Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) (9 page)

She faced him. His lips curved upward in a slow smile that made her heart slam into her chest. When he looked at her that way, she could barely formulate a coherent thought.

He furrowed his brown. “Martha?”

“Ja?”
She felt the stark sensation of their locked gazes.

“Listen,” Eli whispered. “The rain stopped.” He stood, and she followed suit, trailing him as he opened the barn door. They were greeted by bright sunlight and a landscape awash in wet glorious colors of vivid greens and the yellow, red and pink blossoms planted near the house.

“Look!” She pointed toward the sky, enthralled with the prettiest rainbow that she’d ever seen. Entranced, she stepped out of the barn and stared up at the sky streaked with a myriad of color and light. “’Tis beautiful,” she gasped.

“Ja,”
he said into her ear. She turned and smiled, and her lips froze as she realized that he’d been staring at her, not the rainbow. Martha caught her breath, unable to turn away. Her heart pumped hard to bring in oxygen.

The moment of startling awareness passed. “I should get home,” he said crisply.

“I’ll take you.”

“I can walk to Jacob’s.”

Determined, Martha moved to block his way until he was forced to acknowledge her stubborn streak. “I’ll take you. ’Tis the least I do.”

He gave an abrupt nod.
“Oll recht.”
He skirted the outside of the barn toward the other barn door and the buggy inside.

“Eli.”

“Ja?”
He seemed to stiffen as if reluctant to stop and turn around, but he did.

“
Danki
for waiting out the storm with me.” She smiled warmly, hoping to put him at ease. Those tense moments in the barn had been unsettling to them both, she realized.

She must have been convincing, because he seemed to relax. “We couldn’t risk getting wet, could we?” he teased, looking more like the Eli she’d first gotten to know.

He threw open the other barn door, and the two of them managed to back the horse and buggy out of the building. Soon they were riding toward the Lapp farm with Eli at the leathers. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of his driving when the vehicle belonged to her. Besides, it was nice to be driven by a man again.

She was conscious of Eli beside her on the seat. She couldn’t help notice the way his strong hands easily controlled the reins and how his masculine frame filled his half of the front seat. She detected the scent of dampness, outdoors and a pleasant smell that could only belong to him.

With a silent groan, Martha faced the side window and closed her eyes.
What am I doing? Thinking such things again?
She was a foolish, lonely widow, but she wouldn’t give in. She had a life to live, and she would live it within the Amish faith on her own terms.

“We’re here,” Eli announced unnecessarily as he pulled onto the road to his father’s farm.

Martha was quiet as he drew the buggy to a stop not far from the house. “That didn’t take too long,” she said with a smile.

“Nay,”
he agreed with a disconcerting intensity.

“Do I have a speck on my nose?” she asked, curious.

“Something,” he murmured, and the air between them suddenly filled with tension. The door to the farmhouse opened, and several Lapps spilled out of the house and raced in their direction. The mood was gone so quickly she thought that she might have imagined it.
Thank the Lord.

“Eli!” Katie Lapp exclaimed as she approached. “We were concerned about you.”

He climbed out of the vehicle. “I’m fine,
Mam
.” He smiled to reassure her. “I took shelter from the storm in Martha’s barn.”

Katie looked from one to the other silently and then said, “I see.” She smiled at Martha. “Will you come in for tea?”

“I appreciate the invitation, Katie, but I should get home.”

The woman nodded as if she understood. “Come and visit soon,” Katie said as Martha slid into position on the seat behind the leathers. “Into the house,” Eli’s mother urged her curious children. Everyone left, leaving Eli and Martha alone.

“It was
gut
of you to help with the roof leaks,” she said.

“I was happy to help.” He glanced toward the house, and it was as if a shutter had closed off his expression when he looked back. “You will be all right going home?”

“
Ja.
I know how to drive my buggy. I’ve done it many times.” She grinned to let him know that she was poking fun. She heard him draw a sharp breath, watched as he shook his head. A reluctant grin curved up the lines of his beautiful male mouth.

“I will see you soon, Martha. Appreciate the ride.”

“Have a
gut
night, Elijah Lapp,” she said formally. With a gentle flick of the leathers, she expertly turned the buggy toward home.

Minutes later, as she pulled her vehicle onto the main road, Martha glanced back toward the Samuel Lapp farmhouse. She was startled to see Eli standing where she’d left him. The knowledge caused a fluttering in her belly. Then just as quickly fear rose, forcing the pleasant feeling away. No matter how much she might have wished it, she wasn’t the right woman for Eli Lapp or any man. After he finished the last of the repairs, she’d have to do everything she could to avoid him without seeming rude. It was the only way to get over her foolish, girlish thoughts.

Chapter Twelve

A
fter watching Martha’s departure, Eli headed toward the house. His mother stood on the porch waiting for him. “Nice of Martha to bring you home,” she said with a small smile.

He nodded and then narrowed his gaze. There was a look in his mother’s eyes that alarmed him. “
Mam
, what’s wrong? ’Tis Isaac, isn’t it? He’s not hurt, is he?”

She shook her head, but Eli could see that Isaac was the one causing her concern. “
Nay.
Your
bruder
is home, but he’s not talking. Your
dat
tried to speak with him, and so did I. But he gives only single-word answers. We have no idea where he’s been or who he was with.”

Eli settled a hand on his mother’s shoulder. “I’ll talk with him. He’ll answer me.” He’d make sure of it.

“I hope so.”
Mam
hugged herself with her arms. “He’s in your room.”

He hated when his mother worried. Entering the house, he headed directly to the upstairs bedroom he and Isaac had shared since Jacob had married and moved into his own place.

Eli entered to find Isaac sitting on his bed, staring out the window. He studied his younger brother for a long moment. “Isaac.”

His brother turned, saw Eli standing just his doorway and scowled. “What are you doing here?”

“Why are you so defensive? You’re on
Rumspringa
,
ja
? Do you think I’ve come to scold you?” Eli sat on his bed and smiled. He would have to tread lightly if he was ever to learn where Isaac had been last night or why his brother seemed reluctant to confess what he’d been doing.

“
Mam
and
Dat
were worried about you,” Eli said softly.

Emotion worked in Isaac’s expression. He appeared remorseful. “I didn’t mean to worry them.”

“They don’t mind if you go out and explore the English world, Isaac. But when you didn’t let them know that you’d be gone overnight, they became frightened. They love you. The English world can be harsh. They feared that something bad happened to you.”

His brother blinked back tears. “I’m sorry.”

Eli smiled, sensing that his brother was more than ready to talk. “In the future, remember to let someone know if you’re spending the night elsewhere.
Ja?
” He stood and moved to the door.

“Eli.”

Eli halted.
“Ja?”

“May I confide in you?” Isaac looked nervous yet clearly excited for some reason.

“Anytime,” Eli assured him.

“Now?”

Eli nodded. He returned to sit on his bed and sat facing his younger brother. “What is it?”

Isaac’s expression changed. His eyes filled with pleasure as if he was extraordinarily pleased about what he was about to confess. “I met a girl.”

“Ah, a girl.” Eli grinned. “Who is she?”

“Her name is Nancy,” Isaac said.

“Nancy,” Eli echoed. He tried to recall a young woman named Nancy close to Isaac’s age in their church district, but he couldn’t think of one. There was Nancy King, Amos and Mae’s youngest daughter, but she had married and was happy with their sister-in-law’s brother Josiah. “Have I met her?”

“
Nay.
I doubt if you’re even seen her,” Isaac said. “Her name is Nancy Smith.”

“From which church district?” Eli furrowed his brow. “I’m not familiar with any Amish Smiths, but then I don’t know about the church districts west of Lancaster city.” He saw a shutter came down over Isaac’s expression, and Eli knew. “She’s English.”

“Ja.”
His brother seemed pleased that he’d guessed correctly.

“And you like her,” Eli said, watching his brother’s reaction closely. “A lot.” He sighed. Their mother and father wouldn’t be happy. “Where did you meet?”

“At the movie theater.”

“You went to the movies?” Eli raised his eyebrows. “Bet that was fun.”

“Ja.”
Isaac, who had immediately seemed defensive again, brightened.

“What did you see?” Eli inhaled silently, focusing to say calm.

Isaac appeared embarrassed.
“Frozen.”

“What is frozen?”
Then he remembered the items that were everywhere in the big-box stores, plastered with colorful drawings of two girls—one with white hair and one with red. “You watched an animated film.”

“
Ja
, with singing and music. The movie was released a while ago,” he explained. “It was a special showing.” He warmed to the telling of his evening out. “We—Henry Miller and I—were walking along Newport Road when we met up with Nancy and her friend Jessica. They were shopping, but they hadn’t bought anything. They said that they wanted to buy pretzels, and I told them the best place to find them. Then they asked us if we wanted to go to the movies with them. We said yes. I never saw a movie before...and I was curious.”

“How did you get there?” Eli asked quietly.

“Jessica has a car.”

Eli wondered how old Jessica was. “I see.”

“I can’t be punished for seeing a movie during
Rumspringa
,
ja
?”

He nodded. It was true that
Rumspringa
,
which meant running around, was the time in a young person’s life before joining the church where he or she was allowed to experience the world outside their Amish community. The idea was to allow them this freedom so that they could make an informed decision about whether or not they wanted to join the Amish church or leave their community for a different life. Most children of Amish parents chose to join the church as he, Jacob and his older brothers had.

Eli understood why
Mam
and
Dat
were concerned about Isaac. His brother seemed to be constantly searching in his life for something more. His parents feared that Isaac would be the one to get into trouble with English teenagers. And what if Isaac decided not to join the Amish faith but to leave?
Mam
and
Dat
would accept his decision because they would have to, but they would be heartbroken with him gone.

“You’ve done nothing wrong in seeing a movie, Isaac,” Eli explained, “but you chose badly when you didn’t tell
Mam
and
Dat
that you’d be staying out all night.” He sighed. He felt somewhat sorry for his young misguided brother. “The deed is done. You should apologize to them.” With a smile, he placed a hand on Isaac’s arm. “Tell me about Nancy Smith.”

Isaac’s features brightened as he began to describe Nancy’s smile, her pretty face and her obvious interest in him. How they’d sat together in the movie theater and she’d reached for his hand, how he’d never felt this way about a girl before.

“After the movie, we went for pizza and then I walked her home. We sat on her front steps and talked for hours. Then I left and met up again with Henry. He’d been talking with Jessica. It was late, and I didn’t want to disturb everyone at home, so I stayed at Henry’s. We promised to meet up with the girls for an early breakfast tomorrow morning. It had to be early because Nancy and Jessica are still in school.” His brother grinned.

Isaac and Henry were finished with school. Within their Amish community, children attended school through the eighth grade. “Are you planning to see her again?” Eli asked.

Isaac’s eyes gleamed, and a soft smile altered his features. “For an early breakfast tomorrow, then again on Friday. The girls have a short school day. We told them we’d meet them at the Rockvale Outlets.”

Eli gaped at him. “You and Henry are going shopping?”

Isaac narrowed his eyes. “You don’t approve.”

“
Nay
, I don’t approve or disapprove. I’m just surprised. I didn’t think you would like to shop. And the Rockvale Outlets are not close. How do you plan to get there?”

“Henry says we can hire Jeff Martin to drive us.”

Eli nodded in understanding. Jeff was Rick Martin’s son. Rick and his family were good neighbors and friends. Rick had been extremely helpful after Horseshoe Joe’s accident when he’d fallen off a ladder and had to be rushed to the hospital. Rick had driven Annie and her brother numerous times to the hospital, and he’d taken Joe to his doctor’s appointments after Joe had come home to recuperate.

“Is Jeff a
gut
driver?”

Isaac inclined his head. “Henry says so. He’s ridden with him before.”

“And Henry is going tomorrow, too?”

“
Ja.
He likes Jessica, maybe not as much as I like Nancy, but he doesn’t mind going.”

“You need to tell
Dat
and
Mam
of your plans.” Eli’s lips firmed. “After you apologize to them.”

Isaac blanched. “Both of them?”

“Ja.”
Eli rose. “And as soon as possible. They love you. Remember that.”

“I will talk with them,” Isaac promised in a voice almost too low to hear.

Smiling, Eli left the room and went downstairs, where he met his mother in the kitchen.
Mam
had cut some basil and parsley from the plants flourishing in her greenhouse. She had washed them and now was setting them out to dry.

“Isaac is ready to talk with you and
Dat
,” he told her.

Katie looked relieved as she reached behind to retie her apron strings. “Will we like what he has to say?”

“Probably not. But he’ll be more open about what he does if he believes you won’t judge or scold him.”

“There are consequences after a wrongdoing,”
Mam
said with a frown. “I can’t promise there won’t be.”

“Fair enough.”

They heard Isaac’s footsteps on the stairs. “I’m going to check on the animals,” Eli said while his mother moved to stand near the kitchen sink and wait for Isaac to appear.

He heard Isaac’s voice as he closed the outside door behind him. “
Mam
, can I talk with you and
Dat
?”

His mother’s response reached him before he was out of hearing range. “You can talk with us anytime,
soohn
,” she said.

As he entered the barn, Eli’s thoughts turned to the recent thunderstorm and the woman who had sought shelter with him in her barn.
Martha.
He felt a rush of pleasure. The widow was special. He had no right to like her so much. He still had to contend with opening his carriage shop. Until his business was a reality and a viable concern, he had only a vision of hope for the future.

His attraction toward the woman disturbed him greatly. He knew there was repair work to finish at Martha’s farm, but he wasn’t ready to see her again. Which was probably ridiculous since finishing up would ensure that he wouldn’t have to see her each day and contend with his growing feelings. So he would refocus on his future business. Figure out exactly what he needed to set up shop. He would start by visiting other carriage shops in Lancaster County. He needed to know how to begin. He had more than twenty thousand dollars saved—that was good start-up money. Until Lapp’s Buggy Shop was open and earning money, there would be no woman in his life.

“Eli.” His father entered the barn minutes after Eli was done feeding the horses and checking on the goats. “Your
mudder
and I talked with Isaac. Your
bruder
has apologized and told us of his plans.”

“He didn’t mean to hurt you,” Eli said with a small smile. “He wasn’t thinking.”

“Not of us, his family.”

“Dat?”
he asked, changing the subject. “How much do you think it will take for me to open my carriage shop?”

His father
gave it some thought. “You should talk with Noah. He can help you better than I.”

“I’m just wondering how many more years I’ll have to work before I have saved enough money.” He rubbed a hand across his brow. “I thought I’d visit other carriage businesses, see what I can learn.”

“That’s a fine idea.”

Eli nodded. “Do you mind if I take the day tomorrow?”

“
Ja
, go.”

“Who will work at Martha’s tomorrow?”

“We are almost done there. It can wait.”

“What about sending Isaac to finish up?”

“
Nay.
He will be having breakfast with a girl.”

Eli felt relieved that his brother had told their parents about Nancy. “Isaac told you about her—about Nancy.”

His
dat
frowned. “Nancy?”

“The girl he likes. The one he’ll be meeting for breakfast.” Eli frowned. “He didn’t tell you that he’s seeing an
Englisher
?”

Dat
released a sharp breath. “
Nay
, he didn’t.”

“Give him time. Isaac will tell you about her when he’s ready.”

His father agreed. “Sooner than later, I hope. He plans to bring someone to the house for supper next week.”

Eli grinned. “He’s not hiding her. His feelings for this girl are new and scary for him.”
Like mine
, he thought with the stark realization of the truth. “May I take the wagon?” A simple horse-drawn four-wheeled vehicle was exactly what he needed to enjoy the extended ride and the day.

“That’s fine,” his
dat
said. “We won’t be needing it.”

Eli sighed with relief. He might feel something for Martha King, but a day away from the widow would put things into proper prospective. He would figure out what he needed to do next for his carriage business and proceed from there.