The Amish Wonders Collection Read online

  For most of the afternoon, the conversation centered on the pending snowstorm headed their way. Lindie learned to have extra water ready just in case the pipes froze. She was certain that Josiah would know these things, but she took mental notes. As the day continued, the talk shifted to food.

  “We like to make homemade ice cream this time of year,” one woman said. “The fact that it doesn’t melt immediately is the only thing I like about winter.”

  “I leave mine out on the porch,” another woman said.

  “I leave my meat in the pan on the back porch long enough for the fat to float to the top and harden so I can scrape it off,” Martha said. “Of course I don’t do that unless the bears are hibernating.”

  A few of the women shared their experiences with bears. They all laughed, but Lindie found nothing funny about the possibility of a bear on her front porch. “You’ve made me hungry nau,” Ada said, setting her sewing hoop aside. “I think it’s time we eat.” She motioned to Lindie. “Would you like to help me get things ready?”

  “I’d be happy to.” Lindie hooked her needle into the material and stood.

  “I hope you’re having fun,” Ada said as they walked into the kitchen. “We don’t always have the chance to get together in the winter. But kumm spring, we will have more frolics.”

  “I’m having a wunderbaar time.” Lindie opened the different containers as Ada poured the coffee. She hadn’t felt sick all day, but the combination of egg salad and tuna dishes had her stomach unsettled. She placed her hand on her belly.

  “Are you feeling okay?” Ada asked.

  Lindie jerked her hand away. “Jah, I’m fine.” Josiah had underestimated women if he thought they wouldn’t figure out she was pregnant. Her dress was large enough to camouflage her condition for several more months, but she wouldn’t be able to hide giving birth or having a newborn in the house.

  “Who isn’t feeling gut?” Ellen asked, entering the kitchen. Her eyes stopped on Lindie. “You’re probably nett used to this kalt weather.”

  “Or maybe it’s more.” Ada giggled and patted her own pregnant belly. “Certain foods bothered me too in the beginning.”

  Lindie’s face heated. If they asked directly, she wouldn’t lie. But what would Josiah say about them finding out?

  The children rushed into the kitchen along with several more women. Lindie concentrated on preparing a plate for Hannah.

  Ada nudged Lindie’s side. “How do you think Hannah will respond to a bruder or sister?”

  Lindie gasped. Had Ada forgotten that Hannah could read lips? She placed a spoonful of potato salad on the plate and guided Hannah away from the others. “Please be careful not to spill anything.”

  Hannah took the plate.

  Lindie breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was for Hannah to relay the news to Josiah and then ask him about it.

  Josiah couldn’t concentrate on building pallets with Lindie and Hannah gone. He hoped everything was going well and that Hannah wasn’t disobeying. If he received a bad report, he wouldn’t let Lindie talk him out of punishing the child.

  Josiah set the hammer on the worktable. “It’s already past noon. What do you say we go inside and find us something to eat?”

  “Sounds gut to me.” Simon pounded the nail into place and stood the pallet on end.

  As they plodded to the house, the postman pulled up to the mailbox.

  “I’ll get the mail and meet you inside,” Josiah said, tugging his coat tighter around his neck and continuing past the porch. The air was brisk for such a sunny day. He skimmed through the mail, which consisted mostly of advertisements. Simon had a letter and Lindie received one postmarked from Ohio.

  Once he shed his coat and hat at the door, he handed Simon his envelope. He dropped the other mail on the table. He assembled a couple of cheese sandwiches and placed them on the table.

  “Mei bruder isn’t doing well.” Simon set the letter down. “He’s had a stroke.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Abraham is mei last sibling.” Simon’s eyes closed for several moments. “His fraa said I should kumm soon before he passes.”

  “Then you should,” Josiah said. “Do you think your hip will be okay to travel? The bus ride to Centerville will take several hours.”

  “I’m more concerned about the pallet orders. I don’t think I’ll go until the shipment is ready.”

  Josiah shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. I can always ask Jakob Troyer to help me. But do you think I should go with you?”

  Simon shook his head. “Nay, your place is here.”

  Josiah was relieved. He didn’t want to leave Lindie and Hannah alone. Hannah could run off again and Lindie shouldn’t be left alone in her condition, especially since Hannah wasn’t aware of the pregnancy.

  Neither seemed eager to talk, so they ate their sandwiches in silence.

  “I suppose we should see how many more pallets we can build,” Simon said, pushing his empty plate away.

  Josiah gulped the last of his coffee and stood. He picked up the dirty dishes and placed them in the sink.

  Rebecca’s buggy pulled into the drive as Josiah was leaving the house. He met Lindie as she and Hannah were getting out. “Did you have fun?”

  “Jah.” Lindie smiled.

  He wasn’t expecting the warmth of Lindie’s smile to course through his veins. She had an effect on him that he wished he could deny. Hannah was smiling too, and that warmed his heart even more.

  “Tomorrow is visiting Sunday,” Rebecca said. “I want you to kumm for supper.”

  Josiah couldn’t refuse when he saw the excitement on Lindie’s face. “Sure, we’ll be there.” He motioned to the workshop. “I’ll leave you two to decide the time. I need to get back to work.” He snuck one last peek at Lindie before he turned. The day with the womenfolk had done both Hannah and Lindie good.

  Lindie’s hands trembled as she spooned potatoes onto her plate. She gave Hannah some, then passed the bowl to Rebecca, seated on her other side. Sitting across from Lindie was Josiah, whose watchful eyes took in everything she put on her plate.

  Lindie tried not to notice his glare. She was nervous enough having supper at the bishop’s house.

  The men carried the table conversation. Mostly about the weather and the escalating price of livestock feed.

  Lindie complimented Rebecca on the tender pork roast. She loved the subtle hint of rosemary.

  “When do you plan on leaving, Simon?” the bishop asked.

  “In a few days.” Simon motioned to Josiah. “I told mei sohn-in-law I would stay until the pallet order is ready for shipment.”

  Lindie hadn’t heard any of this news. Simon was leaving?

  “I thought I would ask Jakob if he was interested in helping me. That way Simon can leave sooner,” Josiah said.

  The bishop’s son sat straighter in his chair. “Sure. Just tell me when.” The young man glanced at Betsy seated across the table from him and smiled.

  Lindie recognized the couple’s furtive exchange even before Rebecca mentioned their upcoming wedding. In Lindie’s district, most of the weddings took place after harvest season, but here it made sense to have them in the winter when much of the work was at a standstill.

  “We’ll have most of the pallets done,” Simon said.

  Josiah took a sip of his coffee. “I have some trees to bring down.”

  Lindie couldn’t help but notice Josiah’s hand tremble as he lowered his cup to the table.

  Simon’s jaw twitched, but he said nothing.

  The bishop quickly changed the subject.

  Lindie couldn’t eat. Her stomach was tied up. What made Josiah decide to start timbering again?

  The meal ended and Rebecca tapped Lindie’s shoulder. “Would you help me serve dessert?”

  “I’d be happy to.” Lindie pushed her chair back and stood. She was anxious to leave the table so she could pull her thoughts together.

  �
�Did you know Simon was leaving?” Rebecca asked once they were out of earshot.

  “Nay,” Lindie whispered.

  “He kumm by last evening and spoke with Gideon. They kept their conversation private, but I gathered it wasn’t just about his bruder being ill.”

  Rebecca sliced the pound cake and placed it on the plates.

  Betsy stepped into the room. “Do you need more help?”

  Rebecca handed her future daughter-in-law the drum of homemade ice cream and a large wooden spoon. “I only want a small scoop on mine, but I’m sure all the men will want a large serving.” Rebecca slid a jar of apricot preserves closer to Lindie. “Would you mind adding the topping?”

  Lindie licked her lips. “This looks delicious. I’d love to get the recipe.”

  “Remind me to write it down later.” Rebecca handed a couple of the topped desserts to Betsy with instructions to serve the guests first, then leaned toward Lindie. “It’s a gut way to sweeten Josiah.” Rebecca chuckled. Probably at Lindie’s widened eyes. “Don’t worry, dear, you don’t have anything to worry about. I saw the way Josiah looks at you. He’s already sweet on you.”

  “You did?”

  “Like a man who is in love. It’s obvious.”

  Lindie’s cheeks warmed.

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed,” Rebecca said. “You’re newly married folks.”

  In love . . . Rebecca’s words swirled in Lindie’s mind. But she quickly reminded herself of the day they’d met. He’d made it clear that he couldn’t love her. Wouldn’t ever—his words.

  She’d accepted those conditions. The same as he accepted her pregnancy. Truth be told, for someone incapable of falling in love again, he treated her well. He was a good father. And despite Simon being upset now, Josiah was a good son-in-law. He was . . . everything she’d ever wanted. Yet this marriage wasn’t anything like she’d dreamed marriage would be. Not without love. The realization stabbed her heart. She had the perfect husband—in name only.

  The tension between Josiah and Simon spilled over on the ride home. Neither spoke. Lindie didn’t dare say anything either.

  Once they arrived, Simon offered to take care of Molly.

  Hannah signed something to Josiah. The girl’s hands moved too fast for Lindie to follow, but whatever it was, she dashed toward the barn after Josiah responded. Lindie wanted to be part of the conversation—part of the family.

  Josiah reached for Lindie’s elbow. “The steps might be slippery.”

  They weren’t, but Lindie liked his attentiveness.

  “You hardly ate,” he said.

  “Jah, I did.”

  He shook his head. “Nett enough for two.”

  She waited for him to open the door, then stepped inside. “You never said anything about Simon leaving.”

  “His bruder had a stroke. He wants to see him before the gut Lord takes him.” Josiah went to the woodstove and checked the fire.

  “When did you decide to start cutting trees again? I thought you shut down the timbering.”

  “I told you I couldn’t get any elm trees from Badger Creek.” He must have realized his tone was sharp because he took a moment before continuing. “I need elm lumber to fill Eli’s order.”

  “Surely he would understand.”

  “I gave him mei word.” He jabbed the poker into the fire and sparks flew.

  “But if Eli knows it means you have to cut—”

  “Let it be, Lindie.” Without adding more wood to the stove, he headed to the door. “I told Hannah she could feed Moose and I need to check on her.”

  Lindie stepped into the kitchen and stopped. On the table was a note propped against a box of tea bags. It merely said I hope this is the kind you drink. But she focused on how he signed it: Love, Josiah.

  She loaded the stove with kindling and filled the kettle with water. She was rereading the note when the door snapped open.

  Hannah stopped at the kitchen threshold, a puddle forming at her feet. Her teeth chattered as she pulled her wet dress at the seams to keep it from clinging to her body.

  “Ach!” Lindie dropped the note and crossed the room. “You must be freezing,” she said, not expecting Hannah to reply. Lindie held up her index finger. “Wait here.” She grabbed a towel from the bathroom closet, then wrapped it around Hannah’s small form. Even the girl’s kapp was wet. Where had she been? Josiah said he’d sent her to the barn. Hannah was shivering and too cold to answer questions now.

  Lindie guided Hannah toward the woodstove in the sitting room. That was the warmest place for her to stand until Lindie could fill the bathtub.

  She returned to the kitchen, grabbed the kettle from the stove, and took it to the bathroom where she dumped the hot water into the tub. Eli’s house had a gas-generated hot water heater. Here she had to use heated water from the stove, then adjust the temperature with cold tap water. Once she had the bath prepared, she helped Hannah out of her clothes and into the tub. Surprisingly, the child didn’t resist.

  While Hannah soaked in the tub, Lindie stepped out long enough to stoke the fire and add more logs to the woodstove. Heat drifted from the sitting room, down the hall, and into the bathroom. Still, the door needed to stay open in order for the heat to reach them.

  Lindie squatted next to the tub and soaped a washrag. Hannah didn’t resist her attentions. Lindie unfastened the pins holding the girl’s kapp and unwound her hair from the bun. She was busy washing her hair when the floor creaked behind her.

  Josiah stood in the doorway. “Sorry for sending her inside without any notice.” He rolled his eyes. “Hannah created a little water problem out in the barn. It might take me awhile to clean out the stall and lay fresh hay.”

  Lindie shielded Hannah’s eyes as she poured warm water over her hair.

  “I always seemed to get soap in her eyes when I used to do that.” Josiah turned away. “I better take care of the mess in the barn.”

  Lindie emptied another pan full of water over the girl’s head, rinsing the suds away.

  Hannah blinked a few times and looked at Lindie, smiling.

  Lindie sighed. That little smile might just brighten her whole winter.

  Josiah couldn’t pull himself away from the bathroom doorway despite the layer of ice forming on the calf pen floor. Watching Lindie wash Hannah’s hair reminded him of the countless nights he’d walked by the bathroom and seen Caroline bathing their daughter. Maybe Hannah was finally starting to bond with Lindie. The realization sheathed his heart with a mixture of warmth and heaviness. This was what he’d wanted. He married Lindie to give Hannah a mother.

  Josiah shoveled the wet straw from the stall floor and tossed it into the wheelbarrow. He wished Hannah had paid attention and not overfilled the trough. He didn’t want to dwell on his daughter’s shortcomings. She was in tears when he’d found her trying to turn the water off.

  The shovel scraped the cement slab as he loaded the last of the soggy straw. He climbed out of the fenced enclosure and grabbed the pitchfork leaning against the wall. Once he had the new bedding spread over the floor, he called the calves, then fed and watered the rest of the livestock.

  He debated if he should talk with Simon before he went back to the house, but decided he would wait until tomorrow. Simon didn’t take the news well about cutting trees again and Josiah understood why. The decision hadn’t been easy to make. He still had nightmares about Caroline crushed under the tree.

  He trotted back to the house. He wouldn’t be surprised if it snowed another foot by morning. The tracks he’d made earlier, walking out to the barn, had already disappeared under snow cover.

  Josiah stomped his boots on the porch before entering the house. He peeked in the kitchen, then, not finding anyone, continued down the hall, following the dim lantern light that glowed from the bathroom doorway.

  But it wasn’t Hannah soaking in the tub.

  He caught himself before a gasp escaped. Stunned by the sight of her back, he froze. Red spiral tresses touche
d her shoulders. He shifted his weight and the board under his foot creaked.

  Lindie shot a glance over her shoulder. Her eyes connected with his and widened. “Josiah!” Water splashed over the side of the tub as she scrambled to cover herself.

  If he had a shred of decency, he would turn away and give her some privacy. But she’d drawn her knees to her chest and had wrapped her arms around her legs. She was covered.

  “How long have you been standing there?”

  He leaned against the door frame. “You left the door open.”

  “To get heat from the woodstove!”

  Now probably wasn’t the right time to talk about how emaciated she looked. He would deworm her if she were a horse. Every bone protruded: the shoulder blades, the individual vertebrae of her spine, even her ribs had no meat on them. Malnourished.

  She looked over her shoulder at him again and cringed. “Please don’t tell me you plan to stand there all nacht.”

  He still couldn’t get over how well her dress had disguised her skinniness. It wasn’t likely that she could carry a baby to term.

  “Josiah,” she growled through clenched teeth. She rested her cheek against her bent knees and squeezed her eyes closed.

  “Ah . . .” What was he doing gawking at her? She was naked. He pushed off the door frame. “Do you want this door open or closed?” His words ran together.

  “You have to ask?”

  No sense reminding her that she’d left the door open to get heat from the woodstove. He chuckled, trying to lighten the situation, but it came out sounding as if something was stuck in his throat. Lindie probably wished he’d swallowed his barn boot.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Last evening’s humiliation in the bathtub burned in Lindie’s mind the moment she awoke. She snuggled deeper into the bed. Her mind reeled with how to avoid Josiah across the breakfast table. There wasn’t a way.

  She flung back the covers and crawled out of bed. She scanned the dresses in her closet and selected the gray one. It seemed appropriate considering how gloomy she anticipated this day would be. She pulled on the dress and fastened it closed with straight pins. Adjusting her black apron as she left her room, she bumped into Josiah in the hallway. Her line of vision shot up from his chest, but he kept his eyes on the floor.