An Unlikely Match

by Beth Wiseman

  Evelyn was caught off guard and unable to do more than nod. What would her coworkers think when they saw her pull into the parking lot with this handsome English man?

  “If it’s a problem, no big deal.” He shrugged.

  “Nee, it’s not a problem.” It was the least Evelyn could do. She climbed into the buggy and waited for him to sit beside her, then she slowly tapped the reins. “I’ll take it slow and easy.”

  “I’m in no hurry.” He pulled out his phone and focused on it for a few minutes.

  Evelyn kept a close eye on Millie, relieved the horse wasn’t limping. Finally, she turned to her passenger. “So, what brings you to Montgomery?” No wedding ring, so he didn’t have a wife who’d brought him along on a tourist trip.

  He lifted his eyes to hers, but she quickly looked back at the road.

  “My dad owns a production company. He’s wrapping up a movie, shooting a final scene or two here.” The man—Jayce—spoke in a low voice, but there was an air of contempt that made Evelyn wonder about his relationship with his father.

  “You’re making movie scenes at the inn?” Evelyn couldn’t believe Lizzie and Esther would allow such a thing. Or that the bishop would consent.

  “No. We’re just staying there. Some of us are staying inside the house, and we have a couple motor homes too.” He raised his eyes from his phone and shook his head. “We’ll be here about a month, and I’m dreading every moment.”

  Evelyn wasn’t sure what to say, but when he refocused on his phone again and didn’t offer an explanation, she cleared her throat. “This part of Indiana is very lovely. Hopefully you’ll have time to do some exploring when you aren’t working.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty here. The location isn’t the problem. My father is.” Sighing, he still had his head down as he punched buttons on his phone. Evelyn had been right when she noticed the contempt regarding his father.

  “He’s always wanted me to be involved in his business, but I don’t want anything to do with it. I’m only here because he offered me a lot of money to do the heavy lifting. I just have to survive this month of being around him, then I can move out on my own. Maybe even leave LA altogether.”

  Evelyn was surprised he was sharing so much, and there was no mistaking the bitterness in his voice. “LA?”

  “Los Angeles.” His eyes were still on his phone.

  “Ach, in California.” She’d heard of Los Angeles but suspected it was a busy place she’d never visit.

  After more typing on his phone, he looked over at her. “Sorry. I’m listening. I’m just sending a text for someone to pick me up later. I’m letting him know I’ll text again when I’m ready.” He set the phone on his lap. “You’ve probably seen some of my dad’s movies.”

  “I-I’ve never been to see a movie in a theater.” Evelyn had been in her running-around period for three years now, since she was sixteen, so technically she could break a few rules and venture out, but the opportunity had never presented itself.

  Jayce’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Evelyn shook her head. “Nee. I mean, I could go. I’m not baptized yet.” She raised a shoulder and dropped it slowly as she kept Millie at a slow pace. “I just never have.”

  Jayce closed his mouth and rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, but that’s so weird for me. Is it a rule or something?”

  “I guess it is. But when we turn sixteen, we enter into a rumschpringe. It’s a time for exploration, when we can go out into the Englisch world and experience life before we choose baptism into the Amish faith.”

  The left side of his mouth curled up. “No offense, but you look older than sixteen.”

  “None taken. I’m nineteen.”

  He scratched his chin. “So for the past three years you’ve been allowed to go to the movies, yet you’ve never been?”

  “Ya, that’s right.” She paused. Most folks knew at least a little about the way Amish people lived. This man didn’t seem to have a clue. “It’s a time when our parents turn a blind eye and allow us privileges we won’t have after we’re baptized.”

  He stared at her wordlessly for a few long, awkward moments. “I have no idea how God, baptism, and the movies fit together, but you’re saying you can go see a movie?”

  “Ya.” Evelyn had dated a few men in her small community, but none had asked her to go to a movie. And it hadn’t seemed all that important.

  “Are you allowed to date?” He raised an eyebrow, grinning. “What do you do? Dinner and a movie are kind of a thing where I come from.”

  Evelyn felt herself blush. “Ya, we can date.” She kept her eyes on the road. “We go out for meals at restaurants, and sometimes we go on a picnic. And there are other things to do.”

  “Like what?” He twisted slightly in the seat. She’d captured his full attention but wished she hadn’t. His eyes pierced the short distance between them, and an unwelcome tension settled into a knot in her stomach.

  “There’s the zoo, the corn maze in the fall, or we can always go horseback riding.” She glanced his way, but quickly faced forward again when his leg brushed against hers. “Uh . . . in the winter, we go on sleigh rides. And there are singings held for the young people. We find lots of things to do.”

  He was looking ahead but gave her a sidelong glance as if contemplating something, and the longer he was silent, the larger the knot in her stomach grew.

  “Well, then.” He tipped his head to one side. “We have to go to a movie.”

  Evelyn’s eyes widened. “What?” Was this English stranger asking her out?

  He crinkled his nose and frowned. “Wow. What was I thinking? Someone as gorgeous as you must have a boyfriend.” A swath of his wavy dark hair fell across his forehead. After he pushed it aside, he said, “You need to make him take you to a movie.”

  “Nee, I don’t have a boyfriend.” Evelyn’s chest tightened, and she wished she’d kept quiet. Now she’d opened a door she wasn’t ready to walk through. She was, however, basking in the compliment.

  * * *

  Jayce stared at the beautiful Amish woman far too long, and she refocused on the road. He continued to take in her features. Dark hair tucked beneath that thing on her head, which he assumed had some kind of religious meaning. Green eyes set against a dark olive complexion, like a really good tan from being outside a lot. He’d already noticed her slender figure when her apron was tied around her waist. All other physical details were hidden beneath the dark-green dress she wore.

  The few times she’d smiled, her face lit up. The woman was a knockout.

  “Sorry.” He gave his head a quick shake. “I know I’m staring. I just don’t see how someone as pretty as you isn’t spoken for.” He laughed. “Or hasn’t been to a movie. I grew up in a theater. I love movies, which is ironic because I hate my father’s business, and I’m not fond of enclosed spaces. I do okay as long as I know I can leave. It’s the feeling trapped that bothers me.”

  “I’m not sure I understand.” She glanced his way briefly.

  “For example, elevators are a problem. Even going up one floor makes my heart race.” He shrugged. “Yeah, weird, I know. I’d flip out if I ever got stuck in an elevator. Luckily, that’s never happened.”

  “I don’t think it’s weird.” She spoke with confidence, like she really didn’t think his claustrophobia was odd. She seemed like a sweet girl. Maybe that was why he was oversharing.

  “Theaters, restaurants—even small ones—don’t bother me because I can get up and walk out. Tomorrow I’ll be in a cave while they shoot my dad’s latest movie. Caves are big, spacious, and I can leave anytime I want. If I feel like I’m going to suffocate, I’ll walk outside for a break.”

  She slowed the horse, turned to face him, and with sympathy in her eyes said, “You have to go by boat into the cave. There’s no way in or out except by boat.”

  Jayce felt like a hand was closing around his throat. “You’re kidding.”

  “Nee. Each boat holds twelv
e or thirteen people, I think. To return to the dock, everyone in the boat would have to go back too.”

  Jayce groaned. “I had reservations about this trip, but I’ve been in other caves. And they all had easy exits.” He leaned his head back and momentarily squeezed his eyes closed. No wonder his father offered him a ridiculous amount of money for this project. In addition to wanting Jayce to move out of his apartment, his father would have an opportunity to humiliate him in front of the crew.

  “I’m sure dear old Dad has picked a place that will make me feel like I’m dying.” He half snickered, half growled. “Wow. I sound like a wimp. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.” He was quiet for a few seconds. “Hey, your people are religious, right? Maybe you can pray for me? You can bet I’ll be praying, but I suspect you have a more direct line to the Big Guy.”

  She laughed and her green eyes twinkled against her olive complexion, which rendered her even more beautiful. Wow. “Gott hears all of our prayers equally, but I do think when we pray for others He hears those prayers before the ones we say for ourselves.”

  “Great. I’m going to need an abundance of prayers. As many as you can spare, beginning immediately.” He winked at her and was unsure if she saw the gesture at first, but then she began to blush.

  “In return for all those prayers, I’m going to take you to a movie.” He kept his eyes on hers as they widened. He waited for her to say no.

  Instead, she pointed right. “We turn there, and the Bargain Center is on the left a little farther down.”

  “What night do you want to go to a movie? Unfortunately, I’ll be trapped in caves most days. There’s bound to be a theater not too far away, right?”

  “Um . . .” She looked at him again. “I think the theater in Washington is the closest. It’s only eleven miles away, so the horse can make the trip.”

  He couldn’t stop the grin that covered his face. She didn’t say no! “No, I should pick you up. Isn’t that proper protocol, even here? I’ve got access to cars and drivers. Or we can call a cab or Uber.”

  She giggled, and her eyes twinkled again as her cheeks dimpled. “I’m afraid we don’t have cabs or whatever that other thing is.”

  “Then car it is. What night and what time?” He rubbed his hands together. “This is going to be great—watching someone experience their first movie.”

  She pulled into the parking lot of the mini Walmart and right up to a hitching post. “Well, that’s convenient,” he said as he stepped out of the buggy and waited for her to tether the horse next to two other horses and buggies. “I guess a few Amish people must come here.”

  She grinned. “You might say that.” She leaned down and unwrapped the bloodstained apron square from around the horse’s foot, then straightened. “No more bleeding. But I’ll ask the vet to take a look, just to be sure.”

  Jayce nodded, knowing he was running out of time. “How about tomorrow night at six o’clock? I’ll pick you up and we’ll eat and go see a movie.”

  She was quiet. It was out of character for Jayce to be this pushy about asking a woman out. But he didn’t know much about the Amish rules and worried he might not see her again. He held his breath and waited.

  “I-I guess eating out and seeing a movie would be okay.”

  She said yes!

  “Where should I pick you up?” He heard the eagerness in his voice and wondered if she did too. This would give him something to look forward to.

  She started walking toward the entrance as she rattled off an address, then picked up her pace and strode into the store. Jayce repeated the street and number in his mind over and over as he pulled out his phone and followed her inside. He punched in the address and looked up.

  Wow. His jaw dropped when he took a few steps inside.

  Three

  Evelyn tried to walk ahead of Jayce so it didn’t look like they were together, but he stayed close behind her.

  “Am I the only person in here who isn’t Amish?” His eyes grew wide as he spoke in a whisper. “And there aren’t any men.”

  Evelyn tried to ignore the people peering at them from every direction as she beelined toward the back of the store. There was a line of Amish women waiting to check out and several more in the aisle as Evelyn led the way.

  “The kinner—children—are in school but will be out soon. The store usually fills up this time of day. The women will get their groceries then meet the children at the school, where most of them left their buggies. It’s close enough to walk. The men are at work.” She pointed to a door that read Employees Only. “I have to go get an apron. Hopefully you can find everything you need.” She nodded left. “The deli is that way. To the right, you’ll find household items and food.”

  “Uh, yeah. Okay.” He took a few steps to the right before she closed the door. She found an apron, then scurried to the cash register.

  “Sorry I’m late. Millie got a piece of glass stuck in her foot.” Evelyn switched places with Katie. When she looked at her friend, Katie’s expression mirrored those of the women in line, along with the ones who had stopped in their tracks, all of them ogling Jayce like he was from another planet.

  “Who is that?” Katie asked as she kept her eyes on Jayce. It was impossible not to notice his athletic physique, and surely they’d all seen those mesmerizing eyes when he walked in the store.

  “He’s staying at the inn. Esther and Lizzie’s place. He found me on the road and helped with Millie.” She nudged Katie to step aside and reached for the first item to ring up.

  “Ach, I love mei husband, but that is possibly the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.” Katie shook her head. “I mean, for an Englisch man.”

  Evelyn couldn’t deny how nice-looking Jayce was, but she regretted accepting his invitation to supper and a movie. She didn’t even know him, and he wasn’t Amish. He was age appropriate and handsome, but they had nothing in common. He came from a life she knew nothing about. Clearly he didn’t know anything about Evelyn’s world either.

  She would go to the movie with him, then not see him again. He would be working a lot anyway. She had to admit she was looking forward to seeing a movie.

  As Jayce rounded a corner and disappeared from sight, everyone got back to business, either shopping or waiting patiently in line. Katie walked toward the deli, where she was scheduled to work today.

  Widow Byler gave Evelyn a curious look as she rang up the handful of items, but she didn’t ask about Jayce, nor did any of the other women Evelyn checked out. Everyone began rushing to get in line since the school bell would toll soon.

  Jayce breezed past the women, raised a hand, and said, “I couldn’t find what I needed, but I’ll pick you up at six tomorrow.”

  Evelyn lowered her head. He couldn’t have said it any louder if he’d tried. Now every woman in the store knew she was going out with the handsome English man tomorrow evening.

  She slowly lifted her eyes. Most of the ladies were eyeing her with speculation. Widow Byler crinkled her nose from where she stood near the exit. Evelyn didn’t say anything and continued ringing up the groceries. The entire town would be talking about Jayce and Evelyn by the end of the day. Montgomery wasn’t immune to gossip, and Widow Byler was the queen bee when it came to spreading news.

  Maybe she should cancel the date. Except most people wouldn’t know if she canceled, so the damage was already done. Maybe she should tell the few ladies still in line that she was going to show him around because he was a guest at the inn. But that would be a lie. No matter which direction her mind traveled, a fib met her at every turn.

  She pressed her lips together and stayed quiet. Everyone looked up when a long black limousine pulled into the parking lot. Even Evelyn’s mouth fell open. Is that the way Jayce always travels? She hoped he didn’t show up at her house in that fancy car tomorrow night.

  She hadn’t factored in what her parents and brothers would think about her going out with an English man, particularly her father. But she would tell
them the truth. He helped her with Millie, and she didn’t feel like she could turn down his kind offer of supper. Would omitting mention of the movie make it a partial version of the truth? Both of her brothers had taken girls to the movies.

  No matter how she spun it, her description of the evening felt like a lie. What she couldn’t tell her family, or anyone else, was how wildly attracted she was to Jayce. And it wasn’t just his looks. It was the compassion he showed Millie and the way the horse had nudged him and allowed Jayce to help.

  A date with an English man who would be gone in a month shouldn’t feel like a threat at all. How much could she possibly feel for him in such a short time? She was probably just getting ahead of herself. They were going out tomorrow night, and that would be the end of it.

  * * *

  Jayce slid into the front seat of the limo. Unlike his father and the others, he preferred to sit up front with their hired driver, Billy.

  “What are you doing way over here? You walk all this way?” Billy was about his father’s age, but a whole lot nicer.

  “I got mad at the old man and took off on foot to clear my head. Then I helped an Amish damsel in distress.” He paused, smiling. “A beautiful Amish damsel in distress.”

  “What was wrong with her?” Billy’s eyebrows drew inward in a concerned expression.

  “Actually, she was okay. It was her horse. The mare had a piece of glass in one of her hooves, stuck right in the side of the shoe. I was able to get it out. Then I remembered I forgot my socks and a couple other things, so she let me ride here with her. She works inside.” He nodded to the store as Billy pulled out of the parking lot. “But they didn’t have socks or the other things. I’ll hit Walmart in the next day or so.”

  “What were you and your father fighting about this time?” Billy frowned as he turned onto the main highway.

  “He was out of line this time. I know sometimes it’s my fault, but not this time.” Jayce pulled his visor down to block the sun. “There was this older man. He came in the dining room when I was eating.” He glanced at Billy. “By the way, you should have eaten when we got there. Best meal I’ve ever had.” He waved a dismissive hand and looked out the window.