The Amish Marriage Bargain (Love Inspired) Read online

  With the advent of warmer weather, summer brought farm accident victims and several children with broken bones to the Emergency Room, all of whom were in line ahead of May to see the doctor.

  “They’ll call your name when it’s time for your X-ray,” the woman in Admitting said as she directed May to the waiting area.

  Thad pushed May’s wheelchair to a private corner away from the others. “Would you like some coffee?”

  She nodded, and watched him saunter over to the coffee maker and pour her a cup. Guilt worked its way through her. What would she have done without Thad’s help? She was hard on him, but this was the Thad she remembered, always so kind and willing to help a friend in need.

  Jah, his tenderness was probably nothing more than a friend helping a friend. Except she wasn’t only his friend. She was his frau. Like the bishop said, he was her forever helpmate.

  * * *

  May sat on a gurney in a cordoned-off area of the emergency room, waiting for the results of her X-ray. The cold room made her shiver all the way from her head to her feet. She grabbed the edges of the gurney with her left hand to support her aching body. The pain and soreness were making her tired. She wanted to lie down and sleep. If she could just rest a bit, she’d probably be fine.

  She moved to the right, trying to get more comfortable. “Oh, it hurts to even move.”

  Thad walked over and stood next to her. “Lean on me.”

  She bumped against him and felt his warmth. His closeness stuttered her heart for a second. He slid his arm around her shoulder. “Feel better?”

  She drew a ragged breath, but this time it wasn’t from the pain. “Jah, danki.”

  The door opened and a handsome young man in a white coat hurried in and stuck out his hand. “I’m Dr. Kincaid. Nice to meet you, May. We’re going to have you fixed up and on your way very soon. I’m just going to examine the injured areas.”

  He felt her shoulder, moved her arm around and looked at her hand. Then he took off her shoe, tenderly touched her ankle and examined her foot. He glanced up and looked at her face as he felt around. “What’s your pain level from one to ten when I move your foot?”

  “Maybe eight. If I try to stand on it a ten.”

  The doctor nodded. “Your shoulder and arm have bruising, but they’re not broken. There is a lot of tissue damage so there will be discoloring and swelling for a few days.”

  He pushed a plastic-looking sheet onto a lighted box on the wall, then pointed. “This is the X-ray of your foot. Right here, in the fourth metatarsal in the left foot, is a crack and a tiny chip out of the bone. We’ll need to immobilize the ankle so it won’t move and put pressure on the cracked bone. That will allow it to heal and prevent further injury.”

  “But, Dr. Kincaid, I have a one-year-old daughter. I can’t be laid up a few weeks.”

  “I’m sorry, but you really don’t have a choice. You could injure it further if you don’t let it heal properly. I’m going to put your foot in a boot support and after the swelling goes down, you’ll be able to move around comfortably. You’ll have limitations, but you should still be able to care for a small child. Your shoulder and arm are fine, just bruised. They’ll heal in a few days but they might get a little stiff. But until then, you won’t want to pick up or hold a child. I can write an order for physical therapy on that arm, if you like?”

  Thad stepped forward. “Nein, we don’t have money for that. Isn’t there something she can do at home that I could help her with?”

  “Of course. Just have her start with stretches, then in a day or two add light exercises like lifting a can or fruit jar. When the shoulder heals some, she can lift the can over her head to stretch out the muscles until she gets her strength back.”

  Her heart gave a cold shiver. “How many weeks will I need to do the exercises?”

  The doctor glanced up from writing on the chart. “Keep them up until the shoulder and arm are totally healed, three, maybe four weeks until it’s totally healed. Start the stretches right away. In a day or two start the exercises. Also,” he pointed to an egg-shaped lump on the top of her foot, “that bone chip torpedoed up and into your muscle when it broke, causing tissue damage. That’s why you have this swelling. Apply ice packs when you get home. Twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off for two hours and that should take the swelling down. Later today or tomorrow, dark bruising will spread over the top of the foot, but it’ll go away. It will take about four to six weeks for that bone to heal.”

  She tamped down the nausea that threatened. Fear twisted her stomach into a knot. “Four to six weeks? I live on a farm. I can’t be laid up that long.”

  “I’m sorry, but you don’t want to do permanent damage to that foot.”

  “Still, with the restrictions, I’ll need to hire a mother’s helper.”

  “That shouldn’t really be necessary, but suit yourself. Just no running, and stairs will be awkward to maneuver with the boot. For the next few days, you’re going to be very sore and walking may be difficult until the swelling goes down.”

  May slumped back against Thad.

  “May, don’t worry. I’ll help you. We’ll work it all out together.”

  “I’ve heard that the Amish always helped each other out in times of need.”

  “Jah, we do.” May nodded. “I just hate to impose on others. It’s canning season and everyone’s gardens are ready at once. But it can’t be helped.”

  Dr. Kincaid placed May’s foot in the walking boot and fastened the straps snugly around her foot and leg. “I want to see you in six weeks. In the meantime, remember, no work, stay off the foot and apply ice three times a day until the swelling is gone.”

  May thanked the doctor for his help while Thad left her for a moment to go call a driver to bring them home.

  She slumped back in the chair next to Thad while they waited for their ride. A dark cloud pressed down on her as she thought about Leah. She’d be worried and confused when she awoke in the morning at the Brennemans and not in her own bed, in her own home with May snuggling her close.

  “May, are you okay?” Thad reached over and lightly laid his hand on top of hers.

  “Jah, just thinking about Leah. I hope she’s not scared.”

  How was Leah ever going to handle this? Nein. How was she ever going to handle this?

  * * *

  Sixty minutes later, the SUV arrived at their farm. May clutched the sheet of instructions for her medicines, the care of her injured foot and her next appointment written at the top. As Thad ran around to her side of the car to help her out, she stared out the window at the porch steps. “I never noticed before, but there are so many steps.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m here to help you.” He held the car door as she slid out and gingerly stepped on the ground. “Are you okay?”

  “Jah, but can I hold on to your arm until we get inside the haus? I’m still getting used to walking in this boot.”

  He closed the door and held his elbow out for her to grab. Her boot clunked on each step until they slowly reached the top.

  She stopped, released his arm and heaved a sigh.

  Thad slid his arm around her waist. “You okay?”

  “Just needed to rest a second.” She drew in a deep breath. “I can make it the rest of the way on my own now.”

  Thad took his arm away from her waist and opened the door. May stepped in, stopping just inside.

  Gretchen’s voice shattered the silence. “What’s been going on in here? It looks like you two were fighting, broken dishes and the stool turned over. Shame on you both! Thad, you’re too old to act like a hooligan. You never fought with April like this.”

  May’s back stiffened. “We didn’t have a disagreement.” She hobbled to a chair and sat down feeling Gretchen’s scalding glare on her back.

  “I’ve cleaned up the mess you two made.”
/>   “Mamm, May fell off the stool putting away dishes and broke a bone in her foot. Danki for cleaning up the mess. I had planned on doing that when we returned.”

  “Where is Leah?”

  “I called Sarah and Caleb Brenneman and they came and got Leah. They will keep her a few nights until May is feeling better.”

  “You had me worried sick. I didn’t know what was going on. You should have run over to the dawdi haus and told me.”

  “May was in a lot of pain, and I didn’t want to leave her. I figured we’d be back before you even noticed.”

  “Of course I noticed. I worry about what goes on over here.”

  “Danki, Gretchen, I appreciate your concern. And danki for cleaning up the mess.”

  Thad stepped toward his mamm. “May isn’t feeling well and I’m going to help her into bed. You can visit with her tomorrow.”

  He pressed a hand to his mamm’s back and escorted her swiftly to the door. “I’ll let you know tomorrow how she is feeling.”

  Gretchen huffed and strutted out the door, as she headed back to the dawdi haus.

  When Thad closed the door and turned, he shrugged. They both knew Thad’s mother was a handful. “Are you going to pick up Leah at Sarah and Caleb’s?”

  “Nein, not for a few days. You’re tired and need rest. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about new arrangements for Leah and about hiring someone to take over your work.”

  “I’m worried about her.”

  “I know, but the Brennemans will take very gut care of her. Quit worrying. Right now, you think about yourself.”

  “I...I can take care of Leah just fine.” A nervous laugh belied her words. Her arm and shoulder throbbed and her foot was so swollen she could hardly move it. But she was sure Thad saw through her ruse.

  “Nein. You cannot. I don’t want you hurting your foot any further or risk you dropping Leah. Maybe when the swelling is down and you’re stable on your feet, but not now. You wobble like a pregnant cow ready to calve. Let’s get you upstairs so you can rest and I’ll bring you some ice for that foot.” He helped her to stand up, placed his arm around her and gently supported her.

  At the touch of his strong arm pulling her close, an unexpected spark of excitement coursed through her. Her traitorous heart raced as she tried to control it, to dismiss it like it hadn’t happened. Only it had. She focused her attention to the staircase just ahead and tried to bring her breathing back to normal.

  She took a step but swayed as the boot and swollen foot interrupted her balance for a second.

  She hadn’t realized just how much strength the ordeal had sapped from her. Her head began to pound. She gulped a breath and tried to flash Thad a smile, but no doubt he could see through her efforts.

  She was sure pain, worry and weakness etched lines around her eyes.

  Thad shook his head. “Nein, I’ve made the decision, you are too weak right now to take care of Leah. I’ll see if I can hire a mother’s helper. Do you know of a girl who might take the job for a couple of months, or for at least the next two or three weeks? We’ll need her to live here.”

  May thought for a moment. “My cousin Josie. She is the only one I can think of.” Fear edged into her throat as her voice shook the last sentence into existence. She loved her cousin but she was as bossy as Aent Matilda.

  * * *

  Thad noticed the strained expression on May’s face as she sat on her bed, and he couldn’t decide if it was from physical pain or the pain of missing Leah. He patted her back. “Is there anything you need right now?”

  She pushed his hand away. “I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”

  From what he’d seen, that didn’t seem to be the case, but he let it go for now.

  May rubbed her free hand over her injured right arm. “I could rest for a while, and then we could go over and see how Leah is doing.”

  “Nein. Let’s not confuse her any more than she probably already is with staying with them. To visit her and leave would just upset her. When they picked up Leah, Sarah said since she is expecting her first boppli, she’s anxious to have Leah around for the experience and to get her household in a routine of helping with a wee one.”

  He walked to the door, glanced back and caught the lonely expression that crossed May’s face. She spent every waking hour with Leah. He could see it was upsetting for her to let her pumpkin stay somewhere else just a few nights, not to mention a week or more. “I’ll offer Josie a little more if she’ll come right away.”

  “Danki, Thad.”

  He couldn’t tell by the sound of her voice if she was feeling relief or dread. “I’ll call her right away.”

  “Aent Matilda’s number is on the pad in the barn.”

  He nodded. “I won’t be a minute.”

  Thad hurried to the barn and the phone that the bishop had allowed him to have ever since April was pregnant and went long overdue. He’d used it to call the emergency unit when April died after she delivered the baby.

  He swallowed back that memory and dialed the number of the phone shanty by May’s Aent Matilda. He explained their dilemma and asked if Josie would be available to come and stay a few weeks. He left his number and hung up.

  Since May was napping, he strolled to the north forty to check on the youngies and see if they had completed weeding the field. Carl was supervising the others. As he approached, it looked like Carl had everything under control. The field looked clean. He waved and Carl ran between two rows to where he was standing.

  “How’s it going, Carl?”

  “Real gut. We’re almost done.”

  “We’ll pick on Friday. Will you tell the other buwe?”

  “Sure, no problem. Ethan has gone to the barn to start the milking process. When we get done here, would you like us to go help him?”

  “Jah, that would be gut.”

  “How’s May?”

  He shook his head. “Her foot really hurts and doc said it would be a few weeks to heal but she is in a boot and getting around for the most part.”

  “That’s wunderbaar.”

  Thad headed back to the barn and as he got close, he heard the phone ringing, which set his feet to hard run. He yanked open the door, and got the phone just in time.

  “I almost hung up.” Josie chuckled. “I was just planning on leaving a message. I can’t come right away. I have other commitments and can’t come until a week from today, is that okay?”

  “Jah, that’ll work. Danki.”

  Thad panted, trying to get his breath back as he entered the kitchen. May would probably be awake, stewing about where he was and if he heard back from Josie.

  He tapped lightly on her door in case she was asleep, then edged the door open and stuck his head around the corner.

  “I’m awake.”

  “How do you feel? But that’s probably a stupid question.”

  “I feel a little better. Why are you panting?”

  He took a deep breath and blew it out. “Sorry, I ran to the haus from the barn. Josie can’t come for a week, so we’ll need to let Sarah and Caleb take care of Leah until Josie can make it.”

  It was the first smile he’d seen on her face since he’d broken May’s heart. “Why the smile?”

  “I was afraid that Josie might have gotten another job and wouldn’t be able to make it. That’s a big load off my mind knowing that Leah can come home in a few days.”

  Leah was her ray of sunshine. He hoped someday he could put a smile like that back on her face. “I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

  May gave him a thankful nod, her eyes brimming with softness like clear, turquoise ocean water covering a warm sandy beach. It was funny how that image just flashed through his mind. One day when they were courting, May confided how she wanted to see the ocean wash up on a beach. She wanted to walk through the surf with her bare feet and let
the wet sand squish between her toes.

  When the teakettle whistled, he put a tea bag in each cup and poured in hot water. He put a few cookies on the tray and carried it upstairs. He pulled a chair up by the bed and set the tray on her lap. He swirled the bag around in his cup, eventually pulling it out and setting it on the tea bag holder sitting on the tray.

  He glanced over at May, still swirling her bag. “You must like strong tea.”

  “What?” She looked up, then back down at her tea. “Not really.” She tugged the bag from the cup and set it next to his. She gingerly put the cup to her lips and took a sip as her eyes stared at the quilt.

  “Something bothering you, May?”

  “I just keep thinking about Leah. She’ll miss me.”

  “Sarah and Caleb’s son Jacob will entertain her, and their daughter Mary will fuss over her, no doubt. She’ll liebe it there.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about. I’ll seem like dull company when she comes home.”

  “What? Don’t be ridiculous! You’re her mamm. She will always liebe you. Maybe we should get her a kitten or dog to play with. No doubt Jacob will introduce her to his cat, Tiger.”

  May wrinkled her nose. “We’ll see. She’s only a year old. Maybe later.”

  “I know you miss her. Whenever you want to see Leah, and you’re feeling strong enough, I’ll take you to the Brenneman’s haus.”

  Her face brightened. “Danki.”

  “Now, you look tired and need to rest. I’m going to check the refrigerator. Was there any ribs left over?”

  May jerked her head in his direction. “Nein, but I don’t think I can make supper.”

  He nodded. “I’ll fry some ham and make us French toast, how does that sound?”

  “Great. I’m going to take a nap.” She picked the tray up off her lap and handed it to him.

  “Do you want to eat downstairs? I can come up and get you.”