Love at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  * * *

  That evening, at the Kings’ dining-room table, Jesse nodded in great appreciation as he took a bite of roast.

  “Mrs. King, when I smelled pork baking, I was hoping you’d ask me for dinner. I’ve tasted some good meat, but this has got to be the best!” He swallowed and looked across the table to Anna’s maemm, who glowed.

  After helping herself to carrots and potatoes, Naomi glanced at Jesse and then to Anna. “I’d love to claim credit, but the truth is, it goes to Anna.”

  Jesse took in the dark-haired daughter and smiled a little. “And we’ve known each other way too long for you to be so formal. Naomi,” she added.

  Naomi’s voice softened while she offered an affectionate smile. “As you’re aware, Paul and I have been spending so much time at the bakery, Anna’s been holding down the fort here. And she’s doing a remarkable job.”

  Anna looked up from her plate just long enough to respond. “Denki.”

  Naomi smiled a little.

  “Honey, we need to tell you more often how much we appreciate you.”

  Jesse checked Anna’s reaction. To his surprise, he didn’t see one. Even so, he was certain that inside that head of hers, a lot was going on. He guessed that she must be losing sleep over the contest and what to tell her eltern if she won.

  And even though he was sure there would be many entries, he believed in his heart that Anna would win. She was talented, and he couldn’t imagine that any entrants could be more faithful.

  Jesse acknowledged that it was family time. Yet he needed to let Paul know that he was on schedule. “The alfalfa’s cut. By tomorrow afternoon, it should be dry enough to rake.”

  “Gut. Perfect weather for drying. The forecast shows eighty-five by midday.”

  “Jesse, we want to thank you again for everything you’ve done for us. For Anna, too. We’re so glad you could join us. I regret that we didn’t invite you sooner. But now that we’re all together, we want to express our great appreciation for what you did for Anna during the storm.”

  Naomi took a drink of water. “And now, there’s another thanks in order.” After letting out a breath, Naomi gave a shake of her head. “I still can’t believe what happened at the Conrads’. It’s fortunate no one drowned.”

  Jesse considered her comment and nodded in agreement. “Thanks to Anna and Mary.” He turned his attention to Anna.

  Paul King’s voice was gruff, as usual. “That pond has always worried me, I mean, when William and Rebecca have company. I suppose we’re fortunate this was the first time something’s happened. You can never be too careful around water.”

  A long silence ensued before he went on. Concern edged the pitch of his voice as he dragged his hand over his face and chin. “I’m surprised the kinder weren’t supervised. Word has it that there were plenty of adults there. How did the boys manage to make it all the way out to the pond?”

  Jesse took in the uncertain expression on Anna’s face. “Daed, it just happened. I was helping Mary watch the kids. We were close to the house, and the children were playing tag. Mary told them to stay in the front yard, but before we knew it, Reuben and Amos were in the back and headed for the water.”

  Paul and Naomi exchanged a look before shaking their heads in disbelief.

  Paul pressed the subject. “But where were the other adults?”

  Anna cut in. “Everywhere. Mostly the front yard, which, as you know, is huge. In the house. Out by the pasture. I understand how it would seem irresponsible.”

  She lifted her palms to the ceiling. “Mary and I were with the children. We’ve managed groups like this numerous times at picnics and weddings. But . . .”

  She paused to take a drink. After she swallowed, she went on. “To be honest, everything happened unbelievably fast.”

  Naomi chimed in with interest. “But didn’t you shout for help?”

  “Jah. And it came.” She bobbed her head at Jesse. “Just not as fast as we needed it.”

  Anna regarded her parents and softened the pitch of her voice. “I wish you could have been there.”

  Paul nodded in agreement. “Me too. Soon, things are gonna get back to the way they were. Hopefully, the bakery won’t need us every second of the day.”

  Naomi added, “Thank goodness, we can see the end.” She smiled sympathetically at her tochter. “Then we’ll spend more time as a family. Like we used to.”

  As Jesse contemplated Naomi’s words, he narrowed his brows, pretending to pay special attention to the food on his plate. Paul and Naomi might think that most of their work was behind them, but they had no idea of the storm that would hit when the Amish community found out that Anna would be moving away and going for a four-year degree. If she won, of course.

  The only sound was the clinking of silverware against plates. Ice cubes against glasses. The blades of the large battery fan whipping in circles and the air coming from it.

  “I guess what’s done is done.” Paul King looked at his wife before leaning forward for the casserole dish. His acceptance was evidenced by a long exhale.

  “That’s probably why they call ’em accidents.” To Jesse’s surprise, the man at the head of the table threw a warm smile to Anna. “Anna, what you did . . . God will surely bless you for it.”

  Anna beamed.

  Naomi spoke next. “Not to change the subject, but we want you to know that we consider you part of our family, Jesse.”

  The comment prompted an emotional knot to form in his throat. He swallowed it.

  “That’s kind of you to say, Naomi.”

  Naomi smiled widely. “My, my, Jesse. Why, we’ve known you and your family for years. We’ve been through births together. Deaths, too.” She shook her head. “To us, you’re familie.”

  For some reason, the statement prompted a strong rush of emotion to sweep through Jesse. Her unexpected revelation pulled at his heartstrings. And the expression on Naomi’s face was so sincere, he didn’t doubt for one moment that what she said had come from the heart.

  “Denki.” He smiled a little and tried for the right words, not sure he would find them. “You don’t know how much it means to hear those words.” After a lengthy pause, he lowered the pitch of his voice. “Ich bin dankbar.”

  The man at the head of the table raised his voice to a level of newfound enthusiasm while he grinned from ear to ear. “There’s no finer family ’round here than the Beiler clan.”

  He took a drink of black coffee, returned his mug to the coaster, and looked around the table before focusing on Jesse. “God has given us a tremendous blessing. Not only did He provide us our families, but He also gave us our church members in the name of Christ.”

  His eyes glistened while he lowered the tone of his voice. “Through Christ, we’re all one big family.”

  After the statement, Jesse happened to catch the corners of Anna’s lips droop. There’s obviously a lot I don’t know. When she caught him looking at her, their gazes locked.

  Then he realized that Paul was waiting for him to respond, so Jesse tried for the right words. “I agree.”

  At the same time, he wondered if Anna’s folks would still consider Anna a part of their Christian family if she became Englisch.

  * * *

  The following day, Jesse balanced himself on his small platform while his team of horses pulled him and the rakes through the alfalfa. In the distance, he glimpsed a figure by Pebble Creek. It has to be Anna.

  Careful to keep his focus, his eyes followed her as she moved forward. She carried something in her right hand as she stepped near the back of the property to the place where Pebble Creek met their land. Whatever was in her hand appeared to be some sort of chest.

  In some ways, he felt a bit sorry for her being an only child. During dinner, their house had been so quiet. A sharp contrast to his own. Not only that, but since he’d begun working for Paul King, he’d noted that Anna spent most of her time alone. He frowned.

  He wasn’t sure if things had always b
een as such, but if they had, he completely understood why her passion for sketching fit with her life. No brothers or sisters. And parents who had little time for her.

  He thought of his own family of five older brothers and smiled a little. Now they were all married and out of the house, but growing up, their household had been chaotic. My upbringing was nothing like Anna’s. We’re both Amish, but we’ve lived totally different lives.

  When he’d finished what he’d begun a couple of hours ago, he’d stopped to take a break. The sun slipped under a cloud cover, and he enjoyed the short breeze that followed. From where he stood, he could see for miles.

  He glimpsed the home that Old Sam Beachy had left to his great-niece, Jessica, who would be going through classes this fall to join the Amish church and marry Eli Miller.

  While he considered his and Anna’s different upbringings, he acknowledged that their pasts hadn’t differed nearly as much as Jessica and Eli’s. After all, Eli had been raised Amish. Not only that, but he loved the faith and had always yearned to marry within the church and continue the life he’d always had.

  Word had it that before inheriting the Beachy property, Jessica hadn’t even believed in the Lord. While Jesse thought of the huge change she must be going through with her newfound faith, he let out a low whistle. He didn’t doubt that it had been the hand of God that had brought her to Arthur to meet the man who would help her to know God.

  As a light breeze caressed the back of his neck, he ran his forearm over his brow and finally laid down the rake. He stepped to his water bottle and took a few swigs, standing very still in appreciation of the thirst relief.

  As much as he tried to focus on work, he found himself watching Anna. She pulled something from the chest, and he could see her draw. He recalled how he’d rescued her during the storm. Their private time together inside the large barn. And he’d never forget the shocking moment when he’d glimpsed her in the pond.

  Fear of her drowning had prompted him to jump in and save her. But he was fully aware that the strong feelings he was starting to have for Anna bordered something he’d never experienced before.

  He watched for her. He liked talking with her. I want to spend more time with her. At that realization, he frowned. Because he knew he was beginning to fall in love with someone who might very well leave the community. And the Amish faith.

  Still, after tying the horses and feeding them apples, he eventually found himself making his way toward where she was. The speed of his pulse picked up to an excited pace, and he silently chastised himself for his reaction. But how can I control what my pulse does? And my heart?

  He proceeded, and she didn’t look up. Apparently, she was immersed in whatever was on the sketch pad in front of her.

  Sometime later, he spoke in a soft, appreciative voice. “That’s interesting.”

  She was startled.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “Jesse.” She straightened and looked up at him with a surprised smile. “It’s gut to see you.” She motioned. “Have a seat.”

  He folded his legs underneath him and wondered what to say. His instinct had been to join her. Now what?

  “What do you think?” She turned her pad for him to glimpse the picture. “It’s for the contest.”

  His heart sank. But you knew her plans.

  “I have to come up with a theme, so this is what I thought of. It will be me now, in the center, and me in the background, if I’d been raised by my birth mother,” she explained. “In both sketches, I’ll be the same woman physically, but inside, I am different. Because of how I’ve been brought up.”

  He contemplated the deepness of the subject and looked at her. “I can’t wait to see it finished.”

  She beamed. “I want you to see it.”

  Not sure what to say next, he thought of the obvious. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

  She smiled a little and continued to sketch while they talked.

  She lifted her palms to the sky. “It’s wonderful. And nothing makes me happier than coming here.”

  “So you like this spot?”

  She nodded. “It’s where I’ve always been inspired. When I sit here, ideas . . . they come to me so easily.”

  He considered her revelation and suddenly, he was inspired. “I can understand why you chose this place.” He looked around. “It’s inspiring.”

  When she smiled at him, he found it impossible to look away.

  “You know what the true beauty is around here?”

  He eyed her to continue.

  “Pebble Creek.”

  He offered a nod of agreement. “Aw. I can’t argue with that.”

  “Even though the land was Old Sam’s, we get to look at it and admire it. I love this place where the creek brushes up against our property. And the hill . . .”

  She looked to her right. “It’s a miracle, really. The Midwest is flat; I suppose that’s why I love the hill.” After a thoughtful pause, she crossed her legs at the ankles and laughed. “It’s like it was pulled out of some other state and planted here.”

  He lifted his palms in the air in a hopeless gesture. “There’s nothing like it.”

  He realized that he’d spoken absently. Of course, she must agree. He looked at her to respond.

  A few moments later, she spoke. To his surprise, the tone of her voice wasn’t as convincing as he’d expected it to be.

  She lifted a brow. “Nothing like what?”

  “All of this. It’s amazing. I think of it as God’s country.”

  From his peripheral vision, he caught the uncertain expression on her face. He lowered the tone of his voice to a more skeptical pitch and turned to better face her. “You don’t think this is awesome?”

  Finally, she nodded. “Jah. I love the summertime.”

  Without thinking, he asked, “What do you like about it?”

  A dreamy expression crossed her face, and she glanced at him before directing her attention to her family’s land.

  She breathed in, leaned back, pressed her palms against the green earth, and gazed up at the sky. When she turned toward him, he took in the expression on her face. It was a combination of satisfaction and happiness.

  “I love the sun’s warmth on my face. The feel of the gentle breeze against my eyelashes. It feels . . . gut.” She started to go on, then stopped.

  “What? What were you going to say?”

  The corners of her lips drooped a notch, and her eyes took on a more serious, uncertain look.

  After a short pause, she looked down at the ground and went on in a soft voice. “Sometimes I wish there were only good things in life. That nothing bothered me.”

  He frowned. “You mean like winning the contest?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s so much more than that, Jesse.”

  “But life is the gut. And it’s the bad. Life is both of those thrown together. Of course, it would be impossible to live in a world where one hundred percent of things go the way you want them to. But Anna, when I look at you, I . . .”

  She glanced at him to go on.

  While she waited, he decided on an honest, straightforward approach. For some reason, he sensed that this conversation was important. That the Amish girl he’d grown up with must have other issues, and this was his opportunity to help. And that’s exactly what he intended to do.

  “Jesse, you’re already keeping my secret. And I’m grateful.” She swallowed, and her voice cracked with emotion. “Really, I am.” There was a slight pause while she swatted away a fly.

  “When Old Sam was alive, he used to say that God creates the entire plan for your life. That you can’t have good without bad.”

  “Really?”

  “Jah. And when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.”

  She looked at him to go on. “Give me an example.”

  “The strongest one that comes to mind is eternal life. Look at what had to happen in order for us to have it.” After a pause, he so
ftened his tone to an emotional pitch. “A brutal death.”

  She lowered her lashes and nodded.

  “I like that analogy.”

  “To me, the creek is like a picture that winds its way through the property.”

  Finally, he relaxed. Her words were so thoughtful. And their appreciation of the beauty around them was something they shared.

  He looked up at the sky. “When I sit back and take in this land, I always dream.”

  She eyed him. “What do you dream of?”

  Her question prompted a myriad of thoughts. Whenever he considered his future, emotion claimed him. “Of having my own farm. To me . . .”

  He extended his arms and lifted his chin. “Nothing’s more beautiful than this. I love everything about it. And when I have a farm of my own, I want to come home every evening to a loving wife and a dinner table filled with children. I dream of providing for my family.”

  He looked down at his boots before turning to lock gazes with her, quick to note the long, thoughtful pause that lapsed until she finally said something. When she did, her voice was soft and understanding.

  “I hope your dream comes true, Jesse. It’s totally unselfish.”

  He raised an inquisitive brow. “It’s funny that beauty is different things to different people. What’s it to you, Anna? What’s your dream? Besides getting a four-year degree and being an artist?”

  She cleared her throat. He was quick to notice that she had tensed. That she clasped her hands together on her lap so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Obviously, she was hesitant to share her dream with him. To make her feel more at ease, he added in an apologetic tone, “Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”

  She smiled a little. “You’re not prying. And there’s nothing to be sorry about, Jesse. It’s just that . . . You seem very sure of your dream. But mine?” She shrugged. “I don’t really know what mine is. I mean, besides pursuing art.”

  She drew in a hopeful breath. “And . . . to meet my mamma. After the contest is over, and I know my plans, I’m going to try to find out who she is.” She shrugged. “I need to feel complete.”