Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2) (10 page)

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Authors: Amy Lillard

BOOK: Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2)
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“I am different now than I was before,” he said, startling her out of her own thoughts. Could he read her mind? “I know this.”
“It does not mean the change is bad.”
“I know I’m not as quick-minded as I used to be.”
She didn’t know how to respond, so she kept quiet and let him continue.
“
Danki,
Emily Ebersol, for treating me like I am.”
Emily swallowed hard, unable to get the last bite of her biscuit past the lump of emotion in her throat. “I only treat you like a person.”
He shook his head. “Joy and Elam,” he slowly started. “They coddle me. They won’t let me do for myself.”
“They love you very much.”
“I know.”
“They are only trying to protect you.”
“I don’t want to be protected. I want to live.”
Emily fell silent. She supposed a nearly fatal accident would do that to a person. It would definitely make her want to make the most of the life she had left.
“James.” Joy approached, her expression unreadable. “You have kept Emily to yourself for too long now. Are you ready to go home?”
“Can we stay just a little longer please? I haven’t had dessert yet.”
Joy’s brow puckered into a frown, but otherwise her expression remained unreadable. “It’s time for your pain medication.”
“I would rather have a piece of Esther Lapp’s banana cream pie.”
“Esther Fitch,” Emily corrected. “She got married, you know.”
James tilted his head at a thoughtful angle, like a pup deciphering a sound. “She got married?”
“To Abe Fitch.”
He turned his eyes to his wife. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Joy shrugged. “It didn’t seem important.”
“It is very important,” he insisted.
If the pitch of his tone was any indication, he was about to have a meltdown. As a former schoolteacher, she had seen it too many times to count.
Emily laid a comforting hand on James’s sleeve. “What Joy means to say is, in light of your injury and healing, the news about the wedding had to be prioritized.”
A frown wrinkled his strong brow, almost hiding the scar that ran from one temple and disappeared under the brim of his hat. “I don’t know what that word means now.”
“It means things are placed in order of importance,” Emily explained. “The wedding wasn’t as important as allowing you time to heal.”
“Bet it was to Esther and Abe.”
She couldn’t stop the bark of laughter from escaping. “I’m sure you are right about that, James Riehl.”
“Emily, will you help me get him up?”
She stood, even though she knew James did not want to go just yet. She had pushed the boundaries with his family enough for one day.
“I want dessert.” James stuck out his bottom lip, but allowed them to hoist him to his feet.
“How about I get you a piece of pie to take home with you?”
James smiled, the look full of sheer ecstasy. “That would be
gut, jah
.”
 
 
Emily was getting her own slice of pie when Becky hustled over. “You’re going to be here tonight for the singing,
jah?
”
She hadn’t really thought much about it. She had long since passed her days of youth groups and singings after church. “If you want me to be.”
Becky nodded. “
Jah
. Of course.”
She ran her arm through Emily’s and pulled her along toward the barn.
Everyone had eaten, and the cleanup was nearly complete. Some families with smaller children had already begun to pack up for home.
“There is one other thing,” Becky said.
“
Jah?
”
“You need to talk Elam into staying.”
Emily’s feet stuck to the ground as if they had been nailed there. “Why do I need to do that?”
“So he can get to know Billy Beiler a bit more.”
“Are you sure that is all?”
Becky sighed. “All he does is work and take care of the farm. He is doing the job of two men. I’m afraid he’s going to be old before his time.”
“And attending the singing will help?”
“
Jah
.” Becky nodded so vigorously her prayer
kapp
nearly flew off her head.
Yet Emily knew there was more to it than Becky was letting on.
“If you ask him, I am sure he will stay.”
“I would not count on that.” All he had for her these days was a scowl, a frown, or a moody look. Sometimes all three.
“It’s because he likes you, you know?”
“What?” Emily must have heard her wrong.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Becky said. “My
bruder
is smitten.”
Chapter Ten
Becky’s words echoed through her head as Emily went in search of her friends Caroline and Lorie. She wanted to see them before everyone left for the afternoon. Since Caroline had gotten married, it seemed she didn’t see them as much anymore. Well, that and the fact that she wasn’t in town as much these days.
“Emily.” Caroline pulled her in for a quick squeeze. “I’m so glad to see you. It has been ages.”
“It’s been two weeks,” Emily protested.
“That’s ages to me.” Lorie pulled Emily close as soon as Caroline released her.
How she missed her friends.
“I saw you eating with James Riehl,” Caroline said. “I wanted to come sit with you, but Emma started fussing.”
“Where is Emma?” Emily glanced around to find Caroline’s dark-haired toddler.
“Andrew has her. No doubt she’s asleep on his shoulder while he’s talking manure and growing seasons.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke of her husband. Her cheeks held a pink flush, and her lips seemed unable to do anything save smile. “I’m glad I found you two,” she continued. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“You’re having a baby?” Lorie guessed.
Caroline nodded. “But you can’t tell anyone.”
“Caroline, I’m so
froh
for you.” And she was, she thought. Even as she pushed aside the small twinge of jealousy. She could only hope that Luke would give up this crazy notion of driving a race car and come back to Wells Landing.
As it stood now, it would be Lorie’s turn before Emily’s, even with the on-again, off-again relationship she shared with Jonah Miller.
“I wanted you to be the first to know,” Caroline said. “Aside from Andrew.”
“And your
mamm
and
dat
. . . and Emma,” Lorie said dryly.
“Hush.” Emily swatted their friend on the arm. “Be happy for Caroline.”
Lorie smiled, the motion lighting up her pretty face. “I am. So happy.”
They each gave Caroline another hug and promised not to say a word about it. Pregnancies weren’t talked about much in the Amish districts. Talking too much about the baby before it was born was considered a bit on the prideful side.
“Caroline, are you ready?” Andrew Fitch called from near their buggy. As expected, Emma was cradled high in his arms.
“Andrew has a horse about to foal.”
“Already?” Emily asked.
Andrew had given up working in his
onkle
’s furniture store in order to move to the country and raise horses. The move hadn’t been that long ago, much too soon for one of the new horses to be giving birth.
Caroline shook her head. “Not one of his. The mare belongs to one of the stables that leases his land. But still he has to be there when the time comes.”
She gave them each a quick hug. “I better get over there and take Emma. He’s
gut, jah,
but not
gut
enough to harness the horses with one hand.”
“I have to be going, too,” Lorie said. “Jonah said he wanted to do something special this afternoon, but it’s a secret.”
Emily hugged her friends and watched them both walk away toward the men they loved. Jealousy was a sin, for sure, but it had certainly raised its head with her today. Maybe instead of trying to convince Elam to stay and help chaperone the singing, she should spend a little more time in prayer.
With a sigh at her own foolishness, she went in search of the frowning Elam Riehl.
 
 
“
Nay
.” Elam shook his head with such conviction, Emily wasn’t sure if she would ever change his mind. But she had promised Becky, and she would try.
“Why not?”
“I have too much to do.” He continued to harness his horses and get the buggy ready for the trip home. It was three o’clock, and soon it would be time to milk again. On both farms.
“
Jah,
I understand, but Becky wants you to get to know Billy Beiler a little better.”
“She is too young to start courtin’.” His words brooked no argument.
“She’s sixteen. Plenty old enough to start to know her mind. Wouldn’t you rather be around for it than not? Your father won’t be able to make these decisions about her future. That will be up to you.”
His hands stilled. “I have too much to do,” he repeated. “And Becky does, too.”
Emily propped her hands on her hips and glared at him. Well, at the back of his head. “Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth, Elam Riehl. First you say you want her to have a normal
rumspringa,
then you won’t let her attend any singings. It can’t be both ways.”
She would have thought his frown couldn’t get any worse, but somehow it turned into an out-and-out scowl.
“You have interfered with my family enough for one day, Emily Ebersol. I’ll thank you to leave us alone for a while.”
“What if I come help you?”
He stopped, turned back to her as if contemplating the idea. Then he shook his head. “You have your own milking to do.”
“My
shveshtah
can take care of that.”
“Milking cows is different than milking goats,” he protested.
“Not so very.” She propped her hands on her hips. “With all of us working, we can be done in no time.”
“Why would you do that for us?”
“I like Becky. I want her to have a
gut
time, too. I would do it for any of my sisters.” Why was he being so stubborn?
He seemed to mull over her answer.
She could almost feel his resolve slipping. She pushed a little harder. “Is it help in general that you object to? Or is it help from a bunch of girls?”
“
Jah,
fine. Okay then.”
He wasn’t sure how he got talked into this. He looked around his barn. Once again his world was filled with more girls than he could count.
True to her word, Emily had come for the milking, bringing all her sisters with her. He had to admit that more hands made the job go by a lot faster.
In no time at all, the cows were milked, released back into the pasture, and all the milk had been stored.
They even fed the chickens, mucked out the stalls, and gathered the eggs.
“Are you ready to go back?” Emily asked as she smoothed her hair down on each side.
His fingers itched to do the same. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not going to the singing.”
“Why not?” Her eyes twinkled, and he had the feeling he was being set up for something he wasn’t going to like.
“Please,
bruder
.” Becky was immediately at his side, pulling on his arm as if somehow that would change his mind.
“I am too old for such . . .” He stopped himself before saying nonsense. “Activities,” he finished.
“You could chaperone,” Becky said.
“That is what the Ebersols are there for.”
“Come on,” Emily cajoled. “It might be fun.”
“Are you serving as chaperone?” he asked her.
“
Jah
. Of course. I gotta keep an eye on Mary and Aaron.”
Her sister turned as red as a
riewe
. How could two
maedel
be so different even though they were kin? “Okay.”
Wait . . . who said that? The word sprang to his lips without any direction from his brain. He didn’t want to sit around while the young people sang and courted.
But you do want to sit around and visit with Emily.
Anything to be close to Emily.
“Yay!” Becky did a little dance, then seemed to remember herself. She stilled her feet and smoothed her hands down her apron. “You’ll be able to meet Billy Beiler.” She grinned as she said his name.
What had he gotten himself into? “I’ve met Billy before.”
“Well, you can get to know him better.”
“You’re not courtin’, and that’s final. You can’t even join the church until next year when classes start again.”
“
Jah
, but . . .” She stopped. “Okay. But you are coming.”
Ach,
him and his big mouth. “I s’pose.”
 
 
Instead of having the singing in the house, the youth decided to gather in the barn. Emily secretly thought they believed they would get more privacy in the barn; after all, mules tell no tales. But her father sent her and Elam out as soon as the decision was made.
That was how she found herself sitting on a hay bale next to Becky’s brother while the boys sang their songs for the girls.
In a little while, they would serve lemonade and cookies, but for now she was content to sit next to Elam and soak in the sweet voices.
“Look at them,” he groused. “They can’t keep their eyes off each other.”
“Mary and Aaron?” she asked. “
Jah,
I expect he’ll ask for her hand after the next wedding season.” After all, Mary had to go through her baptism classes as well.
“
Nay
. Becky and Billy Beiler.”
“They have liked each other for a long time.”
“Why am I just now finding out about this?”
Emily shrugged. “I saw them together at school. They always ate lunch together and wanted to sit together at special events. Does it bother you?”
“Becky’s too young for such matters.” He picked at the hay beneath them, tossing the straws aside one by one.
“Not so very. If she joins the church next year and is spoken for the year after, she’ll be almost nineteen when she gets married. That’s about normal.”
The light in his eyes said he knew she was right, but he didn’t say the words.
“She seems so young because she is your
shveshtah
.”
“I guess you are right,” he finally grumped.
“I know I am.”
The singing stopped, and kids started milling around, each getting a glass of lemonade and a stack of cookies.
“Come on.” Emily tugged on Elam’s sleeve. “Let’s go before they notice we’re gone.”
“Go where?” he asked, but he stood nonetheless.
“To get some stuff to decorate one of the buggies.”
“Whose buggy?”
Emily scanned the sea of youthful faces. “John Bon-trager’s buggy. He’ll be taking Leah Yoder home tonight. Let’s leave them a surprise.”
She would have decorated Aaron Miller’s buggy, but he wasn’t taking Mary home since she was already there.
“Decorate how?”
“Crepe paper, flowers, whatever we can find. Didn’t you ever do this when you were in a group?”
He shook his head, but allowed her to quietly tug him from the barn.
She had thought that his father’s illness had spawned his somber attitude, but it seemed that Elam’s serious nature was a gift from God. She chuckled at the thought.
“What’s so funny?” he asked as they walked toward the house.
“You.”
“Me?”
She shook her head. “I take that back. You are not funny. But you are way too serious. You should lighten up a bit.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He stopped in the middle of the yard and crossed his arms. Between the twilight sky and the dark brim of his hat she couldn’t see his eyes. She didn’t need to. She knew they were hard green with anger.
“
Jah,
you do.”
“There is a lot about my life that is serious.”
“And there’s a lot that needs to be changed as well.” She skipped up the porch steps. “Are you coming in or not?”
He climbed the steps, then collapsed into the wooden rocker next to the front door. “You go on ahead. I’ll wait here.”
“Suit yourself,” she said, then made her way inside.
 
 
Too serious? She honestly thought he was too serious? He was only as serious as his life warranted. He had responsibilities, an injured father, a family to care for, a farm to run.
He didn’t have time to be carefree and frivolous. He had responsibilities.
“You already said that.”
He jerked around as Emily appeared on the porch once again. He hadn’t realized that he had been talking out loud. She would think he was
ab im kopp
. Off in the head.
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
As she tripped down the steps, he noticed that she held a bulging sack in one hand. “What secret?”
“That you mumble to yourself when you think you are alone. Which one of the buggies is John’s? Do you know? Did you see him drive up?”
He followed her down the stairs, his concentration on the line of buggies parked to one side of the barn. It sure beat staring at her pretty form washed in moonlight.
What did Luke Lambright have that he didn’t?
Everything.
Luke was fun-loving, adventuresome. All the things it seemed Emily Ebersol wanted. Why else would she be waiting for him to return?
“I think that’s it.” Elam pointed to the third buggy in the row.

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