“Don’t be sorry, Gabe. You haven’t offended me. I am as I am.”
Esther could see he was still uncomfortable. He shifted from one foot to the other. “Mrs. Arnett is our neighbor. Her place isn’t far. It’s a pleasant walk through the woods. Would you care to join me?”
She didn’t want him to worry that something he said or did would upset her. “I would like that. Danki. You realize you will have to walk backward most of the way so that I can see what you’re saying to me.”
She tried not to smile, but she couldn’t help it. The look of puzzled confusion on his face was priceless. She burst out laughing.
* * *
It quickly dawned on Gabe that Esther was teasing him. Was she joking about her condition to put him at ease? It was a generous move. “Laughing at the man who saved your life isn’t the nicest way to repay him.”
“What would be a better way?”
“If you could forgive his fumbling words.”
“You are forgiven, as long as you promise not to treat me differently from my sisters or your other friends.”
“I’ll try my best. This way.” He nodded toward the barn.
“Let me get something first.”
She rushed back inside and soon returned with a blue quilted bag slung over her shoulder. “I’m ready.”
“The path through the woods is just beyond the barn. If I have anything important to say while we are walking, I’ll make sure I get your attention first.”
“That sounds like a sound plan. If you hear of a better one, you should give me a shout.” She arched her brow. “Get it?”
He rolled his eyes. “I get it. I’m free to use words that refer to hearing. You won’t be offended.”
“Excellent. I like the sound of that.” Her wide grin made him smile, too.
“Enough. I’m going. Tag along if you like.” He started toward the path. She quickly fell into step beside him. Less than a hundred yards beyond the barn, they entered a grove of pine trees. The path skirted around moss-covered boulders thrust up through the earth and skeletons of old fallen pine trees. The dappled sunlight was broken in places by openings in the canopy that allowed the brightness to reach the forest floor. Those spaces were filled with shrubs, plants and young trees eager to take advantage of the light.
The air was filled with birdsongs and the sighing of the wind in the branches overhead. Gabe kept alert for the sounds or glimpses of animals. There were black bears in the area as well as moose. It wouldn’t do to surprise either one of them.
They skirted the edge of a shallow pond when suddenly Esther stopped. “Oh, how pretty.”
Gabe turned to see her crouched beside a cluster of small blue flowers. She looked up at him. “What are these called?”
“I don’t know.” He pointed overhead. “But that is a Harris’s sparrow. A rare bird in these parts.”
She stood and moved closer to him. “Did you say a rare bird? Where?”
“Near the top of that spruce.” She looked where he was pointing.
“He’s kind of streaky brown and black. He has a black bib, a black face and a small black crown.” Gabe stopped talking when he realized she wasn’t looking at him. She couldn’t hear the bird’s call or his description.
“Is it that black-and-brown bird with a little black hat on his head?” She turned to look at Gabe.
He nodded. “That’s the one.”
“He’s pretty, but I like flowers better. Are you a bird-watcher?”
“I am. I keep a record of the rare ones that I see.”
She knelt beside the flowers again. “I keep pressed petals in an album. I like to sketch them in their native setting, too. I wish I knew the name of this one.”
He touched her arm to get her attention. “Take a sprig. Mrs. Arnett might know. She’s a Maine native.”
“I hate to disturb the plant until I know it’s a common species. I’d like to make a quick sketch instead if you don’t mind.”
He had work waiting but he couldn’t deny her this simple joy. “Go ahead.”
“Danki.” She opened her satchel and pulled out a pad along with some colored pencils.
He moved a few feet away and took a seat on a fallen log to watch her. She bent close to the flowers, looking at them from several angles before she settled on the ground, opened her book and started drawing.
She seemed at home in the woods. The patterns of sunlight filtering down on her made her blend into the surroundings, for her dress was nearly the same shade of blue as the flowers at her feet. She chewed the tip of her pencil as she regarded her subject before bending over the paper once more.
He heard a rustling in the leaves behind him and scanned the woods for the source of the sound. A gray squirrel scampered up a nearby tree and chittered loudly from a dead branch.
“What are you looking at?” Esther asked.
“That squirrel. He’s upset with us.” He glanced at her and realized she was still waiting for his answer. How long would it take him to learn he had to be looking at her before he spoke? It wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
“A squirrel is scolding us. Are you finished?”
“I am.”
“May I see it?” He held out his hand.
She hesitated then handed over her sketch pad. She had captured the size, color and even the texture of the plant. “The Lord has given you quite a talent.”
She took the picture away from him. “I think flowers are easy to draw.”
“Not for me they aren’t. I tend to avoid floral designs on my tooled leatherwork for that reason.”
“Perhaps I can give you some pointers when I get back to work.”
“I look forward to it,” he said and realized he meant it. She was an intriguing woman. He found he wanted to know her better.
They started along the path again, but it wasn’t long before she stopped to examine another cluster of blooms. “What are these?”
“I haven’t a clue.”
“Oh.” She walked on but soon stopped beside a group of miniature daisylike blossoms. “These are lovely. Do you know what they’re called?”
“Weeds.”
She shot him a sour look. “Weeds or not, they’re pretty.”
“At this rate we won’t get to the Arnett farm before dark.”
“Okay, I’ll stop looking at the flowers.”
“Weeds.”
Her eyes flashed with annoyance. “I refuse to call something with such delicate petals and this sweet scent a weed.”
She walked off ahead of him, so she didn’t see his grin. She might pretend to be annoyed with him, but he could tell she wasn’t. He was discovering that Esther Burkholder was a very interesting woman even if Waneta had brought her here on a husband-hunting mission.
The thought drew him up short. He wasn’t in the market for a wife. He had to keep his focus on improving the family’s precarious financial situation.
* * *
Esther was sorry when the woods opened suddenly into a field until she realized she was walking out amid acres of blossoming potato plants. The air was filled with their delicate fragrance as the white flowers atop the bright green foliage trembled in the breeze. Gabe came up beside her and gestured around them. “Not weeds,” he said when he was sure she was looking at him.
She rolled her eyes. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“I am. Did it work?”
She chuckled. “I’m mildly amused.”
“I’m usually much funnier.”
“I can hardly wait to see a sample. Is that where we’re going?” She pointed toward a farmstead a few hundred yards away.
“Yup.”
Together they walked toward the farm. An Englisch woman wearing jeans and a red plaid shirt came out of the barn carrying a bucket. She caught sight of them and wav
ed.
Gabe waved back. The woman put her bucket down and came to greet them. “Hello, Gabe. I see you have my bridles. Who is this with you?”
Gabe looked at Esther. “Esther, this is Lilly Arnett. She farms here by herself. Lilly, this is Esther Burkholder. She and her family are visiting from Ohio. Esther is Deaf but can speech-read or read lips, as they sometimes say. You must be looking at her when you speak. She is also a wildflower lover. Perhaps you can identify one she sketched.”
Lilly held out her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you. I’d be happy to look at your drawing.”
Esther pulled her sketchbook from her bag and opened it before handing it to Lilly. “I think it must be a violet of some sort.”
“It’s a New England violet. They are rare. Where did you find it?”
“Alongside a small pond just off the path that leads here.”
Lilly smiled. “They do like moist ground. I may go gather some seeds and plant a few in my wildflower garden. You must come and see it. It’s my pride and joy.”
Esther happily followed Lilly to an area at the side of her house, where a stepping-stone path led down to a small stream. A profusion of flowers graced the gentle slope in a multitude of colors and sizes, from small bleeding hearts clustered beside the path to tall nodding white yarrow, blue spires of lupine and everything in between. A stone bench stood beneath the spreading branches of an oak tree that overlooked the area. Esther’s fingers itched to get out her pencils and paper.
She grinned at Lilly. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. I feel close to God when I come down here to just sit and admire His handiwork.”
“I know what you mean.” Esther, too, felt close to God when she was in her flower garden at home.
Gabe handed Lilly the bridles. “I hope these are what you wanted.”
“Let’s see.” She led the way to a corral where two horses stood. She opened the gate and slipped a bridle on one of them. Both she and Gabe checked the fit, and Lilly seemed satisfied. The two of them spoke briefly, but Esther couldn’t see what they were saying. When Gabe returned to her side, she waved goodbye to Lilly and waited for him to speak.
“I invited Lilly to the picnic. I hope you don’t mind. I thought you might enjoy visiting with someone who shares your hobby. She’d like to see more of your sketches.”
It was kind of him to invite someone she knew and would have something in common with. Large groups weren’t comfortable for her unless she was with people who could sign. Her sisters often performed that service, but with Waneta insisting they focus on finding mates, Esther wasn’t sure they would have time for her.
“I’ll be happy to show Lilly my drawings at the gathering. Have you decided to go to the picnic?”
“If we get enough work done this afternoon and tomorrow, I might.”
Esther smiled, amazed at how happy it made her to know he could be coming. “Goot. Then I’ll sew up a storm.”
* * *
Gabe was busy in his workshop early the following morning when Esther came in. He had a dozen leather knife sheaths tooled with a basket-weave pattern ready to be assembled. “I didn’t expect you until after breakfast.”
“I wanted to get an early start to make up for our lost time yesterday morning,” she said, moving to take a seat.
“We made up for most of that in the afternoon. I’m nearly caught up.”
It didn’t take long for him to show her what he wanted done. After that they worked in silence with only the sound of his mallet tapping designs into leather pieces and the steady thumping of the sewing machine. He glanced over several times to make sure she wasn’t having trouble. Once she looked up and caught his eye. She frowned slightly. “Did you say something?”
He shook his head, and she went back to work. After an hour he heard his mother calling him. Gabe put his tools aside and touched Esther’s shoulder. When she looked up, he nodded toward the door. “Breakfast is ready.”
“I’ll be in as soon as I finish this piece.” She went back to pulling the lever on the stitcher.
He pulled her chair back. She frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Finish after we eat. Our families will be waiting on us.”
A mutinous expression crossed her face but quickly disappeared. “Very well.”
He followed her out the door and across the farmyard to the house. Inside, his brothers and Jonah were lined up on one side of the table while her sisters and Waneta were seated across from them. His father sat at the head of the table. His mother filled all the cups with coffee, returned the pot to the stove and took her place at the foot of the table. Everyone bowed their heads for a silent blessing.
There was very little conversation until everyone was finished eating. Jonah, seated opposite Esther, signed for her when needed.
Gabe’s father cleared his throat. “We have a broken spring on the bishop’s buggy to repair today. Seth, you and Asher can manage that. I want to get a few more spare buggy wheels built so we have a ready supply when one is needed. Moses, do you have anything going on?”
“Nee, I’m free to help you.”
“Goot. Waneta, what are you and the girls going to do today?”
“We are almost finished with Talitha’s quilt. After that we’ll bake a few things for the picnic tomorrow. Nancy works in a bakery in our town. She’s very skilled, as I’m sure you will agree when you sample her creations tomorrow.”
Nancy signed something for Esther, who smothered a laugh. Waneta scowled at them.
“Esther will be helping me today,” Gabe said quickly.
His mother took a sip of her coffee and put her cup down. “I hope you aren’t taking advantage of her kindness in offering to sew for you?”
“He isn’t,” Esther said. “I enjoy it. I’m hoping he will show me how to tool some of the pieces, too.” She picked up her plate and began to clear the table. Her sisters quickly joined her. Gabe waited outside for Esther to join him. When she came out, he smiled at her. “Would you really like to learn to tool leather?”
“I would.”
“Once we finish the pieces I already have cut, I’ll show you the basic tools I use. Does that sound okay to you?”
She smiled broadly, proving she recalled their conversation yesterday. “You are a quick learner.”
“I try.”
They entered the workshop and spent the rest of the morning concentrating on their own tasks as the finished pieces piled up. He looked at the growing stack. With Esther’s help over the next two weeks, he would have plenty of items to sell.
It was almost noon when the outside door opened. Waneta came in, followed by Pamela.
“I see Esther is still taking up all your time, Gabriel,” Waneta said. “You don’t have to continue to indulge her.”
“I’m not humoring her,” he said with a pointed look at Waneta. “She is a skilled worker.”
Waneta ignored his rebuke. “Why don’t you show Pamela some of your work? She is interested in leatherworking, too. Pamela, tell Esther Talitha would like her to work on the quilt with us for a while and then I have some errands I need her to run.” She turned around and left.
Gabe watched the exchange take place in sign language. Esther wasn’t pleased. She shot an angry look toward the door but got up and allowed Pamela to sit down. Esther glanced at Gabe. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“That’s okay. Pamela can help me.”
Pamela looked the sewing machine up and down. “I’m not too sure about that.”
He spent the next hour teaching Pamela the basics of stitching leather while his own work went by the wayside. She had dozens of questions, which he answered patiently, but she didn’t possess the skills Esther had. He was glad when they had to go in for lunch.
Waneta and Nancy served up the meal. He didn’t see his mo
ther or Esther. He turned to his father. “Where is Mamm?”
“She went into Fort Craig to pick up some material for a new dress.”
“And Esther?” Gabe looked at Waneta.
“I sent her along to keep your mother company and to buy some things I need. I’m sure Pamela can help you again this afternoon.”
“I’m not really much help,” Pamela admitted. “My talents lie more with quilting.”
“I see,” Waneta said with a tight smile. “Nancy, perhaps you would like to give Gabe a hand.”
“I guess I could,” Nancy said.
She clearly wasn’t eager to do so, and Gabe wasn’t eager to waste more time teaching a reluctant pupil. “I have harness cutting work to do this afternoon. I don’t need help with that.” He concentrated on the meat loaf and mashed potatoes on his plate, but his appetite was gone. It looked like he’d miss the picnic tomorrow after all.
Was Waneta suddenly intent on keeping Esther away from him? If so, why?
Chapter Six
When Esther returned from town with Gabe’s mother, she found Pamela and Nancy in the kitchen rolling out pie dough. Talitha was putting away the horse and buggy.
Esther laid the packages her stepmother wanted on the table. “Waneta, I have your things. Pamela, I thought you were helping Gabe.”
Pamela put aside her rolling pin and looked at Esther. “He said he needed to work alone on cutting a harness.” She glanced at Waneta, who was slicing apples and signed, “I don’t think I was much help, anyway. I’m sorry she made you leave.”
“That’s okay. It wasn’t your fault,” Esther signed. She cleared her throat. “Gabe was going to show me how to decorate leather with stamping and tooling. I think I’ll go see if he has time now.”
Waneta turned around. “You shouldn’t monopolize his time, Esther. You’ve made no secret of the fact that you won’t consider marrying someone who isn’t deaf. Give your sisters a chance to get to know Gabriel. One of them may suit him. How will they find out if he is constantly with you?”
“It won’t be me,” Pamela signed then transferred the pie dough into a pan and crimped the edges.
Someone to Trust Page 6
