Huckleberry Harvest (The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill Book 5)

by Jennifer Beckstrand

  Arie grinned wider and batted her eyelashes. “I like Paul’s neighbors.”

  The boys sitting on either side of Paul and the two people sitting on either side of Arie leaped to their feet. The object was to trade places with the neighbors without losing your seat. As soon as Titus gave up his chair, Freeman slipped into it. Benji Troyer, one of Paul’s neighbors, ran as fast as he could, but Luke Miller beat him to the other available chair next to Arie. Benji was left standing in the middle while everyone else laughed at his expense.

  Benji grinned and groaned. “Luke, you stole my seat.” He walked up to Dori Rose, who exploded into a fit of giggles before Benji even asked her the question. “Do you like your neighbor?”

  Dori paused for dramatic effect. “Yes!” she squealed.

  The entire room seemed to erupt as everyone was required to jump up and find another seat. It was Musical Chairs times ten. Mammi and Dawdi did not play this game. One of them would have broken a hip. Instead, they stood in the kitchen watching the mayhem with amusement.

  Mandy avoided the chaos by sliding into the seat next to hers, which was technically against the rules, but she didn’t have the heart or the energy to actually stand up and scramble for a different seat. Titus, who seemed to like to run around and around just for the sake of running, ended up in the middle.

  Laughter skipped through the room as the game players settled into their seats. At least everyone else was having a gute time at her farewell party. Hopefully, Mammi wouldn’t even notice how miserable Mandy was. She felt as if gloom hovered over her like a cloud of gnats. It was all she could do to keep from ruining the night for everyone else with her dismal disposition.

  They heard a knock, and Mandy felt nearly dizzy with surprise as Noah Mischler let himself into the house. Longing and dread warred with each other inside her head. He was so handsome, so tall and muscular, she could stare at him for hours. But if he said one word to her, she’d disintegrate into a soggy pile of tears and hankies. Would it be too obvious if she sprinted to her bedroom with a sob on her lips?

  “Noah!” seven or eight of the boys called at once. Oh yes. The whole community adored Noah. He was everybody’s favorite person because he was smart and could fix anything and didn’t have a selfish bone in his whole body.

  When she dared a glance at his face, her heart sank. She tried to talk herself out of caring, but it was no use. Noah sported large purple bruises around his mouth. They looked a few days old, but were still clearly visible. She blinked back the tears.

  The corner of Noah’s mouth curled slightly and his gaze landed on Mandy, piercing through her skull and compelling her to look away. She wished she could swat his gaze away like a fly. Why was he looking at her like that? Why had he even come? He hated parties, and a party where Mandy Helmuth was in attendance was to be avoided at all costs. Especially with a battered face.

  “Noah, it’s so gute to see you,” Dawdi said, stepping forward to take Noah’s hand and slap him on the back. If only Dawdi knew that Noah was responsible for the dull, throbbing ache that was Mandy’s constant companion, he wouldn’t have been so friendly.

  At least Mammi didn’t gush. She had no inkling that Mandy and Noah meant anything to each other. Mandy sniffed and studied her fingernails. They didn’t mean anything to each other. There was nothing for Mammi to see. “Cum reu, Noah,” Mammi said. “Pull a chair into the circle. They seem to be playing some sort of game.”

  Nobody said anything about the bruises as Noah took a few hesitant steps closer.

  “Jah, Noah,” Titus said. “Come play.”

  Noah took off his hat and fingered the brim. He shuffled his feet nervously as if deciding whether he should stay. “What are you playing?” he said.

  “Do You Like Your Neighbor,” Titus said. “Have you played before?”

  Noah swallowed hard, as if forcing down his fear, and pulled the last chair from under the table. Paul and Melvin made room for his chair between them. “I know how to play.”

  Mandy folded her arms and did her best not to stare. If Noah could be comfortable being in the same room with her, then she could endure being in the same room with him. Maybe he’d already moved on without her. Maybe he didn’t care anymore.

  She bit her tongue to keep from losing her composure and reminded herself that this was the way she had wanted it. She deserved to be loved with Noah’s whole heart, not merely what he was willing to share with her.

  Titus wasted no time in strutting up to Noah. “Noah, do you like your neighbor?”

  Noah’s gaze traveled around the circle, alighting on hers and holding her captive with the pain and hope she saw there. Her heart did a cartwheel and three backflips.

  Answer the question, Noah. Answer the question and leave me be.

  “Yes,” he finally said.

  The room erupted again as people jumped to their feet and scrambled for a free chair. Mandy didn’t move. She’d lost the strength in her limbs. If she was lucky, they’d banish her from the game for cheating.

  When the dust settled, Noah stood in the middle of the circle slowly turning around as if to make sure everyone else had a seat. For such a crazy game, he appeared as calm as a lake on a mild summer morning.

  He stood in silence for a moment, glancing at Mandy, glancing away. His breathing grew heavy as he pressed his lips into a rigid line and slid his hand down the side of his face.

  “Come on, Noah,” Titus said. “Pick somebody else.”

  With his feet securely planted, Noah turned his head in Titus’s direction. “Can I interrupt the game for a minute?”

  “Do you want to sing us a song?” Freeman asked, chuckling as he balanced himself on the two back legs of his chair.

  Noah cracked a smile and turned back to face Mandy again. “Nae. I need . . . I just need to . . . tell you something. Can you spare a few minutes?”

  Everyone nodded, curious as to what could be so important that he would interrupt the game. Everyone except Mandy, Kristina, and Davy. Kristina and Davy were glued to their phones. Mandy didn’t breathe for fear of upsetting some sort of delicate balance.

  Noah took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Most of you know that my dat has been drinking ever since my sister Edi died. I appreciate all of you for pretending that nothing is wrong, for not treating me any differently than you would the bishop’s son or daughter. I . . . I want to thank you for that. For sparing my feelings. For trying to protect me. You know how ashamed I am about it.”

  Everyone froze as if time had stopped. No one seemed to even be breathing. Mandy certainly wasn’t.

  “But most of you don’t know how bad it’s gotten for us. A week ago last Tuesday, my dat and my brother Yost had a fight about my dat’s drinking. Yost was brave enough to confront him about it. I never am.” He pinned Mandy with an intense gaze. “I’ve been a coward.” He bowed his head and concentrated his gaze at the foot of Mammi’s rocker. “After the fight, Dat got drunk and ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning.”

  Katie Sensenig gasped.

  “He’s okay.” Noah brushed his hand across his mouth. “But on Friday he was so mad, he punched me in the face. He’s done it before. A couple of weeks ago he gave me a black eye.” He glanced at Mandy again, and the tenderness in his eyes stole her senses. “Mandy helped me hide it. She’ll never know how grateful I was for that.”

  Breathlessly, Mandy stared at him. What was he doing? What gave him the courage to reveal his most horrible secrets?

  “I don’t say this to speak ill of my dat. He’s had a hard time of it. Our whole family has. I’ve been hiding from everyone because I’m so ashamed.”

  “You don’t have anything to be ashamed of,” Freeman Kiem murmured.

  Noah laid a hand on Freeman’s shoulder. “Denki for saying that. But I should be ashamed. Ashamed that I haven’t trusted any of you enough to share my burden. I feared you’d all turn against me.”

  Freeman shook his head. “We would never do t
hat.”

  Noah looked at the eyes glued to his. “If any of you are uncomfortable being around me, I understand. I know that some of your parents won’t want you to associate with me. I understand that also. But I’m hoping that you will help me with this burden. I’m tired, so tired, of carrying it myself.”

  Mandy couldn’t help the tears that trickled down her face. Noah, I want to help you carry this. Will you let me?

  Melvin Lambright spoke up. “What can we do?”

  “I need to talk about it. I need you to ask me how I’m doing. I don’t want anyone to tiptoe around the subject anymore. Denying that it’s happening only gives it more power.”

  Several of die youngie nodded their agreement.

  He turned his eyes to her again. “Mandy helped me find a counselor,” he said, “and I’ve started going to meetings of Adult Children of Alcoholics in Green Bay. The bishop has approved it.”

  His brief glance told her he’d done this because of her. Because he didn’t want to lose her. Because he loved her. An overwhelming feeling of tenderness spread through her body and pulsed in her veins. He had braved the shame and the humiliation for her. The thought took her breath away.

  “Most of all, I need your prayers.”

  “We’ve already been doing that,” Dawdi said.

  Noah nodded. “And I’ve felt them. I haven’t always listened to God’s guidance, but I know He’s tried to get through to me. It will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m going to stop enabling my dat—that’s a new word I learned in my first meeting. I’ve moved in with my horses. I might get stepped on, but at least I won’t get hit.”

  Titus, her loveable, heart-of-gold cousin, stood up. “You’re not going to stay in that shed all winter. Come home with me. You can have Ben’s old room.”

  Mandy wanted to lay thirty wet kisses on Titus’s face.

  Noah shook his head. “I don’t want to impose.”

  Titus hooked an arm around Noah’s neck. “My mamm will be wonderful angry if you don’t come. And you don’t want to see it when she gets angry.”

  The gesture was too much for Noah. He let out a muffled sob and jabbed at the tears in his eyes. “Okay,” he managed to say before speech became impossible. He tugged Titus in for a sturdy hug.

  After a minute, Titus struggled free. “I’m too scrawny. You’ll cut off my circulation.”

  Noah was soon surrounded by the boys who thought so highly of him, offering him support, housing, and groceries if he needed them.

  Mandy stayed firmly rooted in her seat. Would she float off the ground if she tried to stand? Or maybe trip all over her shaky legs and end up face-first on Mammi’s rag rug?

  It appeared that the game was over. Kristina scooted next to Mandy. “Noah will never get a wife now. I tried to warn him. He lost his chance with me when he refused to answer my texts.” She opened her phone and pumped her eyebrows up and down. “Davy Burkholder likes it when I text.”

  Mandy could barely keep a fraction of her attention focused on Kristina. She lost sight of Noah as more and more of the boys at her farewell party wanted to shake his hand and offer support. Mandy would have liked to kiss him, but she didn’t think she was going to get her wish anytime soon.

  Kristina’s phone vibrated with another text. She opened it and gave a puzzled squeak. “Wha—what does this mean?”

  She showed Mandy the screen. My favorite color is brown, like chocolate.

  “I think it means Davy likes chocolate.”

  Kristina narrowed her eyes. “Nae. It’s from Noah.”

  Another text showed up on her screen. Mandy eagerly grabbed the phone without even asking.

  “Hey,” Kristina said. “What if it’s from Davy?”

  When I was a little boy, I used to be scared of the dark. My mamm made me a stuffed bear, and my dat sang me to sleep every night.

  Her heart beat double-time as she glanced in Noah’s direction. She could see him in the midst of the surrounding crowd. He looked up from his phone and searched her face, all the while keeping up a conversation with Paul and Titus.

  The phone vibrated again. When Edi died, my mamm stayed in bed for a week, and my dat didn’t utter a word to anyone. I felt guilty that I was still able to function. I made grilled cheese for the kinner every day until Mamm was on her feet again.

  Mandy sighed quietly, and her heart broke for the Mischlers all over again. She couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a child.

  Bursting with indignation, Kristina grabbed her phone from Mandy’s hand. “It’s my phone, Mandy. Why is he texting all that stuff?”

  Mandy felt as light as a feather. “He wants to tell me about his family.”

  Kristina snapped her phone shut and inclined her head in his direction. “Then go talk to him. He shouldn’t be using up all my texts.” This from a girl who texted Davy Burkholder even if he was sitting next to her.

  Kristina’s phone vibrated again. She lifted her eyes to the sky in exasperation. “There he goes again.” She opened her phone and handed it to Mandy. “It’s for you.”

  I’d do anything if you’d stay another week.

  Mandy clutched the phone to her chest and found him in the crowd again. “You would?” she mouthed.

  He nodded. Her heart flipped around like a circus tumbler.

  He punched the buttons on his phone again. Kristina’s phone vibrated.

  I’d do anything if you’d stay forever.

  Her eyes shot to his face. He gazed at her with so much love, she thought she might overflow with pure joy.

  Kristina snatched her phone from Mandy’s grasp.

  “Krissy, please, I need to see it.”

  Kristina expelled every bit of oxygen from her lungs in an effort to communicate to Mandy how inconvenienced she was. With irritation written all over her face, she opened her phone and read Noah’s text.

  Her demeanor transformed instantly. Gasping, she bloomed into a smile that took over her whole face. She snatched Mandy’s hand. “Mandy,” she said, in what she must have thought passed for a whisper. “Is he asking you to marry him?”

  Mandy put her finger to her lips. “I . . . I don’t know.”

  Kristina sighed as if she’d held it in for ever so long. “How romantic. That’s how I want a boy to ask me. Over text, like he just can’t wait to do it in person.” She clutched her phone in both her hands. “Oh, Mandy. He’s so handsome. Now that I’ve found the only man I’ll ever love, I want you to find happiness too. And if you’re really set on Noah, I won’t object. He doesn’t deserve you, but what girl ever thinks of that when she falls in love with somebody.”

  Mandy smiled warmly. “Denki, Krissy. I hope you know that I never meant to hurt you. Noah and I just . . . happened.”

  She patted Mandy’s arm. “I know. Just like me and Davy. There’s no stopping true love.”

  Mandy and Noah met eyes. He stared at her doubtfully before resorting to his phone to communicate.

  Will you marry me?

  Mandy felt breathless and light as her heart thumped an uneven rhythm. She wanted to push all the boys aside and throw herself into his arms so he could kiss her with abandon. Instead, she handed Kristina the phone. “Would you text Noah something for me? I don’t know how to do it.”

  “Okay,” said Kristina. “But then you’ve got to promise I can have my phone back. Davy is getting lonely.”

  “It will be the last one,” Mandy said. “Are you ready?”

  “Ready.”

  Noah didn’t take his eyes from her face as she quietly dictated her message to Kristina. “Text him this: A boy should not ask a girl to marry him in a text message. I know your mamm taught you better than that.”

  Kristina’s brows inched together. “Are you sure? What if he decides he doesn’t want to ask you after all? You shouldn’t be difficult.”

  Mandy stifled a giggle. “I’m sure.”

  Kristina punched her buttons with all the dexterity of a seasoned expert. That girl
could generate a message without even looking. After she pressed SEND, she snapped her phone shut and took Mandy’s hand. “I hope you won’t regret it.”

  Mandy made eye contact with Noah across the room. He had turned a very light shade of green waiting for her reply. Was he truly that uncertain of her love? Their last encounter hadn’t gone well, but surely he knew she loved him.

  If he didn’t, he would. Soon.

  She had to wipe that look of distress off his face. She smiled and winked. He cocked an eyebrow as rosy red replaced the green pallor of his skin. Was he blushing? She’d never seen him quite so discomfited. Or so attractive. Her heart whirred like a hummingbird in flight.

  His phone lit up, and he pushed the button that would allow him to read her text. Were his hands shaking?

  He clenched his jaw as he read her message, and then rolling his eyes in exasperation, he curled his lips into a very attractive grin, stuffed his phone into his trousers pocket, and ambled toward her, nudging boys out of his way as he came.

  As Noah approached, Kristina giggled and squeezed Mandy’s hand until her knuckles cracked. Mandy could barely keep to her seat as he took her by the hand, all the while looking as if he might burst into laughter. “Everyone,” he said, raising his voice above the chatter.

  Oh, no.

  Mandy’s face felt as if it might burst into flame. He wasn’t going to do it in front of everybody, was he? Well, she had told him he needed to show people his heart.

  Noah looked around the room to make sure everyone was listening. No doubt about it, they were. “Since I’ve resolved to quit hiding from the people I love the most, I want you to be the first to know that I am in love with Mandy Helmuth. I adore her. I can’t live without her. I want her to be my wife.”

  The Sensenig sisters sighed rapturously.

  Mandy’s heart had never been so full. She couldn’t possibly utter a word when she felt this happy.

  Noah got down on one knee and brushed his lips across the back of her hand, causing her to tremble all over. Kristina squeaked and looked as if she might faint in a fit of euphoria.

  “Mandy Helmuth, you know I don’t have a place to call my own yet, but if you’ll be patient with my weaknesses, I’ll build us a house with my own two hands. A house where we can raise our children and grow old together. Will you marry me?”