The Trespasser (Amish Country Brides)

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  “It would beat eating eggs for every meal. Not that I’m complaining.”

  His smile was easy. “I’m getting a little tired of them too.”

  “I wanted to say thank you again for last night. That was sweet.”

  He nodded once, obviously uncomfortable. “I’d like to help you any way I can.”

  She reached over and cupped her hand over his. Did he feel a connection between them too? Like something in their world had shifted last night in the bedroom? “I really appreciate that.”

  He didn’t take his hand away, but cleared his throat slightly. “The little one is still asleep?”

  “Yes.” She reluctantly removed her hand. Perhaps the feeling was one-sided.

  “She will like my sister Emily.”

  “You have a sister?”

  “Jah. Several.”

  “How old is Emily?”

  “Six.”

  “Oh, good. Yes, I’m sure they will become fast friends. Bailey loves meeting new children. She gets along easily with others.”

  He nodded. “I’ll take a ride down the road after breakfast. If the road is decent, I’ll come back to get you and Bailey for supper. If Mamm didn’t make other plans.”

  “Just in case, what time do you think that will be so we’re sure to be ready?”

  “I’m thinking four thirty. Daed usually gets home from work about five. I suspect he worked today now that the roadways are probably draining.”

  “Speaking of work, do you have a job you should be at? Not that it’s any of my business.”

  “Nee, it’s fine. Jah, I work with Daed on construction projects and I also work around the farm. On rainy days, there’s only so much work that can be done outside. Daed will not be missing me.”

  She nodded. “That suits you.”

  Construction. She should have guessed. That would explain the well-defined chest she’d seen in the basement and his muscular frame. She grinned at the thought of his arms around her last night. She wouldn’t mind a repeat of that nearness—without her sobbing on his shoulder. “Okay. We’ll be ready by four thirty then.”

  ~

  Silas sipped the last of his coffee and rinsed out the mug.

  He’d been mulling over the best course of action concerning Kayla and Bailey. Should he inform Josiah’s family of the situation? He didn’t feel right not letting his friend’s folks know that they had a grandchild.

  “How do you feel about contacting Josiah’s family?”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh. I guess I hadn’t thought of that. Do you…how do you think they would respond?”

  “I don’t know. But if Bailey is their grossboppli, I’m thinking they’ll want to know.”

  “I haven’t mentioned anything to Bailey. I’m still trying to figure out what to tell her.”

  “What does she know?”

  “She just knows that her daddy lives somewhere far away. I’m sure she must have dreams of meeting him.” She swallowed and brushed away a tear. “I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t want to break her heart.”

  Ach. “I imagine it would be a difficult thing for a child. But the truth is usually best.”

  He ached to tell her his thoughts for the possible future, but it was too soon. How would Bailey feel if Silas stepped into her daddy’s shoes? Would she be pleased? Would Kayla even allow it?

  He should probably seek advice from Mamm and Daed and the leaders. But what if they were against it? He didn’t even want to entertain that thought, but it was likely to be the case. Kayla and Bailey were Englisch, and he was not. He was a baptized member of the Amish church, which meant his future in the Plain community was set. There would be no breaking of his vows to the church. There would be no jumping the fence.

  Jah, there was much to think and pray about. Perhaps he’d drive out to bishop Jerry Bontrager’s place after he stopped off at home.

  He eyed Kayla before donning his hat. “Would you like me to contact Josiah’s family?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Sure.”

  “I’ll call Pennsylvania today then.” The thought both comforted and worried him. How would Josiah’s family respond? Would they be accepting of Kayla and Bailey? Would they want them to live nearby? If so, that would mean Kayla and Bailey would move far away. He wasn’t sure he liked that idea. The thought of having his own family again had grown on him. It would be difficult to see the two of them go, for sure and certain.

  “Silas, wait.” He turned back around at Kayla’s voice. “What should I wear to your parents’ house tonight?”

  He lifted his eyebrows and smiled. “Clothes.”

  He winked, then stepped out the door.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Kayla stood open-mouthed as Silas sauntered to his buggy. Had he just flirted with her?

  She couldn’t be certain, but she was pretty sure that single word held more than one meaning. Clothes, indeed. She smiled, shaking her head. She guessed he wouldn’t be forgetting the first time they’d met anytime soon either. Of course, she didn’t imagine he would. It’s not every day a man unintentionally bursts in on a woman changing her clothes. Probably even less so in his culture.

  “What a way to make a first impression, Kayla,” she mumbled to herself.

  ~

  Silas was glad to see that the water had receded enough to safely pass over. He thought about everything that had happened in the two days since he’d crossed through the raging creek. Finding Kayla and Bailey in the Yoders’ home had been a surprise, to say the least. And then to find out they were kin to his best friend, well, it almost seemed like Der Herr had specially delivered them straight to him all wrapped up with a beautiful red bow. It almost seemed like Gott had given him a brand-new family to love, since He’d taken away his first one. It almost seemed like he had been sent to them as well. Why else would all the pieces fit together so perfectly? It had to be the work of Der Herr, didn’t it?

  But he shouldn’t get ahead of himself. Just because things seemed one way didn’t necessarily mean that it was ordained by Gott. After all, Kayla and Bailey were Englisch. He needed to keep reminding himself of that fact. Because no matter how much he longed to have another family, one with Josiah’s widow and dochder was not likely. Not that she was his widow indeed, but that was how Silas considered her. Because he was sure his friend would have left everything to be with her and their boppli. If he were in that situation, he would’ve married Kayla. Of that, he was sure and certain.

  Ach, he’d been so lost in thought, he hadn’t even realized Strider had pulled into his driveway. He really should pay more attention to the road. Because the last thing Kayla needed in her life was another senseless tragedy. How could he be so careless? Dummkopp, he chided himself.

  He pulled Strider up to the hitching post, freed him from his constraints, then led him to an empty stall and gave him fresh oats. If the ground hadn’t been so wet, he would’ve turned him out into the pasture. With the muddy ground, he didn’t want to chance an injured ankle. That had happened once before, and it had proven to be costly.

  “You finally showed up. It’s about time, bruder,” his brother commented. Silas looked up at his seventeen-year-old brother, Paul, who was currently mucking out a stall. “We thought you drowned. Mamm had in mind to send out a search party until Daed suggested we check the phone shanty first.”

  Silas grunted. He could only imagine his family’s reaction if they happened upon him and Kayla alone in the house together. “He probably wouldn’t have been able to make it through the creek. Me and Strider barely made it through.”

  “That was some storm. Daed thought we might be getting a tornado too.”

  He’d definitely experienced a tornado, but not the kind Paul was thinking of. It was amazing how the trajectory of a life could change in just a couple of days. He hadn’t even known about Kayla and Bailey at the beginning of the week, but now? It seemed like his every thought revolved around them.

  “Hello? Silas?” His brother’s h
and waved in front of his face.

  He shook his head.

  “Are you okay, bruder? You seem a little preoccupied.”

  Indeed. “Jah, I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind right now.”

  His brother frowned. “Wanna talk about it?”

  Ach, now his brother believed he was missing his fraa. “Nee.” He’d soon find out anyhow.

  Silas left the barn and headed toward the dawdi haus. He’d occupied the solitary dwelling since he and his fraa married. Since his grosseldre still lived in Pennsylvania, his folks allowed him to use it even after his wife’s death. If Mammi and Dawdi were to ever move to Indiana, however, he’d have to give up his home to accommodate his grandparents. If that ever happened, he hoped to have enough income to purchase the Yoders’ property.

  And he yearned for it now more than ever. After spending time there with Kayla and Bailey, he imagined the three of them living in that home as a family. It would be perfect. Bailey could go to school with his sister, Emily. He and Kayla could run the little store out front. And he’d have the property to care for. If they needed more income, he could always work on the construction crew with John Stoltzfus and Daed.

  Ach, there he went again dreaming of something that would most likely never come to fruition. Chances were, Josiah’s folks would want their grossboppli close to them. Which meant Kayla and Bailey would move to Pennsylvania. Far away from him in Indiana. A world away by horse and buggy.

  He now walked through the adjoining door that connected his small dawdi haus to his folks’ main dwelling. As usual, Mamm’s kitchen smelled like fresh baked dessert.

  “Mei sohn has returned.” Mamm smiled, pulling muffins out of the oven, as if on cue.

  “Mm…what kind are those?”

  “Apple. Your favorite. I made blueberry earlier.”

  Wouldn’t Kayla and Bailey love to have some? No doubt, after eating nothing but eggs.

  “Something on your mind?”

  Ach, he was way too easy to read, it seemed. “Jah. I need to talk to you and Daed about something. And Jerry Bontrager.”

  That had gotten Mamm’s attention. “You need to speak with the bishop? Sounds serious.” She sat down on one of the kitchen chairs and motioned Silas to do the same.

  He glanced around. “Where are the others?”

  “The little ones are at school. Paul is out doing chores. Martha and Susan are cutting out dresses upstairs. It is just us.”

  He nodded. “I had a surprise when I went to Yoders’. There was an Englisch woman there in the house with her dochder.”

  Mamm’s eyes flew wide. “A trespasser? In Dan Yoder’s house?”

  He’d never considered Kayla and Bailey trespassers, but he supposed that might be the proper word for the interlopers. He’d just considered them strangers in need of protection from the elements. But he quickly discovered they were much more than that, they’d been sent to him from Der Herr. The more he thought on it, the more convinced he became.

  He explained. “They were looking for shelter from the storm and the little one needed a bathroom.”

  She offered a hesitant nod, not quite certain where this conversation was going.

  “I discovered they are kin to Josiah.”

  “Josiah? But he is dot.”

  “Bailey, the maedel, is his dochder.”

  Mamm covered her open mouth. “Josiah was…? He had a family?”

  “He died before he could learn about the boppli.”

  “Do his folks know?”

  “Nee. I plan to call them today.” He shook his head. “It’s like Der Herr sent Kayla and Bailey here. They were on their way to Pennsylvania.”

  “It seems so.” Mamm frowned. “But they are Englischers, you say?”

  “Jah.”

  “How long have they been there?”

  “Just two days, I think. They turned in when the storm was so bad. The roads were flooded.”

  “And they slept in the Yoders’ haus?”

  “Jah.” He dreaded the question he knew Mamm would ask next.

  “And you? You did not sleep in the haus too.”

  “It has seven bedrooms.” He grimaced.

  “Ach, Silas.”

  “We didn’t do anything, Mamm.” His face burned. That wasn’t a lie, was it?

  “You know that is not the point. It looks bad. Very bad. And you are setting a bad example.”

  “I would have come back home, but the flood water was too high.”

  “You should have slept in the barn then.” She was right, of course. “What will happen when the leaders find out?”

  “I didn’t plan on telling them.”

  “You know things like this have a way of getting out. Silas, something like this is scandalous. You’re putting your reputation at risk.”

  He’d have to make sure to tell Kayla not to mention the way they’d met. If Mamm thought the situation was scandalous now, he could only imagine what she’d think if she knew all the details. But still, they hadn’t done anything inappropriate. No matter how inappropriate it may have looked.

  “Just think about this, Silas. You spent two nights alone in the same home as an Englisch woman. In the minister’s home, no less!”

  “I told you we didn’t do anything, Mamm.” His frustration mounted, mostly because Mamm was right and he knew it.

  “Ach, Silas. You know better.”

  He hated that tone.

  “You will most likely need to make a confession before the leaders.”

  “I can do that.”

  “There’s a good chance you won’t be able to care for Dan Yoder’s place anymore.”

  “What?”

  “If this Englisch woman is found in the familye way, Dan Yoder will feel responsible for allowing sin on his property.”

  Ach, did Mamm not believe what he’d just told her? “Mamm, you know me. You know I wouldn’t do that.”

  “You are a man, Silas. And man is capable of much sin. She was apparently able to sway Josiah.”

  He couldn’t believe what Mamm was insinuating. Yes, he was a man. Yes, he was capable of sin. But that didn’t mean he had sinned with Kayla. And he resented that Mamm seemed to have him tried and convicted when he was truly innocent. And it wasn’t fair to judge Kayla either. Just because she’d made a mistake with Josiah didn’t mean she was a harlot, for goodness’ sake. But he wouldn’t disrespect Mamm by arguing with her.

  He sighed. “I invited them over for supper tonight. I hope that is all right.”

  “I will set two extra plates.”

  Perhaps he shouldn’t have even mentioned anything to his family and just sent Kayla and Bailey on their way to Pennsylvania with the address to Josiah’s folks’ place. Then no one would have known.

  But that hadn’t seemed like the right thing to do. He felt like they were his personal responsibility now. And what of the Scriptures he’d read? Could that have been just a coincidence that he would read those words on the exact day he’d found out about Josiah’s family? He’d thought not. He hadn’t imagined the words he’d read. It was as though Der Herr had spoken directly to him.

  If Mamm had any idea what he was thinking right now, she’d likely have a fit. Well, he wouldn’t tell her. At least, not yet.

  He needed to speak with the bishop. But after Mamm’s reaction, he was hesitant now. Perhaps it would be better to just lie low for the time being. Now that he was back at home, there would be no cause for anyone to suspect anything.

  He knew what he would not do though. He would not cast off Kayla and Bailey just because they were Englisch. And he would not assume the worst of Kayla because she had a past. Hadn’t every person alive done things they weren’t proud of?

  He admitted that he didn’t know Kayla all that well, but he could tell a few things. She was a gut mamm. She was protective and responsible and cared for her dochder’s needs. And she seemed selfless, and considerate, and kind.

  No, she didn’t have a gut relationship with Gott.
That was one negative thing, for sure and certain. But that was only because she was hurting. She didn’t understand that Der Herr was the one who healed broken hearts, not the one who broke them. Silas desired to help her see who Gott really was. He was the lover of her soul. The one who’d given everything to show her that He loved her, that He cares for her.

  Open her eyes to Your love, Gott.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Silas couldn’t quell the spring in his step. Despite his mother’s reaction, he was excited to bring Kayla and Bailey home. He was confident she’d change her mind once she spent a little time getting to know Kayla. At least, he hoped so.

  His brother whistled as Silas exited the bathroom. “Woo, bruder.” Paul’s brow shot up. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were going courtin’.”

  “I am not.”

  “You don’t even look like that for meeting.” Paul challenged.

  “I do too.”

  His brother crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. “Cologne?”

  He shrugged in nonchalance. “I just took a shower. I don’t want to smell bad.”

  “Courting.” His brother nodded. “I’m surprised you didn’t shave too.”

  “Widowers don’t shave.” Silas shook his head. Was he courting? Not in a literal sense. But if he could… Jah, if Kayla was Amish, he’d definitely be courting her. But she wasn’t. So he wasn’t.

  Silas frowned. “She’s Englisch.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  ~

  As soon as Kayla stepped out of the house, Silas’s heart did a little flip. She wore a short white floral dress that hit just above her knee, matching white sandals, and just a bit of makeup. Ach, she was a beautiful woman.

  Bailey wore an identical outfit, but with no makeup. Did Englischers usually put face paint on their kinner? He couldn’t be sure.

  He stepped down from the buggy to help the two of them onto the back seat. He was a little disappointed not to have Kayla by his side, but it was probably better this way. He doubted either Kayla or Bailey had ever ridden in a buggy. He planned to take it easy with Strider so he could spend as much time with the two of them as possible.