Second-Chance Romance

Isaac Lapp wants to put his once topsy-turvy life back in order. As he works to rebuild his tattered reputation, his one saving grace is childhood pal Ellen Mast—whom he’s starting to see as more than just an old friend. But after his flirtation with an English girl, Ellen doesn’t fully trust the boy who’s always made her heart leap. And even though Ellen’s kindness and beauty are helping him become more confident each day, the lure of the non-Amish world beckons. Isaac must make a choice: a life beyond Happiness, Pennsylvania…or the woman who might just become his forever home.

“What is it?”

Isaac looked around as if checking to see if anyone was within listening range. Ellen saw that the others had left for the house porch and that he seemed relieved.

“I want to apologize,” he said, surprising her.

“What for?” she asked. For the way he’d insinuated himself into her day?

“For how I treated you after I met Nancy.”

She remained silent. She couldn’t have been more shocked than if he’d announced that he would be marrying the next day.

Concern flashed in his gray eyes. “Will you forgive me?”

“I’ve already forgiven you, Isaac,” she said. “Some time ago, in fact.”

“Then we can be friends again?”

She gazed up at him, wishing that they could, while knowing that it wouldn’t be wise for her to trust his friendship again. “I don’t think that is a gut idea.” She gave him a sad smile. “We can’t go back to the way we were.”

Isaac eyed her with sorrow. “We can’t go forward and forget about the past?”

She shook her head. “I can forgive, Isaac, but I can’t forget.”

REBECCA KERTZ was first introduced to the Amish when her husband took a job with an Amish construction crew. She enjoyed watching the Amish foreman’s children at play and swapping recipes with his wife. Rebecca resides in Delaware with her husband and dog. She has a strong faith in God and feels blessed to have family nearby. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, doing crafts and visiting Lancaster County.

Loving Isaac

Rebecca Kertz

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

—Ephesians 2:8

For dear friends Pat and Mike Drexel, with love

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The air was rich with the scent of roses and honeysuckle as Ellen Mast walked from the house to the barn. She entered the old wooden structure to get a bucket of chicken feed, then exited to release the birds into the yard.

“Here you go! Come and get it!” She smiled as she watched the hens and chicks scurrying toward the food. The lone rooster strutted out of the enclosure last, his chest puffing up when he saw the hens.

“Red,” Ellen called to him as she tossed down a handful. “Over here. Come get it!” The rooster bent and ate, his red-crested head dipping toward the feed. “That’s it. You always have to make an appearance last, ja?” She chuckled as she threw more grain, loving how the hens followed the trail wherever it landed.

“You’d better get down, Will, or you’re gonna fall!” she heard her brother Elam exclaim.

“Nay, I won’t!”

Ellen frowned as she skirted the barn toward the sound of her younger brothers’ voices. She found them near the hog pen. Will was walking barefoot along the top wooden rail of the surrounding fence while Elam watched with dismay from several feet away. A number of pigs and hogs wallowed in the mud, while others snorted and stuck their noses into the wire fencing between the rails. She approached slowly. “Will!” she called softly so as not to frighten him. “You need to get off there.”

Her brother flashed a guilty look. He teetered on the rail but managed to maintain his balance.

“Now,” she said sharply when he made no effort to climb down.

Will shot her a worried glance. “El, I’m trying.” He wobbled, lost his balance and fell into the mud pit. The hogs grunted and squealed as her brother scrambled to his feet.

Ellen dropped her bucket and ran. According to their father, their largest sow weighed close to five hundred pounds, while the rest weighed from twenty to two hundred. Fear pumped through her as she raced to unlatch the gate. “See if you can make your way, Will. Hurry!”

Will slogged through the mud, moving as fast as he could. The hogs and pigs grunted and squealed, the big one malevolently eyeing the intruder.

Ellen kept an eye on the animals as she held open the gate. After Will was out of danger, she shut and latched it, then scowled at him.

“You know better than to climb onto that fence or to do anything near the hogs except toss scraps to them.” She stood with her hands on her hips, noting the mud covering him from head to toe. She wrinkled her nose at the stench. “Mam’s not going to be happy. You stink.” Fortunately, Will hadn’t been wearing his hat and shoes or he’d have been in worse trouble with their mother.

“Ellen!” Mam called. Her mother waved her over to where she stood on the front porch of the farmhouse.

“Coming, Mam!” She hurried to put away her feed bucket, then quickly headed toward the house. Her younger brothers trailed behind—Will a sight covered in hog mud, with Elam walking some distance away, no doubt offended by the foul odor emanating from his brother.

As she drew closer, Ellen smiled at her mother. “Ja, Mam?”

“I need you to run an errand. The quilting bee is next week at Katie’s. I’d like you to take our squares to her.” Mam firmed her grip on the stack of colorful fabric squares as she leaned against the porch railing. “I promised to get them to her yesterday but couldn’t get away—” Her mother stopped suddenly and looked past Ellen, her eyes widening. She inhaled sharply. “William Joseph Mast, what on earth have you been doing?”

“Walking the hog fence,” Elam offered helpfully.

His mother frowned. “And you, Elam? What were you doing while Will was on the fence? Waiting for your turn?”

“Nay, Mam. I told him to get down but he wouldn’t listen.” Elam blinked up at her without worry. “And then he couldn’t get down.”

Her mother clicked her tongue with dismay as she turned back to Will. “Go to the outside pump and wait there, young man! You’ll not be stepping into the house until you’ve washed and changed clothes.” Her gaze didn’t soften as she turned to her other son. “Elam, run upstairs and get clean garments for your bruder.” Her lips firmed. “I’ll get soap and towels.”

“Mam?” Ellen asked softly. “Do you still want me to go to Katie’s?”

“Ja.” Her mother glanced at the fabric squares in patterns they’d stitched by hand and nodded. “Let me put them in a bag first.”

Ellen left shortly afterward to the sound of Will’s loud protests as Mam scrubbed the stinky mud from his hair and skin at the backyard water pump.

The day was clear and sunny, and the traffic on the main road was light as Ellen steered Blackie, the mare pulling her family’s gray buggy, toward the Samuel Lapp farm.

Many of their women friends and neighbors would be attending the quilting bee at Katie Lapp’s next week. Katie would stitch together the colorful squares that everyone had made at home. She would pin the length of stitched squares to a length of cotton with a layer of batting in between. Then she would stretch the unfinished quilt over a wooden rack from which the community women would work together, stitching carefully through all three of the layers.

Ellen enjoyed going to quilting bees. She had been taught as a young girl to make neat, even stitches and was praised often for them. After their last quilt gathering, Mam had confided to her on the way home that her work was much better than that of many of the seasoned quilters, who were often too busy nattering about people’s doings in the community to pay much attention to their stitches. Her mother had told her once that after everyone left, Katie would tear out, then redo the worst of the stitches, especially if the quilt was meant to be given as a wedding present or sold at a community fund-raiser.

“Won’t Alta know that Katie took out her stitches?” she’d asked her mother.

Mam had smiled. “Nay, Alta never remembers which area she quilted. She often takes credit for the beautiful work that Katie or you did, Ellen.”

The memory of her mam’s praise warmed her as Ellen drove along the paved road, enjoying the peace and beauty of the countryside.

The silence was broken when she heard the rev of an engine as a car came up too quickly from behind. A toot of a horn accompanied several young male shouts as the driver of the vehicle passed the buggy too closely without trying to slow down. Her horse balked and kicked up its pace and the buggy veered to the right. Ellen grabbed hard on the reins as the buggy swerved and bumped along the grass on the edge of the roadway.

“Easy, Blackie,” she commanded, trying to steer the animal in another direction. She pulled hard on the leathers. The horse straightened, but not before the buggy’s right wheels rolled into a dip along the edge of someone’s property where the vehicle drew to a stop. The jerking motion caused Ellen to slide in her seat and hit the passenger door before smacking her head against the inside wall. She gasped as pain radiated from her forehead to her cheek. She raised a hand to touch the sore area as she sat, breathing hard, shaken by the accident.

“Hey, Amish girl!” a young male voice taunted. “Stop hogging the road!”

Ellen felt indignant but kept her mouth shut. She’d been driving with the awareness that if a car needed to pass her, it could. She’d stayed toward the right and left plenty of room.

She saw with mounting concern that the car had pulled over to the side of the road ahead and stopped. Four teenage English boys hung out the open windows, mocking her driving skills and the way she was dressed.

“Too afraid to wear something nice, huh?” one called.

“Why don’t you let us see your pretty blond hair?”

They didn’t ask, nor did they care, if she was all right. They apparently didn’t worry that their actions might have caused her to be seriously hurt.

Her face throbbed and she was afraid to move. Her buggy was angled to the right, and if she shifted in the wrong way, then it might tip onto its side, causing damage to the vehicle and injuring her further.

The driver stepped out of his car. “Dunkard girl! Watch where you’re going! Do I have to show you how to drive that thing?”

Ellen was suddenly afraid. What would she do if the boys came within reach of her? How could she protect herself if they surrounded her? Her heart pounded hard. She reached up to touch her face. Her forehead and cheek hurt. Her fingers burned from tugging hard on the leathers and her shoulder ached. She couldn’t get out of the vehicle.

Her fear vanished and she became angry. She sent up a silent prayer for God to help her get over her anger quickly and to keep her safe from the English teenagers.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a male voice called out to the Englishers from behind her.

That voice! Ellen recognized it immediately. He appeared next to her vehicle, confirming who it was. She frowned. Out of everyone within her church district, why did she have to be rescued by Isaac Lapp?

* * *

His heart thundered in his chest as Isaac watched the buggy bounce across uneven ground before coming to a halt in a ditch along the side of the road. The vehicle tilted at an angle and, alarmed, he raced toward the driver’s side to see if he could help. He peered through the opening of the window. When he recognized Ellen Mast sitting on the far side of the front seat, he inhaled sharply. She held a hand to her forehead, and he spoke softly so as not to scare her. “Ellen? How bad are you hurt?”

She blinked pain-filled blue eyes at him. “I’m oll recht.”

His lips firmed; he didn’t believe her. He glanced ahead toward the car and stared at the driver as another boy climbed out the front passenger side. “Ellen, hold on tight while I pull your buggy back onto the road,” he said gently as, ignoring them, he turned back.

“What are you doing here, Isaac?” a boy snarled.

Silently praying for control over his anger, Isaac faced the Englishers he’d once regarded as friends until he’d realized how mean the boys were. The group of friends was always asking for trouble. He moved toward the front of Ellen’s horse and glared at the two boys. Brad Smith had caused enough pain and heartache to last him a lifetime. Isaac wasn’t about to let the Englisher or any of his friends hurt anyone else in his Amish community, especially Ellen, a vulnerable young girl.

“Go home, Brad,” he called out. “You’ve done enough damage for one day.”

A third youth stepped out from the car’s backseat. He stared at Isaac across the distance. “I wonder what Nancy’s going to say when she hears you’ve been hanging around that Aay-mish girl!”

Refusing to rise to their taunts, Isaac grabbed the mare’s bridle and pulled the animal toward the road. The horse moved slowly with Isaac’s steady pressure on the reins. Within seconds, he’d maneuvered the mare back onto the road. The buggy bucked and jerked as the right wheels rolled up the incline onto pavement. He felt Ellen’s eyes on him as he calmed the animal with soft words, then returned to the driver’s side of the girl’s vehicle.

“Isaac!” the third boy snarled.

Isaac stiffened, then faced them. “Roy, go home—all of you! You could have caused her serious injury. If you don’t want to get arrested, then you’d better go and leave us alone.” Brad Smith and his friends were bullies who liked to pick on anyone who couldn’t fight back. Fortunately, Brad didn’t intimidate him. I won’t allow him to bully Ellen.

“You know them?” Ellen murmured as the boys piled back into the car and left.

“Ja.” He stared unhappily down the road in the direction they’d left before he turned, dismissing them.

“Who is he?” Ellen asked.

“Brad Smith. Nancy’s bruder.”

* * *

Nancy Smith. The name filled Ellen with dread. The girl who ruined my friendship with Isaac. Isaac had met the English girl during his rumspringa and liked her so much that he’d brought her home to meet his family. He’d taken her to a community gathering and a church service. If that wasn’t disturbing enough, he’d brought her to a Sunday-evening community youth singing. Having the English girl in their midst had felt awkward for her. She and Isaac had been good friends until Nancy had learned of his friendship with Ellen and proceeded to monopolize his time. Isaac had been so enamored of her that he’d allowed it. He’d forgotten about Ellen. But Nancy hadn’t. She had made it clear to Ellen that Isaac was hers and he no longer would have time for her. It had been a terrible loss for Ellen, as she had fallen in love with Isaac.

Thinking to do the right thing to protect her friend, Ellen had warned Isaac that the English girl was not a nice person. But, too blinded by his infatuation with Nancy, he’d refused to believe Ellen and had become angry with her. Ellen had felt betrayed by Isaac’s reaction and his lack of trust. Ellen had loved him; she wouldn’t have purposely set out to hurt him. If Nancy had been the good person she’d pretended to be, if she’d been kind and genuine, someone who could have made Isaac happy, Ellen would have kept her mouth shut. She’d thought she owed it to him to tell him the truth, but the truth had backfired on her. Not only did Isaac not believe her, he’d cut off all ties of their friendship.

I don’t want to think about it, Ellen thought. The incident had happened over two years ago, and she mustn’t dwell on it. As far as she knew, Nancy was no longer in Isaac’s life. She had gone, but she left a friendship in tatters.

Ellen was fine and she’d moved on. Hadn’t she been enjoying the company of Nathaniel Peachy, their deacon’s son? Her friendship with Nate was an easy one. With him, she didn’t have to constantly hide her feelings. They were friends and nothing more.

Besides, she had a new plan for her life. One for which her parents hadn’t given their approval, but it was something she’d begun to think of as God’s calling for her. She wanted to work with special-needs Amish children, those born with genetic disorders. Her friends Rebekka and Caleb Yoder had a daughter who suffered from Crigler-Najjar syndrome, a genetic disease caused by a buildup of bilirubin—a toxic substance responsible for jaundice—in the little girl’s blood. Fortunately, little Alice’s condition was type 2. The child had to remain naked under a special blue LED light for ten to twelve hours a day. The treatment could be especially brutal on cold winter or hot summer days.

After visiting the Yoder home, witnessing the child’s treatment, Ellen had felt something emotional shift inside her. Unlike little Alice, she’d been blessed with good health. She felt the powerful urge to help families like the Yoders with children like Alice.

The buggy suddenly jerked as it moved. Startled, she held on to the seat. She grimaced at the pain caused by the vehicle’s sudden shift in movement. Soon the jerking stopped and Ellen sighed with relief as she felt the buggy wheels rolling on pavement.

She stuck her head out the window. Isaac had pulled her vehicle out of the ditch and back on the road. Fortunately, no other cars had been around to hinder the progress. As Isaac had said, the English boys were gone. She could no longer see them. She just had to get through the visit to Katie Lapp’s and then she could go home.

Isaac climbed into the driver’s side of her buggy. “Your wheels are out of the ditch.” He stared at her, his brow furrowing. “Your head hurts,” he said with concern.

“I’m fine.” Ellen promptly dropped her hand and lifted her chin. The movement made her grimace with pain and she turned to stare out the passenger window. She had to be grateful for his help, but she didn’t want him here. “Why are you in my buggy?”

“I’m going to drive you wherever you’re going.”

“There’s no need. I’m fine. I just need a minute.”

He remained silent as he studied her. “Where are you headed?”

“To see your mudder.” She gestured toward the bag that had fallen to the buggy floor during the accident. “Mam asked me to bring those—the squares we made for the quilt we’re all making.”

Isaac opened the door and met her gaze. “I need to check your buggy to see if it’s safe to drive.”

Ellen watched as he slid out of the vehicle. Despite the rising bump on her forehead, an aching cheek, a dull throbbing in her right shoulder and some red, burning fingers, she knew she was well enough to drive her vehicle. She kept silent as she waited for Isaac to finish checking the carriage for damage.

“Looks gut,” he said to her through the passenger window opening within inches of where she sat. “I’d suggest that Eli take a look, but I don’t see anything physically wrong with the structure. Still, you may want to think about taking it to him later to be sure.”

“Oll recht.”

He was too close. Ellen could see the long lengths of his dark eyelashes and feel the whisper of breath across her skin. He examined her with watchful gray eyes, and she shivered in reaction to the intensity of his regard. She moved to slide across the seat. His arm on her shoulder stopped her and she had to hold a cry so he wouldn’t realize that she’d hurt it when she’d been thrown against the door.

“I have to go.” Ellen shifted uncomfortably when he didn’t move. To her shock, he reached out to lightly stroke her cheek.

“You’re going to have a bruise,” he said huskily as he withdrew his touch.

Ellen was powerless to look away from the intensity of his gray eyes, the tiny smile playing about his lips. “I need to go—”

“You’re not driving.”

She gazed at him, more than a little annoyed. “’Tis a buggy, not a car. I can handle it.”

“Not in your condition.”

She scowled. She didn’t want to ride with him, with the man who hadn’t trusted her. Why should she trust him to take her anywhere? She realized that she hadn’t forgiven him for the past but at the moment she didn’t care.

“Ellen?” Isaac frowned. “Tell me the truth. Your head hurts, ja?” His tone was gentle.

She closed her eyes at his kindness, wishing that she could turn back time to before things had soured between them. Did he honestly think that she’d forgotten what he’d done? Why was he acting like her friend again when it had been two years since he’d cut off their friendship?

“Ellen?”

“Ja, it hurts,” she admitted rudely.

“You need ice for your cheek.” His voice remained kind, making Ellen feel bad. “I was on my way home. Let me drive you.” He leaned in through the open window and the scent of him filled her nostrils. Memories of an earlier time rose up and slammed into her. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned away so he wouldn’t see them.

“Ellen...”

She blinked rapidly before she faced him again.

He reached out to touch her forehead, his finger skimming over the lump beneath the surface of her skin. His touch was light but she couldn’t help a grimace of pain. His gray eyes darkened. “I’m driving,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Isaac left her to skirt the vehicle. He seemed suddenly larger-than-life as he slid in next to her. She didn’t want him to drive her. She didn’t want him anywhere near her. The way he was making her feel made her afraid, afraid that she wasn’t over him, and despite the past and the way he’d chosen Nancy over her, she might still love him. It was better to stay angry with him. It was the only way to protect her heart.

With a click of his tongue and a flick of the leathers, Isaac urged the horse forward. Ellen sat silently in her seat beside him, and she could feel his brief side-glances toward her as he drove. She ignored them.

The remaining distance to the Samuel Lapp farm wasn’t far. Ellen saw the Lapp farmhouse ahead as Isaac steered the horse onto the long dirt lane that ended in the barnyard near the house. He drew on the reins carefully, easing the carriage to a halt as if he worried about hurting her. He parked the buggy near the house, then jumped down from the bench and ran to assist before she had a chance to climb out on her own. She shifted too quickly in her seat and gasped with the searing pain. Her head hurt and her right shoulder, which had slammed against the buggy wall, was throbbing. She was furious at how weak she felt. She didn’t want Isaac to be right. She didn’t want Isaac to be the one she had to rely on, even if just for a little while.

Isaac appeared by her side and gently clasped her arm. “Easy, now, Ellen,” he murmured. “Slowly.”

She winced as she swung her legs toward the door opening. She made a move to step down until, with a sympathetic murmur, Isaac released her arm to encircle her waist with his hands. He lifted her as if she weighed no more than a young child. Ellen was conscious of his nearness, his male scent and the warmth of his touch at her midsection as he held her a brief moment before he set her down. Tears filled her eyes. Her injuries hurt but so did her aching heart.

“Danki.” She didn’t look at him as she stood there, feeling weak. Reaction set in. The horror of what those boys could have done to her caused her body to shake. She drew deep calming breaths, hoping he didn’t notice.

“Ice. You need an ice pack,” he announced as he bent to retrieve her bag from the buggy floor. He tucked it under his arm, then reached for her with the other. Fortunately, Ellen had regained control. “Come. Let’s get you into the house.” He slipped his right arm about her waist and helped her toward the house. Ellen wanted to pull away. She felt her heart thundering in her chest and grew worried that she’d lose control of her emotions again.

Chapter Two

“Ellen?” Isaac’s mother had stepped out onto the front porch of the farmhouse. She frowned as she saw Isaac leading Ellen with his arm about her waist. “What happened?”

Ellen felt the sudden tension in Isaac’s shoulders. “Some Englishers forced her off the road. The buggy came to a stop in a ditch.”

“Ach, nay. Poor dear.” Katie eyed her with concern. “Isaac, help her into the kitchen.”

Ellen wanted to insist on walking on her own, but she wasn’t about to protest in front of his mother. She still wasn’t feeling the best and was grateful for the assistance. Her head hurt and she felt woozy.

“Here.” Katie gestured toward a chair. “Sit her here.”

Isaac saw her comfortably seated, then promptly disappeared into the back room.

His mother bent to closely examine her injuries. “You hurt your cheek.” She narrowed her gaze as she studied her. “And your forehead.”

Ellen nodded. Her cheek throbbed and she had a headache. She reached up to feel the sore bump on her forehead.

Isaac returned and handed his mother an ice pack.

Katie smiled at him approvingly, then pressed it gently against Ellen’s forehead. “Hold it here for a few minutes and then shift it to your cheek.”

“Danki.” She tried to smile until the simple movement of her lips hurt. Isaac stood by the kitchen worktable, watching silently.

“The driver was reckless,” Katie said.

“Ja. ’Twas Brad Smith,” Isaac said darkly.

His mother shot him a glance. “You know him?”

“Ja.” Isaac’s scowl revealed that he wasn’t pleased. “He’s Nancy’s bruder.”

Katie frowned.

“Thank the Lord that Isaac came when he did,” Ellen admitted. The memory of the boys getting out of their car made her shudder.

“I’m glad I was there to help,” he murmured, his expression softening.

Ellen didn’t say anything as she looked away.

“You did gut, Soohn.” Katie regarded her son warmly.

Something flickered in Isaac’s expression. “Any one of us would have helped.” He smiled. “You taught us well.”

Katie nodded. “I’ll put on the teakettle.” She turned toward the stove. “You need a cup to revive you.”

As she held ice to her cheek, Ellen encountered Isaac’s gaze. She shifted the bag to her forehead. Isaac frowned, left the room and returned with another ice bag. She gave a jolt when he sat down close beside her and pressed it gently against her cheek. “Danki,” she murmured.

He leaned forward as he kept hold of the ice. “You’re willkomm.”

“Here we are.” Katie set three cups of hot steaming tea on the table. She returned to get a coffee cake from the counter. “How about a nice slice of cinnamon cake? I made it fresh this morning.”

Ellen had smelled it as soon as she’d entered the kitchen earlier. She felt her stomach rumble as if urging her to eat. Embarrassed, she nodded.

She lowered the ice pack and set it on the table. The ice was soothing to her injuries, but after a while, the cold felt too intense. Taking her cue, Isaac removed the other bag. She was aware that he watched her every moment as if he half expected her to faint or fall over...or something worse. She tried to smile reassuringly but the simple movement caused pain to radiate along the right side of her face. Without asking, Isaac quickly picked up an ice bag and held it to the painful area. Ellen welcomed the cold again, as it helped to alleviate the soreness. Disturbed by his nearness, she reached up to take control of the bag. Her fingers accidentally brushed against his; she froze as she locked gazes with him.

“I’ve got it,” she assured him. She hated that he had the power to make her feel something besides anger, that he could still make her wish for things that she no longer wanted.

Isaac leaned back in his chair without a word as his mother sliced the coffee cake, then set the pieces within reach in the middle of the table. Katie then sat across from her and Isaac. In the ensuing silence, Ellen remained overly aware of Isaac beside her as she sipped from her teacup.

“Where’s Hannah?” Isaac asked conversationally.

“At Abram’s.” Katie took a sip of tea. “She loves playing with Mae Anne.”

Their deacon, Abram Peachy, a widower, had married Charlotte King of the Amos Kings, who lived across the road from the Lapps. When she’d married Abram, Charlotte had become mother to Abram’s five children. Then a year and a half ago, Charlotte had given birth to a daughter, Mae Anne, and she had six children to mother and love. Mae Anne, a toddler, was as cute as she was bright, and her older siblings adored her. Isaac’s sister, Hannah, now eight, had been drawn to the baby immediately. The youngest Lapp sibling loved spending time with babies and children younger than her, including her own nieces and nephews.

“She’s gut with kinner. She’ll make a fine mudder one day.” Ellen dug her fork into the coffee cake and brought a piece to her mouth. She felt Isaac’s gaze on her, met his glance and quickly looked away. She felt her heart rate accelerate, her stomach flutter as if filled with butterflies.

* * *

Isaac gazed at the girl seated at his family’s kitchen table and felt his stomach tighten as he thought of the accident. When he’d learned that it was Brad and his friends in the car, he’d felt his hackles rise. These English boys were rude and nearly always up for trouble, and trouble was the last thing he needed. He’d already found it once with them, and he wasn’t looking to get involved with them again. Except he’d never have known Nancy’s true colors if not for them. He’d been happy when he’d met Nancy Smith, pleased when she’d wanted to meet his family. He’d found her fascinating, and after he’d spent some time with her, his fascination had grown. Dressed all in black, she’d worn heavy eye makeup and bright red lipstick. Her appearance stood out in a crowd, which wasn’t the Amish way, but she’d been sweet and he’d realized after talking with her for hours that they shared a lot in common. Until he’d learned that she’d pretended to like him simply because she’d been curious about the Amish way of life.

The pain of learning the truth about her still lingered. His foolishness in getting involved with her and her unkind circle of friends bothered him. He’d given his parents cause to worry, and for that he was sincerely sorry.

As Ellen and his mother chatted, Isaac studied the young woman seated next to him. He had a clear up-close view of her features. Tendrils of blond hair had escaped from under her kapp during the accident. The bruise on her cheek stood out starkly against her smooth complexion. She turned, saw him staring and raised her eyebrows questioningly. He continued to watch her, unable to look away. Her cheeks turned bright pink and she averted her gaze.

It seemed impossible that they’d known each other forever, but they had. He had to admit it had been a long time since they’d spent any time together like they used to. His fault, he knew, but he couldn’t undo the past. He’d chosen Nancy over Ellen.

Isaac experienced a strange tingle of awareness of Ellen that he’d never felt before. “How is your head?”

Ellen gingerly touched her forehead. “Not too painful.”

He frowned, because he didn’t believe her. He stood. “I’ll get more ice.”

“Nay, I’m fine.” She waved at him to sit down.

He reluctantly resumed his seat. “When you’re ready to go, I’ll take you home.”

“There’s no need—”

“Let him, Ellen,” Mam said. “You just had an accident. You shouldn’t be driving home until you’re certain there are no other aftereffects.”

“I’ll take you home,” Isaac said. “Jacob can give me a ride back.” It was an easy walk from Ellen’s house to Zook’s Blacksmithy, where his older brother Jacob worked.

“I don’t want to be a bother.”

“You’re not, Ellen,” he said, teasing her. “At least, not today.” He paused. “Finish your cake. You need to keep up your strength.”

She arched her eyebrows. “I don’t need to eat. I’m strong enough.”

“You don’t like my mam’s cake?” He laughed when he heard her inhale sharply, saw her expression fill with outrage.

She glared at him, but he could see that she fought a smile.

His mother had left the room. She returned within minutes with Ellen and her mother’s quilt squares, which he’d placed on top of their hall linen chest on their way through to the kitchen. Mam pulled the squares out of the bag. “These are lovely, Ellen.”

Ellen smiled. “I’ll tell Mam that you said so.”

“I see your work here. Your stitching is extraordinary.”

Isaac was intrigued. “May I see?”

His mother chose and then handed him two squares. Isaac examined them carefully and thought he knew which one was Ellen’s. “Your stitches are neat and even,” he murmured and then held up the one in his right hand. “This one is yours.”

Ellen seemed stunned. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “I just did.” And his mother had said that Ellen’s work was extraordinary. He was unable to take his gaze off her, saw her blush. He returned the squares to his mother. “Who’s getting the quilt?”

“Martha,” Mam said. “For the baby.”

Isaac smiled. His older brother Eli and his wife, Martha, were expecting their first child. “Doesn’t Martha usually come to your quilting on Wednesdays?”

Mam smiled. “Ja, but she told me that she can’t come this Wednesday. With hard work, we’ll get her quilt done in one day.”

He smiled knowingly. “You told Eli.”

“I had to,” Mam said defensively. “I couldn’t risk that Martha would change her mind and decide to come.” She rose to her feet. “I’ll put these upstairs. Martha could stop by for a visit.” She left with the squares and seconds later her footsteps could be heard on the stairs.

Ellen stared into her teacup.

He eyed her with concern. “You don’t look well. You should see a doctor.”

“Nay.” She glanced up from her empty cup. “I’m fine.”

He studied her with amusement. “You’re too quiet.”

“Quiet?” She appeared offended.

He laughed. “You were quiet.”

She scowled, then winced as if in pain.

“Your cheek hurts.” He clicked his tongue. “We have aspirin. I can get you some.”

“Nay.”

“Another cup of tea?” he asked.

“Nay.” She shook her head and grimaced.

“You need to stop shaking your head. It hurts you.” He stood. “Ellen—”

She blinked up at him. “Ja?” Her expression suddenly turned wary.

“You will let me drive you home,” he said, his voice firm. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Ellen relented. “Oll recht,” she said, surprising him. “After your mudder comes back.”

He inclined his head. His mam returned and he waited while the women discussed refreshments for their Wednesday quilting bee. Finally, Ellen turned to him. “I’m ready to go now.”

“I’ll help you,” he said quietly.

“I can manage on my own.”

He frowned. He didn’t like her coloring. She looked too pale. He exchanged meaningful glances with his mother. “Mam, we’ll take the ice.”

Mam nodded and handed the packs to Ellen.

Ellen accepted the ice bags graciously. They walked outside together until they reached the buggy.

“Ellen.” Isaac extended his hand toward her. “I don’t think we should take any chances.” She took it reluctantly. He felt a jolt as he felt the warmth of her fingers. He helped her onto the vehicle’s front passenger side. “Comfortable?” he asked huskily. He lingered, unable to withdraw his gaze.

“Despite my headache, sore cheek and throbbing shoulder?” she answered saucily. “I’m wonderful.”

Her smart answer made him smile. “Shoulder?” He puckered his brow. “You hurt your shoulder and didn’t tell me?”

“’Tis nothing.”

He didn’t believe her.

Her expression softened. “It doesn’t hurt much.”

Annoyed as well as concerned, Isaac rounded the vehicle, climbed in next to her, then grabbed the reins. As he drove silently down the dirt lane, then made a right onto the main road toward the Mast farm, Isaac found his thoughts fixed on the girl beside him.

* * *

Ellen stared out the side window as Isaac drove. Why Isaac? Why did he have to be the one who’d rescued her? She firmed her lips as she pressed the ice to her throbbing forehead. Her cheek hurt and she pressed the other bag of ice against her skin. She and Isaac had been such good friends. They’d walked often to Whittier’s Store for a soda or an ice-cream cone. They’d talked about their families, their farm and their Amish community. She’d known that Isaac had looked at their relationship as just one of friendship, but Ellen had hoped that his feelings would change to become something more. She’d never told Isaac of her love for him. After what had happened with Nancy, she would have suffered the ultimate humiliation if she had.

After the accident today, she knew she could trust Isaac for help, as he’d helped her with the buggy and her injuries. But she could never trust him with her heart, not after the way he’d accused her of being mean-spirited and jealous of Nancy when she’d tried to warn him about the English girl.

Her fingers tightened on the bag of ice as she lowered it from her forehead to her lap.

She couldn’t forget what she’d overheard that fateful day when Isaac, his brother and a few friends had been discussing Nancy—and her. She’d been coming around the side of the barn when she’d overheard them. She’d remained hidden, slowly dying inside as she listened to their conversation.

“Nancy is wonderful. I’ve never met a girl like her. I never thought I’d have a girlfriend like her.”

“What about Ellen?” It had been Nate Peachy’s voice.

“What about her?”

“I thought there was something special between you two.”

Isaac had laughed. “Nay, it’s not like that between us. She’s like Hannah—my sister.”

After hearing that, Ellen had run back the way she had come, her heart hammering within her chest, tears running down her cheeks. Thankfully, the boys hadn’t seen her, hadn’t witnessed the devastation she’d felt with Isaac’s few simple words.

Isaac had abandoned their friendship and never looked back as he’d moved on with Nancy. Nancy had made it clear that Ellen wasn’t needed in Isaac’s life, and Isaac, by dismissing Ellen’s fears, had agreed.

Ellen stared at the countryside as it rushed by her window. She couldn’t help but remember the humiliation she’d felt the first time Isaac’s friends had gazed at her with sympathy after his conversation about her with them. She hadn’t wanted or needed anyone’s pity. She still didn’t want anyone’s pity.

“You’re quiet,” Isaac said, interrupting her thoughts.

She met his gaze briefly. “I’m admiring the view.” She paused. “I don’t hear you saying much, either,” she added with a lift of her eyebrows before she looked toward the window again.

He laughed. “True.”

They had reached the end of the lane to her family farm. She watched as Isaac expertly made the turn onto the dirt road. As he steered into the yard, he sent her a look, his eyes briefly focused on the side of her face. “Your cheek is turning purple.”

“I’ll live,” she said flippantly. Regretful, she drew in a sharp breath, then released it. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s hurting more than I’d like to admit. I appreciate what you did for me.”

His eyes softened. “I’m glad I could help.” He drove the buggy close to the barn and parked. Ellen climbed out of the vehicle before Isaac had the chance to assist her.

Her mother came out of the house. “Ah, gut. You’re back. I need help with these pies for Sunday—” She stopped when she spied Isaac. “Hallo, Isaac. I didn’t expect to see you.”

“Josie,” he greeted her with a nod. “I drove Ellen home because there was an accident with the buggy.”

Her mother stiffened and studied her. “Are you hurt?” She turned to Isaac. “What happened?”

“A car passed too fast and spooked Blackie. The buggy swerved off the road,” Isaac said. “Ellen did a gut job with controlling your mare. She kept the buggy from rolling over into the drainage ditch along Ned Yoder’s farm.”

Ellen felt self-conscious with the two of them studying her.

“You’ve hurt your cheek and your forehead.” Mam looked with approval at the bag of ice in Ellen’s hands. “You iced it—gut. Katie was wise to give it to you.”

Ellen bit her lip. “It was Isaac’s idea. He gave it to me.” She didn’t know why she told her mother that.

Her mother gave him a half smile. “That was kind of you, Isaac.”

Isaac shrugged. “I was on my way home from Eli’s when I saw it happen.”

Ellen noticed that he hadn’t told her about the English boys who’d forced her from the road.

“I should go.” His gray gaze made an assessing sweep of her head and face. “You may want to keep that iced,” he said softly.

She nodded. Although she had to fight the desire to tell him that she could do without his instructions.

“Will can take you home,” her mother suggested.

“Will?” Ellen said with surprise. She frowned. “Mam, I don’t think Will should be the one to drive him home.”

“I’ll walk to Jacob’s as planned. I’ve been wanting to stop in and see him.” He regarded her with a crooked smile. “Take care of yourself, Ellen.” He turned to her mother. “Josie, I hope those pies you mentioned are for visiting Sunday.”

Mam’s lips curved. “They are.”

Isaac grinned. “Gut. Something to look forward to.” His gray eyes settled on her. “Be well, Ellen.” He nodded to her mother. “Josie.” Then he left, departing down the dirt lane toward the main road. She watched him for several seconds before she turned toward her mother, catching a glimpse of her parent following Isaac through narrowed eyes as he walked away. Ellen couldn’t help but wonder what her mother was thinking. “Is something wrong?”

Mam shook her head. “I should get back to the kitchen.”

“Pies?” Ellen reminded her.

Mam seemed to shake away her thoughts. “Ja. I’ve promised to bring three pies this Sunday and I’m having trouble with them.”

Ellen’s lips twitched. Her mother was a good cook but for some strange reason pies weren’t her strong point. Ellen’s grandmother had been good at pie making and she’d taught Ellen.

Why did her mother choose to bring pies when they were clearly a chore for her? Ellen asked her.

“Alta Hershberger asked me to,” she said simply, and Ellen understood. Her mother wouldn’t challenge a request from the village busybody. To do so would give Alta fodder to natter about.

As she followed her mother into the kitchen, she immediately saw the mess Mam had made. She grinned. “How many piecrusts did you attempt to make?”

Mam looked sheepish. “One.”

“Then we’d better get busy if we’re going to bake three pies.”

As she mixed the ingredients, then rolled out the crust dough, Ellen thought of her morning and Isaac’s part in it. She frowned as she carefully lifted a rolled circle of dough and set it into a pie plate. The fact that Isaac had helped her didn’t mean anything. It didn’t mean he wanted them to be friends again.

Maybe it was time to go out and have some fun. She’d talk with her parents about going on rumspringa. Then while out and about, she could locate Dr. Westmore’s medical clinic for genetic diseases. She needed to learn as much as she could to convince her parents to allow her to volunteer her time there.

Chapter Three

Sunday arrived, and Ellen climbed into the family buggy with her parents and younger brothers. The pies she’d made with her mother had come out nicely. The scent of baked apples, cherry and custard filled the vehicle, making her stomach grumble. Ellen was particularly pleased with the snitz and custard pies. Those were her favorite flavors, and she looked forward to enjoying a tiny sliver of each after the midday meal.

They were headed to Cousin Sarah’s house. Sarah was married to Jedidiah Lapp, Isaac’s oldest brother. Ellen knew that she’d probably see Isaac there, but she wasn’t going to let it concern her. She’d had a couple of days to put things in perspective. She realized that it had felt odd to spend time alone with him again, the first time since before he and Nancy had begun seeing each other. He’s acted as if we’ve never had words over his English girlfriend.

Now that she was on the mend, things would get back to the way they’d been before her buggy mishap. Isaac wouldn’t notice her, and he’d leave her alone. Ellen looked forward to her first outing during her rumspringa, the running-around time during which teenagers within the Amish community were allowed the freedom to enjoy the English world. It was their parents’ and the community’s hope that given the choice, their young people would make the decision to join the church and stay in the community. If they chose to leave, they were free to go and return to visit as long as they hadn’t joined the church first. If they joined the church and then left for the English world, they’d be shunned by their families and friends and wouldn’t be allowed to return.

Ellen had every intention of joining the church, but she wanted to enjoy rumspringa. She’d use the opportunity to check out the Westmore Clinic for Special Children, bring home information so that she could convince her father to allow her to volunteer there. She decided that she’d talk with her friend Elizabeth to plan a trip into the city of Lancaster. They could go next Saturday. The thought of getting away for the day excited her. She hadn’t spoken to her parents about it yet, but she couldn’t see why it would be a problem.

They arrived at the Jedidiah Lapp farm, where Dat steered Blackie onto the driveway and parked in the yard on one end of a long line of familiar gray buggies.

Sarah came out of the house, carrying her son, Gideon, as Ellen climbed out of the buggy with two pies.

“Sarah!” She always enjoyed spending time with her cousin. She and Sarah had shared a room when Sarah had first come for a visit, and Ellen had loved having her stay. She’d been pleased when Sarah, originally from Kent County, Delaware, had moved permanently to their village of Happiness after she’d fallen in love and married Jedidiah Lapp.

“Ellen.” Sarah beamed at her, then greeted her aunt, Ellen’s mother. “Josie, ’tis gut to see you. We haven’t had time to spend together lately.”

Her mother held a pie and made to grab one from Ellen, who smiled as she shook her head. “You’re looking well, Sarah,” Mam said. “Your little one is certainly getting to be a big boy.”

“Ja, he is. I don’t know where the time has gone. It seems like only yesterday that he was a newborn and now he’s three years old.”

Holding two pies, Ellen asked her cousin where she wanted her to put them.

“Jedidiah is getting a table. Would you like to set them inside until the table’s ready?”

“Nay, I’m fine,” Ellen said, studying Sarah’s little son, who gazed at her with a big sloppy grin. “I’ll wait.”

As soon as Sarah set her son down, Gideon immediately ran to Ellen for attention. Her cousin quickly grabbed Ellen’s pies so that Ellen could reach for him. “Want to go for a little walk, Gid?”

“Mam, can I?” Gideon asked his mother in Pennsylvania Deitsch.

“Ja, you may walk with Cousin Ellen, but you must be a gut boy.”

The child nodded to his mother, then to Ellen who scooped him up for a hug.

“Be careful, Ellen,” Sarah warned. “My soohn is no lightweight.”

“Ja, he isn’t.” Ellen smiled at the dark-haired child as she set him on his feet. “We’ll walk side by side—ja, Gideon?” She extended her hand and the child grabbed it and held firm as they headed toward the back farm field.

“Where shall we go?” she asked him.

“Goats,” he said.

“You want to see the goats?” When he nodded, she grinned at him. “Let’s visit your goats, then.”

* * *

Isaac left the house with Jedidiah, carrying the table Sarah wanted outside. He looked across the yard as they negotiated the last of the porch steps to discover his sister-in-law Sarah with Josie Mast. He glanced about but didn’t see Ellen anywhere. He was strangely disappointed. He was wondering how she’d fared since the accident, whether or not the bump on her forehead had changed color like the bruise on her cheek. Then he heard a giggle and spied Gideon running from Ellen, who chuckled as she ran across the yard after him.

“Come back here, Gideon!” she called laughingly.

“Set it down a minute, Isaac,” Jed said. “I need to speak with Sarah.”

Isaac silently set down the table. He watched as Jed approached his wife to say a few words with her. He saw Sarah gesture toward the back lawn.

It was visiting Sunday. Community folks were milling about the yard and inside the house, family and friends of Jed and Sarah. He heard voices from near the barn, where two men whom he recognized as church elders were joined by a newcomer he didn’t recognize.

The sound of a squeal made him smile and turn back to watch Ellen and his nephew as Gideon ran from Ellen, the child’s shriek of laughter evidence of his enjoyment of her chase. By her expression, he could tell that Ellen was having as much fun as Gideon. She laughed as she caught up to him and snatched him into her arms. When she began to tickle the boy’s ribs, Gideon burst out into childish giggles. Isaac stared, fascinated by their play, and found his lips curving in response.

Jedidiah returned and picked up the end of the table. “My son is enjoying himself. Ellen will make a gut mudder one day.”

A mudder? She was too young to be a mother. Without saying a word, Isaac shot her one last quick glance. His gaze locked with Ellen’s briefly as she set Gideon down, then turned away. He focused his attention on moving the table.

“Sarah wants it there,” Jed said with a nod of his head.

“Close to the house, near the back door?” Isaac guessed.

“Ja, she says it’ll be easier for the women to bring out the food.”

They carried the table to the designated area. After the brothers had set the table in place, their parents arrived. Isaac followed Jedidiah to greet them. He reached for the platter of cupcakes and cookies in his mother’s arms.

“Where’s my grosssoohn?” Mam asked when Isaac had returned after putting the dish on the table.

“He’s playing with Ellen.” Jedidiah grinned as his son ran away from the young woman, who laughed as she took off after him.

Gideon saw his grandmother and raced toward her. Unaware, Ellen gave chase, looking eager to catch the little boy.

“G’mammi!” the child exclaimed as he threw himself against Mam.

Ellen saw Katie and halted a few feet away. “Now I know why he was running this way,” she said with a grin.

“He’s having a gut time with you, I see,” Dat said.

“I’ve been having a gut time myself, Samuel.”

“You like children,” Isaac commented, unable to help himself.

She stiffened as if she’d just realized that he was there, but then he saw her relax as if she’d come to accept his presence. “Ja, I do.”

They chatted for several minutes about Katie and Samuel’s grandchildren and how much all of them had grown. Then Jedidiah picked up his son and accompanied their parents toward the house, leaving Isaac alone with Ellen.

He studied Ellen intently. “Your bruises... Your cheek looks better, but now you have one on your forehead.” He paused. “You’re feeling better?” he asked softly.

She nodded. “Ja, much better.”

He looked at her approvingly. “Gut.”

Sarah approached. “Ellen, may I talk with you for a moment?” She waved Ellen to follow and the two women moved away to chat privately.

Isaac wondered what they were discussing. He saw Ellen nod with a smile and Sarah grin, looking pleased.

“I think Sarah is asking Ellen if she’ll help out after the baby comes,” Jedidiah said softly as he rejoined Isaac.

Isaac glanced at his brother with surprise. “You mean Sarah’s...?”

Jed beamed. “Ja.”

“God has blessed you, Bruder.” Isaac was pleased for his oldest brother, who dearly loved his wife and son. “I’m happy for you.”

His brother looked at him. “One day you’ll have a family of your own.”

Isaac shook his head. “Not anytime soon. I learned a hard lesson with Nancy.”

“The Englisher was never like the girls in our community.” Jedidiah hesitated. “We were worried from the start that she’d hurt you.”

Isaac felt his stomach tighten. “I never knew you felt that way. You were all kind to her.”

“And why wouldn’t we be? You liked her. We hoped we were wrong, but she didn’t seem as involved in your relationship as you.”

Isaac sighed. If only he’d been smart enough then to realize the truth—that Nancy never cared for him. He thought of Ellen and recalled the friendship they’d once shared. Fool that he was, he’d tossed it away in favor of Nancy, believed Nancy over her when Ellen had wanted only to make him see Nancy’s true nature.

Too many regrets. He didn’t want to talk or even think about Nancy any more. She was gone, and he was glad. Jedidiah was an astute man and he let lie the topic of his past relationship with her.

Sarah and Ellen approached. “We’re going to see to lunch. Either one of you hungry?”

“I am,” Jed said.

Sarah gazed at him with affection. “You’re always hungry.”

“Always for your cherry pie.”

“I didn’t make a cherry pie for today.”

“I made a cherry pie,” Ellen said with a smile.

Jed’s dark eyes lit up, and Isaac groaned as he shook his head. “What is it with my bruders and their sweets?” he groused.

Ellen raised one eyebrow. “You don’t care for sweets?”

“I like them well enough, but my older bruders are obsessed.”

“You don’t like snitz or custard pie, I imagine,” Ellen said.

“Custard pie?” Isaac asked. He enjoyed custard pie.

“Vanilla custard.” She looked amused.

“I like custard pie. You made one?”

She nodded. “Too bad you don’t like sweets. Fortunately, there are plenty of folk here who will be happy to eat my custard pie.” She walked away with a laugh and Isaac could only stare at her. A small smile curved his lips and he chuckled. I deserved that. But if she thinks I’ll not be getting a slice of that custard pie, she is mistaken. She’s yet to learn how determined I can be to get what I want.

It wasn’t long until food was put on the table that he and Jed had set in the backyard. Besides the Masts and his own family, the Kings, the Peachys, the Zooks, and Alta Hershberger and her two daughters had come to share their visiting day. This was Jed and Sarah’s first gathering at the farm. Watching his sister-in-law move among her guests, Isaac felt admiration for Sarah’s ease with having so many people at her home. He wondered if he’d ever have a place where he could invite family and friends and feel so comfortable with them. Ever since the night when Whittier’s Store was vandalized by Nancy’s brother and his friends, he hadn’t known a moment’s peace. He’d taken the blame for something he didn’t do, not because Nancy had asked him to—although she had—but because he’d been protecting a male friend, another member of their Amish community. Other church members, he knew, now looked at him with disappointment. It bothered him that they’d never questioned whether or not he could have been guilty, but just accepted that he was. He didn’t feel less in the eyes of his family. His mother and father were supportive of all of their children, but he couldn’t help feeling as if he’d let them down, too.

He’d hoped that his friend Henry would come forward and confess his part in the Whittier’s Store debacle. But Henry had kept silent and remained noticeably absent from the community and Isaac’s life. Apparently afraid to speak up after seeing how the community reacted to Isaac’s guilt, Henry must have been unable to bear what would happen if he were to admit that he was one of the guilty parties.

No one is more disappointed with me than I am, Isaac thought. By taking the blame, he had effectively lied. And that was what made it difficult for him to stay in Happiness. As hard as it would be to live out in the English world, it might be better than living here without joining the Amish church. And how could he join the church when he didn’t feel worthy?

Seeing Ellen with his nephew made him think of simpler, happier times when he and she roamed the countryside together as friends. He’d made a terrible mistake when he’d taken up with Nancy, Brad and their English friends. Now he was destined to pay for it.

* * *

Ellen did what she could to help Sarah put out lunch before she went in search of her friend Elizabeth. She was eager to go rumspringa and she wanted Elizabeth to go with her. She found Elizabeth with a group of young people, including the Peachy siblings and Peter Zook, who had congregated near the pasture fence.

“Elizabeth,” she called as she approached. Her friend’s eyes brightened when she saw her. “May we talk?” Ellen asked.

Elizabeth said something to the group before she joined Ellen, who stood on the outskirts several yards away. “Is there something wrong?” her friend asked.

“Nay, I want to go into Lancaster next Saturday.”

Her eyes gleamed. “A rumspringa adventure?” Elizabeth asked.

“Ja. Would you like to go?”

“Ja.” Elizabeth nodded vigorously. “What should we tell our eldre?”

“The truth,” Ellen said, hoping her parents would approve.

Her friend agreed. “What will we do?”

“Shop? Eat? See a movie?” Ellen grinned. “Whatever we want to do.” Check out the Westmore Clinic for Special Children, she thought.

After talking with her friend, Ellen grew more excited about the trip and couldn’t wait to ask her mam and dat for permission. But she decided to wait until later to approach them.

* * *

“Dat, Mam,” Ellen said after they had returned from Jedidiah and Sarah’s house and everyone had settled in at home. “I’d like to go into Lancaster with Elizabeth next Saturday.”

Her father frowned as he faced her. “Why?”

Ellen felt her belly flutter with nerves. “We want to go on rumspringa. I’m old enough to experience the English world. We thought we’d get something to eat and wander about the outlet mall.”

“I don’t know if that’s a gut idea—” Dat began.

“I don’t see why you can’t go,” her mother said at the same time that her father spoke. Mam immediately grew silent. She wouldn’t go against her father’s wishes.

Ellen’s spirits plummeted. Her dat wasn’t going to allow her to go.

“She is old enough, William,” Mam said gently, much to Ellen’s shock.

Dat narrowed his gaze as he studied his daughter. “Nay, she can’t be.”

“I’m seventeen, Dat.”

Her father looked surprised. “You are?” He firmed his lips. “You’ve grown up too fast.”

Ellen noted his surprise with amusement. “You still have plenty of time with the boys. They are a long way from rumspringa age.”

“Why now, Dochter?” he asked seriously. “Do you plan to leave our community? Are you unhappy here?”

“Nay, Dat. I have no plans to leave, but I want to see the English world. Just because I want to see it doesn’t mean I don’t want a life here...a husband and family.”

“How will you get there?” Dat asked, looking relieved.

“May I take the pony cart? Or we can hire a driver to take us.”

Her mother leaned close to whisper something in Dat’s ear. Her father nodded and said, “You may go next Saturday, Ellen, but I will hire a driver for you.”

Ellen beamed at him. “Danki, Dat.”

“Just come home safe and sound with no ideas of wanting to leave us,” he warned. Ellen shifted uncomfortably as she thought of the clinic and her reason for visiting. Would her father and mother be upset after her return when she presented them with more information in an attempt to convince them to allow her to work there?

That night as she lay in bed, Ellen thought of the fun she’d enjoyed with her cousin Gideon and then her excitement as she and Elizabeth had discussed their Lancaster trip. She tried not to think of Isaac, with whom she’d spoken only briefly. It had been nice of him to inquire about her injuries. She’d been disturbingly aware of how he’d continually watched her.

Next Saturday, she thought with a smile, dismissing Isaac from her mind. She couldn’t wait for Saturday’s adventure with Elizabeth.

Chapter Four

Monday and Tuesday went by quickly as Ellen did her regular chores, including washing clothes and hanging the laundry on the line to dry. Wednesday morning she and Mam headed to Katie’s house for their monthly quilting bee. It was a glorious day. The sun was bright in a clear azure sky and the spring blossoms looked pretty in the Amish and English yards they passed. Ellen wondered if she’d see Isaac today and decided that she wouldn’t let the prospect bother her. Odds were that he would be out working with Samuel in the fields or with Jedidiah for Matt Rhoades, who had recently started his own construction company. In any event, even if she did see Isaac this morning, it wouldn’t be for long. There was no reason for her to feel anxious or nervous. He had helped her last week, she had thanked him politely and she was fine. It wasn’t as if she were in danger of falling for him again. The only reason they’d spent time in each other’s company was that the circumstances of her accident had forced it upon them.

“How many do you think will come today?” she asked her mother.

“About ten, I suppose, as usual, with the exception of Martha.”

Ellen smiled as she thought of the baby quilt they would be working on today. It wasn’t large enough for a double bed. With the ten women working on it, the quilt would be completed in no time.

“Mam, don’t you think it’s going to be a bit crowded around the quilt rack if ten women show up?”

Her mother frowned as she maneuvered the buggy into a turn. “Hadn’t given it any thought.”

“If there are too many, I can do something else.”

“Nay. Katie would rather have you stay than some of the others.”

Driving past, Ellen waved to Annie Zook as she exited Whittier’s Store. The young woman’s face lit up as she acknowledged Ellen’s wave with her own. She had EJ, her son, and her baby daughter, Susanna, with her.

“Are you coming to quilting?” Ellen called as Mam slowed the buggy and steered toward the right to allow a number of cars to pass by safely.

“Ja, I’ll be there after I get these little ones home,” Annie answered. “Mam said she’d stay back to watch them today.”

“Why not bring them?” Ellen suggested. “Won’t Hannah be there?”

“Ja, and Daniel,” Annie said, referring to her brother-in-law. “I’ll talk with Mam.”

Once the roadway was clear, her mother drove back onto the road and continued on.

Ellen smiled as she glanced back to see Annie put her children into the buggy. “She looks happy,” she murmured.

Mam flashed a smile. “Ja, she is. Jacob has been gut for her, and I’m glad she finally understood that. He’s loved her since he was a young boy.”

Ellen raised her eyebrows. “He has?”

“Ja, and he nearly gave up. Annie fell for Jedidiah and Jacob thought that he didn’t have a chance with her. Later, after Jed found Sarah, Jake hoped for another chance.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Katie and Miriam, although Miriam wasn’t keen on it at first.”

Ellen reached up to straighten her kapp. “Why not?”

“That was right after Horseshoe Joe had his accident. She wanted someone who was financially able to take care of Annie. Someone like Ike King.”

Ellen shuddered. “He was too old for her.” She thought of Martha. “He was too old for Martha, too, but she married him anyway. She genuinely cared for him, didn’t she?” She studied her mother to gauge her reaction.

“I believe she did.” Mam’s lips firmed. “’Tis too bad he passed on, but it must have been God’s plan. I’ve never seen her as happy with Ike as she is now with Eli.”

Ellen had to agree. She’d never seen such joy in Martha’s brown eyes during the year she’d been married to Ike. Still, she was sorry that Ike had passed on. He’d been a nice man and Amos King’s younger brother. And he’d been wonderful to Martha. They had all taken comfort that Ike was in the Lord’s hands and thus resided with Him in heaven.

There were two buggies in Katie’s barnyard as Mam pulled in and parked. No one was in the yard as they climbed out and retrieved the food dishes they’d made to share with the other women. She had made lima beans in tomato sauce and lemon chiffon cake. Mam had made chocolate brownies and macaroni salad. There would be plenty to eat today, more than enough to share with any of the male Lapp family members who might come in for lunch.

For a moment, Ellen’s thoughts dwelled on Isaac Lapp. She wasn’t alarmed that she’d thought of him; after all, this was his home.

Katie’s door opened immediately after Mam knocked. Ellen felt her heart skip a bit as she caught a quick glance at the man who stood there. Isaac. The image of Isaac flittered away and she realized that it wasn’t Isaac waiting patiently for them to enter. It was Joseph, the youngest brother. He was the spitting image of his older brother until she looked closer and saw the difference in eye color and the shape of his mouth. Joseph had younger, less mature features. Still, he was a handsome boy and would one day become an extremely attractive man.

“Hallo, Joseph,” she greeted after Mam had gone in first.

“Ellen.” He nodded. “My mudder and the others are in the gathering room.” He glanced down at the food in her arms and finally smiled. “You’ve brought lemon cake.”

“Ja.” She stepped past him and waited while he closed the door. “You like lemon chiffon cake.”

“Ja.” His smile became a grin. “Looking forward to midday meal today.” He stared at her cake plate. “I can take that for you.”

“Oll recht.” She handed him the cake plate and Joseph disappeared into the back kitchen area. She heard someone coming down the steps from upstairs and looked up, expecting to see Katie or Hannah, her daughter. She froze. It was Isaac.

“Hallo, Ellen,” he greeted as he approached. He narrowed his eyes as he studied her face. “Your forehead’s turned a light shade of purple. Is it sore?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I asked you.”

She sighed. “A little.”

“How is your cheek? Can you smile yet without grimacing?” he teased. “Or does it still hurt?”

“What are you doing here, Isaac?” she said stiffly. She wasn’t in the mood for his teasing or his questions about her health. “I thought you’d be working.”

“Disappointed?”

She stared at him, wishing he would leave.

“I’m going to work soon. We’ve been waiting for the plumber to finish. Matt’s picking Daniel and me up on his way to the job site.” He glanced toward the staircase. “Daniel! Matt’s going to be here any minute.”

“Don’t let me keep you,” Ellen said tartly, and Isaac looked at her with an odd little smile.

“Ellen?” Mam called as she reappeared, peeking her head from a doorway. “We’re ready to start. You’ll want to get a good seat.”

“Coming!” She turned back to Isaac. “Have a gut day at work, Isaac,” she said, trying to be more polite.

Joseph returned from the kitchen. “I hid the cake in the back room,” he confided with a grin.

“Gut thinking, Joseph,” Ellen said with a chuckle. Isaac arched an eyebrow in question. “Lemon chiffon cake,” she explained. “Apparently, it’s your bruder’s favorite. He’s protecting his fair share.”

Eager to escape, she left him to join her mother in the gathering room, where Katie Lapp and several other women were seated around the quilting rack. She didn’t know how long it would be before Matt Rhoades picked up Isaac and Daniel. Ellen tried not to think about Isaac at all as she greeted the other ladies in the room.

“Over here, Ellen.” Katie gestured toward a seat between her and Mam. “I’m glad you’ve come.”

“I enjoy quilting.”

Mae King, who lived across the road, sat directly in front of her. On either side of Mae were her married daughters, Charlotte Peachy, who’d married their deacon, and Nancy Zook, who’d married Annie’s brother Josiah. Ellen was pleased to see these young women, who were always pleasant and fun. She was disappointed that Elizabeth and her mother weren’t here. She’d hoped to have a few private words with her friend about their outing on Saturday. She didn’t know if Elizabeth’s parents had agreed to let her friend go.

The six of them chatted for a while, and Katie offered them iced or hot tea. Ellen chose the iced tea, as the gleaming iced tea pitcher sitting on the table looked inviting as well as refreshing, and since it was a glorious day and the windows were open, it seemed the best choice.

“We saw Annie on our way over,” she told Katie. “Coming out of Whittier’s. Said she was going home to drop off EJ and Susanna and then she’d be here.”

“Miriam offered to watch them,” Katie said. “I wish they’d all come. Hannah is here to care for them—and Joseph.”

Ellen felt her face turn red. “I’m glad you said that. I’m afraid I may have overstepped when I suggested the same thing.” She felt relieved as she saw pleasure come to Katie’s expression. “I thought that Daniel would be here. I didn’t think of Joseph.”

“He’s certainly a grown-up young man,” Mam commented. “How old is he now?”

“Eleven.”

Ellen shook her head in wonder. Would he continue to look exactly like Isaac when he got older?

Elizabeth and her mother arrived to join the quilting bee gathering, and moments later Miriam Zook came with Annie and her two children.

“You’ve brought them,” Katie gushed. “Gut.”

“I didn’t think about Hannah and Daniel,” Annie admitted. “And I wanted to spend the day with my mudder, too.”

Miriam glanced fondly at her daughter. “Are Hannah and Daniel here?”

“Hannah is,” Katie said. “And Joseph. I don’t think he’ll mind watching EJ.” She got up and left the room, then returned with her daughter and son.

“EJ!” Joseph exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with pleasure. “Would you like to go out and play?” He shot a look to his sister-in-law, who nodded. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go see the animals in the barn.”

Hannah was more than happy to stay with Susanna. She spread a quilt on the floor not far from the women and sat, setting the baby next to her.

Conversation started to buzz as the women threaded their needles and got to work.

“Alta’s not here?” Elizabeth’s mother asked.

“She’s not coming today,” Miriam said. Alta Hershberger, the resident busybody, was her sister-in-law, although Alta’s husband, Miriam’s younger brother John, had passed on when their two daughters were nine and ten. “She said she needed to go to market with Mary.”

Annie glanced at her mother with raised eyebrows but didn’t comment.

The women stitched for a couple hours before Katie stood. “Let’s eat.”

Mae King and Miriam got up to help their hostess with the food. Ellen started to rise to join them, but Katie waved her to her seat. “Sit. We’ll manage.”

The work on the quilt was progressing nicely. The stitches were neat and even. Ellen knew the women hoped to get most of it done today.

Elizabeth’s mother rose with Mam and the two went into the kitchen to help the others. Ellen slid over to the seat next to Elizabeth.

“Are you allowed to go on Saturday?”

Elizabeth frowned. “Nay. Dat said I wasn’t ready.” She sighed dramatically. “What does he mean by that? I’m old enough.”

Ellen stifled her disappointment. She didn’t want to make her friend feel worse. “Maybe we can try again in a couple of months.” She really wanted to visit the clinic, not that she’d said anything about it to her friend.

Ellen changed the subject and the girls chatted briefly about their siblings. Soon the women had the food ready, and following Elizabeth, she went to grab a plate. After eating lunch, the women went back to work and finished up at three thirty. There’d been no sign of Isaac or Daniel, who apparently had both gone to work with their older brother Jedidiah and Matt Rhoades.

Ellen felt immense relief when she and her mother headed home. She’d spent a large part of the day at the Samuel Lapp farm and had made it without encountering Isaac more than once. She hadn’t realized that she’d been tense and worried about it until after she and her mother had climbed into their buggy and left.

Why should I care whether or not I see Isaac Lapp? She was over him. Completely. She’d moved on. But the memory of her past feelings for him lingered.

She turned her thoughts to the clinic. She didn’t want to wait months until she visited the clinic, especially since her father had agreed to let her go. There must be someone who would be allowed to go. What about Barbara Zook? She’d have to think about it. Barbara was slightly older than her. There were other girls her age in her community. She had to think of one she could trust with her desire to work for the Westmore Clinic.

* * *

Isaac took off his black-banded straw hat and ran a hand through his light brown hair. It had been a good workday but he was tired. He glanced over at his younger brother Daniel and felt his lips curve upward. He wasn’t as tired as Daniel. This was Daniel’s first job on a construction site, and while he did hard work on the farm, he was clearly exhausted from the unaccustomed manual labor.

“Ready to go?” he asked his brother.

To his surprise, Daniel grinned at him. “Gut day, ja?”

Isaac stared at him, feeling astonished. “You like the work.”

“Ja. Feels gut to see what you’ve accomplished in a day.” Daniel glanced at the house that was currently under construction.

They had put together and set into place all the walls of the first floor of a house. It would be a large dwelling. The first floor alone was probably two thousand square feet. Isaac didn’t know what the upper level would entail yet, but he was sure when the structure was done, it would be massive.

“Nice job,” Matt Rhoades said as he approached with their older brother Jed.

Isaac gave a silent nod but Daniel was more effusive. “We got a lot done today.”

Matt looked pleased by the boy’s obvious enjoyment. Dark haired with dark eyes and a quick smile, the contractor was a favorite Englisher among their Amish community. “Ready to return tomorrow?”

Daniel nodded vigorously, and Isaac couldn’t help but chuckle at the boy’s enthusiasm.

“We should make sure that Dat doesn’t need us on the farm tomorrow.” Isaac watched Daniel’s face fall. “I doubt he does, though.” He made a decision, hoping that his father would agree. “We’ll be here,” he told Matt. “Eight o’clock sharp, as usual. Let’s go home, Daniel.”

As he drove their wagon home, Isaac thought of the money he’d earned today, which was his, free and clear. Until this week, everything he’d made since the Whittier’s Store incident, he’d given to Bob Whittier to pay for the damages. The paint that had been splattered over the back of the building had ruined the siding. Since there was no match for the old color, all of it had been removed from the building and replaced. And Isaac had paid for it all—the material and the labor to install it—even though he wasn’t the one who had been responsible for the damage.

I may as well have been, he thought. Because he’d lied when he’d taken the blame. Nancy had begged him not to tell. Her brother, Brad, had instigated the act, and she’d pleaded with him. Isaac had arrived on the scene after the deed had been done, and as he’d stared at the damage with a sick feeling of dread, the police had pulled up to the building in their cruiser and everyone had scattered into the wind, except for Isaac. Sergeant Thomas Martin, the police officer who’d questioned him, was Rick Martin’s brother. Rick was a friend and neighbor, and because of Rick’s connection, the officer had called Bob Whittier rather than taking him to the station immediately. Bob had refused to press charges. The officer could have pressed charges himself, but he’d let Bob handle the situation himself. Bob Whittier had said that he’d forget about the incident if Isaac would pay for the damages. So for the next couple of years, Isaac had worked hard and paid Bob Whittier every cent he’d earned until the debt was paid. He’d given Bob the last payment owed with his last paycheck.

“Isaac,” Daniel said, pulling Isaac from his dark thoughts. “I did all right today, ja?”

Isaac nodded. “You did fine, Bruder.”

His brother appeared relieved. “Danki for getting me the job.”

He ran a weary hand across the back of his neck before he turned toward his brother. “You’re a gut worker. Matt asked if I knew anyone and I did—you. Jed agreed that you were the man for the job.”

Daniel looked pleased that both brothers had approved of him. “I appreciate it.”

Isaac studied him. Daniel wore a blue shirt, triblend denim pants and heavy work boots, just like he did. His straw hat sat crookedly on his head. There was a smudge of dirt across one cheek and sawdust on the shirtfront, but he looked happy and content and that was all that mattered. He wondered what his mother would say when she saw them. “We’d better clean up outside before we head into the house. Mam is bound to take one look at us and cry out. But you can’t work and stay clean, too, ja?”

“Ja,” Daniel agreed with a grin.

They headed toward the back of the house. As they passed an open window, Isaac heard his mother’s voice. “Isaac, Daniel—that you?”

“Ja, Mam,” they both answered.

“Just stopping to wash up at the pump.”

“Hannah,” he heard Mam call. “Get your bruders some soap and towels. They’re outside.”

Isaac heard his little sister murmur her assent as he pumped the handle that set forth a gush of water. “You first,” he told Daniel.

His younger brother reached in and cupped his hands full of cold water, then splashed his face and neck.”

Hannah appeared and handed him soap. Isaac stood by watching as Daniel lathered up his face, neck, arms and hands while Hannah hovered nearby, waiting with a towel. Meeting his little sister’s gaze, Isaac grinned at her.

Daniel finished up, and then Isaac took his turn. He washed up while his brother worked the pump and his sister looked on.

“You boys done yet?” Mam called out. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Coming,” Isaac replied.

As the three siblings approached the back door that led to the kitchen, Isaac put a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “Did you have a gut day, Hannah?”

“Ja, I got to play with Susanna. Joseph helped with EJ.” She beamed up at him. “Annie came to Mam’s quilting bee today.”

Isaac nodded as he reached to open the door and waited for Daniel and Hannah to precede him. Hannah hung back as Daniel went in first. She seemed eager to talk about the day. “Ja, and Mae, Nancy and Charlotte came—so did Josie and Ellen,” she went on. “And Elizabeth and her mudder, too.”

“That’s nice,” he said. Isaac felt his belly warm at the mention of Ellen. Since her accident, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. Or was it because he was bothered that she’d seemed to go out of her way to avoid him since?

Mam was at the kitchen sink, washing dishes. She turned as they entered. “Gut.” She eyed him and Daniel, assessing their appearance. “You look clean enough,” she decided.

Isaac glanced at her with raised eyebrows. “You need us for something?”

She dried her hands on a tea towel and laid it to dry over the end of the dish rack. “Ja. I’d like you to carry my quilt frame upstairs. Martha may stop by at any time, and I don’t want her to see the baby quilt before it’s done and we’re ready to give it to her.”

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