The Hearts of Middlefield Collection

by Kathleen Fuller

  The bus girl nodded at Tobias and went to get his server. When Rachel appeared, he hid a smile. As she had when he arrived, she looked less than pleased to see him. With determined steps she walked to the table, crossed her arms as she usually did when she was around him, and looked down the length of her cute little nose. “What do you want now?”

  He leaned back in the chair, his restless spirit inexplicably easing. He pointed to his coffee cup. “I’m done.”

  “About time.” She pulled out a computer-printed ticket from inside her apron, as if she’d been waiting all day to give it to him. “Here.” She put it down on the table. “You can pay up front.” She took the cup from the table and walked away.

  He looked at the amount on the ticket, then stood. Digging out his leather wallet from his trousers, he felt two pennies in his pocket. He knew leaving such a cheap tip would get a rise out of Rachel, and he couldn’t resist the opportunity. Retrieving the coins, he dropped them on the table, then walked out of the dining area and into the gift shop.

  He passed Amish crafts of all kinds and noticed a couple of wooden train sets his brother Lukas had made a few months ago, hoping to sell them for an extra bit of pocket money. There were also candles, books, and stuffed animals available for purchase. He approached the empty bakery counter where the cash registers were located. The manager, a Yankee woman, took his ticket and rang up the total. “$1.25,” she said.

  He gave her two dollars, then took out another five from his wallet. “Could you give this to my server, please? Just don’t tell her it came from me. If you could add it to the rest of her tips, I’d appreciate it.”

  The manager tilted her head and gave him a strange look, but nodded. “I’ll be happy to do that. Are you sure you don’t want to just put this on your table, though?”

  “Positive.” He stuffed his wallet back in his pocket and adjusted his hat. “Thanks for the coffee. You all have a good evening.”

  “You do the same.”

  Tobias grinned as he left the restaurant. Ya, Rachel would be steamed when she saw the measly tip he left her. He almost wished he could witness the volcanic explosion of temper when she picked up the two cents. As he entered the parking lot and headed for his buggy, he thought about the spark that would light up her blue eyes, the lovely rosy glow that would spread across her creamy cheeks, the—“Tobias Byler!”

  He halted in his tracks at the zinging sound of Rachel’s voice behind him. Turning around, he watched with amusement as she stomped forward, fury pulsating from her like an old wood stove belching heat.

  Boy, he’d gotten her good.

  “What is this?” she said, holding out the pennies in her hand. “Do you think this is funny? I work hard for my tips. Very hard.” She threw the coins at him.

  He held up his hands in a weak defense as the pennies ricocheted harmlessly off his pants leg. “You gave me one cup of coffee,” he said blandly. “That’s it. Big deal.”

  “You . . . you . . .” Her body started to tremble as she sputtered.

  Was she that angry? Suddenly realizing that it was below thirty degrees and all she had on was her short-sleeved dress and apron, he whipped off his coat. “Here, put this on. You’re freezing.”

  She stared at the jacket as if it had thorns poking out of it. “No, thanks.”

  “Then go inside and warm up.”

  “Not until I get my real tip. The tip you owe me.”

  “Rachel, don’t be stupid,” he said, still holding his reck out to her. Her teeth were chattering. Why did she have to be so stubborn? “Get inside where it’s warm.”

  She held out one shaking hand. “M-my m-money.”

  “I’ll give it to you—if you put on my coat.”

  Her eyes grew wide at his insistent request. In fact he was a bit surprised by it himself. But he couldn’t stand to see her shivering out here, and he knew she wouldn’t leave until she got her money. At least she would be a little warmer while he fished out his wallet.

  Without a word she took the jacket and wrapped it loosely around her shoulders. The dark blue, woolen fabric practically engulfed her.

  “Rachel! What are you doing outside?”

  “Oh no,” she whispered.

  Tobias looked up to see Rachel’s boss holding open the front door of the restaurant. Quickly Rachel spun around and ran back inside, taking his coat with her.

  A blast of cold night air hit him as the glass door shut behind Rachel. Great. Now he was shivering out here in the cold.

  For Pete’s sake, this was crazy. He couldn’t drive all the way home without his coat. Although the winter curtain on his buggy would keep some of the frigid air at bay, it would be a miserable ride. He plodded back to the restaurant, opening the front door for the elderly couple as they exited.

  “Aren’t those Amish just the nicest people?” the petite woman said.

  “Hmmph,” the man grunted as he leaned on his cane. Together they hobbled over to their car.

  The cloying scent of about a million varieties of candles hit Tobias’s nose as he walked back into the restaurant. Women really loved those things—his mother lit them all the time. He scanned the gift shop area and saw there was no one behind the counter or in the front of the building. What should he do? Go back and ask for the manager? Or just walk through the empty restaurant and call out for Rachel? After weighing his options, he decided to search for himself.

  The third time he said her name, the manager appeared through the door separating the kitchen from the dining room. “We’re closed, sir. Was there something else you needed?”

  He felt heat creep up his neck. Somehow every time he tried to one-up Rachel he always ended up looking like a fool. “I came to get my coat, ma’am.”

  “Did you leave it in the dining room?” The blonde-haired woman walked farther into the large room and began looking at the tables and chairs.

  “No, I didn’t. Rachel has it.”

  She frowned. “Were you the one she was talking to outside?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll go get her.” The manager started toward the kitchen, then stopped and turned around, annoyance coloring her expression. “I don’t know what kind of game you teenagers are playing, but this is a place of business and Rachel is an employee. I want you to remember that in the future. I’m sure you would like your friend to keep her job.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.”

  A few moments later Rachel appeared from the kitchen, carrying his reck. “Here,” she said, thrusting it at him. When he took it from her she headed back to the kitchen, but he stopped her.

  “Hang on,” he said, pulling out his wallet again, feeling bad that she could have been fired over his little, and obviously not very funny, joke. He took out a five-dollar bill and handed it to her. This was becoming the most expensive cup of coffee he’d ever had.

  She looked at the money with disdain. “Now you’re being insulting. No one gives a five-dollar tip for a cup of coffee.”

  Yeesh, I cannot win with this woman. Either I give her too little or too much. “Would you just take it? Before your boss comes out here and you lose your job and I get another lecture.”

  “Fine.” She took the bill out of his hand. “You know there are lots of other places that serve coffee.”

  “Ya, there are,” he responded as she placed her hand on the metal doors that led to the kitchen. Then for some unknown reason he blurted out, “How are you getting home?”

  “My cousin Melvin is picking me up,” she said, then started toward the kitchen again.

  “Not Christian?”

  She spun around and faced him. “If you must know, he and his parents left for Holmes County today. They’re spending a long weekend with his mom’s sister down in Charm. His uncle broke his arm, and he needs some help with the chores.”

  “Rachel?”

  The manager came out of the kitchen and approached her. She held a small yellow Post-it note in her hand. “Your cousin just calle
d.” Handing Rachel the note, she turned around left.

  Tobias watched Rachel’s expression as she read the note. From the look on her face, he could tell it was bad news. “Melvin can’t pick me up. He’s got an emergency. A couple of his cows have gotten loose.”

  “That’s not gut. I wouldn’t want to be searching for a cow in the dark.”

  “Me neither.” She tapped the note against her chin, her light brows furrowed. “I’m sure someone here can drive me home.”

  “I could take you.”

  She gave him a dubious look.

  He really needed to figure out a way to tape his mouth shut. Why he was offering to subject himself to her company in the small quarters of his buggy? She was already furious with him for stiffing her. The smart thing to do would be to let her fend for herself. Except he didn’t like the idea that she might not be able to find a ride home.

  To his further surprise she seemed to be considering his offer. She wrinkled her cute nose. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “No problem.” At least he hoped there wouldn’t be. With Rachel Detweiler, he never knew for sure.

  She expelled a deep breath. “All right,” she said slowly, with an expression that suggested she’d just agreed to walk off the plank of a very tall ship. “Not like I have much of a choice anyway.”

  “Gee, thanks.” He had half a mind to tell her to forget about it if she was going to act that way.

  She ignored his response. “It’ll take me about half an hour to finish up. You can wait up front.” With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.

  Her gratitude was underwhelming. And irritating. “Why, thank you for offering, Tobias,” he muttered in a high falsetto, mimicking her voice. “I appreciate you coming to my rescue. Thank goodness you were here tonight. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  He turned around to make his way to the front of the store, only to run smack-dab into the manager. Somehow she’d snuck up on him.

  The woman was about half his height, but intimidating nevertheless. She peered at him with disapproval over her red, wire-rimmed glasses. Tobias didn’t have to be a genius to figure out that she’d overheard him mocking Rachel.

  “I’ll just wait up front,” he said, lowering his hat over his eyebrows and quickly walking past her.

  “Good idea,” she called out after him.

  Tobias hoped Rachel would hurry. After tonight, he’d probably never show his face in Mary Yoder’s again.

  As she took off her work apron and put on her reck, Rachel thought about Tobias’s offer. Although she would never admit it out loud, and never to Tobias, she was grateful to him for taking her home. But he’d really annoyed her with that two-cent tip. She took her job seriously, working hard to serve her customers, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by her boss—and usually showed in her tips. For Tobias to come in, only order a coffee, then leave her a two-cent tip . . . well, obviously it infuriated her, and she’d made a pretty big idiot of herself in front of him, something he’d probably expected. Somehow she had to figure out a way to keep him from getting under her skin.

  But if he wanted to make her miserable, then why did he offer her his coat when they were outside? Not only did he offer it, he’d insisted she wear it. Then he asked if he could take her home. She thought he’d rather see her walk along the side of the road in the darkness, shivering, as he pulled his buggy past her, all cozy inside. Instead he wanted to make sure she was warm and that she got home safely.

  She’d never figure that man out.

  She found her boss and apologized again for running out of the restaurant.

  “You’re going home with him?” she asked quietly from the back of the gift shop. They could see Tobias near the front of the store by a book rack, reading the back cover of one of the several Amish novels available for purchase.

  “He’s taking me home. My other ride couldn’t make it. Don’t worry, I’ve known him forever. He’s harmless. Irritating, but harmless. I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good evening.”

  “You too.”

  Rachel came up behind him as he put the book back on the rack. “Do people really read that stuff ?” He gestured to the books with his thumb.

  “Ya. We sell a lot of those. Along with the cookbooks.”

  “The cookbooks I can see. Everybody has to eat. But novels?” He shrugged. “Never was much for reading myself.”

  “I remember,” she said, thinking back to their days in school. Tobias passed his classes, but barely. More often than not he was busy goofing around with all the other boys, driving the poor school teacher to exasperation. The young woman, Fraulein Lucy, had only been a few years older than the oldest student, and had her hands full with a couple of the boys, Tobias included. Rachel thought she had probably dropped to her knees and thanked the Lord for several hours the day they had all graduated.

  “Are you ready?” he asked, walking toward the exit.

  “Yes.” She followed him as he opened the solid glass door. But instead of passing through it ahead of her, he paused and opened it wider. “After you,” he said.

  She smirked at him as she strolled through, but secretly she was impressed. The gesture was something Christian would have done, but was unexpected from Tobias. Neither had she expected him to hold the buggy door open for her, which he also did. Tonight he was full of surprises.

  Soon they were on their way home. Although the night was cold, it was beautiful out. The inky black sky resembled rich velvet studded with sparkling diamonds. The stars weren’t exactly clear through the window in the curtain covering the front of the buggy, but she could still see their twinkle. Suddenly a shiver ran through her and her body shook involuntarily.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  “Nee,” she said, but she was lying. She crossed her ankles and pressed her legs together as she bent forward slightly, hugging her arms. Her coat didn’t seem warm enough tonight.

  “Here,” he said, reaching behind her and withdrawing a thick quilt. Then he handed her the reins. “Hold this.”

  She arched a brow as he tucked the quilt around her waist, letting the heavy blanket fall over her legs and trail to the floor. Instantly she felt warmer. He took the reins from her and steered the buggy to the right, turning on Nauvoo Road, right behind the Middlefield Cheese Factory.

  “Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked, bewildered by his unexpected behavior.

  “Mei mami raised me right.” He turned and grinned.

  She could barely see his smile, except for the gleam of his white teeth. They weren’t perfectly straight, like Christian’s. The two top front ones overlapped slightly, and his bottom teeth were a little crooked. Yet she hardly noticed as he continued to grin at her.

  How could she, when her heart was thumping a million miles an hour.

  She jerked her gaze from his and stared straight ahead, trying to figure out why she was having a hard time catching her breath. This was Tobias, for heaven’s sake. The thorn in her side, the pain in her behind . . . The most handsome man she’d ever seen.

  “Besides,” he added, breaking into her disturbing, but not all that unpleasant, thoughts. “I can never resist a damsel in distress.”

  With that remark, any schmoopy thoughts she currently had for him disintegrated like ashes in the wind. “I am not a damsel in distress. I just needed a ride.”

  “And a blanket to wrap around you,” he added. “And a pretty wunderbaar guy to take you home.”

  “You are so full of yourself, you know that?”

  “Not at all. Now you . . . that’s a different story.”

  She looked at him. “Excuse me?”

  “You know what I’m talking about.”

  “No, I don’t.” She flung the quilt off her lap. “Stop this buggy. I’ll walk.”

  “Don’t be dumb,” he said, the teasing hint in his voice disappearing.

  “I mean it. If you don’t stop, I’ll jump out.”

  “For the love o
f—” He yanked up on the reins. “This is what I’m talking about, Rachel. You’re the most difficult woman I’ve ever—”

  Bright, fast-moving lights suddenly appeared out of the darkness. They headed toward the buggy. Rachel lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light.

  “Rachel!” Tobias yelled as the lights came upon them.

  The roar of an engine sounded in her ears as the car clipped the side of the buggy, causing it to flip over. Her scream pierced the air.

  The buggy turned over, breaking loose from the horse’s hitch. Her body was thrown against the top of the buggy as it hit the ground. Her eyes slammed shut. Something cupped the back of her head. Then everything came to a stop.

  A heavy body lay partly on top of her. Heavy and warm and solid. She opened her eyes. In the darkness of the upside-down buggy she could barely make Tobias out. But she felt him. His hand remained at the back of her head, his other arm stayed pinned protectively behind her back. Most of his body rested against the length of hers.

  Their breathing intermingled in the small space, coming in short, gasping spurts. This was the first buggy accident she’d been in, and thank God they hadn’t been killed. But Rachel wasn’t completely positive she had to catch her breath solely from the accident.

  “Are you okay?” he said softly, his mouth close to her ear.

  A shiver traveled through her, but she wasn’t the least bit cold at all, not while she was cradled in Tobias Byler’s strong embrace, feeling his warmth against her. “I-I think so.”

  “You’re trembling.”

  Her mouth suddenly dry, she swallowed. “I know. I-I can’t seem t-to stop.”

  Her eyes now adjusted to the darkness, she could see him move his head. Their eyes met, the lightness of his blue irises visible to her. She could read something in those gorgeous eyes. Something that made her shiver even more.

  Her kapp had dislodged during the accident, and a lock of her hair was askew. She drew in a sharp breath when he slowly pushed it back from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek, his embrace tightening.

  Without thinking she kissed him.

  It was barely a brush on the lips and lasted less than half a second, but it was a kiss nevertheless.