“I need to thank your brother and your father too. I don’t even know what they look like.”
“You still remember nothing from when they got to your house?”
“Nothing at all. I only have memory of waking up at the hospital.”
Claire nodded. “They’ll be working when we get there, but all the men come down and eat. Did I mention there will be a lot of food there? The women are there to prepare the food to have it ready for the men; it’s hard work.”
A little flicker inside Claire hoped Donovan wanted to see the barn raising because he was slightly interested in the community. Or did he still have feelings for Jessie and he wanted to see her again? He’d mentioned her name once or twice.
Donovan was the kind of man who would not let another man stand in his way. If he liked Jessie, he would find a way to take her away from Elijah, Claire was certain of it. Claire looked at Donovan and he smiled at her.
“You look very pretty today, Claire.”
Claire giggled; she was not used to getting compliments. “I look the same every day, I’m sure. Oh, I don’t mean the pretty part, but I guess … I never change.” Claire frowned at the way she rambled. She didn’t want to be prideful, but she did enjoy being able to see what she looked like in the mirrors at the B&B because they had no mirrors at home. She would not call herself pretty or anything of the kind; her reflection told her she was plain.
“You’re right; you do look pretty every day.”
Claire bit her lip and kept quiet; surely if she opened her mouth again she would say something worse.
The car went over a slight rise.
“It’s just here to the left,” Claire said.
“Oh, I can see it.” When they got away from the trees lining the property, there was a full view of the barn raising and the lineup of buggies from all of the helpers. “How could they do so much so quickly?”
“They’ve been here since sunup.”
“It’s spectacular.” Donovan marveled at all the men who appeared as ants running along the new wooden framework of the large structure. He parked his car behind the buggies.
“You go and do what you have to, Claire. Would you normally help the women?”
“Yes. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“I’ll sit over there.” Donovan pointed to a log bench under a tree, which was close to the house where the ladies were setting up the food. “I only wish I had a camera.”
“You know it wouldn’t be allowed, don’t you?”
Donovan nodded. “I know.”
“If it gets too much for you, let me know. If you feel tired, it might be best to get a taxi and leave your car here.”
“I’ll be all right. Stop fussing, woman, and go.”
Claire smiled at him, then turned and walked toward the ladies.
* * *
After half an hour of sitting and watching the spectacle, Donovan saw a tall young man approaching him.
“Hiya.”
Donovan slowly rose to his feet hoping it wouldn’t hurt his ribs. “Hello, I’m Donovan, a friend of Claire Schoneberger.”
The young man smiled widely. “I know, I’m Claire’s brother and we’ve met.”
Donovan reached out his hand. “I’m sorry. I remember nothing except waking in a hospital bed. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. I owe you my life.”
While shaking Donovan’s hand, the young man said, “I’m Elias Schoneberger. Claire was the one who insisted we see if you were all right. It was just as the storm had gone and we weren’t sure if the twister was going to turn and come back.”
“Thanks again,” Donovan said. “You took a big risk.”
“Claire can be persuasive. Sit down,” Elias said, and sat on the bench next to his spot.
“This is an amazing sight. I’ve heard of barn raisings, but I’ve never seen something like this with my own eyes.”
Elias looked toward the half-built barn.
“Tell me, Elias, how can I repay you and your family for what you’ve done?”
Elias chuckled. “No need to do so, Donovan.”
“Is your father here today?”
“Yes, he’s here somewhere. I think he’s cutting the wood around the back. Are you up for a walk?”
“As long as Claire doesn’t see me. She told me to stay here and not go anywhere.” He stood up. “Let’s go.”
Donovan was pleased Elias was so nice and his greeting had been so friendly. He thought Claire’s family might be suspicious of an outsider. As they rounded the corner of the frame of the barn, Donovan saw four men cutting wood with handsaws. He was amazed at their speed and precision.
“Dat, this is Donovan.”
Claire’s father leaned his saw against the cutting block. Donovan and Claire’s father shook hands.
“You look a little different.” Claire’s father chuckled.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for fishing me out of the rubble.”
“Ach, It was something anyone would do.”
“No, you risked your lives to check if I was all right and you didn’t even know me. The storm could have turned back on itself.”
Claire’s father narrowed his blue eyes. “I’ve learned women know things sometimes. Claire insisted, and I had to listen.”
Donovan felt the back of his eyes sting, and he blinked a couple of times. “Thank you.” He did not ask if he could do anything for the family in case it wasn’t met with a good response. He had quickly learned he had nothing, neither could he buy anything for them they would want. Donovan looked up at the barn. “This is truly something to see.”
“We all work together to help each other.” Mr. Schoneberger took his hat off and scratched his head.
“I’ll go back to my seat and keep watching.” Donovan gave the men a nod, and then walked away from Claire’s brother and father. Before he got back to his bench under the tree, he came across Elijah, Jessie’s boyfriend. “Hello, Elijah.”
Elijah tipped his head. “Donovan.”
“I might have building work for you and Henry soon. My restaurant was destroyed by the storm, so was my house, unfortunately. Anyway, I might phone your uncle soon.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. Do you want us to come by and give a quote?” Elijah asked.
“Soon. I’m waiting on the insurance assessors to have a look at it first. Anyway, I won’t keep you; everyone looks busy.”
Elijah nodded, and they went separate ways.
Donovan sat back on his bench seat. Jessie had been right to choose Elijah over him. And if things had worked out between himself and Jessie, he might not have gotten to know Claire.
“Coffee?”
Donovan drew his eyes from the barn, turned and fixed his gaze upon Claire, who approached him from behind. “How did you know?”
“I know you like three coffees every morning, and you probably didn’t have time for any this morning, did you?”
“No. Can you sit awhile, or are you needed back there?”
She sat down next to him. “I can stay.”
He sipped his coffee. “Mmm, there’s nothing like fresh coffee in the morning.”
They sat quietly and watched the men run over the barn like ants.
“I found your father and your brother. Well, your brother found me, and took me to your father. I thanked them.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You did? What did they say to you?”
“Claire, you shouldn’t have put your family in danger, sending them to check I was all right. Elias told me the storm could’ve turned back. The winds were strong enough to heave cows through the air, so I don’t think your buggy would’ve handled it too well. You shouldn’t have put yourself and your family in danger just for me.”
“It was something I had to do. I just knew you were in some kind of trouble. I could feel it.”
“Never do anything like that again, Claire. I’d rather get badly hurt than you risk yourself or your family.” He took anoth
er sip of coffee. “I’ve learned the community has no insurance, and they don’t need it because you all help each other. This barn raising is testament to it.”
Claire nodded. “It’s just the way it is. We’re a big family and families help their members.”
“Must be comforting.” He looked into Claire’s eyes and she smiled at him. He wanted to ask what he needed to do for them to be a real couple, but he didn’t want to scare her away. He wanted to be able to hold her in his arms and protect her. He knew it had only been days since he’d met her, but she was the woman for him. He had an inkling she might’ve felt the same way.
“Claire, are you helping or what?”
Claire swung her head around, and Donovan turned carefully to see a short thickset woman who looked a little like Claire.
“Is that your mother?” he whispered.
Claire gave a slight shake of her head and whispered back, “Sister.”
The sister walked closer. “You’ve hardly done a thing.”
“Sally, this is Donovan.”
Her lips turned up at the corners, but this woman still had her knuckles firmly planted on her hips. “Hello, Donovan.”
Donovan stood slowly. “Nice to meet you, Sally.”
Claire jumped to her feet. “I’ll bring you back some food when the meal is ready, Donovan.” She hurried away with her sister.
“So that’s Donovan?” Sally asked as they walked away from him.
“Yes, and you didn’t have to be so rude to him. And I have been helping.”
“I wasn’t rude. I just don’t know why you came here if you’re not going to work.”
“I just took him coffee, that’s all.”
“You were sitting talking to him, and I noticed his coffee was nearly all gone; and that’s the truth. You must have been speaking to him for a time instead of helping us.”
Claire rubbed the back of her neck. Why did her schweschder think it necessary to check on her all the day long?
Just as they neared the food preparation annex, Sally said, “He seems nice.”
Claire turned to her with raised brows. “You think so?”
Sally nodded. “For an Englischer.”
* * *
Half an hour later, Claire was mixing the dressing into the potato salad when Jessie pulled on her arm. “Claire, Elijah told me you brought Donovan here.”
“Jah, he wanted to see a barn raising.”
Jessie’s eyes opened wide. “What about all those things I told you about him?”
“Do you know he’s been very ill? He’s got broken ribs, and his house fell down around him and he’s only just gotten out of the hospital.”
“Jah, your mudder told my mudder.” Jessie frowned at Claire.
“I know all the things you said about him, but people can change,” Claire said.
Jessie leaned forward, and whispered, “Can a leopard truly change his spots? Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.”
Chills ran through Claire’s body. She knew the first quote was from Jeremiah in the Bible, and the second was a scripture from Proverbs, which she guessed meant the same thing. Maybe she was wrong about Donovan changing, and Gott might be telling her so through Jessie. Claire looked into her concerned friend’s face and nodded.
Jessie continued, “Ach, Claire, I know he can say nice things and he’ll make you feel like you’re the only woman in the world, but I don’t think he’s a faithful man, and he’s not got our morals.”
Claire pulled a face. A good dose of reality was just what she’d needed. Her heart had begun to open to Donovan, and now she had to close it—tight.
Chapter 11
As she'd said she would, Claire took a plate of food over to Donovan. By that time, some of the men were speaking with him, so she did not have to talk to him at all. She wondered what the men had been saying, as they all stopped speaking when she approached. When she had handed Donovan the plate, she went directly back to helping the women.
* * *
A while later, she saw Donovan approaching the meal annex. She went to meet him aware people were watching them.
“Thanks for letting me come here today, Claire. I’ll go now. Did you want me to drive you home?”
“No, thank you, I’ll go home in the buggy with my parents. We’ll be here ‘til sundown.”
Claire watched Donovan walk away. He was not back to his old self. His walk was slow and deliberate, the walk of someone in a great deal of pain. She turned away from him determined to put him out of her mind. She would not see him until Monday. Surely, she could stop thinking about him for one whole day tomorrow, and the half of today that remained.
As Donovan drove away from the crowd, he had a sense of peace like he’d never known. There was a quiet and a calm amongst the Amish folk.
He wondered whether a girl like Claire would ever be interested in a man such as he. Even though he knew he could join them if he wanted, he’d never live a backward life with no technology. He saw no sense in living without electricity and basic necessities—as he saw them—to be right in God’s sight.
The next day was Sunday, and since there was no gathering, Claire set out to visit Olive. Sunday was a gut day to visit others. Since Claire could not get Donovan out of her mind, she decided Olive was the best choice. Olive had fallen in love with a man who’d joined the community, so maybe she could offer advice on Englischers.
“Olive I need to speak to you privately.”
“Okay.” Olive nodded. “Let’s go for a walk.”
They headed off down the driveway to walk along the roadside.
“What is it, Claire? You look troubled.”
“I like a boy. I should say, a man.”
“Donovan, the Englischer who was at the barn raising?”
Claire nodded. “Jah, and it’s the same one Jessie used to like. She said terrible things about him, but I think he’s changed.”
“He might have changed, but he’s not Amish.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Blake joined the community and you’ll be married to him soon. How did it come about?”
Olive looked down at the ground. “He had believed in God for a while. He was willing to join the community. It’s nothing I did or said to force him.”
“Nee, I didn’t think you would have forced him. I just thought you might have some advice for me. I think I’m in love; I can’t stop thinking of him. It worries me.”
Olive’s eyes fixed upon Claire’s, and Olive stopped still. “I don’t have any advice, Claire, except to pray about it and leave it for Gott to work out. If it is meant to be, he will join us, and if not, then someone else will come along for you.”
Claire scratched her neck and screwed up her nose. “Do you really believe that?”
“Jah, I do.”
Something told Claire that Donovan would never join the community. He just wouldn’t. She would have to find a way to rid him from her mind. Maybe she should not return to her job. No, she had to stay and make sure he was all right. At least she would stay until he was completely healthy and back on his feet. Besides, she had told his mother she’d stay for at least a year.
“Have you spoken to the other girls about this?”
Claire knew she meant their other three friends, Amy, Jessie and Lucy. “Nee, I don’t want them to know. I have spoken to Jessie. I mean, she’s warned me about him, but she doesn’t know I like him. I think she has an idea I might like him from what she said. I guess by now they’ve all heard he was at the barn raising, but they haven’t mentioned it to me.”
“I won’t say anything, then.”
“Denke, Olive. I just thought you would be the one who might have some advice for me.”
“I guess you just have to wait and see how things turn out.”
Claire nodded. “Now, how are things with you?”
“Couldn’t be better. Blake is learning about the
community and Leo has all the Hilty kinner to play with.” Olive was speaking of the Hilty family Blake was staying with before he officially joined them.
“When does Blake take the instructions?”
“He’s doing them now.”
“Good. Do you get to spend much time with them?”
“I see them almost every other day, but we’re never alone. I guess we have to wait ‘til we’re married to be properly alone. He said he’s been looking for a haus for us to live in, but he hasn’t found one yet. He has a funny smile on his face when he talks about it, so I think he’s got something he’s not telling me.”
“Maybe he wants to surprise you.”
Olive nodded. “That’s what I think.”
The mention of Olive soon having a home of her own, set Claire’s thoughts in the direction of Donovan’s house and how it’d been flattened. Then she was annoyed with herself for continually thinking about him.
Back in the guest house and in bed since his return from yesterday's barn raising, Donovan flicked the buttons of the TV remote trying to find something to watch. He would have to last the day without seeing Claire again. When his phone rang, he looked at the caller I.D. to see it was one of the casual girlfriends he used to date. He pressed ‘cancel’ and then went through his phone and deleted several girls’ phone numbers. When he finished, he went through his phone again and deleted photos and texts. He was no longer interested in any of them.
He threw his phone onto the chair next to the bed. How could he make Claire be interested in him? She would not be swayed by expensive gifts, and neither could he whisk her away to Paris for a weekend. She was one woman he couldn’t let slip away from him. If he had to change himself to win her heart then he’d do it.
The Amish Maid's Sweetheart Page 7