“Don’t tell me you aren’t interested. We both know you are. I heard you and Kiah talking earlier in the barn. I heard that you scolded him for reckless driving.” He didn’t mention the kiss. “I heard that you and Kiah walked three laps on the walking trail, talking the whole time. About what, I wonder.” He hitched a brow, though his eyes had a knowing look.
“Twenty questions. More actually. Almost everything we discussed in the letters. And jah, I answered honestly.” Hallie looked away from the bishop’s penetrating gaze. “I decided I don’t want to ever marry. Love is too risky. Besides, Anna called dibs.”
Bishop Nathan snorted. “Dibs smibs,” he muttered. “Hallie, consider this,” he continued in his preacher voice. “If you don’t get out of the boat, you’ll never walk on water. There’s an old saying that goes like this: ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ Do you know what this means?”
She tugged at a string and lifted a shoulder. She could offer a reasonable and probably correct guess based on simple logic, but she didn’t want to. She also didn’t want to have this conversation, especially with Kiah’s parents and her daed right in the next room where they might overhear. Though, honestly, the talk was long overdue. She’d been rather vocal on her plans to never marry.
“It means playing it SAFE is RISKY.”
Did he have to loudly emphasize those two words? That reminded her of Toby’s risky ways. And her desire to be safe. Except safe was now very lonely. Hallie cringed. She needed to get the attention off of herself. And fast. “I think Kiah is risking enough for both of us.”
For a blessed moment, Bishop Nathan was silent. Good. Maybe he’d end this uncomfortable discussion. “Stop lurking at the edge of life and step into the glow of the campfire.”
That triggered the memory of the secret wish she’d written in her journal early that very morning. And the sun had come up today in more than one way.
Or maybe not. Hallie shifted. Would her ankle support her if she stood and tried to make a run for it?
As if reading her mind, the bishop stood. “What if He wants to bless you beyond your wildest imagination?”
“My sister has dibs,” Hallie reminded him. Not that he’d listen.
“We both know better. But that aside, He who holds us in His hands has no problems. Only plans. Remember this, Hallie: Don’t accuse Gott of ignoring your questions if you’ve been avoiding His answers.”
And with that, the man of Gott strode off.
Chapter 14
Kiah carried the thin grocery bag with thank you printed on the plastic three times in red up the Brunstetters’ driveway. He kind of hesitated to give the bag to Bishop Nathan, especially since the owner wouldn’t let him buy the fudge mint and the eggnog ice cream without buying a carton of dill pickle ice cream as well. And then he’d ordered Mandy to wait in his office.
Kiah hoped she wouldn’t get into trouble for helping him. He’d tried to explain the situation to the owner but was only given a grunt and a blank stare in acknowledgment. He wasn’t sure what either meant exactly, but they seemed to indicate that his input was not welcome. So he’d shut his mouth. Still, he didn’t want to be responsible for Mandy losing her job.
There was no sign of the woodpecker as Kiah climbed the back porch stairs and stepped into the kitchen. He not so proudly placed the bag beside the bishop.
“So, you returned. Any success?” Bishop Nathan peeked into the bag. His eyes bugged for a moment before he burst out laughing.
Daed’s look clearly asked, What did you do now?
Kiah remained silent. He had nothing to say. Even a flimsy excuse seemed a waste of time. This mission had clearly been doomed from the start.
Joy glanced over her shoulder from where she stood at the sink. “Oh. Ice cream. I’ll get a scoop and bowls. You got chocolate for Hallie, right?”
“Fudge mint.”
Joy frowned.
“Zooks’,” the bishop said.
“Okay.” Joy accepted that. “It’s not great, but it’s edible. Sorry, Kiah. You’re lucky they didn’t try to sell you dill pickle ice cream. I heard they got a semitruck load, last year I think.”
“I heard the same. I thought it was an exaggeration.” Bishop Nathan held up a carton. “But no. They raised prices and then gave away complimentary boxes. Did they give this to you?”
“Seventy-five percent off. But they wouldn’t let me buy the other two flavors without it,” Kiah said.
“I’ll have a talk with Jeremiah Zook tomorrow after services.” Bishop Nathan set the carton down on the table. He looked at Kiah. “He’s the owner of Zooks’.”
“I’ll try the dill pickle ice cream,” Aaron said. “I’ve heard good things about it.”
“I’ll try it, too. Though I haven’t heard good things.” Kiah shuffled his feet and changed the subject. “Are you allowed to ride horses here?” He really wanted Hallie to take him to Hidden Springs. And if she couldn’t hike…
“On trails. Roads have too much traffic,” Aaron answered.
George rose to his feet, snagged the carton of eggnog ice cream, then returned to his seat, but didn’t sit. “Vanilla. My favorite,” he shouted. “Want some, Mildew? Herbert?” He turned to the old man beside him—assumedly his brother—who had yet to say a word.
“May I borrow a horse?” Kiah turned to Ted. “I promise not to race it. Hallie wanted to show me something.”
“I trust Hallie,” Ted said, his tone clearly indicating that between Kiah and his daughter, she was the only one he trusted. “But since she hurt her ankle, I’m not sure she can ride.”
George gripped the carton of ice cream and plopped down on the chair again. It cracked again, louder, then collapsed under his weight.
Kiah sucked in a breath, hurried around the table, and started to bend over George, who let out an ear-piercing wail. “It’s the murderer come to finish the job! Get him away from me!” He burst into tears. He threw the carton of ice cream at Kiah, then attempted to grab his cane.
The bishop moved it out of reach.
“Go. Just go,” Daed hissed. “You’ve done enough damage.”
Kiah frowned. Was Daed seriously blaming him for breaking George’s chair? Or worse, did he believe Kiah truly was a cold-blooded killer? George was responsible for most of the trouble Kiah had gotten into today. But then again, Daed didn’t have the foggiest idea what had truly happened. He just saw Kiah in the middle of it all.
“Go sit with Hallie. I’ll bring your ice cream.” Joy appeared behind him. “Go heal her broken heart.”
Kiah didn’t turn, but he almost imagined the bishop’s gaze pinned on him, silently saying the same thing. Heal her broken heart.
As if he could. Even if he could prove Anna wasn’t the scribe—and it didn’t seem possible she could be—Daed still might make him leave early Monday morning, and honestly, Kiah wanted to spend all the time he could with Hallie. She was the one who claimed his thoughts and heart.
But there was still Daed and the Molly issue.
Kiah sighed.
The way things were going, he’d shatter her heart more.
* * *
Hallie hated being alone in the other room, especially with company there. She was a waitress, trained to serve, and it seemed wrong to sit on the bed in the living room and let her sister and Mammi act as hostesses. Not to mention, doing the cleanup as well.
Though from what she heard, it did seem Joy was holding her own.
Except for the loud, unexplained crash, and George’s screams, followed by wails.
Hallie tossed the mostly thawed ice pack aside, scrambled to her feet, and promptly fell back—half on the bed and half off—when her ankle threatened to give out.
This was not good.
Kiah appeared at Hallie’s side, apparently from nowhere. “Are you okay? I saw you fall. Why were you trying to get up, anyway? Do you need help getting back into bed?” His hands settled on her upper arms, sending delicious sparks through her. He hal
f lifted her, settling her back on the bed.
“I need to be in the kitchen. I heard a crash. What’d you do? Give George a shove?” She was joking.
He frowned and released her, backing away. “Of course not. A chair broke when he plopped down after grabbing the eggnog ice cream. I just happened to be the first person he saw from the floor.”
Hallie’s eyes widened. “Was he hurt?”
He sat in the chair on the other side of the end table that was still between them. “I don’t know. I was sent away when George started worrying that I’d kill him. I wouldn’t, you know. I’m not dangerous.”
“Except to ants.” And hearts.
Kiah sighed and twisted his hands in his lap. “There is that, I guess.” He sighed again. “I asked if you were allowed to ride horseback. Aaron said you could, on trails. Are there trails leading to Hidden Springs?”
“Jah. That is the only way to get there. Don’t worry, Anna knows the way.”
“I want to go with you. Tonight.”
Hallie stared down at her throbbing, worthless ankle. “I can’t walk. Or get on a horse.”
“You could wrap it. And I could carry you and lift you on the horse. I’d ride with you. You could sit in front or back.”
What a choice. In the front, she’d be cocooned in his arms, in the back, he’d be in hers.
“And after dark we could stargaze,” he said.
She glanced out the window at the dimming light. The setting sun painted the sky with shades of lavender, pink, and orange. She’d love to, but…“You should take Anna. Not me.” Her voice broke, because oh, that hurt to say. “You’ll cause serious problems with your relationship with her.”
“I have no relationship with her.” He looked away. “But after all the trouble that managed to find me today, my parents probably won’t let me stay, so I’ll be courting the scribe by mail instead—as I had been. And this way I’ll at least have seen the springs.”
“Courting by mail. Proposing by mail. Marrying by mail.” Jah, she probably was more than a little snarky. “What if it’s to the wrong sister?” She winced and bit her lip to stop the words and emotions from flowing out.
His eyes swung back and snagged hers, holding them captive. “If it’s not you, I’m very afraid it will be. Please, go with me.”
Her stomach clenched as she gazed into his minty green eyes. She’d regret this, for sure and certain, but…“Jah. Jah, I’ll go.”
* * *
Kiah readied the horse Ted said he could use while George—still clutching the unopened carton of eggnog ice cream—and his wife and guests got into George’s buggy. If appearances were to be trusted, he seemed to have survived the broken chair uninjured, but Kiah suspected that Ted was more than a little glad to see them go.
In fact, he was probably passing out the celebratory headache pills to everyone remaining in the kitchen.
Which was probably also why he hadn’t given Kiah the evil eye when granting him permission to go horseback riding. In fact, all he’d done was tell him which horse to take and warn him about racing. Kiah had assured him he wouldn’t, especially since he was taking Hallie. And that had earned him a raised brow, heavy with warning.
Kiah didn’t know what he had to be worried about.
Or maybe he did.
Because Hallie was hot. Honey-blond hair, blue eyes, full, plump, kissable lips, a slender, but curvy body…and something about her personality that snagged his heart and wouldn’t let go. There was sort of a quiet gentleness about her. She was peaceful and calm.
Kiah would just have to ignore that minor problem of how much he wanted Hallie. It should be easy enough. She was injured, so her well-being would be first and foremost, and then the springs would take center stage. Easy breezy. Ted had absolutely nothing to worry about.
He returned inside to carry Hallie out, but found her in the kitchen, hobbling across the floor with the help of some crutches someone had found. Probably Joy, since she bounced along beside her, a big grin on her face. The exact opposite of Hallie’s concentrating frown.
“This is so exciting!” Joy gushed. “Your first date with Kiah. So romantic. You be sure to steal a kiss or two now.”
That earned him scowls from the adults in the room and a gasp from a red-faced Hallie, who stumbled to a halt.
Joy shoved a backpack at him. “I packed cookies, water bottles, and a blanket for stargazing.”
He took the backpack, not sure what else to do. His face burned like fire. “This isn’t a date,” he mumbled.
“Of course it is, sugar.” Hallie’s mammi patted his arm. “I already told you you’re the one who’s going to marry our Hallie.”
Mamm gasped and Daed muttered something under his breath. Kiah’s face burned hotter.
“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.” Hallie moved both crutches backward a step.
Kiah agreed. Sneaking out under the cover of darkness while the rest of the family slept was a much better idea.
“No! You go.” The mammi grabbed Hallie’s hand, then Kiah’s, and placed them together with a squeeze. “Have fun.” She propelled them toward the door. Slowly, because Hallie limped. And resisted. Somewhat. Not real convincingly. Although it probably was hard to hold hands and use crutches at the same time. But he didn’t want to let go.
“But not too much fun,” Ted growled.
“Don’t stay out too late,” Mamm said. “Church tomorrow.”
Kiah didn’t answer because he was too busy enjoying the feel of Hallie’s hand in his. And thinking about boosting her up on the horse, his hands on inappropriate places out of necessity. Then her arms wrapping around his waist, the crutches accidentally-on-purpose left behind…
Of course, in real life, her good ankle was on the leg she lifted into the stirrup to swing herself over, so she only needed minimal help. Though that was good because they still had an audience. Her crutches were handed to Joy, the backpack slung on Hallie’s back, then Kiah climbed on and settled into Hallie’s rather stiff and very loose embrace. She held herself away from him, her hands splayed at his waist.
That was still enough to fry his brain cells. “Which way?” he croaked.
She pointed. “Behind the barn. There’s a trail—”
Whatever else she might’ve said got lost when his brain went on auto-repeat.
Behind the barn. Where couples went to kiss and chaperones turned their backs.
Behind the barn. What went on there, stayed there…
Behind. The. Barn.
Chapter 15
The movements of Licorice walking down the rough and rutted trail jarred Hallie’s ankle even though she’d wrapped it. Tears burned her eyes, and she wanted to pull her leg up close to her, curl into the fetal position, and howl. That wasn’t possible on the rump of a horse. But the spring water was cold, and maybe sticking her foot into it would help to numb the pain. Not to mention, getting off this horse and to the water with the crutches left back at home with Joy meant Kiah would have to carry her. And that just might make the pain worth it.
She just had to survive long enough to get there.
Although it might be a wasted trip, because clouds now covered the moon and not a star was in sight.
She must’ve whimpered or something because Kiah glanced over his shoulder. “Everything okay back there?” His voice was tight.
“Fine, jah. Just great.” She forced the words past the wail that hovered in her throat ready to burst free at the slightest provocation.
He either didn’t hear the pain in her voice or chose to ignore it. He shifted, settling back against her chest. Of their own accord, her arms slipped around his waist and held on. He expelled a soft breath of contentment.
Licorice seemed to take it as an invitation to go faster. Hallie tightened her legs on the horse and her grip on Kiah’s waist. He snuggled closer.
Warmth filled her, waking every nerve ending in her body. The pain in her ankle faded to almost nothing. This, this was won
derful. And unlike anything she’d ever felt before with Toby. Maybe the sun truly was coming up inside while it was starting to set outside. She started to wish…but no, Anna called dibs. But Hallie saw him first. Hallie had written to him for eighteen months. And Hallie loved him.
Too soon, they arrived at the springs. The sound of running water filled the air. Darkness had mostly fallen; a singing group of frogs practiced their vocals with crickets providing backup music. No other humans were there to disrupt the concert.
Without a word, Kiah slid down. “Stay put a minute.” He tethered the horse, then took the backpack Hallie shrugged off her shoulders, opened it, and removed the blanket. He set the bag on the ground. “Let me find some place to put this,” he said, his voice taking on a huskiness that made her shiver.
She pointed a shaky finger. “By the springs. It’s flat and not so rocky.”
“I’ll be right back.” He walked several yards forward, then stopped. “Here?”
“Jah. I guess.” It was kind of hard to tell from where she sat and with the almost nonexistent light.
Kiah shook out the blanket, laid it smooth, then returned to where Hallie waited on the horse. He reached up. “Slide down into my arms. I’ll catch you.”
That would be dangerous. But unless Hallie wanted to stay on the horse, she really had no other option.
She drew in a shaky breath, leaned over, looped her arms around his neck, and slid off Licorice.
Kiah’s hands grasped Hallie’s waist and he lifted her down. His hands trembled against her. For a long second, she hovered there, gazing into his eyes. He glanced at her lips, then up, a question forming with the raising of his brows.
Her lips tingled.
If he were Toby, she would’ve snuggled near and let the kissing commence.
The Amish Secret Wish Page 14