Courting Her Prodigal Heart

by Mary Davis

  “Ja.” Saul came out onto the porch.

  As he did so, Eli could see Mary in the kitchen with her mutter. She glanced up at him from setting the table, and smiled. He smiled back. Mary was a gut choice.

  Saul closed the door. “What is it?”

  “Your daughter Mary. I was thinking...to ask to...maybe court her.”

  Saul smiled. “Thinking to ask? Maybe? But you aren’t sure?”

  Eli didn’t reply. He couldn’t, because he wasn’t sure. “I...”

  “Let me save you some trouble. Mary already has an offer to be courted. I’m not sure she’s as excited about it as the boy is, but she did say ja.”

  Unexpected relief swept through Eli.

  “If the courtship is broken, I’ll let you know.”

  “Danki.” Eli bounded off the porch, into his trap and quickly set Dutch into motion. He shouldn’t be this pleased with being turned down. He thought of Rainbow Girl. She didn’t need to know about this. Irritation displaced his happiness. He shouldn’t be thinking so much of her. Every time he turned around, she dallied in his thoughts. Why did she have to return? Because she was raised here, and this was where she belonged. But he couldn’t let her keep him from moving forward with his life.

  Once he completed the bishop’s addition, he would push all thoughts of Rainbow Girl from his mind. Her wild hair. Her odd clothes. Her sweet smile that made him happy.

  He had to admit that he liked thinking about her.

  But he shouldn’t like it. Shouldn’t think about her. He needed to stop. Right now.

  Chapter Six

  Eli arrived early the next morning alone. He’d told Daniel and Benjamin that he’d lay the concrete foundation blocks by himself since this part could be done in a day. Then the work would have to stop until an inspector came to sign off on the foundation. No sense taking up their time needlessly. He didn’t mind spending most of the day here.

  He glanced at the rear of the dawdy haus. Was Rainbow Girl up? Did she sleep late like a lot of Englishers? He hoped he’d get to see her today.

  If he didn’t have to wait for the inspector at various stages, this project could take a third of the time. After the foundation was inspected, the framing could go up and the electrical wired in. Once those were inspected, the rest of the job would progress without delay.

  He combined the mortar and water in a wheelbarrow and set to work on the corners. He hoped to finish this addition by the middle of next week. Not only did he look forward to getting back to his regular routine at his forge, but he also figured that Rainbow Girl couldn’t be all that comfortable sleeping on a couch. If she was going to stay, she needed her own space, and the sooner he finished, the sooner she would decide to stay. True, he wouldn’t get to see her every day, but she would be in the community, and he could come up with excuses.

  Ja. She needed to stay.

  When the door opened, he looked up, and his breath caught in his throat.

  Rainbow Girl stood in the doorway in the same bright green trousers and orange shirt as yesterday. She held a cup of something steamy. “Aren’t the others helping you today?”

  How pretty she would look in a cape dress and kapp again. He forced air into his lungs. “Ne. There’s only enough work for one. They’ll come to help put up the walls another day.” If they were here, he wouldn’t get to stay as long or see her as much.

  “This is a lot for only one person.”

  “I can get it done by supper.”

  “I brought you a cup of coffee.”

  He set down his trowel and crossed to her. “Danki.” He took the hot cup.

  She smiled at him. “Bitte. The bishop and I are going into town.”

  “Why do you call him bishop instead of grossvater?”

  She shrugged. “I guess since I was about ten or eleven, he always seemed more like the bishop than a grossvater.”

  He had a hard time imagining what it must be like to have the bishop as your vater or grossvater. “I need to pick up a few things for meine mutter. May I go with the two of you?”

  She tilted her head in an adorable way and gave a winsome smile. “Then how will you finish here by supper?”

  He glanced at the blocks all set out for the job to be done. “I’ll manage.”

  “I’m sure the bish— Meine grossvater would be happy to have you along.”

  From somewhere behind her came “Ja. Come.” The bishop appeared beside her. “We forgot to get the metal electric boxes for the outlets and switches.”

  “Ja, I was thinking about them last night. Would you like me to hitch up a buggy?”

  “That would be gut. Danki. We’ll take mine. It’s the smaller enclosed one. Hitch Thunder to it.”

  “Very gut. I’ll use up the rest of the mortar I have mixed and get to it.” He downed the coffee that was still a bit too hot and handed the cup to Rainbow Girl. “Danki.” He wouldn’t be tasting any more food today.

  On the bright side, he’d get to ride into town with Rainbow Girl seated next to him.

  And that made him very happy.

  * * *

  Dori hadn’t been able to squeeze into any of her regular pants, and she owned no skirts. She hadn’t worn dresses or skirts since she’d left the Amish, so the options for her growing belly were limited. That meant settling for her teal yoga pants. They fitted snuggly over her rounded stomach. She topped off the look with a coral-and-pink swirly patterned blouse that hung baggy over her hips, and her black knee boots. Not a great look for job hunting, but better than jeans or sweatpants for interviews. If she even managed to get any.

  Sandwiched between the handsome young blacksmith and her grossvater, a part of Dori delighted at sitting so close to Eli in the buggy. Another part of her harbored guilt for keeping her secret from him. But he really had no need to know about the baby. She would leave as soon as she could get a job and find a place to live.

  About a mile into Goshen, Dori pointed. “Can you drop me off at the coffee shop on the corner?”

  “Why?” The bishop gave her his squint-eyed expression when he looked into someone’s soul.

  What did he see in hers? “I don’t think you want to know.”

  “I do.”

  She glanced at Eli, who seemed eager to know, as well. “I’m going to apply for a job there, and then use their Wi-Fi to look for other potential jobs.”

  Grossvater frowned. “You don’t need a job.”

  She took a slow breath. It was a bit maddening. He refused to listen to anything she said. “I do if I’m going to rent a place in town.”

  “You don’t need to do that. I’m building you two rooms.”

  She looked from the bishop to Eli. “See? He won’t listen.”

  Eli scrunched his eyebrows together. “Two rooms?”

  Her stomach flipped. How could she explain the extra space? “He’s having you build two, and he wants me to live in one.” She didn’t need to explain to him who her grossvater hoped would occupy the other in a few months’ time.

  Eli pulled the buggy to a stop at a red light.

  “I’ll get out here.” Dori stepped past her grossvater and climbed down before either man could stop her. “Danki. I’ll see you in an hour or so.” She trotted up onto the sidewalk.

  Once the buggy had pulled away, Dori glanced across the street to the sub shop, where Eli had bought her a sandwich. It seemed like so long ago, but it had been only three days. How bleak her life had seemed then. How different it was now. Her life had changed so quickly. From perfect with Craig, to dismal after he kicked her out, to...to nice? Comfortable? Secure? Right now, her life was all of the above, and she was glad of it.

  Over an hour later, Dori arrived back at the coffee shop. Eli and the bishop were nowhere in sight, so she went inside. She’d talked to ten different businesses within walking distance, inc
luding the coffee shop, and ones she’d applied to online yesterday. She was given one of two answers. She either didn’t have ample formal education—eighth grade wasn’t enough—or they didn’t want to hire someone in her condition. How could so many people tell she was pregnant? Had Eli figured it out as well and was he too polite to say anything?

  Today’s results had been proof enough that her chances of getting a job were very slim. Because of the numerous people looking for work, the job market was tough, and when the high school students got out for the summer, it would be even harder.

  She should have tried harder to get her GED, but she hadn’t seen a need while she was living with Craig. And in the Amish world, she never had to worry about that. She knew of a lot of people who’d been looking for work, long before she started. Long before Craig had kicked her out. Long before morning sickness had cost her the waitressing job. People with far more education than she had.

  Should she give up on finding work altogether and wait until after the baby was born? If so, she either had to stay with the Amish or return to the homeless shelter. One option was slightly better than the other. But only slightly. How depressing.

  This was not how she imagined her life when she left the Amish community. She imagined doing anything she wanted to do, but in reality, a person could do only what their education and resources allowed them. It seemed a lot like the limiting ways of the Amish. Not the total freedom she’d imagined.

  She still had the ten dollars from Eli and ordered herself a berry smoothie. She missed having fancy coffees, mochas and lattes, but the caffeine wasn’t gut for the baby. Sitting, she opened her laptop and quickly connected to the shop’s Wi-Fi again. She would do as much as she could until the men showed up.

  If she was going to get a job and an apartment, she needed to get her GED. That was how she’d spend her time until the baby arrived.

  Before long, Eli strode in and headed her way. “Are you ready?”

  Under the table, she slipped her hand to her belly. Had the baby moved in response to Eli’s voice? Her heart had certainly reacted to his presence, and a feeling of ja-this-is-nice swept through her. “Let me check my email really fast.” She clicked the keys.

  The conversation from the next table was loud and Dori heard someone say, “There’s something you don’t see every day. An Amish man with a normal person.”

  Did they think they couldn’t be heard? Dori laughed to herself. She was the normal one? Since when had her appearance been considered normal? She glanced up at Eli but couldn’t tell if he’d heard them.

  He spoke in a hushed voice loud enough for her ears only. “Ignore them.”

  That made her feel gut. He’d been trying to make her feel better. Protective, even. He had no way of knowing that the comment had made her laugh. Regardless, his gesture had been kind and touched her.

  Craig would have turned on them and told them to mind their own business, after he’d scolded her for carrying her laptop in an unprotected bag rather than a specially designed padded one.

  She closed her laptop and stowed it in her backpack. Before she could pick it up, Eli grabbed it and slung one strap over his shoulder. Sweet again. Was he doing it simply to be nice? Or had he been told she was pregnant?

  She grabbed her smoothie, headed out to the buggy and sat between the men again. “Eli, did you get everything your mutter needed?”

  He tipped his head back against the seat. “Oh, I forgot. It’s only a few things. Do you mind if we stop again?”

  “Of course not.” Grossvater waved him on.

  Eli parked the buggy at the big-box store. “I won’t be long.” He jumped down and ran in.

  Though she might have liked to have gone in just to spend more time with him, she had the bishop alone. “Did you tell Eli about the baby?”

  “Ne. That’s for you to tell him. But you can’t hide this much longer. Our people will want to help you.”

  “Like Vater?”

  “Andrew is just hurt. He didn’t forbid me to build the addition to the dawdy haus or really try to stop me. He told me I’m being a foolish old man, wasting meine time. When you get to meine age, the things that were once foolish aren’t anymore. I think your vater truly hopes you’ll stay.”

  Her vater hurt? He was too strong to let anything hurt him and certainly not her or her actions. How would Eli react when he found out about the baby? She wanted to keep it from him as long as possible, because when he did learn of it, he would likely react as her vater had.

  Eli returned with a plastic shopping bag of items and a box of laundry soap. “Danki for waiting.”

  Once back at Grossvater’s dawdy haus, Eli went straight to work again after unhitching the horse. Grossvater worked alongside him.

  On the kitchen table sat a plate of oatmeal cookies covered in plastic, and a note said that a large bowl of potato salad was in the refrigerator. With sandwiches, this would be a tasty lunch.

  Dori made lunch-meat sandwiches with all the fixings and mixed up a pitcher of lemonade.

  The June day had warmed up nicely but not too hot. Comfortable enough to work outdoors. She set the pitcher and glasses on the floor at the end of the hall, then added the bowl of potato salad with a serving spoon and forks, and returned for the three plates with sandwiches. She carried all of them with one hand and an arm, leaving her other hand free to open the door.

  She froze and caught her breath. Eli carried a heavy bag of mortar mix on one shoulder. Had he always been that strong? Or had she simply never noticed? He was so brawny and manly. What would the English call him? A hunk. Amish never thought of the opposite sex in such a manner. Or at least, they never voiced it, but Eli Hochstetler was definitely a hunk. He probably had no idea how physically attractive he was, especially when he smiled. Add to that his kind heart and gut nature, and he was practically perfect. Except for the fact he was Amish, through and through.

  He stopped next to the wheelbarrow where Grossvater stood. Gut. She was in time before they mixed more. If she could manage to cease her gawking. “Lunch.”

  After everyone had dished up their food and poured themselves a glass of lemonade, Grossvater said grace for their meal as well as the work ahead of them. Dori settled in the doorway, stealing glances at Eli. Grossvater sat on the bottom step, and Eli in the grass that would soon be under her floor.

  The first to finish, Eli set his plate on one of the steps. “Danki.”

  Dori didn’t want the time with him to be over. “I almost forgot.” She sprang to her feet and dashed inside, then returned with the plate of cookies. “Mutter left these, as well as the potato salad.” She held the plate out to Eli.

  He took three and held them up. “Danki.”

  Grossvater took one. “Ja, danki. Your mutter makes the best cookies.”

  She liked thinking of him as Grossvater. It somehow made him seem kinder and more approachable.

  After cleaning up lunch and washing the few dishes, Dori changed into gray sweatpants and a pink T-shirt, then headed outside to see if there was anything she could do. After all, she would be here until at least after the baby was born. She might as well make the best of it. She would start with lending assistance to build her rooms and pursuing her GED. The first allowed her to spend a bit more time with Eli.

  Eli carried two concrete blocks over to the side wall of the foundation.

  She looked around. “Where’s meine grossvater?”

  He set the blocks down. “He needed to visit a community member.”

  She strode over to him. “Then gut thing I’m here. What can I do?”

  His eyebrows knit together. “Do with what?”

  “Building the addition.” And spending time with you.

  His eyebrows inched up his forehead, and he laughed. “This is a man’s work.”

  That’s right. Amish men built things, and Amis
h women cooked and cleaned. If she’d stuck to that rule, half the light bulbs in her and Craig’s apartment would be out, the bathroom cabinet door would still be leaning against the wall, and the garbage disposal broken and backed up with decaying food particles. It was amazing what she’d learned from online videos. “I’m capable of doing plenty. You lost all that time going into town, and now your one helper has abandoned you.”

  He shook his head and headed for the block pile again. “Go back inside.”

  “You think me incapable?” She hurried around in front of him, not wanting to be readily dismissed. “I’ll have you know that I’ve wielded a screwdriver and wrench a time or two.”

  He laughed. “Neither of which are used in masonry.”

  “I know that. They were examples to show you I’m capable.”

  He folded his arms.

  Stubborn man.

  A manly man.

  And handsome.

  A hunk.

  She folded her arms too. “I’m not leaving. This addition is for me, and I’m going to help. Wouldn’t you rather put me to work? Or have me get in your way? The choice is yours.”

  He huffed out a breath. “Fine. You can mix the mortar.” He hefted a bag of dry cement, cut it open across the middle with his trowel and dumped the contents into the wheelbarrow, sending up a cloud of powder.

  She waved her hand in front of her face to clear the air.

  He added water from the hose, handed her a hoe and walked away. Not one word of instruction.

  But what instruction did she really need? Mix. She pulled the hoe back and forth to blend the wet and dry ingredients. Not much different than combining the makings for a cake. “How will I know when it’s ready?”

  “I’ll tell you.” He grabbed more blocks. With each pair he transferred, he glanced into the wheelbarrow. A couple of times, he added more water.

  The mixing turned out to be a lot harder than she’d anticipated. Mortar was heavy, and the process caused her muscles to cry out, but she didn’t dare complain. Soon she would have a nice place to live—her own space. And it was a bonus that she got to spend time with Eli. Just the two of them.