by Mary Davis
“I think there’s more than that.”
“I’m not even planning to stay. He knows that, and meine grossvater knows that. Once the baby is born, I’m getting a job and finding an apartment.”
“You could do worse than remaining with the Amish. Is it really so bad here?”
Dori knew that there were worse fates, but she didn’t want this life. If Craig would take her back, she would be gone already. Never would have come.
After Dr. Kathleen finished examining and patching Dori up, they both went out into the reception area.
Eli’s instant smile did funny things to Dori’s insides that had nothing to do with the baby moving.
He shoved away from the counter he’d been leaning against. “How’s the baby? Is it all right? It’s not hurt, is it?”
The baby responded to his voice as it usually did. As it had when he’d pulled her out of the ditch.
The doctor gave Dori a knowing look. “The baby’s fine, as is the mutter-to-be. The heartbeat is strong. From the bruising, the buggy hit only the outside of her hip, so no risk to the little one.” She addressed Dori again. “I want to see you in a couple of days to check on your ankle, and also next week to remove the stitches. If you have any concerns, call anytime of the day or night.”
Nodding, Dori limped to the reception desk. “I will. I think I left meine phone here.” She picked it up from where she’d set it earlier. “If I’d had this, I could have called for help right away.” But then, Eli might not have been the one to find her. And he never would have kissed her.
Dr. Kathleen handed Dori a pill bottle. “Take these for the pain.”
Eli pointed at it. “Are those safe for the baby?”
The doctor shot Dori a quick, sideways glance. “I wouldn’t give her anything that wasn’t. She should rest for a few days and stay off her ankle as much as possible.”
“I’ll make sure she does.” He scooped Dori up into his arms.
Dori caught her breath. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to the buggy.”
“I can walk.”
“The doctor said you’re supposed to stay off your ankle.”
The doctor opened the door for Eli. She was right about one thing. Eli really was worried about her and the baby, but that didn’t mean he cared for her.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle.
He placed her gingerly into his buggy. “Are you comfortable?”
“Ja.” How sweet of him to be so careful. “You cleaned the seat.”
“I told you it would be all right.”
Dr. Kathleen brought out a quilt. “Keep her warm.”
The rain had put a chill in the air, and Dori’s hair still hung in colorful wet tendrils.
With the quilt tucked around her, Eli drove off.
On the way, Dori spotted Nelly and pointed. “There she is.”
“I’ll return for her later.”
“She’s cold and wet and scared. Let’s get her now.”
Though he fussed and said the horse could wait, Eli guided the buggy off the road to where Nelly waited under the protection of the trees. He got out. “Wait here. I’ll tie her to the back of meine buggy.”
Once he had secured Nelly, Dori asked, “Would you get meine backpack with the computer in it, if it’s even still there?”
Eli retrieved it without question.
Dori unzipped it. Grossvater’s laptop sat inside. She doubted she would be able to talk him into purchasing another one if it had been stolen.
Standing outside the buggy, Eli asked, “Anything else?”
“Ne.”
With everything set, he climbed in again.
“Danki for searching for me and finding me.” And for that kiss, she thought. Though it had likely just been a reaction to the situation, she would treasure it.
After supper, Eli worked in his forge. Two thoughts swam around and around in his head. Rainbow Girl could have been seriously hurt or died.
He also couldn’t shake that kiss. He shouldn’t have done that. The community frowned upon unmarried people kissing. But the feel of her lips on his had been wonderful. He wanted to kiss her again, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He shouldn’t.
Vater came around the corner and into the forge. “It’s getting late.”
Eli looked past his vater into the darkness. He must have been out here for hours for it to be so late. Where had the time gone? He certainly didn’t have much to show for the time spent, a misshapen piece of iron and a dying fire. “I’ll finish up here and be in shortly.”
“You did well today in finding the bishop’s enkelin. It won’t go unnoticed by him.”
The bishop had been very appreciative. The whole family had. “I did what any of us would do.”
“For you, I think it was different. Watch your heart, son. Dorcas Bontrager might have returned, but she’s not one of us.”
He knew that, but it didn’t stop the feelings growing inside him.
She’d looked so...so...Amish in that cape dress. Except for her colorful hair hanging down, she appeared every bit as Amish as anyone else.
She could be Amish again. If she wanted to be.
But she didn’t want to be.
What could he say or do to convince her to stay and become Amish? “Maybe if I talked to her, I could persuade her to stay.”
Vater put his hand on Eli’s shoulder. “She lived in the Englisher world for a long time. It’s hard for a person to come back from that. Don’t get your hopes up, sohn.”
Vater was right, but it was too late. Eli’s hopes had already soared.
“Even if she did return to our Amish ways, how could you trust that she would stay? If she left once, she will likely leave again.”
“But she would know that the outside world hadn’t worked for her. She went out there to test it, and it had failed her. I— We won’t fail her.”
“Some people can’t see that this life is the best life they can have. They always think that there is something better someplace else.”
Dr. Kathleen had been out in the world far longer than Rainbow Girl had been, and she’d returned.
“I will pray for Gott to change her heart.” And if He didn’t change her heart, then He needed to change Eli’s.
Chapter Thirteen
Dori had enjoyed working with Dr. Kathleen and her sister, Jessica, creating a website and database for them. Then she’d created a website for the doctor’s husband, Noah, and his woodworking business. Then, as she’d gone through the websites of the different community members for her grossvater to review, she contacted the ones she felt she could help improve their sites.
People paid her, and she’d saved up quite a nice little nest egg. Enough to move into a small apartment in town. But then, she wouldn’t have this website work with the Amish, and her baby was due in just under two months. It would be best if she stayed put until after the baby came.
Dori had outgrown even her wide-legged, split-skirt pants. She dug out the cape dresses from behind the living room end table. She didn’t really have anything else to wear at this point. Maybe she should go into town to see what she could find at a thrift store. Did she really want to spend her money on clothes she would wear for only a couple of months? Clothes that would stand out among the Amish? Clothes she didn’t really want?
Ne. It would take away from being able to rent an apartment.
She put on the rosy pink cape dress. She wasn’t sure how to make it hang right over her growing belly, even though the gathered skirt had plenty of fabric. She fastened it the best she could and hiked across the yard to the big haus and knocked. Strange to knock on the door of the home she grew up in.
Mutter came around the side of the haus. “Guten morgen, Dorcas.”
“Mutter, can you help me get this to
fit right?”
Mutter’s smile stretched wide. “Ja. Come inside.” She made quick work of moving buttons and adjusting things, and soon the dress fitted wunderbar. “Bring me the other dress, and I can alter it, as well.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” Mutter glanced at Dori’s belly.
Dori held out her hand. “Would you like to feel your grandchild move?”
“Ja.”
Dori placed her mutter’s hand on her stomach where she’d last felt the baby move. As though the child inside knew its grossmutter was there, it gave a high five.
Mutter sucked in a breath. “It’s a strong one.”
“Ja. Sometimes so strong it wakes me up at night or knocks the wind out of meine lungs.” Dori was glad to be able to share this with her mutter. This experience would have been so different if she was still with Craig. And not for the better. She rarely thought of him anymore.
* * *
In the early evening of the Fourth of July, Dori sat on the porch of the big haus with Ruth. Crickets chirped in the distance. Though she wore her pink cape dress, she hadn’t put her hair up nor put on a kapp. She studied her sister from the side.
Ruth, the perfect picture of what an Amish woman should be and look like, twisted one hand in the other, shifted her feet about and leaned forward on the bench, then back.
Dori suspected if she said boo, her sister would shoot straight up into the air, but she dared not try it. Ruth didn’t need to be any more agitated. Had Dori been like this when she was younger? She’d felt giddy around Craig, but that was a long time ago. Now her giddiness came from a different source. “You’re going to wear yourself out. You’re wearing me out just watching you.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just excited about tonight.”
Though a struggle, Dori managed to keep her emotions under control.
An open buggy came up the road.
Her sister stood up. “That must be them.” She peered into the haus through the screen door. “They’re here, Vater.” She sat back down.
The buggy pulled into the yard with Eli at the reins. Dori replayed their shared kiss the week before. Warm soft lips on hers, and strong arms around her. She’d felt safe with him. Dori’s pulse quickened. The closer he came, the more her own delight wound up. If she wasn’t careful, she might start twisting her hands together and shuffling her feet. Would they kiss again tonight? With fireworks shooting off overhead? She hoped so.
When the buggy stopped, both men got out.
Vater stepped forward. “You girls stay here.” He went down off the porch. “I expect you boys to have meine daughters home at a reasonable time.”
Dori lowered her head. How embarrassing.
Though Daniel looked apprehensive, Eli didn’t flinch. “We’re meeting up with several others, so we’ll be part of a larger group. Fireworks don’t start until dark. We’ll return as soon as they’re over.”
Vater nodded. “Gut. I am trusting meine daughters with you two.”
Dori wanted to spare them all some humiliation and grabbed her sister’s arm. “Come on.” She escorted Ruth off the porch. “We’ll be fine, Vater.”
Vater narrowed his eyes at her. “You behave.”
“I will.” What more trouble could she get into? She was already pregnant.
Daniel helped Ruth into the back seat and sat beside her.
Dori thrilled in anticipation of sitting next to Eli.
He took Dori’s hand and assisted her into the front. “Be careful. Watch your step. Don’t slip.”
“I’m fine.” Her accident last week rattled him more than it had her. Though her hip and ankle were both still sore, she and her baby were fine. She settled on the seat near the middle so he’d have to sit close to her.
But he managed to sit on the far edge of the seat so as not to have his arm brush against hers. Leaning forward with his elbows resting on his legs, he snapped the reins and clicked his tongue. The horse obeyed.
She wanted to calm his fears. “I really am fine. I went to the doctor’s yesterday, and she said we are both doing well.” She put her hand on her belly.
“I know.”
Then what had him in a mood? Wait a minute. He knew? How? “What do you mean you know?”
“I stopped by the clinic and asked her if it was safe for you to be out tonight.”
She wasn’t sure whether to be offended by his intrusion or delighted he cared enough to ask. “So if she’d said I shouldn’t go, you would have canceled?”
He swung his head sideways, and looked at her for the first time. “You wouldn’t want to risk the baby, would you?”
“Ne, but...”
“Would you have still come if she’d said it would put the baby at risk?”
She didn’t want to answer but did. “Ne.” But she would have considered it to be near Eli.
“That wasn’t a very convincing answer. Are fireworks more important than your baby’s well-being?”
This conversation had gotten off track fast. “Of course, meine baby’s more important.” She wouldn’t intentionally do anything that could harm her baby, but that didn’t mean the thought of being near him didn’t cross her mind. “I only wanted to assure you we were fine.”
“If I thought I had any chance at talking you out of going tonight, I would have tried.” He faced forward again.
That stung. “Why? Because you don’t think I should go?”
“You should be resting for your sake and the baby’s.”
She wished she hadn’t brought it up. Time to steer this conversation in a different direction. “I added those new items you made to your website. You have two more orders. I’ll come over in the morning with the invoices, and we can box them up and take them into town to ship out.”
“Ne. I’ll come to the bishop’s in the afternoon. You sleep in.”
She did like the idea of sleeping in but didn’t like being told what to do. She needed to let her emotions cool off before she spoiled the evening altogether. “Sleeping in will be nice.” Not that she actually could with an active baby kicking her insides.
* * *
Eli did not want to be here beside Rainbow Girl. Ne, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to be beside her, it was that he wanted to keep her safe. He could do that better back at the dawdy haus or his forge. The images of her in the ditch still haunted him. He couldn’t shake them, and he still bore the wounds in his palms where the slipping branch dug in and cut his flesh. Not bad, but still tender. How could she be so cavalier with her safety?
She looked so Amish in the cape dress, even with her colorful hair down, and he wanted to wrap her in his arms and protect her from everything. He wanted to keep her safe and close. He wanted to kiss her again.
Eli pulled the buggy to a stop in the meadow near a couple of other early arrivers. He helped Rainbow Girl out of the buggy, but he made sure not to remind her to be careful. He would just see to it she didn’t slip.
With the basket of food packed by his mutter and a quilt to put on the grass, he led the way to a spot in the shade of an oak tree. He set the basket down and refused help from either of the girls and had Daniel help him spread the quilt on the ground.
Before even sitting on the blanket, Ruth spoke to her sister. “You want to go for a walk around the pond while we wait?”
“That would be nice.”
Both girls turned to Eli and Daniel, but it was Rainbow Girl who spoke. “What about you two?”
Daniel smiled. “Sounds gut.”
It would be better if Eli didn’t go. The more he was around Rainbow Girl, the more he wanted to kiss her. This was definitely not the place for that. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on our things.” Not that anyone would bother their stuff. He lowered himself to the quilt to deter anyone from trying to coax him otherwise.<
br />
Rainbow Girl’s expression changed. “I’m a little tired. I think I’ll stay here, as well. You two have fun.”
Daniel and Ruth left without a fuss.
Rainbow Girl stepped to the edge of the quilt. “It’ll be gut to rest.”
Eli jumped to his feet and offered her a hand to help her sit safely. He couldn’t tell if she was allowing the other couple to have a little time to themselves, or if she wanted to be alone with him. Well, not exactly alone in a meadow full of other Amish. “I think resting is wise.” He sat again on the far side of the quilt.
“I think I’ve figured it out. Figured you out.”
He quirked an eyebrow, not knowing what she was talking about. “What’s that?”
“Last week, when you pulled me out of that ditch.”
He pushed aside the image of her down there all muddy. “It’s over with. No sense dwelling on it.” He certainly didn’t want to.
“But I think you’re bothered by it.”
“Of course I’m bothered. Who wouldn’t be? You could have been seriously injured or worse. It had to be very scary for you.”
“Not as much as I would have thought. It was strange. I never felt as though meine life was ever in any real jeopardy. Ja, I wondered how long I’d be stuck and how high the water trickling over meine feet would get, but not any real danger.”
“Because Gott was with you.”
A short laugh burst from her. “Gott? I doubt He bothers with me.”
Eli smiled. That meant she still believed in Him. That was gut. “He does bother with you. With all of us.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t start this conversation to talk about Him. I wanted to talk about something else. About our kiss.”
“Shh.” He glanced around at the nearest Amish. “Someone might hear you.”
“So? It’s not a crime to kiss.”
“Our people wouldn’t approve. And what if your vater found out? He wouldn’t be happy. You heard what he said when we left this evening.”
“It was just a kiss.”
“Ne. It was a kiss. Not something to take lightly.”