A long table with chairs had been set up in the barn. Girls were seated on one side and boys on the other. Annie took the first available seat, and to her dismay, Joseph Byler appeared and sat down across from her.
“Hello, Annie,” he said with a sloppy smile.
Annie nodded. His presence dampened her enjoyment of the evening. “Joseph.”
“Annie!” Reuben Miller stepped into the room and took a seat next to Joseph. “I told ya I would come.”
She smiled; she couldn’t help it. “I take it the banns were posted for Rebekkah and Caleb.”
Reuben nodded. “Ja, and everyone is happy about the union.”
Jacob sat on Joseph’s other side. “Joseph,” he greeted. He eyed Reuben over Joseph’s head. “How are ya, Reuben?” He took off his hat and set it on the table, rewarding Annie with a good view of his features. His brown hair shone in the gas-lantern light, and there was a tiny smile playing about his masculine lips.
Her heart beat a rapid tattoo as she compared him to the two other men. Jacob Lapp was easily the most handsome.
Her brother Josiah opened his copy of the Ausbund and led them in the first song. He flashed Nancy a smile before he began to sing his chosen hymn in a deep, confident voice. Eli Lapp joined in, followed by the other young people. Annie couldn’t keep her eyes off Jacob as he raised his voice in song, his tone strong, melodic and pleasant.
Caught up in the moment, Annie sang out for God and for the sure joy of it. Jacob captured her attention and Annie was surprised to see his golden eyes fill with warmth as they held gazes and joined voices.
A while later, at Nancy’s urging, Josiah called a refreshment break. Anne rose along with the other girls to unwrap the food, while the young men stood to chat and stretch their legs. Nancy had made lemonade, and someone had brought homemade birch beer. Mae King, Nancy’s mother, had provided hot tea and coffee as the days were cool and the nights could be downright cold. Soon everyone enjoyed paper plates filled with goodies and the beverage of their choice.
Annie was nursing a cup of hot tea, when Joseph Byler approached.
“Annie,” he said, “did you make these brownies?”
Annie shook her head. “Meg Stoltzfus did.”
He turned with a frown to eye the snack table, and as he did, Reuben Miller slid into his place in front of Annie.
“Annie,” he greeted with a smile. “This is yours. I can tell.” He referred to her gingerbread cake.
“How?” Annie asked. She wondered how he’d known.
He grinned. “Because it’s the most delicious item on the table.” He lowered his voice. “And Peter told me.”
Annie laughed.
“May I take ya home this evening?” he asked, fulfilling her worst fears.
“I—”
“I’m afraid to disappoint you, but she’s riding with me this evening,” Jacob said as he joined them.
Annie’s heart began to race as soon as she heard Jacob’s voice.
Reuben glanced from Jacob to Annie, who didn’t refute Jacob’s claim. “I see.”
“I appreciate the offer, Reuben,” Annie said while shooting Jacob a look, “but yes, Jacob will be taking me home.”
Joseph Byler, who’d been shifted outside the circle, returned with another snack on his plate. “This one must be yours,” he told Annie.
Jacob didn’t move, and Annie was stunned by his desire to linger.
Sensing Joseph’s confusion, she glanced at his plate. “Ja, I made that one.”
Joseph glanced toward Jacob and frowned as Jacob shifted closer to Annie’s side. The young man widened his eyes and scurried away.
“So, you’ll be taking me home, will you?” she said softly.
“You wanted to be rescued, didn’t ya?” He took a bite of a lemon square. “These are delicious, Annie,” he said, sounding sincere. “You are an excellent cook and baker.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “And your mudder didn’t have to point it out to me. I just knew.”
Annie laughed, and the earlier awkwardness between them suddenly vanished. “I’m glad you like them.” Reuben had already moved on to talk to Meg Stoltzfus. Joseph, on the other hand, continued to watch her from a distance, with a pouting look on his face.
Jacob followed the direction of her gaze. “He’s not happy.”
“Nay.” She gave Jacob a crooked smile. “He doesn’t take a hint well.”
“I can’t speak for Joseph. He is a determined man, but I think he is harmless. Eventually he’ll get the hint. You mustn’t worry too much about him.”
“And how many times will you have to rescue me from him before he’ll understand that I’m just not interested in him?”
“If I’m not available, you can ask someone else to rescue you, like Eli or Ike King,” he said softly.
Annie felt keen disappointment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes. “I offered to take you home and you accepted. How is that an imposition?”
“It’s not?” She waited with a wildly beating heart for his answer.
“Nay, taking you home can never be an imposition,” he said, and Annie felt joy at his words. “After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?” He shot a look over his shoulder. “’Tis time to go back inside.”
She nodded and set down her teacup. Friends, she thought. He had been teasing her when he’d suggested a possible deeper relationship between them. When she headed back inside, she was surprised to find that Jacob had waited for her.
She resumed her seat in the other room and was startled when Jacob took the chair directly across from her. Joseph frowned and shifted to the seat that Jacob had vacated earlier. Jacob smiled at her, and Annie knew a warmth and pleasure she’d never felt with his older brother Jed. When Jacob raised an eyebrow at her, she felt her heart soar. She wondered what it would be like to hold hands with him, then scolded herself for foolishly entertaining the thought. She blushed when she saw Jacob eyeing her with curiosity.
The singing resumed with Peter’s choice of hymn. As her brother began to sing, Annie watched Jacob, loving the way he’d made her feel, recalling all the wonderful things he’d done for her and her family. She had a sudden mental image of living with him as man and wife. What am I doing? Setting herself up for heartbreak, she thought.
The evening passed quickly, and soon everyone rose to leave. A few of the young men and women coupled up and walked out into the night together. Annie headed out the door alone, disappointed that Jacob had gone outside without her. Still, she was grateful for the reprieve. She was confused, wanting one thing but afraid of what could happen if she gave in.
The night was chilly, and Annie hugged herself with her arms as she waited and wondered if Jacob had forgotten her.
Josiah approached. “Annie, I’m going to stay awhile with Nancy,” he said. “Will ya be able to get a ride home?”
She smiled. “I have a ride.” Josiah looked surprised but pleased, yet his curiosity about whom she was referring to wasn’t stronger than his desire to return to Nancy.
“Are you ready?” Jacob appeared out of nowhere, startling her, causing her heart to jump.
She nodded. Following him, Annie anticipated the ride home with excitement. She knew it was wrong to put her heart at risk, but she couldn’t help it. It was one night; surely, she could enjoy one night in Jacob Lapp’s company and still keep her heart intact.
Chapter Thirteen
Jacob gestured for Annie to precede him as they headed toward his family’s market wagon. His brother Eli and Mary Hershberger, Annie’s cousin, were already in the open wagon bed along with Annie’s youngest brother, Peter.
He felt Annie hesitate before continuing, almost as if she was startled to learn that others would be riding home with them. He
recalled the way Annie had laughed and spoken with Ike King earlier in the day and decided that he was mistaken, especially after she’d greeted the occupants of the wagon cheerfully.
He followed her to the passenger side of the vehicle’s front bench seat and extended his hand to assist her up. She looked at him for a heartbeat, before she placed her fingers within his grasp. As he helped her onto the bench, Jacob was not unaffected by the warmth of her small hand within his. He drew a sharp breath as he released his grip and hurried to the other side, where he climbed in. Emotion slammed in his chest. He wanted to take her in his arms and whirl her away to a place where they could be alone. He was conscious of Annie beside him as he picked up the reins and spurred the horse on.
He heard conversation and laughter from the back of the wagon. Annie’s brother Peter needed a ride, and Eli had offered to take him home. They arrived at the Hershberger farm first, and Jacob pulled into the barnyard and waited as Eli walked Mary Hershberger to her door. He wondered what Annie was thinking as she watched Eli and Mary before turning to stare straight ahead.
“You look lovely tonight,” he said softly. There was enough moonlight for him to see her. The sight of her stole his breath away.
Annie shot him a glance in the darkness. She was quiet a moment. “You’re just being kind.”
“I wasn’t being kind, Annie,” he admitted. His fingers reached for hers. She jumped at his touch, as if startled, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
“Jacob?” she whispered.
He turned, stared at her, saw the look in her eyes and was tempted to reach for her hand again. But he didn’t, for he saw indecision and dismay in her expression. He shrugged and smiled at her instead. “It’s all right, Annie.” He heard her sigh and wondered what she was thinking.
Soon, his brother had returned. Eli hopped into the back of the wagon, and Jacob steered the horse back to the main road and on toward the Joseph Zook farm.
“How did you like your first singing, Pete?” Eli asked.
“It was fun.” Jacob couldn’t see Peter’s face, but he could imagine the boy’s delight. “I like Meg Hostetler,” he confessed.
“She’s our cousin,” Eli said.
“She’s a nice girl,” Peter replied.
“Ja, and don’t ya forget it,” Eli warned, but Jacob could hear laughter in his brother’s voice.
Peter was silent for a moment, as if taking Eli’s warning seriously. “I won’t.”
Reaching the road to the Zook farmhouse, Jacob turned on the battery-operated turn signal and steered the horse left onto the dirt lane. He wanted to kiss her, he thought. If only they were alone...
He reined in the horse in the barnyard and sat still for several seconds. Then he jumped down from the vehicle, walked around the wagon to Annie’s side and offered his hand to her. As he waited a heartbeat, Jacob remembered another time when he’d offered her his hand and she’d chosen to ignore his help. This time, to his delight, she accepted it, and he enjoyed the feeling of holding her hand. There was warmth where they touched. Jacob experienced tightness in his chest when Annie gave him a tremulous smile. He released her fingers as her brother scrambled out of the back of the wagon.
“I appreciate the ride,” Peter said before he hurried inside the house and shut the door.
Eli climbed from the back of the wagon onto the front seat as Jacob accompanied Annie to her door.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you,” Jacob said huskily, “but I wanted to be alone with you tonight.”
He felt her surprise and wondered if he should have kept his mouth shut. But then she smiled and her blue eyes shone in the moonlight and the golden glow from the lamplight glimmering from inside the house, through the windows.
“You did?” He saw her glance toward the wagon and Eli, who waited patiently up front.
He nodded, reached for her hand again. He rubbed his thumb over her soft skin. “We need to talk—”
“Jacob—”
He leaned in and kissed her, catching her off guard.
“Jacob...”
“Annie?” Her sister Barbara stood just inside the doorway.
Annie stepped back, out of reach, and Jacob wondered if Barbara had witnessed their kiss. “I’ll be inside in a minute.”
He inwardly scolded himself for wanting to spend more time with her. “I should say gut night, Annie.”
“Jacob,” she whispered. She stared at him a moment and then leaned forward.
Jacob saw the longing in her blue gaze and started to reach for her.
“Annie,” Barbara called.
“I have to go.” Her eyes sparkled in the lantern light. “Gut night, Jacob,” she murmured. Then she disappeared into the house, without looking back.
Jacob returned to the wagon, where his brother waited with a knowing look.
“You love her,” Eli accused.
Jacob sighed. “We’re just friends.”
“But you want to be more.”
He shrugged as he pulled the brim of his hat down low. “I’ll get over it.” His heart thumped hard as he recalled the sweet taste of her lips and the way she’d hovered as if she wanted him to kiss her again.
Eli shook his head as he picked up the leathers. “I think not, brother,” he said, and he drove the horse toward home.
“What’s between you and Mary Hershberger?” Jacob asked Eli.
“Nothing. We were just having a gut time. Mary has her heart set on someone else.”
Jacob made a noise of disbelief. “And she told you this?”
Eli grinned at him. “Nay, but I can tell. Didn’t ya see how she was watching Joseph this evening?”
“Joseph Byler?” Jacob was surprised.
“Ja.”
He laughed. Jacob couldn’t help himself. Joseph liked Annie, but Mary Hershberger liked Joseph, while he liked Annie, who liked...Ike King. Or maybe not. There had been a flash of something in her blue eyes, her response to his quick kiss, before she’d gone into the house, that made him wonder.
“And you?” Jacob asked. “Have you got your heart set on anyone in particular?”
Eli shook his head. “I’m in no hurry to find a sweetheart. ’Tis more fun to watch the drama of you and Annie.”
He didn’t think Eli had seen their kiss. It had been dark, and Jacob had made it a quick one. “There is no drama between Annie and me.”
Eli looked unconvinced. “If you say so, bruder.”
* * *
Inside the house, through the window, Annie watched Jacob and Eli drive off in the wagon. Her lips still tingled from his surprising kiss. Why did he kiss me? After a kiss like that, how was she to remember all the reasons why she’d wanted to avoid him?
Jacob had stepped in this evening to prevent Reuben or Joseph from taking her home. It was as if he’d read her mind and suddenly he’d been there to rescue her. She knew he had helped out of friendship. Though that kiss was more than friendly...
Annie left the window and went upstairs to her room. Barbara had gone up to bed, and she was eager to speak with her. Levi Stoltzfus had come to dinner again, and Barbara had chosen to stay home to spend time with him.
“How did things go?” Annie asked Barbara as she started to undress.
Barbara was quiet. “You’re not mad that I’m seeing him?”
Annie stopped and stared. “Why should I be? I can tell that he cares for you.”
“You can?” Barbara sounded pleased.
“Ja, he is a gut man, and I think you and he will do well together.”
“I’m glad you feel that way.” Barbara moved to sit up against the headboard. “Levi and I went for a walk after dinner.”
Annie widened her eyes. “You did?” She took off her prayer kapp and unpinned her long hair.
>
A soft smile played about his lips. “Ja, and Mam didn’t mind. She and Dat said I could go with him.” Barbara sighed dreamily. “We went through the yard and then across the fields. The moon was bright, and I could see his face.” Barbara ran fingers through her long dark unbound hair. “He is so handsome. And he seemed to enjoy himself.” She sighed. “I loved every minute with him.”
“You love him.” Annie smiled as she pulled back the quilt and climbed into bed beside her sister.
She sensed Barbara’s surprise, but her voice was soft as she said, “Ja.”
“That’s gut!” Annie assured her.
“You must think me foolish,” Barbara said. “I fell for David, and now it’s only been a little over a month, and I’ve fallen in love with Levi Stoltzfus.” She paused. “But this feels different.”
“I don’t think you foolish at all,” Annie assured her. “You have known Levi your entire life. You know who he is and the type of man he’s become.” She climbed into bed next to Barbara. “David Byler was just an infatuation. By your own admission, he was a gut-looking boy, and you were flattered by his attention. He lives in New Wilmington while you belong here. Levi is here—why shouldn’t you allow yourself to love him?”
“I can’t be sure he loves me,” Barbara said, “or if he is just being nice.”
“Enjoy your time with him, and you’ll know. Whatever happens, I want you to be happy.”
“Even if Levi Stoltzfus is no long available?”
Annie chuckled as she slid down under the bed quilt and stared at the ceiling. “I want to marry an older man. But did I say it has to be Levi?” She met Barbara’s gaze. “Nay, it was Mam’s idea to encourage him in my direction.”
“I could be happy spending my whole life with him,” Barbara said. She blew out the candle, then settled in next to Annie. “I hope you find someone soon.”
Annie sighed. “What will be, will be. I can’t know God’s will until He shows it to me. I’ll be fine. You worry about yourself and stop fretting over my future.”
“I love you, Annie,” Barbara whispered into the dark.
“I love you, Barbara. Gut night.” While she drifted off to sleep, Annie thought of Jacob, knowing that she shouldn’t be giving advice to others when she couldn’t make up her mind about her own future.
Love Inspired March 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Wife for JacobThe Forest Ranger's RescueAlaskan Homecoming Page 14