Dreamspinner Press Year Three Greatest Hits

by Jenna Hilary Sinclair

  Elijah looked into the stall, and Geoff stood aside. Elijah watched for a moment before turning back to Geoff, handing him his coat and hat, and rolling up his sleeves. Saying nothing more, he stepped into the stall, speaking soft and low to the agitated horse while he felt her belly. “The foal’s in the wrong position. It’s not too bad, but it needs to be turned.” He stood back up. “Where can I wash?”

  Geoff indicated the bathroom near the tack room and watched as Elijah walked inside. Water ran, and then Elijah emerged wearing his undershirt, walking straight into Princess’s stall.

  Geoff was amazed at the transformation. Gone was the tentative boy who’d bolted that morning as soon as he’d seen them, and in his place was a tall, confident young man who seemed to know what to do and had the confidence to do it.

  Elijah began speaking softly, his voice soothing as he felt the mare’s stomach again. “I’ll need some help.” Geoff and Len joined him in the stall, waiting for instructions. “I’m going to try to turn the foal. I need you to keep her as calm as you can.”

  Geoff sat near Princess’s head, stroking her neck and soothing her with his voice as he watched what Elijah was doing. Len knelt near her back, stroking her and likewise doing his best to keep her calm.

  Elijah positioned himself behind Princess and slowly inserted first one hand and then the other. The horse started to move, but Geoff was able to soothe her back down. “I almost have it; just keep her still.” Princess twitched like she was trying to get up, and Geoff and Len did their best to calm her, trying to keep her still. Then he saw Elijah slide his hands free and step back.

  A minute later, a small hoof appeared and then another, followed by a head, shoulders, and then—whoosh—the rest of the foal followed. Elijah stood back as Len took over, making sure everything was okay and getting the foal away so Princess could stand, which she did right away. Then Len, too, vacated the stall, and everyone watched as the little colt rested on the straw. In a few minutes, he extended his legs and tried to stand. After a few tries, he was up on wobbly legs; then he was down and up again. This time, he managed a few tentative steps toward his mother and started to suckle.

  Everyone in the barn breathed a collective sigh of relief, with the men smiling and patting Elijah on the back. Elijah just grinned and went into the bathroom to clean up.

  The barn door opened and closed, and Geoff saw Jane Grove, the vet, hurrying in his direction.

  “Where’s Princess?” she asked.

  Geoff pointed to the stall and watched as the doctor opened the door and stopped cold. The last thing she could have expected to see was a suckling colt standing in the stall. “I thought there was a problem.”

  “There was. The colt was in the wrong position and needed to be turned.”

  “Who did it?” She looked at each of the men. The bathroom door opened, and Elijah stepped out, walking to Geoff, who handed him his coat and hat.

  “Elijah did.”

  She smiled. “How’d you know what to do?”

  He looked at Geoff and seemed unsure of what to do. Finally, he answered, speaking to Geoff, “One of Papa’s horses had the same problem about a year ago, and I helped Papa turn the foal. He told me what to do and what to look for.”

  “I’m going to check them both over just in case.” She went into the stall, and Len stayed with her while Geoff and Elijah left the barn.

  “Thank you. By the time Jane got here, it would probably have been too late, and we would have lost either Princess or her foal. I owe you a debt.”

  Elijah’s face registered surprise that changed into a bright smile. “You owe me nothing.” He put on his coat and hat and started walking toward the road.

  “Where are you going?”

  Elijah shrugged. “It’s my year away from the community, so I have to make my way in the outside world.”

  “Would you like a job?” Geoff told himself that Elijah had skills the farm could use; he knew his way around animals and wasn’t afraid of farm work. Geoff had no doubt Elijah could make a contribution. “I need another man who can help around here, and you need to make your way in the world. Could you do that here?”

  Elijah looked extremely conflicted. “Are you serious? Live among the English?”

  Geoff didn’t understand the last part. “Yes, I’m serious, and I’m not English.”

  Elijah laughed. “English is what we call outsiders, people who aren’t Amish.”

  “Oh.” Geoff smiled. He couldn’t help it; Elijah’s smile was bright and catching. The man was beautiful when he smiled. Geoff wanted to smack himself for having those thoughts and forced his mind back to business. “Well, do you want to work here… among the English?” The term tickled him for some reason.

  Elijah looked around the farm; it obviously intrigued him. “Okay.”

  Geoff was pleased. “Then let’s find you a place to stay.” Geoff led the way into the house and up the stairs. The old farmhouse had four bedrooms, and Geoff opened the door to the one farthest away from him and Len, figuring it would give Elijah some privacy. It was also the room his father had used as a guest room, so it had its own small bathroom, which might be easier on Elijah. The room was small and plain, containing little but the bed and dresser Geoff had used when he lived in Chicago.

  “You want me to stay here in your house?”

  Geoff didn’t know how to respond to that. They didn’t have a bunkhouse; the guys either had their own places or lived with their families, so they’d never needed one. “You can’t live in the barn, and if you’re going to work here, you need a place to stay.”

  “I guess… I just don’t want to be a bother.”

  Geoff shook his head. “It’s just Len and me in this big house. There’s plenty of room.” He showed Elijah where the bathroom was and then led the way back downstairs and into the kitchen, where he started making coffee. Len came in as he was finishing up. “That was really something to watch.”

  “It was. Elijah knew exactly what to do.”

  “Where is he?”

  Geoff looked around and spotted a slight movement. “In the living room. I hired him on this morning.” Len’s eyes went wide. “He’s on his year away from the community, and he needs to make his own way. Lord knows we could use the help around here, and he knows his way around a farm.” Len looked at Geoff strangely but said nothing. “I gave him the room at the far end of the hall,” Geoff said.

  “He’ll need some clothes; he’s probably only got what he’s wearing,” Len said.

  “I was gonna take Joey into town to get his birthday present. I’ll see if Elijah wants to go along as well.” Geoff went in search of Elijah, finding him on the front porch, dogs all around him getting scratches and loving, crawling over one another to get closer.

  Elijah was laughing something fierce, his face getting licked and kissed from all sides.

  Geoff called the dogs away. “Come on, guys. He’ll be around for a while.”

  Elijah got up and walked inside, still smiling and happy. He sat in the same chair he had for breakfast while the others helped themselves to coffee.

  “You work at the bakery, don’t you?” Les asked.

  “Yes, sir. I work with my uncle when he needs help, mostly on Saturday when he’s real busy.”

  Len nodded. “I thought you looked familiar.”

  Elijah looked at the table. “I’m sorry I don’t remember you, sir.” It looked to Geoff as though he were going to say something more but stopped himself.

  “I wouldn’t expect you would.” Len said.

  Geoff finished his coffee quickly and put his mug in the sink. “I’m going into town this afternoon and was wondering if you’d like to go along. You’ll need some other clothes to work in.”

  Elijah looked down at himself. “I don’t have much money, certainly not enough for store-bought clothes.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Elijah’s head shot up. “No! I can’t have you buying me things. It woul
dn’t be right.”

  “Then you can work them off.” The fire in Elijah’s eyes died down slightly as Geoff answered. “I’ll buy the clothes and take the cost out of your pay.” Geoff could understand not wanting to be beholden to anyone, particularly a stranger. “Okay?”

  Elijah nodded; that seemed to make him happy.

  They heard a knock on the back door, and Len answered it, returning with Joey behind him, carrying a plate wrapped in foil. “Lumpy said you wanted to see me,” Joey said. He put the plate on the counter. “Mom sent over some cake.”

  “Joey, I know that yesterday was your birthday, so as a birthday present I’m going to take you into town. Len says that you’re becoming quite a horseman, so it’s time you looked the part. You need boots, a hat, and some riding jeans. Is that okay?” The look he got from the boy was pure, unexpected, speechless joy. Geoff smiled in return. “Be ready to go in half an hour.” Joey nodded, still smiling, and left the kitchen. Len and Geoff watched him running across the yard to the barn.

  Len finished his coffee and started washing out the mugs as he asked, “Are you going into Ludington or Scottville?” The farm was located between the two towns. “We need a few things from the hardware store, if you’re going to Scottville.”

  “Then Scottville it is.”

  Len reached into his pocket and pulled out his list and handed it to Geoff, his face long and sad.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I will be. I just miss him.”

  Geoff nodded and left Len with his thoughts.

  Geoff found Elijah back on the front porch playing with the pups, and he stood up as soon as he saw his new employer. “Do you buy birthday presents for everyone who works here?”

  “No.” Geoff was initially confused by the question. “Oh… Joey’s dad died a year ago, and his mom’s been having a tough time of it.”

  Elijah thought for a few minutes. “So you’re using his birthday as an excuse to buy him the things he needs without making him feel bad?”

  “Sort of, I guess.” Geoff tried to think of a way he could help Elijah understand. “In your community, when someone needs something, everyone helps them out, right?” Elijah nodded. “Think of this farm sort of like that. Joey needs things, and he works hard for us. Len and I getting them for him will make him happy and help him out at the same time.”

  “Papa always said that the English don’t do something for nothing.”

  Geoff wasn’t surprised. Most people had misconceptions about people different from themselves. “Sometimes happiness is its own reward. The look on Joey’s face when I told him was worth a lot more than money.”

  Walking out to the yard, they found Joey in the barn laying straw in a clean stall. “You ready?” Geoff asked. Joey nodded as he broke open a last bale of straw before spreading it on the floor.

  “All set.” Joey’s excitement was evident in his walk as they headed to the truck. The three of them got in, with Joey in the middle and Elijah by the door, and as they pulled out, Geoff saw Elijah grab onto the handle above his head. “Joey, this is Elijah. He’ll be working on the farm.

  “Hi, Eli.” They shook hands, Elijah with the one wasn’t using to hang on. “I’m Joey. It’s nice to meet you.” Geoff had expected Elijah to balk at being called Eli, but Elijah said nothing about it.

  They rode down country roads toward the small farming community of Scottville. Geoff parked along Main Street in front of the dry-goods store, and they got out of the truck, Eli looking a little peaked. “You okay, Eli?” Joey grabbed Eli’s arm until he was steady on his feet.

  Eli stood still and his color started to come back, “I’m not used to riding in cars, I guess. Papa would never allow it. When Mama was sick, he insisted on taking her to the doctor in the buggy, even when the farmer up the road offered to drive them.” That seemed shortsighted and a little stubborn to Geoff, but he said nothing. Eli’s father obviously had strong beliefs and didn’t believe in compromising them.

  “Let’s go in.” Geoff led them into the store and downstairs to the clothing section. “Eli, pick out what you think you’ll need.” Eli nodded and looked through the clothes as Geoff took Joey to the shoe area. He tried on boots until they figured out his size, and Joey chose a pair of black harness boots. Then they found a cowboy hat that fit and a pair of boot-cut jeans. Joey was grinning, holding his presents like they were solid gold as Geoff searched for Eli.

  He found him standing in front of a display of jeans, staring. He didn’t look away as Geoff approached. “I always wanted a pair of these, but I knew Papa would never allow it, so I never asked.”

  Geoff reached to the display and pulled out a pair that he thought might be Eli’s size, “Try these on to see if they fit.” Eli looked at him like he was kidding. “These are the best type of pants to wear on the farm; they last and protect your legs.” Geoff pointed him to the dressing room, and Eli slowly went inside like things were just too good to be true. A few minutes later, he stepped out. Geoff had been right; the jeans were Eli’s size. “You’ll probably need three pairs for now and some shirts as well.”

  Eli picked out the plainest jeans and three dark, solid-color shirts. Geoff had him get another pair of shoes and some underclothes. Geoff asked if he wanted another hat, but Eli had said that he’d use the one he had. Chuckling to himself, he led Eli and Joey to the register.

  “Geoff, it’s Ginny, Ginny Rogers.”

  “Oh, hey, Ginny.” He remembered her now from high school “It’s been awhile.” She was homely back then, but she’d grown up pretty.

  “It has. Is all this yours?” She gave him a huge smile way too big for a casual encounter. He was being flirted with a little. He almost said she was barking up the wrong tree but held his tongue.

  “This is Joey and Eli.” He gave her his best smile. “Guys, this is Ginny. I went to school with her.” She got busy ringing them up; then he handed her his credit card and signed the receipt, Ginny smiling and wiggling the entire time.

  She bagged up everything, calling out “Don’t be a stranger,” waving and flashing her brightest smile as they walked upstairs toward the front door… and right into his Aunt Janelle.

  “Geoff.” She tried to sound pleased, but it was way too forced.

  “Morning, Aunt Janelle.” Geoff was determined to kill her with kindness, because that was all she was ever getting from him.

  Her eyes raked over Joey and Eli, widening visibly when she saw Eli’s clothes.

  Quietly, Geoff instructed them, “Go wait in the truck. I’ll be out in a minute.” There was no way he was subjecting them to her venom or whatever it was that had her panties in a twist.

  Her eyes were dark. “Corrupting the Amish?” If she were a man, Geoff would have decked her right there in the store. “Your father and Len living together was bad enough, and I’d hoped somehow you would turn out normal anyway. But corrupting children….”

  So that was her problem. He’d always thought that was part of it, but to be so cruel…. Geoff got himself under control before he said something he’d regret. “You listen here. Len and my father loved each other, which is something you’d never understand. So I suggest you keep your poison and your distorted ideas about them to yourself.”

  She tried to look like the injured party for the few people in the store, but it wasn’t working. The people in town knew how she was and gave Geoff sympathetic looks.

  “I don’t know what you want, because a quilt certainly isn’t worth this much effort, but let me tell you this, you won’t get it,” Geoff promised.

  She tried to look revolted. “I don’t want anything from you.”

  “Good, then give me your key. I know you’ve had a key to the house for years. Now, give it to me.”

  She started to sputter. “I grew up in that house. You can’t—”

  “I most certainly can. It’s my house and my farm.” He held out his hand and waited. She sputtered and spluttered and finally dug into her purse and pulled
out her key ring. After fumbling around, she finally handed him the key. Without saying anything else, he turned around, left the store, and got in the truck, putting his head on the steering wheel.

  “That is one evil woman.”

  “That she is, Eli… that she is.” Geoff sat back and started the truck, heading to the hardware store as he tried to put his aunt out of his mind. It didn’t take him long to get the things Len needed. “Are you two up for The Dairy Barn?” Their smiles were all the answer he needed, quickly dispelling the remnants of Aunt Janelle’s venom.

  Chapter 5

  THE NEXT few weeks were busy—very busy—particularly for Geoff as he tried to bring the farm business accounts as well as the livestock records up to date. On top of that, early May was a busy time in general with planting just around the corner. And as he reviewed all the records, Geoff was surprised at just how much planting they did.

  He was sitting in the office going over some records when he came across the deeds for the farm and other land. It seemed that a number of years earlier, Geoff’s father had purchased a lot of farmland when the market was low and just held onto it. In order to help diversify the business, he’d started planting that acreage in corn and alfalfa for livestock feed and selling what he didn’t need.

  “Jesus Christ.” He looked at the numbers again, blinking in disbelief; that decision had been a good one, really good. They made half their profits from the excess grain, and it diversified the farm so they weren’t reliant on one single source of income. “Go Dad.”

  “What was that?” Len stuck his head in the office on his way to the kitchen to get a snack.

  “Nothing, just looking over the records, getting everything up to date, wondering if I can do the job my dad did.” Doubt still crept up on Geoff every once in a while.

  Len leaned against the door frame. He hadn’t actually ever come into the office. Leaning on the frame was as close as he’d come. “Your father was brilliant at being able to spot a bargain and making it pay, there’s no doubt about that. This farm was a quarter the size it is now when he inherited it. But don’t let that get to you, not at all. He didn’t have your knack with the horses, and he certainly didn’t get along with the hands as well as you do. I had to be a buffer, or they’d all’a quit.”