“Maybe so. But even better now, right?” He reached out and brushed his knuckles under her chin. It was a small touch, and quick, but he felt it through his whole body.
Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth as if to speak, and then clamped it closed. She twirled on her heel and walked to the coop. She opened the door and stepped inside, closing it firmly behind her.
He moved to the wire fence and stood watching her, his hands hanging from the wire. “You don’t need my help?”
She glanced at him and then back at the clucking hens who were swarming around her. “Nee,” she said, keeping her gaze averted.
He smiled and slapped at the wooden frame. “Okay. See you at breakfast.” He chuckled lightly and walked away. He should feel badly for teasing her so outrageously, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Her reactions were so cute and so predictable that he was enamored. With a shake of his head, he walked out to the field to see if Philip needed him.
Luke was heading back to the barn at mid-afternoon when he spotted the stranger. He paused at the wide-open barn doors and stared at the road. A man was pacing back and forth at the end of the drive. He had a small suitcase with him that sat under a tree.
Who in the world had deposited the guy there? Luke couldn’t see a car, and as he walked closer, he realized it was an Amish man. But there wasn’t a buggy or wagon around either.
The man stopped pacing when he saw Luke approach. He stood still, his arms hanging at his sides.
“Can I be helping you?” Luke asked.
The man didn’t answer until Luke was right in front of him.
“This the Bender farm?” the man asked. He took off his hat and squinted at Luke.
“It is. Who are you?”
The man swallowed. Luke figured they were about the same age, mid-twenties. But the guy had a strange look on his face, apologetic yet somewhat frantic at the same time. Luke waited for his answer.
“I’m Mark Lapp from Linnow Creek.”
Mark Lapp? Linnow Creek? Luke’s mind snapped into place. Was this the guy? Nancy’s beau?
“What do you want?”
“Is … Susan Slagel here?”
Luke stared at the man. This was the guy who broke Nancy’s heart. The guy who deflected and went for her sister. And now, he had the nerve to come here to see Susan, right in front of Nancy? Luke’s hands tightened at his sides.
“Wait here. I’ll be back,” he said stiffly. He turned and strode back to the house.
Chapter Thirteen
“Nancy?” Luke stood at the kitchen door, staring at her.
“Jah?” Nancy’s brow creased at the odd expression on his face. She wiped her hands on the dishtowel and set it on the counter. Susan snatched it up and hung it on its hook.
“Hello, Luke,” Susan said.
“Nancy, can you come here please?”
Nancy’s concern deepened. Why was Luke ignoring Susan? She stepped toward him. “What is it?”
“Something outside I want to show you.” Without another word, he turned and walked to the front door and went outside. She followed him.
“Luke? You’re acting strange. What’s wrong?” She hurried to catch up with his long stride.
When they were in the middle of the yard, he pointed to the road. “Over there. You’re needed.”
Nancy’s eyebrows scrunched into a frown. “I’m needed on the road? Is this another one of your jokes?”
But Luke didn’t look even the slightest bit amused. In fact, he had never looked so serious. And angry. Yes, that was it. He looked angry.
“Luke?”
“Just go out there.”
Nancy gave him another puzzled look and headed toward the road. When she got closer, she saw someone standing beneath a tree. What was going on? Luke wanted her to talk to someone on the road? She squinted, and her brow furrowed. She moved closer. The man held himself the same way Mark Lapp did. He had the same build, the same…
Nancy froze.
Mark Lapp? In Hollybrook?
Her feet wouldn’t work, and she stood there, gaping at him. He’d seen her, and he looked just as shocked. His face went deep red, and he fiddled with the edge of his sleeve. Nancy shuddered and forced herself to walk up to him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her mouth agape.
“Nancy?” He blew out his breath. “I told him that I wanted to see…” His face grew a deeper red, if that were even possible.
“You wanted to see me?” she asked, completely confused. Why was he there? And why did he want to see her? Did he want her back?
Mark visibly swallowed and seemed to be having trouble breathing. Nancy’s heart raced, pulsing against her ribs. She was having trouble getting breath herself. She gazed into his brown eyes, remembering what he had meant to her. But then, she remembered their end. How he’d treated her, and a familiar ache swelled within her.
“I-I asked to see Susan,” he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
“You … what?” She swiveled around, searching for Luke. What was this? Was Luke joking? Why would he do such a thing? Anger boiled up in her, and her fingernails curled into her palms. Luke was nowhere to be seen.
“I said Susan,” Mark stressed.
Nancy whirled back around to face him again. “You clearly asked for Susan?”
“I clearly did.”
She began to shake with a trembling that threatened to rattle her teeth. This was too much. What in the world was Luke thinking?
“But Nancy…” He reached toward her. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She gaped at him. “You’re glad I’m here?”
“I never … well, I never apologized for, well, you know.” He gave her a guilt-ridden look.
Anger snapped through her. She hated men. Hated them!
“Jah, I know,” she said, her wrath taking over. “You never apologized for betraying me. You never apologized for sneaking around with my sister. My sister! You never apologized for being so cruel.”
Each word sliced the air, and she watched as they hit Mark like blows.
“Nancy, I-I…”
“You what?”
“I’m sorry.”
And she could see it then. His sorrow. It hung over him like a cloud. She inhaled sharply and put her arms over her stomach, as her inner trembling wracked her. She gulped in air and closed her eyes. She had waited for months to tell him off. And each day, her anger and hurt had grown. She’d tried every way she knew to get rid of it. She’d prayed. Truly, she had begged the Lord God to intervene on many occasions. Nothing had helped.
But now, now that she’d let it out, she was ashamed. What kind of Amish girl was she to be so harsh? So mean? What was wrong with her?
Mark faced her, a piteous look on his face.
Nancy blinked. She pressed her arms more tightly over her stomach. And then she realized that the shaking had stopped. She dropped her arms and took a slow drawn-out breath, as if testing how she felt. Testing her upset level.
She blinked again. Better. She felt better. The corners of her mouth lifted as total surprise and relief washed through her. She. Felt. Better.
“Nancy?”
“So, you want to see Susan?”
Mark’s shoulders slumped. “She ended it with me.”
“And you’ve come to ask her back?”
He bit on his lower lip before answering. “Jah.”
“I see.”
“She said she couldn’t do it anymore. Because of you.”
“So, she told me.” Nancy wanted to leave. She didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She didn’t want to be around him anymore. She didn’t like him anymore. “I’ll go get her.”
She turned away.
“Nancy?”
She paused.
“I am sorry.”
She shook her head and left, hurrying toward the house. She went inside, straight to the kitchen, where Susan was pouring batter into a cupcake tin.
“Mark’s here,” Nanc
y stated.
The mixing bowl slipped from Susan’s hands and landed on top of the cupcake tin, splashing batter over the table.
“He’s waiting for you on the road.”
Susan didn’t move. She gawked at Nancy.
Nancy pried the spatula out of Susan’s hand and picked up a dishtowel. She blotted the blobs of batter from Susan’s sleeve.
“Go on. He’s waiting for you.”
“I won’t see him. I told you, Nancy, it’s over.”
“Nee. It isn’t over at all. Go on out there.”
The pathetic look on Susan’s face twisted Nancy’s heart. She inhaled. “It’s all right now,” she said. “Go on. You belong together.”
Susan’s forehead crumpled, and she began to weep. “But … but I messed everything up. I hurt you…”
“Jah. You did. But as you can see, I survived. Now, go on.”
“Really?” Her thick yearning threatened to smother them both.
“Really.”
Susan started to rush from the room, but Nancy caught hold of her arm. “We’re going to be okay, now. You and me.”
Susan bit her lip, her tears still flowing. She nodded and ran from the house.
Nancy watched her go. A strange feeling of freedom tugged at her heart. She pulled her shoulders back and stood up straighter. Then she smiled. She looked down at the mess of batter on the table and began to put it right.
A few minutes later, Nancy heard footsteps. She glanced up to see Luke observing her from the kitchen doorway. He wore a wary expression.
“You knew he wanted Susan not me,” she said.
“I knew.”
“Then why did you fetch me?”
He stepped inside the kitchen. “Because he owed you some explanation. He owed you an apology.”
“And you thought that you would take charge and fix that?”
He flushed and didn’t answer for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was husky. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my business.”
He didn’t look contrite. Or sorry. In fact, he only looked tall and stubborn. His very presence filled the room. Nancy studied him. Why had he made it his business? Why?
“You’re not really sorry,” she whispered.
He took another step forward. He loomed so large and solid before her. He was bigger than life itself. “Nee. I’m not sorry.” His words were slow and sure.
He was close to her now. So close. She could almost feel his breath on her face. She licked her lips, feeling completely unnerved by him.
“Did he tell you that he was sorry?”
She nodded.
“Gut.” He smiled and then grew serious. “He’s not so great, you know.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his earnest expression. “I know.” She continued to gaze at him. “But still…”
He raised his left eyebrow and leaned closer. “You want to know why I did it.”
“Jah.” The word was soft.
He let out his breath. “Because it’s bothered me since you told me about him and Susan. It’s bothered me deeply.”
But why? Nancy’s forehead crinkled, but she didn’t flinch. Nor did she back away from his closeness.
“It has nothing to do with you,” she whispered.
“But it has everything to do with you,” he responded. “And I find myself caring about that a great deal.”
Her throat tightened, and she tried to swallow past its dryness. Her heart rate increased, and she felt a thin layer of sweat bead on her upper lip. She had no idea what to say to him. No idea at all. Everything in her wanted to close the gap between them. Everything in her wanted to walk straight into his arms. Her cheeks went hot, and she tried again to swallow.
He was watching her. His gaze roamed over her face and settled on her eyes. And then he nodded, his satisfaction plain. “I’m glad we got that cleared up.”
“Jah. I’m glad we got that cleared up.” Her voice shook, and she wondered just exactly what they’d cleared up.
Did he like her? Was that it? Her lower lip quivered as the truth of it settled deeply inside her heart.
His eyes were warm and intimate on hers. “I’m going to put my hand on your shoulder now. Just for a second. I don’t want you running off.”
Her chest constricted, but again, she didn’t back away. He reached out, and she felt his warm hand close over her shoulder. He gave her a gentle squeeze, and she felt it to her very bones. When he took his hand away, a feeling of loss flashed through her.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
She shook her head.
“I’ll be going outside now. Philip needs my help.”
“Luke?”
“Jah?”
“I’ll have cupcakes ready in twenty minutes or so. Would you … well, would you like one?”
He smiled then, and the sun came out, right in that very room.
“I want one. I’ll be back,” he whispered. He caressed her cheek with his fingers. And then, humming under his breath, he left the room.
The End
Continue Reading…
Thank you for reading Nancy’s Story Book One: The Mother’s Helper!
It’s now READY! Nancy’s Story Book Two, Losing Ariel!
Here’s a sample for you:
Nancy stood near the front door, her suitcase at her feet. Two-year-old Debbie hung onto her leg with blubbering tears dripping down her face. Nancy scooped her up and hugged her close.
“I’ll come back one day. I promise,” she said, near tears herself.
Her cousin Irene sat perched on the edge of the rocker, holding baby Zeke. “I can never thank you enough for being my mother’s helper,” she said to Nancy, smoothing Zeke’s fluffy hair with her palm. “You’ve been a wonderful gut helper. Debbie’s going to miss you. We all are.”
We all are…
Did that include Luke Rupp?
Nancy swallowed past the growing lump in her throat. She didn’t want to go back home. She didn’t. But her mother had begged her to return, saying that her father wanted to see her. He’d been unwell, and he wanted her home.
Home to Linnow Creek. For months, Linnow Creek had meant the place where her beau had betrayed her by taking up with her sister. Nancy had worked hard to forgive them both. She thought she’d been fairly successful, too, but that didn’t mean she wanted to return and be reminded of the painful situation over and over again.
While most of the Linnow Creek district hadn’t been aware of the courting between her and Mark, it was enough to make Nancy uncomfortable. She saw the pitying looks before she’d escaped to Hollybrook, and she was in no hurry to go back to them.
And then there was Luke. She inhaled sharply, remembering their last conversation the night before. She had been out on the porch, and he’d come around front from the daadi haus where he was now staying.
“So, it’s true,” he said. He stood tall on the bottom step, his eyes searching hers.
“It’s true,” she whispered.
He took the steps two at a time and sat beside her on the porch swing. She’d long before stopped fussing about how inappropriate it was for him to sit so close to her. Luke had spent a great deal of time with the Englisch before returning to Hollybrook, and it had influenced him—more than it should have.
His clear blue eyes were intense. “And you want to go?”
She shifted, and the swing creaked. “Nee.”
“Then, why go?”
“I came here to be a mother’s helper. Irene doesn’t really need me anymore. Truth is…” Nancy’s voice faded, and she looked down at her hands. “Truth is, she didn’t need me all that much in the first place. She was being kind. She knew how much I wanted to leave Linnow Creek.”
Luke touched her arm. “Then, why go back?”
“It’s time. And my dat wants me home.”
He looked at her a long time, so long that she began to fidget. She knew he would miss her. They’d become good friends. But more than that? She didn�
��t know. He had the perfect chance to say something to her at that moment. To declare himself in some way. She was nearly dizzy with the possibility of it, but he’d said nothing. His eyes just continued to stare into hers as if searching for something.
Thinking about it all again—the memory of that conversation with Luke—left Nancy bereft, out of sorts.
A muffled cry behind her startled her back to the present.
Irene jumped from her chair. “Take him!” she cried, thrusting Zeke into Nancy’s arms. “Quick!”
Irene slapped her hand over her mouth and ran from the room toward the bathroom down the hall. Her outburst startled little Debbie into silence, but set Zeke to wailing.
“There, there,” Nancy patted the baby’s back. “It’s all right. Mama just needed the bathroom.”
She frowned. Was Irene sick? And right when she was leaving Hollybrook and couldn’t help? She calmed Zeke and coaxed Debbie into the front room with her and the baby.
A couple minutes later, a pale Irene joined them. Nancy looked at her questioningly. “Irene? You sick?”
“That’s not how I’d phrase it…” She gave Nancy a sheepish look.
Nancy’s mouth fell open. “Nee… Really?”
Irene nodded with a sigh of resignation. “I know you have to go home now. You need to see your dat. But, I don’t know how I’m going to manage. You know my mamm ain’t well enough to help me…”
Nancy nodded her head, determination and relief filling her. “Don’t you worry, Irene. I’ll be back. I’ll help you through the rest of the nine months and beyond.”
Irene began to cry. “I never expected this… Not so soon…” Her voice softened, and she gave Nancy a smile. “But it’s gut news, jah? Ain’t it always gut news?”
Nancy returned her smile. “Jah. Gut news, indeed.” She worked to stifle the envy that crept up her throat.
Irene reached for Zeke, and Nancy gave him up.
“Your ride should be here soon,” Irene said. “Ach, I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll be back. I promise. Mamm and Dat will understand.”
Debbie puckered up again and started to cry. “Hush now,” Irene scolded her. “You heard Nancy. She’ll be back. Come on. Give your mamm a smile now.”
Amish Romance: The Mother's Helper (Nancy's Story Book 1) Page 7