The Amish Buggy Horse BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: Faith, Hope, Charity) (Boxed Set: The Amish Buggy Horse)

by Ruth Hartzler

  She ran her hand over the roundness of her face, pleased that she had long since grown out of the spots that had troubled her as a teenager. She pushed stray hairs of blonde hair back under her kapp. Her mudder had caught her looking at herself in the frying pan once and she was scolded for it; her mudder had screamed at her and called her prideful.

  “That’s the best I can do,” she said to herself. She often spoke aloud to herself, and had even done so when her mudder was alive. Her mudder was not someone she could speak to as one would speak to a friend, so she would speak to herself when she was in the haus, and when she was outside, she would tell her troubles to her horse.

  Pangs of nerves rippled through Nettie’s stomach. What would she speak about at dinner? Earlier in the day she had baked a rhubarb pie to take to the Glicks', but now she was worrying if that was the done thing. Should she take something with her if someone invited her to dinner? It felt right to do so. Nettie hushed the questions that were flying through her head about dinner protocol. Goodness me, Nettie, it’s just dinner, she scolded herself, trying to push away her nerves.

  Nettie harnessed up Blessing and made her way to the Glicks. She was careful to lock every door and every window in the haus before she left, just in case Jebediah Sprinkler might get the idea in his head to snoop around. She remembered that her mudder had told her with disapproval that most Amish did not have locks. There had been no sign of Jebediah, but Nettie wasn't taking any chances. As she drove along, Nettie realized what Daniel meant about Blessing loving being worked. He trotted along happily as though he were thoroughly enjoying herself. Blessing would not be happy just to be in a field; that was clear enough. He loved attention, and he loved trotting down the narrow ribbons of roads that made their way between the farms. As they neared the Glicks’ haus, Blessing trotted a little faster. He must have happy memories of this place, Nettie thought. Clearly, Daniel is kind to his animals.

  Daniel appeared in front of her as she pulled up near the Glicks' barn.

  “Blessing looks happy.”

  “Jah, he enjoys the work; I can tell that.”

  “How are you today, Nettie?”

  “I’m well, Daniel. And you?”

  Daniel nodded. “Fine, denki.”

  As Nettie got out of the buggy, she said, “Ach, I almost forgot. I made a pie.”

  “I love pie.”

  Nettie laughed and then stopped herself when she realized that it had been many years since she had heard the sound of her own laughter. “It’s a rhubarb pie.”

  “Wunderbaar." Daniel smiled at her, and led her to the haus.

  Nettie smiled; it was nice to think of something other than her mudder and what might cause her to have one of her tantrums.

  Mrs. Glick was at the door by the time they reached the front porch. “Hello, Nettie. Nice to see you again. I’m sorry I didn’t get to speak to you at the funeral.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Glick. I’m afraid I didn’t really speak to anyone much at the funeral.” Nettie quickly changed the subject. “It was nice of you to invite me to dinner.” Nettie handed her the pie.

  “You didn’t have to bring anything.”

  “It’s a rhubarb pie.”

  “That’s Mr. Glick’s favorite.” Mrs. Glick turned to Daniel. “Sit down with Nettie until dinner’s ready.”

  “Let me help you with something.” Nettie was not used to being waited on, and she was a little nervous about being alone with Daniel.

  “Nee, have a seat and relax.”

  Daniel motioned for her to walk through the next doorway. She walked through to a huge room. Daniel’s daed was sitting on a large sofa near a corner. After they greeted each other, Nettie sat down.

  Mr. Glick had a newspaper in his hands. He placed it down on the table next to him. “I hear you’re looking after Blessing.”

  Nettie shot a look at Daniel who gave her a quick smile. “Jah, he’s a fine horse and he came along at just the right time. My other horse had just gone lame and now he can’t work anymore.”

  Even though he was seated, Nettie could see that Mr. Glick was a large man. His hair was balding, but she could see some of the features of Daniel in his face. They had the same straight nose, the chiseled mouth, and the well shaped ears. Maybe Mr. Glick was also good-looking in his day, Nettie thought.

  “Daniel says you’re looking for work?”

  “That’s right.” Nettie took it as a gut sign that Daniel had obviously spoken of her to his parents.

  “What kind of work?”

  Nettie looked down at her hands as if looking at them would somehow stop them fidgeting. “I’m not trained to do anything at all. I don’t really know what I could do. I like to cook and I can sew.”

  “Would you mind if I enquire on your behalf with people I know?”

  “Denki, I would appreciate it very much if you could.” Nettie at once felt at home with all the Glicks. She had immediately warmed to Daniel’s schweschder, and his daed was just as welcoming as his mudder. She looked around the room; it was neat and well ordered. Colorful, crocheted rugs covered the backs of the three sofas.

  “Hiya, Nettie.” Daniel's schweschder, Melissa, greeted Nettie as she came into the room. She settled into the sofa next to her daed. “Mamm sent me out of the kitchen to tell everyone that dinner will be ready in five minutes.”

  “It smells delicious,” Nettie said.

  “It’s roasted chicken and a beef stew.”

  “That’ll do me,” Daniel said with a smile.

  Nettie was glad that dinner would be only five minutes away. She had no idea what to say. Her worst fear was that she would sit in silence through the entire dinner and the Glicks would think her a little odd. She had to think of something to say, but what do people speak about at times like these?

  Thankfully, Daniel spoke first. “It was a beautiful day today, wasn’t it?”

  “Jah, I love this time of year. I don’t like it when it’s really cold. I much prefer the sunshine.”

  “Nee, I like the cold because we can go ice-skating. Do you like ice-skating, Nettie?”

  How could she tell him, without looking foolish, that her mudder had never allowed her to ice-skate? She would have to say it boldly and not in a timid voice. She turned to Daniel and looked him in the eyes. “I have never ice-skated.”

  “Never?”

  She shook her head.

  “You must come with us then, Nettie,” Melissa said. "I can teach you."

  “Will you come with us in winter?” Daniel asked.

  Nettie smiled and nodded. She had always wanted to join in the games, the volleyball, the ice-skating and even the singings, but she was never allowed to do anything that would be enjoyable. Her mudder had always found some reason why she could not join in with others. The only thing her mudder had ever been keen for her to do was marry someone whom Nettie found entirely unsuitable.

  Jeremiah 29:11-13.

  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

  Chapter 9.

  “Dinner must be ready by now,” Mr. Glick said as he rose from the sofa.

  “Jah, come on, Nettie. You can sit next to me,” Melissa said.

  Nettie followed Melissa to the dinner table.

  After they said their silent prayers, they filled their plates with the food from the center of the table.

  Nettie considered she had covered her nervousness well while speaking to the Glicks in the living room and she hoped that she would be able to do the same throughout dinner. Nettie was pleased that she had an invitation to go skating with them, even though it was months away. Skating had always seemed so much fun.

  Mrs. Glick’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Nettie, you’ve hardly put anything on your plate. Here, have some more chicken. You have to keep up your stren
gth.” Mrs. Glick passed the plate full of chicken pieces to Nettie.

  Nettie took another piece. “Denki. I do like the way you cooked the chicken, Mrs. Glick.”

  “It’s a familye recipe,” Melissa said.

  “A secret recipe?” Nettie asked, with a smile on her face.

  Mrs. Glick laughed. “Nee, you can have the recipe if you’d like. I’ll let you know what’s in it after dinner.” She looked at her husband. “I don’t want to bore the men folk by talking about recipes.”

  “For once.” Daniel laughed.

  “It can’t be easy for you to live all by yourself, Nettie, with no one to help you with all the chores,” Mrs. Glick continued.

  Nettie gave a little laugh, which to her dismay came out as more of a choking sound. “I’m used to it. Mamm was sick for so long that she wasn’t able to do anything.” Nettie did not like to say it, but she did find herself with loads of free time now her mudder had passed.

  “Is it true that your mudder wouldn’t let people visit?” Melissa asked.

  Mrs. Glick clanged her fork on the table. “Melissa, you should not say such things. It’s none of your business.” Her tone was scolding.

  “That’s all right, Mrs. Glick. My mudder was a strange lady, I guess. She didn’t like people coming to the haus. I’m not sure why, and if someone knocked on the door, she wouldn’t allow me to answer it.” Guilt ate away at Nettie, guilt at giving away her mudder’s secret habits. She looked up at the Glicks. Mr. Glick was looking into his food, and he slowly shook his head. Mrs. Glick was staring at her, as were Daniel and Melissa.

  “That’s weird," Melissa said looking at her mudder. "I’m sorry, Mamm, but I do think it’s a little weird.”

  Daniel turned to Nettie. “Forgive my schweschder; she’s a little outspoken at times and doesn’t know when to hold her peace.”

  “I don’t mind," Nettie said. "Everyone knew what my mudder was like. She did become quite a recluse at the end and forced me to be the same.” Nettie lowered her eyes. She had hoped they would speak of more pleasant things.

  “I drove past your haus today and noticed how pretty your garden is,” Daniel said.

  “Jah, I love gardening. The irises in the front are just coming out now and the daffodils have been out for some time.”

  Mr. Glick put down his knife. “Would you take a part-time job gardening, Nettie?”

  “That would be perfect for me. Do you know of someone who needs a gardener?”

  “We could use someone to help in the garden, couldn’t we, Ursula?”

  Mrs. Glick beamed. “Jah, we certainly could; I don’t like the garden. I have allergies and I get rashes from some of the plants. So it’s just Melissa to look after our huge garden, but she works three days a week.”

  “Please say you’ll do it, Nettie. It’ll be such fun and I can help you on my days off,” Melissa said.

  “I’d very much like that. Denki.”

  Mr. Glick looked pleased. “Gut, you can work out the times with Ursula.”

  Nettie pondered for a moment if she should offer Mrs. Glick a remedy, and then finally got up the courage to do so. "Mrs. Glick, would you like me to make you a herbal remedy for your allergies? A combination of black cohosh, chickweed, fenugreek, and ginger should bring you relief."

  "Why, denki, how kind of you, Nettie."

  Nettie found it hard to keep the smile from her face. She’d found a new friend in Melissa as well as the rest of the Glick familye and Gott had provided her with a job. Now all she needed to do was to find and destroy the new will, and then she would be happy.

  Mrs. Glick and Melissa cleared the plates, Mrs. Glick again refusing Nettie's offer of help, and then the pair soon returned with chocolate cake over which had been spooned generous dollops of cornstarch pudding and then topped with nutmeg, along with liberal helpings of Nettie's rhubarb pie.

  Everyone complimented Nettie on the pie, which made her go bright red, as her mudder had always said that vanity was the tool of the devil. Nettie had no idea how to accept a compliment, so simply said "denki" in a small voice and then ducked her head.

  When they had finished the meal, Mr. Glick spoke up. "Nettie, Daniel mentioned to me the possibility of leasing your land. Would you be interested in that?"

  "Jah, most certainly," Nettie said, quite pleased.

  "I do realize you have to wait until probate is through until we can come to an agreement, but I wanted to make the offer first. I will be sure to pay you well."

  "Denki," Nettie said, "but I must warn you that there is a slim possibility that my land might be taken away from me."

  Mr. Glick nodded, and looked concerned. "Jah, Daniel mentioned that a mann had told you that your mudder had made a new will leaving everything to him."

  Nettie nodded. "My lawyer knows nothing of that will, though, and I suppose if it hasn’t been found when probate is through, then it won’t matter." Or if I find the will and destroy it, Nettie thought.

  "Leave it all in the hands of Gott," Mr. Glick said, waving his hand in the air nonchalantly.

  It’s easy for him to say; he isn’t in danger of being homeless, Nettie thought unkindly, and then immediately felt guilty. She had in fact been intending to take it out of Gott's hands and into her own. If she found the will, what would she do; could she really destroy it?

  Jeremiah 31:3.

  The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

  Chapter 10.

  Nettie was on her hands and knees, looking under furniture for the missing will. She swept under the furniture regularly, but now wondered if her mudder might have attached a box to the underside of the furniture. She had not uncovered anything by the time she heard a horse trotting up the road.

  At first Nettie's heart skipped a beat, wondering if it might be Daniel Glick, then her elation was replaced with anxiety - what if it was Jebediah Sprinkler? And if it was Daniel Glick, she was covered in dust and did not look her best. Nettie hauled herself off the floor, rubbed her sore knees, and hurried out the front door. The bishop, Mr. Beiler, was just pulling his horse to a stop, and his fraa, Linda, was sitting next to him. They both smiled when they saw Nettie.

  Nettie did not know whether to be pleased or alarmed. The bishop was likely to tell her that she should attend church meetings, and she didn’t know if she was ready for a roomful of people quite yet.

  So, with some trepidation, Nettie greeted the bishop and his fraa and showed them both inside. "Would you like hot meadow tea or a cold drink?"

  They both said they would like a cold drink, so Nettie soon returned with three glasses of cold, sweetened garden tea and some chocolate whoopie pies, which she set in front of them.

  Nettie nervously sipped her cold drink and looked at the bishop over the rim of her glass. Her eyes traveled upwards to the ceiling, where, to Nettie's dismay, she thought she could see fly marks. I must clean the ceilings, she thought. Nettie felt as if she were about to have a panic attack; her heart raced so loudly that she was sure the bishop and his fraa would hear it, and her mouth went dry. She stood up abruptly to hold out the plate of whoopie pies to them, hoping the action would somehow snap her out of the panic attack. However, as she did so, her wrist twisted and the pies flew off the plate. Mrs. Beiler leapt to her feet and helped Nettie scoop up the pies.

  "I'll be right back," Nettie mumbled as she hurried out of the room. Once in the safety of the kitchen, Nettie threw the pies in the trash and hurriedly looked around for something to replace them. She took out a fresh plate, and heaped it up with several cinnamon bread muffins. Nettie took two, big, deep breaths, and then holding the plate tightly with both hands, made her way back into the living room.

  Linda Beiler smiled warmly at her, which put her somewhat at ease. Nettie carefully offered them both a muffin, and then sat down with relief.

  "How are you doing now, Nettie, without your mudder?"

  The
bishop's voice was kindly, and Nettie studied him for a moment. His baard was ginger and graying on the edges, and he had a long, narrow face, and a long nose. It was a face that reminded her of the face of Jebediah Sprinkler. Nettie shivered involuntarily. "I'm okay, denki," Nettie said.

  "Do you feel you are ready to come to the church meetings now?"

  "Jah," Nettie said, but then thought, I actually don’t know if I am ready for a crowd of people yet.

  The bishop continued his questions. "Do you have everything you need?"

  Nettie nodded. "Jah, denki."

  "I believe your mudder left the haus and farm to you, but all her money to a stray cat protection league."

  Nettie shot a look at the bishop; how did he know? Who had she told? She bit her lip. "That's correct. I'm going to lease the land to the Glicks when probate is through, but as my lawyer told me that probate can take quite some time, I've found part time work with the Glicks."

  Nettie noticed that the bishop and his wife exchanged glances and smiled at each other.

  "That is gut," the bishop said. "Yet are you troubled, Nettie? You seem troubled about something."

  Nettie sighed. I should tell the bishop, I suppose, she thought. Aloud she said, "I am troubled. A mann called Jebediah Sprinkler came to see me and said that my mudder made a new will leaving everything to him. He doesn't have a copy of the will and said that there's likely a copy somewhere here, in the haus."

  The bishop nodded. "Ah, jah, I remember. Your mudder wanted you to marry the mann several years ago."

  Nettie was taken aback, but then realized that of course the bishop would know about her brief and unwilling engagement to Jebediah Sprinkler. Back then, her mudder was not so much of a recluse. Nettie wondered who else in the community knew.

  "And you have found no such will?" the bishop asked.

  Nettie shook her head. "Nee, and I’ve spent a lot of time looking for it. If there is such a will, then I’ll be homeless."

  Linda Beiler spoke up. "Nee, Nettie, you mustn't think that. There would be a familye who would be happy to have you stay with them until you are married."