Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

by Annalisa Daughety

  There had only been a couple of tense moments, both involving Phillip. It seemed that instead of things glossing over between them during the years Michael had been away, the division had only grown. Other than that, being back in Lancaster County was pretty sweet.

  Michael walked down the creaky stairs that led from the guest rooms to the dining room. One thing he could get used to about being back home was his mother’s cooking.

  “Morning, Michael.” Dad nodded at him. “We only have three guests eating with us this morning, so you have your pick of seats.”

  A home-cooked breakfast was included with the price of the guest rooms. It was served family-style and gave guests the chance to visit with each other and the Landis family. The long table in the dining room could accommodate as many as twenty people, and Michael knew that there were certain times of the year when every seat was filled. It was a far cry from the smaller table that had been there when he was growing up. But his parents seemed to love having guests, and he knew the extra income was nice.

  An older couple came through the door. “Good morning,” the woman said, smiling.

  “Did you sleep well?” Dad asked.

  The man nodded. “Very well, thank you.” He took a seat opposite Michael. “I don’t know if it is the fresh air or the delicious food, but I slept like a baby.”

  “How about you?” Dad asked, nodding at the woman.

  “Oh, yes. I’m just sorry we missed helping milk the cows this morning.”

  Overnight guests were welcome to get up early and help out with the farm chores. Michael didn’t understand the novelty, but he knew it was one of the aspects many people found most appealing about staying on a working dairy farm.

  “There’s always tomorrow.” Dad grinned.

  “Looks like almost everyone is here.” Mom poked her head in from the kitchen. “We’re just waiting on one more guest. She arrived late last night but told me she’d be joining us for breakfast.”

  Michael picked up a biscuit from the basket in front of him and smeared a pat of butter on it. The butter began to melt on contact. Much better than the typical breakfast bar he’d eaten on the Metro on the way to his office. Just a few days in Lancaster County and his life in DC seemed like it had happened to someone else. He couldn’t help but wonder about his coworkers, though. When the magazine he had worked for decided to go to an online-only version, the layoffs had been widespread.

  The door opened, bringing his musings to a halt.

  “Sorry I’m late,” a beautiful blond woman said. She slid into the chair next to Michael without making eye contact with anyone in the room.

  “Caroline,” Mom said, stepping into the room with a platter of bacon in her hands, “I’m so glad you could make it. I’m sure you’re tired from your trip.” She set the platter in the center of the table.

  Michael glanced at the woman next to him. Suddenly his stay in Lancaster was looking up.

  Chapter Five

  Having people stare at her was nothing new. Caroline and Lance had been in the spotlight so many times, she’d become accustomed to photographers pointing their cameras at her. Even just a trip to the mall meant being stopped multiple times by people who wanted to talk about Lance’s last game or ask her about an outfit she’d worn that had ended up on the pages of People.

  But now the scrutiny made her feel self-conscious.

  She’d stopped at a hotel in Nashville and the girl at the front desk had recognized her immediately. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she’d said. After a quick trip to a nearby Walgreens, Caroline’s normally honey-brown hair was transformed into blond. She’d had blond hair as a child and figured she could pull it off. Maybe changing her hair would give her enough of a disguise. Today, though, she felt as if her blond hair was a neon sign screaming, “Look at me!” And that was not at all what she’d hoped for. Still, though, no one had recognized her.

  Yet.

  “Everything looks delicious.” She smiled at Mrs. Landis, who hovered over her with a worried expression on her face. “I’m starving.”

  “Good, good.” Mrs. Landis set a casserole on the table. “This should do it.” She glanced at her husband. “Will you offer thanks before we eat?”

  Caroline bowed her head as Mr. Landis gave thanks for the food. It reminded her of when she’d been a little girl at her grandparents’ house. Her grandpa always thanked God for the food before anyone ate a bite.

  “I’m Michael,” the guy next to her said with a grin once the amens had been said. “Michael Landis.”

  Caroline wrinkled her forehead. “As in kin to the owners?” she asked.

  “As in their youngest son.” His green eyes twinkled. “I’ve been living out-of-state for the past few years but am back home for a little while.”

  “I see.” She pulled apart a steaming biscuit and reached for the butter knife. “I’m Caroline Jennings.” When she’d arrived at the guesthouse last night, she’d decided to use her maiden name. Maybe no one would put two and two together.

  “Do I detect a Southern accent?” Michael asked.

  She gave him a small smile. “I’m from Hiram, Georgia.”

  He looked at her for a long minute. “You look very familiar.”

  Caroline’s heart quickened. This was it. Her cover was blown. She’d been stupid to think she could hide her identity. “Maybe I have one of those faces?”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Carrie Underwood?”

  She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I’ve heard that one a time or two.”

  “With your blond hair and brown eyes, you could be her sister.” He smiled. “Her prettier sister.”

  Caroline felt the blood rush to her cheeks. “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “So what brings you to the area?” Michael asked. “Sightseeing? Visiting family?”

  Caroline shifted uncomfortably, wishing there were a polite way to get him to leave her alone. Sure, he seemed nice. But the more questions she had to answer, the more likely the truth would come out. “Just seeing a new part of the country. I visited part of Ohio’s Amish Country a few months ago, so I thought visiting Lancaster County could be fun.” She turned her attention to the breakfast casserole on her plate. Maybe if her mouth was full of food, he’d get the hint.

  “That’s what brought us here too,” the older woman across from Caroline said. “I’ve been reading about the Amish, so when we were planning our vacation, we decided this would be the perfect place to visit.” She patted her husband on the arm. “And Gordon told me he’d go wherever I wanted, as long as it made me happy.” Her eyes danced.

  The man next to her chuckled. “I’ve spent forty years trying to make her happy. It’s one of my greatest pleasures in life.”

  Caroline wanted to gag. Seriously? Seeing a couple so obviously in love only reminded her of what she’d lost. Or what she’d never really had to begin with, depending on how she looked at it.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Lydia Ann said.

  Emma laughed. “Abby deserves as much of the blame as I do. If she hadn’t insisted that Noah and I accompany you and the twins on the trip, you never would’ve agreed to go.”

  Lydia Ann glanced over at Noah, who was quietly reading the twins a story. The five of them had left Shipshewana early that morning, traveling by van to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. “I’m thankful the two of you are coming with us, even though you’re only staying a few days.” She managed a smile. “It gives us a little more time to visit. But I’m not too excited about spending the summer in Lancaster County.” Lydia Ann’s nervousness seemed to grow with each passing mile.

  “Look at it this way,” Emma said. “It will be a wonderful blessing for your girls to get to know their dawdi. They deserve to know him. And he deserves to know them.”

  “You sound just like your sister,” Lydia Ann grumbled. But she couldn’t help but smile. As soon as her dat had asked her to bring the girl
s and spend some time in Lancaster County, Emma and Abby had been completely for it. “Besides, am I to believe that you weren’t a little bit excited at the prospect of accompanying us there? I know you and Noah plan to visit Hershey on the way home after you leave us.” She grinned.

  Emma at least had the decency to look sheepish. “Well, I am a bit happy to visit a state I’ve never been to. And the Fishers had such wonderful things to say about their visit to Hershey, I just thought we may as well stop there on our way back home.” She chuckled. “But mostly, I think it is the right decision for you and your girls.”

  “But…” Lydia Ann trailed off, sure that her thoughts would make her sound like an awful person.

  “Are you afraid you’ll feel uncomfortable being in their home?” Emma asked.

  Lydia Ann nodded. “I haven’t been around Leah too many times. When he first met her, I’d just married Levi. Soon after that, they moved to Lancaster County.” She sighed. “Dat told me at Levi’s funeral that he never would’ve left if he’d had any inkling what was about to happen.”

  “And I’m sure that was the truth. Lydia Ann, I know you’ve had a hard time, but your dat was so lost without your mamm. You know that.”

  Mamm’s death had been out of the blue. Since it was an accident, there had been no time to prepare for the loss. At least with Levi, Lydia Ann had somewhat prepared herself for the worst.

  The women fell silent as laughter came from the middle row. Noah and the twins chuckled over the story he was reading.

  “He’s very good with them,” Lydia Ann observed.

  Emma nodded. “He has a way with children. You should see him with Clara. Sometimes when she’s fussy, Noah can get her to stop crying better than anyone. He’s a wonderful uncle.” She smiled at the thought.

  Lydia Ann met her cousin’s gaze. “Do you hope to have children of your own?”

  “Oh, we’d love nothing more. I try and tell myself that it will happen someday. But I get so discouraged.” Emma’s normally sunny face grew sad.

  Abby had confessed to Lydia Ann last night that she was expecting another child. It had to be hard on Emma. “I’m sure it will happen. And you’ll be wonderful parents.”

  Emma leaned closer to Lydia Ann. “We know a couple from our church who recently adopted a baby. Noah and I have been talking about it lately. The thought of providing a good home for a baby in need makes me very happy. Noah too.”

  Lydia Ann nodded. “That sounds like an idea worth looking into.” It was true. Emma and Noah were two of the most kind-hearted people Lydia Ann knew. She grinned. “I hope you’ll write me these next few weeks and let me know what’s going on.”

  “Of course. Abby will too. And you’ll have to do the same.” She reached over and patted Lydia Ann’s hand. “It will be fine. I suspect the time will fly by and you’ll be back in Charm in no time.”

  “Jah. I know you’re right.” Lydia Ann stifled a yawn. “Sorry. I guess I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  Emma chuckled. “I’ll bet Abby kept you up late last night, talking.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a book. “Now you try to get a nap. We should be there soon.”

  Lydia Ann leaned over and rested her head against the cool window. She wasn’t sure whether to feel nervous or excited, so she settled on both. It had been such a long time since she’d seen Dat. It would be nice to catch up with him in person. She just wished she felt the same way about getting to know his wife.

  Chapter Six

  Simon Zook walked into the Landis barn, eager to get started with the day’s work. He’d already been up for hours, tending to chores at his own home. A lone figure seated on an overturned bucket startled him. A closer look told him it was his old friend, Michael Landis. “Mornin’, Michael.”

  “Simon!” Michael exclaimed, standing up and brushing the dirt from his jeans. “I came looking for you yesterday, but you were gone to town.” He grinned. “So I figured I’d catch you this morning before the day got too busy.”

  “I heard you were back in town.” Simon grinned. Michael’s upcoming visit had been all Mr. Landis could talk about for the past couple of weeks. “You’ve been away for such a long time.” The Landis farm was the nearest property to the Zooks’ place. Simon and Michael had known one another since they were small boys. In fact, Michael had been the first friend Simon ever had who wasn’t Amish.

  “I know. I never could get away from work.” Michael looked sheepish. “But I’m back for a while this time.”

  “For good?” Simon asked.

  Michael wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know about that. But I am looking for a job around here.”

  Simon drew his brows together. “Surely your father can find work for you to do on the farm.”

  “I think I’ll leave that to Phillip. I’m trying to find something at one of the local newspapers. There’s a magazine directed at tourists that has an opening. I’d like to keep building my resume while I’m here.” He grinned. “And not with milking cows and feeding chickens, either.”

  Simon chuckled. He should’ve known Michael would want to avoid working with Phillip at all costs. Those two had never been close. “I hope you find something soon.” He reached over and patted a calf on the head. “Did your dad tell you that I’m working here full-time now?”

  Michael nodded. “Yes. Sounds like you’ve been a real help.”

  “It’s good work. And it works out well for all of us that they’re operating a guesthouse. Mamm comes with me a few days a week to help out with the cooking and take care of the guest rooms. She really enjoys working here.”

  “It looks like the guesthouse is getting busier and busier.” Michael pointed out the window at a trio of vehicles in the driveway. “I don’t understand the draw, but the guests seem to love it.”

  Simon laughed. “I know what you mean. Imagine, paying good money to do farm chores. But they seem to enjoy it.”

  “Well, I guess once you’re used to the hustle and bustle of the city, it might seem relaxing to be out here with the animals and open land.”

  “I suppose. I meet the guests here every mornin’ before breakfast is served. I’m always surprised at how many of them want to get up so early to help.”

  Michael looked at him suspiciously. “Has a Southern woman been out here to feed the animals? Her name is Caroline.”

  Simon shook his head. “I don’t remember her.”

  “You’d remember this woman. She’s a beautiful blond with the sweetest voice.”

  “Sounds like someone might be a little smitten.” Simon chuckled.

  “Not smitten.” Michael shot his old friend a look. “Just concerned. She left the breakfast table pretty quickly. Not that I’m all that great at reading women, but she seemed kind of upset.”

  Simon shrugged. “Maybe she doesn’t like the way it smells like cows out here.” He waved his hands around the barn.

  Michael chuckled. “Maybe.” He leveled his gaze at Simon. “Speaking of pretty women, I can’t believe you and Sarah aren’t married yet. I expected to come home to find you with a full beard.”

  Amish men grew their beards out once they were married. No need for wedding rings. That beard signified to the world the man’s status. “I thought your parents would’ve told you.” Simon absently rubbed his smooth chin. “She left. It’s been almost two years.”

  “Left? As in for good?”

  Simon nodded. “Seems that way. I heard she married some Englisher. I think they live in Philadelphia.”

  Michael let out a low whistle. “I don’t know what to say. That must’ve been tough for you.”

  Tough didn’t even cover it. Sarah had been the only girl he’d ever courted. He saw the way everyone in his community looked at him now. The pity in their eyes. “It has been difficult. I guess we never know what the morrow will bring.”

  “Guess not.” Michael shook his head. “I should probably get out of here and let you get to work.”

  Simon follow
ed Michael to the barn door. “It was good to see you again, Michael. I hope you’ll be happy during your visit.” He knew the Landises were happy to have their youngest son at home.

  “You too. Let’s get together again soon.” Michael grinned. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be bored out of my mind after another few days here.”

  “There’s always work to be done.” Simon balled his hand into a fist to get the circulation going. The numbness in his hand had seemed to come out of nowhere. “And I’d be glad for the help.”

  Michael chuckled. “Maybe I’ll be out here tomorrow morning to help milk the cows.”

  “Especially if a certain blond woman happens to join the work crew?” Simon teased, ducking as his friend tossed a stray clump of hay in his direction.

  Caroline had been driving around aimlessly for the past hour, enjoying the views of the farmhouses and pastures. Mama would’ve loved this place, that was for sure. The simplicity reminded Caroline a little of growing up in rural Georgia.

  But those days were long gone. Besides, no matter how simple things seemed, her life was one giant ball of complicated. Even if the paparazzi were no longer camped outside, it didn’t mean the story had died down. A conversation with Robyn earlier that morning had told her that the exact opposite seemed to be happening.

  “It’s like they’re rabid. All the tabloids are speculating about where you are. And the fact that you were spotted in Nashville has brought about all kinds of rumors.”

  “Like what?” she’d asked.

  Robyn had groaned. “You don’t even want to know. But let’s just say you’ve been romantically linked to a country singer.”

  Caroline sat in the parking lot of the Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market, wondering if she’d ever get her life back.

  Except that she knew what it would take for that to happen.