Karen laid a hand on the child’s head. “You are forgetting your manners, Anna. This is Faith Martin. She is new to Hope Springs, and we must make her welcome. Faith, this is my sister, Anna.”
Faith smiled at her. “I’m pleased to meet you, and I’m dying to hear the story.”
Anna eagerly launched into her tale. “Just before Christmas, Karen was taking us to school. I looked out the buggy window and I saw a dead man in the ditch. Only, he wasn’t dead. He was only hurt, but bad. God made him forget who he was, so we called him John. He stayed with us until God let him remember his name. And now he knows who he is and he wants to marry my sister.”
Anna grinned broadly, Karen blushed rosy red and the rest of the women grinned.
Karen cleared her throat. “That about sums it up.”
Nettie said, “It’s almost time for the service to start. Girls, take Faith down to the barn. I’ll be there shortly.”
“I’ll show you the way,” Anna said as she bounced toward the door.
Outside, the solidly overcast sky gave way to intermittent sunshine. The women followed Anna to the far side of the barn where a sloping earthen ramp led to the barn’s loft. The huge doors had been propped open to catch the cool morning breeze.
Inside, rows of wooden benches in the large hayloft were filled with worshipers, men on one side of a center aisle, women on the other, all waiting for the church service to begin. Faith took a place beside Sarah, Karen and Katie. Anna wiggled her way in between Faith and Karen.
Glancing across the aisle to where the men sat, Faith caught Adrian’s eye. He didn’t smile, but he gave a slight nod to acknowledge her. He’d overheard her conversation with Mrs. Zook, and Faith had the feeling he approved. A moment later, Anna asked Faith a question, forcing her to look away from Adrian.
As everyone waited for the Vorsinger to begin leading the first hymn, Faith closed her eyes. This was a solemn time, a time to prepare her heart and soul to rejoice and give thanks to the living God. She listened intently, willing her soul to open to God’s presence, preparing to hear His word.
She heard the rustle of fabric on wooden benches as people shifted on the hard seats. In the trees outside, birds sang cheerfully, as if praising the Lord with their own special voices. In the barn below, Faith heard the movement of horses and cattle in their stalls. The smell of alfalfa hay and barn dust filled the air. She drew a deep breath. Contentment filled her bones. This was where she wanted to be. This was where she had always belonged.
She remembered how nervous she’d been the morning she took her vows. At nineteen, she had been the youngest of the group preparing for baptism. In that final hour before the service, she had searched her heart, wondering if she was making the right decision. It was no easy thing to live Amish.
She knew she had made the right choice.
The song leader, a young man with a red beard, started the first hymn. More than a hundred voices took up the solemn, slow-paced cadence. There was no music, only the stirring sounds of many voices praising God. Two ministers, a deacon and the bishop took their places on benches facing the congregation.
When the first song ended, the congregation sat in silence waiting for the preaching to begin. For Faith, it was a joyful moment. This was her first service in her new district and it felt as if she had come home at last.
Adrian did his best to listen to the sermon being preached, but his eyes were drawn constantly to where Faith sat. At the moment, her eyes were closed. There was such a look of peace on her face that he envied her.
He had not known peace or comfort during services since his son was killed. As hard as he tried to find consolation in the words being spoken, all he felt was anger.
Anger at God for robbing him of those most precious to him.
If he had his way, he would have stopped coming to church, but to do so would only bring more heartache to his family. If he avoided services, he would soon find himself under the ban, shunned by those who loved him in the hopes that he would mend his ways.
His brothers and sisters, his mother and father, none of them understood the anger that filled his heart, so he kept it hidden. He went through the motions of his faith without any substance. His life, which had once been filled with daily prayers, was now filled with hollow silence. God knew Adrian Lapp had not forgiven Him.
Adrian glanced at Faith. Was she even better at pretending faith than he was, or had she discovered the secret of letting go of her anger and hurt?
Beside him Benjamin fidgeted. His brother was eager to see the preaching end so he could visit with the Stultz sisters. The pretty twins were nearly the same age as Adrian’s little brother. They were always willing to share their sweet smiles and laughter with him. Benjamin would soon be of courting age.
Adrian no longer believed in asking God for favors, but he hoped Benjamin would be spared the kind of pain he had endured, if and when Ben chose a wife.
Three hours later, when the service came to an end, Benjamin practically leaped from his seat and rushed to join his friends outside. Adrian stayed behind to help convert the benches into tables for eating by stacking them together. As he worked, he visited with his friends and neighbors. He listened to his father catching up on who had a sick horse, how everyone’s corn was doing and what they planned to sell or buy on market day.
As the groups moved out of the barn toward the house, Adrian kept an eye out for Faith. He wanted to see if she was fitting in with the women of the district. He’d seen how scared she was when she first arrived.
He’d offered his advice without thinking twice. It was strange how easily he read her face and demeanor. Stranger still was how often he found himself thinking about her. She was an unusual woman.
Since there wasn’t enough room to feed everyone inside the house, the ordained and the eldest church members ate first at the tables set up for them inside. The rest of the congregation took turns getting their food and carrying it out to the barn.
When it was Adrian’s turn, he saw Faith had joined Nettie, her daughters and several other women and was working alongside them in the kitchen.
He relaxed when he saw her at ease, visiting with Sarah and Katie Sutter, holding Katie’s baby on one hip as easily as any seasoned mother. It was good to see her happy and smiling.
He caught Nettie Sutter’s eye. She smiled and nodded once. She was a good woman. She would do everything in her power to see that the women of the community welcomed Faith.
Adrian glanced away and caught Sarah studying him. She looked from him to Faith and then back again. Her grin widened. She beckoned him over. He immediately took his plate and went outside.
He finished his meal and was taking his plate back to the house when he saw Faith deep in conversation with Bishop Zook over on the front porch of the dawdy haus. Joseph motioned to Adrian. This time he had no choice but to obey.
The bishop smiled a broad welcome. “Adrian, I have been filling Faith in on our ordnung. I suggested she refer to you if she has any doubts about changes to her home or business as you are closer than I.”
Faith remained silent, but a rosy blush stained her cheeks.
“I will do what I can to help.” He didn’t need a new excuse to see Faith, but he accepted the responsibility. It was important that she be accepted in the community. To do that, she had to live within the rules of their church.
The bishop thumped Adrian on the back. “Bless you. I knew I could count on you. A few of the men are getting up a game of quoits. Will you join us?”
Similar to horseshoes but played with round metal rings, quoits was a game Adrian used to enjoy, but he rarely took part in such activities now. “I will go find Ben. He has the best aim in the family.”
After passing the message to his brother, Adrian put Ben in charge of getting the family home. With his duty discharged, Adrian left early and walked the few miles back to his farm.
At the house, he took a sharp knife and cut two bunches of flowers from the gar
den. With a bouquet in each hand, he walked out to the small cemetery where Gideon and Lovina waited for him.
Kneeling between their graves, he placed his gift beneath each headstone. “I brought some daisies for you, Lovey. I remember how much you loved them. You always said they were the bright eyes of your flowerbeds. They’ve bloomed all summer for you.”
He sat back on his heels. “We held church services at Eli Imhoff’s place. That Englisch fellow is still attending. I didn’t think Jonathan would stay but he has a plain way about him now. Our new neighbor was there, too.”
Pausing, he considered what to say about Faith. “She smoothed things over with Esther Zook right nicely. Course, I gave her a hint on how to handle Esther. I hope that’s okay. She’s a smart one, that Faith is.”
Suddenly, it didn’t feel right to be talking to his wife about another woman. He rose and took his usual place on the cedar stump.
The silence pressed in on him. The wind tugged at his hat, and he settled it more firmly on his head.
“Gideon, you should see the crazy animals that live next door to us now. Alpacas. They’re cute, but they spit on people and each other if they get annoyed. Faith has ten of them. The yarn she spins from their fleece is mighty soft. She gave me a pair of socks. The ones I’m wearing now, in fact.”
He pulled up his pant leg and fingered the material. The warm softness reminded him of Faith’s smile when he’d caught her humming as she worked her spinning wheel on her front porch.
Pushing thoughts of her out of his head, he said, “I’m glad I’m not the fella who has to shear those beasties come spring. I’ll bet he gets spit on a lot.”
Adrian chuckled as he imagined anyone trying to clip the wool from Myrtle’s neck.
The wind carried his mirth away. There was no answering laughter here. No one to share the joke with. Only two gray headstones among many in a field of green grass. Sadness settled in his chest, making it hard to breathe.
Adrian rose to his feet, shoved his hands in his pockets and started for home. It wasn’t until he reached his lane that he realized he hadn’t said goodbye.
On Monday afternoon Faith walked to the end of her lane and crossed the highway to the community phone. A small gray building not much bigger than a closet sat back from the road near a cluster of trees. A solar panel extended out from the south side of the roof. She could see through the window that it was unoccupied. She opened the door and stepped inside.
The shack held a phone, a small stool and a ledge for writing materials along with an answering machine blinking with two messages. She listened to them in case the agency had left a message for her, but they hadn’t. Adrian had a message that his mower part was in, and Samuel Stultz had a new grandbaby over in Sugarcreek. It was a girl.
A local phone directory hung from a small chain at the side of the ledge. Picking it up, she searched for and found the number for the medical clinic in Hope Springs. She pulled a pencil and a piece of paper from her pocket to make note of the number for later. As she laid her pencil down, it rolled off the ledge and fell under her stool.
In the cramped space she couldn’t reach it. She blew out her breath in a huff of disgust, then awkwardly squatted down, bracing herself against the door. A second later the door opened and she tumbled out backward, landing in a heap at Adrian Lapp’s feet.
“Faith, are you all right?” He immediately dropped to one knee beside her.
She looked up into his face filled with concern and could have died of embarrassment. “I’m fine, but my dignity is a little bruised.”
He helped her to her feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. What were you doing on the floor?”
His hands lingered on her arms. She could feel the warmth and strength of them through the thin fabric of her dress. He was so close. His masculine scent enveloped her, sending a wave of heat rushing to her face that had nothing to do with embarrassment or fear. She wasn’t frightened of him. His touch was strong but gentle. She was frightened by how much she wanted to move closer, to step into the circle of his arms and rest there.
She took a step back. He slowly let her go, his hands slipping from her elbows to her wrists in a soft caress. She said, “I dropped my pencil.”
“What?” He seemed as confused as she was by the tension that shimmered between them.
“I was trying to reach my pencil. I dropped it and it rolled under the chair.” She brushed at the back of her dress. Her blood hummed from his nearness and the way his gaze lingered on her face. Suddenly, she saw an attractive man in the prime of his life. A single man.
She crossed her arms and looked down, hoping he wouldn’t read this new and disturbing awareness in her eyes.
“No wonder I didn’t see you.” He stepped inside the building and retrieved her pencil.
He held it out and she took it gingerly, careful not to touch him. “Danki.”
“I will let you finish your call.”
“I’m only making a doctor’s appointment. If you need the phone, you may use it now. I can wait.”
His brow furrowed into sharp lines. “Are you sick?”
She was flattered by the concern etched on his face. “Nee, it is nothing like that. The adoption agency I’m using requires me to have a physical. I need to have a fire safety inspection of my home, too. Do you have any idea who I would call to see about that?”
“Michael Klein is our local fire chief. I’m one of the volunteer firemen. His number is in the book.”
“Michael Klein. I will remember that. What would I do without you, Adrian? You have helped me at every turn.”
“I have no doubt you would manage. Make your calls. I can wait.”
He walked away to stand in the shade, giving her some privacy. She went back inside the phone booth, quickly placed her first call and was happy to find out the doctor’s office could see her that afternoon.
The second call went smoothly, as well. The fire chief agreed to come by the following day and inspect her home. With her appointments made, she stepped outside. “I’m finished, Adrian.”
He walked over, but instead of taking a seat inside the phone booth, he leaned against the doorjamb. “How is your adoption going?”
Faith struggled against the urge to linger here with Adrian and lost. She liked his company; she liked spending time with him.
“Things are going well, I think. The doctor can see me today and the fire chief can come tomorrow. The social worker did not run screaming from my house, although when we were in the cellar, I thought she might.”
“You have not introduced her to Myrtle, have you?” There was a glint of humor in his eyes and in his voice.
Faith grinned. “Nee, I made sure Miss Watkins stayed away from her.”
“That’s goot. The bishop’s wife and I are forgiving of such an insult, but an Englisch woman in her fancy suit might not be.”
The clip-clop of a horse and buggy approaching made them look toward the highway. Samuel Stultz pulled to a stop. “Are you using the phone?”
Faith grinned for she already knew his good news. “You have a message, Samuel.”
As he hurried to get down, Faith turned to Adrian. “I must be going. I will have to hurry if I am to find the clinic in time for my appointment. Poor old Copper isn’t as fast as she once was.”
“I need to take a harness into Rueben Beachy’s shop for repairs. I go right by the clinic if you want to ride with me.”
“That is very kind of you, but I have no idea how long I will be.”
They moved aside to let Samuel use the booth.
Adrian said, “I have several other errands to run. I need to pick up some bushel baskets and the new blades for my sickle mower should be in.”
“They are. I heard it on the message machine.” She leaned closer. “And Samuel has a new grandbaby.”
Adrian chuckled, “I’m glad my blades have come in. It will be time to put up hay in another few days and I must be ready.”
“Is the
work in my orchard taking up too much of your time?”
“Nee, I’m glad of the extra work. I don’t mind waiting for you at the doctor’s office as long as you don’t mind waiting there if you are done ahead of me.”
A ride into town seated beside Adrian was more appealing than it should have been. Should she accept? What was the harm in it? There was no need for both their horses to make the trip. “I accept your offer, gladly, and I won’t mind waiting.”
“Goot. I will be back with my wagon in half an hour.”
“I will be ready.”
Samuel stuck his head out the door, a wide grin on his face. “I have a granddaughter.”
Faith laughed. “I know. Congratulations.”
When she looked back, Adrian had already started toward his farm. Faith bid Samuel good day and hurried as fast as she could to her house.
Once there, she quickly freshened up. She changed her worn and stained everyday dress and apron for her best outfit. After patting down a few stray hairs, she decided she looked well enough to go into town. The blue of her good dress brought out the color of her eyes. Would Adrian notice? The thought brought her up short. Now, she was being foolish.
Her practical nature quickly reasserted itself. It wasn’t that she wanted to impress Adrian. She merely wanted to look presentable when she met the doctor. Having rationalized choosing her best dress, she gave one last look in the mirror, pinched some color into her cheeks, put on her bonnet and went out to wait for Adrian with excitement simmering in her blood.
Chapter Eight
Adrian called himself every kind of fool as he drove his green farm wagon up to Faith’s gate. He was about to give his nosy neighbors and his family food for speculation by driving the widow Martin into town. Knowing smiles and pointed questions would be coming his way for days. What had he been thinking?
Cousin Sarah would be sure to hear about this. She would make certain his mother knew before the day was out. He began lining up explanations in his head so he would have them ready. His mother was certain to drop by his house before nightfall.
The Farmer Next Door Page 8
