A Hope Springs Christmas

by Patricia Davids

  He gathered his pole and tackle box from the corner of the room. “Daniel Hershberger is hiring at his furniture factory. I heard he pays good wages.”

  “Ha, ha,” Moses said dryly.

  Atlee shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor. “We weren’t thinking about needing a job from him. We planned to work with you.”

  Levi looked from one to the other. “You might want to consider something other than what’s funny when you plan your next prank. There are some openings at the coal mine. They will bus Amish workers in. You could try there. One other thing, Bishop Zook will be by to speak to you both later today. Be here when he arrives. If I hear otherwise, you will be looking for a place to sleep as well as work.”

  With the uncomfortable confrontation behind him, Levi left the house and walked next door. Sarah stood waiting on the front steps of her house. She wasn’t alone. Joann Yoder stood with her, pole and tackle box in hand.

  Sarah came toward him with a wide smile. “Levi, look who has agreed to join us.”

  He nodded in Joann’s direction. She blushed a fiery shade of red and stared at her feet. His happy anticipation dropped like a stone in a well. He wasn’t going to be alone with Sarah.

  “Shall we go?” Sarah asked, looking between the two. He nodded again.

  “I’m ready,” Joann mumbled.

  “We are going to have such a nice time. Levi, I can’t thank you enough for taking me. Isn’t he kind to take time out of his busy day for us?” Sarah started toward his wagon waiting by the street.

  He’d chosen to take it instead of his buggy because they would be going off the road and through a farm field to his favorite fishing spot, an old stone quarry now filled with deep clear water from a natural spring. Besides his fishing gear, he’d put in a pair of folding chairs and two quilts in case the day turned chilly.

  Sarah scrambled up onto the wagon seat without waiting for his help and scooted across the seat leaving Joann to sit in the middle. Joann smiled shyly and handed him her pole. She held a large bucket in her other hand.

  He put her pole in the back of the wagon and said, “I only have two chairs. I’ll get another one.”

  “Don’t bother. I just turn my bucket upside down and sit on it until it’s time to take the fish home.”

  Sarah said, “Isn’t she clever, Levi? I never would have thought of that.”

  He took the bucket from Joann and put it in back. She climbed up onto the seat and he took his place beside her.

  As they rolled out of town, he glanced over at Sarah. Joann had her pressed against the far side of the seat. He feared she would be knocked off if they hit a bump. He asked, “You okay?”

  Sarah grimaced. “I’m a little crowded. Joann, can you scoot closer to Levi? He doesn’t bite.”

  Joann giggled and slid over.

  “A little more, please,” Sarah said.

  Joann moved closer until her hip was touching his. Did Sarah really need that much room? Their destination began to feel a long ways away.

  He said, “Elam Sutter has a nice pond. It’s closer than the quarry lake if you’d rather go there?”

  Sarah quickly dismissed his suggestion, “The quarry sounds much better, doesn’t it, Joann? I’ve never been there and I’m dying to see it. You’ve been there before, haven’t you Joann?”

  Joann nodded but didn’t say anything.

  After a few minutes of silence, Sarah said, “Joann was telling me that she hooked into a really big bass last month. Tell Levi about it, Joann.”

  “It broke my line.”

  “What weight were you using?”

  “Five pound test.”

  “Six would have been better.”

  “That’s what I have on now.”

  “Should be good enough.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say so he fell silent.

  Sarah had no such problem. She continued to pelt them with questions about fishing and their best catches, what kind of lures they used and what type of fishing they liked best. He began to wonder if she had taken a job writing for a fishing journal. It wasn’t until they reached the turn-off for the quarry that she finally seemed to run out of questions.

  The ride across the field was rough, but it was less than a mile to the edge of the quarry. Levi chose a spot with a sloping shoreline exposed to the sun and drew the horse to a halt.

  Sarah hopped down. “What a lovely lake. I think I’ll explore a little before I start fishing.”

  She took off at a quick pace along the edge of the water. He got down and raised his arms to help Joann. She blushed scarlet, but allowed him to lift her down. He quickly stepped back.

  Brushing at the front of her coat, she glanced up at him and said, “I hope you don’t mind my coming along.”

  “Nee, it is fine.” She wasn’t to blame. He should have known Sarah wasn’t interested in spending time alone with him.

  Joann scowled. “I didn’t realize Sarah was such a chatterbox.”

  He looked over her head to where Sarah was walking at the water’s edge. “She doesn’t usually talk your ear off.”

  Joann cast a worried look in Sarah’s direction. “If she keeps it up, she’ll scare the fish away.”

  “Let me get our poles.” If he couldn’t spend the afternoon alone with Sarah, he might as well try fishing.

  * * *

  Sarah remained some distance from the wagon and covertly watched Levi and Joann. It looked briefly as if they were having a conversation, but they soon parted ways and actually began casting their lines in while standing fifty feet apart. This wasn’t going as she had hoped. Now what?

  She wandered father away and found a place on a flat rock between a pair of cedar trees. Leaning forward, she propped her elbows on her knees and settled her chin on her hands. Matchmaking was turning out to be much harder than she thought.

  She was almost hoarse after carrying a conversation alone for five miles. Between Levi’s stilted replies and Joann’s brief comments, Sarah had been tempted to knock their heads together.

  Reaching down, she picked up a rock and tossed it in the lake. She was about ready to give up. She had been foolish to think matching Levi up with her friends would be a way to avoid the winter depression that normally gripped her. Grace would simply have to find the courage to leave home without a wife for Levi to replace her.

  Standing, Sarah picked up a flat rock and tried to skip it across the still surface of the lake. It sank two feet in front of her. She couldn’t even skip a stone right, how could she manage someone else’s love life?

  “Point number one. If you throw rocks at the fish, they won’t bite.”

  Startled, Sarah spun around to see Levi standing behind her.

  He held out her casting rod. “You asked for some pointers, remember? Point number two. It helps to actually put your hook in the water.”

  “Right.” She took the rod from him. She thought she remembered how to cast, but when she tried, her lure plunked into the water barely four feet from shore. Was she doomed to be a failure at everything?

  Levi stepped closer. “Reel it back in. Let me show you how it’s done.”

  He stood close behind her and wrapped his hand over hers. “Move your arm back like this, and then go forward. Keep your eyes focused on where you want your line to go.”

  As he moved her arm back and forth, mimicking the motion she needed, Sarah completely lost interest in fishing.

  The firmness and warmth of Levi’s hand over hers made her breath catch in her chest. He stood only a fraction of an inch behind her. If she leaned back just a little she could rest against him. She closed her eyes.

  The urge to lay her head back and melt into his embrace was overpowering. She had been alone too long. She didn’t want to be alone anymore.
/>   He stopped moving her arm. She was afraid to open her eyes and look at him. What would she see written on his face? Indifference? Friendship? Or something more?

  “I’ve got one!” Joann shouted. “Hurry, bring the net.”

  Levi stepped away from Sarah. The breath rushed back into her lungs. She trembled, but managed to say, “I’ve got this. Go help Joann.”

  As he strode away, Sarah called herself every kind of fool. She wasn’t a potential wife for him. Even if she wanted to marry again, which she didn’t, he hadn’t shown the least bit of interest in her that way. He was a friend. She had no business thinking of him in any other light.

  For Sarah, the afternoon passed slowly, although Joann and Levi both landed fish. An hour later, Levi landed a huge one. The sight of his excited happy face only made Sarah more aware of how attractive he was.

  Joann looked as excited as he was. “It’s a beauty, Levi! I think it’s the very one that got away from me last month. What kind of jig are you using?”

  “This is a black Jig and Pig.”

  “I’m going to have to get me a few.”

  “I’ve got several. Try one of mine.”

  Joann grinned. Her shyness had evaporated. “That’s nice of you, Levi. I believe I will.”

  Sarah glanced between the two of them. Who would have thought something called a Jig and Pig could spark such interest between two people? The more relaxed they became with each other, the worse Sarah felt. Her plan was working, so why wasn’t she happy?

  Within an hour, they had a stringer loaded with eight fat bass. Sarah had a bite or two, but they got away. Her heart wasn’t in the adventure. She wanted to go home and bury herself under the covers until her common sense returned.

  She made the long ride home in silence. Joann, on the other hand, spoke with growing confidence. Levi gave his usual short replies, but occasionally expanded them to a full sentence or two. Sarah often felt his gaze on her, but she studiously avoided looking in his direction.

  When they arrived back at her home, Levi took the fish to clean them. Joann followed Sarah into the house.

  Once they were in the kitchen, Joann grabbed Sarah in a quick, strong hug. Just as quickly, she released Sarah and took a step back. She clasped her hands together. “Sarah, I had such a wonderful time. You can’t even know.”

  “I’m glad.” She was. One of them should be happy.

  “Levi is such a fine fellow. I’ve never enjoyed a day fishing more than I enjoyed this one.”

  “I hope you get to enjoy other days together.”

  “That would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath.”

  “Why do you say that? You’re good company, you enjoy many of the things Levi enjoys, I don’t see why he wouldn’t ask you out again.”

  Joann looked at her sadly. “Sarah, Levi isn’t interested in me. It was exciting to imagine he might be for a while, but I know the signs. I’ve seen the way my brothers and cousins look at the women they want to court. Levi doesn’t look at me that way. He looks at you that way.”

  Sarah’s mouth dropped open. For the most part, Levi ignored her unless the business needed something. She’d lived beside him for years. “You are mistaken. Levi and I are friends, but nothing more.”

  Joann gave her a quick puzzled look and then stared at her feet. “I’m sorry I said anything. Forgive me.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  “I must get home. Thank you again for inviting me.” She hurried out the door.

  Sarah moved to the window and watched her walk away. Joann was mistaken. Levi didn’t harbor the kind of feelings that she suggested. Sarah would have known if that were the case. She would have seen it in his beautiful blue eyes.

  She glanced toward his house and saw him standing in the yard. He wasn’t watching Joann’s retreating figure. His gaze was on Sarah’s window, but he was too far away for her to read his expression.

  * * *

  Levi didn’t know what he had done wrong, but Sarah wasn’t speaking to him.

  All day long on Friday, whenever he went in search of her, she was heading away from him. If he went to the upholstery room, she made some excuse about needing another type of thread and took off for her house. She handled the customers easily. She smiled and laughed with them, but when she was alone with him, she suddenly thought of things she needed to do elsewhere.

  Twice, he cornered her in the small office, but each time she simply said, “Excuse me,” and slipped past him. Short of grabbing her and demanding to know what was wrong, he had no idea what to do.

  Not only had Sarah turned cold, so had the weather. A gusty north wind rattled the shutters of the building and low gray clouds blotted out the sky. The nice weather had come to an abrupt end as winter returned. The weather forecast was calling for snow by the end of the week.

  At four-thirty, Leah Belier drove up and came inside. Since he hadn’t a clue where Sarah had gone, he was forced to leave the new carriage he was finishing and speak to Leah. At least she was easy to talk to. “Good afternoon. Are you ready to leave your buggy with me?”

  She smiled. “I am. I have one of my students bringing in the used buggy you loaned me. I see you are building a new one.”

  “Ja, it is almost done.”

  “Who is it for?”

  “This one is for someone who needs one right away.”

  “Like a family who has lost theirs in an accident?”

  “Something like that. It’s plain inside, but I can change a few things if someone wants to fancy it up. It’s a good all-round buggy for a small family. I try to keep one or two finished samples on hand. This will make number three.”

  “Can I see it?”

  “Sure.” He led the way.

  “Where is Sarah, today?” Leah asked.

  “Around.” He wasn’t about to try and explain something he didn’t understand.

  Leah opened the carriage door and looked it. “The upholstery is lovely in this shade of gray. I would only change a few small things.”

  “Such as?”

  “I’d need a bigger storage box added to the back and a cup holder up front. I like to sip my diet soda on the way to school in the mornings. It’s my one vice.”

  “Diet soda isn’t much of vice. Mine is fresh orange juice.”

  She laughed. “Levi, that isn’t a vice. Orange juice is good for you. Didn’t you learn anything in school?”

  “Not enough, I reckon. I didn’t have you for a teacher.”

  “Seriously, would you sell me this buggy? How much is it?”

  He named a price and waited, expecting her to decline.

  Instead, she said, “I’m tempted. Mine is almost fifteen years old and needs work. If I have to put out the money, I may as well get something I like. But not for as much as you’re asking.” She named a slightly lower price.

  It was a fair offer. He didn’t want to turn down a sale, but he wanted to make sure she wasn’t doing this on an impulse. “You’d best think it over.”

  “I have been thinking about it ever since you told me what was wrong with mine. I’m ready to do this.” She broke into a wide grin.

  Could she really afford new on her teacher’s salary? He said, “Why don’t you take a look at some of the used carriages I have out back? They won’t be as expensive.”

  “Honestly, Levi, you act like my money is no good.”

  “I want you to be happy with what you buy from me.”

  “I’m sure I will be. You haven’t forgotten about helping me set up for my winter picnic have you?”

  “I haven’t. When should I come out?”

  “There won’t be a lot to do. If you come the evening before, that will be fine.”

  “It’s the weekend before Christmas, is th
at right? I’ll be there.”

  “Wonderful. I will look at your used buggies, but I’m afraid only a new one will do now that I’ve made up my mind.”

  He led the way to the back door and held it open for her. The twins were outside cleaning the ashes from the fire pit. They both had folded kerchiefs covering their noses and mouths. As Atlee hefted a shovelful of ash into a wheelbarrow, a gust of wind sent a cloud of it swirling toward the shop door.

  With a muffled cry, Leah covered her face with her hands and turned into Levi’s arms.

  Startled, he held still. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s something in my eye. Oh, it hurts. I think a cinder flew in it.”

  “Let me see. Hold still.” He cupped her chin and turned her face up to his.

  * * *

  Sarah opened the front door of the workshop and looked around for Levi. She wouldn’t be able to keep running away from him forever, but she wasn’t ready to face him. Not if what Joann suggested was true. It couldn’t be.

  Yes, their friendship had grown in the past days, but it was only friendship. She wouldn’t allow anything else.

  It wasn’t in her to love a man the way Levi deserved to be loved. To love a man as deeply as she had loved Jonas would mean facing the possibility of loss and grief again.

  She couldn’t live through another loss. It would be better never to love someone again.

  She heard the sound of soft voices and rounded the counter to see if he was working in the back of the building. If he was, she could slip into the office and finish the day in there.

  When she spotted Levi near the back door, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

  He and Leah were locked in an embrace not twenty feet from her. Levi tenderly cupped Leah’s face and bent toward her. Was he going to kiss her?

  Shock shook Sarah to her core. She quickly turned away.

  Levi wasn’t in love with her. He was in love with Leah. Why hadn’t she seen it?

  Instead of the elation that should have filled her at knowing her plan had worked, all she felt was disappointment. With astonishing clarity, she could imagine herself in Levi’s arms, lifting her face to receive his kiss.