. “Are you going to compare me with her from now on?”
“Do not shift this argument to something it’s not. This is about you and what you said about my sister—that’s all.”
Catherine wiped at her tears. “I only said it to Arlan.”
Leah could not care less about Catherine’s tears. The woman cried over a wrinkle in her dress. “Why?” Her stomach roiled with nausea. “Why did you do this? To embarrass me? To make Arlan hate me the way you do?”
Nausea got the better of her, and she hurried to the edge of the cow pasture. She gagged several times, but she had nothing on her stomach to lose.
“I’ll get her a drink and a washrag.” Arlan left and returned a few moments later.
After sipping on the drink and wiping her mouth, Leah dumped the rest of the liquid onto the lawn. “Denki.” She gave him back the rag and glass. “I’m going home.” She never should have come here.
Samuel nodded. “Sure.” He walked beside her as they crossed the side yard, leaving Catherine and Arlan behind. Her brother motioned for her to go toward his rig instead of Arlan’s.
He was taking her home? She’d expected him to be a little frustrated with Catherine, correct her, and make her promise not to tell that lie to anyone else, but had he sided with Leah to the point of ending his evening with Catherine?
“Samuel!” Catherine ran to him.
“Not now.” He wouldn’t look at her. “My sister is sick, and we don’t know what’s going on. I told you she had an appointment with a specialist, and if you’d brought up this topic with me privately, I’d have respected that.” He finally met Catherine’s eyes. “To say I’m disappointed doesn’t begin to cover it.”
Samuel went to the passenger’s side of the rig and opened the door for Leah. Catherine followed him to his side of the rig. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“We’ll talk about this later, but you were thinking. You said you were concerned, you wanted Arlan to stay away from her, and you said something you shouldn’t have to accomplish that.”
Samuel got in, and they began the drive home.
Guilt hounded Leah, and she had to speak her mind. “She was a little justified to think what she did.”
Samuel glanced at her. “And I was a little justified to react as I did.”
Leah stared out the window. She didn’t like Catherine, and clearly the feeling was mutual.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Samuel opened his eyes as if an alarm clock had gone off. Early morning darkness surrounded him. Humid air hung thick. Not even a slight breeze floated in through the open windows, only the constant buzz of cicadas drowning out all other insects. He pushed the thin sheet off and sat up. He didn’t need a clock to tell him it was time to begin his day. It’d be another scorcher. But for the first time in his life, he wasn’t looking forward to the cooler weather that would accompany the harvesting of apples.
It’d been only three days since Rhoda came to the farm, and he’d spent every minute hoping she’d change her mind and call, even to say she was reconsidering her stance. He wanted to call to see if he could persuade her, but a botched conversation would only set her decision in concrete—if it wasn’t there already.
He was confident about what he wanted—had been since the idea of her canning their cider apples first came to him. He’d gone over her visit in his mind dozens of times since she left, and his frustrations with himself and Catherine had only grown. He should’ve told Catherine about Rhoda and vice versa. If he had, Friday would�
��ve gone so much smoother.
Catherine. He loved her, but his patience with her was wearing thin of late. What would possess her to tell Arlan that Leah was pregnant? Leah had a right to be upset. As a future member of the King family, Catherine should protect the family, not lie or gossip about them. If rumors that Leah was pregnant spread through the community, regardless of the source, Leah would blame Catherine.
The faint smell of coffee and frying sausage drifted into his room from under the closed door. Having showered and shaved before bedtime last night, he slid into his clothes and headed downstairs for the coffee pot, aided only by the dim light from the gas pole lamp in the kitchen.
The floorboards under him groaned, and his Mamm turned to face him.
“Marye.” She slid a pan of biscuits into the oven.
Samuel rubbed his eyes before grabbing a coffee mug. “Good morning to you, too, Mamm.”
“It just finished perking.” She turned off the stove eye under the percolator.
He poured the steaming liquid into his cup, plunked a spoon into it, and then sat in a chair near the oven.
A set of footsteps coming down the stairs, too light to be Jacob, Eli, or Daed, surprised him. Who else would be up while it was still dark outside?
“Leah?” Samuel blinked. “You’re up early.”
“I was too restless to sleep.” She went to the sink and ran water over a washrag.
Mamm put her hand on Leah’s back. “Your appointment with that specialist can’t get here soon enough for me.”
Leah hugged Mamm, which struck Samuel as odd. A few weeks ago she would’ve pulled away, silently blaming and punishing Mamm for everything that wasn’t going her way.
“Denki.” She squeezed the excess water from the cloth and pressed it to her lips.
Mamm returned to the stove, where a pan of sausage sizzled.
Leah sat across from Samuel. “I have the answer.”
“I’m glad somebody does.” He smiled at his sister. “I hope this isn’t about getting revenge on Catherine.”
Mamm turned to face them, the spatula in her hand dripping grease from the sausage. “Why would she want that?”
A Season for Tending: Book One in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series Page 21
