Amish Sweethearts (38 page)

And sooner rather than later.

They heard voices outside.

“Is Reuben here?” Zane asked.

Gideon shook his head.

Zane exhaled. “I don’t want to be disrespectful to him.”

“He’s okay.” Gideon stood. “He’ll find the right wife.”

Zane stood too, hoping to catch Lila before she left.

Gideon shook his hand. “We would welcome you into our community, Zane.”

He nodded. “Denki, you’ve been a good help.” He hurried toward the door. He’d speak to Lila. Then he’d get on home. He had a lot of planning to do before tomorrow.

22

L
ila turned the buggy onto the highway as Rose pouted on the other side of the seat. She’d wanted to stay longer and see which boy would offer to give her a ride home first, but Lila wasn’t in favor of that. Dat had made it clear he expected Lila to be responsible for Rose. She wasn’t going to let her ride home with a boy after her very first singing. Dat would have thrown a fit.

“Why wasn’t Reuben there tonight?” Rose asked.

“Maybe because he’s too old for singings.”

“He’s not that old.”

“He’s twenty-five,” Lila said.

“Like I said, not so old.”

Lila glanced over at her. “Too old for you.”

“I don’t think so. Dat was at least that much older than Mamm.”

Ten years, to be exact, but Lila wasn’t going to point that
out to Rose. It wasn’t the age difference between her sister and Reuben—it was the difference in maturity.

“I think he’s avoiding you,” Rose said. “So please don’t come to the next singing.”

Lila sighed. If only Dat wouldn’t force her to. Escorting Rose was just one more task added to her already busy schedule. At least she didn’t work the next day. And Rose wasn’t working as a mother’s helper—she could do the laundry. Lila gripped the reins a little tighter.

If only she could leave her family for a life with Zane. She’d peeked into the barn that morning while he helped with the milking. He’d always been a natural with the chores. And the other day when she’d walked Trudy up the lane to play with Adam, she’d heard Zane humming as he fixed the fence along the field. He enjoyed farmwork, more than he realized probably. He was a hard worker. She was sure he could succeed at whatever he put his mind to.

Headlights came up behind them and then slowed. Lila pulled the buggy farther to the side to let the vehicle pass. But then a horn honked.

Lila peered into the rearview mirror, her heart racing.

Rose craned her neck to look behind them. “It’s Zane,” she said.

Something must have happened. She drew back on the reins, pulling the horse as far to the right as she could. Zane stopped his pickup behind the buggy.

The pickup door slammed shut, and Zane started jogging.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as he approached.

“I need to talk with you,” he said. “It’s important.”

“I can go home alone,” Rose said. “You can go with Zane.”

“No,” Lila answered, afraid Rose might return to the singing. She turned toward Zane. “Follow us home. Rose can take care of the horse while you and I talk.”

Zane nodded and hurried back to his truck. Lila snapped the reins, and the horse continued on. Zane pulled in behind her, his hazard lights on. She knew he worried about her driving the buggy on the highway, especially at night.

“What do you think he wants?” Rose asked.

“I don’t know,” Lila answered.

“You’re not fooling anyone,” Rose said. “Everyone knows what’s going on between you and Zane.”

“Really? Because I have no idea what’s going on between us.”

“Love is what’s going on,” Rose said. “It’s as obvious as the noses on both of your faces.”

Lila pursed her lips together. The less she said to her sister the better.

“Don’t you think it’s a little hypocritical that you’re set on getting me home safely from the Amish young men—and then you plan to sneak out with your Englisch boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Right.” Rose crossed her arms. “Well, he’s definitely Englisch. And a soldier to boot. Dat’s getting soft in his old age to ask Zane to step foot on our property at all, let alone to help with the milking. His behavior only encourages you to—”

“Stop,” Lila said. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t be so self-righteous. You’ve always loved Zane. You’ll leave, just like Aenti Eve did. It’s just a matter of time.”

Lila didn’t respond.

“I’ll never leave,” Rose said. “Ever. I’m going to get married as soon as I can and start a family. I’ll make Dat proud.”

Lila took a deep breath to keep from shaking her head. No doubt Rose would make Dat proud, but it wasn’t as if it were a competition. Except it was. To Rose. Dat had always favored Simon and Rose, his first-born biological son and daughter. Now Rose was clearly the favorite. No wonder Dat wanted Lila to
keep an eye on her. Dat wanted at least one child to be a success in the eyes of the church, especially after Lila had broken up with Reuben. Dat had done his duty as far as Lila and Daniel, and she would be eternally grateful and indebted to him, but he’d never been loving toward them.

She turned down the lane, the hazard lights following right behind her, casting a red flashing glow in the buggy. She glanced at Rose, who had a pout on her face. Her sister
would
be married in no time. With her dark hair, brown eyes, and dimples, she was the prettiest girl in the district. And she was fun in a way Lila had never been and never would be. True, Rose could be lazy and annoying, but she stepped up to work when she had to. And she could also be the life of the party, joking with others and pulling the quietest of people into a conversation.

As they turned down their driveway, Lila said, “Put the horse away. If Dat’s still up and asks where I am, tell the truth. Say that Zane wanted to talk with me. I’ll deal with Dat in the morning.”

Rose made a disgusted face. “You didn’t expect me to lie for you, did you?”

“Of course not. I just told you . . .”

“Because I’m not going to rescue you from your own bad choices.”

Lila bit her tongue as she turned the horse into the shed. Jah, the life of the party, and the most dramatic sixteen-year-old around.

Ten minutes later she sat in Zane’s pickup under the willow tree, off the highway. He’d left the engine running and by the light of the dashboard he spilled his heart, telling her about the e-mails from his sergeant. Then he said he couldn’t go back to Afghanistan.

As he finished, he checked his phone. “I have another e-mail
from Sarge. He already booked a ticket for me. Wednesday evening, out of Philly. I have four days to figure this out.”

Lila shivered. “What are you going to do?”

He turned in the seat toward her and took her hand. She leaned toward him. “I’ve been thinking about the Amish settlements in Canada.”

“In Ontario?”

Zane nodded.

That was just over the border from New York.

“Will you marry me, Lila?” He tightened his grip on her hand.

“I can’t leave the church.”

“I’m not asking you to,” he said.

“You would become Amish?”

He nodded again. “Once we reach an Amish community in Ontario we can make a life together.”

Her voice caught in her throat. “When would we leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Zane,” she whispered. Tomorrow? She’d need to decide tonight.

“Otherwise I have to report back to duty. I’ll be going AWOL, but I should be safe in Canada, especially if we’re part of a Plain community.” He inhaled. “What kind of ID do you have?”

“I got a passport card a few years ago,” Lila said. “Instead of an ID card.” Gideon had recommended it to the youth, saying it would be all they’d ever need for identification. She met his gaze. “Will you ever be able to come back home?’”

“Not for a while but Mom would come visit, with Adam at least.” His eyes watered. “And you would be able to see your family whenever you want. I’d make it a priority.”

Lila’s heart raced.

“I know it’s a lot to ask,” he said. “And it’s sooner than we planned.” A wry smile passed over his face. “Or didn’t plan. But I want to be your husband, Lila, more than anything.”

“Jah.” She nodded. She believed that with her whole heart. “But I didn’t think you wanted to be Amish.”

“I do,” he answered. “I’ve been thinking about pacifism and nonresistance for years now. I even considered it three years ago, before I joined the Army.”

Lila’s heart began to ache.

“I don’t want to raise children in the Englisch world. I did think Mennonite would be best, but I’m willing to be Amish. Now more than ever.”

“What about—” She couldn’t manage to say “our children.” “What about the issue of education?” That had always been Zane’s biggest criticism of her church, that one’s formal education ended in the eighth grade.

“We could homeschool after the eighth grade, don’t you think? Or encourage correspondence courses? And I’ll do the same, for myself—and you can too if you want.”

Lila’s heart raced faster. Could she really leave home and her community, just like that?

“We can’t say anything to anyone though,” Zane said. “I don’t want my dad coming after me. That would be awful. We can call once we’re in Canada and let our parents know.”

Lila couldn’t imagine that. Dat listening to her voice on the answering machine, saying she’d fled to Canada with Zane. That they were getting married. It was nearly as heartbreaking as the thought of Joel listening to a message from Zane saying he’d deserted.

Lila shivered. She knew the Army wasn’t a good fit for Zane, but she never guessed he’d desert. She couldn’t imagine the fear he must be feeling. “I don’t know what to say, Zane. I have to think about it.”

“Of course.”

“What time would we leave in the morning?”

“Are you helping with the milking?”

She nodded.

“How about if I come over and spell you? I’ll just show up and offer my help. Let me know then—give me a thumbs-up when your Dat isn’t looking. If that’s the case, then I’ll drive down the lane at nine a.m. Meet me at the end of your drive. Just bring a small bag.”

“And what if I decide not to go?”

He paused. “I don’t know.”

“Will you go on your own?”

He started to smile but then stopped. “Then I’d be in Canada and you’d be down here.”

“But if you don’t go, then you’ll be farther away, in Afghanistan.”

“Either there or a military prison,” Zane answered.

“You can’t go to prison.” She squeezed his hand.

Zane leaned closer. “I love you, Lila Lehman.”

She turned her face toward his. She loved him too—she just couldn’t say it. Not yet.

For a moment she thought he might kiss her, but then he said, “I’d better get you home.”

The next morning was cold and frosty. Even in the barn Lila could see her breath. She shoveled grain into the trough, and soon the bodies and breath of the cows warmed the air. It wasn’t long until Zane called out a hello, to her relief.

Dat smiled and motioned him into the barn.

“I woke up early,” Zane said. “Need some help?”

“Lila’s here,” Dat said, glancing her way.

“But she probably has enough work in the house to keep her busy.” Dat turned toward her. “Do you want Zane to help this morning?”

“Sure,” she answered, making her way around the trough.
She leaned the shovel against the grain chute. Dat headed down the line of cows to the first one, and as Lila passed Zane he held his thumb up.

She returned the gesture.

He smiled and whispered, “Mission’s on.”