Her smile faded. “What?”
“This meeting is really, really important to me. I don’t want to give the wrong impression.”
Her blue eyes grew round. “Oh.” She looked at the table. Another knock sounded at the door. “I’ll just put my plate away then,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.” Another, more impatient knock reverberated from the front door. “I just need you to geh.”
She looked at him and straightened her back, but she couldn’t hide the hurt that seeped into her eyes. She’d never been any good at hiding her feelings. He’d known that for years. But this time was different. This time he’d hurt her more deeply than he ever had before, and it stabbed at his heart. “Katherine—”
He flinched as the door slammed shut behind her. He looked out the small window and saw her head for the barn. To hitch up her own buggy. He hadn’t done it for her because he’d been asleep. Relaxing, while she worked to help him. And this was how he repaid her.
“Anyone home?”
The sound of a high-pitched woman’s voice reached him from the living room. Apparently the Wagners had no compunction about letting themselves into his house. He watched for a second more as Katherine disappeared into the barn. He closed his eyes, silently asking for her forgiveness, knowing it was pointless.
“Coming,” he called.
He composed himself and turned around. Only then did he get a good look at the table. And only then did he notice the bouquet of bright yellow daffodils in a small vase in the center among the gleaming, plain white dishes.
Katherine blinked back tears. When would she wise up? She trudged to the barn to get her horse, her legs like lead. When she entered the barn, she saw her horse as happy as could be in the comfy stall, a small portion of oats left in the feed trough. Johnny had taken good care of the animal, as he said he would. He hadn’t promised her anything else. Whatever ideas she’d had about the two of them were of her own making. As always.
The lump in her throat tightened to a stranglehold as she led her horse back to her buggy and hitched him up. She saw the fancy white car in the driveway. She didn’t know a make from a model, but she could see it was expensive, the exterior polished to a gleaming shine. Now she could see why Johnny needed her help. Maybe his guests would notice the new curtains she’d hung in the living room and kitchen, and the way the wood floor, which had been coated and dull, now shone with homey warmth.
Johnny sure hadn’t.
Bile rose into her throat as she headed home. This was her fault, not his. He’d asked for her to help him, not to jump to conclusions. What a fool she was. All the time she was preparing his favorite meal, she had been thinking about the evening—imagining herself eating supper with Johnny at his table with his friends, enjoying the meal and the conversation.
Then maybe after his company left, he would have asked her to stay awhile. He would have noticed the extra touches she’d made to impress his guests. Not only the curtains, but fresh flowers, new kitchen linens, a little extra polish on the table. He would have thanked her. Smiled at her. Maybe even—
Stop it! She smacked the reins on Chester’s back harder than she intended. He whinnied. “Sorry,” she said, upset that she took her frustration out on this gentle horse. Couldn’t she do anything right?
By the time she got home and put Chester and the buggy up, supper was over and the kitchen was already clean. Her parents and Bekah weren’t around, and no one had left her a covered plate, as her mother sometimes did when Katherine had to work late at the restaurant. It didn’t matter. She was too tired and upset to eat. She went upstairs, hoping to avoid the rest of her family.
Johnny had been right to send her home. They weren’t married. They weren’t even dating. She had no business being there other than to fulfill the promise she gave him. Once she’d done that, she should have left on her own. She shouldn’t have had to be dismissed.
She flopped down across the bed. Tears slipped down her cheeks, no matter how hard she tried to keep them at bay.
Today had started with such promise.
And ended, once again, with heartbreak.
CHAPTER 10
“Are you stopping by to see Laura tonight?”
Sawyer looked at his father as he drove the buggy home from the shop. Business had been slow that day, and his uncle Tobias said he would handle any orders that came in. “I planned to. She’s leaving for Tennessee in the morning.”
“Finally decided to talk to her parents, then?”
“She’s been talking to them.” Sawyer’s words took on a defensive tone. “They’ve exchanged letters.”
“I see.” Lukas tapped the reins against the horse’s flanks. “Like you and Cora have been talking on the phone.”
“Yeah. Something like that.” Sawyer turned and looked out of the buggy at the houses passing by, a mix of plain Amish and fancier Yankee homes.
“I didn’t mean to make you upset.”
“You didn’t.”
“Could have fooled me.”
Sawyer crossed his arms. He felt guilty enough talking about his grandmother with Laura; he didn’t need the same nudge from Lukas. At least she had agreed to go see her parents. But his relationship with his grandmother was more complicated. He had only known her for a short while, but he knew what she stood for. What she wanted from him. And he wasn’t interested.
But what Laura had said to him over a week ago, and what his father now left unsaid, made Sawyer know that he couldn’t put off going to New York much longer. “I’ll wait until Laura gets back from Tennessee.”
“For what?”
“To see Cora.”
“When’s Laura coming back?”
A car passed by them, slowly making its way around the buggy. Now that he used a buggy for transportation, Sawyer appreciated the courteous drivers. Not everyone was. “Not sure. A couple of weeks, maybe. I’ll find out tonight.”
“And when are you talking with the bishop?”
Sawyer paused. “That’s going to be a couple of weeks too. He wanted to wait a bit.” Sawyer had wanted it to be sooner, but Bishop Esh was testing him to see if he was sincere about his commitment. Sawyer didn’t like it, but he understood the man’s reasoning.
“So you’re going to squeeze in a quick trip, then.”
Sawyer nodded. “That’s the plan.”
Lukas remained silent for a moment. “Sohn, you’re an adult. I won’t tell you what to do.”
“Good.”
“Other than to make sure you’re being fair to your grandmother.”
Sawyer uncrossed his arms. “It’s not like she’s been fair to me.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to take your pound of flesh.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“Aren’t you?” Lukas glanced at him, his dark eyes calm, serious. “Vengeance comes in different forms.”
“I know all about revenge.”
The word triggered unpleasant memories. Laura had wanted her revenge on Mark King for any number of reasons: for stealing her parents’ life savings; for deceiving her and using her to attain his own greedy ends; for nearly killing her and leaving her scarred for life. In the end, God’s justice—and the justice system—had prevailed. Mark was serving time in an Ohio prison. Sawyer didn’t know which one. He didn’t want to know.
But there was no comparison between Laura’s deep, righteous pain over what Mark did to her, both physically and emotionally, and the strife between Sawyer and Cora. “I need to deal with my grandmother on my own terms.”
“Ya. You do.”
Sawyer opened his mouth to say something but closed it. His father got his message across.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. When they arrived at the house, Sawyer could see that Anna’s buggy was gone. She was off helping his aunt Rachel, Tobias’s wife, prepare the house for church service on Sunday.
Lukas pulled the bu
ggy underneath the covered area next to the barn.
“I’ll put the horse up,” Sawyer said.
Lukas nodded. He got out of the buggy. “I’ll check on the field, see how the corn is doing. I might weed a few rows before nightfall.”
As Lukas left, Sawyer unhitched the horse from the buggy. He had just led the horse into his stall when Lukas came into the barn.
“Sawyer. You’ve got to see this.”
His normally staid father had a smirk on his face. Sawyer couldn’t help but smile, glad the earlier tension between them was gone. He quickly put the horse in his stall and followed Lukas outside to the backyard. His father didn’t say a word. He just pointed.
Sawyer froze. There was his grandmother, her mouth ajar and her head tilted back, sound asleep on their swing.
“What’s she doing here?” Sawyer asked, stunned not only to find his grandmother in Middlefield, but to see her in such an undignified position.
Lukas chuckled. “Came to see you, I’m sure.”
Sawyer didn’t share his mirth. “What’s so funny?”
“Cora. Never seen the woman so peaceful. Or so quiet.”
Sawyer tilted his head. “True.” Then he frowned. “Wonder how long she’s been here?”
“One way to find out.” Lukas gave Sawyer a slight shove. “Geh. Wake her up, before she starts catching flies.”
“I’m not waking her up.”
Lukas shook his head. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got a field to weed, remember?” He turned and started walking away. “Tell her she’s welcome to stay here if she wants. Although Anna will probably want her sleeping in the haus instead of on the swing.”
Sawyer groaned as he heard Lukas laugh again. At least someone thought Cora’s visit was funny. He sure didn’t. And he didn’t want to wake her up. But he couldn’t let her sleep there, so he slowly approached her. The breeze ruffled her short silver hair. As he neared, he heard a slight snorkeling sound.
Was she snoring? The elegant Cora Easley snored?
He touched the shoulder of her soft leather jacket. “Grandmother.” When she didn’t respond, he raised his voice. “Cora.”
“What?” She sat straight up, her eyes flying open. “What’s going on?” She looked at him, and for a moment she didn’t seem to recognize him. “Sawyer?”
She suddenly straightened, adjusting her jacket and running manicured fingers through her hair. She stood, unsteadily and with no small effort, as the swing gave her a difficult time with her balance.
Sawyer reached out to help her. She ignored the gesture and didn’t thank him.
“Where have you been?” She peered up at him, and he had the odd feeling that she had shrunk. Then he looked down and saw the flat shoes that replaced her customary heels. Still, she managed to make him feel like she was looking down on him.
“Work. What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting for you.” She sniffed, fully in control now.
That was one thing Sawyer knew about his grandmother. She wanted to control everything, including his life. She’d tried it once before, and it didn’t work that time. It wasn’t going to work now either.
“My luggage is on the front porch,” she said, pointing to the house. “Take it inside.”
“So you are staying?”
“I didn’t fly here for a day trip.” She peered at him again. “We have to talk. You’re through avoiding me.”
“I wasn’t avoiding—”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, or yours. You were ignoring me, and you know it. And on some level I understand. But the time for games is over. You have decisions to make, important ones. And I’m not leaving until you make them.”
Sawyer sighed. “Then you’ll be here a long time.”
“As long as it takes.”
They stared at each other. He could be as stubborn as he needed to be. “I’ll get your luggage,” he said, turning from her.
“Be careful with it. It’s very expensive.”
“Of course it is,” he muttered.
“I heard that.”
Sawyer clenched his teeth and walked toward the house, expecting her to be directly behind him. But when he rounded the house and reached the front porch, he turned. She wasn’t there. He waited a few moments and saw her appear from the backyard, walking as if she were treading on eggshells. He didn’t remember her being so slow before. If anything, she’d been surprisingly energetic considering her age.
When she reached him, she sounded a little winded. He frowned. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Her tone sliced through the air. “What are you waiting for? Get my bags inside before they gather more dust. And once you’ve taken them upstairs, we can have our talk.”
Sawyer gripped the handles of the two bags. He lifted them, almost dropping them because he misjudged the weight. What did she have in here, cement blocks? “Not tonight,” he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.
She narrowed her eyes. “What could possibly be more important than our conversation?”
“Laura. She’s leaving tomorrow.”
Cora expressed surprise, and Sawyer thought he saw hope gleaming in her eyes. “She’s leaving you?”
“No. She’s going back to Tennessee. To talk to her parents.” He took a deep breath. “To invite them to our wedding.”
Cora’s face paled. With more pep than he had yet seen from her, she scaled the steps and stood in front of him. “No. That can’t happen. You cannot marry her.”
“This shouldn’t surprise you. You know how I feel about her. Besides, you don’t have the right to tell me who I can and cannot marry.” He looked down at her. “I’m not my mother.”
She flinched, as Sawyer expected. It was a cruel blow, but she was irritating him. He refused to bend to her wishes, which had nothing to do with what he wanted and everything to do with her demands.
Cora took a deep breath and hiked her chin, as she always did before aiming a well-placed barb. But no barb came. Instead she simply asked, “If you do, will you still move to New York?”
He set her two-ton bags back on the porch. “I never said I’d move to New York. I’m pretty sure I made it clear I wouldn’t.”
He had never met anyone so hardheaded. Lord, give me the right words. And patience. Lots and lots of patience. No matter how he might feel about Cora, she was his grandmother and did deserve respect. He softened his tone. “Laura and I are getting married here. We’re going to live here. It’s already been decided.”
“Hmmph.” Cora crossed her arms. “Maybe I should have a talk with her.”
“Leave her out of this. Our discussion is between you and me. I promise we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I know how you are about your promises.”
He should have known she wouldn’t let that go. “You have my word. We’ll talk about whatever you want, but it has to be tomorrow.” Laura was already waiting for him. Emma had cooked a going-away meal for her and had invited him over. He wasn’t about to miss out on that, especially since it would be two weeks or more before he’d see her again.
“Very well. I’ll give you your time with Laura.” She sniffed. “But tomorrow you and I are going to talk.”
Sawyer picked up Cora’s bags again and headed for the front door. “Can’t wait,” he muttered.
“I heard that.”
“Finest meal I’ve had in ages.” Wagner patted his round belly. “Beefsteak and onions. Can’t beat that.”
Johnny forced a chuckle, just as he’d had to force himself to eat his favorite meal, which had been cooked to perfection. “Just aiming to please.”
“Please you did.” His wife, Lois, who was as small as Wagner was large, wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin. Despite her size, she’d put away the food with as much gusto as her husband. “I’m surprised you’re such a good cook, Mr. Mullet.”
Guilt slammed into him. “I can’t take the credit. A friend of mine made the meal.”
“Oh? Well, I wish she were here so I could thank her.” Lois looked at Johnny. “She is a she, correct?”
“Ya.” Remorse snowballed in his gut. He had dismissed Katherine as if she’d been a servant, his personal maid. Only after she left did he notice the little things she’d done to make tonight special for his guests. The flowers. New dish towels. A bread basket that Lois had called “charming.” Stuff he wouldn’t have thought about, yet Wagner’s wife had noticed and seemed to appreciate.
But he needed to get Katherine out of his mind or he would blow this deal. “Are you ready to see the property?” he asked, giving off what he hoped was a confident, commanding demeanor.
“Sure.”
Half an hour later Wagner, Lois, and Johnny went back into the house. Again Johnny was struck by how clean and tidy it now was. Sure, there was still more work to be done, but at least it was neat. The scent of supper still hung in the air.
All smiles, Wagner sat at the table. “I’ve seen enough. True, things are a little shabby, but the outside is as clean and well kept as the inside. Shows you’re serious about making a go of it. Let’s review the business plan. You all right with that, Lois?”
She nodded, scooting her chair closer to her husband.
Johnny rose and pulled a red folder out of a kitchen drawer and handed it to Wagner. “Here’s a copy of my business plan.”
Wagner slipped his reading glasses out of the pocket of his shirt and put them on. He and Lois read the plan together, both of them nodding at certain points almost at the same time. Johnny gripped the edge of his chair. He couldn’t tell from their blank expressions what they were thinking.
Finally Wagner put the plan back in the folder and closed it. He set it on the table. “This is a decent plan. It could use some tweaking, but I can see you’ve been thinking about the future.”
“Yes. I want to make a success of this farm, Mr. Wagner.”
Wagner held out his hand. “Please. Call me James. I’m always on a first-name basis with the folks I do business with.”
Johnny relaxed his grip. “Does this mean you’ll invest?”
The Middlefield Family Collection Page 51