Jacob set her back on her feet and pulled her to him. “Ever since the day I carried you home, I have wanted to pick you up again.” Greta laughed into his chest as she stood wrapped in his arms. She could feel the warmth of his skin through his homespun shirt. “Why did we wait so long to admit how we truly feel?”
Jacob sighed and ran his fingers through her long, wet hair, his eyes deep with longing. “I was afraid to love you.” He shook his head. “After all that I had lost, I could not accept that we were meant to be together. I had to push you away.” He laid his cheek across the crown of her head and closed his eyes. “Forgive me.”
“And I am sorry for my pride. Ruth warned me that it would be my downfall. I almost lost you because of it. I did not want you to know that I loved you.”
He let out a long, hard sigh. “Ja. You had me fooled. I never would have given Catrina a second thought if I had known how you really felt. I thought that you wanted nothing to do with me.”
“And I thought that I was no match for Catrina.”
Jacob pulled back from their embrace to look Greta in the eye. “That is why you started ignoring me?”
“I knew that I could not compete with her.”
“No one can compare to you, Greta Scholtz.”
“Catrina is very beautiful. And everything about her seems perfect.” Greta tightened her grip on Jacob’s arm. “I thought that you were in love with her.”
“Never.” He shook his head and pulled her close again. “I have never met a woman like you before. So full of life. So determined . . .” He grinned and shook his head again, overwhelmed that this strong, capable woman was really his.
They stood in silence for a long, wonderful moment, until Greta shivered with cold. Jacob caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “We need to get you warmed up. No more standing outside in those wet clothes.”
Greta gazed into his dark, smoldering eyes. “I do not want this moment to end.” Jacob smiled and kissed her forehead, then took her hand and led her up the embankment. “I have to take you home before you catch cold.” He stayed close by her side as they walked. He could feel the heat of her body and hear the soft rhythm of her breath. “I cannot bear the thought that I almost lost you. What were you doing trying to cross the creek, anyway?”
“I was going for more yarrow. It grows on the far side of the creek.”
Jacob frowned. “It was too great a risk.”
Greta shrugged. “Catrina has a terrible fever. I did not feel that I had a choice. I had to do what I could to help.”
Jacob raised Greta’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “You have a heart of gold.”
She shook her head. “Anyone would do the same.”
A troubled expression passed over Jacob’s face. “I do not think that Catrina would have done the same for you. The more time that I spent with her, the more I realized that she is not Plain in her heart.” He sighed. “I wonder if she will ever belong here.”
Greta nodded. “I just do not know.”
Jacob squeezed her hand. “Der Herr does. He will make a clear path for her.”
“She is going to take this hard. I am sorry that our love will bring her pain.”
Jacob shrugged. “I think it might be what she needs. Sometimes der Herr allows us to be taken down a peg to teach us how to be better people. She needs to learn that beauty is not as valuable as character. A man should choose character over beauty every time.”
Greta glanced at Jacob with a twinkle in her eye. “Are you saying that I am not beautiful, Jacob Miller?”
Jacob gazed back into her eyes. His expression turned serious. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Greta Scholtz.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“My word!” Ruth stood up from the three-legged stool by the fire. “You look like a drowned rat!”
Greta shrugged and ran her hand over her soggy curls.
“And why are you grinning like that, when you look half drowned?”
Greta just smiled. Peter and Eliza leapt up and ran to her as they shouted and jumped up and down. “We haven’t seen you in days!” They hugged her, shivered, and pulled away. “You are so wet and cold!”
“I know! I fell in the creek.”
“You fell in the creek?” Ruth’s face tightened. “Greta, you could have been killed. The creek is a monster today.”
“Ja. I noticed.”
“But what happened?” Peter tugged on Greta’s arm.
“Well, Catrina has taken ill and her fever would not break. I thought yarrow tea would help.” Greta shrugged. “But it grows across the creek.”
Ruth clucked her tongue. “That was a foolhardy thing to do.”
Greta shrugged again. “Catrina needs that yarrow. And I thought that I could make it.”
“Oh, Greta. Always thinking of others.” The old woman pressed a hand to her heart. “We could have lost you.”
“But what happened?” Eliza peered up at her with big, concerned eyes. “How did you get out?”
Greta grinned and looked away.
“Greta Scholtz, that is quite an expression you have on your face.” Ruth put her hands on her hips. “I would like to know what is going on!”
“Well . . .” Greta bit her lip. She felt her pulse quicken at the memory. “I could not get out. The water was so high and the current was so strong.”
“What happened?” Peter bounced up and down. “How did you get out?”
“Shhh.” Ruth put a finger to her lips. “She is trying to tell you.”
Greta patted Peter’s head and smiled. “Just when I gave up hope, I felt someone grab me and pull me out.”
“Jacob!” Eliza shouted. “It was Jacob, wasn’t it?!”
Greta nodded, still beaming. “Ja. It was Jacob. He saved me.” She looked down at Eliza. “How did you guess?”
“Because he is in love with you!”
Greta’s eyes opened wide. Ruth raised an eyebrow. Greta hesitated, then smiled and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Ja. He is. He is in love with me.”
Ruth clapped her hands. “Well, it is about time the two of you figured that out!”
“What will happen now, Greta?” Eliza looked up and reached for her sleeve.
“Oh. I . . .”
Ruth put up a hand. “What happens now is that Greta will put on dry clothes and take a very long nap. She has not had a proper night’s sleep for days.”
“But what about Catrina? She needs medicine.”
Ruth shook her head. “There is nothing to be done. No one is going back across that creek today.”
“I just wish I could have saved some of the yarrow.” Greta remembered the moment the basket slipped from her fingers as she struggled against the current. “You are right. There is nothing to be done. Unless . . .” She checked the pocket of her apron and grinned as her fingertips brushed against a soggy petal. Why, look! Greta laughed out loud. “I had almost forgotten that I tucked a few sprigs in my pocket. I cannot believe that they are still there!”
“Keep an eye on the twins for a little bit longer, Ruth.” Greta spun around on her heels. “I will be back soon.”
“Greta! I will not hear of it!” Ruth put her hands on her hips. “Dry off and change first. At least put on a prayer kappe!”
But Greta was already gone. Ruth shook her head and sighed as the door slammed shut. “She is headstrong. I will give her that.”
* * *
Greta was halfway to the Witmers’ when she realized how exhausted she felt. Just a little bit farther. Catrina needs this yarrow. Greta prayed for strength and forced herself to keep walking. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. I feel so cold. Her teeth began to chatter, but she continued to march down the path with determined steps.
Greta’s body felt as heavy as stone when she arrived at the Witmer cabin. Every muscle ached and her vision blurred. She knocked and then leaned against the threshold to steady herself. Greta heard low murmurs and shuffling inside.
The door opened and Emma Knepp’s shocked face appeared. “Greta? Whatever has happened?” The elderly woman took Greta by the elbow and steered her inside.
Greta’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark, silent room. “How is Catrina?” She staggered toward the young woman’s bedside. “I got the yarrow.” She reached in her pocket and pulled out a handful of the weed. “I got it.”
Berta Riehl stood up from the hearth. “Greta. You look like death warmed over. Sit down.” Greta felt lightheaded and unsteady. She stumbled against a three-legged stool and the noise woke Catrina.
“What? Who?” Catrina’s eyes opened wide. “Greta! What have you done? Just look at you! Where is your prayer kappe?”
“Oh. I . . .” Greta’s hand flew to her head. “I lost my prayer kappe.” She tried to smooth her tangled mass of wet curls. “I . . . I . . .” Greta felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She reached out and tried to steady herself as darkness spread across her field of vision. Catrina gasped as Greta collapsed onto the dirt floor.
* * *
Greta sensed sunlight across her face. Muffled noises grew louder. She buried her head into the pillow and felt herself fall back into the blackness of sleep. Then she remembered. Her eyes flew open as she pushed herself onto her elbows.
“Catrina!” The word came out in a hoarse whisper. “I have to get her fever down!”
“Shhhhh.” Frena Witmer appeared by the bedside and put a hand on her shoulder. “Catrina is out of danger. You can rest now.”
Greta glanced around, confused. “I am in your bed?”
Frena nodded. “Ja. My husband and I recovered quickly, thanks to you.”
Greta frowned. “I feel so groggy.” She rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up.
“Rest.” Frena felt Greta’s forehead. “No fever, praise be. We thought that you had taken ill, but the fever never came. Instead you just slept like the dead.” The elderly woman smiled. “You worked yourself to exhaustion nursing everyone back to health. You had not slept for days.”
“Everyone is out of danger?”
“Ja. Everyone is out of danger.” Frena tucked the covers back around Greta’s chin. “Rest some more. I have chores to tend to, but I will be back soon.” Greta watched as the elderly woman picked up a basket, opened the door, and disappeared into the sunshine. She closed her eyes and let a warm, cozy drowsiness drift over her.
“Greta?”
It was Catrina’s voice. Greta opened her eyes. The young woman lay on her pallet in the opposite corner of the cabin, staring at her.
“Ja?”
Catrina had a strange, confused expression on her face. She slid back the quilt, pushed herself up, and padded across the room in bare feet. Her head was uncovered and her thick black hair fell to the small of her back in shining curls. Greta turned her face away from the beautiful face and beautiful hair. “I am too tired, Catrina.”
Catrina frowned but did not answer. Instead she sat down on the edge of the bedstead. They waited in uncomfortable silence for a moment. Catrina sighed and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She looked away. “I heard what you did.”
“What do you mean?”
Catrina sighed and studied her hands. “You risked your life to help me.”
Greta did not know how to respond. Catrina shrugged. “I know it is true. Jacob told me.”
“Jacob was here?” Greta felt her heart skip a beat as the memory of their last conversation flooded back to her. He loves me. He has always loved me.
“Ja. Word travels fast in the settlement. He came right away when he heard that you collapsed.” Catrina waited for Greta to respond. When she said nothing, the young woman went on. “He told us how you insisted on getting yarrow for me, even though the creek was raging. He told us how dangerous it was and that when you fell in, you almost drowned. If he had not been there . . .”
Greta shuddered. “But he was there, praise be.”
Catrina nodded. “Ja. He thought that you stayed home after that. You were so exhausted and soaked to the bone.” She shook her head. “It is a miracle that you did not catch your death walking back here. You should not have done it.”
Greta shrugged. “You needed the yarrow. And look at you now. It worked.”
“Ja. It did. Grandmother says that I almost did not survive the fever. The yarrow was what made the difference.” Catrina paused and swallowed. “So you see, you saved my life. And you almost sacrificed your life in the process.”
Greta looked down. “I was only doing what any of us would do.”
Catrina put her hand on Greta’s forearm. “I don’t know that I would have done it for you.”
“No?”
Catrina shook her head and dropped her voice to a whisper. “No.” She tightened her grip on Greta’s arm. “I cannot stop thinking about it.” She shook her head again. “You almost died for me. For me.”
Greta smiled. “Don’t fret. I would do it again.”
“Even knowing the risk?”
“Ja. Even knowing the risk.”
Catrina returned Greta’s smile. “Now I understand why Jacob loves you.”
Greta looked surprised.
Catrina laughed softly. “Ja. I know that he loves you. I saw it in his eyes when he came looking for you. He would not leave until he was sure that you were all right. He sat by the bedstead for hours, brooding and checking your forehead every few minutes. He did not leave until he knew that it was exhaustion and not illness.” Catrina’s body deflated and her shoulders sagged with defeat. “I always sensed that you had something that I did not have, something that Jacob admired.” She shrugged. “The truth is, I have been jealous of you.”
“Jealous? Of me?”
Catrina laughed. “Ja. I have everything that a man should want, but Jacob was never interested in me. Not really.” She sighed. “I could sense that his heart was with you, even when he did not realize it.”
“I thought he was infatuated by your beauty.”
“No. If you had admitted your feelings earlier, I suspect that he would never have considered me.” Catrina closed her eyes and sighed. “How do you do it, Greta? There is a beauty in you that I do not have, despite my looks. You have a beauty that comes from within.” She opened her eyes and looked at Greta with a clear, honest expression. “How do you do it? How do you live a Plain life? It just does not come naturally to me.”
“It does not come naturally to anyone, including me! We must overcome our nature to live Plain. Why, you should have seen me when you gave Jacob that cake. Do you remember that day?”
Catrina nodded.
“I felt such a need to best you.” Greta chuckled at the memory. “I felt that you had stolen an idea for which I deserved credit!”
Catrina looked confused. “But why should you lay claim to the idea?”
Greta flashed a sheepish grin. “You remember when the wasps attacked me?”
“Ja.”
“Wasps’ nests look rather like beehives, don’t you think?”
“Oh, Greta, no! You were not seeking honey, were you?” Catrina clapped a hand over her mouth and broke into laughter.
“Ja. Honey to bake a cake so that I could impress Jacob.” Greta began to laugh too. “And look how I suffered for my pride!” The two women giggled and shook until tears streamed down their faces.
Greta opened her mouth to say more but a knock at the door interrupted her. “Ja. Come in.”
The door swung open and Jacob’s large frame filled the threshold. The sun backlit his body and obscured his features, but Greta knew that he was smiling. She grinned and her heart flooded with joy. “Jacob!”
“I have come to take you home.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jacob lifted Greta into his cart, which was small enough to navigate the narrow walking path, and draped his coat over her shoulders. Greta smiled and ran her fingers over the rough wool cloth. She loved feeling loved. Jacob shook the reins and the horse whinnied. The cart jerked and rolled f
orward as he walked beside it. After a while, he glanced at Greta with a nervous expression. “I forgot to ask you something.”
Greta looked up at him. “You did?”
He shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin. “Ja. I was so happy after I pulled you from the creek that I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
Jacob tugged the reins and the cart ground to a halt.
“Why are we stopping?” Greta looked around but saw only trees. “There is nothing here.”
Jacob reached into the cart and gently lifted Greta over the side and onto the ground. She stared at him without speaking. He grinned and dropped down on one knee. “This cannot wait a second longer.”
Greta clasped her hands together. “Oh, Jacob!”
Jacob pulled off his beaver-felt hat and took her hand. “Greta Scholtz, will you marry me?”
“Ja! Ja, of course I will!”
He stood up, pulled her close, and locked his strong arms around her slender frame. “Greta.” She melted into his touch as she felt the world disappear. Nothing existed but the man she loved and this moment together.
When Jacob released her she was thrilled to see that he was grinning. “Jacob, I have never seen you smile so. I hardly recognize you when you are not frowning.”
“I have frowned long enough. I think I would like to start smiling now.” Greta reached up and traced the contours of his face. “Ja. I think it is time.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You have made me smile again, Greta Scholtz. I tried to distract myself from loss and grief by working all of the time. I tried to protect myself from more loss by pushing you away.” He shook his head. “But I could not work the pain away. And I could not push you away.” He tapped his chest. “You stayed here, no matter how much I fought the feelings.”
He gazed into her eyes. “I was so caught up in the losses that der Herr allows us to suffer that I could not believe that he sends joy, too. I refused to let go for so long. But I believe that der Herr wants me to become a better man by knowing you, Greta. By living to support and comfort you on our journey through this world. I can never be a better man by clearing more fields or planting more corn or building a bigger barn. I can never be a better man by running away from pain. I will become a better man by softening my heart and letting you inside.”
Where the Heart Takes You Page 21
