Courting Her Prodigal Heart

by Mary Davis

  “Ah. Just wait.” Grossvater’s eyes twinkled like a little boy’s.

  “For what?”

  Voices drifted in through the back door. She peered out of her room to the parade of family members tromping into the dawdy haus along with Eli. No one came empty-handed. The only person missing was her oldest brother, Matthew.

  Her bed from the big haus. A small dresser, a nightstand, sheets, quilts, a floor rug, curtains, as well as the family crib last used when ten-year-old John was a baby. Eli nailed a wrought iron clothing rack with five hooks on it to the wall. He hung a three-hook rack over the door. In a matter of a half an hour, her room, as well as the baby’s, was furnished and ready to be occupied.

  The tears Dori had held at bay earlier welled up in her eyes now. She didn’t deserve any of this.

  Mutter sidled up next to her. “I’m so pleased you’ve come home.”

  Dori smiled. “This is only temporary.”

  Vater spoke. “Supper’s almost ready in the big haus. Everyone, wash up and come inside.” His gaze skimmed over Dori as he said everyone. “You too, Eli. You’ve earned it.”

  Vater was including her in the invitation. She touched his sleeve. “Danki for all this.”

  He didn’t look at her but kept his focus straight ahead. “Bitte. See to it you haven’t put your grossvater and the whole family through all of this for nothing.” He walked away.

  But that was exactly what she planned. She couldn’t stay here forever. This could be nothing but temporary.

  Her family filed out, but Eli lingered. “Tell me this hasn’t been a waste of time.”

  She knew he wanted her to tell him she was staying, but she couldn’t. She wouldn’t lie to him. “It’s not a waste of anything. I do need a place to live.”

  “But you still don’t plan to stay, do you?”

  Unable to bear his scrutiny, she shifted her gaze to the blue-and-red braided rug on the floor.

  His boots clunked on the wood floor as he walked away from her.

  * * *

  The following Tuesday, Eli pulled up in his wagon to the bishop’s dawdy haus to find three buggies out front. Who was visiting him? He parked, set the brake and jumped down. He tethered Dutch and went up to the open door.

  Rainbow Girl sat at the table with five people gathered around her, four men standing and a woman sitting in the chair next to her. “I have enough information here. I can create a mock website by tomorrow for you to preview.”

  Eli stepped inside. “What’s going on?”

  Rainbow Girl smiled, sending his insides dancing. “I’m helping them with their computers and websites.”

  “Does the bishop know about this?”

  “Of course. Since I was helping him check on everyone’s websites, I figured I could do a little work to keep their computers running well and fine-tune their sites.”

  Each of the people thanked her, then bade her farewell.

  She crossed to the kitchen. “Would you like a glass of water?”

  “Ja, I am thirsty.”

  She filled two glasses, gave him one and drank half of hers. “I was supposed to go over to your forge today to take pictures of your ironworks for the website. But time got away from me helping all these other people. I’m sorry.”

  “Not to worry. I brought the pieces to you. They are in meine wagon.” He followed her outside.

  Metal pieces jutted every which way above the edge of the wagon bed. He swung his arm toward his handiwork. “Meine inventory.”

  “You didn’t have to do that. This had to be a lot of work, not to mention taking it all back and unpacking it.”

  He’d been glad to do it to save her some effort. “I thought it would be easier if I brought them to you.” Easier for her, but definitely not for him.

  “Well, danki, but you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.” She peeked over the side of the wagon bed. “Is this everything you’ve made?”

  “Ja. I didn’t know if I would need a different inventory number for each item since no two are identical.”

  “Well, you could give each piece a unique identifying number. Or you could give an inventory number to a type of item with a disclaimer that because these are all handmade, the item received might differ from the item pictured. The second option would be less work for you.” Or at least in the beginning, less work for her until he took over the site.

  “I know it’s more work, but I like the idea of customers being able to choose the exact item they wish to purchase. No disappointments. Which way do you think would be best?”

  “Either way would be fine. However, if you number each item individually, I wouldn’t recommend putting more than six of a single type of item on the website. Too many choices will overwhelm your customers and might discourage them from clicking that purchase button.”

  He was the one overwhelmed. Too much to do. Too much to contemplate. Too many decisions. But Rainbow Girl seemed to take this all in stride and knew what needed to be done. “Would you consider helping me with meine website a couple of times a week?”

  “A couple?”

  He’d asked too much. “Or just once. Until I get the hang of things.” He really needed her help. She’d probably thought that once she’d created his website, she would be done.

  She shifted to face him. “You will have regular orders. We should work on them at least three times a week. You don’t want people to cancel because their merchandise isn’t processed quickly enough.”

  At least three times? He liked the sound of that. “I could do that. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays? I’ll come here.”

  “That sounds gut, but not here. I should go to your forge. That’s where all your inventory is.” Her gaze skimmed over his wagon, and she smiled. “Usually.”

  “But after everything is numbered and tagged, I would need to bring only new items.” He didn’t want her trying to walk to his place three days a week. Plus, if she got busy like today, he would be assured of seeing her. “So it’s settled. I’ll come here.” He wanted that little bit of control, and to not have to stand around waiting and wondering when she would arrive.

  “Won’t that cut into your work time? You won’t be able to make as many pieces.”

  But he’d be with her. That would be time well spent. “I’ll have plenty of time to work.”

  “You are as stubborn as Grossvater.”

  “Danki.” Now, if he could be more stubborn than her about whether she stayed or not.

  * * *

  The next afternoon, Dori relaxed on the front porch of the dawdy haus in a rocking chair, grateful to be done staring at the computer screen for a while.

  Ruth brought out two glasses of lemonade and sat, as well.

  Dori took a long drink. “That hits the spot.”

  Ruth too took a swallow and licked her lips. “Mmm. I’m glad for summer break.”

  “That doesn’t sound very Amish. I thought all Amish were supposed to love hard work.”

  “I do love teaching, but I’m as anxious as the children for the school year to end. Tell me about Eli.”

  Dori’s mouth threatened to smile at the mention of his name. “You know who Eli is. He’s a blacksmith.”

  “Ne. Tell me about you and Eli.”

  She wished. “There is no me and Eli.”

  Ruth shook her head. “I see the looks between you two. He likes you.”

  “You are seeing things.”

  “He built you half of a haus.” Ruth pointed behind her.

  “Because our grossvater asked him to. One doesn’t say ne to the bishop.”

  “The addition is completed, and still he comes over here. Wasn’t he here yesterday? And the day before?”

  “I’m helping him with his website and to get the word out online about his business.”

  “You
don’t give anyone else in the community as much attention as you give him, or he gives you.” Ruth wiggled her eyebrows.

  Dori huffed a breath. “Give it a rest, sister.”

  “Not until you admit you like him back.”

  “I will admit no such thing. And even if I had any feelings—however small—it wouldn’t matter because I’m leaving after the baby is born.”

  Her sister leaned forward in her chair. “Dori, you can’t. You have to stay. You’re the only sister I have. Who will I talk to about Daniel?”

  “You have plenty of cousins and other women in the community.”

  Mutter appeared on the porch with a covered plastic bowl, three smaller bowls and forks. “I cut up some fresh fruit. It’ll be gut for the baby.”

  “Are you supposed to be here? Won’t Vater get upset?”

  “Since you started the classes to join church, he doesn’t mind. I’m so happy you’re going to stay.”

  Would it do any gut to contradict her? But she just couldn’t let her mutter be misled. “Mutter, I’m not planning to stay.”

  Mutter dished them each up a bowlful. “Your grossvater had a room built for you.”

  “Against meine wishes.” Dori was so grateful for her own space. “It seems no one in this community will believe me when I say I’m not staying.” She took a bite of a juicy red strawberry. Sweet and delicious. “Mmm.” She took piece after piece as though she were a starving child. She wasn’t, of course. She was just pregnant and perpetually hungry.

  As Dori popped her last grape into her mouth, Eli drove up in an open two-wheeled trap.

  Ruth pointed. “See what I mean?”

  Mutter perked up. “Is there something going on between those two?”

  Dori spoke before her sister could. “Ne.” She jumped to her feet and met Eli under the shade of the tree.

  He stopped but didn’t get out. “I wanted to talk to you about a couple of new items for meine website, but I can see that you’re busy. I’ll come back another time.”

  Mutter stepped off the porch. “Eli Hochstetler, it’s so gut to see you. I was talking to your mutter after church on Sunday.”

  He nodded to her. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

  “You aren’t interrupting. Is he, Dorcas? Come and join us. Have some fresh fruit.” She waved him down. “I won’t take ne for an answer.”

  Dori’s mutter wasn’t being very subtle. Had she and her sister planned this? Were they ganging up on her? It wouldn’t do any gut. Dori wasn’t going to change her mind about staying, but no one seemed to want to listen to her. She could no more be Amish than Craig could.

  Without further refusal, Eli set the brake and joined them on the porch.

  Mutter remained standing. “I have some cookies I baked yesterday. I’ll run to the big haus and get them.” She returned faster than Dori thought possible. Had she actually run? Evidently she really wanted Eli to stay.

  Dori wasn’t going stop her. She liked having Eli around too, but nothing was going to develop between them. Nothing could. Eli saw her as an Englisher, and Dori was planning to return to the Englisher world as soon as she could. In the meantime, she would enjoy his company. “What are the items you have in mind to add to your inventory?”

  He trotted to his buggy and returned with a twelve-inch-tall twisted piece of metal and a short one with two sides. They each had leaves decorating them. “What do you think?”

  She studied them a moment and took the taller one. “Paper towel holder, and that one’s for napkins.” She pointed to the one he still held.

  “Right. Do you think people will want to buy these?”

  “Of course they will. Maybe even buy them as a set. These are beautiful.”

  “You can keep those.”

  Oh, dear. He was giving her gifts now. That couldn’t be gut. “Ne. I don’t have a kitchen, but I’ll take pictures and upload them to your website.” He needed to keep his inventory to sell, and these would definitely fetch a fine price.

  “I can make more.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but you need to keep them.” When his countenance faltered, she quickly added, “For now. You’re making some regular sales, but you need to keep the momentum going and have constant marketing to make your business thrive. Having a new product like these will help.”

  “But I want to give back for all the work you’re doing for me.”

  “Have you forgotten about the half of a haus you built?” Why didn’t he realized the enormity of that? Far more than a little website.

  Ruth gave a conspicuous nod to Mutter.

  As long as neither of them said anything embarrassing, Dori could ignore them.

  The pair of them behaved. For the most part. They fawned over him like one might a TV celebrity, asking him questions and being overly interested in his blacksmithing. But it worked for Dori, because she learned much about the humble man Eli had grown into, yet she remained the innocent bystander.

  * * *

  After services on Church Sunday, Ruth hooked her arm around Dori’s. “I have a favor to ask you, sister.”

  Dori sighed. “When you say it like that, I sense I’m not going to like it.”

  “As you noticed, I’m partial to Daniel Burkholder. Would you ask Eli to have him and Daniel ask Vater if they can take you and I for a buggy ride?”

  That was a lot of asking and a roundabout way of doing things. But it was the Amish way. It wasn’t a gut idea for Dori to go on a buggy ride with Eli. She already spent too much time with him, bringing her closer to him. People in the community were likely talking about them. That couldn’t be gut for Eli. “I can ask Eli to ask Daniel to ask you on a buggy ride.”

  “You must come too. Vater won’t let me go alone with a young man. You know how he is.”

  Ja. When Dori was a teen, she’d sneaked out several times to meet a boy. Usually for a simple walk or to go fishing at a pond. Until she’d left the community. She supposed that sneaking off had led to taking more and more chances until she left altogether. And her leaving probably led to Vater being more strict with Ruth. “Ja, I’ll ask.”

  “Right now?”

  “They’re playing horseshoes. I’ll wait until he’s done.”

  Her sister’s expression turned worried.

  Dori had missed her sister. “Fine. I’ll ask now.”

  Ruth beamed. “Danki.”

  Dori nodded as she walked away. She approached Eli near the barn with several other young men, including Daniel. She waited until he threw his last horseshoe. “Eli?”

  “Continue without me.” Eli strode over to her.

  The other men nodded and smiled as though they knew a secret. A secret about her and Eli. They were wrong, of course.

  He had that expression that came right before a smile. An expectation. An understated pleasure.

  She soaked it in.

  “Guten tag.” His smile nearly undid her.

  She glanced over his shoulder to regain her focus. “I have a favor to ask of you, but don’t read anything into meine request.”

  “All right.” His smile dipped below the surface again and lurked, waiting to be released again.

  “Meine sister wants you and Daniel to ask our vater if you can take us on a buggy ride. Ruth is sweet on Daniel.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  Dori was surprised. That hadn’t taken any convincing at all. “Do you think Daniel will agree?”

  “Ja. He’s sweet on her, as well. We’ll ask your vater, then come over to where you and your sister are.”

  “Danki.” She walked back to Ruth, who looked giddy with excitement.

  “Well?”

  “They are going to ask Vater.”

  Across the Burkholders’ yard, Eli and Daniel stood with Vater, who shook his head. The conversation volleye
d between them several times. It looked as though Eli was trying to convince Vater to let them all go. Finally, Vater nodded, and Eli and Daniel headed toward her and her sister.

  Dori touched Ruth’s arm. “Don’t appear too excited. Make him work a little for your affections.”

  Eli spoke. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to take you ladies for a buggy ride today.”

  Ruth’s shoulders slumped.

  Daniel spoke. “Since church is at our home, I can’t leave. I must stay in case I’m needed, but your vater has agreed to let us take you both to the fireworks in a week and a half if you want to—”

  “Ja,” Ruth chirped.

  So much for making him work a little for her affections. Dori stared up at Eli and hesitated a moment longer before answering. “Ja. I’d like that too.” Her insides did a giddy little dance.

  The hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

  Chapter Eleven

  The following Saturday, Dori pulled on her voluminous gray split-skirt pants. She had outgrown her other clothes in a hurry, even her sweatpants and yoga pants. Eating well was doing both her and her baby well. The stretchy T-shirt knit was the only thing she could still get over her ever-growing belly. She hated these pants almost as much as cape dresses. She didn’t know why she had even bothered to pack them when she left, but she was glad she had.

  Dori had spent much of the past two weeks evaluating and updating Amish websites, teaching a recalcitrant bishop to use a computer, running virus scans and cleaning up hard drives for community members. No one seemed to understand that these things needed to be done regularly. Grossvater was nearly as uncooperative as Eli to learn. All of which had left her little time to create the doctor’s database or study for the GED.

  Now she was off to Dr. Kathleen’s to transfer the database she’d built for her. She’d made it according to the doctor’s specifications, and now she needed to install it on the computer at the clinic. “Grossvater? May I use your buggy?”