Cousin's Challenge

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Me, neither,” Charlene put in. “Our family needs some happy times.”

  Ella blinked back stinging tears. Because of her carelessness in coming down the ladder, she’d almost brought more grief to her family. She thanked the Lord that she hadn’t been seriously injured. “I’m sorry. I should have been more careful.”

  “You shouldn’t have been paintin’ the barn at all,” Larry chimed in. “I’ll bet Jake would’ve helped sooner if you’d asked, and so would some of the other men in our community.”

  Ella grimaced. She didn’t want to rely on others for help, and she didn’t want Jake hanging around. The next time they needed help, if she couldn’t do it, she’d ask someone else.

  CHAPTER 28

  The days sped by with the delicate shifting of fall into winter. Ella had finally resigned herself to the fact that she needed to accept help from her family and friends. Everyone but Jake, that is. Her irritation mounted every time he came over and offered his help. Charlene said Ella ought to be willing to accept anyone’s help no matter how she felt about them personally. Ella knew her sister was right, but it was hard to accept help from Jake when she knew he’d be going back to Montana soon and would leave his family in the lurch.

  Ella was also afraid that Jolene might have fallen into Jake’s trap. Due to the signing lessons, Jolene had seen a lot of him lately and had told Ella that she was excited about the possibility of Jake and Andrew taking turns signing the message for the deaf people at church. Obviously, Jolene didn’t realize that Jake wouldn’t be sticking around. He’d probably fed her a bunch of lies, the way he had Loraine. The sparkle in Jolene’s eyes whenever she talked about Jake was enough to make Ella sick. He had her believing he was a nice person, but she didn’t really know him. Not the way Ella did.

  “I wish he’d leave Indiana right now,” Ella fumed as she opened the oven to check the bread she had baking. The intense heat from the oven hit her in the face and made her feel dizzy. Seeing that the bread wasn’t done, she quickly shut the door. She was glad that she had the cast off her arm now and could at least do more things on her own.

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  “Someone’s at the door!” Charlene hollered from the living room, where she’d gone to dust and clean windows.

  Ella dropped her potholders to the counter and went to answer the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to find Jake standing on the porch, holding a purple and white African violet with lacy edges.

  “Guder mariye. Figured I’d catch you here before you opened your bakeshop for the day.” Jake grinned and handed Ella the plant.

  “Morning.” She stared at the African violet. “Who’s this for?”

  “I bought it for you. Charlene said you liked African violets, so I figured you might like this one.”

  Ella’s brows puckered. Was Jake trying to butter her up? Did he think she might put in a good word for him where Jolene was concerned?

  “That frown you’re wearing makes me think you don’t like African violets,” he said.

  “It’s not that. I just wondered why you’d buy me a plant.”

  “Just told you—Charlene said you liked African violets. You’ve been so down lately, and I figured it might put a smile on your face.”

  “Okay, well—danki.” Ella took the plant and started to close the door, but Jake stuck the toe of his boot inside, which kept the door from closing. “It’s cold out here. Aren’t you going to invite me in for a cup of hot coffee?”

  Ella contemplated his request. She wanted to tell him to head for home, but that would be rude. Besides, she’d have to answer to Mama if she sent Jake off in this chilly weather without something warm to drink.

  She brushed some flour from her apron and opened the door wider. “Follow me.”

  When they entered the kitchen, Ella set the plant on the counter and took two cups down from the cupboard. By the time she’d placed a pot of coffee on the table, Jake had removed his jacket and stocking cap and taken a seat.

  He sniffed the air. “Something sure smells good in here. Have you got something baking in the oven?”

  “It’s friendship bread. I sell more of that than anything else in my bakeshop.” She motioned to some loaves cooling on the counter. “Would you like some to go with your coffee?”

  “Sure, that sounds good, but let me cut it for you.” Jake jumped up, cut several slices, placed them on a plate, and set it on the table.

  “Danki,” Ella mumbled, and then she took a seat two chairs away from him.

  ***

  Jake picked up a piece of the bread, and his mouth watered when he took the first bite. “Umm ... this tastes wunderbaar.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Ella mumbled, staring at the table. Why did she always avoid looking at him?

  They sat silently as the minutes ticked by. If Jake had known what to say, he would have offered more conversation.

  Finally, Ella pushed back her chair and hurried over to the stove. “I need to check on my bread.”

  “Need any help with that?”

  “No, thanks. I can manage.” Ella grabbed a potholder and opened the oven door. She removed some nicely browned loaves and placed them on the cooling racks she’d set on the counter.

  “How come you’re baking in here and not in your bakeshop?”

  “I sometimes do my baking here in the mornings before going out to the shop. Having the oven on for a while helps warm the kitchen without having to light the stove we normally use for heat.”

  “Guess that makes sense. Is there anything you’d like me to do while I’m here?” Jake asked. “I’ve got a few hours before I have to be back home.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t think of a thing that needs to be done.”

  Jake had a hard time believing that, but he decided not to push it. He glanced at the counter across the room. “I’d like to buy a loaf of that bread, and also some doughnuts if you have some to sell.”

  “I have some doughnuts in the shop,” she said, “but there’ll be no charge.”

  “How come?”

  “With all the chores you’ve done around here in the last few weeks, I should pay you.”

  “No way! You need to make a living.”

  “We’re getting along okay, and I won’t take any money from you today.”

  Jake took a drink of coffee as he pondered things. Ella’s fierce independence both amused and irritated him. He wondered what was behind her unwillingness to accept his help or his money. Was she like that with everyone or just him? Whenever he said anything to her, she acted so defensive, and he was getting tired of it. “Ferwas bischt allfat so schtarkeppich?” he asked.

  Her lips puckered as she glared at him. “Why am I always so stubborn? You’re the one who’s stubborn. Stubborn and...”

  “Jah, well, I’m stubborn because my daed taught me to be that way. He’s the most stubborn man I know.”

  She smiled, but he suspected she was gritting her teeth and wishing he would go.

  “I’ll tell you what,” he said, carefully choosing his words. “I’ll accept the bread, but I insist on paying for the doughnuts.”

  To his relief, Ella gave a quick nod then quickly launched into telling him about the success of her bakeshop.

  Jake was happy to talk about the bakeshop. It seemed to put her at ease. She seemed almost like the old Ella he’d known when they were children.

  They talked about the bakeshop a few more minutes, and then Jake made a huge mistake. He mentioned Ella’s dad, and what a nice man he’d been.

  Unexpected tears spilled over and dribbled down Ella’s cheeks. She quickly grabbed a napkin and blotted them away.

  Oh, great, now I’ve made her cry. Jake left his seat and sat in the chair beside Ella. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned your daed. I wasn’t thinking about how it’d make you feel.”

  She blinked a couple of times, and the heavy sadness in her face finally lifted. “It’s okay. I can’t allow myself to fall
apart every time my daed’s name is mentioned. He’s gone and he’s not coming back, so I may as well get used to the idea.”

  “It still has to hurt,” Jake said. “I know I’d feel awful if something happened to either one of my folks.”

  She nodded slowly. “It does hurt, but I can’t waste time feeling sorry for myself when there’s so much work to be done. I need to focus on taking care of my family.”

  “You’re right, family’s important, but you have to think of yourself, too.”

  She didn’t reply.

  “My daed’s legs have taken much longer to heal than the doctor had hoped, but he’ll finally be getting his casts off tomorrow,” Jake said, moving their conversation in another direction. “Then he’ll begin physical therapy.”

  “How long will it be before he’s able to shoe horses again?”

  Jake shrugged. “Can’t really say. Guess it all depends on how well he responds to the therapy.”

  She opened her mouth like she might say something more, but then she closed it again. It seemed like she’d been doing a lot of that lately—at least whenever Jake was around.

  After several more minutes of silence, Jake pushed back his chair and stood. “Guess I’ll head out now, so if you’ll get the bread and doughnuts for me, I’ll be on my way.”

  The look of relief that came over Ella’s face told Jake all he needed to know. She still didn’t like him and probably never would.

  He followed Ella out to her shop, and as soon as she’d put the bread and doughnuts in a paper sack, Jake paid her. He’d just opened the door to leave when Lonnie stepped into the bakeshop. He seemed to be coming around here a lot lately. At least he’d come by nearly every time Jake had been here. It made Jake wonder if something was going on between Lonnie and Ella. Well, if there was, it was none of his business.

  CHAPTER 29

  Ella had just begun mixing the batter for some gingerbread when the bell on the door of her bakeshop jingled. She hurried into the front room just in time to see Jake step through the doorway.

  “Wie geht’s?” he asked.

  “I’m fine; just busy is all.”

  “Guess That’s nothing new for you, is it?” Jake smiled and moved over to the glass-topped display case where the baked goods were kept. “I came here to buy a few things, and I insist on paying for everything this time.”

  “What do you need?”

  He touched his chin dimple as he eyed the baked goods. “Let’s see now.... I’ll take three loaves of bread, a dozen glazed doughnuts, and two packages of dinner rolls.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Think that’ll be all for this time.”

  Jake had been making a habit of coming by for baked goods at least twice a week, and Ella wondered if his family really needed that much or if he just bought things in order to help them out financially. Since she hadn’t let him do too many chores for them, she had a hunch he was trying to make up for that by buying bread, cookies, and pies. It didn’t make sense why he insisted on helping, though. Especially when the two of them didn’t get along that well.

  She hurriedly packaged up the items he’d requested, and then after he’d paid her, she moved toward the back room. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some gingerbread I need to finish mixing.”

  “Mind if I tag along? Maybe we can visit for a few minutes.”

  With a brief nod, she said, “You’re welcome to come along, but I don’t know how much talking I’ll be able to do. If another customer comes in, I’ll have to drop what I’m doing and wait on them.”

  “Where’s Charlene? Doesn’t she usually wait on customers when you’re baking?”

  “Charlene’s not here right now. She went with Mama to a doctor’s appointment.”

  “Is your mamm feelin’ poorly?” Jake asked as he followed Ella into the kitchen.

  “Mama hasn’t felt well for a long time, and it’s taken us this long to finally convince her to see the doctor. I hope he’ll run some tests and that we’ll find out what’s wrong with her soon.” Ella frowned. “She’s really tired most of the time, and she’s put on quite a bit of weight even though she doesn’t eat very much.”

  “Hopefully it’s nothing serious,” Jake said. “Maybe she just needs more rest.”

  “It seems like all Mama does is rest.” Ella sighed. “It’s hard not to worry about her.”

  Jake leaned against the counter and watched as Ella started mixing the gingerbread dough. “Maybe you’ll have some answers soon.”

  “I hope so.” She stifled a yawn.

  Jake moved closer to where she stood. “You talk about your mamm being tired, and yet every time I see you, there are dark circles under your eyes. Right now, you look like you’re about to fall asleep.”He nudged her arm. “As my mamm often says to me, ‘Ich iwwerduh mich net.’”

  “I am not overextending myself, and I’m not going to fall asleep.” Was Jake trying to start another argument? Was that the reason he’d come over here today—so he could needle her some more?

  “Would you like me to give you some examples of how you overextend yourself?”

  She tapped her foot out of frustration and shook her head.

  Jake held up one finger. “You’re working in the bakeshop six days a week.” Another finger shot up. “You clean the house—”

  “Charlene helps with that.”

  “Okay, Charlene helps, but I’ve seen you cleaning several times when I’ve come by to see if you needed my help with anything.”

  Ella clenched her teeth. Then why don’t you quit coming by?

  Jake held up a third finger. “You do outside chores that are meant for a man.” A fourth finger joined the other three. “You’re taking signing lessons from Jolene.” He held up his thumb. “And I’ve seen you in town running errands and grocery shopping. If all That’s not overextending yourself, then I don’t know what is.”

  “I’ll say it again,” Ella spoke through tight lips. “I am not overextending myself. I do what I do because it needs to be done, and it’s really none of your business how hard I work or how much I choose to do.”

  “Okay, okay, don’t get so riled.”

  “I’m not riled.”

  “Jah, you are, and you seem so uptight. Maybe you ought to ask someone to give you a foot massage. My mamm used to give me foot massages when I was a buwe, and that always helped me relax.”

  Ella nearly laughed out loud, thinking how Jake must have looked getting a foot massage from his mother when he was a boy. “I don’t need a foot massage,” she mumbled.

  Jake motioned to the table. “Well, then, I think you ought to sit down and take a deep breath or have something warm to drink. That can be relaxing, too.”

  The thought of taking a break did sound appealing, but Ella didn’t want Jake to think she was taking his advice, so she shook her head and muttered, “I can’t sit down; I’ve got more baking to do.”

  “Suit yourself, but if you’re not going to take a break, then would you mind if I sit for a few minutes? It’s mighty cold out this afternoon, and I’d like the chance to thaw out before I have to hit the road again.”

  “Feel free to have a seat. As soon as I get my gingerbread in the oven, I’ll bag up your order.”

  “You did that already, remember?” Jake motioned to the sack on the counter.

  Ella’s face heated. “Oh, That’s right.”

  Jake flopped into a chair.

  Ella turned back to her job.

  Jake popped his knuckles a few times and hummed a familiar tune.

  Ella fanned her hot face with the corner of her apron and tried to ignore him. She really did wish he’d go home.

  By the time Ella had put the gingerbread in the oven, she realized she needed a break.

  “Would you like a cup of hot chocolate or some coffee?” she asked Jake.

  He grinned like a little boy. “Hot chocolate sounds good.”

  She poured hot water into two cups and added some powdered cocoa m
ix. Then she placed the cups on the table along with some friendship bread, fresh butter, and a jar of homemade elderberry jelly.

  “I’m glad to see you took my advice about taking a break,” Jake said when she seated herself in the chair opposite him.

  She picked up her cup and lifted it to her lips. One sip of the hot chocolate sent a ripple of warmth surging through her. She really had needed a break.

  “Say, what’s that on your nose?” Jake asked, leaning forward and squinting at Ella.

  She lifted her hand. “Where?”

  “Right there.” Jake stood and moved quickly to the other side of the table.

  As he started toward her, Ella shooed him away with her hands and then swiped at her nose. “Don’t bother; I’m sure I can get it.”

  “Oh, great, now you made it worse.” Jake bent down and reached his hand toward her face. Without thinking, she grabbed his hand, and in so doing, a strange prickly sensation zinged up her arm. She let go of his hand as quickly as she’d grabbed it.

  A hint of a smile flitted across Jake’s face, revealing the deep dimples in his cheeks. Was he laughing at her? Did he know about the strange sensation she’d felt? Had he felt it, too?

  “I was just going to rub off that speck of flour on your nose, because you look really funny like that.” Jake’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “Now the whole side of your nose is white with flour.”

  Feeling rather foolish, Ella reached up to wipe her nose. “There, is that better?”

  Jake stared at her, his placid expression unreadable. Several seconds went by, and then his face broke into a wide smile. “Jah, That’s much better.”

  Ella was relieved when he returned to his side of the table and sat down. She drank her hot chocolate and pushed her chair aside. “I think I’d better get back to work now.”

  “Okay. I’ll leave you to it, then.” Jake grabbed his sack of baked goods and moved toward the door. “Thanks for the goodies,” he called over his shoulder before the door banged shut.