Plain City Bridesmaids

by Dianne Christner

  “I’ll think about it. Maybe I should ask our preacher if this would make a good exception.”

  Chance bristled. “Preacher? As in the guy staying with you? Are you two getting chummier?”

  Embarrassment fell over her to think of the night she spent with him in the root cellar. Chance would definitely consider that chummier. “We’re friends. Having him around is like having a big brother.”

  “Just because you view him as a brother doesn’t mean he sees you as a sister. Better watch how chummy you get with him, unless you want to be a preacher’s wife.” Then he finished off his hot dog and glanced at her paper cup. “You want a drink for the sky?”

  “No. I’m fine.” She wished she hadn’t brought up Micah. Just when she’d thought that Chance was acting reasonably, he’d gotten jealous. She mulled this over as they returned to the plane. She might not get another opportunity alone with him to draw the line in the sand.

  Just before takeoff, she turned to Chance. “Are you jealous of Micah because I said he’s my friend and because I’m cautious about my relationship with you?”

  “Do you blame me?”

  “Micah’s a Mennonite preacher. Even if a friendship with him deepened, it would be acceptable.”

  “So you’re considering a relationship with him?”

  “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”

  He nodded. “Fasten your seat belt, Megan.”

  Frustrated, she prepared for takeoff.

  As the flight progressed, his irritation vanished. Megan was able to relax and enjoy the trip. Once she looked over and caught his gaze. “Thanks for today. You kept your promise. And I appreciate that.”

  He knew exactly what she meant. “I’d keep my promise if you stopped by my place and watch that movie with me, too. I’d be a perfect gentleman.”

  Megan nodded. “I’ll think about it. Right now, I just want to enjoy this plane, the flight.”

  “I get that. This baby is sweet from spinner to rudder. A little bigger than my Cessna in Ecuador, but sweet just the same.”

  “Very sweet,” Megan agreed.

  “How was your flight?”

  Startled, Megan whirled and whipped her hand to her pounding chest. Her purse dropped back onto her car seat. Micah stepped out of the growing shadows, his brow creased in apparent worry. “Great. It was very exciting.”

  “No regrets?” he pressed, studying her carefully.

  “No. Chance was a perfect gentleman. Actually, he doesn’t talk much while he works.” The observation suddenly hit her as amusing. He must not consider the office work, the way he talked nonstop there. Smiling, she determined to tease him about it.

  Micah shook his head. “Your dreamy smile is not a good sign.”

  “No.” She waved her hand through the air. “I was just thinking something about work.”

  “No doubt. And MDS? Were you impressed with them, too?”

  “Yes. We actually never left the airport. They came to us with a UPS van. But we worked hard to get everything unloaded and into the van. They were appreciative for all the supplies.” Megan reached back inside the car for her purse and inclined her head toward the house. They started walking. “I was able to see the devastation from the sky. It’s really unbelievable. It lifted houses off their foundations.”

  Micah fell into step with her. “I was on a volunteer team once. Pretty heart wrenching.”

  “Exactly.” She glanced over. “You have your sermon ready?”

  “Yep. I was just putting an antihistamine in my glove box for tomorrow when I heard you drive in.”

  “I hope you don’t need it.”

  “It’s good to be prepared. My day was more boring than yours, so bear with me if I ask too many questions. What kind of a plane was it?”

  “A Cessna Caravan, single engine. The Caravans are cargo planes. They can even put those floatie things on them for landing in water. I learned quite a bit about planes today. That can’t hurt my job. I’m glad I went.”

  Micah grinned. “You learned about ‘floatie things’?”

  “Fine. Pontoons. But we didn’t need them.”

  “Never been in a small plane.”

  She glanced at him. “You’d like to?”

  He shrugged. “Wouldn’t turn down the chance.”

  She stopped walking. “How thoughtless. I should have invited you along today. Would you have gone?”

  “Probably.”

  “I’m sorry. Next time just tell me.”

  “All right. But my curiosity’s not satisfied.”

  Megan started walking again. “Yes?”

  “What I’m wondering is what did Chance do after you drew the line in the sand?”

  “He was a perfect gentleman.” Reaching for the screen door, she asked, “Any more questions?”

  “What’s for dinner?”

  “Taco salad,” a voice chirped from inside the kitchen. Megan jumped. “Aye, yi, yi! Mom, you scared me.” She frowned at Micah. “You two in cahoots or what?”

  Micah threw up his arms in a gesture of denial.

  “What do you mean?” Mom asked.

  “Oh nothing. It’s just that Micah scared me, too, out by the car.”

  “Maybe you’re just jumpy.” Mom’s piercing gaze held a strange glint, causing Megan to wonder how much her mother had heard of their conversation about Chance.

  Jo,

  My heart’s full of hopes and dreams and questions. Barbara claims nothing is an accident with God, that people’s paths cross for a reason. Chance wants me to take a trip to Ecuador. I have no idea how this would be arranged. But Randy will owe Chance a big favor, and Chance could probably make this happen for me.

  I know flying is not a Conservative thing. But on the mission field, it’s necessary. Chance understands me, the stirring I feel.

  Then there’s Micah. He’s become like a big brother protector. The night spent in the cellar with him was confusing and special, bringing us close. Though we both continue to make light of it, I think he feels it, too. It’s nice to know I have a friend. I don’t blame Lil and Katy for being busy with their own lives.

  CHAPTER 21

  On Sunday after his sermon, Micah tried to figure out why he’d gotten hives again. Speaking in front of a group didn’t make him nervous. He’d earned As in speech class. He liked research and Bible study. Loved the writing process and hoped to branch out in that area.

  Micah savored the intimacy that his sermon preparation created with God. All week long, the Lord gave him spiritual insights and affirmations. He even relished the times when God convicted him of sin.

  But the ultimate fulfillment came during his sermon and afterward, when he saw how the message touched people. Eyes shone with revelation. Faces softened and sometimes sorrowed with repentance. All in all, it blessed him to shepherd a soul into God’s truth. He knew he’d never tire of it.

  So why when he was doing what he loved did he get hives again? Was it some allergy that had nothing to do with his spiritual growth? Or was it God speaking to him? He supposed a man could learn from every experience. But how could he do his job when all he could think about was clawing his face and throat? And it was becoming more difficult to concentrate on his conversation with the librarian when his mind was fixated on the antihistamine bottle in his glove box. He thought grimly that he should have put a capsule in his pocket for good measure.

  “I love the quote you used in your sermon from The Problem of Pain. ‘Pain provides opportunity for heroism; the opportunity is seized with surprising frequency.’ ”

  “Yes, thanks for the book. C. S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers.”

  Lori smiled. “You’re welcome. I also liked the part that age has nothing to do with pain. I know I’ve had my share.”

  Micah scratched the side of his neck, and his nose started tickling from her perfume. “I’m sorry. Glad you found comfort in the sermon.”

  “Oh, I did.”

  Across the vestibule, he saw Me
gan speaking to a petite brunette and wondered if it was her friend Lil. When Lori moved on, he went over to introduce himself.

  “Fletch Stauffer.” The brunette’s husband offered a handshake. “I’m sorry we haven’t met earlier, but we’ve been out of the country.”

  “So I heard. Where did you go, again?”

  “Ethiopia. Taught some classes at the university.”

  “I’ll bet you came back with some great stories.”

  “Lil invited some people for lunch today. Can you come?”

  Micah didn’t miss the frantic note in Lil’s glance, though her smile affirmed her husband’s invitation. The guest list had to include Megan, but he didn’t want to push his way into her circle of friends.

  She touched Lil’s arm. “Micah and I’ve become good friends.”

  “Oh. We’d love to have you, Micah.”

  Fletch gave some quick directions to the doddy house; then the couple departed.

  “You have hives again.” Megan made it sound like he’d done it purposely.

  “Yes, but I have medicine in my car. I’m headed there now. I’m going to swing by my cottage and make sure it settles down first.”

  “Take your time. Lil won’t have the meal ready for at least half an hour. I’ll see you there.”

  “Oh, Brother Zimmerman?”

  Micah pivoted, colliding with Joy Ann’s smile. “Mom wants me to invite you to dinner if you don’t have plans.”

  “I’m sorry. I just accepted another invitation.”

  She furrowed her brow. “From Megan? But you eat with her every day.”

  Micah bristled at her resentful tone. “Fletch Stauffer just returned from a mission trip. I’d like to get to know him.” He tried not to sound defensive, but he shouldn’t have to explain his actions.

  “But they don’t even go to our church anymore. Not since they got married.”

  He hadn’t remembered that. “Will you give your mom my apologies? Maybe I can take a rain check.”

  “Put us on the waiting list then.” She gave him a flirtatious smile. “Hopefully we’re at the top.”

  “Yes. You are.” Now would be the perfect time to employ some of Megan’s woman repellants, only he couldn’t drum up so much as a solitary chuckle. It erupted into an impatient cough. He had a growing inkling that he would end up hurting Joy Ann’s feelings.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow when we count the offering.”

  He needed to tell her that the elders had taken his advice, and a treasurer would be helping her with the offering in the future, but he didn’t want to detain her any longer. He was one-tracked, needing to get to his car and get relief for the fire ants that marched up and down his neck.

  Megan folded the quilt they would use for the picnic while watching Lil’s animated expression.

  “The trip was so good for our marriage. We’d gotten off track, you know.” Lil placed dinnerware in the picnic basket that had once been her grandma’s. “Just a lot of adjustments, and with both of us working, we were getting snappy. So on the long plane ride, we came up with a plan to keep our relationship exciting. Romantic picnics. Our first date was a picnic. So we’re going to plan them around our work schedules.”

  “Nobody said anything about this being a romantic picnic.”

  Lil waved her gloved hand then took the ham out of the oven. “Silly. This is just a fun day with friends.” She shook her head. “I’ve missed you.”

  “Chance goes to Volo Italiano all the time now.”

  “How’s it going with him?”

  “He took me up in a Cessna, yesterday.”

  Lil momentarily froze. “You’re kidding. Why?”

  “While you were gone, Indiana had some tornados. MDS went in to help. We flew in some supplies. I didn’t help with tornado cleanup, just helped unload the supplies. But the plane ride was amazing.”

  “Wow.” Lil eyed her with skepticism. “I didn’t really like flying over the ocean.” She got a knife and carved the meat.

  Megan made sandwiches. “So what was Ethiopia like?”

  “It’s in the Horn of Africa. Mekelle’s one of its largest cities. The market had rows of palm trees. I got some recipes from the locals. You know the recipe book I’m working on?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Since I’m going to be traipsing around the world with Fletch, I thought I’d add an ethnic section. It’ll give me something to focus on while he’s doing his thing.”

  “What was his thing?”

  “He lectured at the university about gross parasites. The place is known for their cows and honey. I brought you back some.”

  Megan shivered. “I hope you mean honey and not parasites.”

  Giggling, Lil touched her arm. “I’m glad to be home, Green Bean. Did I tell you I invited Ivan and Elizabeth? The babies are close in age, and I thought it would be nice.”

  The doddy house was on Elizabeth and Ivan Miller’s property. The young married couple occupied the big house. “Our lives are branching out, aren’t they?” Megan smiled. “Soon you’ll have children, too.”

  Lil leaned close. “I wonder. I thought by now …” She sighed. “It’s all right. I’m enjoying the restaurant, but watching Katy and Elizabeth, the idea of becoming a mom is growing on me.”

  “Katy seems very busy.”

  “But I’ve never known her to be happier. She makes it look easy. Back to Chance. So the flight was strictly work related?”

  “Yeah, but he wants me to go to Ecuador next. Thinks I can find a job there.”

  “What?” Lil looked stricken.

  “It’s just an idea.”

  “I’d hoped to keep you here. But after Ethiopia, I understand you a little better.”

  Katy stepped into the doddy house and hugged Lil’s shoulders. “This is so fun. What can I do to help?”

  “Did you see if Elizabeth had the table set up yet?”

  “She does.”

  Lil closed a plastic container that held the sandwiches they’d just prepared. “Let’s start carrying the food out.”

  As they moved onto the porch, they saw Micah drive in. “So you and Micah are friends now, too?”

  “Yeah, the night we spent together in the storm cellar pretty much cemented our friendship.”

  Katy’s eyes widened. “You what?”

  “When the tornado came through. We got trapped in there when the tree fell on the house.”

  “Dad told me about rescuing you guys,” Lil admitted. “Said Bill wants to keep it quiet.”

  “What happened?” Katy asked.

  “I was so scared, but Micah protected me. He’s like a big brother.”

  “If you’re looking for a brother, you can have one of mine,” Lil scoffed.

  As Megan helped spread the quilts on the ground, she saw Elizabeth leading Fletch their way. “Let’s drop it for now.”

  Fletch clamped Micah’s shoulder. “You’re just in time to say grace.”

  During the meal, Fletch shared stories about his work in Ethiopia. Lil kept an adoring eye on him and interjected colorful tidbits. Megan nibbled one of Lil’s cookies and rubbed little Jacob’s back until he drifted asleep on the quilt.

  When Micah finished eating, he swept up Elizabeth’s fussing toddler and took him a safe distance from the sleeping baby. He tossed the child in the air until he giggled.

  Katy watched him. “You’ve missed it, Lil. Regardless how brother-like he is, Micah’s caused quite a stir in the community.”

  Lil glanced at Megan as if she’d been holding back on her. “He’s single.” Megan shrugged, as if that explained everything to Lil.

  Katy traced a finger across the back of sleeping Jacob’s neck. “I believe Joy Ann has set her cap for him.”

  Lil pierced Megan with a gaze that demanded honesty. “But you’re not interested in him?”

  “I’m very interested in him. As our next preacher. I’m probably his biggest supporter.”

  Lil’s gaze swept back to Micah. �
��From what I see, I like him.”

  “We like him, too,” Elizabeth chimed in. “It’s time for somebody younger to take over the reins at Big Darby.”

  Jacob stirred, and Katy withdrew her hand. “When we were kids, you always said you wanted to marry a preacher.”

  “Or a missionary,” Megan reminded her friend.

  “Lil got the missionary. But there’s an available preacher who’s watching you with interest.”

  “Elizabeth, don’t pay any attention to these two.”

  The other woman grinned. “Here he comes now.”

  “Shh!” Megan warned them.

  “The little guy’s strong.” Micah lowered the toddler and watched him run to Ivan.

  At some point, Micah had unbuttoned the top of his white shirt. He didn’t know it, but when he’d been roughhousing, his shirttail had worked out of his trousers. A light breeze ruffled his hair, disarraying its absurd, deep side-part. A tender, protective feeling welled up in Megan. He was much better looking than she’d ever given him credit for. She could understand why Joy Ann and Lori were smitten.

  He must have sensed her watching him, or else he’d known that the women were talking about him. He brushed her with a soft gaze and quirked the corner of his mouth. And Megan couldn’t deny being his biggest supporter.

  After Micah left the picnic, Ivan took the men to the barn to look at some new farm equipment. Katy and Elizabeth put the babies in strollers, and the women took a leisurely walk past cornfields and ditches covered in spires of purple loosestrife. Although Megan’s nose tickled and a dull headache settled in behind her eyes, she kept it to herself. She didn’t want to spoil one of the rare moments when the friends could all be together.

  CHAPTER 22

  Megan’s headache had increased by the time she returned home. Deep in her thoughts, she entered the house through the kitchen and walked toward the refrigerator.

  “Just look at the floor! And I mopped it yesterday.”

  Megan whirled, following her mom’s gaze. “Was that me? I’m sorry.”

  “Not just you. Everybody!” Mom exclaimed. “And I suppose you’re hungry now?”

  Megan took out a pitcher of iced tea. “No, I was just getting something to wash down a painkiller. I told you I was going over to Lil’s, didn’t I?” For the life of her, Megan couldn’t figure out why her mom was acting snippy.