Amish White Christmas
Contains THREE complete stories
Snowflakes on Goose Pond
*
Snow Angels
*
The Gingerbread Haus
© 2012 by Samantha Jillian Bayarr
Cover/internal design © 2012 Livingston Hall Publishers
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form either written, photocopying, or electronically without the express permission of the author or publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and are therefore used fictitiously. Any similarity or resemblance to actual persons; living or dead, places or events is purely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.
All scripture references in this book used from New International Version of the Bible
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SNOWFLAKES ON GOOSE POND
A Novella
Chapter One
“Ruby, stop showing off,” Priscilla reprimanded her cousin. “It isn’t going to make Jesse Fisher notice you.”
Priscilla, or Prissy, as Ruby had always called her overbearing cousin, could be rude and downright embarrassing at times. Prissy had suddenly become very bossy toward her, constantly reminding Ruby that she was a few months older. Ruby had wished more than once that her cousin had never come to live in the same community. At first she had been excited, having not seen Prissy for more than a year, but now that they had been baptized, Prissy had turned competitive, vying for the attention of all the eligible menner in their youth group—especially Jesse Fisher.
“I’m not showing off, Prissy. I can’t help it that I’m a gut skater. It’s taken years of practice to skate this well.”
Priscilla narrowed her eyes at Ruby. “I don’t like the way Jesse is looking at you.”
“I don’t even like him,” Ruby said in her defense. “You can have him. You two seem to have a lot in common. You’re both rude.”
She hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but Prissy was becoming so irritating she could barely stand to be around her anymore. She especially hadn’t meant to call Jesse rude, because truthfully, she liked him, but was afraid to admit it.
Priscilla pursed her lips “Well, you’re no picnic either Ruby—you’re boring!” She skated toward Jesse’s group, leaving Ruby feeling guilty for her harsh words.
Ruby had always thought of Jesse Fisher as unreachable. Though he was two years older than Ruby, she had been aware of his popularity from the time they were in school. Even now, Jesse was the center of all the attention from all the women in the youth group—especially from Priscilla. He was the most handsome, and everyone liked him—even Ruby, who found him to be almost as overbearing as Prissy sometimes.
Ruby skated further away from her cousin, trying to enjoy the snowflakes that gathered on the thick surface of the frozen pond. She was aware that Jesse watched her, but she didn’t understand why. She loved to skate more than anything, and had even learned to inline skate over the summer when she’d finally saved up enough money to purchase a pair of the popular skates. At nearly twenty-three, her bruder, Gabriel, had teased her and told her she was too old for such a thing, but skating made her happy. With no offers for buggy rides from any of the menner in the youth group, she needed something to occupy her free time.
It wasn’t that Ruby was trying to make herself unavailable for dates; she simply wasn’t being asked. She assumed it was because she wasn’t as talkative as Priscilla, but sometimes, Ruby thought Priscilla talked too much. Her cousin had made a point to be the center of attention ever since she’d come to live in the community, and Prissy sure did let everyone know she was there. Gabriel had referred to their cousin as a squeaky wheel, and Ruby agreed.
Gliding happily across to the other side of the large pond, Ruby felt free from the watchful eyes of Prissy and Jesse. Being younger than Prissy, Ruby could only guess that Jesse and his friends watched her looking for a reason to tease her. Jesse’s friends were often overheard teasing others in the youth group, and Ruby believed they acted that way because they were immature and insecure. She’d never seen or heard anything of the sort from Jesse himself, but the crowd he kept did not do well for his reputation in Ruby’s opinion. None of them ever skated; they stood at the edge of the pond and made jokes whenever someone would slip on the ice. It angered Ruby that they showed up only for the opportunity to tease others.
The sun began to sink over the horizon, but Ruby continued to skate away from the others. She formed a figure-eight as she skimmed the ice effortlessly. When she skated, she felt free from the pressure of responsibilities to care for her daed and bruder—free from Prissy’s ridicule. The blades of her skates scraped the ice as she stopped suddenly, spraying a wave of ice and snow toward an onlooker—Jesse Fisher.
Thinking she had been alone, Ruby wondered how Jesse had managed to walk the perimeter of the pond without her noticing. But suddenly, he was standing at the edge watching her as though she was performing just for him. Feeling embarrassed, she non-conspicuously looked around to see if anyone had followed him to the far edge of the pond. He stood there alone, and even Prissy was nowhere in sight. Why had he followed her, and why was he so interested in watching her?
It made her nervous.
Trying her best to ignore Jesse’s presence at the edge of the pond, Ruby skated and twirled her most favorite moves across the ice. Was she showing off for Jesse? Perhaps just a little, but it made her feel important that he should choose to watch her so closely. Was it possible that he was about to ask her for a sleigh ride? She had walked to the skating party with Prissy, and it was beginning to get dark—perfect for a romantic sleigh ride with Jesse.
Chapter Two
“I’d love a ride home, Jesse,” Prissy said, flirtation dripping from her tongue.
Where had Prissy come from? Hadn’t Jesse just asked Ruby if he could give her a ride home? They were the only two people at the far end of the pond—weren’t they? But there was Prissy, accepting an invitation and intruding on Ruby’s one chance to get a sleigh ride from the most handsome mann in the youth group.
Jesse cleared his throat. “I would be happy to take you both home,” he offered.
Ruby fumed.
He had asked her—hadn’t he? But before she could give her answer, Prissy had pushed her way into Ruby’s one chance at finding out why Jesse would ask her in the first place. Or had she imagined he’d asked her—only because that is what she hoped for deep down somewhere in her subconscious?
Priscilla’s farm was further from the pond than Ruby’s, which meant the two of them would ride alone for nearly half a mile after dropping her off. That was plenty of time for Prissy to talk ill of Ruby behind her back. It saddened her to think that her cousin was capable of such a thing, but she wouldn’t be surprised if Prissy did exactly that.
Jesse helped them into his sleigh one-by-one, Priscilla lingering over the hand he offered in assistance. Ruby had never been that close to Jesse, and his deep blue eyes paralyzed her for a moment, holding her captive in the kindness she’d never seen in them. She
wasn’t prepared to see kindness in his eyes, and it erased every ill thought she’d ever had about him. Was it possible he was not like his friends? They were crude at times, but up-close, Jesse didn’t fit that description at all.
Ruby settled in on the end of the bench seat of the sleigh while Jesse sat on the other side of Priscilla. A low giggle erupted from her cousin as Jesse settled in beside her. Could she be any more obvious? Ruby tried not to let Prissy bother her as she forced herself to enjoy her first sleigh ride with a mann—even if she wasn’t alone with him.
I can dream, can’t I? If I look up into the sky and watch the snowflakes blending with the stars, I can pretend we are alone on such a romantic night as this…
“Ruby, get out of the sleigh,” Prissy was shouting at her.
Embarrassed, Ruby hadn’t realized they had stopped in front of her haus, and was grateful it was too dark for Jesse to see her inflamed cheeks. How had they gotten to her farm so quickly? She jumped down from the sleigh before Jesse had the chance to assist her.
“Will I see you at the pond tomorrow?” Jesse asked in his smoky baritone.
His question surprised Ruby, but the look in his eyes was hopeful. Confused, Ruby merely nodded.
“Can we go?” Prissy called from the sleigh. “I’m cold.”
Prissy’s whining broke the spell between Ruby and Jesse, and he excused himself abruptly. Ruby watched as he climbed back up next to Prissy and grabbed the reins. She hadn’t moved from the center of the bench even though Ruby was no longer next to her. Tipping her head over her shoulder, Prissy flashed Ruby a crooked smile of satisfaction before Jesse’s sleigh took off. Ruby’s heart sank as she watched them disappear into the snowy night.
****
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we were engaged by Christmas,” Prissy boasted with a prideful tone.
Ruby tried her best to ignore her cousin as they walked to Goose Pond. If what Prissy was saying was true, then Ruby didn’t stand a chance with Jesse, and she had imagined the brief connection between them last night. It was probably for the best. Perhaps having a beau would calm Prissy and keep her out of Ruby’s hair. Even if Ruby had taken a sudden interest in Jesse, it didn’t mean she would be the one to win his heart. Not if Prissy had anything to do with it. As competitive as Prissy was, she would make certain that Ruby had no chance with Jesse if it was up to her.
Stepping onto the ice, Ruby skated away from Prissy and the gathering crowd of youth. She wanted to be alone—free to skate—the only thing that made her happy. She needed to clear her head of thoughts of hope where Jesse was concerned. She would never begrudge her cousin the chance at happiness, and that meant she had to let go of all romantic thoughts of Jesse. It seemed that Gott had other plans for her life, and it just didn’t include Jesse—no matter how much she might have wanted it to.
Snow falling at her feet made skating a bit more challenging, but Jesse’s friends would be along soon with brooms to clear the ice. Ruby didn’t mind the snow as she twirled, her face aimed at the sky. Cold snowflakes touched her cheeks as she closed her eyes and twirled, oblivious of her surroundings. She was one with the ice, in her own world with the snow that drifted thick from the gray sky above.
“You make it look so easy.”
Jesse’s smoky voice startled her, nearly causing her to fall. How had he gotten so close to her again without her being aware of his presence?
Ruby didn’t look him in the eye for fear he would hypnotize her again with his charm. “I’ve been skating since I could walk.”
“You’ve improved over the years. It seems every year I see a new move that astonishes me. That spin you just did is a new one.”
Ruby stopped and stared at him, surprised once again by his statements. He had noticed her over the years enough to know her skating had improved? Was this some kind of joke?
Jesse pushed the broom sheepishly, clearing the snow in her path. “I was hoping you would consider teaching me to skate.”
Chapter Three
Ruby nearly lost her footing on the ice with Jesse so near. Had he just asked her to teach him how to skate?
Jesse waved the broom in front of her. “Did you hear me, Ruby?”
He knows my name! He’s been watching me skate all these years! Is it possible he likes me?
“I’d like to skate at the Christmas party, but I don’t know how. Will you teach me? I’m willing to pay you for the lessons,” he offered.
There it was. The Christmas Skate consisted generally of couples, and hopefuls. Since he’d offered to pay her and hadn’t invited her to the Skate, she could only believe he intended to ask Prissy. All he wanted from her was skating lessons so he could ask her cousin to the Christmas Skate. Prissy had talked the whole morning about the romantic connection they’d made when he’d taken her home last night. Ruby sank her teeth into her bottom lip to squelch the tears that pooled behind her eyes and agreed to be his coach. She would do it for her cousin’s sake, even though Prissy did not deserve Ruby’s kindness.
“Do you have skates?”
“Nee, but I can get some later this afternoon and have them for tomorrow,” Jesse said eagerly.
“No need to pay me,” Ruby said, trying not to grit her teeth. “You can learn without skates for now. Your first lesson will be easier without the skates. I can begin with teaching you the basics about how to glide across the ice.”
Jesse stood close to Ruby, his nearness stealing away her every thought. How was she going to manage teaching him to skate if he was going to stand this close to her the entire time? His blue eyes sparkled at her, capturing her gaze in his. She tried to look away, but she was frozen like an icicle, unable to move. The curve of his smile was gentle and inviting, pulling her deeper into her romantic thoughts she had tried to rid herself of only a few moments before.
Ruby steeled her emotions against his charm, and willed herself not to think of Jesse skating with Prissy. She would do what he asked of her and be done with him—both of them. She breathed a quick prayer asking for strength to endure this trial and keep her from feeling jilted.
Jesse lowered the broom to the ice and smiled brightly. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“What’s going on here?” Prissy asked with an accusatory tone.
How had she managed to sneak up on them a second time? Ruby chided herself for being so wrapped up in Jesse’s masculine facade that she’d missed Prissy’s approach.
“I’m teaching him to skate,” Ruby said, this time through gritted teeth.
Priscilla smiled knowingly at Jesse. “Teach him well, Ruby.” Priscilla looped her hands in the lapel of Jesse’s navy, wool coat. “I don’t want him falling on me during the Christmas Skate Party on Saturday.”
With a flirtatious wink, she skated off, her ankles wobbling on the uneven surface of the frozen pond. Ruby couldn’t look at Jesse. It was obvious there was something going on between the two of them. Why hadn’t he asked Prissy to teach him to skate? She wasn’t a bad skater—not as accomplished as Ruby, but she would have been able to teach him the basics. Ruby suddenly felt used, but she’d already agreed to teach Jesse, and now she wished she hadn’t.
Jesse followed her as she went over to the wooden bench at the far end of the pond and sat to remove her skates. It would be easier to teach him if they were both wearing boots.
Bending down, Jesse grabbed the laces on her skate. “Let me help you with that.”
Too shocked to argue, Ruby watched Jesse untie the laces of her skates and pull them off her feet. Why was he being so nice to her? Because he was getting free lessons from her? Nonetheless, her skin tingled at his touch, and she worried he could sense that his attention was sending her the wrong idea about their new arrangement.
Jesse cupped her stocking feet in his strong hands.
“Your feet are already freezing. Would you rather wait until tomorrow?”
Ruby was tempted to pull her feet away, but somehow couldn’t. “My feet are always cold. I�
�m used to it and love to skate, so it goes along with the sacrifice I make for the sake of being able to enjoy the ice.”
“Why do you do it? Skate, I mean…why is it so important to you?” He held fast to her toes, determined to warm her up before returning to the ice.
Ruby gulped down the lump in her throat. No one had ever asked her why she was so passionate about skating. Was he really interested, or just passing the time so he could flirt with her? If caught, his actions could be misinterpreted, but at the moment, she didn’t care.
“Mei mamm started teaching me to skate when I was three years old. She died just after I finished school. When I skate, it makes me feel closer to her.”
Jesse looked up at her with solemn eyes. She could see sincerity in them that was never there before. Was it possible that he was different from the friends he ran around with?
“Was your mamm a gut skater like you are?”
Ruby smiled, unable to help herself as she gazed upon his sparkling blue eyes and dimples that tempted her to kiss his cheeks.
“Nee, she was much more graceful than I am out on the ice. When she would skate, it was like she was one with the ice—like she had been born with skates on. That’s what mei daed used to say to her.”
Jesse smiled, but a shadow suddenly blocked out the sun.
Prissy stood with hands on her hips, her lips forming a disappointing line. “What is going on here?”
Chapter Four
Ruby abruptly pulled her feet from Jesse’s grasp as he stood at attention. “We didn’t see you walk up,” he stammered.
Priscilla scowled at him. “Apparently not! What do you think you’re doing touching Ruby’s feet like that?”
Jesse cleared his throat. “I was trying to warm up her feet—they were cold as the icy pond.”
Amish White Christmas: Three Complete Novellas (Snowflakes on Goose Pond, Snow Angels, The Gingerbread Haus {Amish Christian Romance}) Page 1