Never Far From Home (The Miller Family 2) (33 page)

Emma fled the barn before the beast decided that her “pea-sized brain” comment had been in poor taste. Anyway, she had more important things to think about than horses communicating with their tails.

All of them had to do with a tall, blond-haired fellow from Charm.

November

A stiff wind, cold enough to cut a person almost to the bone, blew the last of the leaves from the trees the day Emma was to visit Wooster. Standing on her aunt’s porch, she tightened her wool cape around her shoulders. Hannah was feeding the chickens and had suggested that Emma wait inside the kitchen for James’ arrival. But Emma was so excited she couldn’t stand another moment in the overheated kitchen.

James had selected a Friday for their trip to campus for two reasons: First, he had no Friday morning classes, and second, the labs would be fully staffed for an accurate picture of the agricultural college. He was due at eight o’clock. If he thought it strange to pick her up here, and not around the corner, he hid it well. Although her father had agreed to the visit after much prodding by Julia, he wasn’t in favor of his daughter mingling with “heathens of loose morals.”

Emma had become indignant, knowing how much James loved the Lord. In his last letter, he’d told her that he joined a church and a Bible study group in Wooster. But Simon Miller had not been mollified.

Do not leave your aunt’s sight.

Do not dawdle in public restaurants or shops.

Do not drink anything that didn’t come from your tote bag. Someone could add a drug to your beverage.

Simon left these instructions before storming off to his milking parlor.

With shame, Emma remembered stamping her foot in response. A show of defiance would never win her
daed
over, but she’d lost her temper. Thus, she decided it would be best if the shiny green truck didn’t pull up their driveway this morning.

The rooster marched down the henhouse ramp to deliver his message well after dawn, just as James turned into the Miller lane. “At long last,” Emma murmured.

“It’s only five minutes after eight,” said Hannah, coming up the steps with a full basket of eggs. “I’ll set these inside and we can be off.”

She didn’t sound very excited, but Emma didn’t care. The man of her heart had just jumped out of his truck and was headed her way. He carried the largest armload of roses Emma had ever seen.

“Hi, Emma!” he called while still twenty paces away.

He was wearing a wool sport coat, a navy blue sweater, and dark jeans. His boots had been polished, and his hair freshly washed.

“Hello, James.” She hoped she didn’t appear as eager as she felt.

“These are for you.” He held out the enormous multicolored bouquet.

“I’m not sure if she can accept those, James, knowing how her father feels about expensive gifts,” Hannah said. She had put the eggs away and returned to the porch in record time.

“Oh, no, ma’am,” James said. “These weren’t expensive at all. They were grown in a greenhouse on campus. The students can buy them for their moms or…friends…for next to nothing.”

“All right,” Hannah said to Emma. “Put them in water in the kitchen and let’s be off.”

Emma felt a tingle of static electricity snake up her spine as she accepted the bouquet. “Thank you, James. I love how they’re different colors. I didn’t even know green roses existed.”

James blushed the traditional shade of long-stem roses as he slipped his hands into his back pockets. “The horticulture students experiment with different hybrids to see what colors they can come up with.”

“Seems to me they should leave God’s handiwork alone,” Hannah muttered, already walking toward his truck.

Emma went inside to put the roses in water and decided not to let anything dampen her spirits on her day with James. When she got to his truck, Aunt Hannah was seated in back, so she took the front seat. It wouldn’t be polite to make him feel like a professional chauffer. The drive to his campus took less than thirty minutes, and their route took them through the village of Apple Creek, where Emma saw Amish folk milling on the street and spotted several tied-up buggies. “Are we still in Holmes County?” she asked.

“No, we’re in Wayne County,” James said. “Plenty of Amish live here as well. In fact, three Amish farms surround the land owned by my school.”

“There are lots more people in general, I expect,” Hannah said petulantly from the backseat. “The traffic up here is worse than where we live.”

Emma had counted only a few cars on the road but decided not to argue. Her aunt had allowed her to sit in the front seat. She and James were mere inches apart.

“Perhaps you could slow down, young man? I’m feeling sick to my stomach.” Hannah crossed her arms over her belly.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.” James immediately braked to reduce his speed. “We’re almost there.”

Emma reached over the seat to take her aunt’s hand. Hannah did indeed look pale as she peered out the window.

“We’re almost there,” James said, glancing into his rearview mirror.

Emma had expected tall college buildings, but instead she saw rolling fields, fenced pastures, well-tended paddocks, and several large buildings.

“This is the farm laboratory,” James explained, driving slowly up the lane. “Or at least, part of it. It spreads out in all directions. We have dairy, beef, swine, and agricultural facilities, besides the land lab, farm office, and the equine center.”

“Equine center as in big horse barn?” Emma asked.

James smiled. “It’s much more than that, Em. It’s a state-of-the-art facility for horse breeding and genetic engineering, veterinary trials, and clinical studies of diet, supplements, and pharmaceuticals.”

“Looks like a bunch of horse barns to me,” Hannah mumbled.

“Should we get out and walk around? You can watch some of the work being done.” James parked outside a large set of double doors.

Emma wanted to investigate, but her aunt answered first. “No, thank you. We’ll tour the campus from inside the vehicle. It looks muddy and like it might rain at any minute.”

Emma rolled her eyes while James chanced a sly wink at her. “Where exactly do you take your classes? Inside these barns?”

“Oh, no. We work on projects here, but the classroom complex is down the road. We’ll go there next.”

As he explained the research projects going on, Emma heard a tone of condescension in his voice she’d never noticed before. None of it made much sense, nor was it very interesting.

James pulled the truck into a parking lot. “Here are the classroom buildings and dorms. The student activities center and the apartment village for married students are over there.” He stole another glance in Emma’s direction—one that made her stomach tumble. “Want to see the residence hall?”

“Absolutely not!” Aunt Hannah screeched, reminding Emma of a barn owl.

“I only meant the dining hall, not the rooms, Mrs. Miller. I thought maybe a bite to eat might settle your stomach.”

“Oh…thank you,” Hannah said, dabbing at her forehead with a hanky. “I’d prefer to eat in a restaurant when we get to Wooster.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “But first let’s take a stroll through the campus conservatory. I think both of you will enjoy that.”

Emma had no idea what to expect, having never heard of a conservatory before. It turned out to be nothing more than a big fancy greenhouse—overly warm, very humid, and smelling of chemicals and fertilizers.

James walked by her side, pointing out plants, shrubs, and trees she had never seen before, nor even heard of. Hannah lagged behind them, looking greener than some of the foliage in the giant pots.

“What are all these strange plants?” Emma asked.

“Tropical varieties from exotic locations from around the world,” he explained. “Look, there’s a banana tree.” He pointed as though she were a child.

“But why are they
here
? And why are you studying about them? I thought you came to learn how to be a better farmer.” She sounded peevish, because the strange smells were making her a little queasy too.

“I did, Emma. I only thought you would like to tour the conservatory. I couldn’t believe how many pretty flowers the horticulture students grow here.”

“Horticulture—that’s just a fancy word for plants!” She bumped her head on a low-hanging branch.

“I know that, but I thought gals liked flowers.” James tried to take her hand, but she pulled it back as though touching a hot stove. Aunt Hannah was close behind.

“What’s wrong with you, Emma?” James asked. “Aren’t you happy to see me? I planned our day together down to the smallest detail when you said you could come.” He sounded wounded. “I was so excited I couldn’t sleep.”

Emma looked into his face. His summer suntan had faded to a few freckles across his nose, while his blond hair had dried into soft waves. He looked the same, yet somehow different in his sport coat. “
Jah
, I’m happy to see you. I just thought you’d be learning about crops and critters and useful stuff, not about banana trees. They won’t grow in Holmes County no matter how many expensive textbooks you read.”

James looked as though she had slapped him.

Aunt Hannah stepped forward. “You two may finish looking through the greenhouse by yourselves. I’ll wait for you outside the door. I can use some fresh air.”

Since Aunt Hannah overheard our exchange of words, she probably no longer fears a quick kiss or a stolen embrace,
Emma thought.

“I know that, Emma,” James said. “I’m not studying this stuff. I’m taking general sciences, biology, English, history, and mathematics. Plus, I go to a writing lab a couple afternoons a week.”

“Whatever for? Are you planning to write books on farming now?” she asked. A headache was building behind her eyes.

James looked miffed. “No, Emma. It’s to help me with term papers and other assignments. I’m afraid I didn’t study hard enough in high school, and I’m behind the other students.”

“We mustn’t keep my aunt waiting.” Her schoolteacher voice had returned. They finished the tour as though trying to catch a bus rather than enjoying a leisurely stroll through a garden. Once they were reunited with Aunt Hannah, no one talked much during the drive into Wooster. Everywhere Emma looked she saw pretty girls in pretty clothes doing normal English things. Workers on ladders were decorating the charming town with strings of tiny white lights for Christmas, but she couldn’t muster any gaiety.

In the restaurant James had chosen, everyone seemed to be staring at Emma and Aunt Hannah as though they had never seen Amish people before. The white tablecloths, long-stemmed goblets, and three different forks at each place setting was much too elegant for Emma’s tastes. Why would anybody need three different forks?

James tried his best to make the meal special by suggesting this menu selection and that herbal tea, but Emma couldn’t relax. Part of the problem was that Aunt Hannah’s queasiness hadn’t diminished. Even bland chicken soup with saltines failed to settle her stomach. And both Emma and James had to guard every word they said, lest something be deemed improper. All in all, Emma felt relieved when they finished lunch and Aunt Hannah announced she wished to start for home.

James looked disappointed. He had more to show them back at the agricultural college and in the town of Wooster, but Emma’s headache had become tortuous, so she insisted they head back to Winesburg. She also felt disoriented and confused with the traffic, shoppers scurrying in all directions, drivers honking horns, and general commotion.

What happened to the gentle sheep farmer I fell in love with while floating down a lazy river in a canoe?
This man, who was trying to explain his courses on entomology and environmental resources, was a stranger, despite his familiar piercingly blue eyes.

W
hen the trip back from Wooster was finally over and James had dropped them off in Aunt Hannah’s yard, Emma felt a little ashamed. If James never wished to speak to her again, she couldn’t blame him. During the ride home, her aunt had moaned piteously with every pothole or sharp curve in the road. And Emma had sat there without talking like a bump on a log.