“Jah, sure,” he mumbled without looking at her.
I wonder who’ll watch Samuel’s kids once he gets a job, Esther thought as she headed to the kitchen. I hope he’s not foolish enough to leave them home by themselves.
CHAPTER 7
Hey, Titus! How’s it going?” Allen asked when he stepped into the woodshop where Titus knelt on the floor, sanding a cabinet door.
Titus looked up and smiled. “Pretty good. How are things with you?”
“Not bad.” Allen looked at Suzanne’s brother, Nelson. “How’s business overall? Have you been keeping busy here at the shop, or do you need more outside jobs?”
“We can use all the work we can get right now.” Nelson, who was just a few years younger than Suzanne, pushed his red hair off his freckled forehead and frowned. “Things were real busy before Christmas, but they’ve slowed down a lot since then. Suzanne’s not even working here in the shop this week.”
“That’s too bad. Things have been a little slower for me, too, but hopefully work will pick up in the spring.” Allen smiled. “When it does, I’m sure I’ll have a lot more jobs for you.”
“I hope so.” Titus swiped a hand across his sweaty forehead. “With five more people living in my house right now, I need to keep working steady.”
“Hasn’t Samuel found a job yet?” Allen asked.
Titus shook his head. “He’s been here two weeks already, and as far as I know, he hasn’t really been looking.”
“How come?”
“Says he doesn’t have anyone to watch the kids, but I’m sure if he finds a job we can find someone willing to watch them,” Titus replied.
“I understand he’s done some painting for Zach.”
“That’s right. He also has some carpentry skills, and we’d hoped to hire him to help out here, but as I said before, we don’t have much work right now.”
“If I hear of anything, I’ll be sure to let him know.” Allen turned toward the door. “Guess I’d better get going. I’ve got several errands I need to run yet today.”
Two weeks ago, Bonnie had returned from Portland, where she’d put in her resignation at the advertising agency, told her landlord she was moving, and packed up her things. She’d also told her dad good-bye, which of course, hadn’t gone well at all. Even though he’d tried to dissuade her, she’d returned to Kentucky and spent the last few days cleaning and organizing more things in her grandparents’ home. Some things she’d tossed out, some had gone to a charity organization in Hopkinsville, and some—like dishes, glassware, and linens—she would put to good use. Even with everything she’d done, there were more closets and cupboards she hadn’t gone through—not to mention all the stuff in the attic.
Bonnie had also applied for a business license and taken care of some other necessary paperwork involving opening her new business, but there were still some major repairs that would have to be done to the place before she could even think about advertising or opening for business. She’d also have to hire someone to help at the B&B—cleaning the guest rooms and hopefully helping her prepare the food she would serve for breakfast every morning.
“So much to do,” she muttered as she made her way to the kitchen to clean out a few more cupboards. “Sure hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew.”
She found one of Grandma’s aprons in the pantry and slipped it on. Oh Grandma, I miss you and wish I’d come to visit while you were in the nursing home. Were you lonely there? Did you think no one cared?
Bonnie remembered the day of Grandma’s funeral when one of the women who’d attended the service had mentioned that she’d gone to the nursing home to visit Grandma at least once a week. I’m thankful Grandma’s friend was there for her, even though I wish now it had been me. So many regrets. Why do I always look back and wish I could do things differently? Why can’t I make wise decisions at the right time, and do things I won’t later regret?
Knowing she couldn’t undo the past, Bonnie resolved to keep a positive attitude and stay busy for the rest of the day. She’d just taken a sponge and some cleanser from under the kitchen sink when she heard a vehicle pull into the yard. She peered out the window and noticed a pickup truck parked in the driveway. When a young man with curly dark hair, wearing a baseball cap, got out, she realized it was the same man who’d stopped by two weeks ago, asking about buying the house.
Bonnie slipped into her sweater, hurried to the door, and opened it just as he stepped onto the porch.
“Good morning,” he said. “Remember me?”
She nodded. “Allen Walters, right?”
“That’s correct.” Allen offered her a wide smile, revealing two deep dimples. “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by and see what you’ve decided about selling this place.”
She leaned against the doorjamb. “I’ve actually decided not to sell.”
“Really? I’m surprised. This place is so big, and unless you have a large family then—”
“I’m not married. It’ll just be me living here—at least until I get the place ready to open for business.”
He tipped his head. “What kind of business?”
“I’ve decided to turn my grandparents’ home into a bed-and-breakfast.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? I mean, this place is old, and from what I can tell, it needs a whole lot of work.”
“I realize that, but it’s roomy and has lots of charm. Besides, from what I’ve seen, there aren’t a lot of places for visitors to stay in the area unless they go to a hotel in Hopkinsville.”
“You do have a point, but bringing this place up to code would involve quite a bit of money and time.”
“I quit my job in Oregon, so I have the time. Between what I have in my savings and the money my grandparents left me, I should be able to live comfortably for a while and also pay for any necessary repairs that need to be done.” She folded her arms. “Since you’re a contractor, would you be interested in doing the work for me?”
“I might be able to do some things, but I couldn’t do everything because before I came here this morning I got a call about remodeling a house not far from where I live, and I’ll have to start on that right away.” Allen gave the brim of his baseball cap a tug. “Come to think of it, I do know someone who’s a qualified painter, and he’s also done some carpentry work. He’s a widowed Amish man with four kids. He’s new to the area and needs a job right now. His name is Samuel Fisher, and he’s living with his brother whose home is not too far from here.”
“That sounds like a good possibility. From what I understand, the Amish are really hard workers.”
“You’re right about that. Any of them I’ve ever known do quality work. Would you like me to bring Samuel by so you can talk to him?”
She nodded. “I’d appreciate that very much.”
Realizing it was time to fix Penny and Jared some lunch, Samuel forced himself to head out to the kitchen, where he fumbled around in the propane-operated refrigerator, searching for something the kids would eat. Penny liked most things, but Jared was picky.
He finally decided on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, knowing both kids liked that. He’d just gotten the kids seated at the table when a knock sounded on the door.
“I wonder who that could be.” Samuel ambled over to the door, and when he opened it, he was surprised to see Allen Walters standing on the porch. He’d met Allen when he’d brought Titus and Suzanne to Pennsylvania for Elsie’s funeral, but Samuel hadn’t said more than a few words to him. Of course, he’d been so consumed with his grief, he hadn’t said much to anyone that day. Even now, he found it hard to make conversation. He just wanted to be left alone.
“Hi, Samuel. How are you doing?” Allen asked as he brushed some fresh-fallen snow off his jacket.
“Gettin’ by,” Samuel mumbled.
“Any leads on a job yet?”
Samuel shook his head. “’Course I haven’t looked that hard, since I have no one to watch my kids.” He g
lanced over his shoulder and frowned when he noticed that Jared had a blob of strawberry jam stuck to his chin and some sticky peanut butter on the front of his shirt.
“I was wondering if you’d be interested in doing a remodeling job at a house not far from here. The young woman who lives there is planning to turn the place into a bed-and-breakfast.”
Samuel knew he needed a job—he couldn’t lie around here forever, sponging off Titus. “I am interested in the job,” he said, “but as I said, I’ll need to find someone to watch my kids while I’m at work.”
“I think I know someone who’d be perfect for the job,” Allen said. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll head over to her place now and talk to her about it.”
Samuel gave a nod. He hoped whoever Allen had in mind was good with kids, because Jared could be a handful at times.
CHAPTER 8
The following morning while the kids finished their breakfast, Titus and Samuel sat on the sofa in the living room, drinking coffee and visiting before Titus left for work.
“Sure hope this snow goes away soon,” Titus said with a frown. “Makes me wish I was in Sarasota, Florida, right now.”
Samuel winced at the mention of Sarasota. Elsie had always wanted to visit there, and Samuel had promised to take her and the kids someday, but of course, it hadn’t happened. So many regrets. So many wishes that never came true.
Titus nudged Samuel’s elbow. “Did I say something wrong? You look umgerennt.”
Samuel shook his head, keeping his regrets to himself. “It’s nothing. I’m not upset.”
Someone knocked on the front door, and Titus rose from his seat. When he returned, Allen was with him.
Allen smiled at Samuel and said, “I’ve got good news. I found someone to watch your kids, so as soon as she gets here, I can take you over to the Taylor place so you can speak to the owner about what she needs to have done. If she hires you, then you can begin right away, since the kids will have a sitter.”
Samuel sat a few seconds, letting it all soak in. He hadn’t expected Allen would find him a job, much a less a sitter. But this was the chance he needed, so he couldn’t turn it down. “Sure,” he said with a nod. “That sounds good.”
Titus thumped Samuel’s arm. “I knew God would provide a job for you.”
“I don’t have the job yet.” Samuel shrugged, not wanting to get too excited about it. He’d had too many disappointments already. “I have to speak with the owner first and see what she needs done. Maybe it’s something I’m not qualified to do. Or maybe she’s interviewing other people and will hire one of them.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Allen said. “I’m sure you’re more than qualified, and as far as I know, Bonnie hasn’t interviewed anyone else. In fact, she asked if I knew of someone who could do the work, and my first thought was you.”
“Even so, that doesn’t mean she’ll hire me. And there may be things I might not be able to do.” Samuel wouldn’t give in to the mounting hope of this job, fearing it would be snatched away from him before he had the chance to even meet the woman.
“You sound like me when I first moved to Kentucky,” Titus interjected. “I didn’t have much confidence in myself and was always afraid I’d mess up.”
Samuel knew his brother was right. Since Elsie had died, he didn’t feel like he could do much of anything right—especially where his kids were concerned.
Another knock sounded on the door. “I’ll get it.” Titus hurried out of the room. When he returned, Esther Beiler was with him.
“If you came to get the container you brought the cookies in the other day, it’s in the kitchen.” Samuel stood. “I’ll get it for you.”
Esther shook her head. “I’m not here for my container. I came to watch your kinner while you go with Allen to see about a possible job.”
“Oh, I see.” Samuel knew from what Titus had told him about Esther that she wasn’t married and lived alone because her folks had moved to Pennsylvania. Since she was single, he didn’t know how much experience she’d had with children. He’d give her a chance, but if it didn’t work out, he hoped he could find someone else.
Bonnie had just stepped outside to feed a stray cat that had been hanging around the place the last couple of days, when she saw Allen’s pickup pull into the yard. She waited on the porch, watching as Allen and a tall Amish man got out of the truck and sloshed their way through the wet snow to the house.
“I’d like you to meet Samuel Fisher,” Allen said to Bonnie when the men joined her on the porch. He gestured to Samuel, then to Bonnie. “Samuel, this is Bonnie Taylor, and this old house that needs fixing used to belong to her grandparents.”
Bonnie smiled and shook Samuel’s hand, noting the strength in his handshake. She also noticed that he barely made eye contact with her. Was he shy, wary of strangers, or just an unfriendly sort of person?
“Come in out of the cold,” Bonnie said. “I’ll show you what I think needs to be done inside.”
Allen motioned to the broken railing on the porch and the peeling paint on the side of the house. “Looks like there’s a lot to be done out here as well.”
“You’re right about that,” Bonnie said as the men followed her into the house. “Let’s start in the kitchen.” She led the way and pointed out all the things she felt needed fixing: walls to be painted, stained and torn linoleum to be replaced, an electric stove with only two burners that worked, and the need for a second oven.
“I can do the painting no problem, because I did a lot of it when I lived in Pennsylvania and worked for my older brother,” Samuel said. “I can also replace the linoleum, but the stove and oven will involve electrical hookups, which I know nothing about.”
“No problem,” Allen said. “I can talk to Adam Jarvis, the electrician who does most of my work, and see if he can take care of any electrical problems for you.”
Bonnie smiled. “I’d appreciate that.”
“What else needs to be done in the house?” Samuel asked, looking around.
“Well, there are six large bedrooms here, a living room, dining room, and two full bathrooms. As near as I can tell, every one of them needs some kind of updating or repairs. That should keep you busy throughout the rest of winter, and then this spring, when the weather improves, you can start on the outside of the house.”
Samuel leaned against the kitchen counter and gave her a nod. “I’m willing to do whatever I can.”
“Great!” Bonnie clapped her hands and then motioned to the kitchen table. “Let’s have a seat, and we’ll talk about your wages.”
Esther smiled as she watched Jared and Penny sitting on the living room floor, each holding one of Titus’s cats. The one Penny held was Callie, an orange, black, and white calico. The cat in Jared’s lap had white hair with a black spot on his head. That cat Titus had named Buttons. Esther figured the cats would be in for a challenge with the feisty black Lab she’d seen out in the yard. The dog obviously belonged to Samuel, because Titus only had cats.
Jared got up off the floor, set Buttons on the sofa, and climbed up beside him.
“I don’t think your uncle Titus allows the cats to be on the furniture,” Esther said in German-Dutch, so that Jared, who hadn’t learned English yet, would understand. “Please put the cat on the floor.”
Jared just sat there, stroking the cat’s head, as though he hadn’t heard a word she’d said.
“Jared, did you understand me?”
The boy gave no reply, nor did he make any effort to put the cat on the floor.
“His thinker ain’t workin’ so well today,” Penny said. “Fact is, he don’t do much of anything he’s told—not since Mammi died anyways. I think he misses her, same as me.”
Esther’s heart went out to Penny and Jared. No doubt the two older children missed their mother as well. After all, she’d only been gone a little over two months. Poor little Jared wasn’t much more than a baby, and what child of his age didn’t need his mother’s nurtur
ing?
“Why don’t we all go into the kitchen and have a snack?” Esther suggested.
Penny jumped up, raced to the front door, and put the calico cat outside. Jared climbed down from the sofa and put his cat outside as well. Then both children followed Esther into the kitchen. Penny climbed onto a chair, and Esther picked Jared up and lifted him into his high chair. Then she gave them each a glass of milk, some crackers, and a few apple slices.
The kids were just finishing their snack when the back door opened and Allen stepped in. “I came by to tell you that Samuel’s going to start working for Bonnie right away—that is if you’re free to stay here with the kids for the rest of the day.”
Esther nodded. Now she’d just need to think of something to keep Penny and Jared occupied for the next several hours.
CHAPTER 9
By the time Bonnie dropped Samuel off at Titus’s, after he’d worked at her place most of the day, he was exhausted. It was a good kind of exhaustion though—the kind that comes from working so hard that your muscles ache—the kind that keeps a person so busy there’s no time to think or dwell on the past. Besides securing a position that would give him a steady income for the next few months, putting in a good day’s work helped take his mind off Elsie and how much he missed her. Sleeping and working … those were the only times when he felt free of his pain and despair. Well, if working was what it took, then he’d keep busy doing something from now on.
Samuel was almost to the house when he decided to give Zach a call. He hadn’t talked to anyone from home in several days and wanted to let them know he’d found a job.
He crunched his way through the snow, and when he entered the dilapidated-looking shanty, he flipped on the battery-operated light sitting beside the phone.
He could see his breath in there, and the small wooden structure seemed even colder than it was outside, so he wasted no time in making the call. When Zach answered, Samuel told him about Bonnie Taylor and the work he’d be doing at her house, and how it would eventually be turned into a bed-and-breakfast.
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