Carolyn wiggled loose from Ruth’s arms and began to take the dishes to the counter. Mabel went to the sink, filled the pan with water, and put it on the stove to heat. Well, she would join them, Ruth decided. Sometime soon Jesse would come home, and she would tackle the subject with him alone—whatever time of night that was. There was no way she was going to leave these girls alone tonight.
“I wish you could come more often,” Mabel said, looking up at Ruth. “It feels so like home again with you here.”
“Oh…” Ruth said, tears forming in her eyes, “I would so love that, Mabel. You have no idea how much I would. Both of you are such lovely girls.”
“I don’t know about that,” Mabel said.
“Mabel smiled to Mose Yutzy the other Sunday,” Carolyn announced.
“She did?” Ruth cooed as Mabel turned red. “Well, that’s wunderbah. But aren’t you a little young yet, Mabel?”
“It’s not like he’s asking me home,” Mabel protested.
“But someday he might,” Ruth said. “And that would be such a gut catch.”
Mabel turned a deeper shade of red, and Carolyn laughed.
“Stop it!” Mabel snapped at Carolyn. “Or I’ll rub it in once you smile to a boy.”
“I’ll hide my feelings better than you do,” Carolyn said.
“Now, now, girls,” Ruth said. “We’re all different and show our affections in different ways. There’s no right and wrong in how we love those who are close to our hearts.”
Both girls smiled at her and soon at each other. It feels so gut, Ruth thought, to mother these children. Already it was happening. They would flourish under her care, she was certain, as would the three boys. And perhaps Da Hah would still see fit, in His great mercy, to give her and Jesse a little bobli of their own. But she had to stop thinking about such things right now. Her face was getting a little red, and this would be hard to explain if Carolyn or Mabel noticed. First things first. Right now she had to take care of these girls, and then she’d wait until Jesse came home. Surely he would be home long before the pecan pie lesson was over. Jesse couldn’t be gone for hours—not without supper in his stomach. No man was capable of such a thing.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Emma climbed down from her buggy. She tossed the reins out the storm front with a quick flick of her hand. She glanced back to see Jesse climbing down from his buggy and walking toward her, leaving Lucy standing in the middle of the lane.
Jesse approached Emma as she was unhitching. He kept his voice low. “Would you please let me explain?”
Emma took a moment before she looked up. “Could you explain better in the house, perhaps?”
Surprise must have shown on his face, Jesse thought, because Emma smiled. She tilted her head before saying, “Or on the swing, if you wish.”
Jesse cleared his throat. This was quite confusing. Somewhere along the ride, the woman had changed. He recovered with effort. “I would love that.”
“Are you going to tie up then?” Emma glanced toward Lucy, who was standing in the middle the lane bobbing her head up and down.
Jesse nodded. He returned to the buggy to retrieve the tie rope from under the seat. While Emma continued unhitching, Jesse led Lucy to the hitching post and tied her up. He returned to Emma just in time to hold the shafts as she led her horse forward. He followed her to the barn and waited at the door. He almost offered his help with pulling off the harness, but decided not to. Emma was capable and might think he was taking liberties where they had not yet been given. He had been taking plenty of liberties, he acknowledged, but tonight was not the night to push things. He watched while she put her horse into a stall. Emma glanced at him as she walked to the barn door. What she was thinking was hard to tell. But what could he expect from a woman who had just discovered she had a rival camped out in her intended husband’s home?
They walked to the house, and Emma motioned for Jesse to sit on the swing. She sat down beside him. Jesse heard his stomach growl and looked away. That was something he’d forgotten, but the awareness of his hunger was coming back now that he was no longer racing after Emma.
“That’s right, you mentioned you didn’t have any supper,” Emma acknowledged.
Jesse grimaced. “True, but supper can wait.”
“So…” Emma said, “you said you have an explanation for why Ruth Troyer is at your house tonight…”
Jesse coughed into his hand. “Yah, of course I have an explanation.” He paused.
She waited quietly while he gathered his thoughts.
“I began to think about asking you to marry me many months ago, Emma. At that time I wasn’t thinking about Ruth in the least. In fact, I didn’t think of her at all other than as my children’s schoolteacher.” Jesse glanced in Emma’s direction.
“I’m listening.”
Jesse nodded. “What I’m trying to say is that I never had—nor do I have—a romantic thought about Ruth. All I know is that recently she’s been stopping by after school, making friends with Mabel and my two youngest children, and in general making a pest of herself. Now tonight when I have the evening planned with you, it was announced at the supper table by one of the children that ‘teacher Ruth is coming over’ to teach Mabel how to make pecan pies.”
“No woman comes into a man’s house without encouragement, Jesse. Not even Ruth Troyer.”
He sighed. “I did eat her pecan pie the other day. But it’s the children, really, who may have encouraged her. They really like her. I’m planning to deal with the problem—if that confounded woman gives me a chance.”
Emma laughed a little. “Ruth doesn’t give chances. You should know that by now.”
“I know.” He reached for her hand. “Really, I’m sorry about all this. I suppose it’s my fault. I’m not used to dealing with these… um…tactics, shall we say?”
She met his gaze. “I believe you, Jesse. I know Ruth Troyer well enough.”
His hand tightened on hers. “Thank you.”
“I realized on the way back home that you wouldn’t be making such a fool out of yourself by chasing after me if you didn’t care a lot. I overreacted earlier. A woman thing, I guess.”
He stared at her. “Emma, I’m coming to think you do care for me…at least a little.”
She smiled. “Yah, a little. But even so, I’m still tender around my heart. I guess that’s why I flew off the handle like I did. And you’ll have to deal with Ruth. She can’t go on acting like she is.”
“I know.” He glanced about.
“And what about the children?” Her fingers held on to his arm. “Their feelings worry me. I can’t force your children to love me. Especially if they’ve taken a shine to their teacher.”
Jesse hung his head. “Perhaps I wasn’t seeing things clearly, but you can win them over, Emma. Don’t underestimate yourself.”
Emma sighed. “This is new to me too, Jesse. You’ll have to give me time. So will they.”
He touched her face. “Yah, time is on our side. You’ll see.”
She dropped her eyes.
“Da Hah is with us, Emma. Don’t forget that.” He drew her close. “Now, I suppose I’d better go home and take care of my problem with Ruth. And you and I will schedule another night with the children.”
She smiled. “Yah, you might be right. First, come inside. The least I can do is give you supper.”
“There’s supper waiting at home,” he protested. “I know you weren’t expecting company.”
“You think I can’t cook?”
He laughed. “Now you’re sounding like Mabel—always worried you don’t measure up. Of course I’m sure you can cook. But you don’t have to tonight. It doesn’t take me that long to drive home. Not any longer than it does for you to fix supper, I’m sure.”
“Come in,” she repeated. “I don’t want Ruth Troyer feeding you supper.”
He smiled. “Ruth will be long gone by the time I get there.”
Emma gave a snort. “That’s w
hat you think. But let’s not speak of her anymore.” She rose and Jesse followed her example.
As they entered the house, Katie came out of the kitchen and made a dash for the upstairs.
“Please, Katie!” Jesse held up his hand. “Please join us while your mamm prepares some supper for me. I’d like to speak with you.”
Katie stared at him before joining him on the couch. “So, is this your first lecture on me not running with the Mennonite youth group?”
“Katie!” Emma exclaimed after she gasped from the kitchen doorway.
“Well,” Katie said, before Jesse could speak, “I’m not going to change my mind about going to Esther’s gathering tomorrow night. I might as well get it out in the open.”
“Katie, mind your manners now,” Emma warned.
Katie lower her gaze. “I’m sorry, but the two of you did come racing in here like two teenagers.”
Jesse chuckled. “That’s okay. I suppose we do look a little old to be acting so young. But even adults have things to work out.”
Katie looked at him. “So why is Mamm back so early? And why were you tearing after her in your buggy? Did the meeting with your children not go very well?”
“I don’t think you should be asking any of these questions,” Emma interrupted. “Please go upstairs, Katie, while I fix Jesse supper.”
Katie leaped to her feet, but Jesse stopped her. “I don’t want to go against your mamm’s word here, Katie, but I do want to speak for myself.”
There was a moment’s silence…until Emma nodded for Jesse to continue.
“It’s like this. I have some things at my house that need taking care of. Things have gotten a little out of control, shall we say, and tonight your mamm didn’t get to meet my children. Your mamm was very decent about understanding my problem, and I think we can work it out.”
He waited as Katie seemed to think on what he’d told her.
“Okay, I see. But about Saturday night. I’m not going to change my mind. And I feel uneasy about how the two of you were acting tonight. It must have something to do with your children not liking Mamm.”
“I think I would feel very uneasy myself if I were in your shoes,” Jesse said. “And I hope you enjoy your Saturday night out with your friends. What did you say their names were?”
“I didn’t,” Katie said, a look of surprise crossing her face. “But it’s Esther, Margaret, and Sharon.”
Jesse smiled. “I’m sure they’re very nice girls.”
“Yah, they are. I think you’d like them.” Katie rose. “Gut night then—to the both of you.”
“Gut night.” Jesse turned toward the kitchen as the stair door closed. Emma was staring at him.
“Is that all you have to tell Katie? You hope she has a gut night at the Mennonite youth gathering?”
He shrugged. “Yah. I thought that was the best thing to tell her. I don’t want to argue with her tonight.”
Emma winced. “I was hoping you’d persuade her not to attend the Mennonite gatherings.” Emma didn’t wait for an answer before she disappeared into the kitchen. Jesse stood up and followed her, finding Emma standing by the kitchen window and gazing out across the darkened lawn.
He slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her close. “I love you, Emma, and you love me…at least a little bit. Isn’t that true?”
She didn’t answer. She just laid her head against his shoulder for a moment before pulling away. Emma pointed to the kitchen chair. “Sit. I’ll have something for you to eat in a minute.”
Jesse obeyed while Emma rushed about the kitchen, setting the table, getting food out, getting pots and pans out, but never looking at him. His stomach growled again at the sight of the steaming meat casserole she pulled out of the oven fifteen minutes later.
“Eat!” she commanded, setting the casserole amongst the jam and butter bowls. He reached for her hand and Emma sat down beside him, bowing her head along with his.
“You do love me, don’t you?” Jesse asked when they were done with the silent prayer.
Emma said nothing, but she met his gaze with tear-brimmed eyes. He reached over and gathered her in his arms for a long moment before letting go. She dished out his food and sat beside him while he ate.
Chapter Thirty
As Jesse drove home later that evening, he watched through the open buggy door as the stars twinkled on the horizon. Wild and giddy thoughts rushed through his mind. Emma had certainly shown him tonight at the kitchen table that she loved him, even if she continued to refuse to say so. He hadn’t quite dared kiss her when he left, but it wouldn’t be long before he would. He smiled at the added bonus that Emma was a decent cook.
Yah, he would have to deal with Ruth tonight. He must remain understanding with Ruth, he supposed. What else other than pies did Ruth have to work with in her effort to win his heart? He had to do something. Emma had understood his explanation tonight, but she was a woman and could take only so much. If Ruth kept hanging around, he couldn’t expect Emma to keep her mind open about the matter. He’d come close enough to losing Emma tonight. Thankfully, Emma had been impressed with his wild chase after her, though at the time he’d felt a bit foolish racing after her.
Jesse pulled back on the reins and stopped Lucy before turning into his driveway. In the semidarkness ahead, Ruth’s buggy took shape. It was parked in the same spot it had been when he left. Well, what did he expect? Emma had warned him. Of course the woman was still here. And she was likely keeping Mabel and Carolyn up late baking pies when both children should be in bed. Carolyn had school tomorrow, and Mabel needed her sleep for the work she did at home.
Jesse pulled up close to the barn, jumped down, and unhitched. He took his flashlight out from under the buggy seat and led Lucy into the barn. He slipped off the harness, turned Lucy into her stall, and with the flashlight beam bouncing in front of him, walked out of the barn and made his way across the yard.
He paused to listen before opening the washroom door. There were no voices coming from the kitchen, and only the faint light of a kerosene lamp was shining under the door sash. Ruth had to still be here if her buggy was in the yard, but where were the two girls? Had she sent them to bed? Jesse pushed open the kitchen door. The smiling face of Ruth appeared at once. She was seated at the kitchen table with two pecan pies in front of her.
“Welcome back,” Ruth whispered. “I already put the children to bed. I hope you don’t mind.”
Jesse stayed frozen by the door. Finally he spoke. “Why are you still here?” If she thought he was going to sit down and eat pecan pies with her at this hour of the night, she was sorely mistaken.
Ruth ignored the look of irritation on Jesse’s face. She waved her hand toward the chair. “We need to have a talk, Jesse. Where have you been all evening?”
He remained standing, staring at her.
“Sit down,” Ruth said, still smiling. “It’s not decent for a man to dash all over the countryside in the evening when he doesn’t have a frau home to take care of his five children.”
It was as if she were quizzing a first-grader on his flashcards, Jesse thought. He didn’t move.
She gave a little shake of her head. “It’s the truth, Jesse. Even if I have to be the one saying it. Thank Da Hah I came by tonight when I did before someone else dropped in and saw the way you’re using these children. It’s a crying shame, Jesse. And an outright disgrace. The children told me you’ve even been doing this during the daytime—dashing over to Emma Raber’s place for talks with her. Is that where you went tonight?”
Jesse gave up glaring at her and sat down. The woman would have to be dealt with, but this would be harder than he’d thought. She made him feel like he was still taking the bottle on his mother’s knee.
“I’m glad you’re listening to me, Jesse,” Ruth continued, no longer smiling. “This is the first gut sign I’ve seen all night. I must say, I feel hope rising in my heart for your situation. Maybe this can be taken care of before your children a
re damaged worse than they already have been.”
“What are you talking about?” Jesse finally managed to get out.
“You don’t have to look at me like that. I’m the one who has been home with your children all evening while you’ve been out doing who knows what. Are you behaving yourself, Jesse?”
“Of course I am!”
“And have you had supper? Mabel insisted that we keep food out for you. For myself, I would have let you go hungry because, I do declare, sometimes even grown men never get out of their childhood.”
“Emma fed me supper,” Jesse said, watching Ruth’s face.
“So you were there?” Ruth glared at him now. “What a disgrace, Jesse. Acting like that in front of your children. You’re worse than a love-struck teenager.”
Jesse was quiet for a moment. He got to his feet and said, “I’m going to take you outside to your buggy, and you can wait there while I get your horse. After that, I will hitch up for you, and you will drive on home where you belong.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Jesse,” she said. “Not until I’ve told you what’s on my mind.”
He leaned forward and said in voice loud enough to echo throughout the house, “I want you out of my house, Ruth Troyer. Right now!”
A look of horror crossed her face as feet upstairs landed on the floor with a loud thump and came running down the stairs.
“Look what you’ve done now!” Ruth hissed as the stair door burst open and Mabel’s frightened face and tense body appeared in the opening.
Katie Opens Her Heart Page 17
