Promise at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  Maemm stepped up behind her to return her purple fly swatter to its place above the refrigerator. “Oh, I forgot to mention that Ben just rented the small house on his property.”

  As Maemm stepped to the hall, her voice floated back to Hannah, who could hear water running in the small bathroom. When Maemm returned to the kitchen, rubbing her hands together, she grabbed a small dish towel, dampened it, and began cleaning the countertop area closest to the refrigerator. “Um-hum. A fellow from Chicago needed a place to live right away. The same guy just got hired on by Ben’s company as a welder.”

  * * *

  Inside his new place, Marcus took in the simple blue curtains that covered the windows. To his pleasant surprise, a light in the middle of a gas line running across the ceiling illuminated his kitchen at night. He was fully aware that some Amish didn’t have that, and it was an advantage to those who lived closer to town. A gas stove and refrigerator sat to the left of a large sink.

  If he looked out of his front door, he could see Ben Lapp’s large two-story house and the dirt path in between their two homes. Marcus had very little to do with him, and for some reason, he felt as if he belonged in this modest dwelling.

  Bringing his focus to the broken horse and buggy he’d offered to repair for Hannah, he smiled a little. He barely knew Hannah Lapp. Still, he already liked many things about her.

  For instance, her enthusiasm about her shop. Her quilt. Her smile. The way she seemed . . . nonjudgmental. Of course, if she knew about his brothers and their run-ins with the law, it would probably frighten her. He hoped she wouldn’t think less of him because of his relationship to them.

  If she had any idea that they’d tried to get him to join in with their thefts and that the very reason he’d come here was to get away from them and start a Christian life, she’d be astounded. The corners of his lips began to drop.

  As he placed the horse and buggy, now in one piece, on the countertop, he smiled with satisfaction. He’d fixed the display. It was a small favor for a pretty Amish woman; at the same time, it was a big thing to do. Small because the job had taken a mere fifteen minutes. Big because this presented another opportunity for him to see her.

  As warm summer air came in through his two screened windows, he recalled the project she’d shown him in the back of her shop. To Marcus, working with needle and thread was a talent he much respected. Not only that, but the moment he’d glimpsed the large piece of blue, his heart had floated back to a wonderful time in his life.

  He stopped for a moment and arched a brow. Then he realized the true reason he wanted to return to Amish Edibles. It was to see Hannah.

  Chapter Three

  A few days later, delicious-smelling potpourri scents that had just been dropped off by Rebecca Conrad, the area’s well-known florist, filled Amish Edibles with the most sensational fragrance.

  At her shop, Hannah stood hunched behind the counter breathing in the delightful aroma of mixed flowers and holding The Adventures of Sydney and Carson so close to her face, the paper touched her nose.

  The sound of the entrance bell startled her, and the paperback dropped to her feet. Without wasting a moment, she bent to retrieve it and quickly slipped it back on the shelf to the right of the cash register.

  When she looked up, she smiled at Marcus Jackson. The slow speed of her pulse immediately picked up.

  “Morning, Hannah.”

  She smiled back, trying to keep her voice from giving away her sudden happiness at seeing him again. She loved the sense of safety and calmness he exuded, not to mention the way he spoke to her, as if they’d been friends forever.

  “Marcus, it’s gut to see you. I hope everything’s going well. I hear you’re in Ben’s house.”

  “Thanks to you.” As he stepped toward her, he drew his right hand up in front of him. When he was directly opposite her, he held out the horse and buggy for display.

  She couldn’t stop the excited breath that escaped her throat as she drew her hands up to her chest in great appreciation. “You fixed it!”

  Without responding, he carefully placed it next to the register. She slowly reached out to take it in-between her hands, then scrutinized the beautiful, one-piece horse and buggy. After glancing at Marcus, she proceeded to turn it from side to side, upside down, and right side up, squinting to find where he’d welded it. To her surprise and happiness, there was no visible sign that the piece had ever been broken.

  Darting him a grateful smile, she carefully placed it next to the register and lifted her chin to his face so that their gazes locked. “You did this?”

  He offered a modest nod. “It was an easy fix.”

  She continued looking for visible signs of the repair and finally gave up. “You must be very talented to have repaired this without a blemish.”

  He bent at his waist. “Thank you, Miss Lapp. But I have a confession.” He paused, and she looked at him to continue.

  “What I really came back for is more of your delicious raspberry jelly.”

  Hannah led him to where it was. Of course, he already knew. Still, it gave her a further opportunity to make conversation with him.

  “So, how do you like Arthur so far?”

  He plucked a purple container from the shelf and looked at it before turning his attention back to her. “I feel right at home here.”

  Hannah beamed. “That’s gut.”

  “Oh, and by the way, your brother Ben’s a great guy. In fact, I think we’ll end up good friends.”

  Just like us.

  “Not only am I living at his place, but we’re also working together now.”

  When he started toward the cash register, Hannah stepped to his side. Happy to see Marcus again so soon, she tried to control the obvious excitement that edged her voice. She hoped they’d talk more before he checked out.

  He pulled his wallet from his pocket, but she stopped him with her hand. “This one’s on the house.”

  He hesitated. “But if you give away your jelly, you don’t make money.” He gave a shake of his head. “And I’d hate to see this lovely shop go out of business.”

  She lifted her chin. “I don’t think this one item will set me back. Besides, I’m grateful that you fixed my horse and buggy.”

  “Hannah, it’s my pleasure.”

  A short silence ensued while he looked as if he couldn’t decide whether to go on. But he did, and she listened. “When I was young, my mom asked me to promise something.”

  “What?”

  “To follow my heart. That’s what I’m doing here. I’m starting a new life here. As a Christian.”

  * * *

  Hannah blinked as the Saturday morning sun beat down on her while she traversed Ben’s yard. Outside the back door, as the screen sprang shut, she stopped for a moment to appreciate the delicious aroma of chicken and dumplings that floated deliciously out of the open windows. Hannah was sure the large barn raising crew would love the lunch she and Maemm had helped Ruth make.

  She could also smell the fresh peach and apple pies that were almost ready to remove from the oven. There were fifteen place settings at the dining room and kitchen tables for her brothers and the neighbors who had come today to help with Ben’s barn raising.

  Hannah smiled inside. She always loved it when everyone got together to help someone. Working for a gut cause made her happy.

  Mary Conrad was on her way with homemade sponge cakes. The thought of the community plant guru prompted the corners of Hannah’s lips to pull upward into a wide smile. They’d grown up together. And the beautiful floral arrangements Mary created with her maemm, Rebecca, fascinated Hannah.

  Absently, she considered Mary’s feelings for Wayne Miller. She’d loved him forever, it seemed, yet, sadly, Wayne had never asked Rebecca and William to court their daughter. Hannah wondered why Wayne hadn’t done so. By now, he had to be aware of Mary’s deep feelings for him.

  Still, Mary hoped to someday be Mrs. Wayne Miller. Hannah stepped aside to avoid a po
thole. Back on the dirt path, she considered marriage: finding the special person to spend your life with.

  Hannah lifted the bottom of her dress to quicken her steps to the group of workers. As she stopped to tuck some loose hairs back under her kapp, she glanced back at the two-story house Ben and his wife, Ruth, had purchased in April. They’d been fortunate to move into this old country house with the large number of bedrooms they needed for their growing family.

  Hannah pulled in a determined breath and resumed her walk to the barn that was being built. As quick strides took her across the two acres of yard, from her peripheral vision she noted the horses tied in a queue to the wooden fence that led from the winding blacktop to the dwelling. The deep, rich grass reminded her of a thick, velvety green carpet she’d once seen.

  Black buggies lined the fence, too. The smell of freshly cut wood reached her, thanks to the light breeze. Pebble Creek appeared blissfully in the distance.

  As she got closer to the barn in progress, the sound of familiar voices filled the air. She was near enough that she could easily identify the low, gruff voice of her daed, who was carrying a board to the main area of construction.

  She also detected Jacob’s argumentative pitch, countering Ben’s easygoing voice. Jacob was the sibling closest to her in age. But one voice in particular immediately warmed her heart. It was the calm tone of Marcus Jackson.

  Suddenly, her cheeks felt flushed, and she silently scolded herself. She wasn’t sure why she reacted as she did whenever Marcus was around, but she soon reasoned that it was due to their immediate friendship, and that he’d opened up to her about the emotional reminder of the blanket his late mother had once made for him. Now, she even knew a new tidbit. That he was a Christian.

  A honeybee buzzed around her forehead, momentarily distracting her from her thoughts. She kept going, careful not to step in a dip in the earth, as she gently swatted away the insect. But as she stepped closer to the men laying concrete, Marcus popped back into her thoughts. And when she spotted him emptying a bag of cement mix into a wheelbarrow while Ben stirred the mixture with a hoe, a warm smile tugged the corners of her lips upward. When he glimpsed her, he offered a nod of recognition.

  “Lunch is ready! Come and wash up!” Hannah put her hands on both sides of her mouth and hollered.

  Her daed waved to her. “Coming!”

  Daed was a man who offered few loving gestures. But in her heart, she knew his tough exterior was a façade and nothing more. He’d done too many things for her for Hannah to think anything else. For instance, when she’d fallen ill with a sinus infection a couple of years before, he’d brought a bowl of Maemm’s homemade vegetable soup to her room.

  The memory nearly caused her to laugh with happiness. The recollection was funny to her because this particular display of love was so unlike him. And happiness because she’d never forget the worry lines around his eyes when he’d sat down on her bed and gruffly asked her how she was feeling.

  Jah, she was Daed’s girl. Hannah knew he loved her brothers, but to her knowledge, he’d never offered them the patient, fatherly affection that, at times, he’d provided her. And there was no one here on earth Hannah loved more than him.

  As she made her way back to the dwelling, she could hear her father convey that it was time to head to the house in a tone loud enough for everyone to hear.

  A familiar female voice caught up with Hannah when she approached the house. “Mary!” They embraced before stepping inside together.

  “I’ve already set out my sponge cakes in the kitchen. What a big crew!”

  Inside, Hannah poured fresh lemonade into glasses and set them on the table. When the crew came in, they took turns using the hall bathroom to wash up before taking a seat. When everyone was seated, Hannah’s daed gave the prayer.

  After that, the three women helped serve everyone.

  From her peripheral vision, Hannah watched Ben sit down beside Marcus. Her brother spoke to him in between bites of chicken. “This ain’t your first rodeo, is it?”

  Marcus grinned and shook his head.

  For a moment, Hannah wasn’t sure what he meant. “You’re experienced with building. When you offered to help, I had no idea how handy you were.”

  Marcus lowered his gaze to the floor and didn’t respond.

  But Ben pressed for an explanation. Finally, Marcus satisfied the group. “My dad was an architect and a builder. I apprenticed at a very young age.”

  Hannah couldn’t hold back a smile. Because little did this group know that this strong man had another strong interest: quilting.

  * * *

  Back at the barn site, Marcus couldn’t get Hannah off his mind as he emptied another bag of dry, gray cement powder into a wheelbarrow. He was fully aware of the strict rules within this hardworking yet gentle group of people called the Amish, and although everyone had welcomed him with what had seemed genuine enthusiasm, Marcus knew instinctively that he wasn’t one of them. That he never would be. That he never could be.

  And not because he didn’t like or respect them; they had his full fascination and admiration. But from what he’d seen of their dedicated lifestyle, his life was much easier and simpler than theirs. He was sure he didn’t have the strength that was needed to be Amish.

  Yet, for some reason, Hannah Lapp had been on his mind ever since the moment he’d first talked to her. And to his surprise, he’d discovered that he liked to impress her. Satisfaction had filled him when she’d been excited about the horse and buggy he’d welded. And it had been obvious in her eyes that she’d greatly appreciated his interest in her quilt.

  As he stirred the mix while adding water, he was vaguely aware of the different conversations floating through the air, about everything from this year’s crops to what the weather would be like in the coming week. But Hannah consumed his thoughts. Why was he still thinking about her?

  Hannah’s bubbly personality and obvious interest in her shop and her work had immediately captured his interest. He knew very little about the Amish. And next to nothing, really, about Hannah. What he was sure of, though, was that many things he had done would be frowned on by her tightly knit community.

  His new landlord, Ben, interrupted his thoughts when he strode over to the pile of two-by-fours that Marcus had piled neatly in front of the wheelbarrow. “Sure appreciate that you came today to pitch in. Denki.”

  Marcus continued to work while he offered a nod. “Glad to do it, Ben.” After a short hesitation while he added more water to his mix, he went on. “As far as renting to me . . .” To his dismay, salty moisture stung Marcus’s eyes, and he blinked to rid them of the sting. “I guess you could say you were a win for me.”

  Ben nodded. “I’ve been looking for a renter. Your timing couldn’t have been better. Two of our welders recently left. One went to another company; the other moved out of state. Having you will greatly lessen my workload.”

  While a loud saw cutting wood seared through the air, Marcus lifted the pitch of his voice a notch so Ben could hear him. “It’s no coincidence. I’d say the Almighty God arranged the whole thing.”

  To Marcus’s surprise, his words prompted a surprised expression on Ben’s face. In fact, Marcus reasoned, approval also edged the lines around Hannah’s brother’s mouth. “You’re a believer.”

  Surprise accompanied the statement. Marcus acknowledged that of course this kind man knew very little about him. Glad to have the opportunity to talk about his newfound relationship with God, Marcus replied, “About a month ago, I asked Jesus into my life.”

  Marcus was quick to note the sparkle of moisture on Ben’s pupils. The picture of emotion in front of him reminded Marcus of morning dew on a leaf.

  For long moments, Marcus looked at him, expecting a reply. Finally, Ben smiled a little and offered him an affectionate pat on his shoulder. “I couldn’t be happier for you, my friend. It’s funny, but when we first talked, my instincts told me that you were a Christian. Because of that, you’re m
y brother in Christ.”

  * * *

  The third week in July was starting, and business at Amish Edibles was picking back up. On her knees, Hannah continued to run her feather duster over empty shelves. She proceeded to wipe a regular rag sprayed with wood polish over the already dusted shelves.

  As she did so, she breathed in the cleaning scent and smiled a little. There’s something so refreshing about the smell of wood soap. And I love to dust.

  Letting out a sigh, she stood. Breathing in, she contemplated the containers of raspberry and strawberry jelly that she’d pulled from their places. Plucking one jar at a time, she returned the jellies to clean, shiny spots.

  She crossed her arms over her chest and counted her supply, figuring out how many jars she’d need to replenish. While she did so, the soft cinnamon scent from her burning homemade candle filled her nostrils. The comforting aroma prompted a smile.

  I can’t wait for Christmas. Maybe by then, I’ll know who to give my quilt to. Now, though, I need to focus on restocking these shelves.

  She collected her feather duster and dustrag and made her way back to the wall that faced the garden. As she placed the cleaning supplies in her plastic carrier, she looked down at the large box of jelly her daed had carried in for her earlier that morning.

  The box sported a solid line of tape that needed to be cut to get into the box. She kept scissors in a small sack a few feet away. Taking the plastic in her hands, she searched for her means of ripping open the container.

  She frowned, looking a second time. The scissors weren’t where they were supposed to be, so she glanced down and crossed her arms over her chest while she pressed her lips together thoughtfully.

  As she did so, her peripheral vision allowed a bonus view of her small garden, and she knew what needed to be done after restocking the jelly. The weeds needed to be pulled.

  A scratching at the garden window caught her attention, and she went to the back door to allow Scarlet inside. Immediately, the cat headed to the blanket in the corner.