Seek Me With All Your Heart (20 page)

Martha caught up to Emily and David.

“Emily Detweiler, is that you?” Martha scowled as she glanced toward David. “What in the world are the two of you doing out in this weather? You should have been home hours ago.” Emily could see Martha glaring at her as the car headlights continued to light their way.

“We’re running a little late getting home.”

“I’l say. Your momma is worried sick.”

“I thought your car didn’t run?” Emily picked up the pace but David was ahead of both women and made it to the buggy first.

“Uh, it’s fixed now,” Martha said as she huffed to keep up with Emily.

David crawled onto the side of the snow-covered buggy, pul ed back the winter protectors, then leaned into the passenger window. “There’s a woman in here.”

“Is she okay?” Emily asked as she and Martha final y made it to the toppled buggy.

Emily heard David faintly say, “Oh no.”

“What? How bad is it?” Emily moved closer, until she was leaning against the buggy.

“I already cal ed 9-1-1,” Martha said as she edged closer. “Help should be on the way.”

David shoved the upper half of his body down into the buggy, and his next words sucked the breath out of Emily.

“Vera, hang on. Help is on the way.”

Eleven

EMILY DIDN’T REMEMBER SCALING THE SIDE OF THE buggy, or pul ing David by his coat until he made room for her to see inside. He told her at the hospital that he’d never seen a person move that fast before.

A visit to the emergency room, and Emily and her mother were home, accompanied by David and Martha. When they arrived, Emily fil ed in her father and brothers about what had happened. Thank goodness Betsy was in bed asleep. Emily could feel her father’s eyes blazing down on her, and she suspected he was angry with her for being late, which ultimately had caused her mother to travel in this weather.

“I told you there was no reason to go to the hospital.”
Mamm
frowned as she glanced around the room. “I was knocked around a bit, that’s al .” She glared at Martha. “There was no need to make such a fuss and cal an ambulance.”

“That knot on your noggin was reason enough,” Martha said as she raised her chin. “Looked like a big ol’ golf bal on your forehead. It could have been a concussion, and it’s better safe than sorry.”

Vera waved off the comment. “A waste of community funds, I’d say.” She touched the knot on her head, and Emily did see her flinch briefly. “See, it’s almost gone anyway.” But
Mamm
wasted no time resuming her role as cheerful hostess. “Can I get anyone some coffee or cocoa?”

Just for once, Emily wished her mother would feel something, like a normal human being. Surely the accident had scared her.

“I’m leaving.” Martha, stil dressed in a heavy gray coat with a purple scarf around her neck, moved from the fireplace.

“Thank you for everything, Martha.”
Mamm
smiled warmly at Martha, who just shrugged.

There was a knock at the door. Jacob was closest, and he pul ed the door open. “Can I help you, sir?”

“I’m Arnold Becker. Is your father at home?”

Emily’s father moved toward the door. He eased Jacob out of the way.

“Arnold, come in. What brings you out in this weather?”

Emily glanced at the clock on the mantel. Nearly eleven o’clock.

“Just checking on you folks.” The gray-headed man walked into the den dressed in a long black coat with a black felt hat. If he’d had the traditional beard, Emily could have easily mistaken him for an Amish man. “I was on my way home, and I saw the lights on. The fel a at the gas station said there was a buggy accident and that he thought it was one of the Detweilers.”

“It was my wife, but she’s doing fine.”
Daed
shook Mr. Becker’s hand, then glanced around at everyone else. “You’ve heard me mention Arnold before, how he is going to head up the schoolhouse project. We met recently at the hardware store in Monte Vista. He overheard some of us talking about the construction, some of the things we weren’t quite sure of, and he offered to help us.” Her father introduced Arnold to everyone, then turned back to him.

“It’s nice of you to stop by and check on us.”

The elderly man had kind gray eyes, and a gentle smile tipped at the corner of his mouth when Emily’s father thanked him.

“As long as I’m here, Elam, I want to share some good news. I have al the permits for the new schoolhouse. As soon as the weather clears, we can get started.” Mr. Becker pushed back the rim of his hat. “Might be a couple of months, though.”

“We wil al be ready when the time comes.” Emily’s father smiled as he pointed to David. “David and his father have offered to help too.”

“
Ya
,” David said.

“David, have you been in contact with Lil ian and your father?” Emily’s mother walked into the room after excusing herself earlier, and she was carting a tray fil ed with cups of hot cocoa.

“
Ya
,” David said as he reached for one of the cups. “While you were in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Martha fol owed me to
mei haus
so I could put Buster, my horse, in the barn. I ran in and told Lil ian what happened. She wanted to ride with us to the hospital, but I told her I thought you were going to be al right. They know where I am.” He turned to Martha. “So I guess I’m leaving now, too, with Martha. She said she’d drop me at home.” David paused with a grin. “Now that her car works.” He took another sip of his cocoa, then set it on the table.

“I’m not leaving yet,” Martha announced as she walked over to the tray of cups and helped herself to one. She carried it over to where Mr. Becker was standing and smiled at the elderly man
.
.
.
Did she just bat her eyes at him?
Emily held back a grin.

As usual, Levi didn’t say much, and he excused himself and went upstairs.
Mamm
commented about the weather; then Jacob reminded everyone about his upcoming nuptials in two weeks.

“David, you and your family wil attend, no?” David nodded. “And Mr. Becker, I hope you and your family can attend as wel .” Emily knew her mother had already invited Martha, although they’d al assumed she wouldn’t be there.

Martha’s eyes widened as she waited for Mr. Becker to answer.

“I’d be honored to attend, Jacob. But it’s just me. I don’t have any family.”

Martha grinned up at him, and Emily covered her mouth with her hand. She’d gotten to know Martha over the past few weeks, but this Martha was new.

Emily found it amusing, and she glanced at David to see if he did too. A smile hovered at the corner of his mouth. Instantly, she thought about the way he’d tenderly kissed her forehead and how he’d almost kissed her on the lips.

“The wedding is right before Christmas.”
Mamm
smiled as she addressed the group. “It was the only weekend that worked for everyone during December.” She turned to Mr. Becker. “In Ohio, Mr. Becker, we have weddings in November or December, after the fal harvest.”
Mamm
shrugged. “So we’re keeping things traditional.”

“Vera, don’t you think you should go on up to bed? I don’t like the looks of that knot on your head, and I know that topple must have left you sore.” Emily’s father cut his eyes at Emily, then looked back at her mother. “You shouldn’t have been out in this weather, and I told you that.”

“Elam, I’m fine. And I’m enjoying visiting.”
Mamm
took a sip of her cocoa, then she glanced around the room. “Now, who needs more cocoa?”

Mr. Becker placed his cup on the tray. “I’m going to head on home. It’s late, and I know it’s been a rough night for you al . I just wanted to make sure everyone was al right, and I must admit that I was excited to tel Elam that we got al the permits for the new schoolhouse for the children.”

“We wil build a fine school,” Emily’s father said as he extended his hand to Mr. Becker. “Thank you for stopping by.”

Mr. Becker tipped his hat as he glanced around the room. “A pleasure meeting al of you.”

Martha scowled, but quickly shifted her expression when Mr. Becker’s eyes met with hers. “Lovely to meet you too, Mr. Becker.” She extended her hand to him.

“Just cal me Arnold.”

“Al right . . . Arnold.” Martha flashed a ful smile at him.

Mr. Becker was barely out the door when Martha’s expression turned gruff. She looked at David and barked, “Let’s go.”

David jumped up from where he was sitting on the couch next to Jacob. He put his cup on the tray in front of him. “Okay.”

“Say good-bye to your girlfriend, and meet me out front.” Emily’s heart thudded in her chest as Martha turned to Emily’s mother. “Glad you’re okay.”

Emily couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone for a moment, then she lifted her eyes to meet David’s. He was grinning, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.

Emily risked a glance in her mother’s direction and saw her sporting a cool smile. The last thing Emily needed was for
Mamm
to think that she and David were courting.
Mamm
would never ease up about it now.

“
Danki
for the cocoa, Vera,” David said. He was stil dressed in his long black coat, so he grabbed his hat and headed toward the door. “Bye everyone.”

Mamm
walked him to the door. “See you soon, David,”

After her mother closed the door, she turned to Emily. “Girlfriend?”

“That’s not the case,
Mamm
. I don’t know why Martha said that.” She gave a shrug. “I’m going to bed.” She quickly kissed her mother on the cheek and ran up the stairs before her mother had a chance to question her further.

TWO DAYS LATER Martha fired Emily and David. She handed them each a hundred dol ars when they showed up at her house, said she didn’t need their help anymore, and didn’t even invite them in. But a strange car was in the driveway, so Emily and David just smiled at each other, then went and had coffee and pie at the diner.

But it had been over two weeks since Emily had last seen David. One of those weeks, a blizzard kept everyone hunkered down inside. They didn’t even have their scheduled worship service, which was to be held at the Huyards’ down the road, because no one could get out. Emily and her family had worshiped privately in their home, as she assumed David’s family and the other families in their smal district had done.

She’d worked a bit at their country store, and from Jacob she’d learned that David had started a job at a furniture store in Monte Vista. But, if she was honest with herself, much of her time was spent daydreaming about David. His gentle lips on her forehead played through her mind over and over again.

Maybe he did care for her. But every time she al owed herself to think like that, she was reminded that she wasn’t a worthy bride. Despite that belief, in her heart she knew she was smitten with David, and she couldn’t wait to see him today.

Today was Jacob and Beth Ann’s wedding, and the sun was shining, with no snow in the forecast for at least a few days. Everyone in the Detweiler household had been up early, preparing for the event. By mutual agreement, the two families had decided the wedding would take place at the Detweilers’ instead of at Beth Ann’s home. The blizzard had caused a pipe to burst in the King household, and Beth Ann’s father didn’t think he could get the house ready in time.
Mamm
to the rescue.

Emily was looking forward to giving Jacob and Beth Ann the wringer washing machine she’d been able to purchase for them with the money she’d earned from Martha. It was a bit extravagant, but Emily felt badly about the way she’d avoided her future sister-in-law because she didn’t want to hear about their wedding plans.

“
Mamm
, Jacob needs you upstairs!” Betsy yel ed as she pounced down the stairs in her normal fashion.

“Betsy, what have I told you about that yel ing?”
Mamm
closed the oven door. “Emily, please check on the turkey roast in fifteen minutes if I’m not back.”

She shook her head. “I think your
bruder
is actual y nervous about his wedding day. And that’s al he’s talked about for months.”

Emily stil couldn’t believe that Jacob was getting married. He’d met Beth Ann right after they moved here, and they were dating within a week. Their whirlwind courtship was a surprise to everyone, but Jacob said he didn’t want to wait. He was ready to start his life with Beth Ann, and she had readily accepted his proposal. Jacob had been saving his money for as long as Emily could remember, and with the money he’d saved and some help from their parents, he’d purchased a smal farmhouse with fifteen acres about five miles down the road.

Levi walked in from outside, carrying two more chairs that had been stored in the barn for when they held worship service at their house. ily, the Stoltzfuses, Martha, Mr. Becker, and a few others, it would be a houseful. Emily wished their extended family from Middlefield would be coming, but the weather conditions kept them away. Even though they could have taken a bus, then hired a driver, it was a long way, and the weather was too unpredictable this time of year.
Mamm
said about sixty folks would be attending the wedding. Al of Beth Ann’s family lived here in Canaan, and when you combined them with Emily’s fam

“Aren’t you gonna help?” Levi slid past her, cutting his eyes at her.

“I am helping. I’m keeping an eye on the turkey roast.” She dipped a spoon into a bowl of cabbage casserole, blew on it, and took a bite.

“I’m tel in’.” Betsy skipped into the kitchen. Then she giggled. “Unless you give me a bite.”

Emily smiled. “Okay, but just one.” She got a clean spoon and scooped up a bite for Betsy.

“Anna and Elizabeth wil be here today.”

“
Ya
, I know. You haven’t seen your friends in a while because of the weather. Are you excited to see them?” Emily leaned against the kitchen counter and faced Betsy, who wore a new emerald green dress Emily had made for her the week before.

“
Ya.
” Betsy tapped her finger to her chin. “I hope they studied the Bible lesson that I gave them last time they were here.”