“I remember that one,” Nathan said. He was sitting in his chair with an open book in his lap.
“I think all schoolchildren must learn it.” She traced Charity’s dainty eyebrow with the tip of her finger.
“Davis finally hired another feller. The man is every bit as good as Ricky was.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
He cleared his throat nervously. “I’ve been reconsidering your situation here.”
She stopped rocking. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve decided that you should be their kinder heeda. I’m not going to look for anyone else.”
She could barely believe her ears. “Do you mean it?”
“I have to think about what’s best for them. It’s clear you love them. You’re a sensible woman. I think you’re the best person for the job.”
Tears sprang to Maisie’s eyes. “Oh, Nathan, how can I thank you?”
“You’ve been caring for them and doing it well in spite of my objections. You might as well be paid for the position.”
Her heart was so full of joy that she didn’t know what to say. She bent and kissed Charity on the cheek. “Do you hear that? I’m going to take care of you for as long as you and your brother need me.”
“We should discuss living arrangements.” Nathan rubbed his hand nervously on the arm of his chair.
“Okay.”
“You can’t continue staying here. It was understandable when you first arrived, but now you will need your own place.”
He didn’t want her here. He had made that abundantly clear from the start. It shouldn’t hurt to hear him say it again, but it did. “How will you manage to take care of them through the night and still work if I’m not here?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. If you agree, the babies can spend the nights with you through the week and then with me over the weekend. Say Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.”
“That sounds reasonable. I’ll have to start looking for a place to rent. Nathan, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.”
“Then all we have to do is agree on your salary.”
“I can’t take money for watching my niece and nephew.”
“You can’t live on air. I don’t know how you are set financially, but I suspect you aren’t wealthy.”
That made her laugh. “Hardly.”
“Then you must treat this as a paying position. Will you be going to the frolic tomorrow?”
“Of course. And you?”
“It’s time I started helping my fellow man again. I’ve been holed up for long enough.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” It was what she wanted for him. For him to move forward with his life and leave the bitterness and unhappiness behind.
“I reckon I’ll see you early in the morning, then.” He rose and left the cabin, taking Buddy with him.
Maisie got to her feet and twirled around once, still holding Charity in her arms. “Do you hear that? I’m going to be taking care of you forever. Or until you start school, whichever comes first. You know what this means? It means your father is accepting me as part of his family.” It wasn’t what her heart desired, but it was close enough.
* * *
Nathan nailed another sheet of siding in place on the new addition for Peter Yoder’s home. All around him, men were working in concert to complete the project by the end of the day. Gabe came down from his place on the roof. “We’re almost done.”
“It was a good day’s work,” Nathan said. He paused to look for Maisie and saw she was sitting in the shade with a group of women. Peter Yoder’s oldest daughter, a girl of eighteen, had both his babies in her arms.
“My wife tells me you have decided to let Maisie look after your children. What brought about your change of heart? The last time we spoke you said the two of you didn’t get along. What’s changed?”
Nathan wasn’t surprised the news had gotten around so fast. He gave Gabe a wry smile. “I guess I have changed. You were right. The more I’m around Maisie, the more I can see that she is different from her sister.”
“Things are better between the two of you, then?”
“We’ve found some common ground.”
“Aha.” Gabe grinned.
Nathan glanced at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. It’s just that I’ve noticed the way you look at her. And the way she looks at you.”
“It’s nothing like that. We both want the best for the babies. That’s all.”
“That’s understandable. One more row of shingles and we’re done. I’d better get a move on.”
Nathan looked toward Maisie and met her gaze across the lawn. He raised his hand in a brief wave. She smiled softly and nodded to him, then looked away. There was nothing unusual in the exchange. What was Gabe seeing that Nathan didn’t see?
* * *
“He’s a handsome fella,” Kathrine Yoder said with a giggle in her voice.
Maisie glanced at the cheerful teen. “Who is?”
“Nathan Weaver.”
Maisie hoped she wasn’t blushing. “He’s well enough, I reckon.”
“And hardworking, too. Mamm says that’s the first thing a girl should look for in a man.”
“Your mother is a wise woman. He’s a little old for you, isn’t he?” Maisie suggested.
“Oh, ja, but not for you.”
“Me?” Maisie’s voice squeaked in surprise.
“You can’t stop looking at him except when he’s looking this way,” Bethany said.
Maisie looked around at the faces of the women she was sitting with. Bethany, Gemma, Dinah and Constance were all grinning at her. She was shocked. “Nee, you are mistaken. He’s my brother-in-law.”
“Was your brother-in-law,” Constance said.
“There’s nothing between us. I take care of his children. That’s all there is.”
“If you say so.” Kathrine giggled again.
“I do,” Maisie insisted. “I’m looking for my own place. Does anyone know of a small house or apartment that I can rent for a reasonable price?”
They all shook their heads, but then Bethany snapped her fingers. “I do. Your neighbor, Lilly Arnett, came in to have a clock fixed. She told Michael she had been thinking about taking in a renter at her place. She has an empty caretaker cottage or something. Do you know her?”
“I do. I’ll talk to her. Danki.”
“Its goot you are leaving Nathan’s cabin,” Constance said.
Maisie sobered. “I hope there hasn’t been any gossip about us.”
“Nothing like that,” Constance assured her. She looked toward Nathan. “I was just thinking that absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
Maisie didn’t laugh as the other women did. Her absence from Nathan’s house was the only hope she had to mend her heart, because being with him every day was breaking it in two.
* * *
Something was different about Maisie this morning.
Nathan couldn’t put his finger on it, but something wasn’t right.
She made a breakfast of dippy eggs, toast and oatmeal for him without comment. She fed the babies and dressed them in the new gowns she had sewn for them, while he ate instead of joining him. Not once did she meet his eyes.
As she was cleaning up, it struck him what was different. She wasn’t humming or singing the way she normally did in the mornings.
“Are you feeling ill?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” She kept her back to him as she worked at the sink.
He wanted to understand what was wrong. “Did the babies have a fussy night?”
“No more than usual. Are you going to be in here for a while?”
He had already finished his chores before breakfast and had even turned the cow and her
new calf out into the pasture for the first time. “I reckon I can be.”
“Goot. I’m going to go visit Lilly.” She dried her hands, lifted her shawl off the peg near the door, flung it over her shoulders and went out.
“Beware of—” The door closed behind her before he could finish his warning. There had been occasional bear sightings in the area. He got up from the table. The dog was asleep under it. He nudged the hound with his toe. “Buddy, go outside with Annie.”
Nathan winced and curled his fingers into fists. How long before Annie’s name didn’t roll off his lips? Not until her constant reminder lived somewhere else.
Buddy sat up. Nathan walked to the door and opened it. “Go keep an eye on Maisie.”
The dog trotted out. The hound would alert her to any bear or moose in the area. Nathan closed the screen door behind the dog, leaving the wooden door open so he could enjoy the morning breeze. The air was distinctively cool. Summer was on the wane. Another month and he would be harvesting his potato crop. He wondered if Maisie would help or if he would need to hire someone. One of the Fisher brothers perhaps.
Gabe had it wrong about Nathan and Maisie. He wasn’t interested in her romantically. When they weren’t squabbling, she was fun to have around. She took wonderful care of the babies. He liked her cooking, but that wasn’t the same as liking the woman.
Outside he heard Maisie shout followed by Buddy barking. He should see what was going on. Or maybe not. She had obviously wanted to get away from him. He cast a glance at the sleeping babies. Now was as good a time as any to get ready to go back to work on Monday. His chain saw needed sharpening. It was essential work. He headed to the barn to fetch it knowing the task was simply his excuse to check on Maisie.
He heard the cow bellowing loudly. Buddy’s barking rose in volume. Nathan looked across the pasture. The cow was pacing frantically back and forth by the pond. He didn’t see her calf. When she stepped far enough to one side, he saw Maisie up to her waist in the water with her arms around the calf’s neck in the shallow end of the pond.
He vaulted the fence and hurried toward her. The cow decided he was an unwelcome intruder and tried to knock him aside. Buddy rushed in to nip her nose and distract her. “What are you doing?” he yelled at Maisie.
“There was a bear by the fence. I chased it off, but the calf became so frightened she ran into the pond. Now she is stuck in the mud.”
Of course, Maisie would chase off a bear without calling for his help. His blood ran cold at the thought of how badly that could have ended. “I see she is stuck. Why are you in there?”
“She can’t get out. I tried to free her, but it’s no use. I’m afraid if I let go of her head she’ll drown.”
He started to wade toward Maisie, but quickly became mired in the mud himself. He stretched out his arm as far as he could. “Grab my hand.”
She reached for him but her wet, muddy fingers slipped out of his grasp. The movement made her sink even farther. She shook her head. “Get back before you get stuck, too. We need a rope or a long branch.”
“Hang on. I’ll get something. Try not to struggle.”
“That’s what I keep telling this baby, but she won’t listen.” The calf continued thrashing her head back and forth, bawling pitifully for her mother. Her struggles were sending Maisie deeper into the mud.
Buddy was still doing his best to keep the cow away. Nathan looked at Maisie. “If you can’t save the calf, save yourself.”
Maisie turned her face away from the splashing water the calf’s movements sent flying. “Get a rope and save us both.”
Nathan bolted for the barn. He grabbed a coil of rope from the tack room, opened the door to Donald’s stall and led the big horse out into the pasture at a trot. At the edge of the pond, he quickly tied one end of the rope to Donald’s halter and then waded toward Maisie. If he got stuck, the big horse could easily pull him free. The struggling calf had pushed her farther out. He paused with a coil in his hand. “Can you grab the rope if I throw it to you?”
“I’ll try.” She was up to her chest in the muddy water. He had no idea how deep the mud was where she was standing. If her legs were stuck, she wouldn’t be able to swim.
He carefully tossed the rope toward her. She made a grab, but it floated beyond her reach. He quickly pulled it in and tried again. This time it landed across her arm. “I’ve got it,” she shouted.
“Hold on and I’ll pull you out.” He started drawing the rope toward him.
“Let me get it around the calf first.” The ensuing struggle had her up to her chin in the water. “Pull now,” she said.
“Back, Donald. Back, back.”
The big horse began walking backward until the rope was taut. Nathan kept pulling, too. The calf came slowly toward him and then popped up like a cork. He hauled it to shore as quickly as he could. Once the baby’s legs touched dry ground, it collapsed in exhaustion. Nathan picked it up and carried it away from the shore so the heifer’s mother could reach her. He hurried back to the water.
Maisie’s pale face was barely above the surface. She held up one hand. “Hurry, Nathan.”
He waded out until he was as close as he could get. It took him two tosses to get the rope near her hand. He started breathing again when she got hold of it. “Wrap it around your chest if you can, Annie.”
She pulled the rope underwater. A few seconds later she gave a tiny nod. “Pull.”
“Donald, back, back!”
The rope went tight, and her head went underwater. Nathan hauled on the rope, stepping even farther out and sinking above his knees in the muck. Suddenly she came up and slammed into his chest. He hung on to her as his horse dragged them both out of the water.
“Whoa, Donald. Whoa, boy,” Nathan shouted from his back on the grass. The rope went slack. Donald walked up to sniff at Nathan. He reached up to rub the horse’s nose. “Goot boy. Very goot boy.”
He lay still for a few moments, relishing the weight of the woman in his arms. He could feel her rapid breathing. Her head was pressed against his chest. She must be able to hear the pounding of his heart. He looked down at her mud-covered face. “Are you hurt?”
“Nee.” She rolled to the side, sat up and began struggling to get the wet rope untied. He got to his feet. Suddenly he was furious with her for putting herself in such danger. “Annie Jean, that’s the most foolish stunt you have ever pulled,” he shouted, then realized his mistake.
Maisie surged to her feet, shimmied the rope to her ankles and kicked it aside as she glared at him. “I don’t know how you could possibly know that, Nathan whatever-your-middle-name-is, since I am not Annie!”
She stormed past him, leaving a trail of dripping mud and water in her wake.
No, she was definitely not Annie.
“You’re welcome,” he shouted.
She stopped for a moment but then kept walking. He coiled up his rope, untied it from Donald’s halter and led him to the barn. Nathan gave the horse an extra ration of oats and then followed Maisie to the house. The memory of the feel of her in his arms wouldn’t fade.
He tried the door, but it was locked. He knocked. “Maisie, let me in. I’m sorry. It was the heat of the moment and her name just slipped out.”
“Go away. I’m taking a bath.”
He glanced along the porch and saw the galvanized tub still hanging on the wall. He unhooked it and knocked again.
“What?”
“Would you like to use the tub?” he asked, trying not to laugh. He was dripping wet and cold but he didn’t care.
The door flew open. She had her kapp off. Her auburn hair hung down in long wet strands over her muddy dress and her eyes danced with green fire. “Danki.” She pulled the tub from his hand and shut the door.
She opened it a second later. “And thanks for saving me and the calf.” She closed the door before he coul
d reply.
He looked down at his sopping clothes and knocked one more time. The door opened. A shirt followed by a pair of pants, a towel and a bar of soap came flying out. “Now go away,” she shouted and slammed the door in his face.
Buddy came trotting up and scratched to be let in. Nathan looked at the dog. “I don’t reckon she wants you right now. Might be for the best. She’s touchy today.”
Buddy scratched again. The door opened a crack. He wiggled inside before it shut.
Nathan picked up his dry clothes, the towel and the soap and headed to the pump to wash up in the cold water. No, she was definitely not Annie.
He had been angry because Maisie put herself in danger, but he realized how angry he still was with Annie. That feeling kept him from accepting Maisie as a person in her own right. Maybe it was time to let go of his bitterness.
After washing up and putting on dry clothes, Nathan walked up the rise to Annie’s grave and squatted on his heels beside it. He saw the fresh flowers that had wilted and knew Maisie had put them there.
“I see your sister tends the dead as well as the living. Maisie is a born caretaker, but I reckon you knew that.”
It felt odd but right to put his feelings into words.
“I’m at a loss, Annie. I’m angry. I’m sad. I’m bitter, but none of that affects you, does it? Only the living suffer. I’ve made Maisie’s life miserable because she reminds me of you in so many ways, but I’m starting to see she isn’t much like you at all. She’s taking goot care of the babies. She has been showing me how to love them. How to give them more than food and shelter. If they learn to be caring people it will be because she has shown them how it’s done. You were right to ask her to come.”
He picked up a handful of dirt and let it trickle through his fingers. “You hurt me, Annie. You broke my heart, made me doubt myself. You caused me to shut myself away from my faith and those who would help me. I’m never going to know why, am I?”
He rose to his feet and slipped his hands in his pockets. “The bishop here said forgiveness must come first, even before understanding. That’s a hard thing to wrap my brain around. I wanted answers before I forgave you, but I’ll never have them. I can’t live my life with this weight on my soul. Those around me deserve better.”
An Amish Mother for His Twins Page 14