“I feel that I’m needed here right now.” Jimmy glanced over at her and smiled, but she saw a deep sadness in his eyes and wondered what he wasn’t telling her. “The Rabers invited me to join their family, so it was a good Christmas,” he quickly added.
“Ours was nice, too. My sisters and their families came from Kentucky, and our whole family was together on Christmas Day. Except for Papa acting like a kinner, it seemed almost like all the other Christmases we’ve shared.”
“I’m glad.” Jimmy skidded to a stop and held his hand out to Leona. “I think I’d be able to stay in better rhythm if I was holding someone’s hand.”
She hesitated a moment before slipping her hand into his. Immediately, she knew she’d made a mistake. Even through the thickness of their gloves, Leona was sure she could feel the heat of Jimmy’s hand. He’s just a friend, she reminded herself. A friend who needs my help so he won’t fall down.
Jimmy pushed off quickly, and the wind picked up, lifting Leona’s black bonnet right off her head. She reached up to grab it and had no more than let go of Jimmy’s hand when down he went, landing hard on his back. A vision of Leona’s daed toppling from the ladder flashed into her mind as she dropped to her knees beside Jimmy with a groan. At that moment, the slanting rays of sun went into hiding, and she closed her eyes, willing the menacing image of Papa’s fall to disappear.
“Jimmy, are you okay? Can you hear me?”
Jimmy opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times as Leona’s pretty face came into focus. “I think I just had the wind knocked out of me.”
“Don’t sit up! You may have something broken.” The fear Jimmy saw in Leona’s eyes and the panic edging her voice made him wonder if she might have strong feelings for him—the way he did for her.
“I’m fine, really.” He rolled onto his side with a labored grunt and allowed her to help him to his feet. “Nothing’s hurt except my pride.”
Leona slipped her arm around his waist, and they made their way off the ice and over to the crackling fire.
Jimmy eased himself onto a log and gratefully accepted the cup of hot chocolate one of the girls offered him. He sniffed the sweet smell of marshmallows and smiled. “Thanks, this is exactly what I need.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Leona dropped down beside him and wrapped the edges of her long dress tightly around her legs. “You took a nasty spill on that ice.”
“I’m fine. Just don’t know how to ice-skate very well, that’s all.”
“It takes practice,” Harley Fisher said.
Emanuel drew his dark eyebrows together. “Maybe you fell ’cause my skates were too tight.”
Jimmy shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“My brother, Abner, likes to go ice fishing,” Emanuel said. “That might be somethin’ you could try instead.”
“I’ll give it some thought.” Jimmy took a sip of hot chocolate and licked his lips.
“Before his accident, my daed used to go ice fishing with Abraham,” Leona said. “Since Papa’s not up to something like that right now, maybe you and Abraham could go together.”
Jimmy stared at the frozen ground beneath his feet. “I doubt that will ever happen.”
“How come?”
He looked up and nodded at the children, who seemed to be hanging on his every word—especially Abraham’s twin boys.
“Stella, why don’t you and the other girls go to my buggy and get the hot dogs and buns? The boys can look for some roasting sticks,” Leona said, motioning with her hand.
The children scampered off, and Leona turned to face Jimmy. “What did you mean when you said going ice fishing with Abraham wasn’t likely to happen?”
Jimmy grimaced. “I don’t think he likes me.”
Leona’s forehead wrinkled. “What makes you say that?”
“He said something once about his need to protect you, and—”
“Protect me? Does Abraham think I need protecting from you?” Leona stared at Jimmy with wide eyes.
He nodded. “I think that is what he meant.”
“Maybe he’s leery of you because you’re English.”
“He doesn’t like the English?”
“I wouldn’t say that he doesn’t like them.” Leona leaned closer to Jimmy, and her voice lowered. “What I’m about to tell you happened when I was a little girl, so I don’t actually remember it. But from what I’ve heard, an English man came to the Fishers’ one day for some—”
“Here’s the hot dogs,” Stella announced as she and the other girls bounded into the clearing, interrupting Leona’s story.
She shrugged. “Guess it’s time to eat. Maybe we can finish this discussion some other time.”
“I wish we didn’t have to work so many Saturdays,” Ed complained to Jim as his crew set up the staging on the inside of the new discount store they’d recently been contracted to paint.
“Working on the weekends isn’t my idea of fun, either, but this is a big job we need to get done by the end of next week.”
Ed reached under his paint hat and scratched his head. “Is everything all right?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You seem kind of moody today.”
“I’m not moody.”
Ed grunted. “You were irritable for several weeks after Jimmy headed back East, but after you went on a date with that health nut, you seemed to calm down some.”
“Holly’s not a health nut.” Jim felt his defenses rise. “She runs a health food store and knows a lot about nutrition.” He jabbed Ed’s paunchy stomach with his finger. “That’s something we all could benefit from, don’t you think?”
Ed merely shrugged in reply.
Jim wasn’t about to admit to Ed that since he’d finally worked up the courage and asked Holly for a date they had gone out several more times. Besides attending AA meetings together, they’d taken in a couple of movies and had gone to dinner twice more. Jim had managed to remain sober during that time, and he gave the credit to Holly, who seemed to be his only support right now. Jimmy sure wasn’t there for him anymore. He’d only spoken to him twice in the last few months, and those had been times when Jim had initiated the call. Jimmy always seemed distant and managed to make up some excuse to get off the phone.
I think I’ve changed in many ways since I met Holly, Jim thought. But am I ready to tell her that I kidnapped Jimmy? Would she understand the reason I took him, or would she condemn me—the way he has?
He grabbed a gallon of paint and moved toward the staging that had been set in place. “We haven’t got all day, fellows, so let’s get to work!”
I appreciate you bringing in a hot lunch for the scholars today.” Leona ushered Naomi and Abby into the schoolhouse. They each carried a cardboard box.
“Since today’s Valentine’s Day, we thought it would be a nice treat for you and the kinner.” Naomi set her box on one end of Leona’s desk, and Abby placed hers on the other end. “Besides, I wanted the chance to tell you thanks for helping Millie. She’s reading better these days, and it’s because you took the time to learn about her problem and work with her.”
Leona’s cheeks warmed. She didn’t need any thanks for what she’d done. It was part of her job as a teacher, and she was glad that, despite her lack of continued education, she’d been able to find a way to reach Millie.
“You looked for solutions even after I refused to accept the fact that my daughter might have a learning disability.” Naomi’s forehead wrinkled. “When I blamed myself for not taking enough time with Millie, Caleb reminded me that I tend to be too hard on myself, and I guess he’s right. Ever since my brother was kidnapped, I’ve struggled with guilt and tried to do everything perfect, which is why I didn’t deal well with Millie’s problem. I felt that I had failed her somehow.”
“Many parents feel that way when their kinner have any kind of trouble,” Abby interjected. “We just need to remember that no one but God is perfect and do the best we can.�
��
“Papa admitted to me the other day that he’s not perfect, and he apologized for giving me the cold shoulder after he discovered Zach’s quilt in my linen closet,” Naomi said.
Abby smiled. “I’m so glad to hear that. I’ve been concerned because things weren’t right between you and Abraham, and so has my mamm.”
Leona nodded and squeezed Naomi’s hand. Then she motioned to the front door. “I let the kinner go outside for a while, so when they come in, we can serve the hot meal.”
“As we were pulling in, I noticed several of them building a snowman,” Abby commented. “That brought back memories of when I was a girl growing up in Ohio. One of my favorite things to do during the wintertime was to make a huge snowman.”
Naomi shook her head. “Not me. I always preferred to be inside where it was warm and I was safe from the icy snowballs being thrown around the school yard.”
Leona leaned on her desk and visited with Naomi and Abby a few more minutes. Then she finally excused herself to ring the school bell. She had just stepped onto the porch when Nate Hoffmeir bounded up the steps. “Teacher, my cousin John couldn’t make it to the outhouse in time, and he threw up in the bushes.” He pointed across the yard.
Leona felt immediate concern. John had complained of a stomachache earlier this morning, but she hadn’t thought much of it because he’d seemed well enough to go outside and play with the others. “Run inside and tell your mamm and Abby to set the lunch out for the others while I see about John,” she said to Nate.
The boy raced into the building, and Leona, wishing she’d thought to put on a coat, tromped through the snow to check on the ailing child. She found John hunched over a clump of bushes, groaning and holding his stomach. “I’ve got a bellyache, and it hurts real bad,” he said, looking up at her with tears in his eyes.
Leona patted him on the back “I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. It’s probably the flu. Let’s go inside, and I’ll ask your aunt Naomi to take you home.”
A short time later, they had John loaded into Naomi’s buggy, and Abby, who had come in her own rig, agreed to stay and help Leona serve lunch to the children.
The rest of the afternoon passed swiftly, and Leona’s pupils headed for home carrying the valentines they’d received, as well as the bag of candy Leona had given each of them.
“I should have thought to send John’s candy and valentines with him,” Leona said as Abby gathered her children together.
“I’ll be going past Norman and Ruth’s house on my way home, so I’d be happy to drop John’s things off to him.” Abby grimaced. “I hope this isn’t the beginning of another round of achy-bones flu. My kinner have already been out once with it this winter.”
“I hope not, either.” Leona closed the door behind Abby and her children. Then she set to work cleaning the sticky spots from spilled punch off the floor. She was nearly finished when she heard the nicker of a horse. She hurried to the window and looked out, wondering if one of the scholars had forgotten something.
As soon as the driver of the buggy stepped down from his rig, Leona realized it was Abner, so she opened the door to see what he wanted.
“I brought a valentine,” he said as he started up the steps.
“What? Oh, I see.” Gathering her wits about her, Leona motioned him into the schoolhouse.
Abner reached into his jacket pocket and handed her an envelope. She was about to open it when she noticed the words on the front. To: MARY ANN.
“Oh no,” Leona moaned.
“What’s wrong?” Abner asked with raised brows. “Did I spell her name wrong?”
She shook her head. “I feel terrible about this, Abner, but I’ve been so busy I forgot to speak with Mary Ann on your behalf.”
His lips drooped as wrinkles appeared on his forehead. “Maybe I’d best take the card back then, since I don’t know how Mary Ann will respond.”
She contemplated his suggestion for a moment but then came up with one of her own. “How would it be if I delivered the card to Mary Ann? That will open the door for me to speak to her about you.”
He nodded, but his frown remained in place. “What if she doesn’t accept the valentine? What if she’s not interested in me at all?”
Then you’ll deal with it—same as I’ve had to deal with Ezra’s untimely death, Leona thought. “It’s better to know now, don’t you think?”
His only reply was a hasty shrug.
Feeling the need to offer Abner a ray of hope, Leona quickly added, “Many Amish women Mary Ann’s age are already married and starting their families, but I know for a fact that she’s been waiting for the right man.” She paused, searching for the right words. “I’m surprised Mary Ann hasn’t realized you could be that man.”
Abner averted his gaze to the floor. “Even though I’ve admired Mary Ann for some time, I’ve never had the nerve to say much to her, so there’s no way she’d know what kind of man I am. Besides,” he added with a grunt, “there ain’t nothin’ special about me.”
“That’s not true, Abner. You’re kind, considerate, and a good provider for your mamm and little bruder. Those are fine qualities that a woman hoping to get married would look for in a husband.”
Abner’s ears turned pink as he started back across the room. “Well, guess I’d best be gettin’ home. Emanuel’s probably there already.”
“Jah, the kinner left awhile ago.” She followed him to the door. “I’ll let you know what Mary Ann has to say about the valentine, and I promise to give it to her right away.”
Abner gave Leona a backward wave and climbed into his buggy. He’d just pulled out of the school yard when Jimmy’s truck pulled in.
Reaching up to make sure her covering was properly in place, she stepped forward to greet him. “Come inside. It’s awfully cold.”
“You can say that again.” He offered her a smile so warm she thought it could have melted the snow covering the school yard.
As soon as they stepped into the schoolhouse, Leona motioned Jimmy over to the stove. “There’s some treats left from our Valentine’s Day party,” she said, pointing to some cookies and a jug of punch on the table. “Would you care for something to eat or drink?”
“That’d be nice.” Jimmy took a chocolate chip cookie and popped it into his mouth. “Umm. . . This is good.” He washed it down with some punch and grinned at her like an eager child. “Did you make these?”
She shook her head. “Naomi Fisher baked ’em.”
“Was that one of your students’ parents I saw leaving in the buggy?” he asked, glancing toward the front window.
“It was Abner Lapp.”
“Came to pick up his little brother, I’ll bet.”
“Actually, the kinner left some time ago. Abner dropped by to deliver this.” She picked up the envelope from her desk. “It’s a valentine card.”
“I see.” Jimmy’s smile turned to a frown. “Guess you won’t be wanting mine then.”
Tears welled up in Leona’s eyes, and she blinked to keep them from spilling over. “You—you brought me a valentine?”
He nodded soberly. “Should have known you probably had a boyfriend and would be getting one from him. It’s just that—well, I’d hoped—” His voice trailed off as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Is it all right if I give it to you, anyway—from one friend to another?”
“Abner’s not my boyfriend,” she stammered. “The card he brought isn’t for me.”
“It’s not?”
“No. He asked me to deliver it to Mary Ann Fisher. He was afraid to give it to her himself.”
Jimmy’s contagious smile was back in place, and he quickly handed her the envelope.
With trembling fingers, Leona tore open the flap and removed the card. It read: In life’s garden, friends are the flowers. Thanks for being my friend, Jimmy.
“Danki. It’s a very nice card, and I’m glad you’re my friend, too.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she
had to blink several times to keep her tears from spilling over. Oh, Jimmy, I wish we could be more than friends.
Jimmy set down his empty cup, then took another cookie and stuffed it in his pocket. “I—uh—need to check on a paint job for Arthur before I head for the Rabers’. I probably should be on my way. Danki for the treat.”
“You’re welcome.” Leona felt a sense of disappointment as she watched him leave the building. If she were willing to open her heart to love again, it would be to someone like Jimmy. But of course that was impossible since she was Amish and he was English. Besides, she was afraid of committing herself to a man, knowing he could be taken from her the way Ezra had been.
As Leona returned to cleaning the room, she released a sigh. Life’s full of disappointments, and losing a loved one is the worst kind. I’ve already suffered several injustices, and I’ll do whatever I can to protect myself from more.
Lydia reached for an orange from the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter and was shocked to discover that it wasn’t a real orange at all. She turned to face Jacob, who sat at the table drinking a glass of milk. “Have you been playing tricks on me again?”
He grinned like a mischievous boy and bobbed his head up and down. “I wanted to see if you’d take notice.”
“Oh, I noticed all right. Almost cut this up to put in the fruit salad I’m making for supper tonight.” She held up the plastic orange. “Where’d you get this?”
“Found it in the one of the houses we was paintin’ last week. The lady who lived there said I could have it.”
Lydia grimaced. What must that woman have thought when a grown man asked for a plastic orange?
“What else are we havin’ for supper?” Jacob asked.
“Chicken potpie, soft bread sticks, pickled beets, and fruit salad.”
“How ’bout dessert?”
“I took a jar of applesauce from the root cellar this afternoon, and we’ll probably have cookies if Leona brings some home from the Valentine’s Day party she had for the scholars.”
“Umm.” Jacob smacked his lips. “Know what, Lydia?”
The Bishop's Daughter Page 24
