A Dream of Home: Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel: Book Three

by Amy Clipston

  “I’m Madeleine Miller.” Madeleine moved a hand out from under Emma’s leg and held it out to him. “I live next door.”

  “I know where you live.” Saul wiped his hands on a shop towel and ignored her hand. Madeleine still waited for him to shake it, but he continued to study her with a scowl on his face. “I’m a nurse,” she continued in hopes of softening his accusatory stare. “I heard Emma scream, and I immediately ran over to help her. I examined her ankle, and I think she’s going to be just fine. It’s painful for her to walk on it, so I carried her in here.”

  Saul remained silent, and she kept talking to fill the awkward space between them. “I believe it’s sprained and not fractured. She should elevate it and use ice. The ice will stop the swelling, and a pain reliever would help too. You could give her Tylenol or Motrin if you have it. I have some pain relievers at my house if you need them. If the pain worsens or the swelling continues, then you may want to take her to the hospital and have X-rays done just to be certain her ankle’s not broken. I can always drive you if you need help getting to the hospital.”

  “Fine.”

  “Do you have an Ace bandage?” she asked.

  “Ya,” he said. “I believe I do.”

  “Do you want me to carry her into the house?” Madeleine offered. “I can make up an ice packet and get her settled in a chair or on your sofa so you can keep working.”

  “No, no. That won’t be necessary.” Saul took Emma from Madeleine and held her in his arms. “I will handle things from here.”

  Madeleine studied his stoic face. Why was he being cold to her? After all, she’d helped his injured daughter. She’d never met someone who was that curt or unwelcoming. How had Emma become sweet and friendly with such a quiet and rude father?

  “Okay.” Madeleine tried to draw him into a conversation. “I can come and check her ankle tomorrow if you’d like me to. I don’t mind. I worked in the trauma unit at a military hospital before I came here.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” Saul’s expression remained stony.

  “Madeleine is Martha Stoltzfus’s grossdochder,” Emma said.

  “Oh.” Saul started for the door. “Let’s get you inside and get some ice on your ankle.” He exited, and Madeleine trailed behind him.

  Madeleine stepped out into the sunlight and stood by the shop door as Saul carried Emma toward the house.

  Emma peeked over his shoulder and waved. “Thank you, Madeleine!”

  Madeleine waved. “Gern gschehne.”

  Emma’s face brightened. “You speak Dietsch?”

  Madeleine nodded. “Ya, I do.”

  Emma looked at her father. “Did you hear that, Dat? She speaks Dietsch!”

  Saul grunted in response.

  “Bye!” Emma waved to Madeleine again. “I’ll see you soon!”

  “I hope so.” Madeleine waved again.

  Saul and Emma disappeared into the house, and Madeleine shook her head. What had happened to Saul to make him such a cold man? His frosty demeanor most likely had something to do with the death of his wife. Her irritation toward him softened slightly. Still, he had no right to be so rude to her when she was only trying to help his daughter.

  Saul stopped just inside the mudroom door and watched Madeleine walk back to her house. His scowl deepened as he studied her tight jeans and snug, long-sleeve shirt. He didn’t appreciate that she paraded her inappropriate clothes in front of Emma. She had a lot of nerve marching over to his property and touching his daughter.

  “Dat?” Emma’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “My ankle is throbbing. Would you please get me the ice? Madeleine said it would stop the swelling and make it feel better.”

  “Ya. I’m sorry.” Saul pulled his gaze away from Madeleine and carried Emma into the family room.

  He placed her on the sofa and then gathered a bottle of Tylenol, an Ace bandage, and a glass of water. After giving her the painkiller, he wrapped her ankle and then filled a plastic storage bag with ice. She winced when he placed the ice pack on her little ankle. Then he sat in a chair beside her.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “I was running to the barn to check on that new litter of kittens, and I stepped in a hole and fell.” Emma brushed her hand over her knee.

  “Why did that Englisher come over? Did you call her?”

  “No.” Emma shook her head. “I screamed because I was in pain, and she came running.”

  Saul pushed a stray lock of Emma’s hair under her prayer covering. “She just came to check on you?”

  “Ya,” Emma said. “She ran over and asked if she could help me. She told me she was a nurse, and she checked out my ankle. She was very nice. Can you believe she’s Martha’s grossdochder? I wanted to ask her if she’s going to change the haus at all, but I didn’t have a chance. I’ll ask her the next time I see her.”

  “No, you won’t. Remember what I told you about staying away from her. You can’t go prying into her business, Emma.” Saul’s tone was gentle but firm. “You need to mind your own business.”

  “Then I can’t go visit her?” Emma frowned. “I want to find out more about her.”

  “No, that’s not a gut idea. We need to keep our distance. She’s not a member of our community.”

  “But she’s nice.” Emma folded her hands as if she were saying a prayer. “I want to be her friend, Dat. I think she likes me.”

  “No.” Saul shook his head. “You need to leave her alone.”

  “Okay.” Emma sighed. “I’ll stay away.”

  “Danki.” He touched her leg. “How’s your ankle now?”

  “It still hurts.”

  He grabbed her copy of Little House on the Prairie and handed it to her. It was her favorite book. “You stay here and rest. I’ll finish what I was doing and then start supper. Sound gut?”

  “Ya.” She opened the book and smiled. “Danki, Dat.”

  He nodded and then headed back outside. As he descended the porch steps, he looked toward Madeleine’s house. Guilt filled him as he considered how rude he’d been to her. He’d reacted in an impolite manner because he was shocked to see that Englisher woman standing in his shop holding his daughter.

  Saul walked back to his shop. If the opportunity presented itself, he would offer a proper thank you for her help. It was only the right thing to do.

  Saul cleaned up the kitchen after supper and then helped Emma hobble to her room. After she was settled in bed with a new ice pack, he headed outside to take care of the animals. He was exiting the barn when he saw a light on Madeleine’s back porch. She was sitting in a chair and talking on her cell phone. Now was the time to go and apologize to her. He took a deep breath and started up the driveway to her house.

  Madeleine looked up as he approached the porch steps, and her eyes widened. With her youthful face, he surmised she was in her midtwenties.

  “Hey, Mom,” she said into the phone. “I need to go. I’ll call you soon, okay? All right. Tell Jack I said hello. Good night.” She disconnected the call and then stood. “Hi. Please come up.”

  “Is this a bad time?” he asked as he climbed the steps.

  “No, no. Not at all.” She pushed her dark hair behind her ears. “Is Emma okay?”

  “Ya, ya.” He nodded. “She’s fine.”

  “Oh good.” Her smile was tentative. “Did you want to have a seat?” She pointed toward a chair. “Would you like a drink or something?” She gestured toward the door. “I have some iced tea and cookies.”

  “No, thank you. I can’t stay long.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She fingered her phone as if she were self-conscious and didn’t know what to do with her hands. “What brings you over here tonight?”

  He cleared his throat and tried to remember what he’d wanted to say to her. “I didn’t thank you properly earlier. I appreciate that you helped my Emma.”

  “You’re welcome.” She waved off the comment as if her help were nothing. “I’m just glad I was outside and hea
rd her crying out.”

  “Ya.” Saul fingered his beard. “I didn’t hear her over the noises in the shop, and if you hadn’t come, she may have been stranded there for a while. So, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said. “Emma is a sweet girl.”

  “Ya, she is.” He paused. It was time to apologize, but he wasn’t good at expressing his feelings. Annie’s abandonment had stolen his ability to express himself. “I had no right to be rude to you earlier. I’m sorry.” He held out his hand. “I’m Saul Beiler.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Saul.” She shook his hand. “I’m glad to officially meet my neighbors.”

  “Ya.” He gave her a stiff nod, and because he didn’t know what else to say, he thought it was best to just go home. “Good night then.” Before she could answer, he turned and started down the steps.

  “Saul,” she called after him.

  He spun and faced her. “Ya?”

  “Feel free to come and get me if you ever need anything.” She pointed toward her red pickup truck sitting in the driveway. “I can always give you a ride somewhere if you have any emergency.”

  “Danki.” Saul quickly started down the driveway toward his house. He felt awkward when meeting new people. Madeleine Miller seemed like a perfectly fine person, but he wasn’t comfortable interacting with women, especially Englishers. He appreciated her help tonight, but he didn’t expect to interact with her again, except for the occasional neighborly wave. They had no business being friends.

  As he climbed his porch steps, he looked back toward her house and was surprised to see Madeleine watching him from her own porch. She waved, and he responded with a halfhearted, stiff wave before disappearing into the safety of his house.

  Saul Beiler stalked down the rock drive toward his house, and Madeleine shook her head as she stared after him. That was the strangest introduction she’d ever experienced. He’d come over to introduce himself, thank her, apologize to her . . . and then he just hurried away. She’d hoped to draw him into a conversation and possibly have some refreshments too. She’d always enjoyed getting to know her neighbors, but Saul didn’t seem to want to get to know her. He just wanted to do the proper thing and then run away.

  Saul seemed like a nice man under that crusty exterior. He looked to be in his early thirties, and she also noticed that his deep brown eyes were full of sadness. He must have led a lonely life with Emma, but she knew the Amish took care of their community members too.

  When Saul reached his house, he looked back toward Madeleine’s place, and she waved. He halfheartedly waved back. Madeleine almost laughed out loud. When was the last time he laughed? she wondered. He looks like he could use loosening up. But she was certain she would never have the opportunity to get to know him very well.

  Still, questions about the man echoed in her mind as she stepped back into the house.

  SEVEN

  Madeleine sat in the back of the large family room in Joshua Glick’s house. She couldn’t believe how quickly a month had passed since Carolyn asked her to come to her wedding. Bright sunlight streamed through the window beside her on this Thursday morning. She glanced around the room and estimated about two hundred members of the community had gathered to witness the wedding.

  It felt strange to Madeleine that she had to ask for a Thursday off from work. Most non-Amish weddings were held on Saturdays. However, Carolyn explained that Amish weddings were always held on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the fall.

  The wedding ceremony reminded Madeleine of the church services she had attended as a child. The benches were set up in the same manner, with the men and women seated separately. The women looked lovely in their best Sunday dresses and prayer coverings. Madeleine was struck by the brightly colored dresses the young ladies wore—a rainbow of teals, blues, purples, and pinks. The men were also in their best Sunday suits with suspenders and crisp white shirts.

  Madeleine leaned over toward Ruth, who was seated beside her. “Where are Carolyn and Josh?”

  “The bride and groom always meet with the minister before the wedding service,” Ruth explained. “We’ll sing hymns until they join us.”

  Ruth handed Madeleine a copy of the Ausbund just as the congregation began to sing. Madeleine successfully followed along with most of the hymns, and she was pleased she could still remember some of the Pennsylvania Dutch and German her grandmother had taught her.

  After the hymns, Carolyn and Joshua joined the congregation and sat with their attendants. Ruth pointed out Carolyn’s sister-in-law, Sarah Ann; her brother, Amos; her niece, Rosemary; and her son, Benjamin. Carolyn, with her attendants by her side, sat facing Joshua, Amos, and Benjamin.

  Madeleine studied Carolyn’s navy blue dress, which matched Sarah Ann’s and Rosemary’s. They were the typical Amish dresses Madeleine had seen women wear around the community, and they were nothing like the dresses she had seen in Englisher weddings she’d attended when her friends were married.

  She leaned over to Ruth again and whispered, “Their dresses are beautiful. I love how simple and elegant they are.”

  “They made them themselves,” Ruth said softly. “Carolyn did the majority of the work with her mother’s help, but Rosemary and Sarah Ann helped her finish them up last week. Aren’t they lovely?”

  “They are.” Would her mother’s wedding have been like this if she had stayed in the community? Of course, it was a silly thought. If her mother had remained Amish, then Madeleine wouldn’t have been born.

  The men in the wedding party wore their traditional Sunday black-and-white clothing. Madeleine studied Benjamin, struck by how his blond hair and cocoa-colored eyes matched Carolyn’s. He was truly a handsome young man.

  Madeleine sniffed and wiped her eyes as the bride and groom recited their vows, standing before members of their community. She was struck by how no one was taking photographs, but she reminded herself that the Amish didn’t allow photographs because they were considered graven images.

  Weddings always made her cry, even the English weddings she’d attended. She couldn’t help but wonder what her wedding would’ve been like if she and Travis had gotten married. She tried to ignore the sad thought, but it lingered in her mind.

  Ruth leaned closer to Madeleine and pointed. “We’re going to sing another hymn, and then the minister sitting over there will talk. He’ll give a sermon based on the Old Testament stories of marriages.”

  Madeleine nodded. She did her best to follow along with the hymn but lost her place a few times. Whenever she became confused, she’d glance over at Ruth, who’d point to where they were in the hymn.

  Once the hymn was over, the minister began talking. Madeleine occasionally understood German words here and there during the sermon, but she wasn’t really listening anyway. She was consumed with thoughts of Travis and her military career. She’d served nearly four years as a flight nurse and then spent the rest of her career working at a medical center on her home air force base in California, where she’d met Travis. They’d quickly fallen in love, and they were engaged after only a year.

  “It’s time to kneel for the prayer,” Ruth whispered into Madeleine’s ear, pulling her back from her memories.

  Madeleine followed the rest of the congregation, kneeling for silent prayer and then rising for the minister’s reading of Matthew 19:1–12.

  “That’s our bishop,” Ruth explained as an elderly man with a long white beard stood. “His name is Elmer Smucker. He’ll preach the main sermon now.”

  The older man began to speak, and Madeleine tried to concentrate on his words. “He’s talking about the book of Genesis,” Ruth explained in a soft voice. “He’s discussing the story of Abraham and the other patriarchs included in the book.”

  “Danki for explaining it to me,” Madeleine said with a smile.

  Ruth grinned. “Gern gschehne.”

  Madeleine scanned the crowd of young, unmarried ladies during the sermon and spotted Linda from work. A modestly dressed Englis
h woman with deep red hair sat a few rows behind her. She was sitting with people Madeleine thought must be her husband and children.

  Madeleine touched Ruth’s arm and leaned toward her. “Ruth, is that Hannah?” She nodded toward the woman.

  “Ya,” Ruth said. “And that’s her husband, Trey, and her children Amanda and Andrew. I’ll introduce you after the service.”

  Hannah’s expression was sad. How did Hannah feel to be back at an Amish service but not a part of the congregation? Was that how her mother felt when she attended Mammi’s funeral? Hannah met Madeleine’s gaze and raised her hand as a greeting. Madeleine nodded in reply.

  She looked back toward the soon-to-be newlyweds. Carolyn was radiant in her blue linen dress with her white kapp. She beamed at her groom, Josh, whose eyes shone with love for her.

  I wonder if I’ll ever find such a powerful, all-consuming love again in my lifetime. Does God have a soul mate in mind for me, or did my opportunity to find love die with Travis in that emergency room?

  The thought caught Madeleine off guard. She’d resigned herself to enjoying life in Pennsylvania alone, but she hoped God still had a plan for her. She wanted a husband and a family.

  She watched the bride and groom as they studied the bishop. She leaned over to Ruth once again. “What is he saying now?”

  “He’s telling them about the apostle Paul’s instructions for marriage included in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians,” Ruth whispered. “Now he’s instructing Carolyn and Josh on how to run a godly household. Next he’ll move on to a forty-five-minute sermon on the story of Sara and Tobias from the intertestamental book of Tobit.”

  When the sermon was over, the bishop looked at Carolyn and Joshua. “Now here are two in one faith. Carolyn Rose Lapp and Joshua Eli Glick.” The bishop then asked the congregation if they knew any scriptural reason for the couple not to be married. Hearing no response, he continued. “If it is your desire to be married, you may in the name of the Lord come forth.”

  Madeleine was thankful she could understand the bishop and follow along. Next Joshua took Carolyn’s hand in his, and they stood before the bishop.