“I’m sorry I was so nosy.”
She shook her head. “As bad as this sounds, I’m glad I told you about all of that. It feels good to know it’s now out in the open.” Kayla’s smile faltered as they came upon her neighbor. “Oh, boy. Get ready.”
“Hello, Kayla,” the woman, who’d obviously gone out to get the mail, called out. “You’re home early.”
“I am.”
“And… it looks like you have company today.”
“It also looks as if the mail has arrived.”
“It has. Two hours late, though.” The woman sniffed.
“My word,” Aaron murmured.
Kayla’s lips twitched. “Well, Mrs. Hershberger, I wish you good day.”
The lady merely stared. “Kayla, your father is still gone, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Hmph,” she said, before turning toward her door.
Aaron leaned toward her. “You’ve got a busybody, jah? We’ve had those.”
Some of the pain faded in her eyes. “Yes, I suppose we all have them.” She chuckled.
He smiled down at her just as her foot slipped. She reached for the railing, crying out as the wood broke under her weight.
And just like that, she fell with a gasp.
“Kayla!” He knelt by her side, intending to help her.
But then he saw that a thick splinter of wood had embedded itself in her palm and she was bleeding.
Aaron made his decision right then and there. Kayla might have been older, more experienced, and had obviously endured things he couldn’t imagine, but today, he was going to be the strong one and help her. It was the least he could do.
“Where’s your key, Kayla?”
“It’s in the pocket of my purse.”
He reached for her purse and scanned the contents. There wasn’t much in the center compartments, but the four side pockets looked full. “Which one has your house key?” If Tiny had taught him anything, it was to refrain from digging around in women’s purses willy-nilly.
“I don’t know. One of the side pockets? Just look until you find it.”
He got lucky when he dug into the third pocket. Quickly, he unlocked the door and ushered her into the dark house. “Kerosene or battery lights?”
“I have a kerosene lantern in the kitchen.”
Finding a match, he neatly lit the rather large black metal lamp and put it on the table. It cast a warm, pleasing glow in the room, but that wasn’t going to be enough to give her any relief. “We need a battery light, too.”
She blinked. “Truly?”
“There’s a splinter in your hand, jah? I’ll need good light to tug it out.”
She blanched. “Oh. Of course.” Pointing to a small, finely made box on the edge of a counter, she said, “There are some in there.”
He easily located one and turned it on. As he’d hoped, it cast a bright beam across the room. “One last thing. I need tweezers and a needle. Maybe some alcohol and a Band-Aid, too.”
“That would be four things.”
He smiled. “You may relax your mind for a second, Kayla.”
“There’s a first aid box under the bathroom sink. Go down the hall. You’ll see it.”
He followed her directions, feeling once again like he was invading her privacy as he peeked in two doorways. The first had to be her father’s bedroom. It was sparse, with only a blue-and-red patterned quilt on the top of an oak bed. The second was hers. It had pale pink walls, pale maple wood furniture, and a large bookcase filled with paperbacks. There was also a white wicker rocking chair in the corner with a small circular table next to it that was painted white. The whole room smelled faintly of cinnamon and something floral—maybe rose?
The bathroom, in contrast to both bedrooms, was pure white. Underneath was a plastic first aid kit. Grabbing it, he hurried back to her side.
“Did you have trouble finding it?”
“Nee. It was right where you said. I wasn’t sure which door led to it so I had to look in the rooms.”
“Oh.”
For some reason, he felt that if he didn’t admit he’d seen her room, he would be acting dishonestly. “I like your pink walls.”
“You do?”
“You sound surprised,” he teased as he opened the kit and pulled out the rubbing alcohol and cotton. “Did you not think a man could appreciate pink?”
Her eyes lit up. “Maybe. My father doesn’t care for it. Sometime I fear it’s not ‘Plain’ enough, but I can’t seem to find the willpower to paint the walls white again.”
Aaron thought Kayla was too hard on herself, but he refrained from saying that. “Are you ready to let me see to your hand now?”
“Yes, of course.” She held her hand out. “Danke.”
There was really no other way to tackle it other than matter-of-factly. “I’ll clean it with some alcohol, then try to pull it out with the tweezers.”
“All right.”
“It’s, ah, partially embedded.” Was that even the right word? “I might have to use the needle to poke around a bit. I’m sorry, but it will probably hurt.”
She grimaced. “Would you mind if you did the deed without describing every step?”
“I can do that.” He hid his smile. He rather liked that there was something she didn’t do better than him.
“I’m sorry. I’m not good with blood.”
“I understand.” He didn’t think there was going to be much more blood involved, but he refrained from saying anything. Instead, he simply got to work.
He cradled her hand in his own, trying to ignore how small and delicate it felt compared to his. With gentle dabs, he wiped the broken skin, then took hold of the tweezers and carefully gripped the end of the splinter. There was nothing to do but pull it out as gently as he could.
“Oh!” she said, squeezing her eyes shut.
“Almost done.” He hoped he was telling the truth.
Seconds later, the little operation was over. He pressed a piece of cotton on the wound. “You can breathe again, Kayla. It’s out.”
She popped her eyes open again. “Truly?”
“Absolutely.” He smiled at her. “I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”
She blew out a big breath of air. “Aaron, I’m beginning to think you wouldn’t lie to me about anything.”
“Good, because I wouldn’t. I don’t plan to, either. I mean, I won’t lie if I can help it at all.”
“That’s a good way to be, right? I mean, even if the truth is hard to say or embarrassing, I’d rather it be out in the open.”
Thinking of how much they’d revealed to each other and how much more highly he thought of her than even before, Aaron couldn’t agree more. “I think that’s a gut plan,” he said, finally releasing her hand. Once he did, he immediately felt its loss.
twenty
• RULE #20 •
Put the sheriff’s number on speed dial. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
Tiny didn’t mean to spy on Joel, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. He just happened to be around whenever she looked out the window that just happened to face his house.
That wasn’t quite true, though. The simple fact was that she missed him. Even though they’d argued, even though she was frustrated with his hot and cold courting, she still longed for him. She missed looking forward to his visits, missed anticipating a life by his side. Love was proving to be a very dangerous emotion. Somehow it managed to hurt and soothe her heart… all at the same time.
So, whenever Tiny had a spare moment, she walked over to one of the many windows that faced his house and looked for him. Just to see his face.
To her surprise, Joel wasn’t that hard to find. After years of barely seeing him at all, he now seemed to be continually outside in the yard that faced her house.
It was wunderbaar! So good that she would have thought it was a little coincidental… except that, well, if Tiny wasn’t so sure that her eyes were deceiving her, she wou
ld have thought she had seen Joel with a very ugly yellow dog. But Joel didn’t have a pet. No one in his family did. Honestly, she could have sworn that she’d heard his father once declare that he didn’t care for pets. He believed animals were only supposed to be useful.
Now she was beginning to wonder if he’d changed his mind.
Peeking out the window after she’d made and attached labels for her mother’s famous chicken stock, Tiny was pleased to see that Joel was outside again. Dressed in a knit stocking cap, black pants, and his usual black wool coat, he looked as handsome as he ever did.
Just… happier? Yes, she was pretty sure he was laughing. But at what?
More curious now, Tiny leaned closer to the windowpane and tried to see what Joel was laughing about. Unfortunately, a thicket of trees and bushes impeded her view. It was frustrating. She needed to go outside and investigate.
But what if he saw her? What would happen then? Would he accuse her of spying? She’d have to get all huffy and deny it, but they’d both know she was lying. On the other hand, if she did nothing, she was going to spend yet another day mooning over Joel.
So, it was a dilemma.
“Hund!” Rebecca exclaimed as she clapped her hands.
Startled, Tiny turned away from the glass in time to see her little sister and her mother walking in the front door. Bundled up in a thick wool dress, navy cloak, and Tiny’s old scarf and mittens, Becca looked as cute as could be. The scarf was wrapped around her kapp, and her cheeks were bright pink. Her mamm had taken off her simple black cloak and mittens and was stomping her boots.
“What did you say, Becca?”
“Hund et Joel!”
“Dog and Joel?”
“Joel got himself a dog, Tiny,” her mother explained. “Or rather, it seems to have found him.”
They had her full attention now. “What do you mean?”
Her mother blinked. “Just what I said. We were out walking and saw Joel. He’s outside with his new hund.”
Her eyes hadn’t deceived her… but it still didn’t make much sense. “I didn’t think his father liked dogs. I’m surprised Joel bought one.”
“Oh, he didn’t. He was walking home from the bookmobile and spied it wandering around in the cold.”
“Really?”
Her mother frowned. “Poor little thing. Joel said it was cold and hungry and had obviously been mistreated. He stayed there for quite a while, coaxing it closer.”
“What happened to it?”
“Why, the dog eventually trusted him, dear.”
“And then?”
Her mother looked at her strangely. “Well, then Joel took it home, that’s what. Now he has a dog.”
Tiny was still having a hard time wrapping her head around that. “But Joel has never wanted one. I didn’t think he liked dogs.”
“Hund!” Becca called out again.
Mamm picked up Becca and gave her a little hug. “That’s right, dear. Joel has a hund.” After putting Becca down, Mamm said, “I believe Joel likes this dog a lot. So, whoever told you that he didn’t like dogs was obviously wrong.”
No one had told her that. She knew this from a lifetime of watching him. Even though it was foolish, and none of her business, she murmured, “I still find it hard to believe.” Of course, what she really meant was that she found it hard to believe Joel could still surprise her.
“Perhaps you should go outside to see for yourself, child. You know, instead of standing in here and spying on him.”
“I wasn’t spying.”
Her mother sighed. “Go meet that animal, Tiny. Even if you don’t think Joel likes dogs, we all know that you like them fine.”
She lifted her chin. “I think I will do that.”
“Gut.” Bending down to help Becca take off her cloak, Mamm muttered, “It’s about time, too.”
Deciding to ignore that, Tiny turned on her heel, walked to the mudroom, and put on her favorite violet mittens and matching scarf before adding a black cloak and her thick soled boots.
Now that she’d made up her mind, Tiny hoped she wasn’t going to be too late.
She wasn’t. As soon as she rounded the corner of the house, she heard Joel call out. “Gut girl, Yellow. You are a mighty fine hund indeed.”
A happy bark sang through the air in response.
Tiny walked closer and saw Joel toss a thick stick several yards. She watched the dog run after it, then, to her astonishment, the dog neatly dropped it at his feet, just like they’d been playing the game for months.
Tossing it again, Joel called out, “Go fetch, Yellow!” Then, he stilled as he spied her. “Hiya, Tiny.”
Feeling self-conscious, she walked closer. “Hi. Mei mamm and Becca just told me you had a dog, but I found that hard to believe.”
“So you had to come out to see for yourself?”
His voice was snide. She couldn’t say she blamed him for that. She hadn’t believed him about Jane, not even when he’d explained that Jane had a reason to be needing help around her house.
“That’s not exactly what I was doing,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “But close enough?”
“Jah. I guess so.”
She stuffed her mittened hands into her pockets as the dog ran back to Joel and then flopped down at his feet. Joel knelt down and petted her before standing up and facing Tiny again.
“Are you ever going to forgive me for keeping my work for Jane a secret?”
He looked so miserable—as miserable as she felt—that Tiny knew it was time to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I think I had better, hadn’t I?” Realizing that she had something else to admit, she added, “I should probably also mention that Luke isn’t going to be coming over to my house anymore.”
“Why is that?”
“I decided we didn’t suit.” Remembering his smug manner, she smiled slightly. “At all.”
“I guess we’re back where we started.”
“Perhaps. Though I’d like to think we’re in a better place now. I’m trying to be better.”
“I’m trying, too, Tiny. And you know what? You’re right. We’ve known each other too long to dwell on disagreements. At least, I feel that way.”
“I feel that way as well.” She smiled up at him. “Now, will you please talk to me about this hund?”
“Her name is Yellow.”
“How did you know? Did she have a tag on her collar?” If so, she was going to have to find a gentle way to remind him to return the pet to her owner.
“She didn’t have a collar or anything like that. I bought this one a couple of days ago,” he said of the bright red collar with a dog bone–shaped tag dangling from it. “I named her Yellow.”
“That’s a fitting name, indeed. She is quite yellow.” Though, she thought “golden” might be a better descriptor.
“Jah.” He reached down and gently ran his hand along the dog’s coat again. She shivered in happiness. When he smiled down at her again, Yellow wagged her tail.
Tiny thought that was the most precious thing she’d ever seen. The dog adored him, and the feeling was obviously mutual. “The two of you make a good pair.”
“I don’t know. You know I have no experience owning a pet. But, I’m thinking that maybe Yellow here ain’t too used to being one.”
“I think the Lord helped you two find each other.”
“Maybe so.” Lines appeared on his brow. “Oh, Tiny. She looked so sad when I came across her. And her paw was obviously paining her. I think she might have been outside for quite a while.”
“In the cold and snow. That’s horrible.”
“Jah.” After another fond look at the dog, he added, “Something about her got to me.” He made a fist and planted it in his middle. “I couldn’t leave her there on the street or forget I ever saw her, you know? I had to do something.”
She had never been in that situation, but she did know how Joel was, and she very well could see him not wanting to leave her. Honestl
y, she would have been surprised if he had. “I have a feeling that she must have felt the same away about you, Joel. Yellow here could have run away when she saw you, but she didn’t.”
Joel’s expression brightened. “That’s true, ain’t so?” When she nodded, he smiled. “Maybe me and this dog were meant to be. Maybe we’re a gut team, jah?”
“I think so.” With Yellow staying securely by his side, Tiny realized she felt a little jealous. Jealous the dog was getting so much of Joel’s attention, and maybe even of the dog’s complete adoration of him. It all made her feel a bit like a third wheel, which was silly, especially since just days before she’d been contemplating a life without him.
Belatedly realizing that the dog was still looking at her as if unsure whether she was a friend or a foe, Tiny shook her head to clear it. “Joel, would you please introduce me to Yellow?”
“Of course.” He looked at her warily. “She’s just learning how I do things, of course. We haven’t progressed to manners and such yet.”
Joel was already feeling protective of Yellow! Shielding the hund from her disdain! “I have no expectations, Joel. I only want to be a friend.”
Bending down, he patted the dog. “Yellow, this is Tiny Coblentz. She is a… friend.”
And, there it was. That pause had been so short, but it symbolized the great shift in their relationship. Or, perhaps it signified so much of what could have been. Nee, what should have been. She felt her bottom lip tremble, already grieving for the loss of their romance.
“Tiny?”
“Oh, sorry. I guess my mind went walking.” She cleared her throat and held out her hand to the dog. “It is very nice to meet you, Miss Yellow. You’re a very pretty girl.”
She kept her hand in place as Yellow hesitantly looked up at Joel then back at her. When he nodded, she took two steps closer. Then another. And then, she lifted her nose to Tiny.
Trusting her. It was such a gift. Very gently, Tiny ran one finger along her nose. After a pause, she patted her again. “Danke, Yellow. I am glad to be your friend.” When the dog thumped her tail, Tiny smiled, feeling like she’d just passed a difficult test.
“I think we’re going to be friends now,” she said to Joel.
A Perfect Amish Romance Page 13