Harvest of Hearts

by Laura Hilton

  She nodded. “I’m sorry for my attitude. Didn’t mean to take it out on you. I probably need to apologize to Daed, too.”

  “Might be a gut idea, but he’s kind of sidetracked now, if that truck was on time. Should probably wait until it’s gone.”

  “If the truck’s here now, shouldn’t you be there helping?” Shanna straightened.

  Matthew shrugged. “He wanted you cared for first. Not much is more important to him than his daughters.”

  Chapter 12

  Since Shanna seemed to be doing better, Matthew left her in her car and walked to the shop to help. On his way, he noticed the white furniture truck parked outside. Its back door was wide open, and the ramp had been pulled out. Levi stood beside the truck, studying a sheet of white paper. When Matthew came closer, he lifted his head and raised his eyebrows in a silent question. Matthew nodded in reply.

  Levi exhaled, a smile flickering briefly across his lips, then shifted his gaze back to the page.

  Matthew walked into the shop and stood there for a moment, wanting to bask in Levi’s approval. Soon, he turned his attention to the order. He glanced around the room and saw Joseph balancing on the second highest rung of a tall ladder on the other side of the room and lowering a wooden chair from a hook on the ceiling. When he stepped down to the next rung, still carrying the chair, Matthew hurried over. “Let me help. Is this for the shipment?”

  “Jah. Daed said this shop ordered twenty chairs, five tables, a couple of rolltop desks…don’t remember what else. Figured I’d get started on these.”

  Matthew took the chair from Joseph and set it off to the side, then waited for the next one to be handed down. He breathed in the familiar smells of sawdust, wood stain, and furniture polish.

  “Shanna and Daed have another go-around?” Joseph glanced at him.

  Matthew grimaced. “Jah, but I think they’re both learning how to relate to the other. They might get it right before she goes back to Springfield.”

  “Maybe she won’t go back.” Joseph handed Matthew another chair and gave him a measured look.

  With a lift of one shoulder, Matthew set the chair beside the other one. “Guess we’ll see.”

  “Or maybe you could give her a gut reason to stay. Propose, if necessary.”

  Matthew’s heart leaped at the thought, but he laughed, trying to downplay his interest. Yet he didn’t find that suggestion even remotely funny. “That’d be putting the buggy before the horse. Whoever marries her needs to do some courting first, ain’t so?”

  “You might want to get busy, then.”

  For a second, Matthew froze. The words Me? Why me? hovered on the end of his tongue. He tried to think of what he might have done to make Joseph think he was interested in Shanna in that way. Joseph had caught him spying on her from the bedroom window last night. And then, there was that talk he and Shanna had had. The one that had stretched into the wee hours of the morning. That had been nice. Talking. Getting to know each other better.

  Matthew sighed and shook his head. “Not me. We’re new friends. Friends, Joseph. And I’m not going to marry an outsider.”

  Marrying outside the faith was not an option. No matter how much he was attracted to her.

  God have mercy, he was drawn to her. Beautiful. Friendly. Kind. And somehow she spoke to his heart. Had, from the first moment he’d seen her.

  No other woman had ever affected him that way. Not even Katie. And he’d almost asked her to marry him.

  Jah, truth be told, he wanted Shanna to be his frau. Wanted to watch her grow big with his children. Wanted to live to an old age with her by his side.

  Matthew took the last chair and set it with the others as Joseph clambered down the ladder. “That should be twenty. Want to help me get them out to the truck? Then, we’ll carry the tables out.”

  An hour later, the loaded truck left, headed for a store in Branson that specialized in handcrafted wood furniture. Levi pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it. “It’s after one. I’m hungry. Kum, let’s go see if they have lunch waiting for us. It should be ready.”

  Matthew’s stomach rumbled in reply.

  He hurried with Levi and Joseph across the yard and followed them into the quiet house. The four younger children were in school. The scent of fresh-baked bread filled the air, and a kettle of soup simmered on the stove. Deborah and Shanna stood at the far end of the table, Deborah filling a pie crust with sliced apples, Shanna mixing up some sort of dough in a big silver bowl.

  Several strands of hair had escaped from her kapp, and one of her cheeks was dusted with flour. Matthew ached to brush it away. And as much as he wanted to keep his distance, he was drawn to her like a magnet.

  When Levi and Joseph had finished at the sink, Matthew washed up, then wandered over to Shanna, his attention still on the loose hair brushing her neck and the streak of white on her lovely face. He was too close, really, since his chest brushed her arm. Yet he stepped nearer still. His heart rate increased when he heard her inhale sharply. Fighting the grin that threatened to appear, he glanced down into the bowl. Chocolate chip cookie dough. His favorite.

  He couldn’t resist reaching down for a scoop with his finger. He’d already licked it off when Shanna slapped his arm.

  Matthew swallowed. “You’re a bit slow. My mamm would have slapped my hand when I was reaching for it.” He winked at her.

  “My mamm raised me better. I wasn’t prepared for a stunt like that,” Shanna retorted.

  “Well, then, consider yourself forewarned. And ‘Forewarned is forearmed.’” He winked again and poked his finger into the dough once more, then pretended to study his prize. “It could use some chopped walnuts.”

  “Matthew Yoder.” Shanna planted a fist on her hips and backed away from the table, away from him, the wooden spoon still clasped in her other hand.

  “You look so domesticated that way,” he teased. “Like some frau correcting an errant child.” He turned away and plopped the second scoop of cookie dough into his mouth. Then, he met the amused stares of Levi, Deborah, and Joseph. He’d forgotten they were in the room. He couldn’t help but grin, even as he felt the warmth of a blush on his neck. He hadn’t meant to make his attentions so public. He wouldn’t have crowded her space so much if he’d remembered his audience.

  How awkward. What would Levi think about this latest indication of his interest in Shanna? Would he make efforts to keep them separate, or would he “discover” opportunities to put them together?

  Matthew hoped for the latter, even as he feared it. Too little effort was required to fall in love with Shanna Stoltzfus.

  ***

  Shanna’s breathing was still a bit erratic as she set the bowl of cookie dough aside and went to the cupboard to retrieve five white bowls and salad plates for lunch. Mamm had guided her through preparing her creamy broccoli soup, which still simmered on the stove. Shanna fretted over how it would taste. Would Matthew like it?

  It didn’t matter if he did or didn’t. Her cooking skills, or the lack thereof, would mean nothing to him.

  He probably hadn’t even noticed his body pressing up against hers, so close that she could feel his heartbeat. Or maybe the thundering pulse had been her own, in response to his nearness. It’d taken a huge effort to keep from turning into his arms. Only the fact that they hadn’t been alone had kept her from doing so.

  Mamm began slicing the still-warm loaf of bread on the cutting board. Daed left the room for a moment, while Joseph collected the silverware. “Don’t know what you have been doing all day, leaving me to do women’s work,” he complained good-naturedly.

  “How can I help?” Matthew seemed to take his cue from Joseph.

  Shanna was glad for the assistance. Mamm had been baking all day to get ready for the sale tomorrow, and Shanna had jumped into the fray when she’d come inside after the disturbing encounters with Matthew and then Daed, followed by the peaceful time of prayer with Matthew.

  Her face heated as she recalled
how she’d brazenly tempted Matthew by suggesting they make out. What must he think of her? It was fortunate that he hadn’t taken her up on her entirely too forward comment. Of course, his refusal also made it clear that any attraction between them was one-sided. If he were interested in her, he would have….

  Then again, he belonged to the church. He held to more traditional values than the world she’d embraced when she’d run away from home.

  It was probably a good thing she hadn’t thrown herself into his arms moments ago. He wouldn’t have known what to do with her. Or would he? Her mind flashed back to the awkward hug after her accident, mere days ago.

  Deborah looked up at Matthew. “You can get the butter from the refrigerator, if you’d like.”

  “Get the cheese, too, please,” Shanna added. “I need to shred some.” She reached for a stainless-steel grater, but her senses screamed with Matthew’s every move. He wouldn’t marry outside the faith. But why couldn’t he be interested in her?

  If only she could have it both ways.

  Joseph left the room and returned shortly with canning jars full of jam, chowchow, and fruit. Matthew also returned with his arms loaded. He handed the cheese to Shanna, then placed the butter in the middle of the table.

  “Sorry we didn’t have lunch ready for you. We didn’t notice the truck leave.” Shanna opened the package of cheese, laid the plastic wrapper on the table, and started grating the cheese into a bowl. “Do you still order your cheese from Mary-Beth Schmidt?” She glanced over at Mamm.

  Mamm placed the platter of bread on the table. “Jah. She said this one didn’t set up right, so she gave it to me. I don’t see anything wrong with it, but maybe she felt guilty for being nosy and asking so many questions about you.”

  Shanna froze. “Me?”

  “You have to know you’re what a lot of people talk about now.”

  She supposed that was to be expected, yet the idea of others snooping on her family and asking questions because she’d come home for a couple of months hadn’t crossed her mind. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable.” Not for her family. She’d never wanted to hurt them.

  But she had to leave soon to return to school. And that would cause them even more pain.

  She closed her eyes briefly but snapped them open again when she felt a soft touch on her arm.

  Mamm pulled away. “We are glad you’re back, even if it’s for just a short while. If they want to know more, they can talk to you.”

  No one would dare. The Amish she saw in town eyed her with distrust and kept their distance. As if her Englischness would rub off on them like a contagious disease.

  Her eyes flickered to Matthew. He caught her gaze and held it as he moved closer. His focus shifted to her cheek and then to her mouth, but it immediately shot back up to her eyes, as if he thought he’d done something inappropriate. She was still recovering from that too-brief look when he reached over and grabbed a handful of shredded cheese.

  “What’s gotten into you today?” Shanna pretended to glare at him. “Did you swallow a mischief pill or something?”

  “Or something.” He winked and slid onto the bench next to Joseph as Daed entered the room. Matthew’s gray eyes sparkled up at her like the diamond earrings she’d seen once at the mall.

  Space. She needed space. Shanna’s mind scrambled to find a new topic of conversation, one that wouldn’t involve Matthew or this sudden flirtatious trend that had flared up unexpectedly between them. Not that she didn’t like it. She did. Maybe too much. She turned to Mamm. “Is this a church Sunday coming up?”

  “Jah. It’s at the Lapps’ haus.” Mamm put the kettle of soup on the table near Daed’s place. “The Zooks are hosting the singing, ain’t so?” She glanced at Joseph.

  Joseph nodded, then looked at Shanna. “Want to ride over with me?”

  She’d prefer to ride there and back with Matthew—and take the long way. But he didn’t seem inclined to ask. Then, she remembered that he’d even told her she’d have to ride with her brother. “Jah. Danki.”

  “I’ll take you home, too, if need be. Just not right away, maybe.” Joseph blushed.

  Shanna stared at him a moment before comprehension kicked in. Her younger brother was courting someone. Either that, or he was trying to work up the courage to begin doing so.

  Shanna couldn’t imagine that anyone would ask her to ride home with him. Well, except for Matthew, maybe. It’d be nice, but unlikely. How awkward would it be to ride home perched on the buggy seat with Joseph’s girl squeezed in between them?

  “Maybe it’d be best if I didn’t go.” Shanna tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She’d been looking forward to an outing with other young people. Pretending not to notice the buwe watching the girls as they walked into the building. Feeling the thrill of suspecting that a certain bu had his eye on her.

  Guess that probably wouldn’t happen to her, though. She’d made the decision to jump the fence. Returning wasn’t in her immediate plans. Maybe not even in her future plans.

  “You should go.” Daed folded his hands in front of him, indicating the conversation was finished, and it was time to ask God’s blessing on the meal. “Go and have fun. Don’t worry about how you’ll get home until the time comes.” He cleared his throat. “Shall we pray?”

  ***

  When lunch was over, Matthew pushed his dishes away. He’d had three helpings of soup and two slices of warm wheat bread. “It was wunderbaar, Deborah.”

  She smiled. “Shanna prepared the soup.”

  Matthew glanced at Shanna and gave a nod of recognition. “Really gut.” He wished he could think of something else to say, but his forwardness had disappeared almost entirely once he’d realized her family had watched the flirtatious exchange and formed opinions. Not that any of them seemed to be opposed to the idea of him courting Shanna.

  “Danki.” Shanna seemed equally shy. She avoided his gaze and dipped her head as she scooted out of the chair to collect the dishes. “Koffee?”

  “Jah.” Matthew swallowed the lump in his throat.

  Levi nudged his mug closer to the edge of the table. “I’d like some too, please.” He turned to Matthew. “What are your plans for this afternoon?”

  “I made an appointment to go take a look at that ranch again. The realtor’s supposed to meet me there around three.”

  Levi nodded. He’d already offered to come along and give his opinion, but Matthew didn’t think he wanted the older man there. At least, not yet. It would imply that he was serious about the property, an impression he wasn’t prepared to give right now. When he made his decision, or when he was close to making one, he would certainly value Levi’s opinion.

  “I have some paperwork to do, so I’ll be working on that.” Levi stretched his legs out.

  Shanna brought over the coffeepot and filled her daed’s mug, then Matthew’s when he held it out.

  “If it’s okay, Daed, I thought I’d get some fishing in this afternoon.” Joseph shook his head when Shanna started to fill his mug. “Nein, danki.”

  Matthew watched her place the coffeepot on the back of the stove and then begin piling dirty dishes in the sink.

  He mustered up some courage. “Shanna, would you like to see the ranch?” He hoped she’d say “Jah.” At the same time, he expected a “Nein, danki.”

  Levi set his mug down and turned in his seat. Matthew cringed under the sharp assessment. It reminded him of when he’d first arrived, accompanied by the bishop. The man seemed able to see clear into his soul.

  He wanted to tell Levi he had nothing to worry about. But maybe he did.

  His intentions toward Shanna? Undecided.

  Until he did decide, he needed to keep their relationship at the friend level. That would be difficult. He wanted to push past that stage.

  He looked in Shanna’s direction, watching the sway of her skirt as she scrubbed the dishes. Ach, why did she have to make it so clear she’d be leaving? That mean
t the decision had already been made.

  He fought the disappointment that washed over him and opened his mouth to take back his invitation. She’d have no need to see the ranch. It would never be her home.

  Levi picked up his mug and took another sip of coffee, apparently satisfied by whatever he’d seen in Matthew’s expression. Yet, which expression had satisfied him? Matthew’s wistful smile to think that Shanna might be the one for him? Or the frown of disappointment when the unlikelihood of that reality sank in?

  “Actually, Shanna—”

  Shanna turned away from the sink, wiping her hands on her black apron. “I have baking to do. Mamm needs me. Danki, anyway.”

  “Do the baking when you get home,” Mamm said, picking up a dish towel and joining her at the sink. “It’ll keep. Or, I could have the girls help when they get home from school. We’ve nearly finished everything, so go and have fun. It helped to have both of us working. Danki.” She wrapped Shanna in a hug.