Was the doddy house blanketed in snow, too? Or had Ivan cleared the drive so that Jake could work? Maybe he didn’t work Saturdays. She tried to pull her thoughts away from Jake Byler, but once again they stubbornly fixed upon their unexpected meeting. Every time she went over it, she felt coerced, boxed in, and smothered, clawing to strike out at him and Lil. Katy smiled wryly, remembering how she’d vetoed the patterned dinnerware for plain white plates, just for the sake of defiance. And for once, Lil had backed down. Would they survive as roommates without Megan living with them to keep the peace?
In spite of Jake’s return and Lil’s manipulations, Katy felt a sense of accomplishment and personal freedom over her anticipated move into the doddy house. She might be trapped in a nanny job she didn’t want and forced to accept Jake’s return to the community, but she was moving into a new season of life where she could find her own niche in the community. She’d be washing her own dishes from now on, not her folks’. She’d be living out her faith, not theirs.
She dried her hands on her apron and startled. Then pressing her face to the window for a closer look, she watched a familiar automobile turn into the newly cleared lane. The shiny black car that braked next to the snowplow could only belong to one person. At that instant, she was glad she prayed over the little paper she kept in her Bible—the one where forbidden marred Jake’s name. The husband qualities below it reminded her of David. His smiling face was just what she needed.
Slathering on some lotion, she ran to a hall mirror and checked her hair, straightening her head covering. Then she answered the door. “Hey, you’re out and about early.”
“Dad sent me out to run errands. I ended up trapped behind a snowplow and thought I’d stop in to stall.”
Backing up, she held open the door. “Come in. I’ll make coffee.”
He glanced down at his snowy boots. “Actually, I can’t stay that long. But I wondered if you’d like to go on a sleigh ride tonight?”
Feeling a trickle of mounting excitement, not only because of the time she would spend with David, but also because she’d never gone on a sleigh ride before, Katy nodded. “Sure. That sounds fun.”
He brushed back a stray strand of hair and displayed his dimple. He hadn’t shaved, and she liked the rugged look. Usually, he looked so perfect, but this natural side of him brought out his masculinity.
“Great. I’ll be over about seven. Dress warm. And wear that scarf that makes you so stunning.”
Involuntarily, her hand fluttered at her waist searching for her apron pockets, but she’d removed it earlier. “Aren’t you sweet?”
A golden glint danced in his eyes. He straightened and rolled his shoulders so that his chest swelled and his coat brushed his chin, drawing her attention back to his intriguing hint of a beard. “We’ll see how long I can keep up the charade. Usually after about the third date, most girls dump me.”
Katy flinched. Was he flirting or was that a challenge? Had he somehow heard about the three-date deal she’d made with her dad? Her heart raced with confusion.
He touched her cheek with his glove. “See you tonight.”
David Miller was an intriguing riddle.
The huge horse, a blond Belgian draft with white feet and mane, was borrowed from David’s Amish neighbors. The animal quivered with impatience.
“Is the sleigh the Beachys’, too?” Katy asked.
“Yep,” David replied. “Ever since I can remember, they’ve taken me on at least one ride each winter.” He helped her up onto the seat of the simple box sleigh. “Now that the Beachys are getting up in years, the horses don’t get enough use. The Beachys usually get someone to drive them to town these days. You know they sold Ivan’s property to him?”
She nodded. The sleigh heaved under his weight as he climbed up next to her and took the reins.
“Last year, I took their grandkids out a time or two. Now they trust me with their horses. He pulled out a lap blanket and placed it over Katy’s skirt. “You might need this till you get used to the cold.” He gave the reins a flick. “Giddyup, Jack!”
A full moon gave the snowy evening a pristine glow and provided a soft backdrop for the black goblins that reached from dark trunks toward the passing sleigh. The silent world painted with only black and white seemed unnatural without color, the black so stark against the white. Lil would probably argue it was the other way around. Katy had to wonder if David had felt a bit creepy driving over alone through the lonely countryside. She’d always been a little afraid of the dark herself. Thankfully, the sounds of beast and human made the night less eerie, the soothing clopping of hooves, the creak of leather and wood, and the companionable timbre of her male companion’s voice.
The glittering sky, however, gave her an awareness of her insignificance, and the feeling balled up unwelcome in her throat. She wondered if he felt it, too. Glancing sideways, she said, “It’s different out here like this. Almost like the night could swallow us up.”
“It’s pretty.” He cast her a glance. “Like you.”
“No. It almost feels like we shouldn’t be here, like we’re trespassing in somebody else’s world.” She shivered then, not sure if it was from the cold or the idea. It was a familiar one, feeling like a foreigner in an outsider’s world. Oftentimes, she felt insignificant. The outsiders’ world was confusing. The Conservatives’ world was constrictive, yet comforting because it was the most familiar. It was where she fit in best.
His hand slipped over her shoulder. “Come closer.”
She inched over so he could still shelter her from the wind, yet their bodies weren’t touching, and adjusted the blanket. “Do you ever think about how the Amish live? What it would be like?”
“I’ve thought about it. The sleigh is nice tonight, great for a date, but I can’t imagine life without my car. I don’t think I’d like that much. Aren’t very many Amish buggies around Plain City anymore, but my dad’s good friends with our neighbors, says it’s a shame most of the Amish moved out of the community because just having them around added a missing element.”
“What’s that?”
“The desire for a simple life. Even if we don’t choose to follow their way, it’s nice to know it’s still possible to make a stand like that. It takes courage not to follow the crowd.”
She thought about her predicament with her nanny job. “You’re right.” She warmed her nose with her glove. “I have some Amish cousins.”
David burst out laughing. “Doesn’t everybody?”
They both laughed.
He drew his sleeve across his eyes and then glanced over to study her, allowing Jack to keep to the road on his own for a bit. “I hear Jake Byler is remodeling the doddy house.”
She flinched. Of course he would know because his brother owned the property. “That was all Lil’s doing,” she clarified. “Jake and I have a history, and she thinks this will help us get past the awkwardness, since he’s back to stay. They’re close, being cousins, and she thinks we all have to be one big merry family, I guess.” Katy gave him a contrite smile. “Plus, he gave us a really cheap bid.”
“Is he? The big-brother type?”
“He’s the type to avoid. Lil hired him behind my back. I’m still ticked. But he does need the work, too.”
“Sounds like you’re making excuses for him.”
She tilted her head. “I don’t mean to. Guess I’m just repeating what Lil said, trying to deal with the situation.” She suddenly straightened. “We’re headed in that direction, aren’t we?”
“Yep. You have a key?”
She grinned. “In my purse.”
“Then let’s check out his work. Maybe we can get something warm to drink from Elizabeth before we head back.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She knew she should avoid dark, secluded places with a date.
“Just a quick look. Elizabeth will see us turn in the drive and be expecting us.”
That was almost like having a chaperone, and it was
considerate of him. She stole several long, contemplative glances at him. “Okay.”
At the doddy house, David worked the key in the lock while she held a lantern they’d found inside the sleigh. She felt a naughty elation, checking out the place alone after Lil and Jake’s conniving. Well, not exactly alone.
“Watch out for the plastic on the floor,” she warned.
He took the lantern from her. “I see it and a few other obstacles, too. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to trip you like I did on our last date.” He skirted her around a pail filled with a few tools and nails and a roll of electric wire.
Sweet of him to take the blame for that. If it weren’t so personal, she’d ask him if his knees still bore bruises. If he’d limped the next day. She bit back a smile. If he’d gotten a new tire.
Jake had torn off most of the kitchen’s old plaster and started the wiring. As they walked through the house, she noticed holes in the other walls and some in the ceiling.
“He’ll drop the electric down through the walls and put switches and outlets there.” David set the lantern on the floor. They stood in the center of the darkly lit room. It grew quiet, the seclusion of their surroundings conducive to a feeling of intimacy. He captured both her hands, and she warmed inside. His voice was low and kind. “Do you know when you’ll move in?”
Her breath caught at the intensity of his hazel gaze that bore into hers, drawing her in as though he meant to kiss her. She felt embarrassed when her voice sounded too breathless. “I don’t know how long the work will take.” She wet her lips, glanced at the walls. “Doesn’t look like they started the plumbing.” She looked into his eyes again. “Guess I was too angry to ask the important questions.”
His thumb caressed her hand through their gloves. “Can I help you move?”
She swallowed, nodding. “Thanks.” She drank in his quiet confidence and floated to a higher plane. Not that she was needy. But her toes tingled with anticipation of what he would do next.
He kept caressing her knuckles. It was almost like he was waiting for her to make the next move, but she wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.
Finally, he said, “Katy Yoder, will you”—he paused, showed his dimple. His face was now freshly shaved, and he looked younger than he had earlier that morning.
“What?”
“Share a hot chocolate with me?”
He really was a tease. She bit her lip, caught up in the flirtation. “You’re practicing for the day you pop the big question to some lucky girl, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Yes, I will. I’m so thrilled you asked,” she played along. “Only, that wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. You definitely need more practice. Aren’t you supposed to go down on one knee or something?”
“Already did. Both knees. In front of all our friends, too.” Grinning, he released one of her hands and scooped up the lantern.
A cup of hot chocolate and a shared blueberry muffin later, they were headed back down the snowy road. “The horses always go faster on their way home, don’t they?” she asked.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Wish they’d go slower. Will I get to see you again?”
“You did offer to help us move.”
“Before that.”
Moved with guilt over her three-date deal—he was making this far too easy—she made a mental note to at least date him four times just for the sake of … She looked away from him to the eerie landscape.
“Tough decision?”
“Yes. I’d like to get to know you better.” She placed her hand on his arm. “Only I’m not really looking for a relationship. Anything serious.”
“I wasn’t out looking, either. I just felt attracted to you.” Silence pervaded for several moments. “Are you worried my feelings are stronger than yours?”
She dropped her hand and smiled. “So you’re a guy who talks about feelings?”
“I’m glad you’re good at keeping secrets ’cause that’s another one to add to your list.”
She laughed. “I won’t spread the word that you’re a mushy guy.”
“Oh man.” He shook his head.
She took pity on him. “I enjoy spending time with you. Yes, I’d like to see you again before I move into the doddy house.”
His cheek twitched. “How about next Saturday then? We could drive into Columbus and have dinner at a nice restaurant.”
“Want to go to Lil’s place?”
“Do we need reservations?”
“I don’t think so, but if we do, I’ll take care of it.”
She was pleased because all their dates had been fun, and it appeared the next one would be, too. She’d been wanting to see the restaurant where Lil worked, anyway. They rode in amiable silence except for the soothing horse noises and the creaking of harness and sleigh. When they reached Katy’s house, he walked around the front of the sleigh and patted the horse’s velvety nose before he helped her down. At the door, she turned to face him, but he was so close, she nearly bumped into him. A nervous giggle escaped her lips, and she saw the dimple dance in his left cheek. She glanced up.
He swallowed.
She winced. He had a prominent Adam’s apple. Or was his neck too skinny? Her budding attraction died on the spot, and there wasn’t a thing she could do to stop it.
He tipped her chin, lightly brushing her lips with his. “Good night, Katy.”
“Good night,” she whispered, overcome with the desire to put distance between them.
Inside, she reached the second-floor landing before she realized she’d forgotten to hang her coat in the downstairs hall closet. When his lips had touched hers, not only had it felt strangely cold, but she had envisioned Jake’s face, leaving her feeling guilty and ashamed.
As nice as David was and as fun as the sleigh ride had been, she hated herself for using him. She hated how in the end, she would hurt him, because Jake’s return had shown her the truth. She wasn’t ready to start a relationship with anyone else. No matter how nice of a guy he was or how much her dad desired it.
CHAPTER 9
The churchwomen threw a baby shower in Elizabeth Miller’s honor, and since Elizabeth was Katy’s new landlord, she felt obligated to attend. The night of the shower, however, Katy had to go alone because her mom needed to stay home with her little brothers, who had caught winter colds.
When Katy arrived at the meetinghouse, the gravel parking lot was already filled with cars. She turned off the ignition, and an unexpected shiver passed through her body, most likely only weariness from a tedious day of cleaning and babysitting and hopefully not the beginning of a cold. When she flicked off her headlights, the dark, moonless night sent prickles along her spine, and she quickened her steps across the parking lot.
Inside the fellowship hall, the buzz of female voices floated to her through the narrow hall, easing her inexplicable jitters. Moving toward the source of the din, she stepped into a large, multipurpose room, and Megan instantly waved her over.
“Hey, green bean. You feeling better?”
Megan looked great, clad in a navy pencil skirt that hit below the knees and a white crewneck sweater. Megan reached up and tucked some hair behind one ear, the rest of her straight blond mane shimmering well below her shoulder blades. “I am. I came home for the shower.” Her voice grew animated. “Lil says there’s progress at the doddy house.”
“Where is she?” Katy involuntarily glanced toward the kitchen.
“Working.” She followed Megan’s glance and located Lil at one of the two pink-clad tables, stabbing homemade pickles, easing them out of their canning jar, and arranging them on an oval serving platter. “I heard about Jake. Dad told me he came before the elder board to make things right with the church,” Megan said.
Katy’s head whipped back toward her friend, her mind racing. “You’re kidding. My dad didn’t tell me about that.”
“Probably wanted to spare your feelings.”
She remembered her bedroom’s broken windo
wpane. So her dad had withheld important information from her while Lil barged in to control the situation. She clasped her chapped hands together, hating such manipulation.
“They meant well, I’m sure.”
Bless Megan’s heart, she understood the reason for Katy’s rising anger. And as usual, if Katy dug deep enough, she could see that her friend was right. For when it came to Jake, no matter how her friends and family responded, they wouldn’t be able to please her. Jake deserved her anger, not everyone else. “You’re right. Let’s go look at the cake.”
When they reached the table, Lil waved a slow-cooker lid. “Hi, guys.”
The cake had tiny pink bows for decoration and was scalloped with ribbon. “Cute cake,” Katy commented. “Can you do that ribbon thing, Lil?”
“Sure. That looks easy.”
As they spoke, a loud crash resonated from the kitchen, followed by an interval of heavy silence. Inez Beachy, an older woman whose head covering still had Amish strings, hurried to the front of the room and used the lull to get everyone’s attention. She said a quick prayer over the food, and at the Amen, a wave of women started ambling toward Katy and her friends.
Megan elbowed her. “Quick. Let’s head up the line.”
They grabbed pink plates, and Katy filled hers with a whoopee pie, some nuts, and a meatball.
Katy and Megan found seats near the front, where they could watch Elizabeth open her baby gifts. The party launched and was soon in full swing, with the church sisters losing themselves in the wonder of tiny, hand-knitted booties and doll-sized dresses.
“Make you want to play house?” Megan asked with a smirk. “I heard you’re dating David Miller. I miss one Sunday and when I come back, you’ve already had two dates in one week.”
“Hush!”
“You went with him to the skating party. It’s not a secret.”
“No kidding.” Katy pulled an exaggerated frown then with her next breath caught a faint whiff of something abnormal. Perhaps because of her earlier apprehension in the parking lot, she furrowed her brow and inhaled more deeply. She caught it again, only stronger. Touching Megan’s wrist, she asked, “What’s that funny smell?”
Plain City Bridesmaids Page 9
