“That’s what owners do for a business. I can’t troubleshoot Arlan’s life or change how he thinks or what he wants. I don’t own him, and neither do you.”
“You could at least try to talk him out of this, reason with him the way only you can do.”
“I’m not leaving here to talk to Arlan, not right now. I have to get back inside with Rhoda.”
Catherine’s face registered an unfamiliar look, maybe insecurity. “Rhoda.” She pointed at Samuel. “You didn’t want me to know about her, did you?”
“I don’t have time for this right now.”
“Why don’t you tell me the truth about her, Samuel? She’s young and beautiful, and you knew I wouldn’t agree to her becoming a partner with Kings’ Orchard.”
Samuel gritted his teeth. He couldn’t remember ever longing to walk away from Catherine, but he had to get back to Rhoda. He hadn’t thought for one moment that Catherine would accuse him of having a personal interest in Rhoda. “It’s business, nothing more. I kept the details from you because I didn’t want to upset you. The orchard isn’t doing well, and I wanted to have something good to share before we talked about it.”
“What’s wrong with the orchard?”
He explained about the back tierce and then spent ten minutes trying to calm her back down.
Catherine’s hands shook as she wiped tears off her cheeks. “So everyone, including Rhoda, knows about the problems, but you told me nothing?”
“I was going to. But first I wanted to have the good news that she’d agreed to work with us.”
“Good news? There is none as far as I can see. You kept secrets from me while sharing them with another woman. If she doesn’t work out, we’ll have to wait years to be married. And if she does agree to this plan, you’ll be working beside someone who is single, smart, and beautiful.”
“She’s the only chance we have.”
“That’s your defense?” Catherine scowled. “I tell you she’s gorgeous, and you say she’s the only chance we have of getting married while I’m still of childbearing age?”
He wanted to scream. “Would you stop exaggerating? I have been focused day and night on solving the orchard problem while protecting you from the stress of it. And if I don’t get back in there soon, Kings’ Orchard may lose its best chance to stay profitable—and that will cause more problems than I have time to explain.”
“We don’t need to have our own place or to be financially secure to marry. We have each other.”
Samuel set his jaw. “I’ve seen too many Amish couples say the same thing before they married, and years later they’re still living with one set of parents. They have little ones who drain their finances, and the stress of sharing tight space with parents or in-laws makes them sorry they didn’t wait. I won’t do that to us, to you.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “You should see how packed Rhoda’s parents’ home is with her two married brothers and their five children all under one roof. They should have had the foresight and self-control to wait until they could afford a place of their own.”
His conscience stabbed him. If Rhoda heard him, she’d have several things to say, and then she’d leave without a second thought of partnering with them for a season.
“Okay.” Catherine sniffed and lifted her chin—a good sign. “I hear you. Still, you shouldn’t have kept your meeting with her a secret.”
“Be reasonable, Catherine. You expect me to fix whatever is not working for you. I’m trying my best to do that. Did you want to know about the trouble on the back tierce?”
“I had a right to know about Rhoda.”
“You have no cause to doubt my motives for talking with her. Rhoda could be someone’s grandmother or grandfather for all I care. All I see in her is a woman who has the business savvy to redeem this year’s crop and to keep my plans for building a home on track.”
“Swear it?”
“No.” He gazed at her, his anger melting under her innocent stare. “You don’t like it when I do.”
After seeing Arlan as she had in Lancaster and then discovering Samuel in the office with a woman she didn’t know, she sort of had a reason to overreact.
She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry, Samuel.”
“Forgiven.” Although this time he felt no peaceful release after he said the word. “But how am I going to explain to Rhoda your reaction or my abrupt departure?”
Catherine took him by the hand. “I have an idea.”
He hoped her plan to redeem Kings’ Orchard in Rhoda’s eyes was a good one. “Okay, tell me.”
While Jacob, Leah, and Eli talked about the issues with Rhoda’s canning setup, Rhoda kept mulling over why Samuel hadn’t told her that he had a girlfriend. He’d told her about the orchard, his siblings, his grandfather, and the problems they faced with cider apples. He’d talked about his hopes for a solution, where Rhoda fit in the picture, and more. But he’d never mentioned having a girlfriend. And why had he arranged for Catherine to be preoccupied while Rhoda was here? Whatever his excuse, she knew it’d be lame. What possible defense could he give?
Leah slapped the desk. “I think I know the answer.”
Rhoda blinked, realizing she needed to pay attention. But the way Samuel had handled today left her doubtful that she wanted to partner with Kings’ Orchard. Her first impression of him was his loyalty, but it seemed he also had a manipulative side.
“Jacob, the answer to a bigger canning facility is right here under your nose.”
He frowned. “It is?”
“That old stone eyesore at the west edge of the orchard.” Leah turned to Rhoda. “There used to be a farmhouse maybe six hundred feet from here. When my grandfather built the home we live in now, that place became the Daadi Haus, where his parents lived. It had a big detached summer kitchen—you know, for women who do a lot of cooking and canning in the summer months. It was a way of keeping the rest of the house as cool as possible.”
“That’s a great idea!” Eli clapped his sister on the back.
Jacob’s jaw set. “It’s not usable.”
“It could be with some carpentry work.” Eli fixed Jacob with a look. “You could do it. It has a stone floor that’s pretty solid even though it may need a little work. Some of the rock walls need rebuilding, and it’s missing a roof. I’ve helped you fix the plumbing in our house lots of time. I bet we could do that too. The only thing we may not be able to do is run the gas line.”
Leah moved to the edge of her chair. “It’d be perfect. And surely being so close to the orchard would be a plus.”
Jacob didn’t seem to be a fan of the idea—to say the least. “That’s too much work, and we have too little time.”
His response made Rhoda breathe a sigh of relief. Right now all she wanted to do was make her good-byes and wait for Landon. “That settles it then. It was thrilling to see your orchard, and Samuel’s belief in my skills is flattering, to be sure. But we’re not going to find a suitable solution.”
“Jacob, what are you thinking?” Eli leaned on the desk. “Leah’s come up with a solid answer, and you’re going to shoot it down?”
Jacob smiled at his sister. “Your idea is a solid one, and I wouldn’t have thought of it, but—”
Eli moved to the front of the desk and jabbed his index finger against it. “You’re a topnotch carpenter. I’d help you, and we could do the masonry and remodeling fast and for minimal money. You know we can. How expensive could it be to hire someone to run a gas line from a tank to the stove?”
“It’s not doable.” Jacob stared at his brother, clearly aiming to get a message across.
Eli studied him. “But …” Realization flickered in his eyes. “Oh, ya.” He backed away from the desk.
Leah’s eyes said she understood Jacob’s unspoken message too. “I guess we weren’t thinking as clearly as we’d hoped. Sorry.”
The tension in the room was exhausting, and Rhoda was tired of all the secrets surrounding the Ki
ng siblings. The partnership wouldn’t work. She glanced at the wall clock. “Landon will be here soon.”
Jacob’s green eyes bore into hers. “We lost our momentum when Samuel was interrupted. He’ll be back. He could lead a group out of a swamp at night and never lose a person. My strong suit is adding levity while he works his miracles.”
Rhoda relaxed a bit. “You admire him.”
“If you tell him that, I’ll have to call you a liar.”
She laughed. Whatever else weighed on Jacob, he had a great sense of humor.
A vehicle door slammed, and she rose. “Landon’s here.”
Jacob stood. “Leah, would you tell Landon that Rhoda will be out in a minute?”
“Sure. Take your time. I’ll show him around.” Leah hurried out the door.
“Just stay right here.” Eli pointed at Rhoda. “Mamm fixed lemonade and cookies. You can’t go without having some, or we’ll never hear the end of it.”
With that he left, she presumed to get the refreshments.
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. “Today was really important to all of us, much more than it appears. And I can’t imagine how you must feel or what you’re thinking, but could you stay for a bit longer?”
If she left now, Samuel would likely come to her house later tonight. She had to stay, for closure.
So she sat, hoping that he would return soon—and that he’d accept her decision to decline his offer.
TWENTY-SIX
Samuel walked into the barn with Catherine. After they were inside the building, she released his hand, tapped on the door to the office, and entered. “Rhoda,”—Catherine went to her, hand out—“I’m afraid I may have been less than welcoming. I can assure you that my response isn’t a good indicator of how any of us feel. I was unaware of the problems in the orchard. It’s my fault for not knowing. I don’t ask questions, and Samuel tries not to worry me. He made plans to occupy my day, and when I surprised him, I was caught off guard. I was upset that he’d kept a secret.” She fidgeted with her apron. “But he was justified because I’m a skilled worrier.” She smiled, sincerity evident in her eyes. “I hope you’ll understand.”
“I understand.” Rhoda looked at Samuel. “And for your family and business, I wish I could give you the answer you’re looking for, but I can’t. The logistical challenges are too great.”
“The what?” Catherine turned to Samuel.
“She means the planning, fulfilling, and coordinating between her canning facility and Kings’ Orchard is presenting too many issues to overcome.” Samuel glanced at Jacob, hoping to get some idea of what had taken place during the thirty minutes he’d been gone. Jacob appeared as lost as Samuel felt. “But we’d just begun to brainstorm solutions before I left.”
Rhoda offered a polite smile. “I’m sorry.”
Eli came to the door of the office. “Rhoda, we set up snacks on the picnic table. Daed is washing up and said he’d be out in just a few minutes. Mamm and the younger girls are already there.”
“That’s very kind. Denki. I’d like to meet the whole family before Landon and I head home.”
“Landon’s here?” Samuel glanced at the clock. It was past four already?
“Leah took Landon on a tour of the place,” Eli said.
Rhoda walked out of the room as if all had been said that could be said and it was time to part ways. With a sigh Samuel and the others followed her to the picnic table.
Could today have gone any worse?
She met his parents and youngest sisters, then she took a seat on a bench at the picnic table. The group chatted about how delicious the cookies were and how dry the weather had been lately. Samuel couldn’t think of anything that might cause her to change her mind.
Kings’ Orchard needed her.
Jacob stood a few feet away, an uneaten cookie in one hand and a full cup of lemonade in the other. Something had taken the wind out of his sails too, and he stared into the distance. Samuel followed his gaze but didn’t see anything.
Catherine picked up little Hope and put the puppy in Rhoda’s arms, doing everything she could to be welcoming and friendly.
Rhoda remained polite, but the excitement Samuel had seen in her eyes when they were in the orchard was gone. He’d had a window of opportunity to talk up the good things and discount the obstacles, but now all that momentum was lost.
If Landon and Leah had already returned from their walk, Rhoda would have said her good-byes and been gone.
Daed smiled at Rhoda. “What do you think of Kings’ Orchard?”
She set the puppy on the ground. “It’s the most lovely acreage I’ve ever seen.”
Jacob tossed the contents of his cup on the ground. “Rhoda’s been great, coming here today, but it’s not practical or reasonable for her to consider canning for us.”
Samuel cringed at Jacob telling his parents of Rhoda’s decision. The finality of it all made him sick.
“Well, we appreciate your coming,” Mamm said. “It’s been so nice to meet you, and I’d like to see you again. We have a family gathering in Lancaster next Friday night.”
“We do?” Eli asked.
“Remember?” Mamm said. “It’s the King yearly gathering.”
“Oh ya.”
“Only family comes,” Mamm said. “And the cousins who are seeing someone special often bring them. The youth always enjoy volleyball, a bonfire, a hayride, and lots of food.”
Daed brushed cookie crumbs off his shirt. “We gather at my brother’s house. It isn’t too far from Morgansville, maybe twenty or so minutes by horse and buggy. Would you allow my boys to come by your place in a buggy and bring you over? It’d mean so much after you took the time to come here and talk business.”
Rhoda wiped drops of condensation off her cup. “That’s very nice, but—”
Mamm placed both hands on the table toward Rhoda, forestalling her refusal. “We’d love for your family to come too.”
Samuel wasn’t fooled. His parents weren’t ready to accept Rhoda’s answer, but Rhoda wouldn’t even look at him.
“My parents won’t be home next weekend. They’re going away Friday morning to spend a few days with relatives while looking for houses for my brothers.”
Mamm patted her apron. “You’d be all alone for dinner, and we’ll have plenty. The boys could pick you up around seven and take you home a few hours later. You won’t miss any work time, and if you enjoy it half as much as I think you will, you’ll be ever so glad you came.”
“Maybe. I guess. But I’m not good at gatherings.”
Jacob walked to the table and shooed a fly away from the plate of cookies, and it seemed to Samuel that he’d shaken himself free of whatever was haunting him. “Which explains why you’ve never come to district-wide youth events or tri-county singings. I’ve been wondering about that.”
“My presence has a way of stirring discomfort.”
Jacob straddled the bench on the far end of the picnic table. “It’s up to you, Rhodes. But there won’t be a lot of youth there, mostly cousins. And I say that anyone who feels the least bit uncomfortable with you being there, whatever their reason, should get over it or go home.”
“I know that tone and my brother,” Eli chuckled. “If someone gets out of line, Jacob will escort them off the property, even if it’s their own place.”
Katie giggled. “But he’ll tell them something humorous and be ever so polite while he’s doing it.”
The family laughed.
“Denki, I’ll think about it.” Rhoda looked at the driveway and saw Leah and Landon heading their way. “Landon’s back, and we should be going.”
A few minutes later she was in the truck, and Landon was backing out of the driveway as Samuel’s family waved to her.
Catherine picked up Hope. “Rhoda’s certainly good at saying no under pressure. I would’ve caved a dozen times and given the answer everyone was looking for.”
Samuel slid his hands into his pockets. “She knows how to
handle herself in awkward situations, and that’s what she was in.” He still didn’t understand what had happened while he was out of the office. He’d thought she was on the verge of saying yes before he left.
He turned to Eli. “What happened while I was gone?”
His younger brother pointed at Jacob’s retreating back. “Our ideas ran head-on into his past, whatever that black hole is.”
Samuel went to the picnic table and dumped the ice and liquid out of plastic cups. The girls made quick work of taking all the items inside, leaving him at the table, engulfed by defeat. Should he search for Jacob or leave him alone? Could he find the key to unlock what had happened today if he asked Jacob the right questions? He sighed. Could talking to Jacob ever reveal anything?
Catherine came out of the house and sat beside him. “All Amish women know how to can goods. Why not find someone else?”
“It’s not that simple. She’s had years of practice, and she has contacts in place for selling the goods in numerous stores across several states, a reputation for excellence, an understanding of how to get permits, and a knowledge of marketing.”
“I didn’t think about all that.” Catherine reached down and petted Hope. “Maybe she’ll reconsider.”
“I know what I did wrong. And you. Maybe after a few days, I can patch up the holes we caused. But I need to know what else happened.” Samuel rose. “I’ll be back in a bit.” He went after Jacob, heading toward the area his brother had been staring at. Once Samuel rounded an island of underbrush, he spotted Jacob sitting on a fallen tree, staring at the summer kitchen.
Samuel moved in closer. “Mind if I join you?”
Jacob didn’t answer, so Samuel sat beside him. Neither spoke. The loud chirp of cicadas and soft birdsong surrounded them as the sun dipped behind the trees. “What’s your take on today?”
“Several missteps on our part. But it was a long shot with too many obstacles to overcome.”
Despite the sense of defeat, Samuel wanted to find a new angle to work, one that would convince Rhoda that partnering with Kings’ Orchard was as great as he believed it would be.
A Season for Tending: Book One in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series Page 20