Until the accident that had changed the course of her life, she’d been looking forward to fall—and to her marriage to Wayne.
I have to keep my mind on other things, she chided herself. It does me no good to keep dwelling on this.
Her footsteps quickened. Fallen leaves crackled beneath her feet with each step she took. She opened the mailbox and was pleased to find two letters—one postmarked from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the other one from Sarasota, Florida.
Hurrying up the driveway, she seated herself on the porch steps and tore open Jolene’s letter from Pennsylvania:
Dear Loraine:
I wanted you to know that I’ve decided to stay with my daed’s sister indefinitely. She’s teaching me sign language and how to read lips, but I have so much to learn, and it’s going to take some time. I miss you and everyone in my family, but I know I’m where I should be right now.
How are things going there with you? Is Wayne healing from his surgery? Has he gotten a prosthesis? Have you set another date for your wedding yet?
Loraine swallowed hard as hot tears pushed against her eyelids. She missed Jolene so much—missed not being able to talk with her and share her disappointment over Wayne breaking their engagement.
She finished Jolene’s letter and opened the one from Florida. It was from Katie’s mother:
Dear Loraine:
I’ll be coming home sometime next week, but Katie won’t be with me. She wants to stay with her grandparents awhile longer. She’s still grieving over Timothy, and her depression and fear of riding in a car seem to have gotten worse. I pray that someday soon Katie will be happy and well-adjusted again, and then she’ll return home.
Loraine’s eyes glazed over, and she blinked rapidly to keep her tears from falling onto the paper. She placed the letters on the small table near the back door and covered her face with her hands. It wasn’t right that Katie and Jolene had been forced to leave their homes and family. It wasn’t right, what had happened to them.
Horse hooves clomped against the pavement like distant thunder, causing Loraine to open her eyes. She saw a horse and buggy rumbling down the street, then turning into their driveway.
She quickly dried her eyes and wiped her damp hands on her dress, waiting to see who’d come calling.
A few minutes later, Jake stepped out of the buggy, dressed in Amish clothes.
“I’m surprised to see you driving a horse and buggy,” she said when he joined her on the porch. “Where’s your truck?”
“I parked it behind my daed’s barn.” The stiffening breeze ruffled Jake’s hair as he gave her a deep-dimpled smile. “I figure as long as I’m home, I oughta do what I can to keep the peace.” He touched the brim of his straw hat. “I’ll be wearing Amish clothes and driving a horse and buggy as long as I’m here.”
A strange sensation prickled the wisps of hair on the back of Loraine’s neck, and she shivered. If Jake had decided to stop driving his truck and had put on Amish clothes again, did that mean he was planning to stay permanently?
“If you’re cold, maybe we should go inside,” he suggested.
“I’m fine. Just felt a little chill from the wind, that’s all.”
“So you don’t want me to go inside with you then?”
“It ... it’s not that. My mamm’s busy cleaning, and the floors might still be wet.”
“Okay.” Jake plunked down on the step beside Loraine. “Looks like you’ve been out to the mailbox.” He motioned to the letters on the table.
She nodded. “One’s from Jolene, and the other one’s from Katie’s mamm. It looks like neither one of my cousins will be coming home anytime soon.”
“Guess they’re in the place they need to be for now.” Jake leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Sure have been a lot of changes around here since I left home.”
“Jah—especially since the accident.”
“I should never have left home. If I’d stayed, a lot of things would be different.”
Loraine looked away. She couldn’t allow herself to think about how things would be if Jake hadn’t gone. She couldn’t afford to take her eyes off her goal to marry Wayne. She’d promised him her whole heart, and he needed her now, more than ever, even if he didn’t seem to realize it.
A sharp wind blew under the eaves of the porch, whisking one of the letters away. Loraine jumped up and reached for it. Jake did the same. They grabbed the letter at the same time.
When their fingers touched, Loraine jumped back, feeling as if she’d been burned. “I’ve got it,” she murmured.
“I can see that.” Jake released the letter and jammed his hands into his trouser pockets.
They stood staring at each other until Jake’s horse whinnied and stamped his foot.
“Looks like Midnight’s getting impatient,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “I guess I’d better get going.”
“What’d you come by for?” she asked. “Was it anything important?”
“Not really. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
I’d be doing better if you hadn’t come back to Indiana. She forced a smile. “I’m all right; just taking one day at a time.”
“That’s the best way, I guess.” Jake reached his hand out, like he might touch her, but he pulled it quickly away and turned toward his buggy.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“See you later, Loraine,” he mumbled as he walked away.
Loraine gathered up her letters and turned toward the door. I hope it’s awhile before I see you again, Jake, she thought as she stepped into the house. Being with you only confuses me.
***
“I’m a real idiot,” Jake berated himself as he headed for home. “I shouldn’t have tried to take Loraine’s hand. I probably shouldn’t have gone over there this morning.”
Jake flicked the reins to get his horse moving faster and continued to fume.
He’d gone over to Loraine’s place with the intent of telling her about his conversation with Wayne the day before and to see if he could tell if she might still have an interest in him. He’d changed his mind, though. If there was any chance at all of him rebuilding a relationship with Loraine, he’d have to go slow. For now, the best thing he could do was be her friend, and that’s exactly what he planned to do.
***
“I’m glad you were able to squeeze me in today,” Wayne said as Dr. Hopkins helped him onto the table. “My back’s so spasmed, I can barely move. Between that and the phantom pains I’ve been having, I’m about to climb the walls.”
“I took a class not long ago and learned about a technique that involves something I think might be helpful in relieving not only your back pain, but the phantom pains you’re experiencing, as well.”
“Something besides chiropractic adjustments?” Wayne asked.
The doctor nodded. “Are you familiar with acupuncture?”
Wayne nodded. “I’ve never had it done to me, though.”
“Well, there’s a fairly new technique that involves tapping one’s finger along certain acupuncture points, while stating an affirmation. If you’re willing to give it a try, I’d like to show you how it’s done.”
“With the kind of pain I’ve been having, I’m willing to try most anything.”
The doctor gave Wayne’s arm a gentle squeeze. “All right then. I’ll do some adjustments on your back, and then I’ll teach you how and where to tap, and what you’ll need to say while you’re doing it.”
Wayne rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. He didn’t know what kind of weird thing he’d agreed to try, but if there was even a remote possibility that it might help relieve his phantom pains, he’d stand on his head and wiggle his ears.
CHAPTER 16
“Looks like we’re gonna have ourselves one less sheep,” Pop said when he entered the house after breakfast on Friday morning.
“What happened?” Mom asked. “Did some critter kill one of our sheep?”
&n
bsp; “One of the young lambs got into the horses’ pasture and got her left front leg stepped on pretty bad.”
“Is she dead?” Mom asked.
Pop shook his head. “Nope, but her leg’s badly mangled. I’m afraid she’s gonna have to be put down.”
“Did you call the vet to see if he can amputate the leg?” Wayne asked from where he sat in his wheelchair near the stove.
“Nope.” Pop gave his beard a quick tug. “Even if the vet takes the ewe’s leg, she won’t be good for much.”
The hair on the back of Wayne’s neck bristled. “Did you put me down because I lost a leg? Do you think I’m good for nothing?”
Pop’s face reddened, and a muscle on the side of his neck quivered.
“Of course you’re good for something,” Mom said before Pop could respond. “You’re our only son, and we love you just as much now as we did before the accident.”
Pop nodded vigorously. “You’re mamm’s right, and I didn’t mean you were good for nothing, Wayne.”
“What did you mean?” Wayne asked.
“I meant that you can’t compare the lamb’s situation to your having lost a leg or how it’s dealt with.”
“Well, I think that ewe has as much right to live as anyone.” Wayne pointed to the stump of his leg. “I’m gonna have to adjust to only one leg, and so can the lamb.”
Pop gave his earlobe a tug. “The lamb would need a lot of care, and with all the chores I have to do, I don’t need another one right now.”
“I’ll look after it myself.”
“Oh, Wayne, do you think you’re up to that?” Mom asked.
Irritation flared in Wayne’s chest. “I’m not a complete invalid!”
“I know that, but—”
“If he thinks he can do it, then maybe we should give him the chance.” Pop squeezed Wayne’s shoulder. “I’ll go down to the phone shed and call the vet right now. If he thinks it’s a good idea to take the ewe’s leg rather than putting her down, then she’s all yours.”
Wayne smiled. It was the first genuine smile he’d been able to muster since the accident. He’d make sure that lamb survived, no matter what anyone said!
***
Loraine had just left the hardware store to take her lunch break when she spotted Jake in the parking lot, getting out of his buggy.
Her mouth went dry, and her palms grew sweaty. So much for trying to avoid her ex-boyfriend. She wished she had gone out the back door, but the Wana Cup Restaurant was across the street, closer to the front of the shopping center where the hardware store was located. Maybe Jake won’t see me, she thought as she hurried her steps. But it was too late. Jake was heading her way.
“Heard you were working here,” he said, stepping up to Loraine. “I didn’t think you’d be getting off work so early in the day, though.”
She wiped her damp hands on the sides of her dress and forced a smile. “I work until four. I’m on way over to Wana Cup for some lunch.”
Jake reached under his straw hat and scratched the side of his head. “I haven’t had lunch yet, either. Mind if I join you?”
Truthfully, she did mind. Being with Jake after all this time made her feel uncomfortable and jittery. It hadn’t always been so. Loraine used to long to be with Jake. She had felt happy and carefree back when they were together. Things were different now. She was in love with Wayne. It was too late for her and Jake.
Jake nudged her arm. “Your silence makes me wonder if you’d rather not have lunch with me.”
“It’s not that.” She didn’t want to appear rude. “I ... uh ... guess it would be okay.”
A wide smile spread across Jake’s handsome face. “Great! I’ll even treat you to an ice cream cone for dessert.”
She smiled, despite her reservations. “That does sound good.”
He nudged her again. “We’d better get going before the restaurant gets too busy with the lunch crowd, and then there’ll be no seats left for us.”
***
As Jake and Loraine sat at a small table near the back of the restaurant, eating burgers and fries, he studied the curves of her slender face, her ebony-colored eyes—even the smattering of freckles on her nose. Being with her again made him keenly aware that he’d missed her more than he’d realized. He knew he would have to work hard at rebuilding the walls of trust between them. Loraine had trusted him to come home, and he’d trusted her to wait for him. They’d both let each other down.
“This burger is sure good. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started to eat.” Loraine dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
“You’ve got a spot of mustard on your chin.” Jake reached across the table and blotted her chin with his napkin. He was pleased when she didn’t pull away.
They ate in companionable silence for a while, and then Jake decided to bring up the subject of Wayne.
“I went to see Wayne the other day.”
“Was he surprised to see you?”
He nodded. “You were right about him being depressed. He didn’t seem like himself at all.”
She reached for her soda and took a drink. “He’s not the same. Because of the accident, none of us will ever be the same.”
“I was surprised when he told me that you two had broken up. When you and I spoke, you never mentioned that.”
“We ... uh ... didn’t really break up. Wayne called off the wedding, but I’m sure when he feels better he’ll change his mind.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“He will.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he loves me. Eventually, he’ll realize that losing his leg doesn’t mean we can’t get married.”
“What about you, Loraine? Do you love Wayne?”
“Of course I do. I wouldn’t have agreed to marry him if I didn’t.”
“Do you love him as much as you did me?”
Loraine’s face flamed. “That’s not a fair question, Jake.”
“I think it is.”
She toyed with her knife and stared at the table.
He reached over and covered her hand with his. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just need to know if the love you feel for Wayne is stronger than what you felt for me.”
Deep wrinkles formed in her forehead, and she pulled her hand away. “We shouldn’t even be having this conversation.”
“Why not?”
“Because you gave up your right to ask anything of me when you left home and didn’t come back.”
“I made a mistake; I realize that now.”
“What’s done is done. It’s in the past.”
“There’s still the future.” He laced his hands behind his head and stared at her.
“My future’s with Wayne.”
Jake was tempted to argue but decided it was best not to push. Even though Wayne had made it pretty clear the other day that he wasn’t going to marry Loraine, she seemed convinced—almost determined—that he would change his mind.
The best thing I can do, Jake told himself, is be patient and let Loraine know that I want to be her friend. Maybe after we spend a little more time together, she’ll realize that she loves me more than she does Wayne.
***
When Ada stepped into the Wana Cup Restaurant, the tangy odor of cooked onions and grilling burgers wafted up to her nose. Her stomach rumbled. She’d been running errands all morning and had worked up quite an appetite. She was also desperately in need of a cup of coffee.
She headed for the back of the restaurant, thinking she’d use the restroom before finding a table, and screeched to a halt. Loraine sat at a table on the other side of the room, and Jake Beechy sat across from her!
That sneaky fellow wasted no time in trying to get her back, Ada fumed. From the way she’s looking at him, I’d guess she wants that, too. I knew Loraine wasn’t right for my son. I’ve known it all along!
Ada compressed her lips as she contemplated what to do. Should she go over to their table and say somet
hing—ask what they were doing together? Or would it be better to leave the restaurant and say nothing to Jake and Loraine?
Her hands trembled as she held them tightly at her sides. I think it would be best if I don’t make a scene here in the restaurant. I need to go home and tell Wayne what I’ve seen. He needs to know that the woman he loves was seen having lunch with another man—the man she used to date, no less.
Ada whirled around and marched out the door.
CHAPTER 17
“Where’s Wayne?” Ada called to Crist as she guided her horse and buggy up to the hitching rail near their barn.
Crist motioned to the barn. “He’s in there with that crippled sheep he’s taken on as a project.”
“I need to speak to him.” Ada stepped out of the buggy. “Would you mind taking care of my horse for me?”
“Sure, I can do that.” Crist took the horse’s reins, and Ada scurried into the barn. She found Wayne sitting in his wheelchair, holding the crippled lamb in his lap.
He turned his head and smiled at her. “Tripod’s doing pretty good. I think she’s gonna make it, Mom.”
Ada tipped her head. “Tripod?”
“Jah. Just like a camera tripod that has three legs.”
She lifted her gaze to the beams overhead and rolled her eyes. “If you ask me, Tripod’s a silly name for a lamb.”
He rubbed the lamb’s ears, then patted its head. “I think it fits her just fine.”
Ada shrugged, then lowered herself to a bale of straw, smoothing the skirt of her dress as she did so. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“There’s something I want to tell you, too.”
“What’s that?”
“When I was at the chiropractor’s having him work on my back, he showed me a new technique to try for my phantom pain.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“It involves tapping your fingers on different acupuncture parts of the body while you make an affirmation.”
Ada’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead. “What kind of narrisch treatment is that?”
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