by Sarah Price
“Oh joy!”
Rachel pursed her lips and gave him a sharp look. “How fortunate for us, indeed.”
Once again, Jonas didn’t seem put out by their mockery. Instead, he grinned. “I just knew you’d come around to my way of thinkin’!”
Ignoring him, Rachel started to climb the steps to the porch. She stopped at the door, peering around Ella Mae to look him over. “Clearly you haven’t changed one bit since we were younger. Always were a bit of a bobble-moul!”
Before Jonas could react to being called a blabbermouth, a noise behind Rachel caught her off guard. She didn’t see the screen door open, nor did she see the large, looming figure of a man walk through the doorway. What she did see, however, was herself unexpectedly seated on her rump on the porch floor, the tips of her black boots practically touching the man’s feet.
Jonas burst into laughter.
“Oh, hush, you!” Rachel snapped. Though it had been an accident, she felt the heat crawl to her cheeks. The last person she wanted to witness her embarrassment was Jonas. Just when she had been feeling a bit more confident.
“You okay?”
If her cheeks had turned pink moments before, she knew they were bright red now. She couldn’t bring herself to look up at the man standing before her. Surely that was Jeremiah, Jonas’s older brother. The humiliation of having run into him—literally—and having Jonas, of all people, laugh at her was almost too much to bear.
Jeremiah’s hand wrapped around hers as he pulled her to an upright position. Rachel was surprised at the strength of his grasp. Once she stood before him, she couldn’t help but stare into his face. He might be related to Jonas Esh, but he looked nothing like his brother. Rather than appearing cherubic, his cheeks were more chiseled and his nose a bit narrower. And he was lean. Tall and lean like a young willow tree.
“You okay?” he repeated.
It was all Rachel could do to nod her head.
If Jonas Esh hadn’t changed one bit from his youthful days of teasing and torturing them whenever the families got together, Jeremiah Esh most certainly had.
“I . . . I’m fine,” she managed to say. Feeling conspicuous, she brushed off the front of her dress. “I didn’t see you, I reckon.”
He smiled, but unlike Jonas’s, it was a kind smile. “I reckon not.” Slowly, he released his grip on her. “I should’ve looked out before I opened the door anyway.” There was an apologetic tone to his words. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
She nodded her head, taking a moment to steal another peek at him. She could hardly believe her eyes. When had Jeremiah grown to be so handsome?
She felt a nudge in her back. Ella Mae.
“Ja?”
“Move.”
Rachel blinked. She hadn’t realized that she was blocking the doorway. Jeremiah couldn’t get out, and Ella Mae couldn’t get in. Once again, she felt the color rise to her cheeks. “Oh. Sorry.” She stepped to the side, but at the same time, Jeremiah moved in the same direction. For the second time, they bumped into each other.
He gave a soft laugh under his breath. “I’d say we’re both dappich.”
Rachel pressed her lips together. She didn’t want him thinking that she was clumsy. Normally she wasn’t.
“Tell you what,” he said teasingly. “I’ll stand right here, and you go on. That way all this knocking around will stop.”
She raised her eyes to meet his, expecting to find him mocking her. Instead, there was something soft and gentle in his expression. Once again, she couldn’t believe that she had never noticed him before. Not like this. Of course, she hadn’t seen him very often over the years, not since they’d all grown up. She remembered him as a gangly, long-legged teenager whose hair was constantly flopping in his face.
But Jeremiah Esh was nothing like that now.
Rachel tipped her head and moved past him through the open door. She felt her arm brush against his, and it sent an electric thrill through her body. For a brief moment, she paused, fighting the urge to glance at him one last time. But Ella Mae was too close and gave her a gentle shove.
By the time Rachel could look, Jeremiah was already gone.
Once the door was shut, Ella Mae tapped Rachel’s arm.
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Rachel said quickly. “Just knocked the wind out of me, that’s all.”
“Hmm.”
Even Rachel knew that her explanation sounded less than convincing. But it was all she was willing to offer her sister.
ELLA MAE
CHAPTER 6
“What’s wrong with you today, Rachel?” Ella Mae hissed through clenched teeth.
Glancing over her shoulder at the long table that spanned the length of Edna’s large, open kitchen, Ella Mae cringed at the sight of at least twenty Englischers sitting there. They were seated on long benches that flanked the sides of two tables that had been pushed together. From the looks of it, the middle-aged women were enjoying their noon meal, completely oblivious to Edna’s bustling about among her guests, refreshing their water glasses and ensuring that they didn’t need any platters refilled.
Ella Mae wouldn’t normally care that she was stuck in the kitchen section of the room: it saved her from having to interact with the Englischers. But Rachel had been almost no help all morning.
Twice already, Rachel had dropped butter onto the floor, and three times Ella Mae had to remind her sister to stir the gravy so it wouldn’t scald. Earlier, Rachel had almost scorched the rolls, and she’d forgotten to put the pies in the oven so they would be ready in time for dessert. Why, if Ella Mae didn’t know better, she’d think her sister was trying to sabotage their efforts to help Edna!
It wasn’t that Ella Mae particularly enjoyed working at the Esh household. No, that wasn’t it at all. It had only been two days, and if truth be told, the work wasn’t that demanding. Despite the long bicycle ride to get there, she actually found it was much more pleasant than working at the market or one of the stores in town. Besides, Ella Mae knew that they’d get what for from their mother if either of them did something to upset Edna.
“Are you feeling poorly?” Ella Mae asked, snatching the butter dish away from Rachel. She set it on the counter closest to where the guests were seated so that Edna could bring it to the table. “Because if you are, you should’ve said so before we left the haus.”
“Hmm? Did you say something?”
Ella Mae grunted and rolled her eyes. “You’re acting all out of sorts.” She nudged her sister to the side and took over scooping the applesauce from the glass jars into the large serving bowls. “Why don’t you go outside for a while? I can handle this.” She motioned toward the door. “Besides, you’re not helping anyway!”
As if trying to prove Ella Mae wrong, Rachel hurried to the kitchen sink and began running the water. “I’m fine, I’m fine.”
For a long second, Ella Mae watched as Rachel tried to focus on washing the dirty bowls in the sink. But it didn’t take long for Rachel to pause, her eyes gazing out the window as if seeking something.
Before she could say anything to her sister, Edna hurried over to where they were working. “Girls!” She positioned herself between them. “I need one of you to go to the barn. I have a deep freezer out there in the back by the milking refrigeration system. We’re going to need more corn. It’s in plastic bags.”
Ella Mae was about to volunteer Rachel, but Edna motioned for her to run the errand.
“And when you get it, quickly heat it up on the stove with a little salt and chopped parsley.” Edna eyed Ella Mae in a suspicious sort of way. “‘Little’ means little. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.”
As if Ella Mae didn’t already know that!
“And check on the kitten, please, Ella Mae. It’s in the back room with the hay. Might need more milk.”
Once outside, Ella Mae wandered over to the barn. She couldn’t help but reflect on her sister’s odd behavior. Usually Rac
hel was so focused and attentive to details. What on earth could have her so distracted today?
She found her way to the back room where the hay was stacked and easily found the nest that Edna had made for the kitten. Quietly, she crept toward the nest and peered inside. The gray kitten was curled in a little ball, one tiny paw over its head. The little dish of milk was still filled and the kitten appeared more than content.
“What ho!”
Ella Mae froze.
Surely that was Jonas in the doorway.
She pressed her lips together and put her hands on her hips, prepared to give him a tongue-lashing. He’d been nothing but a thorn in her side since yesterday, and frankly, she was tired of him and his cheeky attitude. Yesterday, out of respect for Edna, she had decided to ignore him as best she could. Besides, he had focused much of his attention on Rachel, and, without doubt, Rachel could handle the likes of Jonas Esh. But now that Ella Mae stood there alone, she knew he’d have no reason not to taunt her. Well, she thought, bring it on. In the barn with no witnesses, she knew she had the perfect opportunity to set him straight once and for all.
“What’re you doing?”
“Fetching corn for your maem.”
He snickered. “Reckon you’re going the wrong way, since the corn is in the freezer room over yonder.”
Slowly, Ella Mae stood up and turned around. She wasn’t surprised to see Jonas Esh leaning against the doorframe. Despite the sunny day, he wasn’t wearing a hat, so his curly, dark hair bounced with each step as he followed her.
“God permits U-turns,” she started. “Fortunately for your sake.”
She thought she heard him chuckle, but she dismissed it and brushed past him as she headed down the small hallway toward the main part of the barn. It was darker in that section of the building, and she was immediately overcome with a pungent odor. The familiarity of the smell stopped her from wrinkling her nose, even though it was definitely stronger than at her grandparents’ farm. Her father didn’t have any cows, but she’d been around enough dairy barns to be comfortable with the scent of cow manure.
Unfortunately, once inside, she didn’t know where the refrigeration containment room was. She looked around, noticing several doors toward the far side of the dairy barn.
“Looking for something?”
Ella Mae took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He was following her.
“Nothing I can’t find, I’m sure.” She didn’t want his help. He was far too cocky and forward for her liking. The less said to him, the better.
“Well, no sense wandering around aimlessly.” He appeared beside her, a big grin on his face. “Let me help you. It’s not as if I’m busy.”
“Hmph. I can see that.” Why was he not working anyway? When they’d arrived earlier, Ella Mae had seen Elmer Esh and his oldest son, John, heading out to the field with a team of mules and a hay cutter. Even though he was off from his job for the month, there was always plenty of work to do around a farm. “And why is that? Shouldn’t you be helping your daed and bruder with the cutting?”
Jonas hooked his thumbs under his suspenders and rocked back and forth on his heels. “Not today. I’m building an outbuilding for my maem’s business.” He tilted his head toward the left even though Ella Mae couldn’t see where he indicated. “On the far side of the haus.”
“Then shouldn’t you be doing that?”
His grin widened. “Aren’t you the spicy one, then!”
Clearly, rather than being deterred by her attitude, he was incited. Ella Mae rolled her eyes, not caring that this time he knew he was getting under her skin. “Where’s the room with the freezer, Jonas?” she asked at last. The sooner she got back inside with Edna, the sooner she’d be rid of her exasperating youngest son.
For once, Jonas didn’t have a wisecracking remark. He motioned with his hand. “Follow me.”
He led her down the long aisle of empty feeding stalls where the cows were penned in the evening. She noticed that everything was clean, the manure having been raked away and the concrete hosed down. Most dairies were not kept quite so spotless. Why, just a few weeks ago, she’d visited her friend Martha Troyer at her father’s farm and she’d been repulsed to see a dead calf in the mud toward the back of the barn. When she’d pointed it out to Martha, her friend had merely shrugged and commented that she’d remind her brother, again, to remove it.
When Jonas stopped in front of a door with six glass panes, he leaned against the wall and pointed. “In there.”
Ella Mae eyed him suspiciously before she entered. Was he tricking her? She could envision him being the sort of mischievous young man who would do such a thing.
“What?”
She shook her head. “Nothin’.” She peered inside and saw a long freezer unit. Satisfied, she entered the room. He didn’t walk in with her but remained standing on the other side of the open door.
“I sure didn’t peg you and your schwester as being so handy in the kitchen,” she heard him say.
For a moment, she considered pretending she hadn’t heard him, instead focusing her attention on rummaging through the freezer for the large plastic bags of corn. But as she repeated his words in her head, she frowned. Why Jonas Esh should have an opinion about either her or her sister was beyond her! Even more perplexing, why should he care enough to make such a remark? “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You two aren’t known for being . . .” He paused, a sheepish look crossing his face.
Determined, she straightened and stared directly at him, her clenched fists resting upon her hips. “Being what?”
“Well, truth be told, you two ain’t known for being so cooperative.”
Ella Mae narrowed her eyes, giving him a fierce look. “You don’t even know us.”
“But I know of you, that’s for sure and certain.” He leaned against the doorframe. “Some of it’s true, I see. You’re both rather feisty, aren’t you?” He chuckled softly. “But I reckon all those naysayers and gossip-mongers never really took the time to get to know you well enough. If I was a gambling man—”
“I hope you aren’t!” she interrupted.
“—and I’m not,” he continued, giving her a sideways look of rebuke, “I’d bet you both have a whole other side.” He leaned over and whispered, “A hidden side. Mayhaps you don’t even know it’s there yet.”
Furious, she reached for the corn, grabbing the largest bag from the rear of the freezer and yanking it out. With her free hand, she slammed the lid shut. “That’s ridiculous!” Clutching the bag, she stormed past him. “And what would you know about it anyway? You and all of your teasing and joking. Mayhaps you need a hidden side.”
He smiled. “Mayhaps I have one.”
“Highly unlikely.”
Furious, Ella Mae stormed past him and hurried out of the barn.
Who did Jonas think he was, saying such an insulting thing to her? Obviously, he was a man who listened to gossip and formed opinions based on what he heard instead of forming his own from experience. And all that nonsense about having a secret side to her personality? That, too, was an insult.
Besides, who was he to talk? Why, Jonas Esh was a lot different from any other Amish man she’d ever met. And not in a good way. She didn’t think she liked him one bit.
EDNA
CHAPTER 7
“So those Schwartz schwesters. How long are they working here?”
Edna had just sliced the apple pie for dishing onto their dessert plates when Jonas asked the question.
The evening meal had been a lively affair, with Elmer recounting stories about his visit with Martin King in Nappanee. They’d been friends for almost forty years, and Elmer sure had enjoyed the day with his old friend. Both Jonas and Jeremiah had been quieter than usual, but Edna hadn’t thought too much about it. She’d been too focused on Elmer.
Now that May was almost here, the days were slowly getting longer and hotter. With longer days, that meant more time working outside, which tran
slated to less energy by the time supper rolled around, though it rarely impacted the men’s hearty appetites.
“For the season, at least,” Edna responded. “Why do you ask?”
“They working out all right for you, then?”
That question came from Jeremiah.
“It’s only been two days, so I reckon I can’t answer that.” Although, in hindsight, Edna knew that today had gone much better than yesterday. There had been less bickering between the two girls, and Rachel hadn’t been quite as talkative. And, surprisingly, Ella Mae had made that corn just right for the guests, adding the perfect amount of parsley and salt. Edna remained cautiously optimistic. “Yet.”
“Both those girls,” Jonas said, shaking his head, “sure are mouthy.”
Jeremiah snorted. “Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.”
Jonas tossed a roll at his brother, who, without blinking an eye, caught it and then took a big bite.
“Now, now!” Elmer narrowed his eyes and pointed at Jonas with his fork. “That’s not proper behavior at the table.”
“Aw, I’m just joking around, Daed.”
“Mayhaps a bit less joking and more eating,” Elmer retorted, glancing down at the half-eaten plate in front of his son. “What’s the matter? Not feeling well? Or did you sneak too much pie from your maem’s guests?”
Edna could see the meal conversation heading south quickly, so she changed the topic.
“How’s the outbuilding coming along, Jonas?”
The question shifted the energy in the room, which was exactly what she had hoped would happen. Jonas lit up and leaned forward. Whenever it came to carpentry, he grew excited. It hadn’t always been that way.
Not so long ago, he’d been working as a farmer. His enthusiasm level for milking cows and baling hay was about a two on a scale of one to ten. In fact, looking back, Edna realized that he’d been rather miserable. Farmwork had never been his thing. But someone had to work the farm while the oldest brother, John, worked in town at the auction house. When times had gotten lean, it had been his lot in life to find a job elsewhere to help the family pay the bills.