Chapter 10
B y sunset, Seth still wasn’t talking to him, and neither was his mother for that matter. Word had spread throughout the community that he’d brought an Englisch woman to school and then had tried to get the best of Miss Lapp, his intended, in some kind of argument. But then he’d been sent home with a note to his mamm instead. He still had to suppress a laugh when he thought about it. Truth to tell, it was the first time he’d had any fun in months. And even though his conscience pricked him that it had been at Lilly’s expense, he still didn’t really want to change a thing. Lilly had gotten him laughing again and that was priceless. Except, of course, there was the fact that Victoria Castleberry hadn’t been all that pleased to not be in on the joke and had left without buying so much as a bridle. And, he knew that his mother was embarrassed and thought he’d truly lost his wits.
He knocked on Seth’s door after supper.
“If it’s you, go away,” his brother called.
“Come on, Seth—it’s been hours. Let me in. I said I was sorry.”
“Not to her you haven’t.”
Jacob frowned at the wooden door. “Ach, all right. Let me in and we’ll talk about it.’
“Come in then.”
Jacob entered to find Seth painting in the slant of the sun’s late-falling rays. His suspenders hung around his waist, and a loose, paint-stained shirt was half-buttoned up his chest. He turned with a palette and brush and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll apologize to her, of course.”
“What possessed you in the first place? Not to mention losing the sale of Jim and that woman probably telling all of Boston that the Wyse Brothers are fractious Amish men. Why would you want to hurt Lilly?”
Jacob sank down on the foot of Seth’s bed and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I just wanted to let off some steam. She did make me mad but I didn’t want to hurt her. And I found out she’s just— well, she’s fun when she’s thinking.”
Seth turned back to his painting. “Uh-huh.”
“Now what does that mean?”
“It means that you don’t know the first thing about yourself, big bruder … or women, for that matter.”
“What are you talking about?”
Seth set the painting materials down and wiped his hands on a rag. “Where’s the note?”
“What?”
“The note she wrote you to give to Mamm. Where is it?”
Jacob reached into his pants pocket. “Here.”
Seth took the envelope. “It’s not even opened.”
“Really?”
“Just carrying it around with you as a souvenir?”
“No, I just … never took it out.”
Seth sighed, turned up a lamp, and opened the note. He scanned the words on the page then shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
“What?” Jacob rose to his feet and stared at his brother.
“‘Dear Jacob, Truly, for whatever I’ve done to make you angry at me, please forgive me. Lilly Lapp.’”
Jacob sucked in a breath, then hung his head. “I didn’t think she’d write something like that.”
Seth folded the note and slid it into his brother’s shirt pocket, then he clapped him on the shoulder.
“Well, now you know.”
Jacob lifted his gaze. “You know how I hate classrooms. But I’ve been a fool to hurt her so. It’s my own problem—not hers.”
Seth gave him a brief smile. “Well, you’d better get over your problem fast since you’re marrying a teacher.”
“I’m going over to the Lapps’ now to apologize.”
“Now?”
“Jah. Right now. I don’t have to court in secret anymore since the engagement is known, remember?”
Seth turned back to his painting but shot him a wry grin over one shoulder. “Gut luck then, bruder—on your first courting attempt.”
Jacob paused on his way out the door. “Seth—danki.”
Lilly washed the few dishes from supper and sighed at the large remainder of the ham and bean casserole she’d made. Her mother had barely touched the supper, requesting tea and toast instead. Lilly wondered if she should encourage her mamm to see someone other than the local midwife for her ailments but knew she’d probably refuse as she’d done in the past. And tonight she’d gone to bed even earlier than usual, leaving Lilly with the whole of a Friday night to face alone.
She had just settled down with some papers to grade at the kitchen table when a quiet knock at the back door startled her. She rose and went to peer out the upper window of the door, seeing Jacob with his hat in his hands.
Her heart began to pound, and she knew that this was her opportunity to apologize to him for her behavior. She opened the door wide and a blast of chilly air bit across her shoulders.
“Jacob, sei so gut, come in.”
“Jah, Lilly, danki. Uh, would you mind if Kate Zook comes too?” He stepped aside to reveal the pretty girl, her cheeks flushed from the cold, and her lips berry red.
Lilly nodded in confusion and felt a stab of jealousy. “Nee, please …” She widened the door.
They entered and she glanced at the back staircase. “My mamm’s gone to bed early.”
“We’ll be quiet,” he whispered. ” Kate was out walking and—”
“I just lost track of the time,” the girl confided. She let her dark eyes drift up to Jacob’s face with a languid smile that did little to make Lilly want to welcome her. “Jacob saw me alone in the dark. He was kind enough to bring me—well, here first.”
First, before what? Lilly wanted to snap, forgetting her desire to apologize to her intended.
“May I take your coats?”
Somehow, she managed to seat them both at the kitchen table, trying to ignore the way Kate sidled next to Jacob on the bench.
“I’m still cold,” she shivered.
If he puts his arm around her, I’ll rap him. Lilly had to swallow her absurd thought. If anything, Jacob looked stern and not interested in Kate’s overtures.
“I could make hot chocolate,” Lilly offered with reluctance.
It sounded rather tame to her ears, especially for someone who had been as socially sought after as Jacob Wyse, but he readily agreed while Kate pouted. Lilly concentrated on pulling out a saucepan from beneath the cupboard with the minimum of noise.
“I would have thought that your mamm would still be up,” Jacob said, obviously trying to make conversation. Lilly’s temper melted a bit; he sounded desperate.
“My mamm usually goes to bed very early.”
“It must be lonely,” he observed.
She felt a lurch in her heart as if they were the only two in the room. “Always,” she said, then turned to add cocoa powder and milk to the pan.
As she stirred, she thought about his courting comment, concentrating on ignoring Kate’s ill-contained murmured hints to leave.
Typically, a courting couple met alone, in secret, at the girl’s house once everyone else had gone to sleep, but after the engagement announcement, they could meet anytime with anyone present. She thought how different things would be if her father were still alive, but then, perhaps she’d never have come to be engaged to Jacob. It occurred to her that her heavenly Father was the one who’d have to approve her marriage now.
She brought three blue mugs to the table and ladled in the steaming chocolate drink. She sat opposite them and stared down at her cup, unsure of what someone was supposed to do as part of a courting couple—or trio.
“Why are you uncomfortable around horses?” Jacob asked.
“What?” She looked at him in confusion as Kate yawned.
“You told me that you were uncomfortable around horses—I wondered why.”
“I really don’t think now is a good time …”
“Oh, come on,” Kate snapped. “Even I know that story. I’m just surprised that you two—being engaged and all—wouldn’t have talked about it.”
Jacob gave her a quelling glance. “What story?”
Lilly played with the rim of her cup. “It’s silly, really,” she said after a moment.
“Yes, it is silly to tell old tales,” Kate said.
“I want to hear it anyway.” Jacob sipped his hot chocolate, his look encouraging Lilly to speak.
She took a deep breath and avoided Kate’s bored expression. “I guess you don’t remember it, but when I was seven years old the community prayed for my healing because of a horse.”
“May I have more chocolate?” Kate interrupted. “It will help me to concentrate. I’m so easily distracted around a handsome man.”
Lilly kept her voice even. “You needn’t concentrate, Kate. Besides, you really must learn not to be swayed by every handsome man who picks you up—alone—at night.”
“I would’ve been eight,” Jacob interrupted, seemingly oblivious to the byplay of the two women. “What happened?”
Lilly sighed in faint exasperation. “My mamm allowed me the rare privilege of accompanying my daed on a veterinary call. It was a colicky horse over at the Millers’. The horse was down by the time we got there and thrashing its hooves in pain. I foolishly thought it would help my father if I tied up the horse’s legs while he turned to retrieve something from his bag. I got a blow to the head that left me unconscious for more than a week. I guess no one knew if I’d recover, but Derr Herr was merciful.”
“You could have been killed.”
“The Lord moves in mysterious ways,” Kate said.
“I was close enough that the horse didn’t have as much power as he could have.”
“I didn’t know.” His eyes softened. “Of course you’re afraid. It’s a wonder you’re even willing to drive.”
“Ruler can be slow and stubborn under harness, but he’s quite docile when Jonah gets him ready. Daed sold his draft horse to buy him for me when he knew he had cancer.”
Kate sighed loudly and plunked her elbow on the table and propped her head on her hand. She couldn’t have looked more bored.
Lilly swiveled in her seat, turning slightly away from Kate, and fixed her eyes on Jacob.
Jacob set his mug down. “I remember Daed selling your daed that horse. He was one of the most mellow horses we ever had.”
“We got him from you? Why didn’t you say so?”
Jacob shrugged. “I thought you knew.”
“Big deal,” Kate said. “I can’t see why a horse purchase is of such importance. One horse is as good as another—as long as it can pull a buggy.”
Jacob didn’t even look her way, keeping his focus on Lilly. “If you like, I can help you feel more comfortable around horses. Will you let me sometime?” Jacob reached across the table to grip Lilly’s hand.
Her breath caught at his touch and she found herself nodding, lost in the intense pull of his eyes in the lantern light. “I—don’t know if I’d like it, but I’d be willing to try.”
He smiled at her and she returned the look, feeling a flood of friendship wash through her at his words. And friendship was a good thing to have in a marriage …
Kate broke the moment, drumming her fingers briefly before she abruptly rose from the table. “Jacob, my mamm will be worried. If you’re not ready to go just yet, I guess I’ll just walk. Thank you for the chocolate, Lilly.”
Somehow, the girl managed to sound vulnerable, even to Lilly’s practical ears, and she withdrew her hand from Jacob’s.
“You’d better go,” she murmured, not meeting his eyes.
She saw them to the door and out onto the porch when Jacob turned back from the top step. He bent close and whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry, teacher. About today.”
She smiled at him. “I’m sorry too.”
He grinned and even the sound of Kate’s tinkling laugh on the cold night air could not diminish the surge in Lilly’s spirits.