Leora sure had looked pretty, standing there by her porch. Her cheeks had been flushed and her blue eyes had been wide and luminous. He could have stood there for some time, just admiring her, but of course, he would never do that. It would be too forward. Too bold.
But would Bill Jeffreys do it? Gaze at her with obvious admiration? Noah grimaced, a sour taste filling his mouth.
* * *
Leora sat at her kitchen table, looking through the window to the barren trees in her front yard. The yard wasn’t large, but there were still a good number of trees, and their branches looked forlorn in the bitter weather. The wind was blowing, and the branches rustled slightly—she could almost hear them crackling in the cold. The morning had dawned with such low temperatures, that she dreaded bicycling to the Rabers’ barn for preaching service. But if she didn’t show up, the tongues would really fly.
So, she’d bundled up and was outside ready to mount her bicycle when Martha and her family pulled in with their buggy.
“Get on in here,” Martha called through the window. “You ain’t riding that thing in this cold.”
Grateful, Leora scurried to do as she was bidden.
“Thank you,” she said to both Martha and Tom as she climbed in the back to sit by little Ben. “It is right cold this morning.”
“Near to freezing,” Martha noted. “We might be in for some snow today.”
Leora loved the snow, loved the way it fell to the ground in a soft hush, stilling every sound within miles. There was something achingly beautiful about a new snow coating the world in pure white. But it did cause problems. She had ridden her bicycle in the snow before—once it had been plowed, but it wasn’t fun. She feared falling down with every turn of her pedals.
But she wasn’t about to express her fear to others.
“You going to the singing tonight?” Martha asked her pointedly.
“We already talked about that earlier last week,” Leora reminded her, but it did no good.
“Because if you’re going, I can ask someone to pick you up. You certainly aren’t going to be riding that bicycle of yours in the dark, and you know it gets dark right early these days.”
“I likely won’t be going,” Leora told her.
“Well.” Martha sighed heavily. “We can talk about it more later.”
Which she did. After the community meal following the service, Martha had gone on and on about it all the way home. Leora had been grateful when they finally reached her little house.
“Bye,” she’d said, climbing out of the buggy as quickly as she could. “Thanks so much, Tom, for the ride.”
“Anytime, Leora,” he said.
Martha grabbed her hand through the open door. “I can send someone…”
Leora shook her head. “You’re as stubborn as an old goat,” she teased her friend. “If I change my mind, I promise I won’t ride my bicycle.”
Martha scowled. “Fine. Come see me this week, all right?”
“All right.”
Now, back in her own house, Leora replayed the conversation in her mind, and surprisingly, she was of a mind to attend the singing. If nothing else, it might calm some of the wagging tongues around town. But she’d promised not to ride her bicycle, and even if she hadn’t, the prospect of riding in this cold was dismal at best. She could run down to the phone shanty and leave a message for Martha, asking her to arrange for someone to take her after all. But why should Martha have to do that? Wasn’t Leora capable of arranging her own ride? Besides, Martha would hardly be standing about outside the phone shanty waiting for her message.
Leora’s mind filtered through the possibilities, and she came up with very few people she’d want to bother. In truth, most folks would probably be glad to take her, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking them.
Yet, there was Noah King. Hadn’t he offered her a ride to wherever she needed to go? He had, but she didn’t feel comfortable asking him either. Besides, she had no way to ask him. She didn’t know the number of the nearest phone shanty to his place. And even if she did, would he check his messages before the singing started that evening? That would be about as likely as Martha checking hers.
So, the decision was made for her. She wouldn’t attend. Next time, she wouldn’t be so stubborn, and she’d arrange a ride before leaving the preaching service.
She stood up to pour herself a glass of milk. There was Bill Jeffreys. He would take her. She laughed, her mirth sounding a bit hollow in the empty kitchen. Couldn’t she just imagine the reaction if she was delivered to the youth singing in a pick-up truck? She laughed again. It would almost be worth it just to see everyone’s expressions.
“Ach, you’re terrible,” she muttered to herself.
But still, it would be funny. And she could call Bill’s cell phone from the shanty, and he would answer right away. It would work. She poured the milk into a tall glass and took a sip. No. She would never do that.
She would have a quiet evening at home by herself. Just like she did every evening of her life these days.
* * *
Noah put on his woolen coat. He had a heater in his buggy, but he didn’t usually turn it on unless the temperatures fell to unbearable lows, and the temperature wasn’t that low tonight. He stopped at the door with his hand on the knob.
Would Leora be at the youth singing? He hoped so; although, in truth, he doubted it. She rarely attended. He knew because he’d been watching for her every other Sunday evening for months. So why should she attend that night? And besides, how would she get there?
Maybe he should stop by on his way and see if he could give her a lift. Would she resent his coming? Would it be too forward of him just to stop by to check on her?
The image of Bill Jeffreys’s face came to mind. He saw again the look in Jeffreys’s eye as he had watched Leora.
No. It wouldn’t be too forward.
Now that he decided, he hurried outside to hitch up Flicker. He would turn on his heater. That way, if Leora was home and if she decided to accompany him, the buggy would be toasty warm. With renewed vigor, he hitched Flicker up in record time. He climbed into the buggy and switched on the heater. With a smile on his face, he left his property and headed for Leora’s house.
Please say you’ll come, he whispered into the warming buggy. Please say you’ll come.
He pulled up to Leora’s porch a short while later. There was light coming from what he assumed was the kitchen, so she was likely home. It wasn’t fully dark outside, but the shadows were closing in quickly. He turned on the lights of his buggy and then jumped out to knock on Leora’s door.
She pulled the door open and gaped at him in surprise.
“Uh, hello, Leora,” he said, hating the nervousness he heard in his voice. “I was on my way to the youth singing, and it occurred to me that you might need a ride.” The words rushed from his lips as if the faster he spoke, the better chance he had of her saying yes.
She blinked at him and smiled. “I had thought of going,” she admitted.
“Do you have a ride?”
“Nee, I don’t.” She took a step back. “Do you want to come in for a minute while I grab my cape and mittens?”
He grinned. “Sure thing.”
He stepped inside, hardly believing his luck. He glanced around the house. It was rather empty, without much furniture, but he still felt a sense of homeyness about the place. He was surprised to see some evergreen branches arranged in a bouquet of sorts sitting on a low coffee table. He’d never seen someone make a display of branches. It was odd, but it had a nice effect. In fact, if he breathed deeply, he could smell the evergreen. It reminded him of Christmas, even though they hadn’t yet passed through Thanksgiving.
“I’m ready,” she said, emerging from a side door. She was bundled up in her cape and mittens and a dark burgundy scarf was wrapped around her neck. Her cheeks were flushed as if she’d already been outside in the biting air.
“Gut. Shall we go, then?” he asked, walkin
g toward the door.
She followed him outside, and he scurried to the passenger side of the buggy and held open the door for her. She moved past him, climbing inside.
“Ach, but it’s warm in here,” she exclaimed, clearly pleased.
He smiled. “Got the heater installed last winter.”
“It feels heavenly,” she murmured.
He smiled again, as if he had personally heated the buggy by rubbing two sticks together to make a fire. Telling himself to calm down and take a breath, he shut her door and hurried around to his side. Within minutes, they were underway to the Rabers’ barn.
“Do you always attend the youth singings?” she asked him.
“Not always, but often enough,” he answered. “You?”
His face went hot. Why had he asked her when he already knew the answer?
“Nee, not often,” she said, settling back in her seat and gazing out the side window.
He searched his mind for something to say. “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?” he asked.
She looked at him. “I’ll likely go to Martha’s house.”
He nodded. He knew she and Martha were good friends from way back. “That’ll be nice,” he said, then cringed. Could he not be a little more interesting?
“Jah.” She was quiet for a moment. “And you? Where will you be? You don’t have kin nearby either, do you?”
“Nee, I don’t.” In truth, he hadn’t been invited anywhere yet. But every year, he would eventually receive an invitation somewhere, albeit sometimes at the last minute.
“I’m sure Martha will have enough for another person…”
“I wasn’t fishing for an invite,” he said quickly.
“I know you weren’t.” She fell silent again.
“Some folks go to restaurants for Thanksgiving.”
“They do,” she said, smiling. “Jeffreys Diner is right busy on Thanksgiving Day. Bill tells me that sometimes, folks have to wait almost a half hour to be seated.”
“Is that so?”
“The diner isn’t that big, of course. But still, it’s packed out on the holidays. Sometimes, folks even go on Christmas Day.”
“They’re open on Christmas?”
She nodded. “I wondered about that, too, but Bill told me he feels bad for the people who have no place to be. If he keeps the diner open, they come in and it’s almost like a big family meal.”
Noah found himself getting irritated with all this quoting of what Bill said. “I see.”
“Do you go see your relatives at Christmas?” she asked.
“Sometimes. Depends a bit on the weather. If it’s really bad, I stay put. If not, I’ll hire a driver to take me to Wisconsin.”
“Your kin are in Wisconsin? I have family over that way, too.”
“Do you?”
She nodded. “But I’ve never had a hankering to move there. I like Hollybrook.”
“So do I.” He grinned at her and for a moment, he felt a connection between them, but she quickly looked away.
He turned into the Rabers’ drive and added his buggy to the line of buggies already in place.
“Looks like we’re late,” she observed. “That would be my fault. I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry,” he said. “Being a few minutes late won’t hurt anything.”
He turned off the lights and the heater and then got out and came around to open her door, but she’d already gotten out.
“I need to see to Flicker,” he told her. “I’ll be in shortly.”
She nodded and walked toward the open barn door.
It wouldn’t matter when he wandered inside, for he couldn’t sit by her. The males and females sat apart. She likely wouldn’t even give him a thought until it was time to go back home. Taking a girl home from the youth singing usually meant that he was courting her. That wouldn’t be the case with Leora, although he wished it were. There was something about her that touched him—even when she was being a bit formal with him.
He wished he could hear her laugh. As far as he could tell, she didn’t laugh much, but he bet her laugh was amazing. If only he were a bit more amusing, he might be able to get a laugh or two out of her. He wondered if she laughed with Bill Jeffreys.
Stop it, he told himself. You’ll make a fool of yourself if you aren’t careful.
But the image of her laughing with Jeffreys wouldn’t leave his mind. It kept popping up during the singing when his mind should have been on the hymns.
Leora had found a spot in the middle of a group of older girls. She looked happy enough to be there. He tried not to stare at her, but nevertheless, his gaze frequently went to the far side of the barn where she was sitting. A lantern hung close to where she sat so he could see her face clearly.
Goodness, but she was beautiful. And when she sang, sometimes she closed her eyes, and he could almost hear her voice rise above the others. She looked positively angelic sitting there. One time, their gazes met and locked for a brief moment. His breath caught and his heart hammered against his ribs. It was a thrilling moment but fleeting as she quickly averted her gaze.
Still. It had happened, and it rocked through him with a sweet deliciousness. He could barely concentrate on the words of the songs after that.
Chapter Five
Leora’s cheeks flamed hot. She’d had a suspicion that Noah was watching her. She could feel his gaze. Finally, unable to resist any longer, she’d looked over, and then it had happened. Their gazes met and she felt something zap through her. Instantly sweaty, she’d glanced away as fast as she could. What was that?
And why did he keep looking at her? It made her squirm. She was sure the girls around her would notice, but none of them whispered a thing.
She breathed a sigh of relief when the singing portion was over and the refreshments and visiting time began. Everyone got up and started milling around, some filling their plates with food, others gathering in little circles to talk and laugh.
Leora felt out of place. Like she’d told Martha, she was one of the oldest females there. And she was a widow. Most of the girls were in the throes of their first loves, giggling and making eyes, and praying their crushes would wander over and offer them a ride home.
Well, Leora knew who was taking her home, and it had nothing to do with love or courtship or getting to know each other better.
Except … the way Noah kept glancing at her made her wonder. Was he interested in her? She glanced around as unobtrusively as she could, to see where he was. She spotted him in front of the closed barn door, chatting with Ethel Beiler. Sudden disappointment flashed through her, surprising her. She swallowed and frowned. What was the matter with her anyway? Honestly, a person would think she was interested in Noah King—which she wasn’t.
She turned back to one of the girls, Katie, who was chatting with great animation about how cute Justin Bontrager was. Leora smiled and nodded and pretended to be fascinated by it all. But in truth, all she really wanted to do was to go home. She stifled a sigh and wondered when Noah would be ready to go.
She glanced back over at him. He was laughing at something Ethel had said. Looked like it might be awhile. She excused herself from Katie and wandered over to the refreshment table to get something to eat. Not that she was hungry, but it would give her something to do. She chose an egg salad sandwich and a handful of pretzels.
“Is it any gut?” asked a voice close to her ear.
She whirled around to stare up at Noah. “Um… I haven’t taken a bite yet.”
He chuckled. “I see that now. What’d you choose? The egg salad?”
She nodded, raising the half sandwich from her plate like she was toasting him.
“I think I’ll have the same.” He grabbed a plate and helped himself. He took a bite and nodded appreciatively. “It’s nice.”
She took a bite and agreed.
“Are you ready to go after you finish eating?” he asked. “Not that I want to hurry you along, mind you.”
“I�
��ll be ready. In truth, I’m ready anytime.”
He raised his brow. “Are you? Then, let’s go.”
“Nee. Finish your food first. I didn’t mean to drag you away before you were ready.”
“I’m not that hungry. I’ll go out and hitch up Flicker. You can come out to meet me in a few minutes. Does that sound all right?”
She nodded. “Thank you, Noah.” She said his name softly and then was embarrassed by how tender her voice sounded. This wouldn’t do. She cringed. This wouldn’t do at all.
He gave her a curious look before walking away.
She blinked hard. Goodness, but she was going to have to watch herself. Had she become so lonely these days that she would grasp at any possibility for companionship? She was disappointed with herself. She considered herself quite independent, especially for an Amish woman. Secretly, she was proud of that, but the way she was acting now filled her with questions.
She made her way to where everyone’s coats and capes had been piled in a heap on a table right inside the barn door. She found hers and pulled it loose.
“You going so soon?” Katie asked, approaching her.
Leora put on a smile. “Jah. It’s about over anyway.”
Katie leaned close. “Not really. Everyone will stay a gut while longer to visit.” She looked around. “How are you getting home?”
Leora inhaled sharply. She wasn’t about to reveal that Noah King was taking her home. That would set the tongues on fire for sure and for certain.
“Oh, I have a ride,” she said vaguely, quickly adding, “Have you had a chance to speak to Justin yet?”
Successfully distracted, Katie started in about how she didn’t want to appear too forward, but that she was dying to talk to him, and did Leora think it would be all right if Katie went right over to him and said something?
“Definitely,” Leora said. “Look, he’s standing by himself right now. Why not take that platter of sandwiches from the table and ask him if he wants one? You can pretend you’re serving everyone, and then it wouldn’t be forward at all.”
Thanksgiving In Hollybrook (Hollybrook Holiday Amish Romance) Page 3