A Beau for Katie (7 page)

“Ya,”
Freeman agreed. “I do feel stronger.”

She gazed down at him. “Do you think that has anything to do with Katie? It seems to me that she's brought energy to this house. And to you.”

“I don't know about all that,” he replied, “but she's got enough energy for two women.”

His grandmother smiled. “I'll bid you a good night. Sleep well.”

Jehu rose. “I'll just walk you to your door, Ivy.”

“Walk me to my door?” She uttered a sound of amusement. “It's not fifty feet from the house. Why would I need you to do that?”

“You never know. It's a full moon tonight, and I heard some of the neighbors saying that their livestock seemed uneasy the last few nights. Raymond said something had lifted one of his Muscovy ducks. Nothing left in the yard but feathers. He thought we might have a coyote prowling around. If so, a full moon night's the worst for predators. No sense in taking any chances.”

“Jehu, it's barely full dark. And what you'd do about it if a coyote did come up in the yard, I'm not sure.”

His uncle held open the kitchen door for all. “All the same, Ivy, I'll rest easier knowing you're safe inside.” She shrugged and gave in good-naturedly, and the two left together. As the door closed behind them, Freeman could hear his uncle talking about wanting to go to Dover in the morning.

Freeman lay back against his pillows. It had been a good day, he realized, an excellent day. Truthfully, he hadn't had such a good day in a long time. Was it possible that his grandmother had hit on something when she'd linked Katie to the improvement in his health and spirits?

Was that possible?

Chapter Six

K
atie reined in her horse close to the back door of Freeman's house and called a greeting to Ivy and Jehu on the porch. It was Saturday afternoon, and she'd brought the groceries that they'd asked her to pick up for them at Bylers' Country Store as well as the fried chicken and potato salad that she'd prepared for them for Sunday. Both Sara and Ellie had insisted on sending something as well: coleslaw and a sweet potato pie from Sara, and Ellie's pickled eggs and an applesauce cake. Since no cooking would be done on the Sabbath, everything could be eaten cold.

“There was no need for you to go to the trouble,” Jehu insisted as she began to carry the dishes into the kitchen. “But I'm glad you did. My mouth is watering already.”

“And I do appreciate you saving me a trip to the store.” Ivy followed them inside. “Did we give you enough money?'

“More than enough,” Katie assured them. “I have change for you both.” She glanced around the kitchen. Both Freeman and the wheelchair were nowhere in sight. “I see Freeman managed to get himself outside.”

“Ya,”
Ivy replied with a beaming countenance. “Eli and Charley stopped by to see him. Nothing would do but that they all go out to the horseshoe pit. They usually play horseshoes one evening every week in decent weather.”

“Pretty warm out there,” Uncle Jehu commented. “Might be they're thirsty by now. Would it be too much trouble for you to take them some cool water?” He waved toward the mill. “The horseshoe pit is on the far side of the mill, near the little pond. Just follow the path. You can't miss them.”

“Of course I wouldn't mind,” Katie answered. “But I don't want to intrude on Freeman and his friends.”

“Nonsense.” Ivy peeked into one of the paper grocery bags she'd carried in from Katie's buggy. “This is the best week Freeman has had since his injury. You've perked up his spirits more than the doctor's medicine. I know he'd be happy to see you. And I'm sure they'd appreciate the water.”

“Throwing horseshoes is hot work,” Uncle Jehu added as he removed three pint-size canning jars from the cabinet. “And a drink delivered by a pretty face is always welcome.”

“And what makes you think I have a pretty face?” Katie teased, putting things into the refrigerator. “I might have a nose like a sweet potato and whiskers on my chin.”

“Ivy told me,” he answered. “But it wouldn't matter if you did have a big nose and
no
chin. Beauty comes from inside, and your words and actions show me more than I could ever see when I had my sight.”

Katie swallowed, touched by Jehu's opinion of her. “Then,” she managed, “you must know that you have a pretty face, too.”

“Pretty hairy,” Ivy said, and they all chuckled.

“Well, I can do better than water for the men folk,” Katie said. “I brought blackberry iced tea. I'll take some of this cake, too.”

Once the groceries and food were put away, Katie packed slices of cake, napkins, a quart of the blackberry tea and the jars to be used for glasses in her wicker basket and carried it down the hill. She followed the man-made water-course around the mill to a picnic area. Freeman was sitting in his wheelchair in the shade of a tree, his broken leg elevated by the leg rest. He was laughing and shouting suggestions to the two men throwing horseshoes.

Freeman's two friends stood at the farthest peg, and Katie recognized the taller man from the chair shop in Seven Poplars. Eli was a skilled craftsman and the manager and partial owner of the Amish-run business. Eli saw her, waved and made a throw that clanked as it hit the peg. The other man, shorter and blond-haired, groaned and made a show of throwing his straw hat down beside the peg and pretending that he was going to stomp on it.

She put her basket down on one of the picnic tables near where Freeman sat. “Anyone thirsty?” she called. “I brought some blackberry tea and cake.”

“Katie.” Freeman's smiled widened as his friends walked toward them. “This is Katie Byler, the girl I told you was helping out while I'm laid up,” he explained. “Katie, this is Eli and Charley. He's a Byler, too. Are you two cousins by any chance?”

“Ne,”
Katie replied. “Not that I know of.”

“Lots of Bylers,” Charley agreed. “Glad to know you, Katie, even if we aren't cousins.” He beat the sand off his hat on his trouser leg and replaced it on his head. “And I'd like some of that tea. Eli's been feeding me dust this afternoon.”

Eli, a nice-looking dark-haired man about Freeman's age, walked up behind Charley to join them. “How's that chair working out for you?” he asked Katie. “Her brother broke a kitchen chair and she ordered a new one from the shop,” he said. “Oak, wasn't it?” he asked Katie.

“It was.” She poured the first jar of tea and handed it to Charley. “And so far my brothers haven't got the best of it.”

Charley looked from Freeman to Katie. “Been some job, hasn't it?” he teased. “Cleaning a path through Freeman's kitchen?”

Seeing that Freeman was smiling, she smiled, too. “It wasn't that bad.”

“This is fine tea, Katie.” Charley took a gulp. “I appreciate it.”

“You're welcome,” she answered, handing Eli and then Freeman jars of the blackberry tea. “But don't let me interfere in your game. I was just on my way home.”

“
Ne
, don't go yet,” Freeman protested, good-naturedly. “Stay a while. I need you to help me keep an eye on Charley. He cheats if you don't watch him close.” He motioned toward a tree stump beside his wheelchair. “Sit here with me.”

“I'm not a cheat!” Charley retorted, then grinned. “And if I did nudge my horseshoe an inch closer to the peg, it would be because I learned the trick from Freeman when we were kids.” He drained his glass in four gulps.
“Goot!”
he pronounced. “Really taste those blackberries. I'll have to tell my Miriam to make some.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the jar on the picnic table. “I thank you for the drink, but I want you to know that Freeman is only making fun. I really don't
need
to cheat to beat him at horseshoes.”

Freeman groaned. “Listen to you. How long has it been since you beat me? Months. Tell her, Eli.”

Eli offered a slow smile that lit his eyes. “Let's finish this game and I'll give you my opinion on who's a good player and who's not.” He downed his drink and walked back to the horseshoe pit. “Winner plays Freeman,” he called.

“I wish,” Freeman replied. “I'd be doing well to balance on one foot without trying to toss a shoe in the right direction.”

“Maybe he could throw from the wheelchair,” Katie suggested.

Freeman frowned. “I doubt that's possible.”

“Of course you could do it,” Katie encouraged. “You could try, at least. You never know. You might be a better horseshoe thrower sitting down than standing.”

“Easy for you to say.” Freeman glanced at her sideways. “But I'd be the one looking like a fool.”

“She's right,” Charley said. “Good idea, Katie. We'll even spot him half the distance. What more could he ask for?”

“Who's saying that you'll be playing Freeman?” Eli called. “The last time I counted, I was ahead.”

“Just warming up,” Charley answered.

Katie laughed as the men resumed their game. When she glanced back at Freeman, she found him studying her. Self-conscious, she turned away and saw a boy in his early teens accompanied by a much smaller child, walking down from the mill. The boys were carrying cane fishing poles and the older one had a tin can, presumably bait, she thought. “Looks like you have some fishermen,” she said, gesturing toward the newcomers.

“The King boys.” Freeman waved, and the young people waved back. “I let the neighbor kids fish down here. It's safer than the big pond because the banks aren't as steep and the water is much shallower here. Good for little kids. Lots of sunfish and a few nice-sized catfish.” He raised an eyebrow. “The water's too warm and not deep enough for the big bass.”

“You seem to know a lot about fishing.”

“Not as much as I'd like to.” He offered a hint of a smile. “The bass still outsmart me most of the time. Grossmama says it's good for my character. She thinks I show a lack of humility as it is.”

Katie laughed.

He cocked his head. “That mean you agree with her?”

She shrugged.

“Still,” she said, “it's kind of you to give the children a place to fish.” Charley yelped with pleasure, and she glanced back toward the horseshoe players to see that he'd made a ringer. “I like your friends.”

“I've known them for years. They're good men.”

And I think you are, too
, Katie mused as she watched Freeman finish a slice of the cake and toss the crumbs to a mother mallard and her ducklings that paddled over to beg for scraps. The baby ducklings were adorable, small bobbing balls of feathers with black eyes. They couldn't have been much more than a week or two old. “It's nice here,” she observed with a contented sigh. “Peaceful.”

Charley groaned as Eli won the round.

“In spite of Charley?” Freeman teased.

“Ya,”
she answered. “In spite of Charley.” She turned her attention to the little boy on the edge of the pond who was concentrating on his fishing line with the cork bobber. The child was as cute as the ducklings. He wore dark trousers, a straw hat and a green shirt identical to his older brother. Both boys were barefoot and had the same light brown hair, blue eyes and freckled snub noses. “They look so much alike, they must be brothers,” she said, indicating the youthful fishermen.

“They are,” Freeman said.

Katie's gaze lingered on the smallest boy. She could imagine having a son like that of her own some day. Seeing him reminded her that having children, having a family of her own, was her main reason for considering Uriah's offer.

“Freeman!” Eli called. “You're up. Roll yourself over here and prepare for a whipping.”

“Go on,” Katie urged. “Try it, at least. You can't do any worse than Charley.”

“Thanks a lot,” Charley said. But his easy grin told her that he'd taken no offense at her teasing.

“Maybe Katie would like to show us how the game is played.” Freeman threw her a challenging look.

“You think I couldn't?” she flung back playfully.

“Come on, Katie,” Charley dared. “Start him off. Throw just one set for Freeman.”

Freeman glanced at Charley. “Don't encourage her.”

Katie put down the jars she'd been gathering and walked over to the peg. She reached down and picked up a horseshoe. “Are you certain you want me to throw this? I might show the three of you up.”

Eli stepped back to give her room. “We'll take the risk. Go ahead. Throw.”

“For who?” she asked. “You or Freeman?”

“By all means, start off for me,” Freeman called. “Start me off with a ringer.”

Katie turned the heavy horseshoe in her hand, gauging the weight.

“Come one, Katie. You can do it!” Freeman encouraged.

Here goes nothing, she thought. She sighted the far peg, took a long stride and let the horseshoe fly out of her grasp exactly the way her father had taught her. And then, unconsciously, she shut her eyes. She gritted her teeth, prepared for the men's laughter, but instead, what she heard was the solid metal clunk of her horseshoe striking the peg.

“Ringer!” Charley yelled.

“Good throw,” Eli pronounced.

“Look at that!” Charley yelped with excitement. “A ringer. First try.”

Opening her eyes, she turned to Freeman and threw him a triumphant look. His face showed his obvious surprise...and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. “I played with my brothers,” she explained, suddenly feeling embarrassed, with no idea why. She walked toward him. “Every Saturday. And they never spotted me any distance. Not since I was eleven years old.”

Freeman didn't say anything, only nodded, but he kept watching her. Studying her.

Katie gathered up the empty jars the men had drunk from, feeling flushed and slightly uncomfortable. Why did Freeman keep looking at her?

“Thank you for the tea and the cake,” Eli said. “I appreciate it.”

“We all appreciate it,” Charley added. “And, Katie, you can play doubles with me anytime.”

As Katie turned to walk away, Freeman spoke loud enough for only her to hear him. “I never expected that. Not in a hundred years, Katie.” His voice was surprisingly gentle and filled with... What was that?
Admiration?

Katie mumbled something about seeing him Monday and walked briskly up the hill, carrying her basket. Halfway to her buggy, her heart was still beating too fast. What was wrong with her? she wondered. And then it occurred to her why she was feeling this way...happy and scared at the same time. Hot and cold. Bold and shy.

She stopped in midstride, taking her basket in her arms and clutching it tightly. She had to be mistaken. It couldn't be true.

She couldn't possibly
like
Freeman.