Courting Her Prodigal Heart

by Mary Davis

  “Are you coming to eat?”

  “Not yet. You go on.”

  Daniel walked away.

  Soon, the door to the haus opened, and Andrew Bontrager stood in the threshold. Quickly, his wife joined him, and they left. Neither happy. One angry, the other on the verge of tears.

  Where were the bishop and Rainbow Girl?

  He longed to see her, to make sure it was indeed her—or that it wasn’t. Which did he want? Both. Neither. So he stood at the bottom of the steps, anticipating. Debating. Should he go inside?

  Eli startled at the appearance of the bishop and Rainbow Girl in the doorway, and he stuttered out words. “B-Bishop Bontrager.”

  The bishop’s eyes widened. “Ah, Eli. This is meine enkelin, Dorcas. And this is Eli Hochstetler. But you two already know each other.”

  His gut twisted, and his heart leaped. He stared hard to find some glint of the Amish girl who’d once lived among them. “Dorcas?”

  She spoke in Deutsch. “Ja. It’s me. I’m Dori now.”

  Even after all this time, he’d still imagined her very Amish. Not...this. “Nice to see you. Again.”

  Dorcas smiled a smile to rattle a man’s nerves. “Good to see you again too, Eli.”

  Eli understood. The lilt of an accent he’d heard came from her Amish roots.

  The bishop stepped forward and pointed to the other end of the porch. “Eli, would you get meine enkelin’s suitcases and take them to the dawdy haus?”

  He glanced down at the stoop. “She’s staying?”

  “Ja. Meine enkelin has come home.”

  Dorcas’s expression said she wasn’t pleased about it.

  Bishop Bontrager gave him a pointed look. “Will you bring them?”

  Eli wanted to take them for the Amish girl who had left him behind but not for the outrageous Englisher who had returned in her place.

  “I can get my own things.” Dorcas stepped in that direction.

  “Of course, I’ll get them.” Eli bounded up the four steps in two strides. He gripped the two side handles and hoisted the suitcases.

  Rainbow Girl pointed. “They have wheels.”

  He extended one index finger. “They’ll bounce around too much going over the grass.” For some strange reason, having her back in the community both excited and repelled him. How could Dorcas—the rebel—interest him? He followed Bishop Bontrager and Rainbow Girl.

  As they passed the crowd dishing up food and eating, many stared at Dorcas.

  Eli wanted to tell everyone to stop gawking, that they were being rude. He wanted to protect her.

  Inside the dawdy haus, Bishop Bontrager indicated next to the door. “You can set them there.”

  He didn’t want to be dismissed so soon. He wanted to stay with Rainbow Girl a little longer. “I can take them—”

  The bishop lifted his hand. “Here will be fine.”

  He set down the suitcases. “Is there anything else I can do to help?” He glanced at Rainbow Girl, who was watching him.

  She gave him a small smile in return that delighted him.

  The bishop said, “Ne. That will be all. Danki.”

  Though Eli wanted to stay, he backed out the door and continued until he stumbled down the two steps. He didn’t need this, any of this. He needed to stop thinking about Rainbow Girl and focus on getting his ironworks business going this summer. And he wouldn’t be asking her for any help whatsoever.

  He’d also planned to start courting this summer. He hadn’t decided who to court yet. But it was high time he took a wife.

  Dorcas returning changed everything.

  Not necessarily for the gut.

  Chapter Three

  A hole widened inside Dori after Eli left. She glanced around the tiny dawdy haus. Her and Craig’s apartment had been bigger. And she might have been able to mistake this dwelling for any apartment except for the lack of a big flat-screen TV and a laptop.

  The bishop grasped the roller handle of one of the suitcases and aimed for the short hallway with three doors. “The bedroom’s back here.”

  She gripped the side of the extended handle. “I won’t take your bedroom. I’ll be fine out here.” Fortunately, the full-size couch looked comfortable enough. Couldn’t be any worse than the shelter beds.

  He stared at the couch. “But...I...I want you to feel welcome.”

  She patted his hand, still on her roller bag. “I do. Danki.” She wouldn’t be staying for long and didn’t want to put him out. The less comfortable she was, the better.

  He released his hold on the bag.

  How surreal to be here. It was as though she were walking through some bizarre dream. “I appreciate you letting me stay with you for a few days.” Strange that she’d so easily slipped back into speaking Deutsch. Almost natural. The rest of her short stay wouldn’t be so effortless.

  “I can’t begin to express how pleased I am you’ve returned.”

  “I haven’t returned. I just need a place to stay until I can get things sorted out.” Or until Craig came for her.

  “But you’re here, and I’m grateful for that.”

  “I’m grateful too. If you hadn’t taken me in, I would’ve had to return to the homeless shelter.”

  “Homeless?” His eyes widened. “You are never homeless. You always have a place with me. Let’s go get some food.”

  Dori’s insides turned cold. “You go. I’ll stay here.” Though hungry, she didn’t want to face the others and be stared at again. Walking from the big haus to the dawdy haus had been bad enough, like running a gauntlet or being an oddity in a freak show.

  “You have to eat.”

  She was about to lie and say she wasn’t hungry when her stomach growled loudly. Why couldn’t it have waited a minute or two? “I can’t. You go.”

  He hesitated. “Everyone will be glad for your return.”

  Dori shook her head. “You saw the way Vater reacted.”

  “But your mutter was pleased, as others will be.”

  “She’s not allowed to be pleased.” That was clear enough.

  “It will be fine. You’ll see.”

  She wasn’t convinced. Chances were that more people than not would have a mind-set like her vater’s. If Eli were here to go with her, she might be brave enough to risk it. “I’ll pass.”

  After a moment, he nodded. “I’ll bring you a plate of food. Make yourself at home.” He scuttled out the door.

  * * *

  Eli ignored the smells of food and the buzz of people talking around the lunch tables in the yard. Instead, he stood, leaning against a large, blooming fruit tree that had been grafted to bear three different varieties of apples in season. Waiting. For what, he wasn’t sure. To catch a glimpse of Rainbow Girl? Ne. Her unruly image was seared into his brain. The bishop to come out? Ne. He would wonder why Eli was standing around and not filling a plate. Eli had no idea why he stood here, just that he couldn’t tear his gaze from the dawdy haus she’d disappeared into.

  Daniel once again came up to him, holding a plate heaped with food this time. “Who is she? And why has she gone into the bishop’s haus? Is she planning to convert?”

  Eli doubted that. Should he tell Daniel who she was? He would find out soon enough. “She’s Dorcas Bontrager, the bishop’s enkelin.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Eli wished he wasn’t.

  “Weren’t you sweet on her?”

  Dorcas? Ja. This Englisher? Ne. “That was a long time ago. I’ve gotten over her.” But had he? His flip-floppy emotions told him there was still something there. But what?

  “You better get some food before all the gut stuff is gone.” Daniel took a big bite of the chicken that was on his plate.

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes. You go on.”

  Though Daniel seemed relucta
nt, he walked off.

  When the bishop exited, Eli pushed away from the trunk.

  Bishop Bontrager made eye contact and headed in his direction. “Why aren’t you eating?”

  “Um... I didn’t know if you would need any more help.”

  The old man’s eyes brightened. “I do have something. Let’s fill plates and take them back to meine haus and discuss what I have in mind.”

  Back to where she was. This was a change from being dismissed a few minutes ago. The bishop wanted Eli to help him? An honor.

  At the table laden with food, Eli loaded a plate for himself, then carried the second plate the bishop had filled. For Rainbow Girl, no doubt. He would get to eat lunch with her. His heart skipped a beat. Maybe figure out how the Amish girl he’d known could turn into the Englisher one who’d returned.

  Before they reached the dawdy haus, Andrew Bontrager, the bishop’s son and Rainbow Girl’s vater, approached. “You’re feeding her in there? Is she too embarrassed to eat with everyone else?”

  She did need to eat, and she couldn’t exactly blend in. No Amish liked to stand out from the others. But then, she wasn’t Amish. She had designed her appearance to draw attention to herself.

  The bishop held up his hand. “Give her time. Our ways are a lot to get used to.”

  Andrew scowled. “She was raised with our ways and threw them away. She knew exactly what it would be like returning in her state.” He strode away, shaking his head.

  The old man sighed. “Dorcas isn’t the only one who needs a little time to adjust.” He opened the dawdy haus door and walked in.

  If Rainbow Girl planned to stay for any length of time, everyone would need time to adjust. Eli followed and froze just inside. His breath caught.

  Rainbow Girl lay curled up on one end of the sofa. Eyes closed. Even, slow breathing. Out of place in an Amish home. Though she gave an unreal feel to the room, his insides felt happy to see her here. He could almost see the sweet, pretty girl from his youth.

  Bishop Bontrager put a finger to his lips, then pointed at the table and whispered, “Let’s sit.”

  Eli set the two plates he held on to the table. A sound from across the room drew him around.

  Rainbow Girl swung her legs off the couch and sat up.

  His mouth reacted by pulling into a smile. He straightened it.

  Bishop Bontrager waved her over. “I’m sorry we disturbed you, but since you’re up, come eat.”

  “I learned to sleep light at the shelter.” She padded over in stocking feet, socks that were like gloves with a different color for each individual toe. She sat in one of the chairs.

  The shelter?

  The bishop looked at the one remaining chair, then at Eli. “Would you go to the big haus and bring another chair?”

  Eli shook his head. “I’ll stand.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Nodding, Eli picked up his plate and leaned against the counter. If he left, she might disappear like a mirage. Something inside him needed her to stay.

  Bishop Bontrager gave a nod and sat. “I’ll say a blessing for our food.”

  Rainbow Girl’s fork, with a chunk of potato on it, hovered an inch from her open mouth. She set the utensil on her plate. After the bishop prayed, she picked up her fork once more. “I’ve missed really good potato salad.” She put the bite into her mouth.

  Eli stared at Rainbow Girl’s lip. How could she eat with that piece of metal in her upper lip? His own lip twitched. The loop in the side of her nose made his itch, but he resisted the urge to scratch it.

  He studied her to find some vestige of the girl she once was. What had happened to that girl he grew up with who bested him in math every time? Where had the girl gone who’d brought him a handicapped puppy? How had she turned into...this?

  She didn’t stop eating until her plate had nothing left. Hungry, indeed. It had been gut that he bought her the larger sandwich yesterday.

  Eli hurriedly took bites and swallowed the barely chewed food. “Bishop, what is it you need me to do?”

  “Let’s finish our food first. It’ll be better to show you.” In other words, eat, no talking.

  Eli ate without looking at her again so she wouldn’t realize he’d been paying more attention to her than his food.

  When finished, the bishop pushed his plate away from him. “Now, Eli, about that project I have in mind.”

  Project? That sounded big. Would it take away from Eli getting his business started?

  The bishop stood and retrieved a measuring tape from a kitchen drawer. “Follow me.” He walked down the short hallway to the back door opposite the front one. Hooks hung on the walls leading to the exit. A bedroom door to the right and bathroom to the left.

  Eli had actually helped build this little haus many years ago when the bishop had turned over his farm to Andrew. Eli glanced at Rainbow Girl, who shrugged. He supposed he should follow and headed down the hall. She trailed behind.

  The bishop stopped at the end of the hall and indicated the door. “I want to extend this another eight to ten feet.” He opened the door and walked down the steps outside onto the grass and turned around. “Come.”

  The rear of the dawdy haus faced away from the crowd of people eating and playing.

  Eli stepped aside to let Rainbow Girl exit ahead of him. She did. In stocking feet.

  He followed this time. “Why do you want a longer hallway out into the yard?”

  The old man smiled like a little boy. “For the extra bedroom, of course.” He strode about ten feet straight out from the haus. “Move the door to here. I still want to get cross ventilation. No sense being impractical.”

  Eli’s mind whirled. Building onto his dawdy haus seemed impractical. What could he possibly need another bedroom for? Maybe he’d heard wrong. “You...want to make...your bedroom bigger?” That didn’t make sense either.

  “Ne. A bedroom for Dorcas.” He turned to the right and held out his hands to indicate the space.

  So she planned to stay for quite some time. Or at least, the bishop thought she would stay long enough to need a room.

  Rainbow Girl stepped forward. “You can’t do this. I’ll be fine on the couch.”

  He waggled his hand at her. “Nonsense. The couch will never do.”

  Rainbow Girl folded her arms. “I won’t let you.”

  “Uf, it’s meine haus. I’ll do with it what I like.”

  The bishop turned to Eli. “What do you say? Will you help me build it?”

  “Why doesn’t she stay at the big haus?” That would be the easier option, and there would be plenty of room for her.

  “Because she’s staying with me. Now, will you help?”

  Rainbow Girl turned to Eli. “Tell him ne.” Apparently, she didn’t intend to stay.

  Again, Eli wanted to say ne to doing something for the Englisher girl who had returned. Since she didn’t want the room—and he really had no other choice—he sided with the bishop. “Ja. I’ll help.” Then maybe he could find the girl she once was under her facade.

  “Not only one room, but a smaller one across the hall, as well.” Bishop Bontrager spun around opposite the first room he’d indicated and thrust out his arms. “No sense wasting this space.”

  “For what?”

  The bishop waved his hand in the air. “No need to get into all that right now. I’d like to go into town tomorrow and purchase the lumber.”

  This definitely meant Eli would need to put off making progress on his business. “What about your son? Won’t he help you?”

  “Andrew is being stubborn.”

  Rainbow Girl planted her hands on her hips. “Would you drop this? He won’t agree.”

  Eli didn’t know if she was referring to him or her vater. It didn’t really matter. He had agreed, and the bishop could overrule his son, so, the a
ddition would be built. “I can use meine vater’s wagon. What time shall I pick you up?”

  Rainbow Girl rolled her eyes. “Don’t waste your time.”

  The bishop turned to his enkelin. “It won’t be a waste.” He swung his gaze to Eli. “I’ll check with Andrew and see if he’ll allow us to use his wagon without a fuss. It’ll be more convenient.”

  “Seriously?” Rainbow Girl threw her hands up and headed toward the doorway. “Men think they always know what’s best.” She disappeared inside, still muttering.

  Eli frowned. But men did. Even with all that makeup, he could remember how cute she was when she got mad.

  Bishop Bontrager clasped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. She’ll see the value of it in time.”

  A part of Eli found a little pleasure in her being upset with him. She had rejected the community and her family, so she had no say in matters. Another part longed to mend this breach. It rankled to have her angry with him when he’d done nothing wrong, but it shouldn’t, and that rankled even more.

  The bishop held out the tip of the measuring tape. “Take it down to that corner of the haus so we can figure out how much lumber to purchase.”

  Eli wasn’t sure this was a gut idea, but he was the bishop, so Eli did as instructed.

  Andrew Bontrager came around the corner. “What are you doing, Vater?”

  “Eli is going to help me build another bedroom onto the haus.”

  “What do you need a second bedroom for?”

  “I think you know.”

  Andrew pointed toward the dawdy haus’s back doorway. “For her?”

  “Ja.”

  Eli glanced toward the haus. Rainbow Girl stood there with her arms crossed. He hadn’t seen her return to the opening.

  “Why bother? She’ll only leave again. Then all the time and materials and work will be for nothing.”

  So Andrew didn’t believe she would stay. Did he want her to leave? Did Eli? Ne. He definitely wanted her to stay. Didn’t he?

  The bishop held his hands out to his sides. “‘We should...be glad; for this thy brother—’ or sister in this case ‘—was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’ Where is your forgiveness?”