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

by Davids, Patricia

  As Joy took off, he turned to Leah and moved to stand directly in front of her. “Thank you for making my child so happy,” he said softly.

  “It was a joint effort.” Leah’s heart fluttered wildly. She had waited for days to be alone with him. They didn’t have much time. People were expecting them. Would he kiss her again? Should she let him?

  “It means a lot to me the way you’ve taken Joy under your wing. I was wondering...” He gazed into her eyes.

  “Wondering what?” She licked her suddenly dry lips.

  “I was wondering if I could kiss you again.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Caleb didn’t wait for Leah’s answer. She didn’t have one anyway. He closed the space between them, wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to hers. Leah closed her eyes to savor the tender excitement that made her slip her arms around his neck and pull him closer still.

  His kiss, tender and tentative at first, deepened at her response. His firm lips drew forth an ardent desire that left her breathless and yet wanting more. When he pulled away, she was reluctant to let him go.

  He raised his face to the sky as he drew a shuddering breath, then he cupped her head and pressed her face against his neck. He smelled like pine needles and the crisp outdoors, yet underneath it all was a wonderful earthiness that was uniquely his own scent.

  He said, “I wish Christmas was over.”

  “Why?”

  “Because then my parents wouldn’t be waiting for us to join them and I could keep you to myself for a lot longer.”

  She gave a sigh of her own and stepped away. He released her, letting his hands slide down her arms slowly, as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

  She had to know for certain what his intentions were before she could let things go any further. “Caleb, does this mean you are staying? That you will become Amish?”

  “Yes. I’ve thought about it and prayed about it. This is right for me. I know it.”

  Tears blurred her vision. “I’m so glad.”

  “Hey, don’t cry.”

  “They are tears of happiness. You promised Joy she could visit the puppies. I see no reason why the two of you can’t come over whenever you’d like.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t give me an open invitation. I’ll be outside your door every day when you get home from school.”

  “And what makes you think I would object to that?” She gave him a saucy smile and began walking toward the lane.

  He quickly caught up with her. When they came out of the woods, she saw his parents were waiting for them in the sleigh. The big draft horse stomped one foot and shook his head, making the bells on his harness jingle.

  Joy was already in the front seat between Maggie and Ike. “We’re going for a sleigh ride. We’re going to sing songs for our neighbors. And then go to town to see all the pretty lights.”

  Caleb spoke softly in Leah’s ear. “Looks like we get the backseat to ourselves.”

  She quickly became the prim schoolteacher. “Where you will behave yourself, Caleb Mast. Or else.”

  “Or else what?” He helped her into the sleigh.

  “Or else you will find yourself walking home. Ike, I think everyone should be at my place by now.”

  “We’ll be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. I reckon it’s time I met this puppy I have heard so much about.”

  “You will love her,” Joy assured him.

  When they pulled into Leah’s yard about twenty minutes later, they found four sleighs gathered there. Ike helped Joy down from the seat. When they entered the house, she stopped. “What are all these people doing here?”

  Leah said, “We are going caroling. Won’t that be fun?”

  Elam Sutter and his wife, Katie, along with their children, had arrived. Marvin Chupp sat at the kitchen table, with his cast stretched out in front of him and his crutches at his side. His wife stood behind him with her hands on his shoulders. Levi Beachy and Sarah each held a cup of the spiced cider that Leah had left simmering on the stove for everyone to enjoy. Levi’s lanky twin teenage brothers flanked them. Jonathan and Karen Dresher were seated on the sofa with Nettie and Eli. The rest of the children were gathered around Trixie and her puppies. Leah was happy to see David in the group.

  She looked around. “Are Wayne and Rhonda here?”

  Sarah shook her head. “Wayne brought David, but he couldn’t stay.”

  Leah tempered her disappointment with the knowledge that it was a small step for Wayne to allow David to join Caleb and Joy on the outing. She wondered if Rhonda knew that Caleb would be joining them.

  “Daadi, come meet Pickles.” Joy led the way to the box in the corner of the kitchen. The children gathered around it made room for them.

  Joy greeted her friends. “Hi, Anna. Hi, Emmy. This is my grandpa. And this is Pickles.” She carefully lifted the puppy from the box.

  Ike admired Pickles and agreed that she looked like a very good farm dog in the making.

  Leah said, “I think we are ready. Where shall we go first?”

  Elam Sutter rose from his seat. “I know my neighbors the Zimmermans always enjoy hearing the children sing.”

  “So do Mr. and Mrs. McGregor,” Katie added. “If we make a loop around Pleasant View Road, we will end up in Hope Springs and we can give them a surprise concert.”

  With the route agreed upon, everyone went outside. Jonathan helped his pregnant wife into the backseat of Eli’s sleigh. “This reminds me of the first time I rode in a sleigh with you, Karen. We were on our way to the Christmas program at Leah’s school.”

  “I remember,” Anna said. “You kissed my sister that night.”

  Karen frowned at her in surprise. “And how would you know that?”

  “Jonathan told me that was the night he fell in love with you.”

  Karen tried to scowl at Jonathan, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Should I know what else you have told my little sister about us?”

  “Nope. Are you warm enough?”

  “I will be when you get in.”

  Caleb spoke to Leah. “Will you ride with us?”

  “Of course.”

  Jonathan called out, “Be careful, Caleb. Look what happened to me after one sleigh ride with the pretty Amish maedel.”

  Leah blushed. “Ignore him,” Karen said. “I do. You’re in for a delightful night, Leah. Enjoy it.”

  Eli slapped the reins against his horse and drove out of the yard with Karen and Jonathan laughing together. Leah smiled at Caleb and got into the sleigh with happy anticipation coursing through her veins.

  Maggie said, “It is hard to imagine that Jonathan was once an Englisch fellow. He is so at home with us. Caleb and Leah, get in so we can get going. This little girl wants to do some singing.”

  * * *

  Caleb joined Leah in the backseat of the sleigh. He carefully tucked a blanket around them both. As Ike followed the others out onto the road, Caleb realized that Karen was right. There was definitely something delightful about the night.

  The fields they passed were blankets of white dotted with farmhouses and barns. The woods along the way were dark and gloomy. The light from the lanterns on the sides of the sleigh couldn’t penetrate their depths. Overhead, the stars looked close enough to touch in the clear night air.

  The cold stung his cheeks and made him wish he had a scarf to wrap around his face. The jingle of harness bells and the clip-clop of the horses’ feet on the roadway were the only sounds. The glow of the lanterns on the other sleighs guided them forward.

  Leah pulled the blanket higher. “I hope you didn’t take offense at Jonathan’s teasing.”

  “No. He is a good-natured fellow. I had forgotten how much fun it was to do simple things like this.”

  “I’m glad you have remembered.”

  In an hour’s time, they visited four homes and stood in a semicircle around the children as they sang. Joy was off-key and a little slow, but her enthusiasm made up for her lac
k of talent. At each house, they were treated to baked goods and hot drinks before they climbed back in the sleighs and drove on.

  They were nearing the end of Pleasant View Road when a dog darted out onto the road and began barking.

  “Grandpa, stop. It’s Duncan,” Joy shouted.

  Ike pulled over to the side. Duncan jumped into the sleigh and proceeded to lick Joy’s face.

  “Ach, get down, you silly mutt,” Maggie scolded.

  He scrambled off the seat and jumped down. Joy leaned over the side. “You need to come visit your babies. They need their daddy and their mommy.”

  He barked once and ran back the way he had come. Joy looked at Leah. “Is this where he lives?”

  “Ja, it is Woolly Joe’s farm. Duncan’s owner, Carl King, lives in the shepherd’s hut just beyond the fence.”

  “You should tell him to bring Duncan to see Pickles.”

  “I will mention it to him as soon as I see him.” Leah exchanged an amused glance with Caleb.

  He lowered his voice and leaned close. Beneath the quilt that covered them, he threaded his fingers between hers and held her hand. “Joy is a little like her father. When she gets an idea in her head, it’s hard to make her let go of it. Duncan had better get his tail over to your place and wish his puppies a merry Christmas.”

  “And what idea do you have that you can’t let go of?”

  “At the moment, the only thing I don’t want to let go of is your hand.”

  It was a night that Caleb would never forget. As they returned to Leah’s home, he saw the way his life could unfold in Hope Springs. He and Joy would always be surrounded by his family and friends. The simple things—prayer, hard work and the company of men and women who sought to put God first in their lives—would fill the void that existed in his heart. If that life included Leah, it wouldn’t be merely plain—it would be priceless.

  The depth and intensity of his feelings for this woman frightened him. He wanted it to be real. He thought he had been in love before, but those emotions were nothing compared to this need to have Leah be a part of his life.

  He didn’t want to mess this up.

  He gave her fingers a squeeze and then let go of her hand. He wouldn’t rush her. He wanted her to be as certain of her feelings as he was.

  Now that he was home, they would have plenty of time to discover if they were right for each other. Even if they were meant to be together, one huge issue remained unsolved. Rhonda’s accusation.

  If Leah couldn’t accept his word over her sister’s, how could he consider a life together? If she believed he was lying about something so important, would she ever be able to trust his word?

  He glanced at the woman seated beside him. Somehow, he had to make her believe he wasn’t David’s father. He prayed God would show him how to do the impossible.

  * * *

  For Leah, the following week was a whirlwind of activity. There was so much to do to get her students ready for the Christmas pageant, make her own Christmas preparations and still maintain the class work the children needed. Each day, they practiced their songs and rehearsed their parts after school.

  Joy blossomed when she learned she would be included in the school program. For the entire week, she worked so hard it was almost painful to watch, but each success made Joy that much more determined to master her part.

  It wasn’t until Friday evening that she and Caleb came over to visit the puppy. Joy proceeded to tell Leah that she didn’t need her daddy to walk her to school anymore.

  Leah glanced at Caleb, who was sitting at her kitchen table. He shrugged. “I told her I didn’t think it was a good idea for her to go by herself.”

  “I’m not going by myself. David is gonna walk with me. He is gonna walk to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, and then we are gonna go to school together just like you and your brother did when you were little.”

  “That sounds like a very good plan,” Leah said.

  Caleb slowly shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “It will make David walk an extra quarter of a mile each day both to and from school, but if he wants to do it, I don’t see why you should object. He does walk over to visit your parents on his own.”

  “He’s only nine years old.”

  “He is a levelheaded boy. You roamed the countryside when you were his age. No one gave it a second thought. It’s nice that he and Joy can be friends and playmates. It will be good for both of them. For the whole family.”

  Joy folded her hands together. “Please, Daddy, I want to walk with David. He’s my real friend.”

  He hesitated. Leah gave him a sympathetic smile. “You can always follow behind them and make sure they get where they’re going.”

  His sheepish grin told her that was exactly what he had been thinking. “All right, you can walk with David. If it’s okay with his parents.”

  “Cool.” Joy returned to playing with the puppies. They were getting big enough to waddle around outside their box. Joy giggled as all three of them tried to climb into her lap.

  Leah took a seat across from Caleb at the table. “She will grow up no matter how hard you try to prevent it.”

  “You’re right, but I’m not ready for it.”

  “How is your job search going?”

  “Not well. I’m tired of freeloading off my parents.”

  “I’m sure they don’t consider it freeloading. I know you help your father with his chores.”

  “Sure, but it’s nothing that he can’t do himself.”

  Suddenly, she heard a buzzing noise. Caleb reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. She was disappointed that he hadn’t given up all of his worldly things.

  He folded it shut and put it back in his pocket without answering it. “I’ll let it go to voice mail. It’s my old boss. I’d like to get rid of the phone, but my attorney says I need to be easily accessible until the custody issue is resolved.”

  She glanced at Joy to see if the child was listening. Assured that her attention was on the puppies, Leah asked, “Have you heard anything new?”

  “They are still trying to locate Valerie. She can fight it if she wants.”

  Leah watched Joy putting the puppies back inside the box. “If she knew how happy Joy was now, I think she would agree that you have done the right thing.”

  Joy came to stand beside them. “Has Duncan been here to visit?”

  Leah shook her head. “If he has, I haven’t seen him.”

  Joy propped her hands on her hips. “That dog is a deadbeat dad. I’m gonna have a talk with him.”

  Leah and Caleb exchanged an amused glance as they struggled not to laugh.

  He stood and said, “We should be getting home, Joy. Thank Leah for letting you visit with Pickles, Peanut Butter and Jelly.”

  “I enjoy watching her as much as she enjoys playing with them. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy that you had to wait until now.” It had been almost a week since the caroling party. Nearly a whole week since the last time he had kissed her.

  Caleb smiled in understanding. “After Christmas, we will all have more time to spend together.”

  “I look forward to that,” she said with a tender smile.

  Joy pulled on her coat. “Danki, Leah. See you at school. Our program is three days away, and Christmas is the day after that and it’s my birthday, too. I’m gonna have so much fun. Come on, Daddy, we have to check my Christmas tree on the way home. Those birds are eating everything.”

  She charged out the door, leaving Caleb and Leah alone for a moment. He crossed the room and gave her a quick kiss. “Until after Christmas.”

  She closed the door behind them and leaned against it. It was all happening so fast. Only a month ago, she had been horrified to see him return to Hope Springs. Now she never wanted him or his daughter to leave.

  * * *

  It was snowing again. Large light flakes floated down like feathers. Caleb listened to the message from his former boss on the walk home. “M
ast, I know you’re still visiting your family in Ohio, but if you want that transfer to Brazil, we got an opening. I can’t hold it for long so let me know soon as you can.”

  Caleb closed his phone and put it in his pocket. A month ago, he would’ve jumped at the chance to rake in a bigger salary and see a bit of the world. None of it seemed important now. He glanced at his daughter. She had changed everything.

  His phone rang again. Caleb already knew what he would say when he talked to his boss. He opened the phone, but the name on the screen wasn’t Sanford Limited. It was his attorney. He pressed the button to talk. “This is Caleb.”

  “Mr. Mast, I’m glad I reached you. We found her.”

  Caleb stopped walking. “And?”

  “She relinquished all rights. You have sole and permanent custody of your daughter. Congratulations. We’ll get you copies of the paperwork as soon as we can.”

  Caleb didn’t hear anything else his attorney said. His relief was overwhelming. He bent forward and braced his hand on his knee. He never had to worry about losing Joy again. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized how heavy that worry had been. He felt as if he could float up off the earth.

  He walked back to the house with Joy and marveled at the journey the Lord had taken them on. At the front steps, he said, “Go on in and tell my folks I have something I need to do. I’ll be home later.” Once Joy was inside, Caleb turned and jogged toward Leah’s house. He needed to share this with her as soon as possible.

  * * *

  Leah was surprised when Trixie alerted her to another visitor. She looked out her window and saw Caleb standing just off her porch. Why had he come back so soon? Snowflakes swirled around him. He had his hands in his pockets. He looked uncertain and alone.

  She happily opened the door. “You should come in before you turn into a snowman.”

  He managed a smile. “It is a little cold out here.”

  She stepped aside and let him in. Her foolish heart was about to jump out of her chest. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “That would be great.”

  She set about filling the pot with fresh water and spooning the grounds into the basket. “Did you forget something?”