“How do you get him to go to the Bowman house every time he is loose?” Helen still couldn’t believe her aunt had concocted such a scheme.
“I don’t tell him where to go. I believe he is looking for Juliet, and I don’t understand why he insists on stopping at the Bowman’s tree unless it’s to summon Mark.”
“I’m ashamed of you, Aenti Charlotte. I don’t know how I’m going to explain your far-fetched scheme to Mark without dying of embarrassment. A matchmaking dog. That’s just ridiculous.”
“Please don’t tell that to Clyde. You’ll hurt his feelings.”
Helen shook her head in disbelief. She forced herself to use a milder tone. “Go to bed and get some sleep. I’ll wait up for Mark to bring Clyde home.”
“Are you angry with me?” Charlotte looked ready to cry.
“We’ll talk about this in the morning.”
Helen went to the kitchen and put the coffeepot on the stove. She wanted a freshly brewed pot ready when Mark returned. She had a feeling they might need it.
A half hour later, she heard the buggy pull up outside and went to open the door. Clyde came galloping in with his ears streaming back. He slid to a halt at her feet and looked up with a happy expression.
Mark’s expression wasn’t quite so happy. “What did she have to say?”
“It’s all Clyde’s doing. He fancies himself a matchmaker, and he gets you up so you can come spend time with me.”
“She said that?” He rubbed a hand through his hair as he blew out a deep breath.
“She did and with a straight face. What am I going to do with her? I’m worried something is seriously wrong. Should I take her to see a doctor?”
“I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you should speak to Anna or Rebecca. Rebecca has nursing experience.”
“Charlotte owes you and your family an apology if nothing else, but I will seek Anna’s council. She has known Charlotte a long time. Do you want some coffee?”
“Sure.”
Helen needed to do something. Mark moved to stand beside her. She pulled down the cups and started to hand him one but dropped it. They both tried to catch it, but it hit the floor and broke. Helen stared at the shattered pieces. “Do you think my unexpected arrival put too much stress on Charlotte’s mind, or is Juliet’s disappearance to blame?”
“Your aunt told Anna that she enjoys having you here. Maybe the loss of Juliet was too much.”
Tears stung Helen’s eyes and closed her throat, making it hard to speak. “I wish I knew what to do.”
Mark drew her into a hug. “We’ll figure it out. She’ll get all the care she needs.”
Helen rested in his arms with her head tucked beneath his chin. She’d never felt more comforted than she did at that moment. “I don’t want to hurt one more person with my selfishness.”
“You aren’t.” He slipped his hand under her chin and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “You need to be strong for her.”
“I don’t feel strong.”
“But you are. God placed you with Charlotte for a reason, and I think it was because she was going to need someone special.”
“I’m not special.”
He leaned close and rested his forehead against hers. “I think you are,” he whispered.
His arms tightened around her. She knew he was going to kiss her.
Chapter Thirteen
Helen’s lips were a breath away from his. Mark wasn’t sure how they had gotten so close to his, but the desire to kiss her was a great weight pressing him closer still. It took every ounce of strength he had to hold himself that breath away.
He had nothing to offer her. Not even a plan for the future. How could he begin courting her when she thought he should go back to Angela? Rather than fight a losing battle, he moved slightly to the side and kissed her cheek. The softness of her skin beneath his lips startled him and begged him to explore the contours of her face. She turned away, leaving him bereft in a swirling sea of confusion.
It wasn’t friendship or a wish to comfort her that quickened his pulse and robbed the air from his lungs.
He didn’t understand the powerful attraction she held for him, but he was starting to believe it was love. He stepped back and let his arms fall to his sides. With a little more distance between them, he was able to think coherently. “It’s late. I should be getting home.”
She knelt and began picking up the broken pieces of the cup. “Please tell Anna and Rebecca that Charlotte and I will come by for a visit later this morning.”
“I will.” Should he apologize for kissing her? Maybe it was better to pretend the gesture was meant to comfort her. If she didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t, either.
“I won’t be into work. I don’t think Charlotte should be left alone. I hope you understand.” She didn’t look at him.
“Jessica can take care of anything that comes along. Let me know if you need something.”
“I’m okay. We’ll be okay. Clyde can sleep in my room for the rest of the night. You don’t need to worry about a return visit.”
“I was just getting used to him as my alarm clock.”
She didn’t smile as he hoped she would. She still hadn’t looked at him. Rising to her feet, she carried the debris to the wastebasket and dropped it in. “Danki, Mark, for everything.”
“I’ll see you later. Get some rest now, and try not to worry about Charlotte.”
She finally glanced his way and managed a shaky smile. “I’ll do my best. Good night.”
“Guten nacht.”
The urge to take her back in his arms sent him out the door, wishing he wasn’t quite so strong but thankful that he’d come to his senses in time. How would he avoid giving in to the temptation to kiss her when he saw her every day? As he climbed into his buggy, he realized the answer was simple. He couldn’t be alone with her. Or he had to convince her that she was the woman he wanted to court.
Everything he thought he knew about love had changed in the last few days. It wasn’t a frivolous feeling. It was a deep and profound emotion that made his heart ache with the need to be close to Helen. He’d never be the same after tonight. He’d never look at her the same way again.
What was he going to do about it?
He had no idea how she felt about him beyond her friendship, but she professed to want an independent life, not marriage. Could he change her mind? Should he try, or would that destroy the very real friendship they shared? He wasn’t sure what to do.
He had to have a plan.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as a sprinkle of rain began falling. He watched the light in the kitchen window until it grew dim and faded. The glow soon brightened the window near the back of the house, and he knew she had gone down the hall to her bedroom.
The wind rose, and the rain began in earnest, hitting the top of his buggy as the storm rolled in. He waited until Helen’s light went out before he started for home. He had a lot of thinking to do and new plans to make. He’d never courted a woman before, but he intended to court Helen Zook. And he was going to need help.
* * *
Charlotte was as cheerful as ever the next morning when Helen entered the kitchen. She was scrambling eggs. “I made some coffee, if you want it. What would you like to take for your lunch today? We have some leftover meatloaf that would make a good sandwich.”
“I’m not going to work today, so you don’t need to make my lunch. I thought we should visit Anna today. You owe her and Isaac an apology.”
“I guess I do, but Anna will understand. She knows about Clyde’s talent.” She carried the skillet to Clyde’s bowl and gave him a portion of eggs before moving to the table and dividing the rest between her plate and Helen’s. The two women ate in silence. Helen was glad for that. She couldn’t make idle chitchat if she wanted to.
She had been s
ure that Mark intended to kiss her. Why had he given her a peck on the cheek instead? Had she mistaken his intentions? Had the bold way she offered her lips to him disgusted him? It would be difficult to pretend she cared about him as a friend when he was so much more. The sensible thing was to avoid being alone with him in the future.
“What did you and Mark talk about for so long last night?” Charlotte asked, looking at Helen over the rim of her coffee cup.
“This and that. Nothing really. Chitchat mostly.”
“Strange. I was certain I heard you talking about me.”
Helen leveled a stern look at Charlotte. “Were you eavesdropping?”
Charlotte shook her head. “Absolutely not. I just happen to be in the hallway outside the kitchen doorway.”
“Why were you in the hallway?”
“That’s a silly question. I couldn’t hear a thing in my room.” She winked at Helen.
Helen had to smile at her confession. “Eavesdroppers rarely hear anything good about themselves.”
“They say that’s true, but I still don’t know who they are. What time are we going over to see Anna?”
“After I do these dishes and wash a load of clothes. I don’t have a single clean apron to wear. Everything is covered in flour.”
“You will have to invest in some material to make more white ones. Flour won’t show on them as much. I will go fill the washer for you. I think we are done with the rain, so you can hang them out on the line without a worry.”
It took about Helen an hour and a half to wash her aprons and dresses along with several of Charlotte’s in the surprisingly new wringer washer Charlotte had on her back porch. When the line of blue and mauve dresses and black aprons were fluttering on the clothesline at the side of the house, Helen hitched up the buggy and waited for her aunt to join her. She came out a few minutes later with Clyde trotting beside her.
It didn’t take long to reach the Bowman house. Paul was outside and offered to take care of the horse, and the two women went in. Anna greeted each of them with a holy kiss on the lips, surprising Helen. The gesture was normally used at baptisms in Helen’s congregation. It wasn’t common practice to do it outside of a special occasion.
“Come in the living room and sit down,” Anna said. “Rebecca and Lillian are here, too.”
“Where is Mark?” Charlotte asked, taking a seat.
“He and Isaac are trying to decide the best way to take that old tree down. A limb broke off and hit the roof in the storm last night. I’m sure he’ll be in soon.” Anna took a seat beside Charlotte.
The silence stretched for an uncomfortable long minute until Charlotte turned to Helen. “Aren’t you going to tell them how crazy I am?”
“You aren’t crazy, Aenti,” Helen rushed to reassure her. “But you have put this family through some uncomfortable nights by your actions. You need to apologize.”
Charlotte chuckled and smiled at Anna. “Clyde has been matchmaking again.”
“So I have noticed,” Anna replied with a grin. She patted the dog sitting beside her.
Charlotte cast a sidelong glance at Helen. “My niece doesn’t believe he has such a talent.”
“Dogs can’t be matchmakers. It’s not possible,” Mark said from the doorway. He entered the room and sat down across from Helen. She was glad to have him there.
“Actually, Clyde has something of a reputation for doing just that,” Rebecca said gently.
Helen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, she is,” Lillian added. “I’ve seen it myself.”
“You met Grace Yoder at the frolic, didn’t you?” Charlotte asked.
Helen combed her memory. “The elderly lady in the wheelchair?”
Charlotte nodded and leaned forward in her chair. “Last year she was attending a wedding for one of our nice young couples. She was Grace Troyer then. I needed my hands free, so she offered to hold Clyde’s leash. She tied it to the arm of her wheelchair. Clyde bolted across the lawn, pulling her behind him, and ran right into Silas Yoder. He ended up in Grace’s lap as Clyde raced down the lane, pulling both of them. When he stopped and people caught up with them, Grace and Silas were sharing a great laugh. She said it was the most fun she had had in years. It wasn’t two months before their banns were announced. Everyone was stunned except Clyde and me.”
“It was a coincidence,” Mark said with a dismissive gesture.
Rebecca gave a slight shake of her head. “We can name four other instances where Clyde’s activities brought couples together who wouldn’t normally have gone out with each other. They all married.”
Helen rose to her feet and paced across the room and back. “This is ridiculous. Mark and I aren’t meant to be a match.”
“Clyde thinks so,” Charlotte declared. “I might be a little crazy, but I usually understand what my boy is telling me.”
Mark rose to his feet. “This is food for thought.”
Helen spun to face him. “You can’t be serious.”
He headed for the door but paused to look back. “I have work to do. Since Charlotte is fine, perhaps you could come out to the shop and give us a hand, Helen?”
She caught the slight come-with-me nod he gave her as he opened the door. It was better than staying and listening to this nonsense. Besides, she wanted to hear his explanation of food for thought.
His aunt spoke up. “Helen, I wanted to ask you before you go if you would be able to work in the gift shop for a few hours a week from Wednesday? The family has been invited to a picnic with Fannie’s family. It’s her birthday, but I hate to close the shop. We have an Amish country tour bus scheduled to stop for refreshments that day.”
Charlotte huffed and crossed her arms. “Tourists. There are more every day.”
“They are goot for business, and we must show kindness to strangers,” Anna said with a stern look for Charlotte, who rolled her eyes without commenting.
“I’d be happy to help out,” Helen said, eager to be gone.
Anna smiled. “Danki, my dear.”
“We’ll see that Charlotte and Clyde get home later this morning,” Lillian added.
Helen went out the door with Mark, forgetting for the moment that she wasn’t going to be alone with him anymore. Once they were away from the house, she hurried to keep up with him. “You don’t believe any of that, do you?”
He kept walking. “That a dog knows who should marry? Of course not. But Charlotte believes it, so we will play along to keep her happy, and she’ll keep Clyde at home.”
Helen stopped. “What do you mean play along?”
He turned to face her and hooked his thumbs under his suspenders. “We do what we’ve been doing. I’ll come by for breakfast and give you a ride to work. I’ll even go to the market with you. The difference will be that I, and the whole house, can sleep until a decent hour.”
“I’m not sure about this.” Wasn’t spending time with him what she wanted to avoid?
“Let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll try something else.”
“Okay. I guess I can do that for the few weeks you have left here.” She tugged nervously on the ribbons of her kapp. She could pretend they were still friends for that long, couldn’t she?
* * *
Mark almost shouted for joy when she agreed. He never would have believed his courting help would come from a dog. God had a wondrous sense of humor. Mark didn’t have a new plan for his business yet, but he was willing to give the problem over to God to solve for the first time in his life. A great weight lifted from his shoulders.
Inside the woodworking shop, Mark began carving the intricate detail along the edge of the reproduction dresser while Helen went to work in the office.
An hour later, Mark looked up to see his uncle watching him. He straightened. “Is t
here something you wanted?”
“I just like to watch a fine craftsman at work.” He moved closer and drew his hands around the surface. “This is goot work, Mark. You are getting better all the time.”
Mark took a step back. “I like to bring the beauty God put into the wood out for all to see.”
“The understanding and respect you have for the piece shows. If you weren’t so set on your own plan, I’d tell you to follow your heart and see where it leads you.”
Mark frowned at his uncle. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Isaac laid his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “You have a head for business, but you have the heart of an artist.”
Isaac left the work area, leaving Mark to stare after him and ponder his words.
It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that Helen left the office. He saw her coming his way and slipped her nearly complete spice rack beneath his table.
She turned her head first one way and then another to study the dresser top he had finished. “That’s goot, Mark.”
“I’m satisfied.”
The smile she pasted on her face looked as if it might crack. “Have you decided what you are going to do about Angela?”
He took a deep breath. “I’m not going home to see her.”
“Then you should write her a letter and explain how you feel,” Helen stated firmly.
“She doesn’t want to marry me.”
Helen kept her gazed fixed on the dresser, avoiding his eyes. “You haven’t even tried to change her mind. Have you told her you miss her and how much you look forward to the end of your time here? If you haven’t said it in so many words, she doesn’t know those things. A woman needs to know how a man truly feels about her in plain words. You can’t leave her guessing.”
What did Helen want to hear from a man who was falling in love with her? Who better to tell him than her? “What could I write that would change a woman’s mind? What would you want to hear?”
An Unexpected Amish Romance Page 15
