Huckleberry Harvest (The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill Book 5)

by Jennifer Beckstrand

  “I won’t make you crawl, and I promise not to gloat about it.” By some miracle, there was a clean tissue in his coat pocket. He handed it to her.

  “I only wanted to help your dat,” she said, smoothing the tissue with her hand. “I didn’t mean to humiliate you.”

  “I know,” he said. He wanted to be honest, even at the risk of inciting more tears. “But it still stings, even when you mean well.”

  Her lips quivered as she took a gulp of air. “When I met Jessica, I got carried away in all my excitement. My cousin’s best friend almost died of a drug overdose. A counselor and a rehab program got him back on his feet. Now he’s a pastor in Ohio.”

  “That’s never going to be my dat.”

  Her lips twitched upward. “Well, he’ll probably never be a pastor.” She dabbed at the moisture on her face. “I feel so deerich. The last thing in the world I would ever do is purposefully hurt you or your dat. Do you believe that?”

  He nodded. “You don’t try to humiliate me. What other girl would buy a strange pair of sunglasses to keep my secret safe?”

  She sprouted a weak smile.

  He couldn’t resist any longer. Not many girls could manage to look so pretty with a runny nose. He slid his hand down her arm and laced his fingers with hers. She leaned back slightly but didn’t pull away. “It hurts me when you won’t take my requests seriously,” he said. “My family is my business.”

  She pursed her lips and stared at her hand in his. “But is this how you want to live the rest of your life? Taking care of your dat? What happens if you want to marry and raise your own family?”

  If she only knew how these questions tortured him. Mamm had tried again and again to convince Dat to stop drinking. The pleading always ended in arguments, heartache, and shame. Noah could live with the heartache and dat’s drunken rages, but he couldn’t bear the shame.

  “Mandy, God said to be still,” he repeated, in case she hadn’t believed him the first time.

  “That doesn’t mean to do nothing. Your dat can’t get better without help. Why don’t you want to help him?”

  She couldn’t know that her accusation felt like a slap in the face. “I’ve suffered enough humiliation.”

  One shoe off and one shoe on, she got to her feet and stood on the first step of the stile so they were nearly eye-to-eye. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

  He couldn’t tear his gaze from her face. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You are a godly man, Noah. Of course it matters.”

  He reached up and brushed his thumb across her lower lip. He had meant it as a gesture to persuade her to stop talking, but when his rough skin met her petal-soft mouth, he felt as if someone had set him on fire. His breath caught in his throat.

  She held perfectly still as he grazed his thumb lightly along the line of her bottom lip and imagined what it would be like to breathe her in with every breath and feel the soft curve of her mouth on his.

  The fire raged inside until he thought he might melt. Was it right to stand this close? To entertain these overpowering feelings? Struggle as he might, he couldn’t remember one lecture from his mamm, although there must have been dozens knocking around in that brain of his. At that moment, it didn’t matter what Mamm had taught him. Mandy smelled like roses and ice cream and looked more beautiful than pink tulips blooming on the hillside. She was the sun, the moon, and the stars.

  Slowly, gently, he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. She placed her palms flat on his chest and lifted her face to his. With supreme gentleness and unquenchable thirst, he brought his lips down on hers. In the dimming light of sunset, his world seemed to explode with the brightness of a thousand stars. Her lips were softer than he could ever have imagined, and her embrace proved warmer than a summer’s day. She snaked her hands around his neck.

  Without surrendering his claim on Mandy’s mouth, he tightened his arms around her. He stepped back so that her feet slid off the step and he held her in his arms, completely and unyieldingly. A sigh came from deep in her throat.

  Her touch, her warmth, only served to stoke the fires burning wildly inside him. The more he drank, the thirstier he became. “Mandy,” he whispered. There would never be any other words left for him to say. She filled every space inside him.

  Just when he thought he might burst into flames, he felt the wetness of her tears against his face. He pulled away slightly and looked into her eyes. She smiled at him through her tears.

  His heart sank to his toes as he relaxed his grip and let her feet find purchase on the stile step. “I’m sorry if I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “Nothing like that,” she whispered as she pulled him back into a tight embrace. “I’m just happy you don’t hate me.”

  “Hate you? I’m turned every which way in love with you yet.”

  “Even though I’m irritating and nosy?”

  “Enough talk. Is it okay if I kiss you again?”

  She arched an eyebrow. “I’ll be annoyed if you don’t.”

  He pulled her close again and slanted his lips over hers. She felt so good in his arms, as if she belonged snugly close to his heart. Right now, it didn’t even matter that he wasn’t good enough for her or that a girl like her would never, ever consider a boy like him. She didn’t pull away from him, and he’d be ungrateful to wish for more.

  The fire inside him burned until he should have been reduced to a pile of ashes. He took Mandy’s arms and gently nudged her away.

  She frowned at him. “I’m not ready to be done yet.”

  He laid an affectionate kiss on her forehead. “My mamm told me never to go so far that I can’t find my way back, and I don’t know about you, but I’m a little disoriented.”

  She giggled. “I’m lost in a thick forest somewhere in Canada.”

  “I’m in China.”

  “I hear China is very interesting.”

  He squeezed her arms. “It’s amazing.”

  Smiling, they stared at each other for a few seconds trying to regain their bearings when Chester nudged his nose against Mandy’s hand. She gave Chester an affectionate pat on the head before sinking to the step and picking up her shoe. “I should get back. Mammi said she’d hold dinner for me. Couscous with clam sauce.”

  Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out the cold, dry piece of toast crumbling to pieces at the bottom of his pocket. “I saved this for you.”

  She shoved her lips to one side of her face and arched an eyebrow. “How long have you been saving it? Since Christmas?”

  “I snatched it from my plate as I ran out the door. I’m not sure what I was thinking except that food seems to soften you up.”

  “Well, maybe not a stale piece of toast that’s been sitting in your linty pocket.” She finished lacing her shoe and stood.

  He dangled it in front of her face. “It’s either this or couscous with oyster sauce.”

  “Clam.” She hesitated for mere moments before plucking the toast from his fingers and taking a big bite. “I hope nothing unsanitary has been in that pocket.”

  “Does a frog count?”

  She stopped chewing as her tongue lolled out of her mouth.

  He chuckled, taking delight in every expression on her face. “I’m joking. I haven’t kept frogs in my pocket since I was about ten.”

  She held the piece of bread out for him. “Want a bite?”

  He shook his head. “You need it more than I do.”

  She shrugged. “This toast isn’t bad, but you should use more butter. Toast is only delicious when it’s slathered with about a quarter stick of butter.”

  He made a face. “I like my toast dry.”

  “Jah, I can see that.” She offered Chester the last bite, and he gobbled it up without even questioning whose pocket it had been in. “I’m full now. Let’s go. I’ve been avoiding the clam sauce long enough.”

  He cupped a hand over her elbow. “Can you walk ok
ay?”

  “If you hold my hand, I’ll be all right,” she said, a tease glinting in her eyes. “What does your mamm say about holding hands?”

  “I might still end up in China.”

  Her smile nearly knocked him off his feet. “I hear China is amazing.”

  He laced his fingers through hers. A pleasant sensation tingled all the way up his arm. “I’m willing to risk getting lost.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  What was she going to tell Kristina?

  Only the worst kind of friend would steal her best friend’s boyfriend.

  Only, it wasn’t stealing if he hadn’t really been the best friend’s boyfriend to begin with. And she hadn’t set out to steal anything. She’d sort of stumbled into Noah and had lost her heart in the process.

  With a lump in her throat, Mandy did up the breakfast dishes while Mammi sat at the table and perused her cookbook. “Chinese noodles with ginger sauce,” Mammi said, adjusting her glasses and leaning in for a better look. “Do you like Chinese food, Mandy?”

  “I’ve never had Chinese food,” Mandy said. But she’d heard that China was amazing. Despite her misgivings about Kristina, her lips curled into a smile. Amazing. If she had known that being kissed by Noah was that heart-stoppingly breathtaking, she would have asked him to do it two weeks ago. Of course a little more than two weeks ago she had been standing on his porch wagging her finger at him and making all sorts of wild accusations. She probably couldn’t have talked him into it. Besides, Kristina had been watching from the buggy.

  “Do you know what five-spice powder is?” Mammi asked.

  “Nae. Is it Chinese?” Mandy glanced at her mammi doubtfully. It sounded like she was going to jump in over her head again.

  Mandy’s heart skipped an uneven rhythm when she looked at the clock. Almost seven. Noah would be here any minute. Would he wear the white shirt or the blue? Would he smile or put on his normal down-to-business expression?

  Maybe he’d smile. He’d told her he loved her, hadn’t he? Well, he’d said he was turned every which way in love with her. Was it the same thing?

  She hoped so, because she was beginning to feel turned every which way in love with him too, even though he got mad at her on a regular basis. Even though he wasn’t about to see reason when it came to his fater and even though she still had a secret she hadn’t shared with him.

  And even though . . . Kristina.

  She adored that look he got on his face when he tried to solve a problem and the way he persistently stuck to a job until it was finished. He didn’t let something he didn’t know stop him from accomplishing his task. She loved the way he teased her and spoke plainly and felt so protective of girls. And yes, she had a preference for boys with muscles. Was that so wrong?

  She rinsed out the sink and dried her hands, then touched her fingers to her lips. Every time she thought of Noah’s kisses, her lips tingled pleasantly and her unbridled heart galloped like a racehorse. At this rate, she’d be breathless all day.

  All month.

  Probably all year.

  “. . . just sandwiches, don’t you think?” Mammi said, looking at Mandy as if she expected an answer.

  Mandy pulled her hand from her mouth. Had she been puckering? “I’m sorry, Mammi. What did you say?”

  Mammi eyes danced. “My dear, your head has been up in the clouds all morning, but I can’t say as I blame you. Paul is a very promising prospect, even with braces.”

  Mandy pasted on a fake smile. “Paul Zook?”

  “Don’t you remember, dear? He’s coming at noon to take you to Cobbler Pond for a picnic, but I think it will just have to be sandwiches today. I used all the clams in the couscous last night.”

  Mandy’s smile sagged slightly. Oh, yes. Paul Zook. The boy with braces who couldn’t lift a hay bale over his head.

  She scolded herself for that unkind thought. Most boys didn’t have Noah’s sculpted arms and strong back. That didn’t mean they weren’t gute potential husbands.

  Except it did mean that they weren’t potential husbands for her, because there was only one kind of husband she wanted. The realization crashed into her like a charging bull even as she tried to hold it back. She’d only known Noah for two weeks. She’d only liked him for one. Did she really want to marry him?

  Hoping her expression didn’t betray her wild thoughts, she cleared her throat and tried to focus on what Mammi told her. “I don’t remember planning a picnic with Paul Zook.”

  “Well, dear, since you are going to a gathering with Adam Wengerd tonight, but I knew you had the afternoon free, I set an earlier date with Paul. He came over yesterday while you were at Noah’s house. I knew you’d be thrilled, so he and I planned a picnic for you. You don’t have plans, do you?”

  Plans? She had planned to make up reasons to be outside all day gazing up at the roof and thinking about Noah’s lips. It wouldn’t really have been spying, but sometimes she wondered if she were as bad as Kristina.

  Oh, no! She’d also forgotten about Kristina.

  “Kristina is coming over this morning to help in the yard.”

  “The yard? What are you doing in the yard?”

  Mandy wasn’t exactly sure, but she had promised Kristina on Tuesday that if she would stop spying on Noah she could come over today and help Mandy do something in the yard. Kristina hadn’t cared what the activity was going to be. She just wanted something, anything to get her within sight of Noah Mischler. Mandy’s nagging conscience had gotten the better of her on Tuesday.

  Her conscience wasn’t nagging anymore. It was howling. Kristina would feel completely betrayed if she knew that Noah had kissed her supposed best friend. And Mandy should probably feel guilty for not feeling guilty about the kiss.

  Someone tapped lightly on the door, making Mandy’s heart do a double backflip with a twisting leap. “That will be Noah,” Anna said, closing her dangerous cookbook. She bustled to the door. Mandy held her breath.

  She couldn’t see him, but she heard that low, silky voice of his. “Gute maiya, Anna. Just wanted to let you know I’m here.”

  “How nice to see you, Noah,” Mammi said. “Be sure to join us for lunch.”

  There was a slight pause. “Is Mandy here?”

  “Of course,” Mammi said. “She barely finished the dishes.”

  Mandy practically leaped across the room to the front door. “Hello, Noah.”

  He wasn’t smiling. His frown cut jagged lines into his face. “Can I talk to you outside for a minute?”

  She didn’t like that look. He was either still mad at her for interfering in his life or he regretted kissing her and had come to tell her not to get her hopes up. If she had a phone, would he have texted her the bad news?

  She stepped onto the porch, gave Mammi a weak smile, and shut the door behind her. Chester stood obediently at Noah’s side, regarding Mandy with a look of pity in his eyes. She shook her head. Surely she was imagining things. Dogs couldn’t communicate their feelings like that, could they?

  Her heart sank. She always knew when Chester was happy to see her. If Noah had confided in his dog, it wasn’t all that strange to think that Chester would feel sorry for her.

  Noah reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small brown paper bag. He clenched his jaw and forced a smile. “I made this for you.”

  Mandy opened the bag and pulled out a pint jar with a creamy light yellow substance inside. “Homemade butter?” she asked.

  He nodded. “It’s really easy to make. You just pour whipping cream into the jar and shake it until it turns to butter.” The corner of his mouth twitched into a grin. “I know how much you like butter.”

  She opened the jar, scooped out a dab of butter with her finger, and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm. This is delicious. Do you have a spoon?”

  His eyebrows rose higher on his forehead. “You eat butter plain?”

  “When it’s really good, I do.”

  Reaching i
nto his pocket, he shook his head vigorously. “Please don’t do that.” He pulled out a small bag of crackers. “At least have it with a cracker.”

  She took a cracker from his bag and dipped it into the butter, scooping out a healthy teaspoonful. He grinned in amusement as she popped the whole thing into her mouth.

  “Would you like a little cracker with all that butter?” he said.

  She giggled. “I love butter. How did you know?”

  His smile seemed to falter, as if it took great energy to keep it going. “You said as much last night.”

  Ach. Last night.

  This was the part where he was going to tell her that the kiss was a mistake and that he hadn’t really meant it when he said he loved her and would she please get a cell phone so he didn’t have to face her when he delivered bad news. The butter suddenly tasted thick and heavy in her mouth.

  “I’m sorry that I got carried away last night,” he said, “and I promise it won’t happen again.”

  “Oh,” she said, feeling as if someone had cut the porch out from under her. “Okay.”

  “I know I’m not good enough for you.” He lowered his eyes. “It was nice of you to kiss me back even though I don’t deserve it from someone as wonderful as you are.”

  She forgot to breathe. He thought he wasn’t good enough? He didn’t want her to stay out of his life? A smile crept onto her lips. “You don’t hate me?”

  He furrowed his brow. “I told you that last night, didn’t I? But I didn’t give you any choice about kissing me, and you were too polite to push me away. I’m sorry.”

  Mandy glanced at the window that looked out onto the covered porch and then toward the woods in front of the house. It would be best to avoid any spies that might be lurking about. She laid the butter and crackers on the floor of the porch. “Don’t eat these, Chester,” she said. Boldly, she grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him down the porch steps and around the corner of the house to where the new shed stood. If Mammi truly wanted to spy, she’d have to jog down the hall and peek out her bedroom window.

  Surprise flashed in Noah’s eyes as she led him behind the shed. If Kristina was spying from the woods, she wouldn’t be able to see anything. Mandy tried not to think about her best friend. There would be enough time for confession later.