Secret at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  She knew that Amish men didn’t hold hands with single women. Yet he was doing just that. The gentleness of his callused palm swept up her arms all the way to her neck.

  The tingling sensation stirred a mixture of unfamiliar emotions within her. She yearned to close her eyes and relish the delicious sensation that was an odd combination of comfort and excitement and other things she didn’t recognize. It was such a wonderful, new experience, she wanted to shout for joy. When he let go, she missed his warmth and reassurance.

  “I … I’m sorry, Jess.”

  She parted her lips in surprise. “For what?”

  He swallowed and lowered his gaze to the ground. When he lifted his chin, she noticed his turmoil-filled eyes. They reminded her of the sky just a couple of days ago before the rainstorm hit.

  His voice was barely audible. “For holding your hand.” Several heartbeats later, he continued. “But I proved my point.” He raised his palms, then dropped them.

  She didn’t mention how his touch had affected her. It might scare him. Yet she certainly didn’t want him to feel guilt over something that made her feel so good. “I’m glad you did it.”

  “You are?”

  “Uh-huh.” She stammered. “Even if it was only to prove a point.”

  “I want to change your life, Jess. I want you to know our Lord and Savior. In fact, I yearn for it with everything I have. It’s more important to me than breathing.”

  She processed his words until she recognized their significance.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Eli’s voice broke her reverie.

  She gave a gentle lift of her shoulders while he motioned to the sitting stones. There was so much turmoil inside of her, she didn’t dare speak. Will I be able to sort all of this out?

  She tried to make sense of what he wanted. At the same time, she was certain that Eli and his family had what she yearned for. Longed for it so much, she could almost taste it. She wasn’t sure why. Before coming here, she hadn’t felt as if she missed out on anything.

  Maybe her turmoil was due to the contrast between the warm, loving, contented central Illinois folks and her unstable upbringing. They were two different worlds.

  For a hopeful moment, she imagined a carefree life. No stress. She wondered what it would be like to not worry about what had happened years ago.

  “You’re awfully quiet, Jess.”

  The soft, affectionate way he said her name made her heart jump with excitement. By now, she knew that scolding herself for her reaction didn’t do any good. She just couldn’t put the lid on her feelings for this young Amish man.

  Finally, she found the right words. “Eli, everything about this place …” She motioned with her hands and swallowed. “The people here … I can’t even begin to put into words how wonderful it is.” She blinked at the sting of emotional tears. “All my life, I’ve never known such stability. In fact, I wasn’t even aware that other’s lives differed so drastically from mine.” A nervous laugh escaped her throat.

  A long silence ensued before he responded, and when he did, gratitude edged his voice. “I am fortunate, Jess. This type of life is all I’ve known, so I don’t have anything to compare to.”

  “Consider yourself lucky.”

  “You think?”

  With a sad smile, she nodded. “Before I came here, I was sure I wouldn’t like it. I contemplated how I would fit in. And when I learned that Old Sam’s house didn’t even have electricity, I was certain I wouldn’t survive without being able to watch television.”

  After a thoughtful pause, she went on. “But Eli, this …” She extended her arms. “It’s everything I could ever dream of. And”—she blinked at the sting of tears—“I don’t want to leave.”

  Chapter Nine

  That evening, Jessica took off her tennis shoes and propped her feet up on the end of the couch. As she placed her palms under her head, she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Breathe slowly. As she tried to relax, she smiled a little.

  So much happened today. I want to relive every moment. Tomorrow, Eli and I will open the box that my dear great-uncle hid for the woman he loved. What’s inside?

  As she contemplated that potent question, her thoughts migrated to her walk up the hill with Eli. She crossed her arms over her chest and wiggled her toes. She’d never discussed her health condition with anyone.

  But today, she’d openly poured out the details. She’d had to. Otherwise, Eli would have been concerned. As it turned out, she was sure he understood. And his understanding had comforted her like a soft cotton blanket on a cold winter’s night.

  Her condition wasn’t serious; most of the time, she had it under control. She just needed to get enough rest, to eat enough protein, and keep her stress at a minimum.

  Tree branches scraped the siding, making a light squeaking sound. Every once in a while, she could hear the wind howl in the background. She started to relax and stretched her arms over her head. As she did so, a yawn escaped her.

  She checked her watch. Normally, it was time for another rerun of Friends. She rolled her eyes and smiled as she looked at the perfect spot for a television. But to her surprise, she didn’t yearn to watch her favorite show. And since she’d come to Illinois, she hadn’t finished one crossword puzzle.

  Right now, she preferred to think of Eli. Eli. The thought of him prompted her to bring her hands together over her stomach and interlace her fingers. The corners of her lips curved up into a happy grin. How could she be worried about anything when she was with him?

  He was the most calm, logical person she’d ever met. To her relief, his demeanor was contagious. In fact, when they were together, she found herself enjoying the moment and forgetting the unstable, chaotic details of her childhood.

  When she recalled her palm against his chest, she closed her eyes. She’d never taken time to consider the complexity of the human body. Had Eli any idea how his gentle touch had made her pulse zoom with an odd combination of excitement and calmness? How could two opposite emotions be experienced at the same time?

  The moment they’d touched, a strange, blissful sensation of reassurance had overcome her. And to think that he’d actually apologized for it. What he didn’t know was how the warmth of his fingers on hers had changed her. How? I’m not sure. But I’m different.

  Without thinking, she sat up and made her way to Old Sam’s library, where she retrieved the key and held it between her fingers. The metal felt cool against her skin. Her gaze slid to the Holy Bible and the bookmark that stuck out at the top.

  Key in hand, she opened the book. She scanned the Scripture in front of her that talked about how Jesus was the Son of God. She took a seat in Old Sam’s chair and continued reading.

  Perplexed, she stood, returned the Bible to the desk, stuck the bookmark back in, but left the pages open. Eli had told her that he tried to follow God’s Word. That eternal life in heaven was there for those who believed in the Lord. That she was making things too hard.

  She stepped back to the living room and reclaimed her place on the couch, as she gave great thought to what she’d just read. The contents in small print had piqued her interest enough to finish the chapter.

  While she contemplated eternal life and the God that Eli believed in, she recalled her mother’s and father’s funerals and the Scripture that the pastor had read at their graveside services.

  She’d never really wondered what had happened to her parents after they died. Was there a chance that they were in heaven? At home, they’d never discussed God or eternity. But if there was indeed a kind and loving God, would he leave them out?

  She closed her eyes. Suddenly exhausted, a mélange of thoughts flitted through her mind until she stood and returned to the library, to the Bible and to the mysterious key next to it.

  She yearned for the same contentment Eli had. But how could that very happiness belong to her if she didn’t believe? If God existed, would He enter her heart and claim her as one of His ow
n?

  This metal key will open Sam’s gift. But the key to true happiness and eternal life … is it God?

  *

  That evening, Jessica knelt at the side of Old Sam’s bed and folded her hands in prayer. As she closed her eyes, she focused on what Eli had told her to do. To pray for guidance. That in the end, knowing God was all that mattered.

  Her fingers shook. So did her knees. In a soft plea, she spoke. “Dear God, if You are there, please let me know. I need someone to watch over me and to guide me to make the right decisions. I need You.”

  When she opened her eyes, she rose and slid into bed, placing the Bible next to her. She thought of Eli’s heart. As she considered the complexity of the human body, she agreed with Eli. It couldn’t have just happened by chance.

  She considered Mary’s theory about plants and the way she’d described her favorite rose having a different color at the tip. That couldn’t have just happened, either.

  She turned onto her side, closed her eyes, and hoped that if God was truly there, He would help her to make the right decisions. She acknowledged that right now, she had more choices than she’d ever had.

  As she stretched, she also acknowledged that she didn’t look forward to returning to work and purchasing the house of her dreams. Agony filled her chest at the thought of leaving her great-uncle’s place and never seeing the Millers again. Of not being able to look at Pebble Creek from her living room window.

  This place wasn’t close to work. Or in St. Louis. Still, she couldn’t imagine not being here.

  She finally had an offer that would allow her to do what she’d yearned to do. The tremendous stress of driving through the city every morning would finally be gone. She loved her job and didn’t want to give it up. Yet why did the mere thought of moving away from this particular house devastate her?

  She’d lived without believing in God her entire life, and she’d never missed Him. Yet now, her yearning to know Him was so very strong, and she wondered if He really did exist.

  Okay. I want to live close to work. The businessman who will purchase Pebble Creek will enable that to come true. At the same time, what benefits me, disappoints my new family. The Millers. It also disappoints me.

  Her jaw dropped at that admission. Were they indeed family? Her family? Yes, they are.

  Jessica frowned and clenched her hands together. By now, she truly loved her great-uncle and considered him a vital part of her life. How could she go through with the sale, knowing that it would have disappointed him? Did he intend for me to live here?

  Her thoughts flitted to Eli’s strong belief in God. She stiffened and pressed her lips together thoughtfully. What Eli had told her about the birth of Jesus and the resurrection on the cross tugged at her emotions.

  For sure, it was a great story. But how could she know it was real? That God was real? How could she know that the Bible wasn’t just full of stories that people liked to hear and believe?

  Again, she considered the beating of Eli’s heart. A sigh escaped her throat as she acknowledged that there was no way the brain and the heart and everything else that went into allowing her to breathe could just have happened without a Creator.

  She vividly recalled the interesting discussion she’d had with Mary, and the bright girl’s theory of the intricate design of a plant. That the details had to have been created.

  Suddenly, exhaustion hit her as her head rested on the pillow. Turning on her side, she eyed the Bible until her lids closed.

  Breathing in, she fell into a deep sleep. And in her dreams, she imagined the disappointment on her great-uncle’s face when the home he’d loved so very much fell into the hands of someone who didn’t even live here. She envisioned the empty house.

  As she did so, Eli Miller’s face appeared. As she studied his eyes, she regretted everything she was doing. Jessica tossed and turned. So many things suddenly made sense. Mary was right about plants. They had to have been designed by someone. And Eli’s heart … any heart, including her own, had to have been created. There’s no way the complexity of the human body could have just happened.

  She opened her eyes and sat up. Her heart suddenly pounded with ferocity. She drew her hand over it, and when she did, Eli’s declaration sank in so that she totally agreed with him. And she agreed with Mary.

  Salty tears of happiness and joy stung her eyes, and she blinked. She bowed her head and pressed her palms together and whispered, “Dear Lord, I know You are there. Please take charge of my life.”

  *

  The following morning, Eli filled the horse trough with the hose. As Flame sucked up water, Eli chuckled. “You’re a thirsty boy.”

  At five in the morning, the sun was bright, and the temperature was already in the seventies. He wiped moisture from his forehead. Above, a jet left a trail of white in the blue sky. Down the road, a horse pulled a buggy.

  A fly buzzed in front of him, and he swatted it away. When the trough filled to the top, he turned off the hose and wound it, placing it on its hook. Inside the barn, he climbed the ladder up to the loft, grasped a bale of straw by the thick twine that held it together, and shoved the heavy pile over the side.

  He climbed back down and carried it to the small stable, where he split the twine with his knife and spread the bedding with a rake.

  As the metal teeth squeaked on the cement floor, a warm, gentle breeze floated in from the open doors. The doors creaked. For a moment, he stopped to enjoy nature’s air-conditioning. In the distance, he glimpsed Pebble Creek. A knot obstructed his throat as he considered the huge change about to occur.

  He swallowed, but couldn’t get rid of the uncomfortable lump. He could barely see the Beachy house. His work was nearly complete. But not his mission for Jessica to know Christ.

  He frowned and pressed his lips together while he worked. It looked as though a businessman was about to pay big money for the land that was so special to Eli and his family. The place Old Sam had once called home.

  But soon, it wasn’t going to be a place for memories. Of endearment. It would merely be a vacation spot for someone who wouldn’t appreciate the property’s sentimental value.

  Reality prompted the corners of those lips to drop another notch, and he ran his hand over his forehead again to rid it of moisture. He looked down at his boots and shook his head. At this point, it’s practically a done deal. No need to worry about something out of my control.

  Of course, the house would never be the same. Oh, it was the same structure, but it was now wired for electricity. He supposed the new owner would want to take down the clothesline. And the barn? Eli shrugged. It was old. Some might consider it an eyesore. Maybe it would be torn down, too. An ache filled his chest.

  But he couldn’t control how events transpired. Jessica hadn’t grown up here. And although she was hungry for information about her great-uncle, she just didn’t have memories to make this place as special to her as it was to him and his family.

  Eli returned to raking the bedding. As he worked, he recalled vividly what Old Sam used to say about worrying being a waste of time. That life on earth was too short. And not to let anything or anyone rob your happiness. Because you couldn’t redo time.

  I need to heed his advice. But it’s hard.

  Every once in a while, his parents walked the length of the creek together and reminisced. And, of course, Sam hadn’t minded that at all, but the new owner—whoever it would be—might not want trespassers. And the buyer might even build on the hill. A chill darted up his spine and made him lift his shoulders to shed the uncomfortable sensation. What would happen was impossible to predict.

  Thinking of finishing up the Beachy home prompted him to speed up his task. When he finished, he scooped dirty straw into a nearby cardboard box and returned the rake to its hook on the wall.

  Letting out a satisfied breath, he gave Flame one last stroke over his nose. As the gelding snorted satisfaction, Eli offered an affectionate pat on the head. “Lots of things are about
to change, boy. Soon there’ll be a new guy in Old Sam’s house. And Jessica will head back to St. Louis.”

  He breathed in before lifting his chin a couple of notches in resolve. “Maybe I can talk her into staying. What d’you think?”

  As he stepped toward the house, something Old Sam once said came to him, and Eli smiled a little with a newfound hope. He could nearly hear the low timbre of the wise man’s voice as he said, God works in mysterious ways. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

  Nearing the Miller home, it came to him that he had already given up on Jessica staying. A combination of disappointment and determination prompted him to focus on the positive. He prayed a strong, silent prayer for her to stay. And an even stronger prayer that God would fill her heart with His love and that she’d know Him as her Lord and Savior.

  Old Sam’s words of wisdom vibrated in Eli’s thoughts. But time was running out. At least, for her to live here. But as far as Eli’s prayers for Jessica to believe in the Creator of the universe?

  He squared his shoulders and opened the side entrance. As he breathed in the enticing smell of Maemm’s yeast dough floating through the open kitchen window, he smiled.

  “I had given up, Old Sam. Until just now when I remembered your words of wisdom.” Never underestimate the power of prayer. Now I’m determined more than ever to keep Jessica here. I know that your great-niece and I have some great differences, but with God, anything is possible. And I’ll never forget the power of prayer again.

  He closed his eyes and pressed his palms together. And prayed.

  *

  Later that morning, all Jessica could think about was God and how He’d already changed her life. She couldn’t wait to tell Eli. When she heard two knocks on the door, she rushed to the entrance where she turned the door knob and met Eli’s wide smile.

  “Come in.”

  As he stepped inside, he eyed her. “Are you ready for this?”

  Jessica led him to the table. “Iced tea before we go?”

  He smiled. “Sounds good.”