Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) (14 page)

She sighed and closed her eyes. “All right. I’ll go with Sarah.”

He grinned, pleased that tonight, at least, she’d be safe and he wouldn’t have to worry about her fretting over her situation alone. “
Dat
is waiting for me, Martha, but I will see you tomorrow morning.”

“
Gut
night.” Her expression softened as she gazed at him.

Warmth filled his heart as he smiled at her. “Sleep well, Martha Jane.”

* * *

Later that morning Eli was in the barnyard as Sarah brought Martha home. He stood at the fence, gazing out over the empty pasture. Hearing the sounds signaling Sarah and Martha’s arrival, he pushed back from the fence and met them as Sarah parked the buggy close to the house. The scent of smoke and fire hung heavily on the day’s breeze. It appeared as if steam still rose from the blackened ruins of the barn, but Eli realized that it was only the temperature and humidity that hovered over the damaged structure.

Eli came to Martha’s side of the vehicle and extended a helping hand. “Did you get any sleep?” he asked.

She nodded as he helped her down. “The bed at Sarah’s is extremely comfortable.”

He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and turned to his sister-in-law. “How much sleep?”

“Not nearly enough,” Sarah said. “I heard her moving about after only a couple of hours. She wanted to come here right away. Thankfully, I managed to convince her to eat breakfast first. I told her she’d need strength for when she gets home.”

“You’ve been very kind,” Martha said sincerely. Her gaze immediately settled on the barn. Her brow crinkled as if she was wondering what to do next. He felt her shudder before she hugged herself with her arms.

“We’ll hold a barn raising to build a new barn,” he said, wanting to draw her into his embrace.

“Everyone has done so much already.”

“As you have done for others,” Sarah reminded her. “Helping out Annie and me after our babies were born. Surpassing others in making items for the mud sale.”

“I haven’t done anything anyone else hasn’t done.”

“Yet it bothers you to accept help when you’re used to giving,” Eli said. “Are you that determined to do things on your own?”

Martha hesitated.
“Ja.”
She turned to Sarah. “
Danki
for opening your home to me.”

“I wish you’d stay longer,” Sarah said with concern. “Gideon is taken with you.”

Martha smiled, and Eli saw a tiny spark in her eyes that he recognized as pleasure. “He’s a bright little boy. You are truly blessed to have him.”

“
Ja
, the Lord blessed me with him and Jed.” Sarah stood beside her buggy. “I should go. Come and stay with us again. Tonight.”

“I’ll be all right here at home.” But Martha seemed pleased by Sarah’s invitation. “I have to decide what to do.”

Sarah nodded. “I understand.” She climbed into her buggy and said, “Don’t be a stranger, Eli. You haven’t been around to visit in a while.”

He smiled. “I’ll stop by later today or early tomorrow.” Eli was conscious of Martha beside him as Sarah drove away from the house and headed toward home.

“It was nice of her to have me,” Martha said quietly.

“I’m glad she did. I was worried about you.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She shot him a look. Something strong passed between them, something that was obvious and exciting as well as scary.

“Martha,” he began.

“Ja?”
She glanced at him sideways as she ran her hands up and down her arms.

He frowned as he felt her shiver. “Are you cold?”

She shook her head, left him to walk toward what was left of her barn. “I can barely believe this happened.”

He followed her. She stopped. When he reached her side, he gave in to the urge to place a hand on her shoulder. He heard her draw a sharp breath as she turned to face him.

“Eli...”

“Martha, I care about you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

He furrowed his brow as disappointment made his chest hurt. “Why not?”

“I’m too old for you.”

He gave her a tender smile. “
Ja
, you must be a hundred at least.”

She scowled at him. “I’m serious, Eli. I’m nearly seven years older than you. You need someone your own age.”

“I want to court you.”

She gasped, pulled back. “
Nay
, you don’t.”

“We’re more than friends,” he said. “You like me, too.”

She shook her head. “We’re just friends,” she insisted, but her gaze skittered away briefly.

“I don’t believe you,” he said softly, running his hand down her arm to grasp her fingers. “We’re more than friends. Deny that you care for me, that you were worried about me when I ran into the barn.”

Emotions warred in her expression. He could see that she wanted to deny it, to fight what she was feeling inside, but she couldn’t. He felt her soften. He still held her hand.

“Martha?” he prompted quietly.

“
Ja
, I was concerned!” she burst out, jerking her hand away as if needing to break the contact. “I’ve come to know you during your work here. Yes, we’re friends, and I was worried. Wouldn’t you be worried about a friend?”

“And that’s all I am to you? Truly?” Eli watched her carefully, hoping for some sign that would betray her true feelings. He couldn’t believe that she didn’t feel as he did.

“Ja.”
Her clipped one-word emotionless answer cut him like a knife.

“You want me to leave?”

She nodded.

“Why, if we’re only friends?”

“Because you don’t feel as I do.” Martha faced him, her brown eyes filled with compassion, concern. Her expression and answer finally convinced him. “You’re young. You have plans for opening your own business. You’ve been working hard for that. Go and fulfill your goal of opening up a carriage shop. There are many girls within our community that you can pick from when you’re ready to wed. I’m a widow with a farm and a burnt barn.” Her voice caught. “I have my own life to live.”

A rumbling on the dirt lane drew his and Martha’s attention as a black town car drove up to the house and parked. The driver turned off the engine and got out of the vehicle. The man had dark hair and tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses, and he wore a dark suit, white shirt and dark tie. Spying him and Martha, he approached. He addressed Eli. “Ike King?”

Eli shook his head. “Eli Lapp. Can we help you?”

The man turned his attention to Martha. “Are you Mrs. King?”

Martha nodded. “Yes,” she said, speaking in clear English for his benefit. “How may I help you?”

“I understand there was a fire here last night.” The man’s gaze widened as it settled on the burned building.

Word traveled fast, Eli thought. ‘That’s right. Lightning struck the barn.”

The man transferred his stern gaze to Martha. “It looks bad.”

“Bad enough. Why do you ask?” Eli said. “Who are you?”

The suit looked at him. “I’m Jonathan Pierce from People’s Resident Bank, which financed Mr. King’s farm equipment. Can you tell me where Mr. King is? I’d like to talk with him.”

“I’m afraid I can tell you where he is, but you won’t be able to speak with him.” Worry had clouded Martha’s brow when the man mentioned the new farm equipment. “My husband passed away in November.”

Jonathan Pierce appeared disturbed by the news. “There is a payment coming due on the equipment. We heard about the fire and wanted to make sure your circumstances haven’t changed.”

Eli stared at the man. “The payment is not due yet, but you came because you received news of the fire?” It didn’t make sense to him, but then he wasn’t an English bank representative. What kind of arrangement did Ike have with this bank?

Pierce nodded. “You will be able to continue making payments?” he asked Martha.

“She will,” Eli chimed in before Martha could answer. He didn’t care for the way the banker spoke to Martha.

“Good.” The man’s brow cleared. “I don’t want to foreclose unless I have to.”

“Foreclose?” Martha said, clearly at a loss.

The banker raised an eyebrow. “Foreclosure is starting proceedings to take property when someone gets behind in his loan payments.” He eyed the barn, and his expression softened with compassion as his gaze settled again on Martha. “I’m sorry. I thought he would have told you. Your husband used the house as collateral.”

Martha turned pale. “I see.”

“You have forty days to make the next payment on your loan.” The man named a figure that made Martha tense. She appeared unworried, but Eli was close enough to her to feel it.

Pierce turned and without saying a word opened his car door.

Eli stopped him, “Jonathan Pierce,” he called. “Will you make us a copy of the loan documents?”

Looking surprised by the request, the man nodded. “I’ll get them into the mail to you today.”

“Thank you,” Martha said quietly.

The banker took his leave without once looking back.

“Eli.” Martha turned to him, looking worried. “Ike mortgaged the house.”

“
Ja
, it seems that way.”

“What am I going to do?”

Eli smiled reassuringly. He wanted to draw her close to comfort her, but he knew after their recent conversation that she wouldn’t welcome it. “Don’t
ya
mean what is our community going to do?” He dared to reach for her hand again, and this time he gave it a gentle squeeze before he released it. “We’re going to raise enough money to pay off your loan.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and he groaned, giving in to the urge to draw her into his arms. He felt her shudder, and he tightened his embrace. It felt good to hold her. He wished that she cared for him as he did her and that he had the right to hold her every day of their lives.
She does have strong feelings for me.
But he was aware that she was determined to fight them.

The community would pay off her loan, Eli thought. Build her a new barn. And he would open his business and then ask to court her. How could she say no to him then? Just because of a few years’ age difference? If she clung to that reason, he would convince her that it didn’t matter. He could name several married couples with large differences in age, and they were happy together. As he reluctantly released her, he offered up a silent prayer that the Lord would bless his and Martha’s union as He had for his brothers and their spouses. With God on his side, he would surely be happily married by this time next year.

He stepped back to put distance between them. The best way to win this woman’s heart was to give her the space to realize what she was missing. “Let’s take a closer look at what’s left of the barn,” he said briskly.

Chapter Eighteen

N
ews spread fast, and within a week the Happiness church community came together to plan a fundraiser for her. Martha was extremely grateful; she didn’t want to lose her house and property. She thought about going home to Indiana to start over, but her place was here in Happiness.
Where Eli is.

Besides, she’d received a letter in the mail from her parents only yesterday. Its contents made her realize that she couldn’t go home again. Ironically, the letter had come at the same time as her copy of Ike’s loan agreement with People’s Resident Bank. She’d opened the bank envelope first and been shocked as she read through the document. She didn’t completely understand the fancy legal words, but she understood the gist of the agreement. And she definitely understood the five-figure loan balance.

Numerous times over the course of the past week, she’d looked up to the heavens and asked Ike why. Why would he buy equipment they couldn’t afford?
Why did you risk our farm—our home—for something that was impressive and nice but something we certainly didn’t need?
Now all she had left was burned metal and a huge debt.

Twenty thousand dollars! It was foolish of you, Ike.
Was that why he hadn’t told her? She was his wife; their relationship should have been a partnership. But then things between them had gone from bad to worse.

Just at a time when she was seriously considering going back to Indiana, her mother’s letter put an end to the notion. As the shock of the loan papers still vibrated through her being, Martha had opened her letter from home. What she’d read had made her heart tighten and her body tense. She’d read the letter once and then again, trying to absorb the letter’s contents.

Dear Martha,

I hope you are managing well enough on your own. I was so sorry to hear about Ike’s death. You were so happy on the day that you married him that I can’t imagine what you are feeling now. I know it’s been months since his funeral. I’m sorry that we couldn’t attend. There were things going on here at home that prevented us from leaving. I can’t go into these things now, but I hope you understand that we wanted to be with you. We prayed for you every day and still continue to do so.

I have news, which may or may not upset you. I’d like to think that after all this time—and your marriage to Ike—that this won’t bother you at all. But I felt you should know. I didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else, for you know that I love you.

John Miller has returned home, Martha. He is a changed young man. Do you know that he finally joined the Amish church? He asked about you. He feels bad about the way he left you...

The news isn’t just that John is back,
dochter
,
but that he is married now. He is happy, and I’m sure you want that for him despite the fact that he broke your heart. He did break your heart, didn’t he? I wasn’t sure because I never saw you cry after he left.

So maybe this news won’t upset you after all, and that is for the best. You see, Martha, John married someone you know—Ruth.
Ja
, he married your sister. Ike was still alive when they wed, and we didn’t tell you as you were pleased with your new husband and we didn’t want to spoil things for you. Ruth is so happy with John. I hope you will understand our decision not to tell you or invite you to the wedding. I trust that the Lord will once again make things right for you. I know you must feel lonely as a young widow, but I’m certain that you will find someone else to love and marry.

Dochter
, Ruth and John are expecting their first child. I didn’t receive word from you and Ike, but I hope you have a baby of your own. There is nothing like loving a child.

Please know that I think of you every day. Maybe someday you can come for a visit or we can come there. It may not be for a while as there is Ruth and John’s baby to consider. We all miss and love you, and we wish only the best for you. Take
gut
care of yourself.

Mam

Martha had finished the letter with her eyes filled with tears. It was true that after John had left, her parents and family had never seen her cry. She’d fought to be strong. She hadn’t wanted to upset them. But whenever she’d been alone in the room she shared with Ruth or out walking by herself across the farm fields, she allowed free rein to her emotion until she cried herself out.

Another reason to avoid Eli Lapp
, she thought. She wouldn’t be hurt a third time. If she could lose the interest of John Miller and her own husband, she was sure to lose Eli’s interest.

Returning to Indiana was out of the question, Martha thought as she entered the building where the community was holding the first day’s fundraiser for her. The last thing she wanted was to see John and Ruth together. Her mother was right; she did want John and her sister to be happy.
But together?
She felt betrayed not once but twice, and now by the both of them.

Martha stood in the middle of the local fire hall and eyed her surroundings with amazement. Her fellow church community members had pulled out all the stops for what was to be a two-day fundraiser to pay off her loan. Today was the first day of two Amish auctions. Everyone she knew had pitched in to set up for the event, even young Hannah Lapp, who was helping her cousins—the five Arlin Stoltzfus girls, including Meg, Charlie and their oldest sister, Nell.

Mae and Katie Lapp were arranging craft items on the table by the door. The two women would be in charge of collecting the money for the sale of these items and all proceeds from the auctions’ winning bids.

“Martha.”

She turned with surprise. “Annie! What are you doing here? You should be home resting!” Annie’s time to have her baby was drawing near.

“I’m fine. You’re my friend. I wanted to be here and help where I could.” She grinned. “And to eat.”

“Danki,”
Martha whispered, deeply touched that her friend had come.

The community women were kept busy selling craft items and food. The auctioneer was taking bids on pieces that Noah Lapp had donated from his furniture shop.

Day one passed quickly, and to Martha, it all seemed like a blur. Katie and Mae counted the proceeds. Thirty-two hundred dollars—a good start, they said. But would it be enough? Martha wondered as she lay in her bed later that night. The second day promised to be better, with the potential for higher profits.

On day two, her community held an Amish quilt auction, where the churchwomen donated food, quilts and other larger craft items they had made. English locals and tourists attended both events. Martha was more optimistic as she stood outside the gathering bidders and watched from the distance.

Quilts were hung on large wooden frames. She herself had donated one of her homemade quilts. She felt saddened to know that today someone would buy it. She’d had such hopes that someday she’d be able to use it in her child’s room. It wasn’t one made for a baby but a quilt large enough for a double bed that two children might have slept in.

Her quilt was on a display rack, like the others. Annie had told her yesterday that it had been Eli and Noah who’d made the racks.

The auctioneer for today’s event was William Mast, a community member and Sarah Lapp’s cousin. He spoke rapidly and confidently as he began his spiel. William described the item first, the type of quilt pattern and the name of the person who was responsible for its fine handiwork. Martha listened to William and was astonished at the way the crowd reacted favorably with bids, which started at four hundred dollars and continued to climb.

Martha fought tears as she watched. She’d thought life would be different, that Ike would be alive and that he would still love her...and they would have children—at least three. Instead, her husband had died and she was alone and determined to stay that way despite being in love with a man seven years her junior. He said that he loved her, but she couldn’t believe it just because she wanted to.

“Martha.”

She’d sensed Eli’s presence before he’d spoken her name. She blinked rapidly to clear the remnants of her tears and turned to face him. “Those quilt racks you and Noah made...” She blushed as she met his gaze. “They’re perfect.”

He was silent as he studied her, his eyes narrowing as if he noticed that something had upset her and was debating what to do about it. The concern she felt emanating from him warmed her. She gave him a genuine smile.

“They weren’t difficult to make, and we made them so they would come apart easily for next time.” His features had softened. He glanced toward the auctioneer, who banged his gavel once, twice and a third time as he pronounced the quilt sold. “Wonderful,” he murmured.

Martha hadn’t heard the final price. “How much?”

“Nine hundred dollars.”

She gasped.
“Ja?”
She grinned, feeling better about selling.

He smiled. “’Tis a beautiful quilt. We should do well today.”

William announced the winning bid and again Martha’s name as the craftswoman.

“That was yours,” Eli said, looking impressed.

It didn’t hurt so much now that she knew someone else treasured it enough to pay that much money for it. “
Ja
, I made it.” She watched as two churchmen took her quilt down from the rack to give to the bid winner.

“Beautiful,” he said softly.

She turned to him with a smile.
“Danki.”
She felt sudden warmth at the look in his blue eyes. She had the strangest feeling that he’d referred to her and not the quilt.

Annie waved to her across the room. Martha nodded to Eli and left him for her friend. To her relief, he didn’t follow. Emotion clogged her throat, and she didn’t know how to deal with it.

The church elders and community women had deemed the two-day fundraising event successful. By five o’clock on the last day, everything brought to the auction had sold. The quilts had brought in the most money, but no one knew exactly how much yet.

Martha went home feeling hopeful. She would know more after Katie and Mae counted the money tomorrow. She climbed into bed that night with the belief that sleep would come easier to her. The last image in her mind was of Eli Lapp smiling and saying “beautiful.”

Eli Lapp.
What was she going to do about her feelings for Eli?
Nothing.
There was nothing she could do. Just because he’d implied that she was beautiful didn’t change her doubts and fears regarding their relationship and her determination to remain alone.

* * *

The next morning,
Mam
and Mae King tallied up the money made at the two-day fundraiser. Eli hovered nearby, eager to know how well they did.

“Ninety-eight hundred dollars,” Mae said. “It will be enough to make payments, but not enough to pay off the loan.”

“What about the barn?” Eli asked as he approached.

Mae shook her head sadly. “We can take out what she’ll need to rebuild her barn, but that will leave very little left to make her loan payments.”

“I don’t understand why Ike didn’t tell her,”
Mam
wondered aloud. “Didn’t Martha get loan payment notices?”

“Nay,”
Mae said. “Apparently he had some special arrangement with the bank. He was to make a large payment after the spring planting, another one after the fall harvest. He had the money for the first payment, but then he died without telling his wife. Martha needed the funds to live and repair the house. She would have chosen differently if she’d known.”

“Mae, you know that I don’t speak ill of anyone, especially someone who has passed, but I’m not feeling
gut
about what your brother-in-law did to Martha,” Katie confessed, and Eli silently agreed.

Mae looked saddened. “Neither am I.”

While the women shared a pot of tea and did one last tally recount, Eli wandered outside to mull over an idea that just occurred to him. His thoughts were in turmoil. He had saved more than twenty thousand dollars, which sat earning interest in a bank account. He could give Martha what she needed to rebuild her barn and pay off her loan. If he gave her the money, it would be years before he accumulated enough funds to start his carriage shop... And just at a time when he was close to finding a location.

He didn’t struggle with indecision. He loved Martha, and he knew what he would do. He returned to the gathering room, where Mae and his mother were still discussing Martha’s money.

“Mam?”
he said when his mother looked up at his approach. “I have the money. I want to help Martha.”

Mae widened her eyes. His mother, he saw, didn’t appear surprised by his offer.

“How much?”
Mam
asked, her gaze filling with pride in her son.

“How much does she need?” He was prepared to give all if necessary.

“Fifteen thousand.”

Eli nodded, unsurprised. He loved Martha, and she’d suffered enough in her life. He didn’t want her to be burdened with worry. He would give her the money and gladly.

“We’ll go to the bank together,” he told his mother. “I’ll withdraw the necessary funds, and then we’ll get a cashier’s check for People’s Resident Bank.” He kept his money in a different establishment. Helping Martha was important to him. His carriage shop could wait.

“I don’t want her to know about any of this,” Eli said. “She’ll object, feel bad, and the last thing I want is for her to feel anything but relief.” He saw his mother nod. “Mae?” He eyed their friend and neighbor, who was also Martha’s sister-in-law.

“I won’t say a word,” Mae promised, her eyes welling with tears. “Except maybe to Amos and only if he asks, and I don’t believe he will.”

With that Eli had to be satisfied. “Shall we head to the bank?” Mae and his mother nodded. “Let’s go then.”

“It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing,” Mae said.

He shrugged. To him, it was the most natural thing to want to give to the person he loved the most.

* * *

In the end, Mae and Katie asked Preacher Levi Stoltzfus to accompany them to present Martha with the check. Eli decided to tag along. He would hang back, because he didn’t want her to suspect that he had anything to do with her good fortune.