Her Amish Suitor's Secret

by Carrie Lighte

  * * *

  As remorseful as he was the girls had suffered such distress, Caleb didn’t agree that they should leave the back door unlocked. “I’ll put something out to deter the skunks from coming around, so it’s fine to keep the back door locked,” he suggested lightly, hoping to change Rose’s mind about locking up.

  “As long as you use something natural that won’t harm our guests or their children, I’d appreciate that,” Rose said, but she didn’t commit to keeping the back door locked. “Speaking of our guests, we’d better get to bed so we can be up in time to make them breakfast tomorrow.”

  Caleb bade the women good-night and walked down the path, shaking his clothes so they wouldn’t cling to his skin when he moved. Once inside the cabin, he reached to take a dry change of clothes from his dresser and noticed the drawer wasn’t closed all the way. That’s odd. I’m usually careful because that’s the drawer I keep my cell phone in, he thought and immediately pulled the drawer open. But no, his cell phone was beneath a stack of socks, right where he had left it. Maybe Rose is right—maybe I’m being paranoid, he thought as he rubbed his head dry with a towel.

  Stretching out in bed a few minutes later, he reflected on the chaotic evening. Despite the minor calamities, Caleb felt oddly sedate and when sleep carried him away, he dreamed about fireflies and fireworks.

  The next morning over breakfast, Charity commented, “Was the view worth the climb up to Paradise Point last night, Caleb and Rose?”

  “Absolutely,” she replied without hesitation.

  At the same time, Caleb answered, “Jah, it sure was.”

  Eleanor glanced at him and then at Rose and then back at him before complaining, “You should have been honest from the start, Caleb. If you didn’t want to kumme to the ridge, you should have told me and I wouldn’t have wasted my time looking out for you.”

  “I was being honest,” Caleb protested. “But there must have been an accident because there was a huge traffic jam, so I came back. Rose just happened to—”

  “You don’t need to explain. I won’t tell the deacon.” Eleanor stuck her chin in the air.

  “Tell the deacon what?”

  “That you and Rose are courting.”

  “We are not!” Rose and Caleb said, again in unison.

  Then Rose added, “Even if we were, it wouldn’t be anyone else’s business and I don’t see why the deacon would care.”

  “Because you hardly know each other. And what would the Englischers have thought if they’d seen you sneaking back from Paradise Point in the dark? It’s unseemly.”

  Caleb was indignant. “I’d never do anything to jeopardize Rose’s reputation. Or mine.”

  Rose stood up and declared, “We haven’t been sneaking anywhere!” She pushed her chair back and went into the kitchen.

  “What’s she so angry about? I said I wasn’t going to tell the deacon. I didn’t say I was,” Eleanor grumbled, her cheeks pink.

  The twins looked down at their plates and quickly gobbled their food. Caleb no longer felt hungry. “I’ve got some skunks to track down,” he said and strode out the door.

  Does anyone else think Rose and I are courting? Or, worse, did anyone think they were “sneaking around,” or otherwise acting inappropriately, as Eleanor suggested? Caleb didn’t want a rumor like that getting back to Nancy and Sol—they might worry Caleb and Rose weren’t setting a good example for the twins. He couldn’t let that happen. As much as he resented it, Caleb once again decided it was in everyone’s best interest if he spent less time with Rose.

  It was probably just as well. Searching for the family of skunks provided him a unique opportunity to look for the coins, too. Skunks frequently nested beneath porches, in hollow logs and even in patches of vegetation in warmer weather. So Caleb had the perfect excuse for poking around the property again and searching the woods without arousing suspicion.

  After placing citrus peels around the perimeter of the main house to prevent the skunks from returning to the porch, Caleb set out to scrutinize the forested area on both sides of the camp. But after a week of looking, he hadn’t discovered any trace of the smelly little critters or of the artifacts. He’d hardly seen hide nor hair of Rose, either, except at mealtimes. At first he figured her raspberry picking and pie making was keeping her as busy as he was, but after a while he began to wonder if she was more intimidated by Eleanor’s comment than she’d let on. Was it possible she was as concerned about her immature coworker spreading rumors as Caleb was? If so, then she probably appreciated him keeping his distance.

  However, by Saturday he was so restless and irritable from prohibiting himself from socializing with her, Caleb called Ryan an hour early, even though he had no news to report. No good news anyway. “I’ve been foraging through the woods all week. Granted, the overgrowth is awfully thick, but I haven’t come across anything that looks remotely like something’s buried or hidden there.”

  Ryan sighed so heavily into the phone it sounded like a rush of wind. “Well,” he said after a pause, “I appreciate it that you’re still trying.”

  “Don’t lose heart. I haven’t even begun to search the islands or the places where the Amish are allowed to hike. I’ll do that tomorrow after church, since that’s when I can use the canoe,” he said, trying to encourage his brother. “So, how is Liam doing?”

  “Not great. I think he picked up a virus from the pool. And whenever he’s sick, he wants Sheryl to take care of him, so I won’t get to see him this weekend.”

  Caleb heard the note of loneliness in his brother’s voice, and as he surveyed the glittering lake and felt the soft current blowing through his window he wished he could invite Ryan to Serenity Ridge for a while. The lake would do him good. “That’s got to be—”

  Rose’s sudden appearance at his door caught him off guard; Caleb had completely forgotten to close up the cabin before making his call. He disconnected, but it was too late.

  “Who are you talking to?” she asked, peering through the screen.

  “I—I—I...” He couldn’t think of an answer quickly enough and if he tried to hide his phone, he’d only draw more attention to it. He held it up for her to see and stepped outside. “I called my bruder.”

  “You own a cell phone? I’ve never heard of an Old Order Ordnung that allows the Amish to use cell phones for personal calls,” she commented, pinching her brows together. Before he could respond, she added, “But then again, I’d never heard of Old Order Amish men being allowed to wear mustaches until I came to Maine, either.”

  “Jah, the mustaches men wear with their beards here surprised me, too,” Caleb agreed. Although he felt guilty for not contradicting the conclusion Rose had made about his cell phone use, he was relieved she didn’t quiz him further on it. He added, “I only use this to talk about urgent matters with my bruder while I’m away.”

  “Is there an emergency?” she asked, and the lines of concern etched across her forehead made Caleb wish he’d shut his mouth while he was ahead.

  “Neh, but his suh is ill, so I was, uh, just checking in...” Yes, Liam was ill, but it wasn’t his illness that had prompted Caleb’s call, and he felt ashamed for implying it was. “He’s getting better, though. Anyway, are those for me?”

  “Jah.” She extended a stack of folded sheets. “Before Hope and Charity went out they mentioned they forgot to drop these off today.”

  “Denki.” The back of Caleb’s hand grazed her arm as he took the linens, and her smooth skin made him shiver. “I also came to invite you up to the porch for a piece of aebeer hembeer boi. I’m experimenting with the recipe and I need your expert opinion.”

  “I, uh... Denki, but my stomach is a little off, so I’ll have to pass,” he said, which was true; misleading Rose was making Caleb feel sick.

  * * *

  Rose wished she could fly away like the swallow she spied from the corn
er of her eye. At least, she hoped it was a swallow. She managed to squeak, “Oh, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow for kurrich.” Then she beat a path to the main house. He’s never refused food before, especially pie. I wonder if he’s still embarrassed by what Eleanor said about what the Englischers might think if they saw us together. Especially since some of them already think we’re married...

  Rose had been concerned about that herself, even before Eleanor opened her big mouth, but that was why she’d intended to visit with Caleb on the porch in plain view before the sun set. It was also why she’d allowed nearly a week to pass without so much as crossing his path when she saw him outdoors. She wanted to prove to Eleanor—and to anyone else—there was absolutely nothing going on between them. Besides, raspberry picking kept her occupied and Caleb seemed to be on a perpetual hunt for the skunks, wolfing down his meals and then running off to the woods. However, after five or six days of barely speaking an extra word to each other, Rose had hoped he’d be as eager to catch up with her as she was to chat with him. She was crushed he’d turned down her invitation.

  Now what am I going to do tonight? Charity and Hope were helping Miriam bake a cake for her brother’s birthday on Sunday, so Rose was stuck home alone with nothing to keep her company except the letter she’d received that afternoon from Baker. I might as well read it, she silently conceded.

  After serving herself a big slice of pie—Caleb’s loss is my gain—she carried the dessert and letter to the porch and settled into a glider. She took a bite and allowed it to dissolve on her tongue. Then another. Nope, too sweet. She shouldn’t have added that extra tablespoon of sugar. She opened the envelope and removed Baker’s letter.

  “Dear Rosie,” he’d written, using his nickname for her as if they were still courting. She was already annoyed and she hadn’t even made it past the salutation! “Your mother gave me your address so I could send the enclosed money order for twice what I owe you.”

  “It’s not twice what you owe me,” Rose said aloud. “It’s a fraction of what you owe me. It’s just two installments paid at the same time.”

  Don’t worry, I haven’t been selling horses again, just training them. I’ve also taken an evening and Saturday job at Detweiler’s hardware store. I hope this shows how sincere I am about earning back your trust so things can go back to how they were between us.

  Rose threw her hand in the air and brought it down against her thigh with a slap. Baker was mistaking earning money with earning trust. Repaying a debt wasn’t the same thing as reconciling a relationship. It was as if he thought her trust could be bought. As if it were a simple financial transaction.

  Do you go canoeing often at Serenity Lake? Remember when we rowed across the reservoir? I think of that often.

  Yours,

  Baker.

  “Ugh!” Rose crumpled the letter into a ball. Yes, she remembered when they went out on the reservoir in a rowboat. It was where they first kissed. At the time, she’d found it very romantic, but it bothered her that Baker thought about that part of their past. She certainly didn’t. And she didn’t think about a future with him, either. She’d told him as much when she broke up with him. Why wasn’t it sinking in? Did he think with time she’d change her mind?

  When she returned to Pennsylvania, Rose was going to have to disavow him, for once and for all, of the notion she’d ever accept him back as a suitor. For now, though, Rose was going to savor her pie and the view. Alone. Without Baker, without Caleb. And that was just fine by her.

  * * *

  Caleb regretted declining Rose’s invitation to join him for a slice of pie; not only did his stomach settle down a few minutes after she left, but he missed hanging out with her. More important, he sensed she felt slighted by his rejection of the offer. Hurting Rose’s feelings was exactly the opposite of what Caleb intended by turning her down, and he stayed awake most of the night wrestling with his conscience. Shortly before the sun came up, he concluded he’d do more harm than good by continuing to steer clear of her. And as for Eleanor or anyone else gossiping about him and Rose... Well, Caleb would be careful not to do anything to give them that impression. Or at least, he wouldn’t go off with Rose after dark again. But I sure could use her guidance on the side trails at Paradise Point, since she said they were difficult to follow.

  So, the next day after church when the twins left with their friends and Caleb was riding home alone with Rose, he asked if she’d like to go hiking to the Point when they got back.

  Rose hesitated before answering. “Jah, okay. If you anticipate we’ll be gone awhile, I’ll pack a light supper, but I’d like to be home before dark.”

  Either she didn’t want to meet up with bats again or else she had the same qualms he had about what Eleanor said. Either way, it didn’t matter; they’d be home long before the sun set. Caleb hadn’t realized until just then how much he’d missed hanging out with Rose, and he bit his lip to keep from whistling.

  “I saw you in the woods a couple times this week,” she remarked a little farther down the road. “Was your search successful? Did you find them?”

  Caleb’s head jerked backward in alarm. She can’t possibly know about the coins! “Find what?” he stalled.

  “The skunks. Or their nest.”

  His heart resumed beating and Caleb blew air from his cheeks. “Neh. I’m going to keep looking, though.”

  When they arrived at the barn, he stayed behind to unhitch the buggy while Rose dashed off to change her clothes and fill a small cooler with food. They agreed to meet down by the lake, but as Caleb was pulling the life vests from the shed, he glanced toward the main house and noticed a small group of Amish visitors gathered on the porch. One of them—it appeared to be the deacon—waved. Waving back, Caleb groaned. Not today! It’s the first time I’ve been alone with Rose in a week, and it’s the only day I can search the trails.

  Within moments, Abram and two other men traipsed down the hill carrying fishing equipment. Caleb recognized Levi Swarey, who owned a Christmas tree farm, and Abram introduced Caleb to the younger man, a carpenter named Isaiah Gerhart.

  “Hello, Caleb,” the deacon greeted him. “We figured you could use some male companionship for a change.”

  Why? Did Eleanor tell Abram I’ve been spending a lot of time with Rose, or is he saying that because I’m the only Amish man at the camp? Caleb forced a grin and said he was glad they’d come. After he’d distributed life vests and gathered fishing equipment for himself from the shed, Caleb climbed into a canoe with Isaiah. As the foursome paddled onto the lake, Levi commented, “I can still hear the bobbel crying from here.”

  “Levi and his wife, Sadie, have a newborn. A maedel,” Abram explained. “So he’s on high alert.”

  “Sadie says I worry more about little Susannah than she does,” Levi admitted.

  Caleb asked Isaiah, “Is the other woman I saw on the porch your wife?”

  “Neh. That’s Irene Larson,” he answered curtly. Then Caleb realized of course she wasn’t his wife; Isaiah was clean-shaven.

  Caleb immediately tried to compensate for his error. “I meant to ask if she’s your girlfriend.”

  This time Isaiah didn’t answer at all and the other men acted as if he hadn’t spoken, too. Ach! Now I’ve come across as being as nosy as Eleanor, Caleb realized.

  Later, when there was more distance between the two canoes, Caleb quietly apologized for being intrusive. “Sorry about asking you about Irene back there. In my, uh... In Wisconsin we’re not as discreet about our courtships as people are here. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot—especially in front of the deacon.”

  Isaiah chuckled. “I think Abram was more shocked by your question than I was. You see, Irene’s Englisch.”

  Caleb was floored. “But she was wearing Amish clothing!”

  “Jah. That’s because she’s going through the convincement process to become Amish. T
he kurrich recently voted to accept her and she’ll be baptized in the fall.”

  “Aha.” Now Caleb understood: the Amish were strictly prohibited from dating Englischers, and until Irene was baptized, she was considered to be Englisch. So even if Isaiah was interested in Irene romantically, he could never let on. Kind of like if Rose were interested in me, Caleb thought before quickly dismissing the unbidden comparison.

  “Irene’s one of three Englischers who will be baptized this fall.”

  “Three?” Successful Englisch-to-Amish conversions were very rare, so three at once seemed like a high number to Caleb.

  “Because our community here is small and relatively isolated, our district is more open to Englischers joining us than they are, say, in central Pennsylvania.”

  Why this information should fill Caleb with hope he wasn’t sure, because it wasn’t as if he could permanently join Serenity Ridge’s Amish community, not after deceiving them the way he’d been doing. But he felt buoyed by the conversation all the same. In fact, Caleb enjoyed the long afternoon on the lake with the other men far more than he expected to, even though he didn’t get to look for the coins or spend time with Rose.

  It was close to six o’clock when the four men approached the porch, where Sadie was beckoning her twins, Elizabeth and David, to come inside for supper. Everyone took turns washing their hands in the bathroom. Caleb was the last to enter the kitchen, and as he scanned the table for an empty seat, his eye settled on Rose. Sitting near the far end of the table, she was cooing to baby Susannah as she cradled her in the crook of her arm.

  Rose appeared as striking and strong as she had the first day Caleb spotted her paddling on the lake. But instead of scowling at him now as she’d done then, when Rose glanced up she smiled. It was enough to take Caleb’s breath away and he was certain the deacon heard him gasp, so he quickly covered his mouth and coughed, as if something had tickled his throat instead of his heart.