The Amish Marriage Bargain (Love Inspired) Read online

  “But if you want me to tag along,” Thad pointed his fork at himself, “we’d need to go on a late fall day when harvesting was over.”

  May’s head snapped his way. “We could take Leah. She’d love it.”

  “Nein. That would be too much for her, and it would give us time away together.”

  “I could carry her on my back, and she’ll sleep while we walk.”

  “May, that would be too much for you and her. We’ll think about it. We’re not going tomorrow.” The more he thought about time away and alone with May, the more he liked the idea.

  “Well, I want to go,” Josie cut in, already starting to plan the trip. She glanced in Thad’s direction occasionally, and he nodded when appropriate. While they hashed it all over, he listened.

  He glanced out the window. Still daylight. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a few more chores to finish up. Always gut to see you, Elmer.”

  Thad retrieved his hat from the peg, tromped down the steps and headed to the shed. Jah, if he never heard any more about cheese or cheese factories, he’d be a happy man.

  Queasiness roiled his stomach. Thad pulled the scythe and sickle from their hooks, carried them to the sharpening stone and sharpened their blades until they sliced through a piece of straw without resistance. Tomorrow, he’d work out his frustration on barnyard weeds.

  He heard cows pushing against the barn door, bellowing in impatience, wanting to be milked. He’d lost track of time. Hurrying to hang the scythe and sickle back on their hooks, he washed and gloved his hands.

  The barn door creaked open and Ethan’s head appeared in the crack. “Need help with the milking, Mr. Hochstetler?”

  “Perfect timing, Ethan. Jah, I got busy with other tasks and fell behind. Help me lead the Holsteins into the stanchions. I’ll apply the iodine mixture to the udders, and you can follow behind with the alcohol wipe.”

  “Sounds gut. Do you want me to get a couple of the other guys to help so it goes faster?”

  “Danki, gut idea.” Thad blew out a long breath. His onkel Edward once told him idle thoughts were the devil’s work and busy hands were Gott’s antidote.

  He needed to wipe his jealousy from his head and from his heart. This was the perfect remedy.

  * * *

  May stood. “You two sit and visit. I’m going to clear the dessert plates off the table.” She returned to refill Josie and Elmer’s coffee cups.

  Gathering the leftover bread from their meal, she threw it out on the lawn for the birds to nibble on. She glanced over at Thad’s horse and buggy sitting in the same spot they were an hour ago. He usually unhitched the buggy right away. Maybe he started doing something in the barn and forgot about Tidbit. Concern poked her, then worry. Many a farmer had gotten hurt doing hard work and by the time they were found, it was too late.

  The barn door squeaked as she opened it. May held her skirt close to her legs in case any daddy-long-legs spiders were lurking about, her dress swishing as she entered. She made her way back to the milking room. “Thad?”

  “I’m back here, cleaning the stanchions. Did you want something?” His voice held a note of surprise.

  She found him busy, but unharmed. “You looked tired at dinner, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  His face brightened. “Danki for thinking about me, but I’m fine.”

  “Okay, but did you know that Tidbit was still hitched?”

  “Oh... I forgot about him.” His voice wavered as his back straightened.

  “You do have a lot on your mind these days. Ethan was on his way home and I asked him to unhitch Tidbit. I figured you forgot when I saw him still hitched after you checked the pasture.”

  “Jah. Is Elmer still up at the haus?”

  “Nein, he had a tour bus coming in early in the morning so he wanted to get home.”

  “I’m done here, so I’ll walk you back to the haus.”

  When they entered the kitchen, Josie was finishing up the dishes while Leah sat in her high chair having a treat.

  May checked Leah’s hands after she shoved the last bite greedily in her mouth with most of the crumbs appearing to have stuck all over her face. “What a mess.”

  “I’ll get a washcloth,” Josie said, pulling open the drawer.

  May heard scuffling on the porch, then came a knock on the door.

  Caleb Brenneman stuck his head through the kitchen door. “Anyone home?”

  May laughed. “What are you doing, Caleb? Come in, come in.”

  Caleb’s son Jacob strolled in first, with Sarah and Caleb following close behind him. Jacob lifted his hands until May finally noticed a midnight-black kitten wiggling in his hand.

  “Oh, she is adorable. Have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee?” She gestured to the pot on the stove.

  Sarah looked at Caleb, and he shook his head. “Nein, danki, we just finished supper.”

  Caleb slapped Thad on the back. “You look as tired as I feel, my friend.”

  Thad nodded. “Jah, summer makes for long days of work. What brings you by?”

  Caleb tilted his head toward his sohn. Jacob held the kitten out in front of him. “This is Blackie. She’s a gift for Leah.”

  Silence filled the room as May glanced from Blackie to Thad, then back at Jacob.

  “Tiger has taught her well,” Jacob said. “She’s a gut mouser.”

  May shot Thad a serious look. “Was this your idea? You didn’t talk to me about a pet. Don’t I have a say in the matter?” She tried to calm her voice. Glancing back at Thad, she noticed his flushed cheeks. She hadn’t meant to voice her opinion so strongly. But this should have been a private conversation between her and Thad. “Sorry, I suppose she is old enough to treat one gently.”

  Caleb took a step forward. “Every farm could use a gut barn cat. Keep her in the haus in the winter, and you won’t have field mice sneaking in. I’ll guarantee you.”

  May picked up Leah from her high chair. “Come and see your new kitty.” She carried her over to Jacob.

  Leah’s eyes widened. She smiled and reached her hand out toward the kitten, then jerked it back. She reached out again, her hand getting closer, then finally touched the kitten with her fingertips. She giggled and jerked back.

  “Is she soft and wiggly? Touch her again,” May coaxed.

  Jacob held out the kitten to May. She sat and held Leah and Blackie.

  May looked at Thad. “Jah, a kind needs a little animal to liebe and play with.” She raised a brow at Caleb.

  Caleb put an arm around Sarah and guided her to the door. “Now that we’ve upset your whole night, we’ll be going.”

  Thad walked Caleb, Sarah and Jacob out to their buggy. May pet the kitty and showed Leah how to stroke his back. The little girl smiled and watched it until her eyes grew heavy and she fell asleep.

  Thad walked back in. “Sorry, I had no idea they were going to do that. I might have mentioned to Caleb that we wanted to get Leah a kitten someday, but I never thought that they had one to give away right now.”

  “It’s okay. Leah will like playing with her, but she’ll have to do it tomorrow. It’s bedtime.”

  “For me, too. I’m tired. Danki for letting her keep the kitty, May.” Thad kissed her cheek, then walked upstairs.

  His kiss knocked the wind out of her. She dragged in a ragged breath and tried to calm her racing pulse. She hadn’t expected the kiss, nor had she expected her reaction to it. After all, he was her husband. Her eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

  She sighed as she got Blackie a bowl of milk and watched her lap it up. She found a box in the storage room and set the kitten in it alongside one of Leah’s fuzzy stuffed kitties. The next time she checked on Blackie, she had fallen fast asleep snuggled next to her friend.

  A tear welled up in May’s eye until it spilled over and ran dow
n her cheek. She brushed it away as she sat in a chair and stared at Blackie. That was the kind of unconditional love, like Gott’s love, she wanted. She didn’t want secondhand love or someone who pitied her, or someone who wanted her out of loneliness. She wanted to feel loved by someone who was content being next to her.

  May wanted an adoring ehemann by her side, working hard as they planned their future together. She deserved that. Could she find that kind of liebe with Thad? Did he liebe her at all?

  Sometimes she thought he did. Sometimes she wasn’t so sure. Only Gott knew for certain.

  Chapter Ten

  Thad entered the kitchen to the unfamiliar sound of May’s laughter filling the room. A cheesy aroma made his stomach growl. “Something sure smells gut in here so where are you three off to?” He stepped around Elmer and Josie, who was holding Leah.

  Elmer lifted the picnic basket he held in one hand and nodded to the pie in his other. “Wherever these two take me, but today it’s going to be to the park. Josie even made mac and cheese again.”

  “Do you need any help getting out to your buggy? I could hold that pie for you, Elmer?” he teased.

  Elmer laughed. “There’s no chance I’m handing you this cherry pie after I’ve been standing here for the last ten minutes smelling it. It has my name written all over it.”

  May followed them out on the porch. “Are you sure you want Leah along? You don’t have to take her.”

  “Me go, Mamm.”

  “I invited her along. We are going to have a great time with this sweet one.” Josie gave Leah a little shake and Leah squealed with delight.

  Thad walked over and stood next to May on the porch. They watched Elmer place the picnic basket in the back of his buggy, then help Josie and Leah into the front seat. He climbed in and settled on the seat next to them, tapped the reins on the horse’s back and spurred him into a trot. They drove down the lane and onto the road, heading to the park.

  Thad slipped his arm around May. “Why are they taking Leah with them on their date?”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “It was Josie’s idea. I think she is testing Elmer to see if he likes kinner, and if he is helpful with a kind.”

  “Hmm. I didn’t know women set traps like that to test us poor unsuspecting men.”

  “I’m not saying any more on the subject. Today, I finish canning beans, so tomorrow Josie, Leah and I can attend a frolic.” She tossed Thad a wry smile. “So what are you up to this afternoon?”

  “I heard you say earlier that you had canning to do, and I thought I’d come and help. With twice the hands, you’ll have to spend less time standing. How is your foot feeling?”

  “It’s been three weeks since I broke the bone and it feels gut. So, you ran out of work to do?”

  “Nein. Always plenty of work on the farm. I just wanted to be helpful.”

  “Datt is gut. You are a man after my own heart.” The look on her face told him that the words slipped out, surprising even her. She paused, then whipped out a smile that stole his heart and made this whole canning idea he’d come up with worth it.

  “So what do you want me to do?”

  “I already have the beans cut and the jars sterilized. So we need to start packing.”

  She set what they needed on the counter, set a pan of beans and clean jars in front of him, and nodded. “Go to work.”

  He held up his spoon. “Ready.” He started scooping spoonfuls of beans and packing them into a jar. “Do you think it’s getting serious between Josie and Elmer?”

  “Neither one really talks about it, but they are both very happy and bubbly when they are around each other.” She filled her jar and reached for a lid. He reached at the same time and his hand touched hers and lingered. The feel of her soft skin sent a streak all the way up his arm and pierced his heart. He took a deep breath, waiting for something to happen. Anything.

  She didn’t pull away.

  “We could hurry to get the beans done and take a buggy ride into town for an ice cream cone, or just go for a ride since we don’t have Leah for a little while.” The words spilled out a little breathy.

  She hesitated, then pulled her hand away. “I’ll probably be too tired when we’re done to go for a ride.”

  “A ride could be relaxing.”

  She raised a brow. “I better wait and see how I feel. I don’t want to commit to that just yet.”

  The stop sign she held up released that streak that had hit his heart. Jah, he got the hint, she wasn’t ready. But as the gut Book said, patience is a virtue. He’d wait. Little by little he was getting a little closer to her. It was only a matter of time before she’d come around.

  * * *

  “Hurry, Josie.” May looked back as she hurried to the door. “We don’t want to be late to the frolic to finish Sarah’s boppli quilt. I’ll hitch Gumdrop while you get your basket of scraps of material.”

  May drove the buggy to the haus and parked. Josie stepped into the buggy hugging Leah to her side and settled on the seat next to May.

  “Giddyap, Gumdrop. No loafing, we don’t want to get there when it’s over.”

  When they turned onto the road, the horse lengthened his gait and stepped out smartly. The buggy jiggled and Leah let out a laugh as if someone were tickling her tummy.

  In twenty minutes, May turned Gumdrop onto the Yoders’ farm and trotted him up to the front door.

  “Good mornin’,” David Yoder greeted them as he took the reins. “I’ll take your buggy and park it in the shade.”

  “Danki, David. We seem to be running a bit late.” May grabbed Leah, Josie snatched the scrap basket and they hurried into the haus.

  David’s daughter Jane met them at the door. “Come in. We were all wondering where you were.” She waved toward the stretcher where the others sat stitching their patches on the quilt.

  “Ach, you made it.” Sarah hurried over to May and stole Leah from her arms. “Here’s my sweet girl. She is getting bigger every time I see her.”

  Mary, Sarah’s daughter, stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Is Leah here?”

  “Jah, come see how big she is,” Sarah called.

  Mary scooped Leah out of Sarah’s arms. “I’ll take this hungry little critter back to the kitchen with me, and we’ll find a cookie and lemonade.”

  Leah laughed at Mary as she made funny faces.

  “How old is she now?” Mary asked.

  “My little pumpkin has been spreading her joy for a year, but you might want to watch her. She pulls herself up now and tries to get into everything.”

  May sat in the empty chair next to Hannah Smith. “Hannah, it is so gut to see you. How are Ezra and the family?”

  “Everyone is healthy, and we are looking forward to our new addition.” She patted her stomach and beamed with joy.

  “I see that. I’m so happy for you.” May wrapped her arm around Hannah and hugged.

  Christine Glick scooted over and patted Hannah’s shoulder. “We will start your boppli’s quilt as soon as Sarah’s boppli blanket is finished.”

  Janie breezed through the door as if a butterfly caught on a breeze. “Ach, sorry I’m late.”

  “Would that handsome Jonah Hochstetler be the reason why?” Christine teased. “My ehemann Carter said he saw you in his courting buggy.”

  “Ach, he just gave me a lift to the store.” Janie batted her eyes and tilted her head with a coy smile.

  “Oh!” Sarah moaned, placing her hands around her protruding belly. “I think you better hurry with the quilt.”

  Christine shot to her feet. “I’ll run and call the midwife! She can meet you at your haus, Sarah. I thought she was supposed to come to the frolic...”

  “Danki, Christine,” Sarah gasped. “Caleb is waiting outside. He brought me since it’s so close to my time.”

  Caleb hurried in
and helped Sarah out to the buggy. May couldn’t help but notice his face was flushed with excitement. His and Sarah’s first boppli was something special to both of them.

  After the rush of Sarah’s departure, the frolic continued until the quilt was finished. May wrestled Leah away from Mary, and Josie gathered up her scraps and basket, then they said their goodbyes and headed to their buggy to go home.

  “Even though it ended a little early, I had a great time,” Josie said. “But thankfully we got Sarah’s boppli quilt finished. I have never sewed so fast in all my life.” She slid onto the seat and settled next to May, situating her sewing basket on the floor of the buggy.

  May handed Leah over to Josie. “She’s almost asleep. The rocking of the buggy should do it.”

  The trip home was relaxing with the methodical clip-clop of Gumdrop’s hooves tapping out a rhythm. May settled back in the seat and glanced over at Leah sleeping and Josie softly singing a hymn from the Ausbund.

  Josie stopped singing and glanced toward May. “Do you think Janie and Jonah are courting? She said he was only taking her to the store. Do you believe that?”

  May dipped her head to the side to dodge the glare of the sun. “That’s two questions, but the answer is the same for both. I don’t know.” Amish women loved to gossip, but May wasn’t going to talk about her best friend’s love life.

  Gumdrop turned into his home driveway without being coaxed, ready for his treat when he got back to the barn. May stopped in front of the haus to let Josie and Leah out. “I’ll unhitch Gumdrop and be right in.”

  “Don’t hurry, I’ll put Leah down for a nap.” It was nice having Josie here to help. For sure and certain, May would miss her when she went home.