The Hearts of Middlefield Collection

by Kathleen Fuller

  She grasped the reins as he started to walk away. “Danki again. I really appreciate this.”

  He gave her a brief nod and went to his buggy.

  Twenty minutes later she pulled into her driveway, with Aaron not far behind. She bypassed the house on the left and her father’s woodshop on the right and headed straight for the barn. When she jumped out of the buggy and peeked outside the entrance, she saw that Aaron had parked near the woodshop, in the spot where Lukas normally parked.

  She watched Aaron pull out a worn butter-colored leather bag bulging with tools, then retrieve a couple horseshoes from the back of his buggy.

  “I really appreciate you doing this,” Elisabeth said, meeting him at the entrance. When she saw Aaron move to detach the horse from the rigging, she followed him. “Here, I can do that.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t mind.” He patted Daisy’s chestnut-colored flanks. She let out a low snort. “She’s a beautiful horse.”

  “Ya, she is. Daed got her a few years ago. You won’t find a gentler horse than our Daisy.”

  With deft movements Aaron removed the horse’s harness, then positioned her in her stall so he could access her foot. He slipped on a pair of leather leg coverings with the split in the middle and walked over to balance the horse’s bent leg on his thigh. Aaron’s hands seemed to fly as he scraped and cleaned her hoof, removing dirt, tiny pebbles, and small pieces of asphalt picked up from traveling paved roads. He grabbed one of the shoes lying on the ground nearby and matched it to the bottom of the horse’s foot. Seeing that it didn’t fit, he took the shoe and began bending and shaping it with his bare hands.

  “You aren’t using her old shoe?” Elisabeth asked.

  “Nee.” He glanced up at her. “It was pretty worn. She would have needed a new one soon.” Within minutes the shoe matched Daisy’s hoof perfectly.

  Impressive. She’d had no inkling he possessed that kind of strength.

  He put a couple of small nails in his mouth, then quickly pounded them in, one at a time, through the shoe and into the hoof. The first time she’d seen a horse get shoed she had been a young child and had burst into tears, not realizing that the horse didn’t feel a thing and that the shoes were necessary to preserve the horse’s feet.

  After he pounded the last nail, Aaron gently put Daisy’s foot down, then stood up. “Gut as new,” he said, more to the horse than to Elisabeth. He walked to meet the animal’s head and stroked her nose. “Gut maedel.”

  “How much do I owe you?”

  He shrugged, still petting Daisy’s nose. “Nix.”

  “Are you sure? At least let me pay for the shoe.”

  Aaron scratched the back of his neck. “It isn’t necessary.”

  “Tell you what. How about if I bring you a batch of my oatmeal cookies when I come to work on Wednesday? Well, they’re actually not my oatmeal cookies, but my mami’s recipe, and they’re delicious. Best you’ll ever have, I promise.”

  He tilted back his hat, his forehead beaded with perspiration from the exertion of shoeing the horse. “You don’t have to do that, Elisabeth.”

  “I know, you’ve made that abundantly clear.” She stepped toward him. “But I want to. I can’t let your good deed go unre-warded. Besides, I still kind of owe you for yesterday.”

  He frowned. “Yesterday?”

  “Helping me out with Velda and Ester, remember?” She sighed and dragged her toe across the barn’s dirt floor. “I didn’t have everything quite under control. And I wasn’t very nice to you, either. I apologize for that.”

  “You were doing fine.” Aaron picked up his tool bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Everyone knows Velda is a handful.”

  “Really? I thought it was just me.”

  “Nah. She’s a pistol, that one. And I’d seen mei mudder make lots of bottles for my nieces and nephews when I was younger, so that wasn’t a big deal.”

  It dawned on her that this was the most she’d ever heard Aaron speak. Intrigued, she wanted to keep him talking. “How many do you have?”

  “Twelve. They don’t live too far from here, but I don’t see them very often.” He glanced down at the ground for a moment before meeting her gaze again, discomfort evident in his eyes. “I’ve got to geh.” He headed for the exit.

  “Aaron?”

  He paused, then turned around, almost as if he were reluctant to face her again. “Ya?”

  “Do you like raisins or chocolate chunks in your cookies?” She crossed her arms and smiled at him.

  “Elisabeth—”

  “Chocolate chunks it is. Those happen to be my favorite too.”

  She detected the corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly, the closest she’d ever seen him smile. Feeling victorious, she gave him another grin as she passed him and went into the house. But before she went inside, she glanced over her shoulder to see him loading his tools in the buggy, his profile now the picture of solemnity.

  As he pulled away she went inside the house, the screen door shutting behind her. “Mami, I’m home!”

  “In the kitchen.”

  Elisabeth followed her mother’s voice to the kitchen in the back of the house. The spicy aromas of tomato, garlic, and oregano hung in the air. “You’ve started the spaghetti sauce?”

  “Just the first batch.” Emma Byler adjusted the gas heat underneath the large stockpot of simmering red sauce. “We’ll finish up the rest tomorrow. Line up the jars for me on the counter, please.”

  “Okay.” Elisabeth took several glass quart jars from the table and put them on the counter as her mother instructed. She placed a large funnel beside the first jar.

  Emma gave the sauce a quick stir with a long-handled wooden spoon. “So how are my wunderbaar grandbabies today?”

  “Gut.” Elisabeth leaned over and inhaled, taking in the delicious scent emanating from the pot. Her mouth watered. She’d love to dip a slice of bread into the thick sauce, but her mother wouldn’t appreciate the crumbs she’d leave behind.

  “Did you have any trouble with them?”

  “Nee. Everything was fine. They had breakfast, and played, and Ester had her bottle before they both took naps. Then Gabe and Moriah came home.”

  Emma peered at Elisabeth over her wire-framed glasses, which she had just started wearing this past year. “I’m glad to hear it. Those two can be a handful sometimes. I remember the last time I took care of them, Velda Anne just about ran me ragged. I love that kinn, but she’s got an independent streak in her, that’s for sure.”

  “The morning went by without any problems.” She spun around and sat down at the kitchen table, biting her lip on the tiny fib.

  Emma turned around and joined Elisabeth. “I wish I could have watched them, but I had to visit Sarah Lapp today. She’s got the cancer, you know.”

  Elisabeth nodded. “Is she feeling any better?”

  “Not really. I did a little cleaning today and made dinner for her family. They need a lot of prayer. No one knows how long Sarah has, and we’re all praying for a miracle.”

  Elisabeth made a mental note to pray for Ben and Sarah Lapp. Sarah, a young mother of four, had been diagnosed with cancer several months ago. She said a quick prayer of thanks that everyone in the Byler family had their health.

  “So tomorrow we’ll can the rest of the sauce, then Wednesday we can put away some pickles. Sometimes it just never seems to end. So I’ll need your help.” Emma sat back in the chair and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. Despite the open window, the kitchen sweltered. Still, Emma’s appearance remained neat and tidy, her kapp perfectly straight and not a hair out of place. “But when we’re done we’ll have lots of food stored up, praise God. ”

  “All right. Oh, wait. I almost forgot.” Elisabeth grinned. “I won’t be able to help you on Wednesday. I’ve got a job.”

  “You do?” Emma smiled. “That’s terrific, Elisabeth. Where will you be working?”

  “For Gabe. In the blacksmith shop.”

 
Her smile dimmed, replaced with wariness. “Please tell me you won’t be working at the forge.”

  Elisabeth laughed. “Nee. I’m sure he won’t let me near the forge, not that I want to do that hot, messy work anyway. He’s asked me to work in the office. Doing the accounts and keeping track of invoices. Filing. Stuff like that.”

  “That sounds like a great opportunity for you. And how wunderbaar you’re working for familye.”

  “Ya. Apparently it was Moriah’s idea. She told Gabe I had a head for numbers.”

  “Which you do. She must have thought you would do a gut job.”

  Elisabeth put her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on her hand. Her mind wandered back to earlier that day. Moriah probably would have taken back her recommendation if she had seen how Elisabeth handled Velda and Ester.

  “Is something wrong?” Emma tilted her head as she looked at Elisabeth.

  “Nee.” Elisabeth sighed. “Well, maybe.”

  “What is it?”

  Normally Elisabeth wouldn’t voice her doubts about something aloud, but this time she couldn’t help herself. “Working for Gabe and Moriah is a big responsibility.”

  “It is.”

  “But I’ll be dealing with money, and the blacksmith shop is their livelihood. You know I’m not the most organized person in the world.”

  “True.”

  Elisabeth rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to agree with me so quickly.”

  Emma chuckled. “I’m only being honest, dochder. But don’t be hard on yourself. I’ve noticed you’ve been better about being on time to church the past couple of months.”

  “I’ve been trying.”

  “And while you had a hard time in school, you’ve been a huge help to me since you graduated. I know I can count on you to do anything I ask, and do it well.”

  “But what if I make a mistake?”

  “You’re bound to. We’re not perfect people, none of us are. If you make a mistake, own up to it and learn from it.” Emma stood up, smoothing the skirt of her gray work dress. “You’ll be fine, Elisabeth. Don’t worry about it. Pray for the Lord to give you a clear mind while you’re working. And to wake you up on time in the morning.”

  Elisabeth sat back in her chair and smiled, most of her doubts dissipating with her mother’s encouraging words. Yet as she helped her mother can the spaghetti sauce then make supper, a smidge of anxiety niggled at her. Even though the job was part-time, there would probably be plenty of opportunities for her to screw up. And while she had been on time to Moriah’s this morning, and even to church this past month, that didn’t cancel out all the Sundays she’d been late, making the family wait for her to get ready. Or the times she’d lost her homework or made poor grades on a test because she’d forgotten to study. Then there was the day she neglected to close the gate after feeding the cows. They had walked right out of the barn and into the neighbor’s pasture, two of them taking time to snack on the Mullet’s daisies. That had happened only two weeks ago.

  However, that was in the past. She was seventeen, almost eighteen now. Time for her to grow up, to be responsible and take life more seriously, like the rest of her family. Including Tobias, now that he was married. Her oldest brother had always been at least a little similar to her, slightly more carefree than her solemn-minded siblings. But since his marriage to Rachel, he had left some of that waywardness behind. If Tobias could do it, so could Elisabeth. She would hold down this job and excel at it. She would show them. Most of all, she would prove it to herself.

  Aaron already had the forge going and was getting his materials out to work on a wrought iron sconce when Elisabeth rushed through the door ten minutes late for her first day at work. Gabe hadn’t arrived at the shop either, which was surprising, considering he was always punctual. Gabe owned the business, so he could show up anytime he wanted to. Elisabeth, however, was a different story, especially since she had barely started the job.

  “I know I’m late!” She sounded breathless, and her cheeks were flushed. “I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.” Her gaze traveled around the shop. “Where’s Gabe?”

  “He’s running late too.”

  Her expression relaxed a bit. “Thank goodness.”

  “But normally he’s here. Be sure you’re on time Friday. Gabe doesn’t abide tardiness. He’s a fair boss, but he has high expectations.”

  “Danki for the warning.” She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with pleading. “You’re not going to tell him, are you? Because I really don’t want to get fired on my first day.”

  Seeing as he was the last person to point out someone else’s mistake, he said, “Nee. I won’t say a word.”

  She let out a sigh. “Danki, danki. You’ve saved me again.” She held up a white plate covered in plastic wrap. “I’m glad I brought extra cookies. Actually, that’s why I was late. I forgot them at home and had to turn back.” She held the plate out to him. “Want one?”

  He glanced at the cookies. “Later.”

  “Okay, take one or three whenever you want. Where should I put my things?”

  She spoke so fast he could barely keep up with her, and she’d already walked past him, heading to the back of the shop. He quickly followed.

  “I’m assuming the office is in here?” she asked, standing in front of an oak door with a small, square window cut into it. But she didn’t wait for him to answer; she walked right in. “Oh my. Gabe was right, this place is a mess.”

  Aaron glanced around the office, thinking it wasn’t too bad, despite the crooked stacks of papers littering the desk and the dust on top of the filing cabinets. But he had to admit she was right; it did need some tidying up. He dusted off one of the three wooden pegs hanging on the wall to the left of the doorway. Probably a good cleaning wouldn’t hurt either. “You can hang your stuff here.”

  Then he watched her remove her black bonnet, revealing a white kapp underneath that topped her pale blonde hair. He took the bonnet from her and hung it on the peg.

  “Here’s the desk,” he said, feeling dumb for pointing out the only other piece of furniture in the room besides the chair and a short stack of filing cabinets. “The account books are in this filing cabinet, and the cash box is in the bottom drawer. I’m sure Gabe has a key for you.”

  She clasped her hands together, looking eager to get started. “What’s that system you and Gabe told me about?”

  “Oh, that would be this.” He pulled out the top drawer of the filing cabinet, which was filled with Ziploc bags that held receipts, purchase orders, and other paperwork. “There’s a bag for everything,” he said, pulling one out. “Let see, this one holds receipts from, um, three years ago.”

  She walked over and peered into the cabinet, frowning. “How do you know where anything is?”

  “It’s written on the bag.” He showed her the words written in faded marker on the label. He could barely make out the print, but it was there. “See?”

  Elisabeth squinted. “Oh, ya, now I can. For a minute there I thought I might need glasses. Where did you say the file folders are?”

  “I didn’t.” He glanced around for a few moments. “I know we got a box of them here somewhere. Just can’t recall where I put them. Oh, wait.” He crouched down underneath the desk, then retrieved a brand-new box of folders. He blew on the top of the box, sending more dust flying. She really did have her work cut out for her. “Here you geh.”

  She accepted the box from him, then set it on top of one of the leaning stacks of papers. “Are all the cabinets filled with baggies?”

  Aaron nodded. “The desk drawers too. I’ve also got a couple boxes of papers over there.” He pointed into the far corner of the office. “Those date back years. Seems Gabe and John didn’t have a much better system than I did.”

  “It’s going to take me forever to sort through all this. Not that I’m complaining. I don’t mind this one bit.” She tapped her finger on her bottom lip. “I just need to figure out where to start
.”

  He watched her as she continued tapping, noticing for the first time how delicate her hands were. She wore a light green dress, which complemented her fair skin. During his teen years he had thought Amish clothing to be drab and frumpy, especially the Amish dresses. When he had gone through his rumspringa, he had spent time with plenty of girls who had dressed far less modestly and had no problems wearing short skirts and baring tops that showed a lot of skin. As a fifteen- and sixteen-year-old, he had enjoyed the view. But now that he was older and had joined the church, he had a new appreciation for the modest dress of Amish women. Their clothing left everything to the imagination, which he found far more appealing.

  Not that he’d ever had such thoughts about Elisabeth. He hadn’t paid much attention to her growing up. They were a couple of years apart and, of course, had run around with different people. Besides, she was so innocent, sheltered by her family, something she didn’t seem to mind. He, on the other hand, was far from pure. They had little in common, other than being related to Tobias and Rachel.

  Gabe walked in the office, breaking into Aaron’s thoughts. “Sorry I’m late. Moriah and Ester aren’t feeling well, so I was up most of the night with the boppli.” He put his hands on his hips and did a quick scan of the small space. “I see Aaron has already showed you everything.”

  Elisabeth nodded. “I promise I’ll get the place in tip-top shape.”

  With a chuckle Gabe said, “I know you will. That’s why I hired you.” He turned to Aaron. “Lukas stopped by last night. He had an order for six sconces from Anna Esh. She and her mudder took over that little shop, Trinkets and Treasures, and she wants to sell some of them in her store. I thought it was a gut idea.”

  Aaron nodded. “We better get started.” He looked at Elisabeth, who held a baggie full of yellow, white, and pink papers. “Any other questions?”