Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Rancher for ChristmasHer Montana ChristmasAn Amish Christmas JourneyYuletide Baby

by Brenda Minton

  “If I ever get back this way, I’ll stay long enough to meet all of them.”

  “I would like that,” she said softly. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought she might be blushing.

  “Goodbye and Merry Christmas, Greta Barkman. May God bless and keep you.”

  She lifted her gaze to stare into his eyes. “And you, Toby.”

  He wanted to kiss her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. He took another step closer. Arles beeped the horn.

  “Have a safe trip.” She lifted her face ever so slightly to gaze up at him. Her lips, so close to his own, were an invitation he couldn’t resist. He bent forward and covered her mouth with his own.

  She pulled back in surprise, her eyes wide with shock.

  He called himself every kind of fool. This wasn’t how he wanted their time together to end. “I’m sorry, Greta. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Don’t be sorry.”

  His heart thudded against his chest. Sandwiched somewhere between disappointment and hope.

  I wanted one kiss to remember you by. One touch of your sweet lips to last a lifetime.

  “I’m not sorry I kissed you. I’m only sorry if I frightened you.”

  “Goodbye, Toby.” She picked up her bag and hurried into the house.

  Arles sounded the horn again, and Toby trudged down the steps to the waiting van. He had probably given Greta a disgust of him.

  Probably? She couldn’t wait to get away and safely in the house. He was blessed that she hadn’t set the dog on him.

  What a fool he was. She would never write to him now.

  As they pulled out of the farmyard, Toby looked back at the house. The snow quickly hid it from his sight. He missed her already. There was something about her presence that was comforting and yet in a strange way exciting. Would he ever see her again? It was unlikely unless he made a point of returning to Hope Springs. Once he and Marianne were settled, could he return then? First, he had to find a job and then save enough money. How long would it take? A year? Two years? He had no way of knowing. His heart grew heavy as he realized how improbable his plan was.

  One kiss would have to be enough.

  Christmas began yowling loudly and scratching at her box. Marianne opened the lid to peek in. “What’s wrong?”

  Christmas nudged her way out and before Marianne could stop her, she leaped over the front seat and onto Arles’s shoulder. He yelped in surprise. The van swerved wildly, skidded sideways and plunged off the road.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Greta stood with her back against the door, her hand pressed to her chest trying to still her wildly beating heart. Why had Toby kissed her? What had he meant by it? Anything? Had he been toying with her the whole trip? Had he been bored enough to start a flirtation with her? Had her inexperience amused him?

  Or, had she tempted him in some way she wasn’t aware of?

  Did he think she wanted his kiss, that she had low morals and didn’t care about what was proper? They were little more than strangers. A good Amish woman never kissed a man she barely knew.

  She raised her fingers to her lips. They still tingled from his touch.

  Why didn’t I kiss him back?

  If only she could return to the moment and see what that would have been like. Instead, she ran away like a frightened rabbit. She would regret that for the rest of her life.

  What if no one ever kisses me again?

  “Where is everyone?” Morris asked. He stood in the doorway that led to the living room.

  Greta pushed away from the door. She refused to believe the worst of Toby. She would remember him fondly and treasure his gesture. Her amazing journey had come to an end. A very special man had come into her life for two days and now he was gone. Reality was waiting for her. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

  “Welcome to our home.” Naomi gave Morris a tentative smile. Greta’s grandfather stood behind her. He wasn’t smiling. Betsy and Lizzie came in behind them. Duncan, standing at Lizzie’s side, growled low in his throat. Lizzie shushed him.

  “Danki for inviting me.” Morris inclined his head slightly, but his voice was laced with sarcasm.

  Naomi came forward. “I have your room ready if you would like to lie down for a while.”

  His shoulders slumped. “That would be nice. Traveling has been tiring.” He suddenly looked as weary as he sounded.

  “I understand. Please, come this way. Joseph, would you bring his bags?”

  She led Morris out of the kitchen and into the living room. Instead of heading up the stairs, she turned left down a short hall and held open the door to Joseph’s bedroom.

  Joseph came forward and kissed Greta’s cheek. “I’m glad to have my goot Greta with me once more. How was your trip?”

  “Interesting.”

  “You’ll have to tell us all about it.” Joseph hefted a suitcase in each hand. “First, I have to give up my bed to him. Now, I’m expected to carry his bags, too. The things I do for that woman.” He marched out of the kitchen.

  Betsy and Lizzie raced to throw their arms around Greta. Lizzie said, “We’re so glad you’re home. Was it awful traveling with him?”

  “Of course it was awful,” Betsy said.

  Greta hugged them each in turn. “It wasn’t fun, but it was not awful. I had quite an adventure, but I will wait till Naomi and Daadi return to share everything. I would dearly love a cup of tea.”

  “I’ll fix one for you,” Betsy said, already on her way to the stove.

  Greta held Lizzie’s hands. “How are you?”

  “I’ve been feeling much better. I saw the doctor yesterday and he thinks the worst is behind me.”

  “I’m so glad. I’ve been worried about you. Where is Carl?”

  “He is out in the barn. We’ve got two sick ewes he’s looking after. He should be back any moment.”

  Naomi and Joseph returned to the kitchen by the time the teakettle began to whistle. Joe had a deep scowl on his face. “He says the battery-operated lamp in his room is too fancy. He wants a kerosene one.” He opened a cabinet door and withdrew a lamp with a tall glass chimney. “If this doesn’t suit him, he can stay in the dark.”

  Naomi took a seat at the table. “Morris says he doesn’t want anything to eat. I’ve got some leftover casserole from lunch that I can heat up if you are hungry, Greta.”

  “Nee, I’m fine. Only a little tired, too.”

  “Here’s your tea,” Betsy said, placing a mug on the table.

  “Danki.” Greta sat down with a sigh. Picking up the mug, she blew on it before taking a sip. It was hot and delicious, exactly what she needed.

  “Tell us the whole story,” Betsy said, sliding into the seat beside Greta.

  “Ja, tell us the whole sorry tale,” Lizzie said, taking a chair on the other side.

  Joseph returned and sat at the head of the table. Naomi took usual her seat at his left-hand side.

  Greta smiled at her family. No words could express how wonderful it was to be with them again but she had to try. “First, I want to say how good it is to be home.”

  “Tell us about your trip,” Betsy urged.

  “You girls remember how long the bus trip was coming this way. I can assure you it is just as long on the return trip. Our van driver, Arles Hooper, met me at the bus station. There was an Amish family named Coblentz waiting for the same van. A young Amish fellow named Toby Yoder and his sister joined us at the hospital where we picked up Onkel Morris. Marianne, Toby’s sister, had been burned in a house fire that killed their parents. Her brother is taking her to Pennsylvania to live with some family there. And then there was a cat named Christmas who joined us, but I’m getting ahead of myself. What I really need to talk to you about is what the nurse at the hospital told me about Onkel Morris.”

  Duncan dashed out from under the table and began barking. The outside door flew open with a bang. Toby staggered in with Marianne in his arms. Bloo
d dripped down the side of his face.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Toby stared at the array of shocked faces around the kitchen table. The room began to spin. He fell to one knee but managed not to drop Marianne who was whimpering as she clung to him.

  Greta jumped to her feet and hurried toward him. “Toby, what happened?”

  “Marianne needs help. The van ran off the road.”

  The elderly man with Greta lifted Marianne from Toby’s arms. An older woman began issuing orders. “Take her in to the sofa, Joseph. Lizzie, fetch some towels, antiseptic and bandages from the bathroom. Betsy, Greta, get this young man into the other room.”

  The women helped him to his feet, but he staggered when things started spinning again. Greta immediately pulled his arm around her neck and grasped him around the waist. “Lean on me.”

  She was much stronger than he expected and she smelled so good, but he could only rest for a moment. He tried to pull away. “Arles is still in the van. He’s hurt, too.”

  Greta refused to let go of him. “You are in no shape to go back out into the storm.”

  Betsy left his side and began putting on her coat. “I’ll get Carl. Where’s the van?”

  “Near the creek that’s north of your lane. We hit a stone wall.”

  “I know the place. Duncan, come,” she commanded. The dog followed her outside.

  Relieved to know he didn’t have to stagger back to the vehicle, Toby closed his eyes but the spinning sensation continued.

  “Can you make it into the other room?” Greta asked.

  “I’m covered with snow. I’ll make a mess.”

  “A little water on the floor is a small concern. It’s the blood dripping from your head that I’m worried about.”

  One of the sisters hurried back into the room. She held out a towel. Greta took it and pressed it to the side of Toby’s head making him wince with pain. “Danki, Lizzie. Keep this tight against the cut, Toby.”

  He managed to hold the towel to his head and not fall as Greta led him to the doorway at the far end of the living room. Marianne was being helped out of her coat by the elderly couple. She was awake, but she still seemed dazed. She didn’t protest when the woman took her bonnet and laid it on the folded coat. Toby hadn’t seen her without the oversize head covering since they’d left the hospital. Their eyes met across the room. Hers widened with shock. “Toby, you’re hurt!”

  He stopped leaning on Greta, straightened and pointed to the towel pressed against the side of his head. “This? It’s a scratch.”

  She pressed her lips into a tight line to stop their quivering. Toby hated to see her upset, but he was in no shape to do anything about it.

  “It’s a scratch that needs looking after,” Greta said. She steered him to a chair. He sank gratefully into it, happy to see she had chosen one that faced away from Marianne. She didn’t need to be frightened by a badly bleeding head wound even if it was only a scratch.

  The woman who had handed him the towel now stood beside him with a basin of water. Greta gently sponged the area near his scalp. “It’s not bad enough to need stitches. Toby, this is my sister Lizzie. Over there is my grandfather, Joseph Shetler, and his wife, Naomi.”

  “Nice to meet you all of you. Ouch!” He jerked away from Greta and the antiseptic she was using.

  “Don’t be a baby.”

  “Is that your way of saying you’re sorry you hurt me? I would rather have a little more sympathy.”

  “You poor fellow. I’m so sorry. This is going to sting.” She didn’t sound the least bit sorry as she dabbed a cotton ball against his wound. He hissed at the burn. Was this her way of getting back at him for kissing her?

  “That’s the worst of it.” She opened a large bandage and carefully applied it to his forehead.

  The doorway down a short hall opened. Morris scowled at everyone. “What’s going on?”

  “There was an accident. The van skidded off the road and hit a stone wall,” Toby told him.

  Greta finished taping the bandage in place. She rose to her feet, looking contrite. “I’m sorry we disturbed you. We will be quieter.”

  “Is the little girl okay?” Morris looked around the room.

  “I’m fine,” Marianne said.

  Toby noticed the relief in Morris’s eyes. The old man had taken a liking to his sister. But why was Greta cowering in front of him?

  “What about the driver?” Morris asked.

  “I had to leave him in the van,” Toby said.

  “Betsy and Carl are seeing to him,” Greta added.

  Morris leaned heavily against the door frame and pressed a hand to his heart. Greta quickly crossed the room to his side. “Where are your pills? Do you need one?”

  He shook his head. “I have put them on the nightstand, but I don’t need one. I think I will lie down again.”

  “Of course.” She stepped back as he closed the door.

  Toby heard the front door open and started to get up, but Greta pushed him back into the chair. “Stay put. I can only deal with one patient at a time.”

  She and Lizzie headed into the kitchen. Marianne came to Toby’s side. She had a goose egg on her forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  He took her hand. “I’m a little banged up, that’s all. You should put some ice on that bump.”

  “I was just on my way to get some for her,” Naomi said. “I’ll bring some for you, too.”

  Duncan, the large black-and-white dog with tan points, came into the living room. He stopped to sniff at Toby and Marianne and then began to wag his tail.

  “He likes you,” Joseph said.

  Marianne eyed the dog warily. “Greta said he bit her uncle.”

  “He did, but I don’t think he liked the taste of that old buzzard. He won’t do it again. You can pet him. He likes girls. Of course, he would have to since he lives in a house full of them.”

  Marianne stretched out her hand. Duncan licked her fingers and made her smile. Suddenly, her smile faded and she looked at Toby. “Where is Christmas?”

  “I think she’s still in the van.” Her precious cat was responsible for the wreck. Would Arles expect Toby to pay for the damages? He had every right to. It would take a while but Toby would pay him back.

  “I have to go get her,” Marianne said.

  Toby shook his head, but it made his dizziness worse. “You’re not going out into that storm. She’s fine where she is.”

  “She’s not fine. She’s scared and she’s hurt. I have to go get her.” Marianne dashed away from Toby and ran out of the room.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Greta was helping Betsy get Arles out of his coat when she saw Toby’s sister dart toward the front door. “Marianne, what are you doing?”

  “I have to find Christmas.”

  “You can’t go out dressed like that!” Greta leaped to shut the door as the child tried to pull it open.

  Marianne wore a white prayer kapp over her blond hair. The gauzy white bonnet was see-through, as was the practice in some Amish churches. It was heart-shaped in the back and sat behind the child’s ears and offered no protection from the wind and snow. Greta was able to see for the first time the extent of the burns on the girl’s neck and face.

  Her left ear was small, deformed and still an angry red color. Part of her hair had burned away above her ear; part of it had been cut off. The puckered scars extended down her neck to vanish under the collar of her dark green dress. Marianne had suffered a great deal and Greta’s heart when out to her. She glanced at her family members. Their eyes were filled with sympathy.

  “Is Christmas by chance this tortoiseshell cat?” Carl asked from his place by the stove. He held a bundle in his arms. He uncovered one end and the cat’s head popped out. She meowed her displeasure.

  Marianne ran toward him. “Christmas, are you okay?”

  Carl handed her the bundle. Christmas began purring and rubbing her head against Marianne’s chin.

  “I think she
is happy to see you,” Carl said.

  “I’m happy to see her, too.”

  Betsy hung up Arles’s coat and came to look at the cat. “My, isn’t she a pretty color. Like a kitty rainbow. She looks quite handsome in her bonnet, doesn’t she, Naomi?”

  Naomi and Lizzie gathered around Marianne. “Very handsome. And such a sweet personality. She doesn’t appear upset at all by her strange surroundings.”

  “She’s very calm and affectionate. She hasn’t even scratched at her stitches,” Marianne said, concentrating on showing off her pet. She didn’t seem to realize she was the center of attention, as well.

  “That’s because she has a calm and affectionate owner,” Carl said. “Animals learn a lot from the people around them. I don’t think she is any worse for wear. That’s more than I can say about Mr. Hooper.”

  Looking contrite, Marianne turned to the driver. “I’m sorry Christmas jumped on you and made us crash. Did you get hurt?”

  He held one arm folded across his chest. “The seat belt kept me from being thrown around the way you and your brother were. I surely do wish you folks would put a little more faith in them.”

  “God is our protection, Mr. Hooper,” Naomi said.

  “I know that’s your belief. I respect it, but this is the first time me or anyone has been hurt while I was driving.”

  “I am truly sorry,” Marianne said, holding Christmas closer.

  Naomi examined the bump on Marianne’s head. “Gott had a reason for stopping the car, child. Your pet was only an instrument of His plan. Here is an ice pack for that goose egg, and here’s one for your brother. Come along, I want you to rest on the couch until supper is ready.”

  “Okay.” Marianne allowed herself to be shepherded out of the kitchen.

  Greta looked at Lizzie and Carl. “Danki. She is very self-conscious about her looks.”

  Lizzie slipped an arm around her husband’s waist and smiled at him. “I’m used to dealing with odd-looking folks.”

  “Hey, who are you calling odd looking? You’re the one who will resemble a pumpkin in a few months. Don’t forget that.”