by Ruth Reid
He set the mugs on the counter. “What’s it like in Cedar Ridge?”
“It’s a nice community. Touristy in the summer and early fall. Most of the businesses close for winter, so during those months it can feel even more isolated. But everyone stocks up on food and supplies and prepares for snowbound days or sometimes weeks. It goes with living in the Upper Peninsula.”
“It sounds like you like it there.”
She poured the coffee into the mugs, not sure how to answer him. “I’ll admit, I didn’t mind the isolation. Our sawmill was situated between state and federal land, so our nearest Amish neighbor was like from here to town with only trees in between.” As an unwed pregnant teen, the more remote the better. Her parents had never indicated that was how they thought, but she often wondered if that was part of the reason they chose the business in the middle of nowhere. Jonica handed him a mug and took hers to the table.
“Without your parents . . .”
“Jah, it’s lonely.” She wasn’t looking forward to spending a winter at the sawmill alone. She and Stephen had enough supplies to last several winters, but isolation would take on a different meaning now that her son had a bleeding disorder. She stood and took the sugar container over to the counter. It didn’t need filling, but she needed something to do. Jonica removed the bag from the cabinet and poured more sugar into the smaller container.
Caleb came up behind her. “Maybe you should consider staying here.”
She nodded without turning around.
“Edna would love the company,” he said.
Edna. Nothing about him. “Did I tell you that Aenti isn’t selling the farm?”
“I thought Mr. Jordan was interested.”
She shook her head. “Aenti said he was never interested.”
“And she was . . . in her right mind?”
“I think so.”
Caleb smiled. “That’s great news!”
Jonica rubbed her arms. “I thought Stephen would be up from his nap by nau.”
“He probably needs his sleep.”
“I don’t want to keep you from your work. I’m sure with everything that’s happened, you must be behind in whatever construction project you have going on. You won’t have much more time before winter—do you even work in the winter?”
“I’m nett doing construction any longer.” Sadness filled his eyes. “I was remodeling a haus with plans to sell it and use the money to purchase a large plot of land . . .”
“It never sold?”
Caleb shook his head. “It was never finished.” Tears collected on his long lashes and he used the back of his hand to swipe them away. “That’s where I found Peter. Lying in a pool of blood. Dead.”
Jonica’s throat tightened. A mix of emotions warred within her. Sorrow, sadness, and anger toward Peter for what he’d done to his brother, to his family—to her and Stephen.
She placed her hand on Caleb’s arm. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He attempted to smile, then rested his hands on her shoulders. The strength of his touch sent a shiver through her. He pulled her close, pressing her to his chest, his warm breaths sending tingling sensations down her neck.
Move away. Don’t give your heart to him.
When he looked up, something had replaced the sadness. Her heart hammered as he studied every inch of her gaze. His fingers caressed her jaw, lifting her face to his.
Caleb was different. He wasn’t self-serving. He wasn’t Peter.
She closed her eyes as his lips came down on hers. His kiss was slow and tender. She raised to her toes in an effort to be closer—bonded. Her surroundings blurred as he pressed her even tighter against his chest and deepened the kiss.
Thump, thump, thump echoed from the stairs, jolting her back to reality.
* * *
Caleb ignored the racket Stephen was making jumping down the stairs one step at a time. Thump. The average staircase had twelve steps, that was five, Thump. Six . . .
Jonica broke from the kiss but not from his embrace. “Caleb. That’s Stephen.”
When her baby blue eyes peered up at him, he disregarded every warning alarm firing through his body and kissed her once again.
The thumping stopped—Stephen had reached the landing.
“Mamm?”
Jonica gently pressed Caleb away from her. “In the kitchen.” She cleared her throat. “Sweetie.” Jonica eyed Caleb. “Look what you’ve done to me. I can’t even talk.” She turned to face the counter, hands gripping the edge of the laminate as if holding on for support.
Caleb smiled. Under her pushed-up sleeves, her arms resembled a plucked chicken skin. He took a step away from Jonica just as Stephen ran into the room.
“Caleb!”
He scooped the youngster into his arms. “How are you, Stephen?”
“I’m all better, right Mamm?”
Jonica turned and leaned against the counter, a laid-back smile displaying slightly swollen lips. “You look rested. How was your nap?”
She might have fooled her son with her composure, but not him. She was still rattled. He liked her off-kilter. The moment she made eye contact with him, he winked. Her sheepish reaction of looking down and rubbing her arms sent hot irons down his spine.
Caleb turned his attention to Stephen. “I thought maybe you and your mamm would like to go with me to pick out some pumpkins.”
Stephen’s eyes widened. “Can we Mamm? Please? I want to go.” His eager gaze locked with Caleb’s. “Can I bring Rusty?”
“Absolutely.” Caleb lowered Stephen to the floor. “Go get your hund.” He waited for Stephen to leave the kitchen before he faced Jonica. “Sorry, I should have waited for your permission.”
She crossed her arms. “You don’t wait for permission about a lot of things.”
Caleb grinned. “Should I apologize for kissing you?” He inched closer. “It would be a lie though. I’m not sorry, and I definitely want to do it again.” He slid his hand around the back of her neck, the silkiness of her dark hair caressing his fingers, then leaned to kiss her lightly on the forehead. “And again.” He gently moved his touch to lift her chin and kissed her lips.
“Caleb, we can’t do this.” She sidestepped him, then adjusted her kapp.
Stephen returned, waving his stuffed toy in the air. “Got him. Can we go nau?”
For the split second that he studied Jonica, Caleb half expected her to cancel the outing. This time she appeared more than ruffled by his kiss. Something was wrong.
“Let’s get your coat and boots on.” She took Stephen by the hand.
“I’ll get the buggy ready.” He grabbed his coat on the way out the door. He had Nutmeg unhitched and the buggy aimed toward the road when Jonica and Stephen came out of the house. She kept her attention on her son going down the porch steps, then hoisted him into the buggy, planting Stephen between them on the bench.
Message received. He’d follow her rules and respect the distance. Caleb clicked his tongue and Nutmeg pitched forward. The sun had melted any trace of snow on the pavement. He took Leer Road to the end and turned right onto US-23. Taking the long way gave him more time with Jonica, plus the roads were all paved. Until he reached the Millers’ entrance. The buggy wheels bogged down in the soft ground. The heavy rains they’d received earlier in the year had exposed a network of tree roots that sprawled across the long driveway.
Stephen laughed as the bumps lifted him off the bench. He’d chatted the entire trip about what size pumpkin he wanted to pick out, and now his neck was stretched looking toward the crop.
Caleb stopped the buggy near the oak tree at the corner of the flagged-off parking area. Several cars and trucks took up an entire row. The Millers’ patch was the largest in the area, and people came from all over the county to select pumpkins.
He tied Nutmeg to a low-hanging limb as Jonica helped Stephen down from the bench. Caleb’s boots sank into the soft ground. He bent down and picked up Stephen. “I’ll let you down once we g
et out of the muddy area.”
“I think I like the snow better.” Jonica came up alongside Caleb, arms teetering.
His mother’s friend Agnes Miller was sitting at the picnic table collecting money from a customer, while her husband, Clyde, was busy in the field helping other customers. Caleb headed toward Agnes. Once he reached dry ground, he lowered Stephen.
“Hello, Caleb.” Agnes peered over her glasses. “And who is this cutie?”
“This is Stephen.” Caleb placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He’s a little distracted by all the pumpkins.” He motioned to Jonica. “Do you remember Edna’s niece, Jonica?”
“Hiya, Jonica. How long will you be visiting?”
“I’m nett sure.” She redirected her attention to Stephen who had wandered toward the patch. “Stephen, you need to wait for me.” She glanced apologetically at Agnes. “I don’t want to come across rude, but I should be with him.”
“I understand, dear.” Agnes smiled. “He’s excited. Geh.”
Caleb followed Jonica with his gaze.
“Your mother’s pumpkins are in the crates under the tarp.” Agnes pointed at the garden shed. “She always buys mei odd-size ones at the end of the season.”
“Jah, I’m looking forward to her making pumpkin pie.” Caleb wasn’t in a hurry to load the crates. He wanted to observe Jonica interact with her son. She was a good mother. Gentle and patient and everything he wanted in a fraa.
Caleb swallowed hard. He’d never thought that way about any woman. The notion didn’t put him on edge as he’d been when Darleen hounded him about marriage. He assumed the combination of Peter’s death, lack of finances, and the uncertainty of his future had uncovered a fear of commitment. But now it seemed deep down he had sensed something was missing between Darleen and him. Kissing Jonica had healed his heart. He wanted to spend time with her and Stephen. Every minute of every day.
But money was still an issue. His parents needed help. And he’d proven he wasn’t much of a farmer. What could he offer Jonica and Stephen except a broken man?
“Caleb.” Stephen pointed to the vines at his feet. “I found a big one. Kumm see.”
“Sounds like the bu has found the one he wants.” Agnes handed Caleb a knife. “Save Clyde some time, if you will, and cut the bu’s pumpkin vine for him.”
Caleb met Jonica and Stephen in the field. “That’s a big pumpkin. Are you sure that’s the one you want?”
Stephen nodded.
Jonica took him by the hand. “Let’s stand back so we’re nett in Caleb’s way.”
Caleb chopped the vine and hoisted the pumpkin into his arms.
Stephen’s mouth gaped. “Mamm, look at it.”
“You picked out a gut one.” Jonica smiled. “It’ll make a couple loaves of bread and at least one pie.”
“Pumpkin pie is mei favorite,” Caleb said.
Jonica chuckled. “You’re invited.”
“Exactly what I wanted to hear.” Caleb lifted the pumpkin. “I’ll take this one up to the table. Stephen, help your mamm find another pumpkin.” He winked at Jonica. “The more pies the better.”
Caleb paid for the pumpkins, then loaded his mother’s crates and Jonica’s pumpkins in the back of the buggy. The small amount of activity in the pumpkin patch had worn Stephen out. He crawled up on his mother’s lap on the ride home and laid his head on her shoulder.
“He had a fun time.” Jonica combed her fingers through Stephen’s hair.
“What about you?”
“Jah, it was nice to get out of the haus. Danki.”
“About what happened in the kitchen,” he said. “I should have asked.”
“I would have said nay,” she said, softly.
As if he’d been seared with a blacksmith’s iron and pounded into another shape, he ached all over. He’d messed up. Apologize.
A lovely pink blush colored her cheeks. “I’m glad you didn’t . . . ask.”
“You’re nett upset with me then?”
Jonica shook her head, then motioned to the mailbox coming up on the right. “Will you stop so I can get the mail, please?”
He’d do anything for her. Caleb pulled back on the reins, then set the brake and jumped out. He snatched the only envelope in the box.
A letter addressed to Jonica Muller. Sent from someone named Ephraim King in Cedar Ridge.
Caleb’s stomach knotted.
Chapter 27
Jonica turned Ephraim’s letter over in her hand. She wished she hadn’t asked Caleb to get the mail. The letter had put a damper on both their moods, and she hadn’t even opened it yet.
“Is that the man who—?”
“Jah.” Hopefully her sharp reply sent a strong enough message. She wasn’t going to discuss Ephraim around Stephen. Her son wasn’t aware of the marriage proposal. He’d been praying for a father without knowing someone in Cedar Ridge had already offered to take on that responsibility.
Caleb signaled his horse and focused making the turn into the driveway. His jaw muscles twitched.
Stephen yawned, then sat up straighter. He pointed at the horse and buggy next to the house. “Who’s here?”
“Maybe one of Aenti Edna’s friends have kumm for a visit.”
“That’s Gideon and Faith’s horse,” Caleb said, not hiding the disappointment in his tone.
Stephen wiggled on Jonica’s lap. “Did Daniel kumm to play with me?”
“I don’t know, sweetie.”
Stephen scrambled to get out of the buggy the moment Caleb set the brake. He hurried up the steps ahead of them.
Caleb reached for Jonica’s arm and stopped her at the foot of the porch steps. “Are you going back to Cedar Ridge soon?”
Was he asking her to stay? “Stephen has a follow-up appointment and more blood work scheduled.” It wasn’t the answer he was looking for, but it was all she could give at the moment.
“Mamm,” Stephen said, working the doorknob with mitten hands. “I can’t get the door to open.”
Caleb released her arm. “I’ll unload your pumpkins.”
Jonica continued up the steps. When she opened the door, heat from the woodstove warmed her face.
Stephen peeled off his coat and handed it to Jonica to place on the hook. He sat on the floor and was pulling his boot off when a curly-haired child came around the corner.
“I’m Daniel.” He pointed at his chest. The child had Faith’s blue eyes and Gideon’s slightly oversize ears.
“I’m Stephen. Want to play with mei horse?”
“Let me help you with your boots first.” Jonica gave the muddy boots a yank and took Stephen’s sock off at the same time. “Wait,” she said as he started to stand. “You have to wear your socks.” She slipped it back on his foot. “Nay roughhousing.”
As the boys scurried into the sitting room to play, Jonica removed her winter cloak and winter bonnet, then kicked off her boots and shoved them against the wall.
Caleb came to the door holding both pumpkins in his arms. He stomped his boots on the mat.
“Don’t worry about removing your boots,” she said. “I’ll mop later.”
Caleb winced. “Jah, I wasn’t planning to stay. I need to get the other pumpkins home to mei mamm.” He headed into the kitchen. “Hiya, Faith, Edna.” He set the pumpkins on the counter, then turned to leave.
Jonica followed him to the door. “Danki again for the pumpkins. I hope you will still plan to kumm over for pie.”
“I’ll try. Mei mamm has been keeping me busy around the haus.” He opened the door and paused. “I’ll see you later.”
Unexplainable heaviness filled Jonica’s heart when Caleb left. She watched his buggy leave before going into the kitchen to join Faith and Aenti Edna.
Aenti motioned to a basket on the counter. “Faith brought us some baked goods. Isn’t that sweet of her?”
“It isn’t much,” Faith said.
“That is very sweet of you. Danki.” Jonica poured a mug of coffee.
&n
bsp; Aenti stood. “I’ll keep a watchful eye on the boys while you two catch up.”
“They should be fine,” Jonica said. “You don’t have to leave.”
“I’m eager to finish the scarf I’ve been working on. You two enjoy your time.” She shuffled into the other room.
As if Faith had been waiting on pins and needles for Aenti to leave the room, she leaned forward. “So, you and Caleb went out picking pumpkins together. Hmm . . .”
“He thought Stephen would enjoy getting out of the haus.”
Faith shook her head. “He’s interested in Stephen’s mamm. It’s written all over his face. I see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”
Jonica lowered her head. “He kissed me today.”
“And?”
“And it would never work. Caleb doesn’t know his bruder . . . Peter is Stephen’s father.”
Faith’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t know.”
“I never told anyone, except mei parents and Peter, but they’re all . . . no longer with us.” She touched her throat as she swallowed and closed her eyes a moment. “Peter and I were on rumspringa. It just . . . happened. I thought—” She shook her head. “I was a fool. He was planning to jump the fence—for good. Even after I told him that I was . . . It wasn’t some wild attempt to snare him.”
“You could have told me. We would have remained friends.”
“I was so embarrassed. Ashamed. Plus, you were still dealing with your own issues, finding out about your biological parents.”
Faith nodded. “I was sort of lost in mei own crumbling world back then. But things worked out okay for both of us, jah?”
Did it all work out? She wouldn’t have lost her parents had they not moved. Jonica removed the hankie she kept stashed up her dress sleeve. “Peter had a change of heart once the news soaked in. Well, sort of. Of course, he’d been guilt ridden when he said he’d do the right thing and marry me—but he wanted me to jump the fence with him. He refused to live by our Amish way. And I refused to leave mei family, mei beliefs—leave God. I had the chance to rectify mei wrongs . . . but the cost was too great.”
“Peter was a troubled soul and I’m glad you didn’t leave the faith with him. But Caleb is different.” Faith took Jonica’s hands in hers. “You have to tell him.”