Where the Heart Takes You

by Virginia Wise

  Greta thought about the way Jacob’s eyes locked on hers when he awoke. Her heart quickened at the memory and a soft smile formed on her lips. He felt what I felt, I am sure of it. He does remember. The memory stayed with her as she kneeled in the damp earth by the river and plunged the bucket into the sparkling water. As she picked her way back through the muddy field, she wondered what Catrina thought of Jacob’s reaction. I don’t think she knows how to take it. I am sure that she has always been favored over other women. I need to be thoughtful of her feelings. If Jacob really did feel a connection with me, Catrina is bound to be hurt.

  When she reached the cabin, the shutters were closed against the chill and she imagined the warm glow of firelight that flickered behind the wooden slats. I cannot stay away any longer. I have to find a way to sit with Jacob without creating conflict with Catrina. But, I cannot just give up on Jacob! Especially now that he has given me hope. Greta took a deep breath and opened the rough oak door.

  Jacob’s expression softened when he saw Greta in the threshold, her silhouette backlit by the setting sun. The golden rays bathed her in light like a Renaissance painting. He drank in her red cheeks, sparkling green eyes, and gentle smile. “Greta.” His voice sounded hoarse and tired, but Greta thought she could sense the eagerness in his tone as he spoke her name.

  “Jacob.”

  Catrina’s face fell as Greta strode to Jacob’s bedside. “Oh, Greta! Look at you. Really, dear. You must change into a clean apron. What on earth have you been doing?”

  Greta looked down and noticed the mud stains on her skirts and the wood chips clinging to her bodice. She felt incompetent and unattractive beside Catrina’s neat and careful appearance. Greta wanted to turn and run, but stood her ground and waited for Jacob’s reaction as she tucked her curls back under her prayer kappe.

  A tired half smile formed on his lips. “So tell me, what have you been up to out there?”

  “I harvested your kitchen garden, carried the split logs you left by the woodpile out back and stacked them by the door, and fetched enough water to see you through the night, should the fever return.”

  “Did you really?”

  Greta shrugged. “It needed to be done.”

  Jacob’s smile widened. Catrina watched with surprise as he reached up and wiped a smudge of dirt from Greta’s cheek.

  “You found yarrow, brought down my fever, and did my chores. And, I haven’t forgotten that you saved my hen last week.” He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. The grin stayed on his face.

  Catrina’s expression of surprise turned to one of hurt. “I do not understand this. You only have eyes for her?” She stood up and shook her head. “This is not fair.” Her lip trembled and she grabbed the rough log wall to steady herself. “I feel sick.”

  “Catrina.” Jacob kept his voice low and even. “Catrina. That is enough.”

  “No. I feel sick.” She stumbled away from the bedstead and collapsed onto the dirt floor. Greta gasped and rushed to her side. She felt Catrina’s forehead and shook her head. “She is burning up, Jacob. She is sick.”

  Jacob pushed the quilt aside and tried to get up.

  Greta put up a hand. “Don’t you dare get out of that bed, Jacob Miller. You must rest.” Greta bit her lip and felt Catrina’s forehead again. “Is your horse still lame?”

  “She is doing all right. As long as you don’t push her too hard.”

  Greta nodded. “I am going to take Catrina home. Her grandparents can look after her.”

  “Can you manage?”

  “Certainly.”

  Jacob smiled. “Ja. I can see that. I think that you could manage just about anything.”

  Greta laughed. “That is a far cry from your first impression of me, Jacob.”

  Jacob looked embarrassed and then returned her smile. “My first impression of you was wrong, Greta. Very, very wrong.”

  * * *

  Greta helped Catrina through the threshold of the Witmer cabin. “You will be fine. Your grandmother will—” Greta stopped in midsentence. “Oh no.” Frena Witmer crouched beside a low bedstead built into the wall of the cabin. Her husband twitched and mumbled as he lay huddled beneath a quilt. Frena felt the man’s wrinkled forehead and looked up at the young woman with glassy eyes and a pale face.

  Greta sighed. “I should have checked on you when you did not come back today.”

  The elderly woman shook her head. “You had your hands full with Jacob.” She studied Catrina’s ashen face. “My granddaughter has taken ill?”

  “Ja.” Greta guided Catrina to her pallet on the floor. “I am sorry.”

  “And Jacob?”

  “Out of danger.”

  “Praise be.”

  Greta nodded, unrolled Catrina’s bedding, and tucked the young woman beneath a colorful quilt. “You must rest, Frena. I will stay here to help. You go on and lie down.”

  Frena managed a weak smile. “Danke. But what about your own household? Are they still well?”

  Greta nodded. “Ja. And Ruth will care for the twins until I return.”

  “You should all be fine as long as you stay out of the night air.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Do promise me that you will not walk home after dark, when the vapors are about. You must stay here. The sun is setting.” She shook her head. “Do not go back out.”

  “Do not worry, Frena. I will stay here and take care of you all.”

  The elderly woman broke into a coughing fit. She pointed a bony finger at the window and cleared her throat. “Latch the shutters. I took the oilcloth out last week during the warm spell and the night air can get in now.”

  Greta nodded and walked to the window. The tree line stood like a row of soldiers at the edge of the clearing. Beyond that, the sky bruised a deep purple as evening faded into night. Greta sighed as she closed the shutters against the shadows. She thought of Jacob, alone in the dark interior of his cabin, waiting for her to return. Keep him well until I can get back to him, Lord. There are others who need me now. Greta turned toward the sick family and took a deep breath. Help me to help them. And please help me to do my best for Catrina—no matter how much she exasperates me!

  The hours crept by. Greta checked fevers, adjusted quilts, and offered sips of cool water. A storm rolled in and she arranged bowls across the dirt floor to catch the raindrops that leaked through the roof. Greta listened to the quiet ping of water hitting water until she dozed off by the hearth. She woke up cold, stoked the fire, and fell back asleep.

  Catrina coughed and woke Greta up again. She rose from the fireside, felt the woman’s forehead, and then checked on Georg and Frena.

  “Greta?”

  “Ja.” She walked back to Catrina’s pallet.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Making sure that you pull through this.”

  “You are here to take care of me?”

  Greta shrugged. “Your grandparents, too. But they are doing all right. You are the one who causes me concern.”

  Catrina frowned. “I fear that I would not have done that for you.”

  Greta shrugged again. “I know.”

  Catrina’s frown deepened. “That must be what Jacob sees in you.”

  “What?”

  “Kindness.” Catrina shook her head. “I have been trying to figure it out.”

  “Figure what out?”

  “His feelings for you.” Catrina broke into another coughing spell and Greta handed her a cup of water. Catrina took a few sips and handed it back. “I am getting the strangest idea that he prefers you.”

  Greta did not respond.

  “I am beautiful. I know I am.”

  “Ja.” Greta sighed. “Everyone knows it.”

  “But he seemed so impressed by you when he woke up from his fever.”

  “Catrina, you have to see that there are more important qualities than a pretty face.”

  Catrina frowned.

  “If you do not understand th
en I cannot explain it to you.”

  Catrina thought for a moment, then looked at Greta with a quizzical expression. “How did you know how to help Jacob when he was sick? I cannot figure out how it came so easily to you.”

  Greta shrugged. “I just knew. When I am around him it feels as if I have always known him. Everything just comes naturally.”

  “I should have known that you did not mean it when you said that you had no interest in him.” She looked away. “It is true, is it not? You do hope that he will court you.”

  Greta looked down at her hands. She paused and wondered how to respond. “Ja. I do. I am sorry that I did not tell the truth earlier.”

  Catrina’s face crumpled. She sank back into the quilt and turned her face away.

  * * *

  The next morning, Catrina took a turn for the worse. Greta soaked a compress in vinegar and shook her head. “I wish that I had yarrow.” She searched the Witmers’ cache of herbs, but found nothing that would help sweat out a fever. She had just given up when she heard a knock at the door.

  “Come in.”

  Berta Riehl and Emma Knepp strode in. “We have heard that there is sickness in this house.”

  “Ja.”

  The elderly women waved Greta aside. “Get some rest before you fall ill yourself. We will take over for a while. Abraham and Amos can manage without us for the day.”

  “Danke. But I think the best thing that I can do right now is to gather more yarrow. Catrina needs it. Jacob could use another dose too, I imagine.”

  Berta nodded. “Yarrow would do Catrina a world of good.” She looked at the young woman and clucked her tongue. “She is not doing well.”

  “No. Her grandparents have begun to recover, I think. But Catrina has not been so fortunate.”

  “Ja.” Emma nodded. “Off you go then. And hurry back.”

  Berta put a hand on Greta’s arm. “But do be careful. The rain was terrible last night. The creeks have flooded.”

  Greta nodded and hurried out of the cabin, leaving the warm scent of woodsmoke behind her as she stepped into the brightness of a new day.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jacob woke up and stretched. He realized that, for the first time in days, he felt like himself again. I wonder how long I have been asleep. He pushed himself out of bed and threw open the shutters. A brilliant blue sky greeted him. Jacob breathed deeply. It is so good to be up and alive.

  He turned back to the dim interior of the cabin and felt an unexpected sense of loss. Everywhere he looked he saw signs of Greta. He could vaguely remember her sitting by the fire, or hovering by his bedside. He could still feel her cool hands against his hot, fevered skin. The cabin is so empty and still without her.

  Jacob dressed quickly and went to check on the livestock. He smiled as he rounded the corner of the cabin. There she was, humming a tune and swinging a basket as she walked across the field. Jacob raised his hand in greeting, but Greta did not see. She was too intent on her errand.

  He leaned against the side of the house and watched her cut through the wild grasses. The sun shone against her white prayer kappe and illuminated her rosy cheeks. Jacob’s heart swelled as his eyes followed her carefree movements and innocent expression. He watched as she picked her way down the hill to the edge of the creek and pause when she reached the water. Her head turned one way, then the other, as she studied the wild current rush past.

  Jacob straightened up and frowned. She is not going to try to cross the creek, is she? Not after all the rain last night. He watched Greta take a careful step forward. The water lapped at her shoes. She hesitated and then stepped onto a stone as she waved her arms for balance.

  “Greta. Don’t.” But Jacob knew that she could not hear him above the roaring current. He hurried down the hill. Doesn’t she know those rocks are slick with moss? Jacob cupped his hand around his mouth. “Greta! It is not safe!”

  She did not turn around. Her eyes stayed on the water as she searched for a larger, more stable rock. She switched the basket to her left hand and hitched up her skirts with her right hand. Her head nodded, one, two, three, and Jacob could tell that she was counting. On three, she leapt for the larger rock. Jacob’s heart flew into his throat, but she stuck the landing.

  Greta grinned, took another long leap, and landed safely on the far side. Jacob let out a long, shaky breath. Thank you, Lord. He watched her scramble up the muddy bank and into a patch of weeds. Jacob continued to make his way to the creek as he watched Greta stuff handfuls of yarrow into her basket. He grimaced as she turned back toward the water and scampered down the bank. “Wait! Let me help you!” But Greta did not hear his voice above the howl of the water. Her head stayed down as she studied the stepping-stones and she did not even realize that he was there. Jacob broke into a run. “Wait!”

  The first stone sat far from the bank and Greta narrowed her eyes as she considered the distance. She clenched her jaw, whispered a prayer, and jumped for it. Her feet slid out from under her as soon as they hit the stone. Her arms spun like windmills as she tried to regain her balance, but she crashed into the water.

  Jacob exploded into a sprint. “I am coming! Hold on!” He knew she could not hear him above the roaring current, but he called to her anyway. “You will be all right! I am almost there!” Please, Lord. Do not let her drown. Please, please do not let her drown. Every muscle burned with purpose as Jacob flew across the field and raced through the stand of trees to the edge of the bank. Greta was already gone.

  Jacob stared into the churning river. Where is she? His stomach felt as tight as a fist as he watched for a sign of life. Seconds passed. And then Greta’s head popped up downstream. She coughed and sputtered. “Help me!” But the river had carried her too far for Jacob to reach her. Greta kicked and flailed as the water sucked her under again.

  Jacob took off in her direction. He stared into the empty water as his feet pounded along the bank, but he saw only the reflection of trees and sun. He tried to calculate how far downstream she must be. Long, terrible seconds passed. Jacob could only hear the roar of the current and the beat of his heart.

  Greta’s head appeared again, closer this time. Jacob’s stomach leapt into his chest and he pushed his body to run even faster. Greta saw him and opened her mouth to shout. But water rushed between her lips and she disappeared again.

  Jacob leapt over a fallen log and crashed into the creek. He could see her just beneath the surface of the water. Her hair spread out like a fan, the chestnut curls rippling in the current.

  * * *

  Greta’s fingers clawed toward the surface, but her waterlogged skirts pulled her deeper. She could see the blue sky far above, rippling beyond the water. But she knew she could not reach it. The whitewater slapped and beat her down with cold, angry hands.

  Her eyes blurred with water and her lungs burned. The creek wrapped around her like a blanket as it dragged her downward. She felt her body relax and give up. The light above the surface began to fade. As the cold dark encircled her, she knew that there was no way out. Her last thought was of Jacob. She wished with all of her strength that she had declared her love while there was still time.

  As her eyes closed in defeat, Greta felt arms wrap around her waist with a ferocious intensity. Warm, living flesh burned against hers. She felt her body moving upward as strong hands pressed against the current. And then the world went black.

  * * *

  “It’s all right. I’ve got you now. It’s all right.” Jacob felt Greta collapse against his chest. Her slim body felt as limp as a doll. He threw his weight against the current and pushed toward the shallows, one arm wrapped around her body, the other braced against the force of the water. The river slapped and knocked him back, but he fought until his lungs and legs screamed with effort. Der Herr, give me strength. Adrenaline surged through Jacob’s body. He set his jaw, forged through the last few yards of water, and stumbled to the bank.

  Jacob laid Greta’s slack body on the wet green
grass. She did not move. He felt a fresh rush of panic. “Greta.” He ran the back of his hand across her cheek. Her pale skin felt as cold as frost. “Greta.” He shook her gently. “Greta!” He could feel his world collapse and spin out of control in a horrible, unstoppable motion. “Please, Greta. Please!”

  He rolled Greta onto her side and patted her back. “Come on, Greta. Breathe!” He felt her twitch. “That’s it, Greta. Come on! Please!” A terrible cough erupted from her lungs. Her body shook. “That’s it! Come on, Greta!” She coughed again. Jacob patted her back harder. “Greta. It is going to be all right. That’s it. Get it all out.”

  Her eyelids fluttered open.

  “Greta! Greta, darling! You are going to be all right. You are going to be all right!”

  “Jacob. You came for me.”

  “Of course I did. Of course I came for you.” He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in as he hid tears of relief. “I thought I lost you, Greta.” He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against hers. “I thought I lost you.” He held her close as the warmth returned to her body, and he wished that he never had to let her go.

  “I see now.” He kept his arms locked around her.

  “What do you see?”

  “How wrong I was.”

  Greta smiled. “Wrong about what?”

  “I was wrong to think that there could ever be anyone but you.”

  “Oh, Jacob!” She squeezed him more tightly and felt a deep, happy ache in her throat.

  “Greta. Dear, sweet Greta. I have known it since the day I met you.”

  “When Rose trampled your garden?”

  “Yes!” He laughed and held her even tighter. “I knew from the time I first laid eyes on you, when you landed on your backside in the dirt and tried to look dignified. I love you, Greta Scholtz. I have always loved you.”

  “Oh, Jacob! I have always loved you!” Greta felt so full of joy and relief that she thought she might burst. Jacob covered her face and hair in kisses, then pulled her to her feet, picked her up, and spun her around. Greta shrieked with delight as he held her aloft. He grinned and spun her around again. “You weigh no more than a feather.”