Amish Christmas Joy (Mills & Boon Love Inspired) (Brides of Amish Country - Book 10)

by Davids, Patricia

“You don’t like the woods?” He tried to see their surroundings through the eyes of a child who had grown up in a run-down trailer park on the outskirts of Houston. The two places were worlds apart. Trees pressed in around them. The bare branches creaked and clacked in the cold breeze.

  “I think something might get us,” she whispered, her hesitant voice wobbled with fear.

  “I walked through these woods every day from the time I was your age until I was grown. I never saw anything that could get me. Shall we check and see who else has walked along this path?”

  “How can we do that?”

  “Everyone who walked this way or crossed this path has left their signature in the snow. Turn around and look where we’ve walked. What do you see?”

  She stopped and looked back. “I see our footprints.”

  “That’s right. Now look in front of us. What do you see?”

  She scanned the area. “I see funny marks in the snow.”

  “Let’s take a closer look.” He crouched beside the dots that crossed the path in front of them.

  She imitated his position and propped her chin on her hand. He almost laughed at her serious expression but quickly controlled himself. It was important that she learn to be at home in the outdoors. “If you look closely, you’ll see two tiny paw marks in the snow and two drag marks behind it.”

  She looked up at him. “Are they puppy tracks?”

  “That’s a good guess. Puppies have little feet, but this was made by someone who hops along.”

  Her eyes grew round. “A rabbit?”

  “That’s right.”

  She jumped up and rushed toward the edge of the path. “Can I see it?”

  He caught her by the shoulder. “Whoa. We might see a rabbit later, but we can’t follow him. We have to stick to the path.”

  “Why?”

  “Because rushing into the woods without knowing your way around is how you get lost. You must never do that. Let’s keep walking and see who else has shared our path.”

  She gazed longingly toward the rabbit tracks but allowed herself to be led away. After a few dozen yards, she pointed ahead of them. “I see more tracks, Daddy. Who made those?”

  “Those were made by a big deer. Can you see how they are split in two and pointed?”

  She ran ahead of him and stopped, pointing at her feet. “Who made these?”

  “That’s the footprints of a raccoon. See how the paw marks are like little handprints? Mr. Raccoon has hands a lot like you and I for gripping things. He has a face like a bandit with a black mask around his eyes and a short snout with sharp little teeth.”

  She took a step back and pulled her hands to her chin. “Does he bite?”

  “He would bite you if you tried to pick him up. If you let him mind his business, he will let you mind yours and everyone will stay happy.”

  “Did you walk to school by yourself? Grandpa says I’ll have to learn to walk to school by myself. When I’m grown up I can drive a buggy.”

  So his father was considering letting Joy live with them. “You won’t have to go by yourself until you feel good about doing it. I didn’t walk alone. I walked with my brother until he got too old for school.”

  “Uncle Wayne? I don’t like him.”

  His first impulse was to say that he didn’t like Wayne, either, but he held his tongue. He loved his brother. He didn’t like the way things had turned out between them. Joy was going to be living here. She would have to learn to get along with everyone in the family.

  “Your uncle Wayne can seem gruff, but he is a good man. I think you will come to like him in time. His little boy is almost the same age as you.”

  They heard the sound of crashing in the underbrush. Joy threw her arms around his leg and held on tight. “What’s that?”

  They had their answer as a black-and-white dog bounded out of the woods and came loping toward them. Caleb’s heart gave a glad leap when he thought it was Trixie, but he quickly saw he was mistaken. This dog shared similar markings but was taller and heavier with more brown on his legs.

  “Duncan won’t hurt you.” They both turned as Leah walked up beside them.

  Caleb hadn’t forgotten that she and Rhonda used to take the same shortcut through the woods on their way to school. Had he subconsciously come this way in the hopes of meeting her? Maybe.

  In any case, he was pleased to see her again. Very pleased.

  “Leah!” Joy shouted and waved.

  “Hello.” She smiled brightly at his child.

  The tug of attraction was strong, but it was foolish to dwell on it. He’d be leaving in a few weeks. Still, something about her made the morning brighter. If things had been different, if they had met in another time and another place, he would have followed the urge to know her better, but she wasn’t for him.

  To her, he was an outsider. The man who’d dishonored and abandoned her sister. He should be thankful she had taken an interest in helping Joy.

  “I’m so happy to see you.” Joy ran to her and wrapped her arms around Leah’s legs. Duncan joined the game and jumped up, too. The impact of the child and the big dog together knocked the teacher off balance. Caleb lunged forward to catch her.

  Leah staggered into Caleb. His strong arms closed around her and kept her upright, saving her from a tumble in the snow.

  She looked up and saw a slow smile curve his lips. Her heart skittered wildly for an instant before she remembered who was holding her. Struggling to regain her composure, she moved away from him.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.” Her voice sounded breathless. She stopped talking and pressed her lips together.

  Caleb thrust his hands in his coat pockets. “Joy and I are exploring. So this is the proud papa.” He bent to scratch Duncan behind one ear.

  “He showed up outside my door today. I guess he knew something was up.”

  “Did he like Pickles?” Joy asked.

  “Ja. He looked over the litter, and I think he liked Pickles a lot. Trixie normally walks with me to school in the mornings, but she’s too busy with her puppies. Duncan occasionally joins us.”

  Joy was still hanging on to her leg. “Does he bite?”

  “Never,” Leah assured her in all seriousness. “Duncan, sit.”

  The dog promptly sat. “Now shake hands with Joy.”

  He raised his paw. Joy let go of Leah’s leg and tentatively shook the dog’s front paw. Duncan added a quick lick to Joy’s fingers, making her squeal.

  “Did you see that, Daddy? He kissed my hand.”

  “I saw. He’s a very polite pooch.”

  “It was nice seeing you again, Joy. I must be going. The teacher can’t be late to school. Come, Duncan.” There was always plenty to be done before her students arrived.

  “I thought I would show Joy the way to the school. Mind if we walk with you?” Caleb waited for her reply, watching her intently.

  “Of course not.” She had to be polite, didn’t she?

  “Duncan’s owner must not live far away,” Caleb said.

  “He belongs to Carl King. He works for Joseph Shetler on his sheep farm just over the next hill.”

  “I remember Woolly Joe, but I don’t remember a man named King.”

  “Carl is a newcomer. He has Englisch ways, but some people wonder if he isn’t ex-Amish from another place. He and Woolly Joe keep to themselves. I think Duncan enjoys visiting the school for a dose of company.”

  Joy, more confident now, ran ahead a little ways with the dog dancing at her heels. The path was wide enough for a few hundred yards, but it narrowed, forcing Leah and Caleb closer together. The bare branches of the trees laced together overhead and gave Leah the feeling of being sheltered. Snow crunched under their boots. Occasional clumps of it fell from the trees and scattered in the breeze, leaving sparkling showers in their wake. It was a beautiful morning. Caleb walked close beside her in silence.

  She glanced at him and wondered what he was thinking. His gaze was on Joy and
the dog. A sweet smile curved his lips. It would be good for both of them if he changed his mind and stayed, even if he didn’t give up his Englisch ways. Could Leah help him see that?

  Joy stopped and pointed to the ground. “I see more rabbit tracks.”

  He squatted beside her. “You’re right. A rabbit went this way not long ago. Keep your eyes peeled for more tracks.”

  Joy patted Duncan’s head and grinned at Leah. “Daddy is teaching me about animal tracks. This is a rabbit track, and I know a raccoon track and people tracks and now I know dog tracks. Duncan is making big tracks in the snow.”

  The dog had his nose down investigating the new trail. After a few seconds, he took off at a trot back the way they had come.

  Joy frowned. “Where’s he going?”

  “Home, I reckon,” Leah said.

  Joy’s frown turned into a pout. “I wish he would stay with me. I miss him.”

  Caleb lifted her chin so she would look at him. “He has work to do. If you ask Leah very nicely, she might let you visit Trixie and her puppies again after school one of these days.”

  Joy’s beaming smile returned. “Could I? Please?”

  “I’d like that,” Leah replied and spared a sidelong glance at Caleb. He wasn’t as she had imagined him all these years. He wasn’t indifferent to his child or harsh. She had pictured him living in a perpetual rumspringa, doing all that was forbidden to the Amish, drinking, going to parties and movies and driving fast cars.

  What had his life been like? And why did it matter? If only she could quell her curiosity about him. As they kept walking, she tried, but it seemed that she couldn’t give up the need to know more. She finally blurted out, “What kind of work do you do in Texas?”

  He seemed surprised by her question. She was a little surprised herself at her boldness.

  “I’m a roughneck. I work on oil rigs, mostly off-shore rigs. The pay is better.”

  “Out in the ocean?” Her secret dream had always been to travel. To see the mountains and the oceans, to view and admire God’s handiwork beyond the hills and fields of her small community.

  “Yes, out in the ocean or rather in the Gulf of Mexico.”

  “Was it wonderful? Was it frightening?”

  “Mostly it was noisy, hard work for very long hours. At times, it could be too beautiful for words. Then again, during some bad storms, I only wanted to get my feet back on dry land.”

  “To look upon the ocean must be a wondrous thing.” She couldn’t help the longing that slipped into her tone.

  “You should go.”

  She looked down. “I have no reason for such a journey.”

  “Travel isn’t forbidden. Many Amish visit the seashore.”

  “I couldn’t go alone, and I don’t know of anyone who would go with me.” Outside of her friend Levi Beachy, she hadn’t spoken to anyone who wished to see more of the world the way she did. Levi had planned to move to an Amish settlement in Colorado, but then he had married her friend Sarah and they were both happy to remain in Hope Springs now.

  “Don’t some of the older couples around here travel to Florida for the winter? I’ve heard it’s a popular destination for Amish snowbirds.”

  “Some do. Not many.”

  “If the chance comes up, you should go along.”

  “I teach school through the winter, so that won’t work.”

  “I guess not, but you won’t always be teaching.”

  “True. Someday I’ll be too old to keep up with the children.”

  “The ocean will still be there for you.”

  She hadn’t expected him to be understanding and sympathetic. Under other circumstances, he was the kind of man she could like.

  * * *

  Caleb was sorry when they arrived at the school. For a while, he had forgotten that he didn’t belong here. Leah was responsible for that. He wanted to ask if she had found forgiveness in her heart for him, but he knew it didn’t matter. He would leave again anyway.

  She went ahead of him up the steps. He and Joy followed her into the school building. Immediately, the smells and the sight of the interior filled him with nostalgia. Nothing had changed in the years he’d been gone.

  The floor was the same wide planking, scuffed but clean. Light poured in from the large windows along both sides of the single room. A blackboard covered two thirds of the front wall. Above it, student artwork was still displayed. The childish drawings were much the same, even if they had been done by different hands.

  Squarely in the middle of the front sat a large stove. It could burn wood or coal, depending on how much heat the building needed. Slightly off to one side was Leah’s desk. Books and stacks of papers were arranged neatly on the shelves behind it. Old-fashioned wooden student desks were arranged in four rows, two on either side of a wide center aisle.

  He could remember hiding behind the open lid of his desk near the back and sharing a laugh with his friends. The teacher would eventually come by and silence their conversation with a pointed look. Lidia Yoder had been a stern but fair teacher who had no trouble quelling the occasional rowdy student.

  “What happened to Lidia Yoder? Is she still around?”

  “She lives in a little house in Hope Springs. You should go see her.”

  “I might do that.”

  He tried to remember where Leah sat in the old days, but he couldn’t recall. He hadn’t had his eye on girls at that stage of his life. Mostly, he’d wanted to be out playing Duck, Duck, Goose, softball or sledding when the snow was deep enough.

  Leah went straight to the stove and opened the firebox door. It was the teacher’s job to arrive early and get the stove going so the room would be warm by the time the children arrived. He said, “I’ll bring in some coal for you.”

  “Danki. That would be nice. I’ll get the kindling ready.”

  He picked up a large black metal bucket from the side of the stove. His daughter had gone to gaze at the blackboard. “Joy, why don’t you come with me? I’ll show you the coal shed.”

  She picked up a piece of chalk from the tray that ran the length of blackboard. “Can I draw instead?”

  He glanced at Leah. She nodded. He said, “Sure. Just do what Leah tells you. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Suddenly, Joy spun around, a worried look on her face. “Promise you’ll come back?”

  His heart contracted painfully. That was exactly what her mother had done. Said she’d be back in a minute and then pulled her disappearing act. He crossed the room and dropped to one knee in front of Joy. He knew Leah was listening although she pretended to be busy with the stove. “Honey, I promise I won’t ever leave without telling you where I’m going and when to expect me back. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced, but the panic was gone from her eyes.

  “Good.”

  “You mean goot.”

  Grinning, he nodded. “Ja, goot. Can you draw me a picture of Pickles?”

  “Okay. How do you say dog in Pennsylvania Dutch?”

  “Hund.” He stood and picked up his bucket.

  “How do you say cats?”

  He was already halfway to the door. “Katz.”

  “Daddy, that’s the same.”

  “Many of our words are the same or very similar,” Leah said. “In school, my students only speak English, while at home they speak Pennsylvania Dutch. While you are trying to learn our language, I am teaching my students your language.”

  “That’s just weird.” Joy turned back to the board and made a large oval.

  Caleb paused in the open door. “She has a point. It is weird.”

  He ducked outside before Leah could reply, but he caught a glimpse of her engaging grin before he closed the door.

  Wouldn’t it be nice if he could make her smile more often?

  Chapter Six

  “Why are we stopping, Daddy?”

  Late on Sunday morning, Caleb parked his truck at the end of the lane leading to the Sutter farm. The
three-hour service would be ending soon.

  He hadn’t wanted Joy to spend the entire time sitting on a hard bench and listening to preaching in a language she couldn’t understand. Not yet. He wanted to expose her gradually to the things an Amish life would include. Bringing her late to the preaching was a step along that path, although he knew not everyone would approve.

  “I’m stopping here because it wouldn’t be polite to arrive at a church meeting in an Englisch vehicle.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Amish people come to the church services on foot or in a buggy.”

  “Why?”

  He sighed heavily and repeated the phrase he’d heard a hundred times during his childhood when he questioned why things were done. “Because that is the way it has always been.”

  “Okay.”

  Surprisingly, the answer was enough for her. It hadn’t been for him. She pushed open the door on her side and stepped out. He reluctantly joined her. An Amish Sunday service was the last place he wanted to be. Maybe he should have let her come with his folks. He would have been home when she came back.

  This time.

  Thinking about the day he wouldn’t be around when she came home made him squirm. He couldn’t stay. His life wasn’t here, but Joy’s could be. He had to keep what was best for her at the forefront of his mind and not dwell on how much he was going to miss having her around. She appeared to be settling in well with his parents. Much better than he had expected. She hadn’t pitched a fit or talked about her mother in days.

  She held open her jacket and made an awkward twirl in front of him. “Do you like my dress, Daddy? It’s the very first dress I ever owned. Mammi made my dress and my kapp.” She patted the white head covering that marked her as Amish.

  “Mammi made me two white kapps and two black ones.”

  “You look very Plain in it, honey.”

  She scowled and stared at the ground. “I know I’m not pretty like other girls.”

  His heart twisted with pain. She’d never been made to feel good about herself. He crouched in front of Joy and smoothed the creases from her white apron. “Looking Plain means you look very Amish. The blue color of your dress makes your eyes as bright as the sky.”