The bird took flight.
It was good Kiah had played softball. He jumped, arm outstretched, and Woody flew into the net.
He landed with a backbone-jarring thud. At least this time he stayed on his feet.
“What’s going on up there?” a stern male voice called. It didn’t sound like his daed. It might be hers.
Hallie scrambled past him and pulled open the hatch.
“We caught the woodpecker.” She took the flopping netted bird from Kiah and scampered down the ladder.
Kiah peeked out. Hallie’s daed’s gaze widened as it slid over her loose, tangled hair. He took the net; then his eyes met Kiah’s.
A heaping buggy-load of warning filled them. Kiah knew why. He was seriously attracted to Hallie. And he saw her with her hair down. Forbidden among unmarried couples.
“I’ll take care of the bird.” Daed Brunstetter turned away without further ado.
“I’ll block the hole where it got in,” Kiah said.
“Supplies are in the barn.” Hallie’s daed carried the unhappy bird downstairs.
Kiah climbed out. His fingers brushed a smear of dirt off Hallie’s cheek. “You got dirt on your cheek. I think you need another shower. But I’ll be more than glad to comb your hair.”
Chapter 7
Their pathetic water heater hadn’t had enough time to do its job, so Hallie rushed through a cold shower. This time she forced herself to comb and bind her hair before dressing. Especially since she heard Kiah whistling as he thumped around overhead. Pounding began as she slipped her dress on and ended just as she slid the last straight pin into place.
She was halfway down the hall when Kiah clomped down the attic ladder.
The whistling stopped. “Hold up a moment, Hallie. We need to talk.” He sounded serious. Too serious.
She stopped. Tried to control her expression so he wouldn’t see the pain. Then turned. “Is it time for the talk, take two?”
His mouth opened and shut as he blinked. Twice. “Jah, I guess so.”
She aimed her gaze toward the ceiling. “Let me save you the time. It’s nothing personal, but since you believe my sister is the scribe, there can be nothing between us and please don’t mention the kiss.”
He took the time to raise the ladder and close the hatch. “I might not have been so blunt. But jah. That nailed it.”
This was her fault, but still, her lips wobbled. She tried to firm them. She swallowed a stubborn lump. Breaking up was hard to do…even though they were never a couple. Then she aimed a fake smile in his direction. “Of course.”
“But what do you mean, since I believe she’s the scribe? She as good as admitted it. She recognized my name from my letters, her name matches the initials, and she had you hand her the notes, which are no longer on your bed, I might add.”
Actually, they were. Under the pillow. The notes Anna collected were her midwifery notes. Not that Hallie would ever say so.
“Plus you’d know her in a roomful of strangers.” She cringed as soon as she spat the words. Okay, that was a bit snide. But she needed to keep patching the cracks in the walls, protecting her heart or else delicious Kiah would break through and that would only hurt worse in the long-term.
Getting to know him through his letters, then meeting the real live breathing version…She sighed. If only she could tell him the truth without repercussions.
“Ouch.” Kiah’s face clouded. “Apparently I was wrong about that, because my heart recognized you.”
“I won’t mention that, either.” Her voice cracked. Her heart had recognized him, too. Or at least she thought it might have. Something inside her gravitated toward him.
She never felt this strong level of attraction for Toby. Never. With Toby, she was just glad to be part of a couple. With Kiah, it was something more. Something she couldn’t begin to articulate, but…well, there was a heart connection.
“Danki. I would like to be your friend, though. We kind of need to be friends if I’m going to marry your sister.”
Hallie forced the fake smile to grow bigger. “Wow. Now you’re getting married. Just like that.”
“No, but that’s the ultimate goal in finding the scribe. Jah. But…” He inhaled. Exhaled. Then shook his head. “I guess that’s all I have to say. Except I have a massive headache.”
She erased the fake smile because she really was concerned. Based on his letters, he tended toward migraines. “I’ll get you an ice pack and a painkiller.”
“I already took a pain pill. But…that’s what I get for thinking you were the scribe. And kissing you. I confused myself.”
“I’m sorry?” She tilted her head.
“The headache,” he said.
She laughed. It felt strange. It’d been so long. “You get a headache from thinking? Does your brain…Um, do you mean you normally don’t think? Your brain is that rusty? Or was it the kiss that was headache-inducing?”
“Definitely not the kiss. And around you, all I can think about is…” He grimaced as his face flamed red. “Never mind. It’s a tension headache, okay? But…you laughed.” Wonder filled his eyes.
Not knowing what to say, she spun away. He needed an ice pack for his head and she needed to regroup. She was so tempted to admit the truth and then she’d lose the scribe position.
Not admitting to it wasn’t a lie, right? Especially if she didn’t deny it. Technically, she just let him believe what he wanted to believe.
Why did that feel wrong?
His hand landed on her shoulder, and he gently tugged her to a stop. “Hallie…Why couldn’t you be her?”
“Why can’t you believe that I am?” Her voice caught. Oh no. Did she actually say that?
His breath hitched. “It’s her I fell in love with. Through the mail.”
No. It wasn’t. And for one insane moment she was tempted to retrieve the notes and prove it. But what good would it do? She didn’t want a relationship. Well, she did. She didn’t want the pain of a broken heart ever again.
She shimmied her shoulders to dislodge the comfortable weight of his hand. “She gets first dibs anyway.”
Kiah chuckled, but it sounded uncomfortable. “She called dibs?”
Why did she say that? “You don’t need to sound so surprised. You’re gorgeous.” Wow. Her mouth was running away with her.
He gave another chuckle, but this one was tinged with embarrassment. He cleared his throat. “So, friends?”
She gulped and turned to face him. “No.” She blew out a puff of air. “No. I don’t think so.” Because it’d be too painful. Loving a man who was in a relationship with another…That would be coveting. And a sin.
The light in his eyes died. His lips turned down. But he gave a slight nod. “You know I’ll try to change your mind.”
“You won’t.” But, oh, she wanted him to. In so many different ways.
* * *
Kiah carried the tools through the haus and out the back door. Daed Brunstetter had Jellybean hitched up to the buggy, the trapped woodpecker squawking complaints from the fishnet that was balanced over a cardboard box.
“I fixed the hole in the attic.” Kiah glanced at the bird, which rewarded him with an especially raucous noise. “If he was getting in where I think he did.”
“Danki.” Hallie’s daed studied him. “So I suppose I could let the bird loose here.”
“If you trust me.”
“You’re Kiah Esh? From Shipshewana?” There was more than a touch of sarcasm.
Kiah nodded. Because the man knew that. But maybe he was just now matching the name on the envelope with a real living person.
“I’m Ted. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on your bird-proofing abilities, but as far as being alone with my daughter, the way you were, and considering the way she was, no. I don’t trust you.”
Wise man. But…“I’m here for the scribe. Anna. Not Hallie.”
Ted opened his mouth. Shut it. Confusion clouded his gaze. “Anna, huh? Not Hallie?�
�
Didn’t he already explain this? Multiple times? “I’m here to court the scribe. That’s Anna.”
“That’s…Anna?” There was an undefined note in Ted’s voice. His head tilted. The confusion deepened.
Confusion started to bloom in Kiah’s pounding head, too. Hallie’s “you believe she’s the scribe” comment replayed. Second and third guesses slammed through his head, making his head pound worse. But Anna took the notes. She needed them…No. He was right. Maybe. Possibly. Jah. He was right.
But then again, Ted wasn’t daft. And it seemed he’d know which daughter was the scribe. Maybe it was Kiah who was daft. But no. Anna as good as admitted it. She recognized his name. And she’d definitely asked Hallie for the notes. Notes that he had seen.
Kiah mustered what he hoped was a bright smile and changed the subject to keep from insulting Ted’s intelligence or making himself look more like an idiot. “I noticed bug bombs in the shed. If I pay for them, can I use them? I need to help someone solve an ant problem.” George’s house was infested with the things.
Ted’s brow furrowed. “Bug bombs…Ants…You don’t need to pay for them. Just take them. I’m glad to supply for a need. But does this person want your help solving his ant problem?”
“His wife asked me to.” Eighteen months ago. “It’d be a random act of kindness.”
Ted blinked. The furrows deepened. “What?”
It sounded more like an exclamation point than a question mark, but maybe Ted had his emphasis wrong. “You know. Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing? When you do something in secret?”
Ted stared at him. A hard, unyielding stare. “Sometimes, random acts of kindness aren’t perceived as kind and may backfire. They might be considered random acts of malice. Think about it.”
Kiah considered that. But no. Anyone would appreciate being rid of pesky tiny ants. Maybe even not so tiny cats. But he wouldn’t get rid of the cats without asking. No. He’d just put them outside while he set off the bug bombs. They’d be fine. “I’ll do it anonymously. And George’s wife will appreciate it.”
Ted shook his head, picked up the flapping, still-netted woodpecker, and walked off, muttering something about young, know-it-all whippersnappers. Whatever those were. The term sounded vaguely familiar, but either the headache clouded his thoughts or the pain pill was kicking in and still affecting his brain power. But maybe after Kiah got rid of George’s ants, he’d help Ted eradicate the whippersnappers. At least they were still young.
But thinking of George made Kiah remember George’s cane slapping the buggy and causing the horse to bolt. Kiah hadn’t checked the buggy over for loose bolts yet. He probably should, while the buggy was out.
He unhitched Jellybean and let her out to pasture, then returned and examined the buggy. He crawled beneath it to check the underside. It was rather hard to see. He needed a flashlight and maybe a few tools. Kiah rose to his knees to hoist himself out.
“What are you doing!” Ted’s voice was raised to not quite a yell. He had his emphasis wrong again.
Kiah forgot he was under the buggy and attempted to sit, whamming his already hurting head on the dusty, dirty underside. “Ouch.” He collapsed back to the hard ground and rubbed his head. The pounding was worse. He’d need the other half of the pill after all.
Ted planted his feet right in Kiah’s immediate view. “I’m waiting, boy.”
“Jellybean had a bit of a run today, and I—”
“You raced my horse? Of all the foolish, irresponsible—”
“Accidentally. I didn’t mean to, but George thumped the buggy with his cane and it scared Jelly—”
“Take responsibility for your own actions!”
“Jah, but—”
“But nothing. And you unhitched my horse. I was getting ready to run errands and you unhitched the horse.” Ted couldn’t possibly sound more annoyed, which didn’t bode well for Kiah’s courtship of either Hallie or Anna.
Oops. Kiah cringed. He slid out from under the buggy a different way, slowly straightening to work the kink out of his back, and looked at Ted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were going out. I was going to check for loose nuts and bolts. I’m sure it’s fine, though. I’ll rehitch the horse.”
“You’ve done quite enough. Stay away from the horse, stay away from my daughters, and set your sights on a different scribe.”
Ouch. “But—”
Movement in his peripheral caught his attention. A blur shot from the eaves. Kiah looked that way barely in time to duck as Woody the woodpecker dive-bombed him.
Woody made another pass.
Moisture seeped through Kiah’s hair. He reached up and touched it. Looked at his hand. Bird poop. Ugh.
Ted laughed as he walked away.
And Hallie stood on the back porch, witnessing this ultimate humiliation.
* * *
Hallie watched as Daed strolled away from Kiah, still chuckling. Was he laughing at the woodpecker’s unkind poop attack or had they shared a joke?
Kiah winced, bent to pick up his straw hat, and shot a frowning look after Daed before squaring his shoulders and heading her direction.
She picked up her gardening tools just to give herself something to focus on other than Kiah. She needed to pull radishes for supper anyway.
He stopped at the bottom of the steps. Her breath stalled. With his hat in his hands, he looked like an old-time suitor from days gone by. So adorably cute. Except for the frown, the confusion, the…rejection clouding his green eyes, his expression. Hallie wanted to smooth away the furrows in his brow. She tightened her grip on the bucket she held.
“What’s wrong?” She shouldn’t have asked, really. She glanced at Daed leading Jellybean back to the buggy.
Kiah turned his head to look at something over his shoulder. “Your pet woodpecker hates me.”
Woody churred his agreement.
“I need a shower.”
Hallie made a sympathetic noise and tried not to glance at Kiah’s soiled head. “Water’s cold.”
Daed and Daadi climbed into the buggy. “Stay away from that young whippersnapper,” Daed called. He flicked the reins and drove off.
Kiah sighed. “I don’t think your daed likes me. But maybe if I help him get rid of the whippersnappers he will. Like me, I mean. Problem is, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a whippersnapper. I’ve heard of them, but I can’t seem to remember what they are. Are they easily destroyed?”
Hallie blinked at him. Her lips might have twitched, although she tried not to let them.
“They are very hard to destroy. Later, if my sister isn’t home by then, I’ll take you out to see one.”
“Will I need a weapon? To protect you with, I mean.”
She walked down the steps and passed him, headed toward the garden. “Just bring your wits. You’ll need them.”
Especially if she kissed him.
Chapter 8
Kiah dipped his head and plodded into the house, through the kitchen, and up the stairs. He stopped in his temporary room, shared with an as-of-now-still-unseen and unknown brother. GHB had never mentioned brothers. Or sisters. He’d have to ask Anna about it when he saw her next. She’d also never mentioned she was a midwife apprentice.
Other than the lavender ink and scent, the initials, and a few other minor details, he really had very little family details to work with. Why had she so carefully guarded her identity?
Especially when she seemed so willing to admit it when they met.
He swallowed the other half of the pain pill, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed for the bathroom Hallie had so recently vacated. It was humid in there, a difference from the rest of the house. The air was scented of lavender. Hallie’s scent. He hadn’t noticed it on Anna, but he hadn’t gotten very close to her. Yet.
Once he stood in the shower stall some of the bottles lined up on the shelf revealed why. Lavender-scented bodywash. Lavender-scented shampoo. He popped the top open
and inhaled the fragrance. He closed the lid and put it back, then picked up the men’s bottle of combination shampoo and bodywash. Alpine scent. Would Hallie like that on him? Uh, not Hallie. Anna. It didn’t matter whether she liked it or not. He didn’t want to smell like lavender at church in the morning. His best friend Zeke would never let him hear the end of it.
Oh, it would be good to see Zeke again. Kiah had missed being a sidesitter at Zeke and Gracie’s wedding because of the unfortunate timing of a violent case of the stomach flu, or maybe it was food poisoning, that necessitated being hospitalized and then sent back to the comforts of home. And when Zeke had brought his bride to Shipshewana on their wedding tour, Kiah had been in another part of the state, training someone’s new buggy horse. Daed had insisted no one else would do for that job, probably hoping to distance Kiah from Zeke and Gracie and quizzing them about the identity of the scribe Kiah had already developed fledgling feelings for. In fact, Daed had tried to keep him from coming along on this trip by misquoting Bible verses related to searching for things in hidden places. A not-so-vague approach to keeping Kiah from searching for his bride in Hidden Springs.
Daed had finally relented, convinced the scribe would be well hidden, and if not, then Mamm’s prediction of the scribe being eighty-if-a-day would be accurate and result in Kiah “giving up this foolishness” and marrying Molly as he should.
But no, Kiah had found her. Hallie. The woman of his dreams. His soul mate. And she’d been standing in this shower in much the same condition as him just a short time before. Her soft curves caressed by the gently falling water…
Ugh. Make that the not-exactly woman of his dreams, Anna…although she hadn’t been in the shower a short time before. And she wasn’t the woman of his dreams. Hallie was.
Why had his heart recognized Hallie? Gott must be sitting up in Heaven laughing at the predicament Kiah found himself in. Attracted physically to one sister while imagining himself in love with the other.
Imagining?
Double ugh.
He wasn’t even imagining himself in love with Anna. He was with Hallie.
The Amish Secret Wish Page 7
