Amish Romance Box Set: Finding Home

by Brenda Maxfield

  “When’s he coming?”

  She shook her head and looked up at him. “I don’t know. It could be any day.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be here, out in the fields. If you need me…”

  She blinked rapidly and pinched her lips together. A yearning pressed into her chest, and she fought the urge to walk into his arms. Stunned and more than a little disturbed by her emotions, she stepped back.

  “Jah. Out in the fields,” she murmured.

  His gaze lingered on her for another long moment, and then he turned and left. He walked slowly away, his movements stiff and awkward, as if he didn’t want to go.

  Chapter Three

  “Uncle Marvin!” Ben hollered and threw open the front door. He rushed down the steps and nearly leapt into Marvin’s arms.

  Marvin stood outside the white van and grinned. He picked Ben up and gave him a huge bear hug. “Little man, you’re growing up right fine!”

  Naomi stood at the top of the porch and watched them. Marvin hadn’t changed in the year or so that she hadn’t seen him. He was still lanky and the corners of his brown eyes crinkled into a fistful of wrinkles. His dark beard, streaked with a bit of gray, was perhaps longer. He never saw the point of trimming it and just let it flow with its jagged length.

  Marvin put Ben down and tousled his hair. Then he looked up at Naomi and gave her a smile. Naomi thought she sensed hesitation there, before he strode up the steps to greet her.

  “Sister, it’s good to see you.” He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. “Where’s Katy?”

  Naomi craned her neck to gaze around toward the side of the house. “She was in the daadi haus doing some cleaning.” She looked at Ben. “Ben, go fetch your sister.”

  Ben ran off, and Naomi led Marvin inside. “Can I get you something? Are you hungry?”

  He set down his suitcase and regarded her. “Nee. The driver stopped a couple hours back, and we ate at a restaurant. I’m fine.”

  Naomi ran her hands over her dress and inhaled deeply. “Why not come into the front room then and have a seat.”

  Marvin stretched a bit, his long arms reaching toward the ceiling. “I been sitting for what seems like a week in that van. Could do with a bit of a walk. I’d like to see the place.”

  “Of course,” Naomi said. Her heart was fluttering as she fought down her nervousness. She was being silly; it was only her brother, after all. “Shall we go back outside?”

  “Uncle Marvin!” Katy said. “You’re here!”

  Marvin opened his arms to her, and she rushed forward to give him a hug. “You’ve grown.” He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her up and down. “One day soon you’ll be married with your own kinner.”

  Katy blushed. “I’m not yet twelve, you know.”

  Marvin laughed. “Still. You’re getting mighty big.”

  “We’re going to show Marvin the farm,” Naomi said. She stepped outside and started toward the barn, and the three of them followed her.

  “So, you were cleaning the daadi haus?” Marvin asked.

  “Jah, our last guests left this morning,” Katy said.

  Naomi stiffened. She hadn’t yet had time to tell Marvin about the Bed and Breakfast. Her jaw tightened. Truth be told, she could have written Marvin and the family and shared that news many times, but she’d always chosen to conveniently forget about it. She regretted that decision now.

  “Guests?”

  They were in the barn now, and Naomi nearly choked when she saw the old Byler’s Bed and Breakfast sign tossed to the side of the barn. Marvin must have noticed it at the exact same moment.

  “What’s this?” he asked, staring back at Naomi.

  “We got a Bed and Breakfast,” Ben chimed in. “That’s how we met Mr. Justin. He was our first guest. He’s nice. And the last two people were nice, too. ’Cept we hardly saw ’em. Only when it was time to eat.”

  Marvin bent down and picked up the crude sign. He turned to Naomi and stared holes through her.

  “Children,” Naomi said, averting her gaze. “Why don’t you take Marvin’s suitcase up to the spare room? Katy, you can start on supper.”

  “But, Mamm, he just got here,” complained Bed. “I ain’t even showed him where Mr. Zach and I find frogs.”

  “There’ll be plenty of time for that,” Naomi said. “Now, off with you.”

  Katy pulled on Ben’s arm and the two of them hurried off, leaving an expanse of awkward silence behind them. Naomi braced herself for what was to come.

  “What’s this about, Naomi?”

  “I’ve started a business,” she said, attempting to put on a professional-sounding tone.

  “I gathered that,” he said. His brown eyes grew dark, and he narrowed them to a near squint. “Why?”

  “Because I need the money.” Naomi raised her chin. “And before you get all upset, you should know the bishop has approved of it. I’ve spoken with him, and he is in favor.”

  The words raced from her mouth as she tried to cut off his objections before they began, but it didn’t work.

  “This farm needs to be sold. You need to come home.”

  She stiffened. “Nee. This is where I live now. This is where Mamm and Dat are buried! My husband is buried here. I can’t leave.”

  Marvin stepped toward her. “Ruth and I have spoken about it countless times. You belong at home.”

  “But this is home!”

  “You belong with your family. I’ve spoken with our bishop and the deacons, too. They agree. Everyone is waiting for your return.” His voice grew more insistent with each word.

  Naomi cringed. She knew he was going to push the issue … again. But she didn’t realize he’d start in on her from the very first moment he arrived.

  “Marvin, I appreciate your concern. Truly, I do.” She tried to smile. “But I can’t uproot the children again.”

  “Naomi, it’s hardly uprooting them to bring them back home. Back to their family.”

  She shook her head.

  “Dat’s gone and so is your husband. So, it falls to me to make this decision. I’m your elder brother. You know how this works.”

  She stepped back, wanting to run away—run away and hide while she still could.

  “Don’t look so upset,” he said. “This is for your good. This is for your children. They need to be raised with family.”

  “I’m their family,” she said, but even she knew how ridiculous that argument was.

  “And you’ll still be with them.” His brow furrowed. “Don’t fight me on this, Naomi. We all love you and want you to return.”

  Panic rumbled through her stomach. He had all the proper arguments on his side. She didn’t have anything else to say. Her fists tightened at her sides. She couldn’t leave Hollybrook. She just couldn’t. She’d grown to love the farm. Besides, she had a business now. She couldn’t simply desert it.

  She looked around the barn as if searching for an escape. Her eyes settled on the hoe that Zach often carried around as he puttered in her garden when he thought she didn’t notice. Zach.

  Could she leave Zach? Could she?

  “Naomi, I plan to take you and the children with me when I leave—”

  She tried to interrupt him, but he held up his hand.

  “It’s settled. I’ve arranged for a van to pick us up in a week. That’ll give us time to pack things up and list the farm to sell.”

  Naomi’s head spun, and she grabbed the doorframe of the barn and held on. She couldn’t fathom another change so soon. She couldn’t fathom her life being ripped from her again. No. She wouldn’t do it!

  Strength and stubbornness flowed through her, and she drew herself up to her full height. “Marvin, I won’t do it. I won’t.”

  His jaw clenched, and his face grew red. “It ain’t open to discussion, Naomi. I’ve said my piece, and that’s the way it’s going to be. I’ll speak with the local bishop if you wish. He’ll side with me.”

  Naomi’s br
avado was short-lived. He was right. The bishop would side with Marvin. Perhaps some of the freer-thinking bishops might disagree, but from what she knew of Bishop Schrock, he wasn’t one of them. He’d see Marvin as her authority since both her father and her husband were dead.

  She turned on her heel and marched back to the house. She couldn’t bear the thought of telling Katy and Ben. Couldn’t bear it. Her eyes welled with tears, and she fought the nausea that rose in her throat. A movement to her right caught her attention. She saw Ben running out in the field toward Zachariah, no doubt to tell him that his uncle had arrived.

  Ben had grown fond of Zach. More than fond by the looks of things. Her son would be upset to have to leave him. Maybe Katy would be, too. Though she could be as sour as a hen in a rainstorm, Naomi had seen flickers of affection in Katy’s eyes for Zach.

  She hurried up the porch steps and yanked open the screen. She went into the kitchen to help Katy work on supper. The girl looked up when Naomi entered the room.

  “Where’s Uncle?” she asked.

  “I left him in the barn.” Naomi hauled out the big roasting pan from its place on the lower shelf. She plunked it on the counter. “Get the chicken out of the freezer.”

  “But Mamm, it’ll never thaw in time.”

  Naomi stared at Katy. “Get the chicken out of the freezer.”

  Katy’s eyes grew wide at Naomi’s curt tone. Without a word, she opened the freezer door and took out the freshly killed and plucked chicken that hadn’t been in the freezer more than four days. She carried it to the sink and placed it there. She turned to her mother.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Naomi snapped. “Not a thing. Isn’t it nice that Marvin is here to visit?”

  She couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice, and she was ashamed. She wasn’t acting in a seemly manner at all. And it wasn’t fair of her to burden Katy with her problems. Katy was only a child, after all. There had to be some way out of this. Some way.

  She sank to a kitchen chair, twisting a dish towel in her hands. She could go to Bishop Schrock herself and plead her case. Marvin would have to back down if the Bishop gave an opposite decree. Wouldn’t he? Naomi knew her brother well. Flexibility wasn’t part of his character. Even if Bishop Schrock sided with her, Marvin might still insist she leave. But he could hardly pull her kicking and screaming into the van, could he?

  Shame burned through Naomi. What was she thinking? God would be displeased with her behavior and her thoughts. A woman was to be submissive. Didn’t hundreds of sermons teach her so? She felt her cheeks go hot. What kind of example would she be setting for Katy if she acted with such rebellion? Why, that was how Englischers acted, wasn't it?

  The ticking of the large round clock over the window reverberated through the kitchen. Naomi saw Katy’s lower lip quiver as she turned away and put her attention on unwrapping the chicken. Naomi reached over and took her hand.

  “Ach, I’m sorry, Katy. Forgive my temper. Everything’s all right.” Her voice was soft and crooning.

  Katy’s shoulders relaxed, and she stepped close to lean into Naomi’s side. “It’s okay, Mamm.”

  “Shall we make a special supper for your uncle? I happen to know that shoo-fly pie is his favorite.”

  Katy’s expression perked up. “I’ll make the pie. Can I?”

  Naomi chuckled. “Why do you think I mentioned it, our Katy? You make the best pies in the district.”

  Marvin and Ben came in just before Naomi and Katy set the food on the table. Supper was often a lighter meal in the evening, but that day Naomi and Katy had pulled out all the stops. They served roasted chicken, new potatoes and gravy, green beans, thick slices of homemade bread, and pickles. The crowning glory, of course, was Katy’s shoo-fly pie.

  After the meal was eaten, Marvin leaned back in the chair and patted his belly. “I’d say that was as good as Ruth’s cooking.” He gave Katy a wink. “And the best pie I’ve ever tasted.”

  Katy blushed and looked at Naomi.

  “Marvin, this girl bakes circles around me,” Naomi said. She reached over and gave Katy’s hand a squeeze.

  “We shoulda had Mr. Zach for dinner, too,” Ben said.

  “Jah. About this Zachariah,” Marvin began, “he’s leasing the land, correct?”

  Naomi nodded.

  “Ben introduced us.” Marvin’s keen gaze was on her. “Does he have interest in buying the farm?”

  Naomi’s eyes widened. Katy plunked her glass back onto the table and the milk inside sloshed dangerously close to the rim.

  “Buying the farm?” Katy repeated.

  Ben frowned. “Why would he buy it? It’s ours.”

  “Why indeed?” Naomi said, giving Marvin a warning glance.

  But Marvin was nonplussed. He picked up his mug and took a sip of coffee. “Just wondering,” he said.

  “Nee, he’s not interested,” Naomi said tersely.

  “You asked him?”

  She bit her lower lip and shook her head.

  “I think that’s a mighty good place to start.” He set his cup back down. “I’m a bit tired from the journey.” He looked at both the children. “Let’s meet in the front room for Bible reading and prayer in a few minutes. Then I plan to turn in.”

  Naomi stood. “Katy, shall we clear the table and red up the kitchen.”

  Katy got up and stumbled after her to the kitchen. “Mamm?”

  Naomi’s expression was pinched. “Let’s not worry about anything right now,” she said, forcing herself to put a smile on her face. “You wash and I’ll dry. How does that sound?”

  “But Mamm, why would Mr. Zach buy our farm?”

  Naomi poured liquid soap into the sink and started the faucet. “It’s just an idea your uncle had.”

  “Mamm!” Katy put her hands on her hips. “I’m not a child.”

  Naomi turned the faucet back off and gazed at her daughter. She studied Katy’s indignant look and her proud stance, and alarm coursed through her. Was this the behavior she was instilling in her? This stubborn pride? Was she raising her daughter to be rebellious? She blinked and leaned heavily against the counter. This was no good. No good, at all.

  If she allowed her daughter to act like this, where would it lead? How would Katy handle rumspringa when she was given a good deal of freedom? This had to be nipped in the bud.

  “Don’t speak to your elders in such a tone,” Naomi corrected her. She drew herself into what she hoped was a stance of authority. “We’re not going to discuss this right now.”

  Katy’s mouth tightened, and Naomi saw her work to control her words. Naomi waited, her eyes steady on the girl. Finally, Katy slumped, and her gaze dropped to the floor.

  “I’m sorry, Mamm,” she mumbled.

  Naomi felt a part of her heart break as she drew her daughter into her arms. How she wished Isaac was still there. Raising a daughter alone was no small task, and she had no idea if she was doing it correctly. She didn’t even have her own mother to rely on for wisdom and advice.

  She looked over the top of Katy’s head toward the front room where Marvin would be waiting for them with the German Bible open. Maybe he was right. Maybe they should go back to Pennsylvania. She’d have more support there. More help in raising her children. She took a deep breath and pressed her lips together.

  Maybe Marvin’s arrival was in God’s timing. Maybe God was providing for her through her brother.

  Naomi was awake hours before dawn broke. She tossed restlessly in her bed, attempting to talk herself into moving back to Pennsylvania. Her mind flitted through the reasons, and there were plenty. Truth be told, when she got down to it, there were few reasons to remain in Hollybrook. Very few.

  Her husband and parents were gone. They wouldn’t care if she stuck it out in Indiana just because it had been their dream. Isaac would want her to be where it was best for the children. And for her.

  So, was Pennsylvania the best for them? She had wept when they’d left, sorry t
o say good-bye to all her family and friends there. But when they’d arrived to the Hollybrook farm and had moved all their things in, and when she’d seen the complete joy and satisfaction on her husband’s face, all her weeping stopped. She’d thrown herself into their new district. She’d made a good friend in Mary. She’d watched her children thrive.

  It had been good. So good.

  Until the accident. Naomi clutched her hands to her chest. Isaac was torn from her in an instant, and her parents were no more. All the children had left was her. And the farm. Naomi threw the quilt back and rose from her bed. She padded over to the open window and gazed out on the land. She inhaled the sweet smell of growing plants and the aroma of the blossoms bordering the walkway. In the growing light, she watched the leaves on the elm tree dance gently in the morning air. A rooster crowed the day’s beginnings.

  How could she leave such a beautiful place?

  She looked to the left where, if she positioned herself just right, she could observe the barn door. It was open. Zach must be there. She watched, waiting to see his solid form as he went out to the fields. She didn’t have to wait long. He paused at the door of the barn and looked toward the house. She ducked back behind the curtains but kept her eyes on him. Even through the shadows, she knew he was watching her window. He wouldn’t be able to see her though; it wasn’t light enough, and she was mostly hidden.

  She would miss him. Tears stung the back of her eyelids, and she knew at that moment that she’d made her decision. She would take the children and go back with Marvin. It was the only sensible thing to do. She wouldn’t have to struggle to make ends meet. She wouldn’t have to raise her children alone. They would be surrounded by family, by people who loved them.

  Zach lowered his head and turned toward the field. For a moment the day before, she had thought Zach had feelings for her. She’d thought he had been upset when she mentioned Marvin’s arrival and the reason for his visit. But he hadn’t said anything. Hadn’t declared any intentions towards her.