“We can go riding on another day, if you’d like.” Mamm wouldn’t be happy that he’d offered, but he did it just the same.
“That would be great. Mahlon, I really do appreciate the ride.”
“It’s no problem at all. Anytime.” In fact, he wouldn’t mind giving her a ride every day.
He pulled up to her driveway. “So this is your place?”
“Yep. Not quite as big as your family’s farm.”
“It’s two story?”
“Yep. My sisters and I all sleep upstairs.” She pointed to a window. “That’s my room. Our parents’ bedroom is downstairs.”
“Same with Leon and me. We’re both upstairs. I like the view from up high.”
“Yeah, me too.” She grabbed her things. “I should probably let you go now. Your poor horse is getting all wet.”
“He don’t mind.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I spoke to my uncle yesterday.” Her face lit up once again. “Would you be able to go with me into town on Saturday? The weather is supposed to be pleasant the rest of the week. I hope they’re right.”
“Saturday? What time?” He thought about all of the farm chores that needed to be done.
“Midmorning would probably be best.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“About nine thirty, then?”
“That should work. I’m taking my dad’s truck, so we can bring along one of your rocking chairs. And if you have any smaller handmade items, we can show those to my uncle too.”
Mahlon’s spirit soared. A day with this beautiful girl by his side, a ride in a truck, and a chance to sell his furniture? It sounded like a dream come true. He’d never been inside an Englischer’s vehicle without one of his family members riding along too.
“Denki, Ruthie.”
“Oh, I’m happy to do it. We’ll probably stop and get some lunch too, if that’s okay with you.”
“Lunch sounds wunderbaar.” He’d have to remember to bring along some money. “If we’re in town, Mamm might ask me to get some things from the store. Would that be too much trouble?”
“Not at all. I pretty much have the whole day clear, so we can do whatever.”
Whatever? Jah, this sounded like a dream come true. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.
~
“Did you get it all in?”
“Jah.” He hopped onto the front seat of the truck and slammed the door.
“Easy on the door, Mahlon.” Ruth laughed. “My dad will shoot me if I mess up his truck.”
“Sorry.”
She turned the engine over and shifted into Drive. “I’ve noticed you’re used to slamming doors. Don’t your parents ever say anything?”
“Nee.” He grinned, his teeth gleaming.
“Well, mine would have a fit.” She turned onto the road. “Are you excited?”
“Been looking forward to it since you mentioned it. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Ruth briefly wondered what part of their adventure he was most excited about. She had been looking forward to spending the day with Mahlon and getting to know him better.
“Do you think your uncle will like my furniture? I’m a little nervous.”
“I’m sure he will.” She glanced his way as she drove around curves and up and down hills. “I thought we’d go there first.”
Mahlon blew out a breath.
“You don’t need to be nervous. Uncle Jim is really cool.” She gave a reassuring smile. “Besides, you do a really good job making your furniture. My uncle would be crazy if he didn’t like it.”
“I hope you’re right.” He reached over and briefly squeezed her hand. “Denki for saying that.” He looked away.
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand how y’all think complimenting someone’s work is a bad thing. There’s nothing prideful about encouragement. Now, I could understand if you went around boasting to everyone. That, in my opinion, would be prideful. But just acknowledging a job well done is good and right.”
“We are to be humble. Great swelling words lift us up. It should be Der Herr who is lifted up, not man.” He brandished a smile. “But I do admit that I’m glad you like my work.”
“Do you come to town much? I can’t imagine you’d take a horse all the way out here.”
“We occasionally hire a driver to take us. I mostly stay on the farm. Maybe once a month or every other month, I’ll get to go along.”
“You don’t mind staying on the farm? I think I’d be itching to go places. I can’t imagine not being able to just hop in my car and go somewhere if I want to.”
“There isn’t really a reason for me to go anywhere.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m kind of a quiet type that doesn’t need to be around people all the time. I’m content with what I have.”
“That’s good.” At least his future wife wouldn’t have to worry about him running around all the time.
~
Mahlon beamed as a hundred and fifty dollars burned in his pocket. “I’m so excited, Ruthie! Let’s celebrate.”
“What do you want to do?”
“How about ice cream?” He grinned.
“Dairy Queen’s just up ahead.”
“Perfect.”
“We’ll be eating our dessert before dinner.” She smiled. “I knew my uncle would like your work. Do you think you’ll be able to keep up with the orders?”
“I hope so. It’ll keep me busy for sure.”
“You’ve probably never considered internet orders, huh?”
“Nee. But I’ll sell my furniture any way I can.”
~
“It’s so beautiful down here by the river, isn’t it?” Ruth leaned away from the steering wheel and licked her ice cream to keep it from dripping onto her hand.
“Jah, it is. This is the first time I’ve been here.” Mahlon pointed to the park and walking trail. “I never knew any of this was here.”
“Really?”
“Would you like to go for a walk when we’re done eating?” He popped the last of his cone into his mouth and reached for his burger and fries.
“After we’re done, I’m going to need to walk.” Ruth laughed. How he loved to hear her laugh.
Mahlon bit into his burger and moaned. “Ach, this is so good! Ruthie, I think this is one of the best days of my life.”
“It doesn’t take much to make you happy, does it?” She chuckled.
He shook his head. “No, not really.”
About ten minutes later, Ruth wadded up her burger’s wrapper and tossed it into the paper bag their food had originally come in. She slid out of the truck and Mahlon followed suit. “Let’s go for that walk now?”
“Sure.” Mahlon grabbed the paper bag and threw it into the nearest trash receptacle. He reached down and picked up several pieces of trash from the ground near the garbage can. “I hate when people litter.”
“Me too.”
They walked along the path as a nice breeze swirled fallen leaves from nearby trees at their feet. The sun’s rays hit Mahlon’s face, sending warmth through his entire body. Or maybe it was being this close to Ruthie that sent warmth through his entire body, he wasn’t sure. It was indeed a wonderful gut day.
“Should we walk to the bridge and back?”
“Whatever you’d like, Ruthie.” Mahlon felt like taking her hand in his own, but the display of public affection went against the ways of his people, so he’d refrain.
Was it sinful to be walking alone with a beautiful young Englisch woman? Jah, it must be, he told himself. But that didn’t change the way he felt about her. He was certain sure he was falling in love with Ruthie. What would Dat and Mamm say if they knew? He quickly banished the thought. No, he wouldn’t think about Mamm and Dat right now.
“You sure are quiet.” Ruth observed.
“Just thinking, is all.”
“About what?”
He shrugged. You. “The future.”
An Englischer passed going
the opposite direction. “Ruthie?”
Ruth stopped and swirled around. A smile lit up her face. “Brandon!”
The Englischer stepped close and engulfed her in a hug, and Mahlon felt his hands clenching at his sides. Who was this Brandon guy?
She stepped back. “How are you? I thought you were at IU. What are you doing here?”
“I’m down for the summer.” He grinned like a fool.
Ruth turned and seemed to finally realize that Mahlon was still standing there. “Brandon, this is Mahlon. He’s my neighbor.”
The Englischer nodded, but Mahlon didn’t miss the way he eyed him up and down. He was used to condescending looks from the Englisch, but this guy unnerved him.
He quirked an eyebrow. “You’re Amish?”
Mahlon nodded once, his stare not leaving the Englischer’s face.
“Interesting.” Brandon looked at Ruth with a questioning gaze, and then back at Mahlon. “Hey, Ruthie, you wanna get together sometime? We can catch up on everything that’s been going on since I’ve been gone.” He winked at her.
Was this guy actually asking her for a date while Mahlon was standing right there?
“Sure, Brandon.”
Mahlon sighed. This was not good. Not good at all.
“I’ll call you. Still got the same number?” He pulled her into another hug.
“Yes, my number’s the same.”
“See ya.”
“Bye.” Ruth watched him walk off then turned back to Mahlon. “Sorry about that.”
Mahlon shrugged as though it was of no consequence and frowned. “Who is he?”
“My ex-boyfriend. We broke up before he left for college a year and a half ago.”
Mahlon nodded, not sure what to say. But he did know how he felt. Inadequate, inferior, jealous, terrible.
Why should he care, anyway? It wasn’t like he and Ruthie stood a chance in the first place. It was right that she should be with someone like that. He realized now he’d just been deceiving himself in thinking that Ruthie might actually be interested in him.
The rest of their walk, shopping trip, and the ride home was shrouded in uncomfortable silence. He almost wished he’d walked home instead.
Ruth pulled up to Mahlon’s driveway. “Listen, Mahlon, I’m sorry about Brandon.”
He held up a hand to stop her, but he looked away not wanting to see the pained look in her eye. He had enough of his own pain to deal with without Ruthie adding her pity. “Nee, it’s not you. Goodbye, Ruthie. Denki for taking me today.”
“Bye.”
He didn’t turn around as she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
~
Ruth frowned as she pulled into her driveway. She felt like crying. The day with Mahlon had been going so well until they ran into Brandon. It had been so good to see him again. Maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to meet with him.
Or maybe she needed to make it clear to Mahlon that she and Brandon were nothing more than friends now. But that would seem too forward, wouldn’t it?
Either way, she needed to figure out what went wrong between them and fix it.
She thought on their day and the events that had taken place. Yeah, it was definitely the encounter with Brandon that had him miffed. So Mahlon was jealous, Ruth smiled at the thought. He wouldn’t have gotten jealous if he didn’t care about her.
~
Mahlon rolled over on his bed and punched his pillow in frustration. Well, he’d thought it had been the best day of his life. That was until Mr. Perfect Englischer walked into the picture.
Who was he kidding? How could he even think he had a chance with a girl like Ruthie? After all, he was Amish and she…wasn’t.
Did he really think she’d want to give up her Englisch ways for him? What did he have to offer in comparison to what she already had? It was clear by Mr. Perfect Englischer that she could probably get any young man she wanted.
He tossed his pillow on the floor. It was evident that he wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.
FOUR
It had been almost a week since Ruth had seen Mahlon and she was looking forward to seeing him when she met with Naomi for quilting today.
She combed her mind for an excuse to talk to him and she easily found several. She could mention his furniture and ask if he’d built any new pieces. She could just ask him how he’s been lately. Or she could ask him for a favor—this was what she had planned.
Not to mention, she still needed to clear up the incident with Brandon. He’d actually called this week and asked to get together, but she’d declined. She wasn’t interested in spending time with Brandon. There was only one young man she wished to spend time with. A certain Amish boy.
She’d seek him out as soon as she and Naomi were finished with their quilting session today.
~
Mahlon hauled off the remainder of the manure from the horse stalls he’d just mucked out. He proceeded to fill the large wheel barrow with fresh straw, replenishing each stall. He loved the smell of the fresh straw after the barn had been cleaned out. If only it could keep this pleasant aroma.
He distributed the straw into the final stall when Ruth walked into the barn. He’d seen her out of the corner of his eye, longing to go to her but still miffed about her and the Englisch guy.
“Hi, Mahlon.” Her voice seemed timid, unsure.
He grunted and kept his back to her. The last thing he needed was to gaze into her beautiful eyes.
“Listen, I wanted to talk to you about last week. About Brandon.”
He frowned and kept his back to her, continuing to distribute the straw. Very slowly. He huffed.
“Please turn around.”
He didn’t. “Why?”
“I have something to say to you.”
“So say it,” he spat out. He knew he was acting like a jerk, but she had been the one to hook up with this Brandon guy.
“Brandon and I aren’t seeing each other. We’re just friends.”
“Yeah, you sure looked like it.”
“He called me and I told him that I didn’t want to meet with him. I told him I was interested in someone else.”
Mahlon sighed and finally turned toward her. “Why are you telling me this?”
She shrugged. “I thought maybe…” She stepped closer to him.
He set the pitchfork against the wall of the stall and stared at her. His eyes searched hers. Was she saying she wanted to date him?
She licked her lips and his gaze flickered toward them.
He stepped close and read the desire in her eyes. She wanted him to kiss her. At least, that was what he told himself as he pulled her into his arms and met her lips with his.
It had just been a moment, a delicious moment filled with passion as his lips gently moved on hers, but Mahlon knew in that moment that Ruthie was the one for him.
He reluctantly pulled back for a breath, then brought her close again and deepened the kiss. He wished this moment would never end.
She broke the kiss but seemed reluctant. “I should probably go now.”
“Wait.” He stared down at his feet, nervous for what his next words would be. He swallowed, gathering his courage. “I need to talk to your brother.”
“My brother? I don’t have a brother.”
“Oh. I see.” He scratched his head. “Well then, it wonders me if you’ll let me court you.”
“Court…? Oh, you mean, you’d like to take me on a date?”
He shrugged. “Jah, a date.”
“Where would you like to go?”
“Oh, uh, I don’t know. Just driving around in my courting buggy, I guess.” He frowned. “We could visit in your living room too.”
“My living room?”
“Or whatever you want to do.”
“I think it might be kind of awkward in my living room. You know, with my parents and sisters there and all.”
“Oh.” He frowned. “Do they stay up late?”
“Sometimes.” Sh
e clasped her hands together. “But we could drive around, I guess. That would work.”
“Okay, gut.”
“When would you like to go?”
“Sunday.”
“Sunday? Don’t you have church or something on Sunday?”
“Jah, well, no. Kinda.” He blew out a breath. “My folks want to start going, but they’d need to find a driver. The district nearest us is over an hour and a half away.”
“That’s a long way to go to church. Are there no Amish churches nearby?”
“Nee. That’s why they haven’t made an effort to go until now.”
“What changed?”
Mahlon frowned. “They think we should go with the young folks.”
“Do you not have any friends here your age?”
“Just you and my brother, Leon. Leon’s got some Englisch friends that work at the hardware store. But our folks want us to be friends with Plain folk.”
“You mean other Amish kids?”
“Jah.”
“How old are you, Mahlon? I never asked.”
“Twenty-one. How old are you?”
“Eighteen. I just graduated high school, so I’m kind of figuring out what I want to do with my life.”
“You’re my brother’s age. He finished school four years ago. After he completed his school, my parents decided it was time to move.”
“Wait, four years ago? He finished at fourteen? Is he super smart or something?”
“Nee, Amish only believe in attending school until grade eight.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that.” She seemed to be filing facts away in her head. “So, you came to Indiana then?”
“Jah. We were up north at first until Dat found this property and moved us here. He couldn’t pass it up. He and Leon were able to find construction work right away that pays well. Dat worked in an indoor factory up north and he never did like it too much. He’d rather be outdoors. Mamm isn’t too happy that there isn’t a g’may, an Amish church community, nearby.”
“Do you think you’ll move again?” He read the worry in her eyes.
“Nee. I think Dat’s feet are firmly planted. This is his dream property, although it still needs a lot of work.” He pointed to the ramshackle outbuildings and overgrown foliage. “But it’ll keep us busy. I love the large shop for my woodworking tools and since there aren’t any Amish bishops around, Dat is allowing me to use electric in the shop.” He grinned.
An Amish Blessing Page 3