Amish Romance Box Set: Finding Home

by Brenda Maxfield

  “And my sister Mellie has a sweet shop.”

  He cocked his eyebrow at that. “Does she now?”

  Beth frowned, suddenly wary. Was he being critical? “She does well. It’s a big help to the family.” A bit of censure had crept into her voice, and she was ashamed.

  His eyebrow rose even higher. He was quiet for a moment, studying her. She folded her hands in her lap and felt like a fool. He would think she was starting an argument with him.

  Finally he spoke. “I think that’s real nice. I’d like to taste some of her goods sometime.”

  Beth’s shoulders relaxed. He hadn’t been judging her sister. Some Amish did judge her. They didn’t like Mellie catering to the Englisch, interacting with them all the time. She’d mistakenly thought Timothy was going to do the same. Or perhaps, she had hoped he would. Then she’d have a reason to dislike him.

  She shuddered. What was wrong with her? Such a line of thinking wasn’t seemly. Not in the least.

  The girls shoved on the screen door and tumbled outside.

  “Dat!” Missy cried. “Beth is here.”

  Timothy chuckled. “I can see that, Missy.”

  Frances went to stand by his knee. “I was gut in school, Dat.”

  Timothy put his hand on her shoulder. “I never doubted that for a minute, Frances.”

  Debra came out with glasses of lemonade. “Ach, Tim, I didn’t know you were here. I’ll go get you a glass. Is your dat coming in soon?”

  “Nee. He told me he’d be another forty minutes or so.”

  Each of the girls took a small glass of lemonade. Debra handed Beth a large one, with chunks of ice clinking against the glass.

  “You want mine?” Missy offered Timothy.

  “Nee, you go ahead and enjoy. Mamm will bring me one.”

  The girls settled down on the top step. Beth took a sip of lemonade and found the light sweetening simply perfect. She took another drink.

  “Can we show Beth the baby goats?” Frances asked.

  “They’re called kids,” Missy corrected her.

  At that moment, Benny pushed through the screen door. He went immediately to Timothy, who pulled him onto his lap. “Hello, our Benny. How are you?” Timothy gave him a quick hug.

  Beth saw the look of tenderness in Timothy’s eyes as he snuggled his son. Again, she noted the resemblance of the boy to his father. She wondered if the girls took more after their mother.

  “Here you are,” Debra said, emerging with another tall glass of lemonade. She gave it to Timothy who promptly took a long drink.

  “It’s delicious, Mamm. Thank you.”

  “Supper will be ready in under an hour. Now Timothy, make sure your dat gets in here on time, would you?” She clucked her tongue and shook her head, but there was an amused twinkle in her eyes.

  “Jah, Mamm. Don’t you fret.”

  “Can we show her, Dat? You never said.” Frances set her empty glass down on the porch and jumped up. “C’mon.”

  Beth took another sip and then set her glass on a small circular table. She stood. “I’d love to see your baby goats.”

  “They’re kids,” repeated Missy.

  “Missy Plank, you don’t correct your teacher,” Timothy admonished.

  Beth laughed. “But she’s right. Take me to your kids, then, Missy.”

  Missy and Frances each grabbed one of her hands and pulled her down the stairs. Secretly, Beth was glad to leave the porch. She needed a moment to steel herself against Timothy’s appeal. But her relief was short-lived.

  “C’mon, Dat!” yelled Frances over her shoulder.

  Timothy stood, still holding Benny, and caught up with them easily.

  Beth was painfully aware of his presence beside her as they walked. The girls chattered happily and ran ahead. Beth, try as she might, couldn’t concentrate on their words. On an uneven patch of ground, she wobbled slightly, and Timothy’s shoulder grazed hers. It was as if a bolt of lightning shot through her. She was so stunned, she nearly stopped to grab her shoulder. Instead, she blinked rapidly and increased her pace, catching up to the girls.

  What was it about that man that disturbed her so? Her former beau Caleb had never had such an effect on her. Caleb was handsome, too. More so than Timothy. And since she didn’t even know Timothy, it couldn’t be his personality that gave her the jitters. Red flags of warning flashed through her mind, and she forced herself to concentrate on the girls.

  Supper was excruciating.

  Beth found herself glancing repeatedly at the wall clock, willing the meal to be over. Timothy’s frequent stares did nothing to help the situation. Thank goodness for the children. And their daadi. Mr. Miller senior was a jolly man who enjoyed playful teasing—somewhat unusual for the head of a household. More than once, Beth glued her eyes to him, pretending Timothy didn’t exist.

  After Debra served delicious slices of shoo-fly pie, Beth cleared her throat. “This was wonderful. Thank you so much, Debra. It was kind of you to invite me over. But the hour is late. I should be getting back.”

  Debra nodded. “Jah. Almost time for the kinner to wash up and turn in for the night. Girls, get ready for Bible reading and prayer.” She looked at Beth. “Would you like to stay?”

  Beth was caught off-guard. She most certainly wasn’t close enough to them to stay for their prayer time. In truth, she was flabbergasted to have been asked. She licked her lips. “Again, how kind. But I really need to be going.”

  “Timothy will see you home.”

  Was there no end to the woman’s surprising comments? She couldn’t be seen alone with Timothy. What would the people think? Timothy must have noted her hesitation, because he quickly said, “I’ll hitch up the closed buggy, and you’ll be home in a jiff.”

  Closed buggy. Beth breathed again. “Thank you. That’s kind. I can walk, though. It’s not far at all.”

  “Nevertheless, Tim can take you.”

  Mr. Plank rose. “That he can. Now, off with the both of you.”

  Beth made her way to the front door, but not before Timothy got there and held it open for her. She walked out onto the porch, and he followed.

  “I’m sorry about that,” he murmured as they both headed toward the barn.

  Beth shrugged. “It’s all right.”

  “Mamm has been upset for months now.”

  “Oh?”

  “She thinks I should have already remarried.” His voice was low. Beth listened carefully to his tone, wondering how he felt about the whole situation.

  “I’m sure she just wants you happy,” she said and cringed. Why was she talking about his happiness? Honestly, the things that came to her head and popped out of her mouth when she was with him.

  “Wait for me here,” he said. “I won’t be a minute.”

  She leaned against the side of the barn, half wishing she was walking home and half glad she had these extra moments with him. He came out of the barn, leading a young mare. Within minutes, he’d hitched her to the enclosed buggy at the side of the barn.

  He gestured for her to join him, and opened the door for her. She climbed inside, realizing the last time she was in a closed buggy was when Caleb was courting her. They’d taken the long way home from the youth singing, going by way of Edmund’s Pond. During their last ride, she’d been giddy, making silly comments, all the while dreading what she had to do. But she’d put it off until she couldn’t hold out any longer.

  She shivered and shook her head to clear the memory. That was over.

  Timothy climbed in beside her and picked up the reins. “Won’t take but a moment to get you home.”

  “I could have walked.”

  “You could have.” He paused and turned to look her full in the face. “But then we wouldn’t have this time together, would we?”

  Her eyes widened, and her lips parted. Why, he was just as forward as his mother. She wouldn’t have thought so.

  “Ach, Beth,” he said with a chuckle. “You must forgive me. I’ve been listeni
ng to my mother’s prattling for too long.”

  With that, he slapped the reins on the horse’s back, and they took off out of the drive and down the road. In less than ten minutes, he was approaching the Miller’s house. He pulled up slightly on the reins, and the horse slowed to barely a walk. “Ready?”

  She looked at him, puzzled. Ready for what?

  “Are you ready to go home, or would you like a further view of Meadow Lark. It’s a lovely district, and I imagine you’ve only seen a tiny bit of it since arriving.”

  That was true enough. But what was he suggesting? That they ride around together while the evening grew late?

  “There’s school tomorrow,” she said, trying to squelch her sudden desire to ride with him down every single road in the county.

  “You’re right. So, you’d rather I let you off here?”

  She was grateful that he didn’t suggest driving her right onto the property. Folks might get the wrong idea, that they were courting or something. It surely wasn’t usual for her to be with a man alone who wasn’t her relative.

  She bit her lip and had a hasty argument with herself. After a moment’s hesitation, she blurted, “I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit more of the area.”

  His smile broadened, and he looked at her with the same excitement she saw on the faces of her students when she announced play time. She bit back a grin and settled more comfortably on the seat.

  “Tell me more about your family,” he said.

  She glanced at him and then focused her attention through the front opening of the buggy. “My dat passed away three years ago. We still miss him. Mamm suffers from arthritis. Old Mae’s herbs and such aren’t having much of an effect. Like I told you, my sister Mellie has a sweet shop. I have another sister, Faith, and three brothers. My eldest brother and his family recently moved in with us.”

  She took a breath, shocked at how much she spilled out in only a few seconds. She couldn’t believe she’d been so free with her tongue. What kind of persuasive power did Timothy Plank have over her? There she was, riding around with him in a closed buggy on a school night, telling him all about her family, and wishing that the night would stretch on for hours.

  Timothy looked at her and nodded. “And you? What do you like to do?”

  She gripped her hands in her lap. “I love to teach. And read. And study.”

  His eyes didn’t leave her face. She saw something in them she couldn’t identify. What was he thinking? Then he surprised her by chuckling, his deep voice filling the buggy. “Your eyes light up when you talk about teaching. Did you know that?”

  She blinked. “Do they?”

  “Jah, that they do. You must truly love it.”

  “I do.”

  He’d turned his attention back to the road, and she observed his profile. He was different than other men. She’d expected him to wax on about the importance of a woman’s place in the home, raising the kinner, and attending to all the normal duties of a wife. Instead, he’d laughed, enjoying her excitement over teaching.

  The man intrigued her. No. More than intrigued her. He enchanted her.

  Enchanted? Her hand flew to her mouth. What kind of word was that to be using?

  “What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

  Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard.

  “Beth?”

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry. Will you take me home now?” Everything in her wanted to bolt from the buggy that very moment and flee. She could barely keep herself on the seat.

  He gave her a quizzical look and turned the buggy around in a wide spot on the road. “Of course,” he said, all animation gone from his voice. “You’ll be home shortly.”

  Neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride. Beth kept her face averted. She stared blindly out the tiny side opening, seeing nothing. Home. Home. Get home. She forced her mind to her first teaching tasks of the next day. Of course, the math assignments were printed on the chalkboard. She’d chosen which Bible chapter to read, and she’d told little Sharon that she could choose the opening songs from the songbook.

  All was in order and ready.

  Except her. She’d never felt so not-in-order or ready in her life.

  Timothy stopped the buggy at the end of the Miller’s drive. “Here you are,” he said. His voice was low, and she heard the multitude of questions in it. He made no move to get out. He wouldn’t want anyone to see him as he dropped her off. He would know she wanted his presence hidden. He did lean over her, however, to open the door for her.

  His arm brushed against her, and she jerked back against the seat, trying to get out of his way. He froze, and he gazed at her, his face so close that she felt his breath on her cheeks. His eyes searched hers and then rested on her mouth. Her breath caught in her throat, and she stopped breathing. The very air thickened, and she couldn’t move.

  His lips opened, and he frowned, still staring into her eyes. And then he blinked, and she saw him swallow with effort.

  “Thank you for letting me take you home,” he rasped. He shoved the door open and then retreated back to his side of the buggy.

  She squirmed outside, her feet dropping to the dirt below. She faced him, and gave him one last almost desperate glance before turning on her heel and fleeing. The cool evening air brushed against her cheeks. She was halfway across the yard when she realized how ridiculous it would look if someone saw her racing to the daadi haus. She slowed to a walk, taking short deliberate steps as if she were on a simple stroll at dusk. Completely normal. Completely innocent.

  But her walk to the daadi haus was anything but.

  Beth sat with her head bent over the third grade primer. She listened to the children read aloud, one at a time. There were only three third graders in the class, and all three of them read quite smoothly, sounding out the words with little difficulty.

  “That’s right nice,” Beth said, as Letty finished her turn. “All of you children did well. I’m pleased. Now, when you go back to your seats, please finish pages six and seven in your reading workbook.”

  The children nodded and quietly returned to their seats. Beth stood and stretched. Folding her long legs under the low table at the side of the room gave her cramps if she didn’t stand up and move about regularly. She glanced over the class. Every child’s head was fixed over his or her work, and there wasn’t a whisper among them. Beth glanced at Missy and Frances. Missy’s forehead was wrinkled in concentration as she worked on her spelling.

  Beth wandered to her desk and squatted beside her. “How is it going, Missy?”

  Missy gave a start. “Ach, I didn’t see you,” she murmured.

  “You are concentrating mighty hard. I’m proud of you,” Beth said, giving a light touch to the little girl’s shoulder.

  Missy grinned up at her with complete pleasure. “Thank you, Beth.”

  Beth observed the girl’s laborious efforts. “You’re welcome. Don’t be afraid to ask one of the older students if you need help when I’m busy.”

  Missy nodded. Beth was ready to leave when Missy tugged on her sleeve. She squatted down close again.

  “I liked having you for supper,” she whispered.

  Beth inclined her head toward her. “I liked it, too.”

  “Will you come again right soon?” she asked.

  Beth glanced around, self-conscious. No one seemed to be paying them any mind. “I’d like that,” she answered. She stood and quickly walked through the rest of the class, looking over their shoulders, checking their work.

  She wondered at her quick agreement to a possible additional invitation. It would be entirely better if when she went the next time, Timothy Plank wasn’t there.

  Chapter Six

  Dear Mellie,

  Thank you for your letters. I was so happy to get them. It warms my heart to know how things are going back home. It is hard to believe that two months have already passed.

  Things are going well here. I feel as if I have lived her
e in this cozy little daadi haus forever. The Millers are good to me, and their children are charming. Even the older ones, who are no longer in school. Wilma (Mrs. Miller) includes me in everything as if I’m family.

  Yes. I will for sure make every effort to attend Eli’s wedding. Has his engagement been published? I imagine it has. Although, I’m quite certain most people in the district had their strong suspicions already.

  How are things going with the rest of the family?

  I know a teacher isn’t supposed to have favorite students, and truly, I love them all. But little Frances and Missy Plank are my very favorites. You should see little Frances’s freckled nose. It turns up in a cute little point and scrunches up when she concentrates. Her big sister Missy works harder than any other students. She does right fine, too. Both girls like to stay after school and help me wash down the chalkboards. The rest of the cleaning is done by the children before they’re dismissed. You remember. I’ve simply fashioned my teaching after the pattern of our schooling in Hollybrook.

  Timothy Plank often comes for the girls after school. Since the harvest has now been put to bed, he has more free time. I dare say, he comes at least three times a week. Sometimes, the four of them walk me home. Little Benny walks quite well now and can keep up. He looks adorable all bundled in his winter coat. Timothy dotes on him, and it’s quite touching to watch. Timothy has a way of caring for people that strikes me as both unusual and strangely beautiful. Did I tell you that his wife passed away giving birth to Benny?

  The air has turned cooler now, and most all of us have dragged out our winter coverings. We’ve had many mornings with a hard frost. I imagine it’s right cold there, too, since we’re not really so far away from each other.

  Please tell me on which Tuesday the wedding will be. I’ll talk with the School Board about it. Hopefully, Deacon Knepp will be disposed to allow me to attend.

  I’d better close now. I need to study a bit more before morning.

  With love, your sister,

  Beth

  Dear Beth,

  Thank you for your letter. I’m so pleased that all is going well.