A Match For Addy (The Amish Matchmaker Book 1) (13 page)

Gideon settled against the backrest, his hurting hand cradled in his lap. Addy had wrapped it in a towel with ice and put another, bigger towel around it. The pain in his thumb was a steady ache, but he didn’t really believe it was broken. He tried not to smile as he watched Addy from the corner of his eye. She sat there, tall and confident, completely in control as she eased the animal out onto the blacktop road.

“It’s a shame you hurt yourself,” she sympathized. “A smashed thumb can really hurt.”

“Ya,”
he agreed. “It can.”

“But I doubt if it’s broken.”

He grunted, unwilling to yield the advantage. “Maybe not, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.” And getting her away from that Andy Mast was definitely better for her, whether she realized that he was looking out for her or not.

* * *

The Friday after Gideon’s accident at Willard’s, Addy and her mother and father arrived at her Aunt Hannah’s home for a family celebration. Addy’s cousin Susanna was married to David King, and the couple lived with Aunt Hannah and her new husband. Both Susanna and David had been born with Down syndrome and needed help with everyday life. They were a loving couple, and their marriage—despite her aunt’s worries—was going well.

It was David’s birthday, and Addy was certain that the gathering in his honor would thrill both him and Susanna. David’s parents lived nearby, and they and many of the neighbors had been invited to share in the fun. Normally, since it was July, the tables would have been erected outside, so that everyone could enjoy the shade and the cool breezes, but it had been raining on and off for the past few days. It wasn’t raining that afternoon, but the skies were heavy with threatening dark clouds, so the festivities were to be held indoors. Fortunately, Aunt Hannah’s farmhouse was large and inviting.

After letting her parents out of the buggy and watching them cross the yard to the house, she drove the buggy over to the hitching post near the barn. As she was climbing down, Gideon appeared out of nowhere.

“You’re late. I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, offering his hand as she jumped down. “We’ll be eating soon.”

After she got down, he stood there. Close.

She could have stepped around him, but instead, she stood there. Maybe to prove that her mother didn’t rule her every action. Her
mam
’s suspicions about her and Gideon were unfounded. He
did
like her, she was certain of that, but not the way her mother had accused, in their kitchen that afternoon. Gideon liked her the same way he liked Ellie—as a friend. Not that it would have mattered if he liked her any other way. Strawberries would ripen in December before her mother and father would agree to allow her to court a penniless hired hand.

“We’ve been here for nearly an hour,” Gideon said, still looming over her with that foolish grin on his face.

She moved the small brown-paper-wrapped birthday gift from one hand to the other. They
were
late. She’d wanted to come sooner to help Aunt Hannah get ready for supper. And she would have been there before Sara and her household if she and her mother hadn’t had a disagreement over Gideon, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. Her mother had asked how things were going with Andy and if she thought he would ask to walk out with her. Addy hadn’t wanted to discuss Andy because she didn’t know how she felt about him yet, but, as always, her mother was insistent.

“The trouble with you is that you spend too much time with that hired hand,” her
mam
had said. “I don’t know what Sara can be thinking. Having him there around her young women.”

Every word of their conversation played over in Addy’s head. “And what’s wrong with Gideon? Sara’s supposed to be finding him a wife.”
That’s why she’s called a matchmaker,
she had wanted to say. Of course she would have never been so rude.

“What’s
wrong
with him? What’s
right
with him? Gideon Esch has nothing, not a horse, not a buggy, not even a trade, so far as we know. He couldn’t possibly support a wife. It’s your duty to your father and me to marry a substantial man, a husband with land or a business like that butcher you turned your nose up at. You’ve let all this running around to ball games and singings go to your head. You can’t afford to be so picky, daughter. It’s foolish of Sara to put such notions in your head.”

Addy hadn’t answered back, although she had plenty on the tip of her tongue. Almost thirty or not, she wasn’t brought up to show disrespect to her mother. Instead, she’d fled to her room and stayed there until her father had called her down an hour later. “Whatever fuss you and your mother have had, you owe it to her to apologize. Now, do your duty to your mother, and let’s go to your aunt’s and enjoy the celebration. Your mother wants only the best for you.”

“I’ll tie up for you.” Gideon broke into her thoughts.

Gideon was standing closer to her than was proper. How they were with each other at work at Sara’s was one thing, but now they were in public. What if someone should see? The yard was empty now. Everyone seemed to be inside, but someone could walk around the buggy at any second.

“Are you afraid I’ll miss out on supper?” Addy said lightly, trying to ease the tension between them with humor. She passed him the reins, and he moved away from her. “There will be plenty of food. Aunt Hannah has eight daughters, all good cooks. Well...” She chuckled. “Almost all. Miriam is—” She broke off as a sudden curtain of cold rain splattered over her face and arms.
“Ach!”
she exclaimed. “David’s gift! The paper will be soaked.”

Securing the horse to the hitching post, Gideon grabbed her hand and took off toward the house. She had no choice but to follow, and she found herself laughing with him by the time they reached the shelter of the back porch.

Her cousin Rebecca pushed open the kitchen door and waited for them. If she noticed Gideon holding Addy’s hand, she didn’t let on. Addy pulled away from Gideon, running up the porch steps in front of him.

“Addy! It’s good to see you.” Rebecca kissed her cheek. “You can put that over there.” She motioned inside to a table bearing a stack of wrapped gifts, and Addy added hers to the pile. “It’s a penknife. David will probably get more than one, but it was the best idea I could come up with.”

“I’m sure he’ll love it, if Susanna will let him play with it.” Rebecca chuckled. “I’m afraid my sister is overprotective where her husband is concerned.” She smiled at Gideon. “Sara still hasn’t found you a wife, I hear.”

They all walked into the house.

“Not yet.” Gideon grinned.

“Someone’s been asking for you.” Rebecca glanced toward the interior of the house. “Andy Mast.”

“He’s looking for me?” Gideon asked.

Rebecca laughed. “
Ne
, not you, Gideon. Addy.”

Addy didn’t notice Gideon’s scowl. “I didn’t know Andy was part of the family,” he said. “I thought it was just family coming.”

“Well,” Rebecca explained, “he’s a distant relative of Anna’s Samuel. Samuel’s a Mast, but I believe Sara asked my mother to include Andy.” She smiled. “I think he’s sweet on you, Dorcas. Sorry.” She shook her head. “
Addy
really
does
suit you better, cousin. I like it.”

“Me, too,” Addy admitted. She returned her cousin’s smile. She liked Rebecca. She was closer in age to Rebecca’s older sisters, but she and Rebecca had always hit it off. And the fact that Rebecca had married Caleb, the man who’d shown real interest in courting her, or that Rebecca and Caleb already had a baby, didn’t matter. Despite her
mam
’s dire predictions, Addy had never felt a twinge of jealousy. The preacher had been no more right for her than the butcher. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she
was
picky.

The ringing of a small iron triangle gave notice that the meal was served, so Addy, Gideon and Rebecca made their way through the crowded kitchen. Several tables stretched across the spacious room, and Addy could see others in the hall and front room. Friends and relatives called greetings to Addy, as if they hadn’t all seen each other at worship last Sunday.

“Everyone find a seat,” Aunt Hannah announced. “Anywhere you like. We’re so happy that you could all be here on David’s special day.”

Everyone clapped and called words of congratulation, and David, seated beside Susanna at the largest table, turned raspberry-red with pleasure. As usual, David was wearing a paper crown from an English fast-food place, but if Gideon noticed, he wisely kept his observation to himself.

“It’s his birthday!” Susanna shouted. “And we’re going to have cake.”

“Addy! Here’s a spot.” Andy Mast stood and waved to Addy. There was one place vacant, directly across from Andy, and no other chairs empty at the table.

“I see some places open in the front room,” Gideon said, but Andy was still motioning to her.

“You go ahead,” Addy told Gideon. “I’ll sit here with my cousins.”

“Andy’s a cousin, now, is he?”

Gideon’s remark, as he walked away, made Addy stiffen. What was wrong with him? She wasn’t talking about Andy. Miriam and Miriam’s half sister, Grace, were seated on either side of her.

Andy made eye contact with her and grinned. “I think someone is put out. Maybe he wishes there was more room here,
ya
?”

Addy nodded. She liked Andy. He was fun, and he wasn’t that much younger than she was. Maybe they would make a good couple. As her
mam
liked to say, Andy Mast had “prospects.” His father had a growing lawn furniture business, and Andy worked alongside him. They shipped outdoor pieces as far away as New England. Andy was just telling her the other day that he was thinking of raising free-range turkeys for the English Thanksgiving market. Andy was ambitious and a faithful member of his church. He’d make someone a good husband. Why not her?

Andy kept up a steady conversation with Addy and the others at the table through the meal. He was never pushy or obnoxious, and he always had a smile or a joke ready when there was a lull in the conversation. Addy enjoyed the chicken and dumplings, the roast beef and the other dishes her aunt and cousins had prepared. It was always enjoyable to eat someone else’s cooking.

After everyone was finished eating, the men and boys went outside to the barn, while the women cleared away the tables and washed the dishes. Later, David would open his gifts, and cake would be served with coffee, iced tea and a nonalcoholic punch. Susanna loved the red punch with sweet cherries floating in it. Addy didn’t know exactly what went into it; the Yoder girls wouldn’t tell, but everyone raved about it.

It was the punch that caused Addy’s disaster. She, Rebecca, Ellie and the other young women were serving dessert to the men and children. Addy had a brimming pitcher of punch, and Ellie was coming behind her with a tray of glasses. Since it had stopped raining, some of the men were standing in the backyard. Again, Andy caught sight of her first and shouted to her. “Addy! Over here!” He, Thomas and Gideon had found a dry spot under the overhanging roof that jutted out from Albert’s tool shed. But as she approached, Addy sensed that Andy and Gideon seemed to be having a disagreement over something. They were talking in low voices, but both sounded annoyed.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she reached them. “You aren’t—” What they were or were not doing would never be clear to Addy, because Andy abruptly gave Gideon a push. Gideon stumbled back into her.

Addy yelped as the pitcher of punch splashed over the bodice of her light green dress, soaking the waist and trailing big stains down the skirt.
“Ne!”
She exhaled as she stared down at the mess. The cherry juice would ruin her dress if she didn’t wash it out immediately. It might be a total loss no matter what she did. She clutched at the half-empty pitcher and tried not to let her distress show.

“See what you did?” Gideon gave Andy a push.

“Enough of that!” Thomas wrapped his arms around Andy and steered him away from Gideon. “Let’s take a walk.” Thomas hustled a protesting Andy around the corner of the building and out of sight.

Ellie came from behind Addy and took the pitcher of punch out of her hands. “You’ll want to wash that quick,” she advised.

“Are you all right, Addy?” Gideon demanded. “That fool—”

“That fool?” Addy felt heat flush her cheeks as she turned on him. “I think there are two woodenheads here tonight. What’s wrong with you? Have you lost what good sense you ever had to behave so? To lay hands on one another in anger?”

“He started it,” Gideon protested. “He pushed me first.”

“He pushed you first? What were you arguing over?” She was trembling with anger now. “Look at my dress. Look at me. Now I’ve got to go home and change out of it before it’s ruined.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll take you,” he said, immediately contrite. “In Sara’s buggy. Let me drive you.”

“Ride with you? Not if I had to walk home ten miles in the rain!” She turned and strode away into the growing twilight. As she did, thunder rumbled in the west.

“You’re not walking home alone,” Gideon said, following her and catching her by the arm. “Just let me drive you to your house. Or I’ll walk with you.”

“Stay away from me. You started this. You’re jealous of Andy because he wants to walk out with me. No matter who it is, you find fault with them,” Addy sputtered. “First Joseph, then the butcher. You did everything you could at Sara’s dinner to show him up for a pompous...a pompous...fuddy-duddy.”

“He
was
a pompous fuddy-duddy.”

Addy was vaguely aware that Ellie was right behind Gideon and could hear every word, but she didn’t care. Angry accusations bubbled up inside her, and when she opened her mouth, she couldn’t hold them back. “You know what?” She started walking again. Fast. “The trouble with you, Gideon Esch, is that you like me yourself. And you’re too much of a coward to admit it!”

“
Ne
! That’s not it,” he protested, following after her. “I’m just... I’m looking out for you. You deserve better than Andy Mast, who isn’t old enough to grow a proper beard.”

“At least he’s man enough to court a woman!”