They weren’t alone anymore.
They had an entire family gathered around them now.
“I heard Mammi had fallen.” He sat beside Jacob as Emma made sure he knew who everyone was. They had two church districts in Shipshe. Henry and his family were members of the district in town. The rest of them belonged to the country district, which Simon oversaw.
“It’s true,” Mary Ann said. “Tumbled over right outside in the garden. Emma saved me.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Gut! The Lord is my right hand, Henry.”
“And your foot?”
“Sore, but Doc’s cane helps.”
They spoke of business in town, Danny’s pup, and how Joseph and Jacob had searched for worms in the garden.
“Planning on some fishing, are you?” Henry smiled at the boys.
“Ya. Emma and Mamm say we can . . . can . . . can cook what we catch.”
“Hmmm. I have two boys who might enjoy a little fishing. Maybe we can come out Saturday afternoon.”
“If we don’t ca-catch them all today.”
Everyone laughed, everyone except Nancy, who at least managed a smile.
When they were done eating, Emma rose to wash the dishes, but Nancy stayed her hand. “Let me. Please.”
“All right. I’ll walk Henry outside then.”
They were barely out the back door when he started peppering Emma with questions. “Where is the teenager from? How long is he going to stay here? Why didn’t you call me about Mammi, and what are you going to do about Nancy and her boys?”
Henry had always been her worrier. It wasn’t that his faith was weak, but he tended to agonize over whether he was doing enough.
Emma tucked her hand through his arm. “Goshen. I’m not sure. I would have called, but I haven’t had time to walk to the phone shack, and I’m not going to do anything. They’re just . . . visiting for a while.”
Henry grunted. “I’ll slow my questions if you’ll slow your answers.”
“Fair enough.”
They’d made it to his buggy, and they both rested their backs against the black side that had warmed in the midday sunlight.
“It’s a lot of changes at once.”
“Ya. Tell me. A week ago, it was only your mammi I had to care for. Now, once again, I have a family.”
Henry turned and studied her. “It’s been hard on you since Dat passed.”
“All loss is difficult.”
“I should have—”
“You’ve done all you could and should. You’re a gut son.”
Henry smiled ruefully, then turned back to look out over the garden. “The word in town is that you’re going to allow people who are in need to stay here.”
Emma was a little surprised, since she hadn’t quite decided what they were doing herself. But the Amish grapevine worked well, and she admitted to her son that the idea was growing on her.
Then she told him about the money.
Henry let out a long, low whistle and rubbed the top of his head where the hair had disappeared. “Leave it to Mammi to keep a secret like that buried.”
“I don’t know exactly what she wants me to do. She seems to think we should spend it on some kind of ministry here.” When Henry didn’t comment, she nudged his shoulder. “How do you feel about that? Rightfully the money would go to you and the other kinner.”
“We’re not kinner, Mamm. We’re adults, and you know that none of us needs the money.”
“So you think it’s the right thing to do?”
“I think however Gotte prompts you is the right thing to do.” He turned to her, and Emma was relieved to see the familiar twinkle in his eyes. “’Course we’ll inherit this place one day, so any improvements you make will benefit all of us.”
“But would you want strangers living on your property?”
“Can’t say. I’ve never thought about it, and these folks aren’t actually strangers, except for Joseph, who Danny assures me is harmless.”
She wasn’t too surprised to hear he’d talked to Danny already. But when had he found the time? Perhaps Danny had managed to slip into town.
“I’m glad Danny lives so close, Mamm. He’s a gut person, and he cares about what happens to you.”
Her cheeks warmed, which was probably due to standing in the sun but might have been caused by the idea of Henry blessing her love life.
Did she have a love life?
Did she love Danny Eicher?
The question confused her more than the new group of people who had eaten lunch in her kitchen.
“We all want you to be happy. If you ever decided to remarry, we would understand.”
“Marry?” The word caught in her throat, causing her to blush even more.
Henry bent and kissed her cheek, then he climbed into his buggy and promised to come by on Saturday with his wife and children. “I’ll even stop by my bruder’s and encourage him to come as well.”
Emma stood next to the garden, watching him drive away. He was a blessing, all of her children were, and she was grateful to have them close and willing to help.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.
Bishop Simon came by, but he stayed less than ten minutes. He told Nancy and Emma that Owen had agreed to go to Goshen.
“While you could go home, I’d feel more comfortable if you’d stay here for at least a week. We can see how Owen is doing and how best to proceed.”
“How long will he be there?” Nancy’s voice trembled slightly.
“That will depend on him. Technically he could check himself out anytime, which is why I’d rather you stay with Emma. But hopefully he will remain in the facility for the full month.”
“Yes. I’ll stay.” Nancy moved a step closer to Emma.
Emma put her arm around her, glad she had agreed to forgo heading home. Nancy needed time to heal, and the children needed a safe spot. A sanctuary, as Mary Ann had said.
They worked in the garden again that afternoon. Jacob ran up and down the rows, pausing to look at a plant and ask what it was. Luke lay on a blanket next to Mary Ann’s bench, staring up at the sky and playing with his toes. While Nancy and Emma sowed beets, lettuce, and radishes, Joseph and Danny built a new trellis to support the tomato plants. The old one had finally crumbled, and at the rate the plants were growing, they’d need the support from the wooden structure soon.
Danny didn’t say much, but occasionally Emma would feel his gaze on her. When she’d turn to look at him, he’d blink once and then return to his work.
She still didn’t completely understand why he walked over to help them each afternoon. He’d told her once that it was easier to help with their garden than to grow his own. But he could have purchased what few vegetables one man needed.
He said something to Joseph she couldn’t hear, and the boy’s laughter mixed with the sound of the afternoon birds searching for worms and insects.
She didn’t know when, or if, Joseph would return home. But her heart relished the fact that he no longer looked afraid or anxious.
When they’d finished, Emma invited Danny to dinner, but he declined. He started to say something, then shook his head, reached out and squeezed her arm, and walked away.
Which was strange behavior, even for Danny. It was as if there was something he needed to talk to her about, but he didn’t know how. And when had Danny ever been at a loss for words?
Words were his tool and trade.
Emma walked into the house, pulled out the spaghetti casserole, and complimented Nancy’s salad. But her thoughts were on the man walking through their garden, back toward his home.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Danny walked back over to Emma’s. It was early in the evening, but he worried, nonetheless, that he would be interrupting something.
He knocked on the back door and waited, his hands sweating as if he were a young man calling on a young girl for a date. This was far more serious than that, and he almost laughed at him
self.
Emma didn’t look surprised when she answered the door. Had some part of her, some part of her heart, been expecting him? Now that he stood on her stoop, hands in his pockets, and the evening breeze stirring the hair at the back of his neck, he wasn’t sure what to do.
“Emma.”
“Evening, Danny. Did you forget something?” When he didn’t immediately answer, she added, “Would you like to come in?”
“Nein. I was wondering if you would like to take a walk with me. Maybe through the garden and toward the pond. The weather’s gut and you wouldn’t need more than a shawl.”
Emma placed her hand to her throat, then glanced back toward Mary Ann, who sat in the kitchen sorting beans at the old table. She waved Emma away. “I’m fine. I don’t need babysitting.”
Emma smiled at her feistiness and asked Danny to wait a minute. Hurrying across the kitchen, she found a dish towel and dried her hands. Then she kissed Mary Ann on the cheek. “I’ll be back soon to help you to your bedroom.”
“I can walk down the hall fine, Emma. You go and enjoy the stars.”
Enjoy the stars.
Those words echoed in Danny’s mind as Emma fetched her wrap and joined him outside.
The garden looked like a sacred place in the moonlight.
Emma smiled, then said, “It was a relief to see Jacob’s joy as he ran up and down the paths. A young child should have a place to play, a safe place to discover the world.”
“A place where healing blooms.”
Stopping, Emma placed her hand on his shoulder. “What did you say?”
“Your garden—look at all the abundance and all the blooms, but perhaps its real purpose is to be a place where healing blooms.”
“Maybe so.” She removed her hand and continued walking.
The light southerly breeze brushed against Danny’s skin as they made their way to the bench—Mary Ann’s bench.
“How are the boys?”
“Gut. Nancy has them all settled in the room next to hers.” Emma stared out across her land, toward Danny’s pond.
The moonlight bounced off the water, and he found himself thinking of summer. For the first time since Ben’s death, Emma seemed to relax completely. Danny thought that perhaps it was because of the idea of summer and warmer days, or possibly the boys upstairs and the one in the barn, or her grandkinner. He could picture them all fishing around the banks of the pond, surrounded by marsh marigold, yellow water iris, and brown-eyed Susan grown tall and thick.
Danny reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. She wasn’t completely caught off guard, but that didn’t stop the words he wanted to say from catching in his throat. So instead he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Her expression changed again—what seemed to him a river of joy tinged with a little fear.
She said nothing.
Fortunately Danny’s tongue wasn’t tied. “Do you think we’re too old for courting, Emma?”
“Too old? Nein.” She didn’t pull her hand away, but she stared at it in the darkness.
“And are we too old to marry?”
“Danny Eicher! Are you asking me to marry you?” She jumped up from the bench and crossed her arms, but he saw that her hands were shaking. Was she amused or worried?
Danny honestly didn’t know. He wasn’t that good at understanding women. But he did know that this was the right time to say what was on his heart, what had been there for quite some time.
“If I did ask you, what would your answer be?”
Emma closed her eyes and tried to calm the thudding that was her heart. Was she dreaming? Or was she actually in the garden with Danny Eicher? Had he just asked her to marry him?
“You’ve put the buggy in front of the horse and you know it.”
His smile widened as he stood. “I care for you, Emma. You know I always have, since we were youngsters . . .”
“We were children, who had no idea what twists and turns life would take. You left, set off traveling, and I—I stayed here and raised a family.”
Danny didn’t answer.
Emma realized in that moment that Danny had learned some important lessons while he’d moved about. He’d learned that life wasn’t a race, and he could afford to take his time. He’d learned where his home was. And he’d learned how to listen.
She walked to Mary Ann’s rosebushes. The buds nearest her showed a hint of yellow. In another week or so the rose hedge would be a dazzling display of yellow, white, pink, and red, and the scent would be heavenly.
Danny stepped behind her. He didn’t push, didn’t say anything else. Instead he stood close and waited as she studied the roses.
“I loved Ben.”
“I know you did.”
“And I miss him still.”
“I expect you always will. I miss him too. He was my freind, and I’m glad the Lord saw fit to bring me home before his passing. I’m glad we had those few months to become reacquainted again.”
Turning, she nearly bumped into Danny, who had moved closer. He didn’t back up, but put his hands on Emma’s arms to steady her.
Slowly, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. She let go then—of all her doubts and fears and regrets. She closed her eyes and allowed hope to seep into the empty places of her heart.
Clasping her hand, Danny turned them, and they began walking toward the pond.
“We could build the Wilkumm Haus there, on the southeast side of the pond.”
“You’ve already named it?”
“With a porch across the front and side, so the folks can look out on the garden—”
“Or the pond,” she whispered, catching his vision.
“It will be a gut place for those in need to come. A quiet place, and a haven of safety.”
She stopped suddenly. “Is that why? Is the house why you’re asking me to marry you? Because we can build it, we can help those in our community without—”
His lips brushed hers again. Then he tugged on her hand, pulling her toward the pond. “I asked you because of what’s in my heart, Emma. What has always been in my heart. It seems Gotte had a plan for you and me, one where we care for each other and offer grace to those who need it most.”
She shook her head in the darkness. How could God’s plan include Ben’s passing?
“He would want you to be happy. You know that Ben would. And you would have wanted the same for him if you had gone first. It’s not gut to be alone, and you do care for me. Don’t you, Emma?”
“Ya.”
“Ben would want this, and your mamm wants us to use the money.”
“Your land—”
“And your money—”
“It will take six months, maybe longer.” Emma thought of Nancy and the boys and Joseph.
“To build the haus? Nein. The bishop has hinted around, promising me we would have help for whatever we decide to do. The families here know such a home would be a blessing to our community. Certainly we would be done before the heat of summer, before your grandkinner start appearing for their summer stays.”
How had he known about their family plans? Perhaps he guessed. Perhaps she’d mentioned it and he remembered.
Emma knew then that Danny was someone who paid attention. Maybe it was a habit born in his writing and carried over into his personal life.
Her biggest worry about creating a safe place, a haven, tripped away into the night. She hadn’t wanted to push her own children, or their children, out while she was helping others.
“If we wed, we’d live in my house?”
“I’ll live wherever you want, Emma.”
“But what of your house?”
“Young Moses Byler is marrying in a few months. He’d be happy to rent it while he works my land. Once he saves up a little, we can decide whether to offer it to him for purchase.”
“Perfect.” The word was as sweet as a lemon drop on her tongue. “It all sounds . . . perfect.”
“Life is rarely that.”
>
“But—”
“But it would be close, and what isn’t perfect, we’ll work on together.”
From the direction of the barn, she heard Ben’s horse whinny. The sound was like a blessing sweeping through the night. Sweeping over her heart.
They’d reached the pond and Shadow had joined them. He licked Emma’s hand once, then pounced into the weeds in search of night critters.
Emma turned and studied Ben in the moonlight. The quiet, steady look in his eyes convinced her of what she was feeling, of all he promised, and of what God intended.
“Yes.”
He seemed about to let out a holler. His eyes crinkled with the smile that spread across his face. He kissed her again, softly, tenderly, and then they turned and walked back toward her house, Shadow trotting by their side.
“You’ll still help with the garden, right?”
“Ya.”
“Because you do seem to enjoy it, appearing every afternoon as you have.”
“The hours weeding and trimming have been the highlight of my day, Emma. But I would have appeared in the barn if you were cleaning stalls. Each day I would wait as long as I could, and then when I could wait no longer, I’d come to see you. The time I spent here in your garden has been precious to me.”
“We’ll have plenty more.”
“Ya. Gotte willing, we will.”
With her free hand, she brushed the butterfly weed as they walked by, sending up a sweet, fragrant odor.
A place of healing, that was what Mamm had called it.
A place where healing blooms, that was what Danny had said.
Both seemed good descriptions to Emma. Sometime in the past year her heart had healed.
She thought of Joseph, sleeping in the barn. Perhaps he would grow comfortable enough with them to share his past. Perhaps with time and guidance and hard work, he would heal as well.
Then there were her guests, Nancy and the boys upstairs.
She heard Luke’s cry through the upstairs window, and saw the shadow of Nancy moving to pick him up, then sitting in the rocker. It was the same rocker she’d used to comfort many a child.
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