He shone the light on her as her hands flew in the air. “The ladder broke.”
He shone the light on her face. “I can see that.”
Her voice hinted at her excitement. “I was looking for Old Sam’s gift to Esther!” When he didn’t respond, she went on. “Remember you told me that the window up here”—she motioned with her hand—“offered the most beautiful view of Pebble Creek?” Before he could get a word in, she continued. “You were right, Eli. I can’t believe—”
Tapping the toe of his boot to an agitated beat, he cut in. “Did you find the present?”
She shook her head.
Eli dug his one hand deep into his pocket, aimed the flashlight with the other, and blew out a frustrated breath. His heart pumped too fast to be considered healthy.
Finally, he chose his words. “Jessica Beachy, what if you’d been on the ladder when it broke?” He didn’t try to hide his irritation.
She stammered as branches of the nearby oaks hit the structure with ferocity. “I was … I had almost made it to the top when it—”
He interrupted. “Jessica, what you did … it was foolhardy. You were alone.” He raised his voice. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?”
He removed his hand from his pocket and clenched it at his thigh. The more he contemplated what could have happened, the tighter he clenched. Finally, he dropped his hands to his sides and groaned. The light focused on his boots. “I’m so upset right now, I should leave you up there to teach you a lesson!”
He pretended to leave, and the heels of his boots made a light sound on the concrete …
“Eli! I’m sorry! I can’t undo climbing up here. What happened was an accident!” The soft urgency in her voice added to his irritation. Her timbre … her plea that came out so sincere and raw … it did something to him. His emotions … they were a strange combination that he had never experienced. Anger, relief, and to his dismay, a strong desire to take care of Old Sam’s great-niece.
He paused to consider what was tearing him up inside. He was sure that Old Sam would have expected him to protect Jessica. Without a doubt, Jessica’s uncle would have counted on Eli to keep her safe.
But he admitted that his loyalty to Old Sam wasn’t the only reason. And that admission flirted with his emotions until the acknowledgment bordered on anger. What am I doing? This is an Englisch girl who lives in the city. She doesn’t even know God. We’re as different as night and day, so how can I feel this way?
Confusion swept through him as he acknowledged that he needed to take care of her. Required it as much as the air he breathed. And he was every bit as certain that she needed him.
He aimed his flashlight up at the loft to see Jessica moving closer to the edge. She looked down at him. “I’m sorry. It never even occurred to me that the ladder would break. And …” She stopped to catch her breath. “I didn’t get hurt. It’s okay. The last thing I intended was to upset you. But please stop chastising me and get me down from here.”
He ignored her plea. “You could have broken bones or worse.” Lightning illuminated the loft for a brief second. The moment it struck, he glimpsed Jessica’s eyes. And the turbulence in them only added fuel to the fire. He yearned to feel the softness of her honey-blond hair. To tell her everything would be okay.
Stop. He cupped his chin with his palm. After a long, thoughtful silence, he forced composure and adopted a tone that was half warning and half sympathetic. “I’ll help you on one condition.”
She flung her hands in the air. “What?”
“That you promise to never try anything like this again unless I’m with you.”
She nodded. “I promise.” As he was about to reply, she leaned forward.
He held up a hand. “Don’t come any closer. There’s no guard rail. I’m afraid you’ll fall.”
She took a step back and a newfound calmness edged her voice. “I appreciate your concern for me, Eli. But I’m not sorry I came up here.”
Her comment gave him pause. He lifted a brow. “What?”
For a moment, he let the beam of light drop to his feet. But he quickly aimed it back up at the loft.
“You heard me.” She turned and pointed to where the window was. “I know you can’t see it from where you stand, but you told me the loft offered the most beautiful view of Pebble Creek. And you were right. I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.”
Suddenly, a relieved breath escaped him, and he realized that what she’d said was true. The part about her being okay, anyway. That nothing bad had happened. And of course, he was convinced that this incident would only reinforce her determination to find Old Sam’s gift to Esther.
Jessica’s drive to do what she wanted challenged him in ways he’d never known. And to his surprise, she was making him take a stronger look at his faith. He was every bit as determined to protect her as she seemed determined to be independent.
He tried to imagine how badly she wanted to know the great-uncle she’d never had the pleasure of meeting. As loud thunder rumbled in the background, he realized he couldn’t undo the risk Jessica had taken. And most of all, he needed to get her down. But how?
Rolling his shoulders to get rid of the knots, he said, “I’m sorry I got upset.”
He turned and paced a few steps before making his way back to the front of the loft. As he looked up at her, an emotion claimed him that was so strong, he could barely get his words out. Even more confusion set in, and he tried to appear calmer.
He realized that he owed her an explanation for his anger. “Jessica, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
He put one foot in front of the other and pressed his right palm against his hip as he transferred the flashlight to the other hand. “Do you understand that your uncle would have wanted me to protect you? To make sure you stayed safe?”
She nodded.
“That’s exactly what I intend to do. But …” He stopped to chuckle. “You’re certainly not making it easy.”
*
A chill swept up Jessica’s spine, and she closed her eyes at the uncomfortable sensation. The temperature had dropped several degrees since Eli had found her.
As a bolt of lightning illuminated the sky with a flash of brightness, she wrapped her arms around her body and ran her hands over her arms to warm them. A long silence passed while Jessica watched Eli search for another ladder.
At least, that’s what she guessed he was trying to find. As she looked on, she swallowed, recalling the unexpected conversation that had just occurred.
She could hear the horse clomping its hooves against the floor of the barn. Every time the lightning would flash or the thunder would crackle, the animal would let out a loud whinny. But what amused her was that it seemed to enjoy the bad weather rather than fear it. Maybe it was her imagination. She wasn’t sure.
But what she was certain of was the sudden, unexpected tranquility that filled her heart and soul. Being here in the storm, in a hayloft with no ladder, with Eli and his horse, raised a question.
Why does this make me happy?
After searching for answers to her question, she finally took a deep breath of relief. As Eli’s footsteps went from wall to wall, she acknowledged what she already knew … his exceptionally strong loyalty to her beloved uncle and his desire to carry out Sam’s wishes. Or what Eli believed Sam’s wishes to be.
As that truth gelled inside of her, she glanced at Pebble Creek. Of course, she couldn’t see it now. But she knew what it looked like by heart.
Blades of deep green grass floated with the breeze on both sides of the narrow body of water. The incline that led up the hill. The curve of the creek as it snaked its way through the land. Two-story houses that were spread out miles apart in the background.
At that moment, she acknowledged the great connection between her uncle, his property, and the Millers. But strangely, she strongly felt she belonged in their picture of unity. She drew in a surprised breath and covered her heart with
her hand. That very realization stunned her so much that she didn’t hear Eli trying to get her attention.
“Jessica? You okay?”
She stiffened. “Sure. I’m fine.”
But she wasn’t sure if that was true. Her stunning admission that she belonged to Pebble Creek and the Miller family forced her to come to terms with many uncertainties, not to mention that she yearned for Eli to care for her because of who she was, not because Old Sam would have expected it.
But who is Jessica Beachy? She looked down and contemplated the question. And what was special about her that would cause Eli to be interested in her, even without her great-uncle’s genes?
She didn’t have an answer. When she returned to reality, she glimpsed Eli and wondered how long he’d been standing below the hayloft. She lifted her chin and forced a confident smile.
“No extra ladder. I’d go home and get ours, but I’d have to reach Chuck to give me a lift back here with his truck. The weather’s too bad to take the buggy out.”
The horse let out a loud whinny and clomped its hooves.
Eli responded with a laugh.
“He’s spoiled, isn’t he?”
Eli gave a slow nod. “That he is. Storm. He loves storms. We named him appropriately.”
The admission prompted a grin. Jessica wondered what it would be like to own a horse of her own.
Eli rolled his eyes and focused on Jessica. “But enough of that for now. I’ve got to come up with a way to get you down.”
“What do you have in mind?”
He cupped his chin with his fingers and raised an undecided brow. Finally, she followed the beam of his flashlight to what appeared to be a rope.
He held it out in front of him and shone the light on it. “The only option right now is this. That is, unless you don’t trust my skills.”
“I trust you, Eli.” She wasn’t sure why she did. The floor seemed a long way down. Especially by rope.
Suddenly, she had second thoughts. “Eli, I’ve never even tried to climb a rope, let alone get down from …” She shrugged. “From anywhere. So I think the rope idea’s out.”
“But you said you trusted me.”
“I do …”
“All you’ll have to do is hold on to it and do as I say. If you do that, you’ll be back on ground level before you know it.”
She found herself agreeing. “Just tell me what to do.”
“Okay, Miss Beachy. First of all”—she watched as he made some kind of knot—“I created an eye splice, and I’m going to toss this up to you.”
“Okay.”
The loft went dark as she heard the rope fall near her.
The flashlight beam was quick to return, and she glimpsed the rope. She retrieved it. “What do you want me to do with it?”
He pointed. “You see that hook?”
She followed the flashlight. “Yes.”
“Just hang the knot I made on that hook. I left enough of a hole in the middle to slip it around the metal.”
She followed his instructions.
“Make sure it’s in place.”
She checked. “The knot goes over the hook.”
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“Now I’m going to toss the flashlight up to you. Shine it on the rope as I climb.”
“Okay.”
She caught the flashlight, aimed it on Eli, and watched as he tested the strength of the nylon. With steady motions, he pulled on it before climbing. Jessica shouldn’t have been surprised at the ease with which he made his way up to the loft. As he did so, he kept one foot over the other.
When he reached her, a smile of relief tugged at the corners of her lips. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
She sat on the nearest bale. Not responding, he took a seat next to her. “Let me catch my breath. Then I’ll get you down.”
The realization hit her that her alone time with this handsome Amish man was coming to an end. That thought wiped away the happiness she’d just experienced at the prospect of getting down.
She enjoyed this time with Eli. In fact, she could spend all day in his company. He protected her. And even though he did it for Old Sam, he kept her safe. Still, she wished with all her heart that Eli acted out of his interest in her, and not because of her great-uncle.
She turned to him. As she did so, her hand brushed his with affection. He quickly pulled it away. She realized that all Eli would ever be to her was a happy dream. Something she wanted but would never have.
“Ready to go down?”
Her jaw dropped. “Yes, but …”
“What?”
“I’m having second thoughts.”
She acknowledged that she’d been so happy being with Eli, she’d neglected to realize that she’d have to make it to ground level. That the ladder was still broken.
She straightened and forced her attention on what needed to be done. “I’m going to need your help.”
“Getting down is pretty easy, actually. It’s all about technique.”
She lifted an inquisitive brow and listened.
“Just remember this. Hand over hand, and lean back until you’re in a sitting position. The correct hand placement will protect you from rope burn.”
“That’s all I have to do?”
“Jah.” He lifted his palms. “That’s it.”
A bolt of lightning made a loud crack, and she jumped. He reacted by taking her by the arm. Knowing that all she was to him was Old Sam’s niece, she gently pulled away. Although she enjoyed his reassuring touch, she didn’t want to lead herself on.
The flashlight was between them, so she wasn’t able to see the reaction in his eyes. Finally admitting that she had no choice, she nodded. “I’ll try.”
Eli got up, and she followed him to where the rope was hooked. Nervousness edged her voice, and her hands shook. “Could you show me what to do so I can imitate you?”
“Sure. First of all, I’ve got to figure out where to place the flashlight.” All she could think about was how she was going to make it down the rope. What if she lost her grip?
“Okay.” It took a few moments to decide where to put the flashlight. Finally, he placed it between two rafters so that there was a good view of the rope leading down to the cement.
“I’ll show you how easy it is.”
Without responding, she watched as he grabbed the rope with one hand and put his free hand over it. He spaced his feet against the rope and leaned back. In a few seconds, he’d made it all the way down.
He climbed back up to her. “Are you ready?”
Too nervous to find her voice, she nodded.
“Okay. I’ll go first, and you’ll be right above me. And don’t worry. This rope’s not going anywhere. Remember, I’m beneath you and I won’t let you fall. But don’t let go of the rope. If you can at least hold on, I’ll get you down.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
“Ready?”
She nodded. He started down. “Come on. Hold on while you wrap your feet around the rope.”
The moment she did what he suggested, she nearly lost her grip. As she slid downward, she landed midair on his body.
“It’s okay, Jessica. I’ve got you. Just hold tight to the rope. Hand over hand as we work down.”
As he supported her body, she held on to the nylon. Inch by inch, she went with him. To her surprise, she didn’t fear falling. She knew Eli wouldn’t let her. But what she feared was how comfortable she felt this close to him. Like he protected her. The warmth of his body and his woodsy scent made her close her eyes a moment. At the bottom, he steadied her from falling.
When they locked gazes, he let go of her and smiled a little. “Mission accomplished, Miss Beachy. As soon as the rain lets up, I’ll get you back inside the house.” A long silence passed until he broke it. “You’re safe and sound.”
As the rain hit the roof, she said seriously, “Eli?”
He looked at her.
“Thank
you.”
He responded by dipping his head.
“While we’re avoiding the storm, I was wondering if …”
“What?”
“Would you tell me more about God? If He’s there, I want to know Him.”
*
Saturday morning, Eli extended his arm and tossed the fishing line into the deep lake behind the Conrad home as he considered his serious conversation with God the night before. Did I say the right things to Jessica?
He furrowed his brows while a cool breeze caressed his forehead as the sun began to show more orange.
To his right was his brown tackle box. On the ground to his left was a bottle of water. In front of him, two dragonflies circled each other. In the background, oak branches moved with the warm breeze. There was an occasional croak of a bullfrog.
His gaze on the water, Eli saw a fish jump, then splash back into the lake.
“Now that’s a big one!” his daed commented. Eli didn’t respond.
The last thing he wanted to do was strike up a conversation. They were here to fish. He was sure that voices hinted to the fish that they’d better skedaddle.
When Eli fished, he preferred to focus totally on just that. Unfortunately, his father and best friend must have come to socialize.
His father’s voice encouraged him. “He’s teasing you, Sohn. He knows you’re on a roll and he’s determined to not let you catch him. I don’t know what you’re using for bait, but whatever it is, the fish are goin’ wild for it.”
Eli nodded.
On his opposite side, William Conrad’s son, Jonah, chided, “You must be in just the right spot. At this rate, you’ll have enough bass to feed every family in town.”
Eli lifted a doubtful brow. “Not if the fish know we’re here.”
Several heartbeats later, his daed cleared his throat. “Someone takes this a little seriously, I’d say.”
Jonah added, “That probably explains why he’s catchin’ all the fish.”
Eli tried to humor the two. He didn’t want to make this a social hour. At the same time, he wanted plenty of fish tonight for the Millers’ and Conrads’ yearly outdoor fry.
After taking a swig of water, he glanced at Jonah. “It’s a good day,” Eli agreed. “But I’m goin’ for the record.”
Secret at Pebble Creek Page 11
