A Little Bit of Charm (19 page)

Tired, yet energized at the same time, Jake raised a gloved hand and they rolled to a stop on an old logging road. “Let's take a break.” He lifted off her helmet, receiving another jolt of current from touching her skin.

“I'm not sure I can walk.” Rachel staggered over to a boulder and plopped down. “But that was fun. And look at the view of Twelve Elms from this high ground.” She shielded her eyes to gaze over miles of scenery. “God certainly has blessed the Brady family.”

“Why would you say that?” He plopped onto a fallen log a few feet away.

“Are you joking? Your family lives on this wonderful farm, surrounded by good crops, lush pastures,
and
Thoroughbred horses. You have your parents and siblings, plus a job you love. I would say those are all blessings.”

“I would say all of that came from hard work—ours and our ancestors.”

“Maybe so, but lots of people work hard their entire lives and don't come close to this.” She gestured toward the land spanning before them.

“So you want to give God the credit? Now you sound like my parents. Dad is always thanking God left and right.”

“Who else? Sickness, death, and financial problems can happen without warning, taking away everything we hold dear. Perhaps it's because of your father's gratitude that grace has been showered on Twelve Elms.”

“I didn't think you were so religious.”

She laughed. “I'm Amish, Jake. God is at the center of our lives, or at least He's supposed to be.”

“Then why haven't you been baptized and joined the church yet?”

“I will, most likely. I need to work out some things first, but it's not because of a lack of faith.” Most of her effervescence faded. “I believe in a just, loving God with my whole heart.”

For some reason the statement irritated him. “A just, loving God would allow your parents to die in a house fire? Jessie told me about them. And this stable? Thanks to me, we're mortgaged up to our eyeballs. If this new trainer doesn't work miracles with Eager to Please, we can kiss this place goodbye.”

“Only God can work miracles, not some horse trainer.” She stood. “It sounds like you've gone out on a long limb. That's not God's doing; that's yours. Often people don't consult Him in prayer, but they still want to blame Him when things go wrong.” She looked him in the eye. “I've known sorrow since my parents died. I'll never understand why they were called home so soon, but it's not my place to know. I'm to trust and obey. Aren't you a Christian like your parents, Jake?”

The question caught him off guard, a place he didn't like to be. “Sure, I'm Christian. I go to the Baptist church in Charm.”

She replaced her helmet. “I'm just curious because you don't sound like one.”

They locked gazes for several moments. He almost said something smart-alecky—words he would have regretted, but instead he hooked a thumb toward the quads. “I'd better get you back. You'll need to eat lunch and take a shower before your afternoon tour arrives.”

“Goodness, I nearly forgot about them.” She jumped on her vehicle, turned the key, and started down the trail.

Jake followed after her, a confused, disoriented feeling settling deep in his gut.

When Rachel entered Sarah's kitchen late that Saturday afternoon, she was exhausted. She had given two back-to-back mounted tours that day with only a half hour in between. She'd looked for Jake but hadn't found him. A groom in the break room said Jake had driven to Lexington with his father. She had looked for him yesterday to no avail. All four scheduled tour groups had shown up with the perfect autumn weather. During her lunch break, Jake had been busy with therapy lessons for the blind children and was nowhere in sight at day's end. She had no idea if his dad had set a price for Calamity Jane or even if the horse was for sale. Now she had to wait three more days on pins and needles.

“
Guder nachmittag
,” she greeted, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table. She dropped her tote bag on the floor.

“You look like you could use this.” Sarah placed a mug of coffee before her. “Plenty of milk and two sugars.”

“
Danki
.” Rachel took a grateful sip. “I earned my pay today. Two long tours in the saddle. Do you need my help with supper?”

“Nope. It's already taken care of.” Sarah sat down with her own mug.

“Let me guess what we're having…fried chicken?” Rachel angled her head toward the spattering skillet and the pieces already lined up on paper towels to drain.

“No, Miss Smarty, the chicken is for tomorrow to eat cold on the Sabbath. We're having ten-bean soup with ham and cornbread tonight.”

“Yummy. I'll try to stay awake long enough to enjoy.”

“Drink your coffee. You have a hayride and marshmallow roast this evening. Take your shower while I dish out your soup to cool.”

Rachel shook her head. “Not tonight, I'm afraid. I'm too tired, Sarah. The porch swing sounds more my speed after my long day.”

“You
must
show up. It's only across the street and over two farms. You can walk and then walk home when you're ready. After your rude behavior with Reuben, you don't want folks gossiping behind your back.”

“You think they would? All I did was fall asleep. I didn't steal his wallet or his horse and buggy.”

Sarah smirked. “They probably won't, but let's not take any chances. You're the new girl in the community. Maybe Reuben got his nose out of joint.”

Rachel abstained from rolling her eyes. “I'd hate to have folks find out the truth—that I doze off during boring conversations. Perish the thought.”

Sarah didn't laugh this time. “Please go, Rachel, even if you don't stay long. I think it's important.”

Rachel almost asked how a hayride and marshmallow roast could possibly be crucial, but instead she downed the rest of her coffee. “I'll take a shower to perk up. I've always liked hayrides. If I fall asleep, at least hay bales are nice and soft.”

Her cousin couldn't have looked happier. “I'll bring you in a second mug. Keep the water on the cool side.”

During her walk to the farm, Rachel's spirits lifted. The shower, soup, and caffeine revitalized her. And she did enjoy Bonnie, Ruby, and the other girls. Between her job and chicken chores on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, she had little time for a social life. She missed the friendly camaraderie of her sisters. Cousin Sarah was usually all business, but once Rachel spotted her pinching Isaac's backside when Sarah thought they were alone.

“Hi, Rachel! I'm so glad Sarah made you come.” Bonnie ran down the driveway to meet her.

“I'm my own woman. I came because I wanted to.” Rachel linked her arm though Bonnie's. “But I have nothing to contribute to the dessert table.”

Bonnie clucked her tongue. “Shameful, but I'll keep your secret. There is usually too much food anyway. I would hate to go up a size before snagging a husband.” She winked, patting her still-flat belly.

“You remind me so much of my
schwester
. Nora blurts out whatever comes to mind too.”

Bonnie giggled. “We can't very well say what
doesn't
come to mind, can we? Look, they're boarding the wagon for the first hayride. Let's get in line.”

“Where's Josh tonight?” Rachel whispered in her ear.

“He's on his way home from a wedding in Indiana, but he should show up later. I've missed him this past week.” Bonnie made no effort to be discreet about whom she was courting.

“Things didn't turn out well with Reuben,” whispered Rachel.

“So I heard. He is dull as a spoon. He didn't come tonight, maybe because
everyone
now knows how boring he really is.” Bonnie stepped up into the wagon, dragging Rachel behind her.

“Sarah thought your district might gossip about my behavior.”

“Puh-leaze. How backwater does she think we are? Many girls here have fought the yawn reflex with him, including me. No one will hold giving in to a natural impulse against you.”

Bonnie had spoken into her ear, but Rachel felt guilty nonetheless. She truly hoped she hadn't hurt Reuben's feelings. “I fell asleep because I was overtired from work, not because of him.”

“I stand corrected. Let's head to the back. I see two good seats.” Bonnie pushed her down the aisle toward a spot on a bale.

Rachel squeezed next to a young man she didn't recognize from the previous social or from church. “
Mir leid
,” she murmured. “My friend insisted on sitting in the back.” She noticed then that Bonnie had sat next to Rosanna.

“Not a problem. If it gets cold, at least we'll be cozy.” The man grinned and tipped his hat. “John Swartz. And you are?”

“Rachel King, new to the district from Lancaster.”

“Ah, you're the one. I'm Amish too. I'm spending a couple months here to help my cousins with the harvest. Then we'll prepare the fields for winter.”

Rachel blushed up to her hairline. She felt like a cow or hog at the livestock auction, awaiting the highest bidder. “Did Bonnie rig this up and force you to save this seat under penalty of death?” She spoke very softly.

“Nope. No death threats were necessary. I came to the hayride to see if the reports were true.”

She wrinkled her nose in a pout. “What reports? The new girl in town should try one of those multihour energy drinks?”

John's lips curled up. “That's not the news I heard, but it sounds as though I missed something last week.” He settled back against the hay, his heavy-lidded eyes closing in relaxation.

Rachel watched him a moment and then turned toward the scenery on her right. Deciduous trees blazed with final color. Leaves swirled through the air with every breeze. In the distance, hay had been rolled into long rows for winter feeding while corn stood sentinel-like, wrapped with twine. Farms on this road looked prosperous and tidy. After a few minutes she pivoted back to her silent bale partner. Curiosity had finally won the battle. “Okay, I must know. What was the
news
you heard?”

John hesitated and then straightened. “I heard that an outstandingly attractive woman had moved to Casey County and she lives directly across the street from me.” He peeked at her from the corner of his eye.

Bonnie and Rosanna giggled on their bale. Rachel paid them no mind. “You're teasing, right?”

“I assure you I'm not. I had to see for myself.” He leaned over as the wagon passed a wide-reaching tree. Limbs brushed his shoulder and dropped golden leaves over them both.

She crossed her arms, trying to ignore how close he was. Night had fallen, shrouding the world in secrecy. She held her breath until John scooted back to his position, the invasive branch cleared. “Look, there's Venus.” Rachel pointed to a bright star, low in the eastern sky.

“So it is,” he agreed. “Aren't you curious about my conclusion?” His breath next to her
kapp
tickled her ear.

“No, not really.” Rachel folded her hands in her lap. Tree frogs struck up a ruckus from the dark woods.

“Not even a little?”

“For me to encourage you would be vain and prideful.” Rachel sounded like a prim schoolmarm.

“
Ach
, I'll tell you anyway. I thought they were right.” He sounded as though he'd won the classroom spelling bee.

Rachel was growing irritated. Why did he think she would be pleased with bold-faced flattery? “How has the harvest gone?” she asked, eager to change the subject. “Are you and your relatives almost finished?”

“
Jah
, we are. We'll start spreading composted manure next week. But I'm in no hurry to move home. My folks don't need me this time of year. I could stick around and get to know the pretty gal who lives across the road from my cousin Nate.”

And so it went for the next interminable forty minutes. Rachel would talk or ask an agricultural question, and John would invariably change the topic back to her physical attributes. She was never more uncomfortable in her life. When the wagon pulled to a stop, she climbed over the side to escape. She practically ran toward the barn.