A few seconds later, Leroy stepped into the living room. “Wie geht’s?” he asked as he approached Karen.
“I’ve been better, but I think I’ll live.”
“That’s good to hear.” Leroy smiled as he took a seat in the chair across from her. “I was over at your folks’ store, and Cindy said you’d had your wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. So I decided to stop in and see how you’re doing.”
“Except for the swelling and some pain, I’m getting along okay.”
Leroy touched his left cheek and grimaced. “When I had one of my wisdom teeth pulled a few years ago, I ended up with a dry socket. Sure hope that doesn’t happen to you, because I think the pain of it was worse than the aftermath of getting the tooth pulled.”
“I’m being careful to do everything the dentist said, so hopefully it won’t.”
The chair squeaked as Leroy began to rock. “How are things going with your wedding plans? Have you got your invitation list made out yet?”
“I’ve been working on mine. Hopefully Will has his about ready, too.”
“Speaking of Will, I figured he’d be here right now, hovering over you like a lovesick hundli.”
“Will’s not a lovesick puppy.”
“Jah, okay. Whatever you say.”
“My mamm said Will came by to see me yesterday afternoon while I was sleeping, and he left me a plant.” Karen motioned to the Christmas cactus sitting on the small table across the room. “I’m sure he’ll be over again sometime today.”
Leroy gave Karen a wide grin and winked at her. “I hope you know when I said Will was a lovesick puppy, I was just trying to give you a hard time.”
“The way you did when we were kinner?”
“Right.”
Karen thought about the way Leroy had tormented her during their growing-up years—putting cold snow down her back in the wintertime, passing her notes in school that got both of them in trouble with their teacher, hiding her bike in the bushes so she’d be late getting home from school, and generally making a nuisance of himself. Yet despite Leroy’s crazy, irritating ways, Karen had begun courting him as soon as she’d turned sixteen. They’d never been really serious about each other—at least not in a romantic way. But they had spent many fun times together, and since she felt comfortable with Leroy, she’d been content to be courted by him—until Will had caught her eye at a singing one night and asked if he could give her a ride home in his buggy. Since Leroy hadn’t been able to attend the singing due to a bout with the flu, Karen hadn’t hesitated to accept Will’s offer. From that night on, she knew she could never have a serious relationship with Leroy. The day Karen told Leroy that she wanted to break up with him, she had been pleased that he’d taken it so well. Leroy had even suggested that he and Karen should still be friends.
Another knock sounded on the door. A few seconds later, Will stepped into the room holding a paper sack. He took one look at Leroy and halted; then he looked over at Karen with a questioning look. “I didn’t realize you had company.” He set the paper sack on the coffee table. “Maybe I should leave your mamm’s vitamins and come back later.”
Leroy jumped up. “Don’t leave on my account. I need to get back to work, anyway.” He smiled and winked at Karen. “Take care of yourself now, ya hear?”
She nodded. “I will. See you later, Leroy.”
As soon as Leroy left the room, Will took a seat on the sofa beside Karen. “I came by yesterday, but your mamm said you were sleeping.”
“I know. I’m sorry I missed you. I think the pain medicine knocked me right out.” She motioned to the plant. “Danki for the Christmas cactus. It has some real pretty blooms on it already.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”
He reached for her hand. “How are you feeling? Are you in much pain?”
She shook her head. “It’s not bad. Of course, I did have a pain pill with my breakfast this morning.”
He studied her intently. “You look pretty good. There isn’t as much swelling as I thought there would be.”
She touched the side of her face. “I do have a black-and- blue mark right here, though.”
“It’s not that noticeable, and it’ll go away soon, I expect.”
“That’s what my mamm said, too.”
Will let go of her hand. “I’m curious about something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m wondering why every time I come over to see you, Leroy is here.”
“I’ve told you before, Leroy’s just a friend. And he’s not here every time you come over.”
“Sure seems like it.”
“I’ve also told you many times that you have no reason to be jealous of Leroy. We’ve known each other since we were bopplin.
When we were toddlers, we used to play in the sandbox together. Once, Leroy tried to get me to eat some sand. I said I would if he ate some first.”
“What happened?”
“Leroy ate some sand.”
“Guess that proves he’s not so schmaert, after all.”
“Leroy didn’t know any better; he was just a little buwe.” Karen wrinkled her nose. “I hate to admit it, but I tried some, too.”
“How’d it taste?”
She grimaced. “It was pretty awful.”
“Are you warm enough?” Will asked, changing the subject. “It seems kind of chilly in here to me.”
She patted the quilt covering the lower half of her body. “I’m plenty warm, but if you’re cold, maybe you should throw another log onto the fire.”
“Okay.” Will moved over to the wood box, threw two logs into the fireplace, and stoked the fire until it crackled nicely, sending plenty of warmth into the room.
“Guess what?” Will asked as he sat beside Karen again.
“What?”
“Sandy had five hundlin sometime during the night, and she found her way into the storage shed to give birth.”
“I’ll bet the puppies are cute. I’m anxious to see them.”
Will shrugged. “Right now they don’t look so cute, but in a few days, I’m sure they will. That’s how it always is with newborn pups.”
Karen’s mother entered the room and smiled at Will. “Would you like something to drink? Maybe some coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?”
“Hot chocolate would be nice.”
Hannah turned to Karen. “What would you like?”
“A glass of water will be fine for me, Mom.”
“I’ll be back soon.” Hannah left the room and returned a few minutes later carrying a snack tray, which she set on the table near the sofa. “The cookies and hot chocolate are for Will, and the water and applesauce are for you,” she said, smiling at Karen.
“Danki, Mom.”
Will grabbed a cookie and bit into it. “Mmm…peanut butter’s my favorite.”
Karen poked Will in the ribs. “I think all cookies are your favorite.”
He finished the cookie and took a drink from his mug. “You’re right—I like cookies and most any dessert.”
“Talking about desserts,” Hannah said, “it won’t be long before my daughters and I will begin baking pies for Thanksgiving. Then there will be preparations for your wedding, and after that, we’ll have Christmas goodies to bake.”
Will thumped his stomach and groaned. “By the time the new year rolls around, I’ll have eaten so much I’ll have to go on a diet.”
Hannah chuckled. “What’s your favorite holiday dessert, Will?”
“Without a doubt, it’s White Christmas Pie. Mama Regina fixes that every year at Christmas. Sometimes she serves it for Thanksgiving, too.”
“I’ll have to get the recipe from her,” Karen said. “That way I can make it for you after we’re married.”
“Speaking of Mama Regina,” Will said, “she wanted me to let you know that she’s thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery. Oh, and I almost forgot,” he added, reaching for the paper sack he’d set on the coffee table and turning t
o Hannah. “Here are the vitamins and shampoo you wanted.”
“Danki,” Hannah said as she took the sack. “How much do I owe you?”
Will shrugged. “I don’t know. Guess you can settle up with my mamm the next time you drop by the store.”
“I’ll do that. And now I’d better get back to the kitchen and check on the cookies I have in the oven.” Hannah scooted out of the room.
Will finished his refreshments and visited with Karen until he noticed her eyelids drooping. Then he set his cup on the table and stood. “You look tired. I’d better go so you can rest.”
“So soon?” She yawned. “It seems like you just got here.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll check on you again tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She yawned again. “Danki for coming over.”
“You’re welcome.” Will picked up the tray and slipped out of the room. When he entered the kitchen, he placed the tray on the table. “I just wanted you to know that I’m leaving now, Hannah.”
“You didn’t stay very long.”
“Karen’s sleepy, so I figured it was best to let her rest.” He motioned to the tray. “Danki for the refreshments.”
“You’re welcome. Would you like to take a few cookies to eat on your drive home?”
“The offer’s tempting, but I’d better not eat anything more. Mama Regina won’t like it if she fixes a big noon meal and I’m not able to eat any of it.”
Hannah chuckled. “We mothers do like our families to eat what we put on the table.”
“I’ll be back to see Karen again soon,” Will said as he turned toward the door.
“Good-bye, Will.”
Will stepped outside, and as he headed for the hitching rail on the other side of the barn, he began to whistle. When he rounded the corner of the barn, he halted. His horse and buggy were gone!
“If Leroy let my horse go as some kind of a prank, he’s going to be in big trouble!” Will glanced around and whistled for Ben, but he saw no sign of the horse.
Just then a van came up the driveway. A middle-aged English man got out and headed toward Will. “A horse and buggy with no driver came tearing down this driveway a few minutes ago. It plowed right into my van and scared me and my wife half to death! Would you happen to know who owns that rig?”
“I think it’s mine.” Will’s heartbeat picked up speed as he imagined the worst. “Is—is my horse hurt? Did he do any damage to your van?”
The man shook his head. “Except for a trail of mucous left from the horse’s nose, my van’s fine. I wasn’t able to check the horse over, though. He went tearing down the road, whipping the empty buggy from side to side.”
Will groaned. “I’d better see if I can catch him.”
“If you’d like to get in my van, we can probably get to your horse faster than you can on foot.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the help.” Will climbed into the backseat of the van, and they pulled onto the road.
A short time later, Will spotted Ben running full speed ahead, with the buggy zigzagging back and forth like a snake slithering through the grass.
“I’ll try to pass the buggy and pull in front of the horse to slow it down,” the English man said.
“Be careful, Lew.” The man’s wife stiffened as she braced her hands against the dashboard.
Lew accelerated and whipped into the other lane. As he was about to pass the buggy, Will’s horse veered to the right. Bang!—the buggy smacked into the side of the van.
The woman screamed as Lew pulled the van in front of the horse and rammed on the brakes. He and Will jumped out, and Will raced around to grab Ben’s bridle.
“What’s the damage?” Will called to the Englisher.
“Looks like your buggy has a few dents in it, and my van has a nice big ding in the rear door, as well as some ugly scratch marks.”
“I’m sorry about all this,” Will apologized. “If you have something I can write my name and address on, you can contact me. I’ll be happy to pay for the damages done to your vehicle.”
Lew went back to the van and returned with a notepad and pen. “Do you think you can get your buggy home okay, or will you need a tow?”
“The buggy’s not totaled, and my horse seems to be okay, so I think I can manage on my own.” Will led Ben to the side of the road and made sure the harness, bridle, and reins were secure. Then he climbed into the buggy and started for home. He wasn’t thrilled about having to pay to fix his buggy, as well as the Englisher’s van, but at least no one had been hurt. In buggy accidents involving other vehicles, that was not always the case.
CHAPTER 12
That Sunday, Will swung his legs out from under the covers on his bed and sat up. He had to help Papa Mark milk the cows before they left for church. Milking twice a day was part of running a dairy farm, even on their day of rest.
He hurried to get dressed and headed downstairs, where he found Mama Regina scurrying around the kitchen.
“Did you sleep well, son?” she asked.
He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “As well as could be expected, I guess.”
“Are you still fretting over that bill the English man brought by yesterday for the damage your horse and buggy did to his van?”
“I can’t say I’m thrilled about having to pay for the repairs, but that’s not what kept me awake.”
“What, then?”
“I’m irritated with Leroy because I think he released Ben from the hitching rail.”
Mama Regina’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead. “Do you really believe Leroy would do something like that?”
Will shrugged. “He’s been a thorn in my side ever since we moved to Indiana. I wouldn’t put anything past that narrish fellow.”
She clicked her tongue. “Come now, Will; Leroy’s not crazy. He may be a bit of a character, but I don’t think he’s a thorn in your side either.”
“Jah, he is. You should see the way he hangs around the Yoders’ place all the time, hovering over Karen and talking her ear off.” Will grunted. “Even though he and Karen aren’t a couple anymore, I think he wishes they were.”
“It’s you Karen agreed to marry.” Mama Regina poured coffee into a thermos and handed it to Will. “You need to keep that in mind.”
“But what if Leroy talks her out of marrying me?”
“I’m sure he doesn’t have that much influence over Karen. It’s you she loves.” She patted Will’s back. “Now set your worries aside and take that coffee out to the milking barn. Your daed’s out there now waiting for you.”
“I’d better hurry, then.” Will grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door.
As Megan waited in the kitchen for Frank and the girls to come down for breakfast, her gaze came to rest on the Amish newspaper a friend had given her.
Flipping through the pages, she discovered the classified section. “Hmm…I wonder…”
“You wonder what?” Frank asked when he stepped into the room.
“Look at this.” Megan pointed to the paper. “There are some interesting want ads and notices in the classified section of this Amish newspaper.”
He meandered across the room and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Like what?”
“Under the notice section, there’s an ad from someone searching for a friend who moved from Nevada to Ohio to learn more about the Amish communities there.”
“That’s interesting, but don’t you think you ought to get breakfast started? I’m hungry, and I’m sure the girls will be, too.”
“I thought this was supposed to be your Sunday to fix breakfast.”
He drank some coffee and flopped into a seat at the table. “After driving a truck all week, I’m really bushed this morning. Would you mind making breakfast?”
“Since you asked so nicely, I’d be happy to fix breakfast.” Megan motioned to the newspaper again. “I’d like to discuss something with you first though. I think you should run an ad in The Budget. I’m s
urprised one of us hasn’t thought of it before.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Why would I want to run an ad in The Budget? I don’t have anything to sell that would interest the Amish.”
“Maybe not, but you do have a son you haven’t been able to find.”
He drummed his fingers along the edge of the table. “Are you suggesting I place an ad asking if anyone knows my son or the Amish couple I left him with who used to live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?”
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