Hallie tried to find a smile, but it flickered and died, because truthfully, she was more than a little scared of the preacher. He’d not been the friendliest man during this visit, and Hallie felt she’d been found wanting.
The preacher pulled in a breath, exhaled, and reached out a shaky hand to lightly touch her kapp-covered head. He didn’t linger, but pulled away quickly. Another deep breath. His green eyes filled with tears and he murmured something about collateral damage and caught in the cross fire that made absolutely zero sense. A third inhale. “They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. They are right.” Then the preacher turned and walked away, heading toward the room that his wife had disappeared into.
That was all very confusing.
But somehow, Hallie picked up on deep sorrow as if he regretted doing whatever he’d done that was labeled as good intentions. And that maybe he was paying a high price, too.
But who was caught in the cross fire and who was collateral damage? Her? Kiah?
Or both?
* * *
A chill wind blew as Kiah stopped midway back to the singing and watched Joy rush toward him. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped off her chin.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She opened her mouth and emitted a high-pitched wail that seemed to last forever and was mixed with half and quarter words that didn’t seem to make any sense. In fact, the only word that Kiah understood was Aaron.
Aaron, who had gone fishing with friends and may not have found shelter when the hailstorm hit.
“Is he all right?” Worry caught Kiah in the chest and whisked the oxygen from his lungs.
Joy let loose another stream of broken syllables that ended with the clearly understood word killed.
Considering that the hail Kiah had seen was softball-sized, it was conceivable that Aaron had been killed.
Though this farm showed no storm damage. Just heavy rain.
Kiah slumped and pulled in a fortifying breath. More loss. How much would Hallie and the rest of this community be expected to bear? “The buggy is this way.” He motioned with a tilt of the head. “Take me to him.” Give me strength, Lord.
Joy followed him to the buggy and climbed in while Kiah untied the horse from the rock he’d used to hold the reins. Then he climbed in next to her, released the brakes, and backed out.
His throat threatened to close up as he drove to the road. “Which way?” His voice sounded husky, even to himself.
Joy sniffled and wiped her face with her sleeve. “Back toward home. At Lapp’s pond.”
Kiah nodded, though he didn’t have the foggiest idea where Lapp’s pond was. “Do you have your cell phone? Mine died.” He turned onto the road.
“I don’t have one. What do we need a cell phone for?”
At least she seemed much calmer.
“To call nine-one-one.”
Joy’s eyes widened. “They’d help? I knew you’d know what to do.”
Kiah wasn’t all that anxious to deal with the police. He forced a half-smile. Not that Joy noticed. “Is it much farther?”
“Turn left at the intersection and about a quarter mile on the right. I hope they’re not all dead.”
Kiah hoped none of them were, but he clearly heard the word killed. And Aaron. But maybe he misunderstood and Aaron hadn’t been killed. “How many were there?” He glanced at her. “And your brother is…?”
“Aaron.” Joy frowned. “I thought you knew that.”
“He’s still alive?” He turned at the intersection, slowing to dodge downed branches.
“Oh. He was when my friend and I left. But they might not be. I hope we’re not too late.”
Jah. Kiah hoped not, too. But Aaron was alive. That was good.
Joy was silent for a few minutes. “They were drowning them.”
“Who?” He’d be dealing with bullies?
“Stop!” Joy leaned forward. “There. We’ll walk from here. Maybe we’ll have the element of surprise.” She jumped from the buggy and took off running before Kiah could tell her to stay.
Kiah took a leap and ran after her. His gut churned. What was he getting into?
* * *
Hallie waved at Daed to get his attention when he wandered into the room with his cell phone in one hand, an index card in his other, and a purple pen, cap off, stuck behind his right ear.
He glanced up at her. “I need to make a couple phone calls, as soon as I find the numbers.”
He didn’t have a smartphone. Basic phones were allowed, but not smart ones unless one had a business and special permission from the bishop. He had neither.
“Okay. I was just wondering if the Eshes confided in you about what is going on between Kiah and his ex-girlfriend.”
Daed frowned. “No, but it worries me, especially seeing your attraction to the Esh boy. I’m excited to see your interest flaring to life, but I am worried about the aftermath. I don’t want to see you hurt worse.”
She didn’t want that, either.
“I haven’t asked, though, because these people are mostly strangers and it’s none of our business at this point,” Daed continued, lowering the phone.
At this point, implying that if she and Kiah got more serious, it would be their business. Except, she was about as serious as she could get. Thanks to over a year of pen pal status, coupled with getting to know him in person, she was dangerously close to being in love with the man. A little serious courtship and it’d be in the bag.
Daed’s serious expression seemed to indicate that he was aware of it, too.
“They’re staying over a day or two to help with repairs,” Daed said. “I’ll try to bring the matter up. If he doesn’t.”
Hallie nodded. “Danki.”
Daed sighed, offered a sad sort of smile, then continued across the room toward his collection of business cards in a wicker basket on the end table beside his chair. “I’m going to order what we need for repairs and see how quickly they can deliver. If they can’t deliver tomorrow, then I’ll arrange a ride to pick up the supplies.”
Jah, it’d be wise to get the job done while they had assistance. Two extra men who were willing to stay over and help. Plus Aaron, if he had time off work assisting the area’s farrier. He was an apprentice there to see if he liked it and wanted to do that.
The sound of raised voices came from the master bedroom. Loud enough to know Preacher and Mrs. Esh were arguing, quiet enough to not understand what they were saying.
Daed sighed again and sat in his chair and shuffled through his stack of business cards.
“This is awkward,” Hallie said.
Daed nodded. “Your mamm made tea and went to rest in the dawdihaus. She thinks there’s a possibility she might be called out for another birth in the next day or two.”
Hallie smiled. One of her best friends, Gracie, was due with her first child any day now. A couple days ago, Mamm had told Hallie the baby had dropped. The one birth Hallie would willingly attend. If she could. She scowled at her throbbing and swollen ankle, buried under mounds of melting ice and blankets.
The bedroom door opened and the Eshes stepped out. Ruth’s face was red and blotchy as if she’d been crying. Preacher Esh appeared frustrated. “We’re going for a walk,” he said.
“I suggest behind the barn. More privacy.” Daed rolled his eyes at Hallie, then keyed something into his phone. “Levi, this is Ted Brunstetter. Do you replace window glass? Give me a call.”
Chapter 24
Kiah hurried behind Joy, who almost ran to the pond. Her shoulders were shaking, but whether from anger or tears, he didn’t know. He would’ve guessed tears, but her run was more furious than upset. Besides, Aaron and his friends appeared to be fine. No bullies were harassing them. In fact, they stood waist deep in the water that had to be cold, laughing and poking sticks at something. Just boys having fun. Maybe he should’ve gotten all the facts before rushing to the rescue.
Joy stopped right on the bank an
d planted her fists on her hips, then started shouting at them in a random mix of Pennsylvania Dutch and Englisch, clearly furious. The boys mostly ignored her, at least until she kicked her tennis shoes off and stomped into the water.
Would Hallie be similar if riled? He’d seen a spark of this “life” in Hallie’s eyes and would be looking forward—God-willing—to future scoldings as long as he had the right to be in her life.
Kiah, who still didn’t have an inkling what the problem was, followed her, with his shoes on, simply because he felt he should.
Of course, he also should have listened to her rant so he’d know what the problem was, but it was just too spellbinding watching joyful Joy throwing a temper tantrum. But clearly, no human’s life was in danger.
If Hallie was anything like this when not weighed down with grief, then his heart was truly hers. Of course, it was anyway, but he looked forward to calming her someday and making it all better.
And he wasn’t the only one who thought so. At least one of the boys—not Aaron—had stopped poking the water with his stick, and stood still, gaping at Joy with something akin to admiration. And shame. Definitely shame.
And that boy made a shrill whistle that would have put the schoolteacher to shame. “Guys, stop.” And he reached down into the pond and pulled up…
Kiah blinked and looked again. A white trash bag with something wriggly and jiggly inside it. Kittens, he guessed, judging by the size of the wriggly-ness. Joy wanted Kiah to help her rescue the kittens. And while he’d love to make her smile again, being her coconspirator in this wouldn’t really endear him to Ted, who complained about him accidentally kidnapping George’s cats. Bringing him newborn kittens who likely needed to be bottle-fed would be even worse.
On the positive side, they already had a gigantic ant farm in the buggy to be delivered to a man who loved ants…and cats.
Problem solved, if Joy—and George—agreed.
Joy snagged the bag from the boy who rescued the creatures. “Danki, Menno.”
Menno blushed, but looked at her with admiration while a much-happier Joy turned to Kiah with a semisweet smile. “Let’s get these poor babies to the buggy and make sure they are okay. I knew you’d fix this, Kiah.”
Menno slumped.
Kiah gawked. He’d done nothing—except show up. Her temper and a seventeen-year-old boy—give or take a year—with a crush were the ones who made a difference.
Except Aaron turned away, head bowed, as if he was ashamed, too.
Kiah climbed up the sloped edge of the pond, realizing too late that the only pair of shoes he’d brought with him this trip was wet. His socks were wet. And he hated wet feet.
He had to deal with it. Or go barefoot.
Joy sloshed through the water behind him, and as he turned to look at her, she shoved the bag into his hands. He glanced at the dripping bag, filled with rips from the sticks—those poor kittens—then looked at Joy again.
She’d dropped to the muddy ground and was putting her dry shoes on over wet socks while ignoring Menno’s repeated, “Sorry, Joy.”
Menno apologized and Aaron looked ashamed. Kiah wasn’t sure about the other boys or what they thought. One of them made a noise of protest like he wanted the bag back. Kiah could either fight Joy’s battle or get the kittens out of the bag…With her brother and possible future potential beau there as backup if she resumed her rant, he picked the task in his hand and sloshed to the buggy. He needed to get those wet, miserable kittens out of the bag and make sure they were all right.
Once at the buggy, Kiah opened the bag. There was movement, so some of the kittens were alive, but he didn’t hear any meowing. That wasn’t a good sign. Unless the kittens were still very young.
Kiah cautiously reached in and pulled out a very wet, very tiny newborn kitten. Its eyes weren’t even open yet. It was still alive, but barely. Had the mother been killed in the storm and the boys found the kittens and were showing them “mercy” despite their laughing and poking? George and Mildred probably wouldn’t be excited to nurse kittens, but Kiah couldn’t see Ted welcoming them. Jah, he’d start with George.
Kiah laid the kitten on the buggy floorboard and reached in again.
There were five kittens total, all in about the same shape. He crumpled the bag as Joy arrived, tears flowing again.
He sighed. “What now?”
“One of the boys, Peter, said they’re just going to be drowned anyway because they have too many cats,” Joy sniffled.
“I have to take the ant farm to George—” Kiah began.
“You’re brilliant!” Joy was all smiles again.
And hopefully George wouldn’t refuse the ants and baby cats. Kiah’s stomach cramped.
But thirty minutes later, George cuddled five kittens while Mildred searched for a medicine dropper and Kiah and Joy struggled to carry in the ant farm while George’s brother directed every step.
Twenty minutes later, George and his brother fed newborn kittens and exclaimed—with tears—over how quickly Kiah “learned” to read and write.
Joy’s tears must have been contagious since George cried…and then after Mildred pulled him aside to whisper that George had recently been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor and would be having a risky surgery. They found the message from the doctor on their seldom checked cell phone that afternoon. Kiah blinked back tears of his own. It explained so much…and made him glad to have brought a smile to the man’s face.
Once back in the buggy with Joy beside him, Kiah’s tears turned to a grin. He was on his way back to see Hallie.
He couldn’t wait to spend the evening with her.
But she was asleep.
And Ted wouldn’t let Kiah wake her.
Instead, he helped his daed and Hallie’s daed finish covering the roof with tarps.
* * *
Hallie was roused out of strong-pain-pill-induced sleep in the wee hours of the morning by Mamm, who seemed to be under the impression that even though Hallie’s appointment was scheduled for eleven, if they were there before the staff arrived, they’d be seen early.
And so they were sitting in the driver’s van in the parking lot at six.
Mamm might have been way too optimistic, because while the office staff handed Hallie a clipboard with what seemed like a ream of paper to fill out when they opened at eight, they stubbornly insisted on seeing patients at their scheduled time. They didn’t do walk-in appointments, thank you very much.
But by noon they were back on the road, heading toward home. Mamm fumed at the Englisch medical professionals, but she did the same thing, scheduling appointments to visit the pregnant Amish women. It was just that home health care was more flexible, and of course, babies came when babies wanted. Not by appointment.
When the van driver pulled into the driveway, a pickup was parked next to the house, and behind that a buggy. Aaron and Kiah were helping the Englisch driver unload packages of shingles and carrying them up the ladder to the roof where both daeds waited.
Hallie exited the vehicle and, unfamiliar with the walking cast, plodded slowly toward the house, watching the flexing of Kiah’s muscles as he climbed the ladder with the bundle of shingles. She probably enjoyed it way too much, especially considering Kiah had stripped his shirt off.
Sadly, Kiah’s daed must’ve noticed her gawking because he said something to him, and Kiah quickly grabbed his shirt from where it lay on the roof and covered himself.
Levi Wyse, who was married to Hallie’s friend Elsie, worked on repairing window glass. He smiled at Hallie as she hobbled up on the porch, then glanced at Mamm. “Elsie’s inside, helping Gloria get dinner on the table. She brought a meal over to help out since Hallie was injured and the visiting preacher is staying longer.”
“That’s a blessing. Danki, Levi.” Mamm bustled past Hallie and went inside.
“She has something to tell you, too.” Levi’s gaze shifted from Hallie to the window, his face turning red.
Hallie could gues
s what Elsie would whisper.
Both of her best friends would be mamas this year.
Leaving Hallie behind once again.
And Hallie’s wedding—to Toby—was supposed to have been second.
But, honestly, she was thankful to have been spared.
Whistling caught her attention and she glanced over her shoulder. Kiah hefted another bundle of shingles from the bed of the truck, flexing his arm muscles way more than necessary. He winked, then headed for the ladder.
“I think someone likes you,” Levi said quietly.
It was Hallie’s turn to blush.
She turned away from Levi’s low chuckle and hurried inside.
But, jah, she was fascinated with Kiah, too.
A bad thing, considering he was promised to marry Molly and he would honor his parents’ wishes.
* * *
Kiah might’ve been a little too obvious and maybe flexed his muscles a few too many times when Hallie was outside, because both fathers—his and hers—were eyeing him as if he were trouble waiting to happen. Now that Hallie had her walking cast, he wanted to take her out somewhere. Maybe for that malted milkshake the one man gave him money for. Okay, really, the money had been for helping muck out stalls, but a malted milkshake had been mentioned. And he was sweating enough in this muggy heat that a milkshake sounded especially good…especially since he had to put his shirt back on.
He should’ve been smart and asked for directions where to go for said date, but he hadn’t. If there was such a place around here, Hallie would know.
He also needed to explain to her that he—and Joy—left the singing way early, before the singing even started actually, and went to visit George. That Anna had dumped him in favor of another guy, and…
Wait. If the other guy brought her home, it had been very late, because Kiah hadn’t seen Anna since he left the singing. Not last night, and not this morning.
He glanced over at Ted. The man used his sleeve to wipe sweat from his brow. Adjusted his hat. And didn’t seem concerned at all that he might have a missing daughter. Although, there was a possibility that Anna had come home late and was sleeping in. Or maybe even was in the kitchen, cooking something that smelled so amazing his stomach was on constant rumble.
The Amish Secret Wish Page 22
