Love Inspired March 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Wife for JacobThe Forest Ranger's RescueAlaskan Homecoming

by Rebecca Kertz

  “May I sneak a muffin?” he said as he set down the jam and jelly tray next to the two large baskets that Annie had carried in. “I haven’t eaten breakfast.”

  “You’re not sneaking if you ask permission,” she teased.

  “Gut point.” He snatched a chocolate-chip muffin and glanced about slyly, then took a small bite. He looked so comical that Annie grinned.

  “Well?” she said. “Is it worth getting in trouble over?”

  He feigned a frown. She couldn’t miss the amusement in his golden eyes. “Am I in trouble?”

  She smirked. “You are trouble.” And as they shared laughter, Annie found great enjoyment in his company. As she turned to head back to the kitchen, she caught sight of her sister standing several feet away, staring at them. She met Barbara’s glance and, to her dismay, watched as her sibling made an about-face and rushed toward the kitchen.

  “Ach, nay,” Annie murmured.

  “What’s wrong?” Jacob asked, moving to her side.

  “I’m afraid you’ll be in the hot seat next. My sister saw us laughing, and now she’s run to tell my mudder.” She paused, gave him a worried look. “Be careful or you’ll find yourself invited to dinner.”

  “Not a chance.” Jacob glanced toward the kitchen doorway. “Your mam doesn’t consider me as a potential husband for you. I have no job and no prospects.” He smiled slightly. “See? So there’s no need to worry. Just remind her that I’m too young for you.”

  Annie tilted her head at him. “Too young?” she murmured.

  “Ja, I’m not your type at all, an older member of our church community.” He grinned. “Coming?” He gestured toward the kitchen, and she inclined her head.

  Annie followed slowly as Jacob went on ahead. He’s right, she thought. That was exactly what Mam would think—that he was a young man without means. And Jacob was everything she wanted to avoid in a man. She closed her eyes, felt a rush of pain. Why did she suddenly feel so sad?

  Chapter Nine

  Annie was in the yard, feeding chickens, when Jacob exited the shop and approached. “Gut morning!” she greeted with a smile.

  “Gut morning. You are out early.” He reached her side, dipped his fingers into her bucket and scattered a handful of feed.

  She was conscious of him beside her, looking handsome in his maroon shirt and triblend-denim trousers. “Mam’s gone into town with Dat. He has a doctor’s appointment. Barbara and Josiah left for the Amos Kings’ earlier this morning.” She smiled. “Me? I’ve got a full day’s chores.” She threw another fistful. “You?”

  “Ike King is bringing in his gelding. When I’m done in the shop, I’ll head to Noah’s.” He captured her glance, causing warmth to rise up from her nape. “Jed is out with a construction crew, and Noah needs help with deliveries.”

  Annie broke eye contact with him until she could regain her balance. “What time will Ike be here?” She knew that Noah Lapp’s furniture shop did well. Noah was an excellent cabinetmaker and the demand for his work had increased since he’d opened his business.

  “Any minute now. I’ve come to watch for him.”

  “Do you have time for coffee?” she asked.

  “Nay, but I appreciate the offer.”

  A buggy on the dirt drive drew Annie’s attention. Beside her, Jacob called out a greeting and waved to Ike, who drove the vehicle.

  Ike parked his buggy close to the shop entrance. He smiled as he climbed out. “Mornin’!” he greeted. “Fine day today.” He was a man in his late thirties with a beard along his jawline. All Amish men grew beards after they married. Only Ike was a widower.

  “Great weather to be out and about,” Jacob agreed as he walked toward the horse and rubbed the gelding’s nose. “I don’t imagine we’ll see many days like this before the cold rushes in.”

  The older man nodded. Studying him, Annie knew that Ike had left Indiana and returned home to Lancaster County after his young wife’s death. Ike resembled his older brother Amos about the eyes and in the shape of his chin, but Amos’s beard had streaks of gray while Ike’s was reddish brown.

  “Where do you want him?” Ike asked Jacob, referring to the animal.

  “Inside.” Jacob worked to help Ike unhitch the horse and then he instructed the other man to follow him into the blacksmith shop. “See you later, Annie.”

  “Ja, Jacob.” She smiled at Ike, who didn’t immediately follow. “Are you waiting? You can come in for coffee or tea.”

  “That is kind of ya, Annie, but Amos is coming to fetch me. I’ll be back later when Jacob has finished shoeing young Abraham here.”

  “Gut day to ya then, Ike. I must get back to work. I’ll see you on Sunday.” Annie watched him as he joined Jacob, and the two men stood outside the shop, talking for a time.

  “Annie!” Levi Stoltzfus approached from the direction of her grandparents’ house, drawing her attention. The handsome preacher wore a spring-green shirt, black suspenders and black pants.

  “Levi!” Annie grinned as he drew near. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

  “I thought I’d stop and visit with your grosseldre this morning.” He appeared pleased as he reached her side.

  “I’m sure they appreciated the company.” Annie regarded him with warmth. “Mam sees the changes in them as they age, and since Grossmudder’s last illness and hospital stay, she worries about them.”

  The preacher nodded. “Ja. They seem to be getting around well now, though.” He took off his black-banded straw hat and held it in his hands.

  “Ja, thank the Lord.” Annie scattered the last of the chicken feed, then chatted with Levi about the weather, the farm and the upcoming winter.

  “I should be getting back,” Levi finally said. “I’ve got chores to do.”

  “As do I.” A warm breeze stirred the air, and Annie closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. She heard a sharp inhalation of breath, and she quickly opened her eyes to catch an odd look on Levi’s face.

  “Annie, before I go...” He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I was wondering—”

  Annie regarded him with concern. “Is something wrong, Levi?”

  “Nay.” His expression cleared. “I... Would you consider going for a buggy ride?”

  She felt her breath hitch. “You want me to go for a ride with you?”

  He nodded, looking very much like a young schoolboy. “I’ll understand if you—”

  “I’d like that,” she said hurriedly, and the idea of spending time with Levi seemed a sudden answer to her prayers. Jacob had told her to consider what she wanted. She wanted an older husband like Levi. Didn’t she?

  “Friday evening, then?” he said. “Or do ya have plans?”

  Annie smiled as she shook his head. “Nay. Friday would be fine.”

  Levi looked relieved and genuinely happy. Annie felt a moment’s doubt but pushed it away.

  “We can talk about it tomorrow night,” he said.

  “So, you still plan to come to dinner?” she teased.

  “I wouldn’t miss your cooking, Annie,” he said seriously.

  “Roast beef?” Annie noted his expression and felt only slightly uneasy. The feeling passed as she reminded herself that this was Levi Stoltzfus, a man who had been coming to dinner every week for months.

  “Ja. Sounds delicious.” He put on his hat. “I will see ya tomorrow, Annie.”

  She had always felt at ease in Levi’s presence. Why should that change just because he wanted to take her for a buggy ride? Because he realized that he liked her? She smiled and waved as he walked away. Annie turned toward the barn and saw Jacob Lapp standing near the shop entrance. Jacob gave her a look that made her feel uncomfortable before he and Ike disappeared into the shop.

  Heart thumping hard, she hurried to store the feed, then shooed the chickens into a fenced area and secured the ga
te. With thoughts of Jacob and Levi swirling in her mind, Annie headed toward her grandparents’ house. She had work to do.

  As she approached, she spied her grandmother in the yard, watching a robin.

  “It won’t be long before they’ll be gone for the winter,” she said of the bird. “Grossmudder, did you and Grossdaddi have breakfast?”

  “Nay, I wasn’t hungry earlier.”

  “You had a visitor,” Annie said. “Preacher Levi.”

  Grossmudder nodded. “Ja, he is a gut boy, that Levi.” She fixed Annie with a look. “A fine preacher. He would be perfect for you.”

  Annie laughed, although her heart wasn’t in it. She couldn’t forget the strange look Jacob had given her. Why should he disapprove?

  * * *

  Her sister was back when Annie returned home. “You weren’t gone long.”

  “Nay,” Barbara said. “I’d planned to do the laundry, but I see you already put in a load.” She tightened the strings of her white apron, making sure the cape was neatly tucked inside.

  “Is Josiah back?”

  “Ja, he is in the barn seeing to the horses.”

  “Would ya help hang the sheets to dry? I put them on before I went over to Grossmudder’s.”

  “Ja, I’ll be glad to help. ’Tis too nice a day to be indoors.”

  “I’ll meet ya outside,” Annie said. She gathered the clothes from the propane washing machine and set them in the laundry basket. Then she headed outside and saw Barbara hanging the clothespin bag on the line within easy reach. Annie set down the clothes.

  Barbara reached in to grab a sheet while Annie hurried to catch hold of the other end. With a snap of the wet fabric between them, they pinned the fabric on the line and then reached down for another.

  “How are the Kings?” Annie asked conversationally.

  “They are well. While I was there, Amos’s brother Ike came to visit.”

  Annie secured a pillowcase. “Ike was here, too. Jacob made shoes for one of his horses this morning.”

  “Ike is a nice man,” Barbara commented.

  Annie reached up to swat away a bug. “Ja, he is pleasant.”

  “He is a widower,” Barbara said casually.

  “Ja, I heard.” Annie fastened a bath towel to the clothes rope.

  Barbara pulled a white prayer kapp from the basket, pegged it to the line by its strings. “He would make a gut husband.”

  “Ja.” Annie smiled. “Are ya interested?”

  “Me?” Barbara looked stunned. “Nay, I’m thinking of you.”

  Annie stared at her. “Why would ya think that Ike and I should be man and wife?”

  “Ya want an older man, don’t ya?”

  Annie frowned. “How do you know that?” Had Jacob said something to Barbara? She felt a burning in her stomach.

  “Mam told me,” Barbara said. “It is a gut plan, Annie.”

  Annie was aghast. “You didn’t say anything to Ike, did you?”

  “Nay. I would not do that.”

  Relieved, Annie continued to hang clothes. “Thanks be to God,” she murmured beneath her breath. To her sister, she said, “You don’t need to be looking for a husband for me. It will happen in the Lord’s time.” She hesitated, then confided, “Levi has asked me to go for a buggy ride with him.”

  “I see.” Barbara hung up a blue dress. “Then you like him.”

  “He is a gut man.” Annie wondered if she was trying to convince herself.

  “’Tis true.” Barbara handed her one end of a sheet, and the sisters worked together to secure it on the line.

  As they hung the laundry, Annie noticed that her sister had become suddenly quiet. “Barbara, is everything all right?”

  Barbara looked at her and nodded. “Ja.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Come. We have a lot to do yet.”

  Later, as she prepared supper in the kitchen with her mother and sister, Annie wondered about her sister’s sudden change in behavior. Why? Because of Levi’s invitation to go for a buggy ride? Barbara had made a big fuss over Levi the last time he’d come to dinner. Was Barbara sweet on Levi? If so, what should she do about her outing with the preacher? She couldn’t back out now. Could she?

  Annie was thoughtful as she took the ham, green beans and potatoes out of the oven. She’d think of something. She didn’t want to hurt her sister.

  * * *

  “Annie,” a masculine voice said.

  “Reuben!” She smiled. “Come in and sit. Where’s your sister?”

  Reuben hesitated. “She didn’t come.”

  “How is Rebekkah?” Barbara asked as she entered the room. She didn’t seem surprised to discover him there.

  “She is fine. She is with our grossmudder this evening.”

  “Is she all right—your grossmudder? The rest of the family?” Annie asked. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen all of you.”

  He nodded. “It’s been months, and ja, they are all doing well.”

  “You are just in time.” Annie pulled the tray of yeast rolls out of the oven and turned with a smile. “I hope you brought your appetite.” She set the tray on pot holders on the countertop.

  “Reuben.” Dat entered the kitchen on crutches. Annie automatically pulled out a chair for him, and he maneuvered himself to the table and sat down. Peter, Josiah and the grosseldre came to the table.

  “I heard about your accident, Joe.” Reuben eyed her dat with concern. “It looks like you’re getting around.”

  “Ja, although my progress is slower than I’d like it to be.”

  “Things will improve, and soon it will be just a story to tell your grandchildren.” Reuben accepted his plate from Barbara, who had added meat, potatoes and succotash. “My vadder does well after his injury.”

  Annie saw her dat nod. “That must have been bad, injuring himself in the corn binder.”

  Reuben agreed. “I was just a boy at the time, but I’ll never forget how tore up his arm was. He nearly lost it. The doctors at the hospital were able to do surgery and now years later Dat has gut use of the arm.”

  Annie thought of Reuben’s father and recalled his scarred arm. It was a blessing that Jonas Miller was left-handed. Still, his concern over how he would manage long term must have been worrisome to him.

  “The Lord gives us the strength to handle what we must and the courage to continue in times of great worry,” Annie said.

  “Amen,” Mam murmured with a quick glance at her parents. Suddenly, she grinned. “Everyone hungry?” she asked as she ensured that everyone—the men especially—had their food.

  After saying a prayer of thanks, they ate and talked and ate some more. In preparation for dessert, Annie stood and collected the dinner plates.

  “I heard Rebekkah is seeing someone,” Mam said.

  “Ja,” Reuben said. “She’s being courted by Caleb Yoder. They plan to marry, and the banns will be posted this Sunday.”

  “How wonderful!” Mam exclaimed. After a short pause, she’d then asked, “And you? Are you courting anyone?”

  “Nay. I haven’t found the right woman yet.”

  Mam had risen from the table, gone to the counter and picked up a rich chocolate cake. “You should try a piece of cake.” She’d set it in the center of the table. “Annie made it.”

  Later that night, Annie lay in bed and felt her face redden at the memory of dinner with Reuben. She should tell Jacob. He’d put things into perspective for her. Ja, she would tell Jacob of her mother’s latest matchmaking attempt and see what he had to say.

  But first she had to tell her mother about Levi wanting to take her for a buggy ride with him, and her dilemma with Barbara. Unless... Annie began to think, and came up with an idea.

  * * *

 
“Reuben!” Annie was surprised to see him again so soon. “What are ya doing here?”

  “Hallo, Annie. I wanted to stop by and ask if you are going to the next church Sunday singing.”

  “I thought I might.” Annie stepped off her front porch, carrying a laundry basket of clothes. She headed to the clothesline, dismayed when Reuben followed her.

  “Will you consider allowing me to take ya home afterward?”

  Annie set down her basket and stood. “That is nice of you, Reuben, but that’s over a week away. I’m not sure of my plans yet, and I wouldn’t want to hold you up.”

  He nodded, and to her relief, he didn’t seem disappointed. “We’ll see what happens during the next week. I know ’tis been a while since I came to a singing in your church district. I had a gut time when I did.” He smiled. Fair-haired and with blue eyes, Reuben Miller was a handsome young man. Not as handsome as the Lapp brothers, she thought and then mentally scolded herself. She reminded herself how she wanted to steer clear of attractive men who could break her heart.

  “It was a wonderful supper last night, Annie.”

  Annie bent to pull a green shirt out of the clothes basket. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she said as she pinned it into place.

  “I especially liked the chocolate cake,” he said.

  “That’s of kind of you to say.” She continued to hang clothes, hoping that he would decide that he should take his leave and return home. “You’ve got a free day today?” she asked conversationally as she hung a pair of one of her brother’s pants.

  “Nay. I brought my dat’s mare for new shoes. Jacob said he could fit her in today.”

  Annie blinked. “Is she inside already?” Jacob was already here? She hadn’t seen him come.

  “Ja, he’s in the shop. He said to arrive early, that he could take Aggie, and so here I am.”

  Annie was thoughtful, her mind racing with visions of Jacob shoeing the Millers’ horse. He was gut at the work, just as her father had said he would be. Business had increased since Jacob had come to help in the blacksmithy. With the cooling weather of late autumn, he was bound to be busier than normal as folks brought their animals in for shoes before the onset of winter. She had wanted to talk with him, tell him about last evening, but she doubted he’d have any time for her.