The Matchmaker (19 page)

“I really must leave,” she said. “
Daed
will surely be expecting me soon.”

Hetty frowned. “It won’t be the same without you, Emma.”

At that, Emma merely smiled. “That’s most kind, but you do have Jane here to delight you with lovely conversation and stories about Ohio!”

Nobody noticed the sarcasm in her voice.

Hetty merely nodded her head in agreement. “This is true! Oh, bless Jane’s heart for making such a long journey!”

With a big sigh of relief, Emma hurried outside to put the harness on her horse and hitch it to the buggy. The horse could not trot fast enough to carry her away from the Blanks’ home.

By the time that she finished shopping at the food store, it was almost two o’clock. She had run into a few of her friends at the store and paused to catch up on the latest news. To her dismay, they too only wanted to talk about the unexpected arrival of both Francis and Jane. Fighting the urge to
roll her eyes, Emma had barely been able to keep a smile on her face as she listened to the excited gushing of her friends. She couldn’t excuse herself fast enough.

Ten minutes later when she directed the horse into the driveway, she was surprised to see that there was another buggy parked there. Her first thought was Gideon must have stopped by to visit with her
daed
, as he often did on Friday afternoons after leaving his business early. Only, upon closer inspection, she noticed that it wasn’t Gideon’s buggy. She could easily identify his buggy with the small rectangular orange reflector bars on the back so perfectly aligned, as if he had measured the distance between them with a ruler. No. This buggy had fewer reflectors and she did not recognize the haphazard pattern.

With no other visitors expected, she found her curiosity piqued. Who could possibly have come visiting, she wondered.

She was quick to unhitch the brown mare from the buggy, carefully leading her into the stall. Reluctantly, after hanging up the harness and bridle, she curried the horse, knowing that her
daed
would be displeased if she left the sweaty horse unattended after such a workout. Still, she knew that she hurried through the task and whispered a soft apology to the horse as she shut the stall door behind herself and quickly put away the grooming supplies.

Back in the driveway she reached into the opened buggy door and grabbed the box of groceries. With a swiftness to her step, she hurried to the house, eager to find out who had stopped to visit her
daed
. When she left him, he had been busy at the kitchen table, his shoulders hunched over as he scribbled furiously on a white notepad. His focus had been on making a list of tasks that needed to be done around the
house and barn prior to the onslaught of winter. With the ever-reliable Farmer’s Almanac predicting an unseasonably cold winter this year, Henry wanted to be prepared for days, if not weeks, of confinement inside the house. He hadn’t mentioned a visitor so she was certain that he was as surprised as she by whoever had appeared on their doorstep while she was gone.

Shifting the box of food on her hip, Emma managed to kick open the door so that she could slip through and enter the house. To her astonishment, seated around the kitchen table were two men with her father, one of whom was Samuel Wagler. The other, a tall man with broad shoulders, without doubt was his son, Francis.

When she walked through the door, all three men raised their heads and looked in her direction. But it was Francis who stood up quickly and crossed the room. He was handsome. That was the first thing that she noticed about him. Certainly he did not favor Samuel, who, while not unattractive, had broader features than Francis. The second thing she noticed was the charismatic way he carried himself. Unlike many Amish men, Francis was clearly most comfortable meeting and interacting with new people, even women.

“You must be Emma!” he said cheerfully as he reached to take the box from her arms. Without being asked, he set it upon the counter, all the while still talking. “It’s right nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from Anna! Why, I feel that we are practically siblings!”

His forthcoming manner of addressing her startled Emma, yet there was something charming about his sparkling blue eyes and his quick, lopsided grin that made her instantly like him. His skin was tanned and spoke of having worked mostly out of doors during the past seasons. His clothes
were very similar in style to the Amish men of Lancaster County with the exception that his blond, curly hair was cut differently, more modern, and from the looks of it, styled at a barber rather than cut at home, which Emma immediately thought was rather worldly. A quick glance at the hats that rested upon the counter pointed out another difference: his had a much broader brim than what would be accepted in the Weavers’
g’may.

“Wilkum
, Francis,” Emma said, warming up to him immediately.

It was hard not to, for there was a nearly contagious energy about him. She found herself drawn to it, a fact that troubled her immediately for she had never felt such an instant favor toward anyone, neither female or male. He was as handsome as he was charming, and Emma immediately wondered at Jane’s evasive responses from the previous day. Surely there could not be enough praise said about the man that stood before her!

“Just yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting with your travel companion from Ohio and I learned then of your early arrival. And only just now I’ve returned from an applesauce canning at that same house where it was all that Hetty could talk about,” she said, trying to not sound snide or to reflect the boredom she had felt all day. “That and the return of her niece, of course.”

Francis snapped his fingers, a grin still upon his face. “And here I thought that we would surprise you today! I hoped that my arrival would be kept a secret for a day or two.” Despite his expressed disappointment, the teasing look upon his face made it clear that he didn’t mind.

His boyish glee caused her to laugh. “I’m not certain how it works in Holmes County,” she said lightly. “But in Lititz
secrets are just about as hidden as laundry hanging outside to dry on wash day! The Amish grapevine carries rich fruit, it seems!”

At this statement, everyone laughed, and the mood was set for an enjoyable visit. However, as she sat down at the far end of the kitchen table, Emma caught the knowing look exchanged between Samuel and her
daed
. She fought the urge to cast a harsh look in their direction, knowing exactly what both men were thinking and perhaps hoping, although she knew that neither would say a word.

Ignoring them, she returned her attention to Francis. He seemed oblivious to the reaction of the other two men. Casually Emma couldn’t help but remark, “How fortuitous that you managed to ride along with Hetty’s niece. It must have helped to pass the time, being able to converse with someone. And your
daed
must have been quite glad to see you so soon. After all, I thought you were scheduled to arrive next week.”

Francis retreated back to the chair where he had previously sat, pausing to lean over and pat Samuel’s knee. “It’s one of my favorite pastimes,” he said. “Surprising others. While one cannot indulge in such pleasures with just anyone, I knew that coming home early would be warmly regarded by my
daed
!”

At the use of the word
home
, Samuel lit up and grinned, placing his large hand over his son’s. “Very true, my son. Very true.”

“Your
daed
did mention how you love surprises! Why, if I recall properly, he predicted you would come sooner than the appointed date!”

Francis looked at Samuel, a warm and tender expression on his face. It was clear that, despite the separation of time
and distance, the young man was fond of his
daed
. “Did you now?”

For the next half hour the discourse of the gathering focused on Francis. He delighted them by sharing stories about his life in Holmes County, living with his
maem
’s
schwester
and family. He had nary a negative word to speak about anyone, and all of his stories were told as if they were the grandest adventures in the world. His zest for life was contagious, and he had a captive audience whenever he spoke.

Emma quickly learned that he was a carpenter with his
onkel
and cousins. However, just as farm work was becoming scarce in Lancaster, there was also an overabundance of carpenters in Holmes County, making it difficult for Francis to find employment. While many young men were moving to smaller settlements out west in states such as Indiana and Missouri, it was Francis’s intention to explore the possibility of relocating back to Lancaster. He wanted to start his own carpentry business, an announcement that surprised Emma and Henry, but one that was met with a hearty cheer of delight by Samuel. Clearly anything that kept his beloved son in Lititz was more than acceptable to Samuel.

“There are a lot of carpenters here too,” Henry pointed out.

“But lots of development, from what I can see,” Francis countered with confidence. “Good carpenters are always needed.”

She thought that a queer statement in response to what her
daed
had said. After all, if the abundance of carpenters was what drove Francis from Ohio, it seemed like an awkward argument to argue the reverse as support for moving to overcrowded Lititz. Still, the joy on Samuel’s face could not be denied, and she was not about to say something that could dampen the mood in the room.

“Mayhaps
Gideon could use some help,” Emma offered, glancing at her
daed
. “At least until you become established.”

Samuel seemed impressed with her statement. “A good thought, that!”

Henry slapped his hand on the edge of the table in agreement. “I shall talk to him the very next time I see him! Brilliant, Emma! Always thinking, you are!”

With a slight shake of his head, Francis inquired further about what she had said. “And who is this Gideon?”

It was Henry who answered. “Gideon King. My daughter Irene’s brother-in-law. He builds storage buildings for the
Englische
. A good sort of fellow.”

“And a rather established young man,” Samuel added.

“Well, not so young . . . ” Emma blurted out then blushed when her
daed
scowled at her. Once again Emma had spoken before she thought. Silently she reprimanded herself, knowing that her
daed
would certainly correct her later.

“While at your age, we must all seem ancient,” Samuel said lightly, not having taken offense to her comment, “at our age, Emma, everyone seems young!”

Samuel’s comment caused a brief stir of laughter, and even Emma had to smile. So it was decided that an introduction would be made between Francis and Gideon, although Emma immediately noticed a change in the exuberance that Francis had displayed earlier. While the men continued their discussion, once again focusing on Francis’s family in Ohio, Emma watched the young man, noticing that he had the ability to make himself amiable in all conversation that was agreeable to himself. However, when a topic arose that seemed to displease him, a dark shadow of a wall seemed to cloud his eyes.

The clock had barely chimed three times when Samuel
rose to leave. “I best get going,” he said. “Regrettably I’ve other errands to run.”

Francis stood as well. “I’d be happy to accompany you,
Daed
.” Then, with a slight pause, his eyes drifted to the window as if he had just thought of something. “Although I know that I should stop by to visit with the Blanks. Hetty was always so close to
Maem
when they were younger and most supportive after she passed.”

“That she was,” Samuel agreed.

All of this was news to Emma. She did not recall any such memories for, shortly after Francis’s
maem
had died, her own mother passed away. While the Waglers were known among the Weavers’
g’may
, they worshipped in a different district, and Francis had gone to a different school. Henry and Samuel had been able to commiserate their loss together, but they had decidedly kept their
kinner
apart. It wasn’t until Samuel had moved just that year into their
g’may
that Emma had become acquainted with him.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Francis sighed. “I’d hate for her to feel slighted if I didn’t visit with her right away.”

Placing his large hand upon his son’s shoulder, Samuel beamed at the goodness that exuded from Francis with that one statement. “I’d be happy to drop you off,” he offered. “It’s not out of the way and I can pick you up on my return.”

Trying to lighten the mood, Emma shifted the conversation back to one that was more enjoyable for parting guests, for she’d hate to have the Waglers leave on such a solemn note. “Such a shame you weren’t there just an hour or so ago! You’d have delighted the group of women that were there. You were, after all, one of the main subjects of discussion,” she said. “Although Jane said very little. She’s not very talkative, I noticed.” This last bit was added on purpose, and she
paid extra attention to his reaction which, as expected, was devoid of any emotion.

He nodded his head. “I’m sure such a subject was weary on her nerves,” he said.

Despite the flatness of his words, there was something about his tone that caused Emma to think twice. He was rigid and forced, the casual nature from their previous conversations suddenly vanished. “I’m sure you became familiar, having learned much about each other during that long ride from Ohio,” she ventured to add, carefully monitoring his reaction. “Or had you previously known each other?”

“What?” He seemed startled by Emma’s question. “Oh, not really. She lived in another
g’may
.”

“I’m sure you found her most agreeable,” Henry added as he stood to see his guests to the door. “From all that Hetty tells us about her, she is the most godly of young women!” “So it seemed, indeed,” Francis said with a smile.

Emma stood at the kitchen counter, her eyes on the three men as they walked out to the driveway together. Slowly she unpacked the box of food that she had bought earlier that day but abandoned when she arrived home. She was curious about this new young man who had returned home at long last. While his natural mannerism was magnetic, to say the least, there was something else about him that remained to be discovered: a mysteriousness that caught Emma’s curiosity.