Redemption in Amish Country, page 12
Stunned, he stared at the initials, tongue-tied. Then he held the horse closer, eyeing the letters all over again, not believing what he was seeing.
“Zach, what is it?” Leah’s concerned voice reverberated in his ears. “You look shocked.”
“Are you okay, Onkel Zach?” Samuel stepped closer.
“Jah, it’s just...just so strange to see this.” He looked up at them both. “The initials are I.G.”
Chapter Eleven
“I.G.? Your daed?”
Leah didn’t mean for her tone to sound so incredulous. But she was as astonished as Zach seemed to be that his daed, of all people, had sculpted such an impressive piece of art. Even more, she was trying to get her bearings and her head on straight after the almost-kiss from Zach.
“Take a look for yourself.” Zach held the upside-down horse for her to see. Squinting, she still couldn’t quite make out the letters.
“I believe you. It’s just that sitting down quietly and being patient enough to carve something that beautiful seems so un—”
Realizing Samuel was looking up at her and hanging on every word, she halted right there. It wouldn’t be right to say anything negative about his grandfather. Even if the art of wood carving did seem to be an unlikely and unfit match for the brusque man she knew and cared so much for.
“Leah, you didn’t finish saying un what,” Samuel spoke up, not letting her off the hook.
She began to stammer. Thankfully, Zach came to her rescue. “I think Leah was about to say it seems so unbelievable that your grandfather or anyone could create such a beauty as this. Right, Leah?”
“Jah, absolutely.” She bobbed her head in agreement.
“Can we take it to Grossdaddi and show him I found it? Or do we have to rake more?”
Zach didn’t hesitate to answer. “I say we put away the rakes and head back to the house.”
After the rakes got hung, they hustled outside. A few minutes later, Leah was glad to see Ivan was still seated on the porch right where they had left him, enjoying the sunshine.
“You’re back so soon?” he called out.
“I found something hiding in the barn, Grossdaddi.”
Samuel darted up the steps ahead of her and Zach, positioning himself next to Ivan’s chair.
“You did? Was it a mouse? Or a garter snake?” Ivan hissed. “Or did a rabbit get in there?”
“Nee.” Samuel shook his head. “It was a horse.”
Ivan chuckled, his face lighting up merrily. “Well, of course, you found horses in the barn, grandson. That’s no mystery.”
“He’s talking about this horse, Daed.”
Zach had been holding the carving at his side. When he lifted it and handed it to his father, Leah saw the amusement instantly fade from Ivan’s eyes.
“Oh, jah. This,” was all he said, grasping it loosely.
“Daed, you act like the carving is nothing special. It’s a work of art. I can’t believe I never knew—”
His father cut him off. “Because it was something you didn’t need to know,” he replied before addressing his grandson. “Samuel, why don’t you take this horse and go inside and have some cookies and lemonade.” He held out the carving to Samuel, who grabbed it right away.
“I can help him,” Leah spoke up. She wasn’t sure what had made Ivan’s mood shift so quickly. She also wasn’t sure she wanted to know and began to follow Samuel toward the screen door.
“He doesn’t need your help.” Ivan stopped her. “Do you, Samuel?”
“Horse will help me.” The child smiled before romping inside.
Leah hated to see Samuel go since he had been the only one of them smiling. She was sure she looked bewildered, and Zach’s features had crumpled into a disgusted expression.
“You’re talking in riddles, Daed.” Zach immediately pounced on his father. “What do you want to leave me out of this time? What didn’t I need to know?”
Watching Ivan’s lips tighten and hoping to calm Zach before the two of them sparred verbally, she placed a gentle hand on Zach’s shoulder.
Ivan answered gruffly, “You didn’t need to know that I carved that horse for your sister.”
Taken aback, Leah’s mouth dropped. Apparently shocked as well, Zach collapsed onto the end of the empty porch chair. “But...but I don’t have a sister.” He began shaking his head. “Do I?”
“You would’ve,” Ivan said succinctly and solemnly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Zach replied. Leah was lost as well.
“You would’ve had an older sister, but the Lord took her right after she was born. I’d made that horse for her and was going to surprise your mamm with it, but never did.” He paused and let out a long, weary breath. “I don’t know why I didn’t throw it away instead of hiding it. Maybe it was my way of holding on to that boppli girl.”
“It’s beautiful, Daed.” Leah heard Zach’s voice soften.
“Verra,” she added.
Ivan eyed them both and smiled slightly. “So was she,” he said wistfully.
“Was that horse the first thing you ever carved?”
“The first thing that meant anything to me.”
“Well, Daed, you certainly have a gift for sculpting, a really special talent.” Zach leaned toward his father. “Have you ever thought about doing more of it?”
“I’ve done a little here and there,” Ivan answered indifferently.
“Well, you could be like Leah,” Zach insisted.
Her head jerked at that. “Like me?”
“Jah, you’re using your gifts by caregiving and tutoring, ain’t so?”
She didn’t respond, not very comfortable with him drawing attention to her. Thankfully, he turned back to his father.
“And your wrist seems to be a lot better now, Daed.”
“That doesn’t matter much. It’s my right wrist that got sprained, and I’m left-handed.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Zach smiled. “Even better.”
“Some of the world’s greatest artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were left-handed,” Leah couldn’t resist adding.
“See, there you go.” Zach chuckled. “I’d be happy to buy you a set of carving knives or whatever it is you use.”
“I don’t need anything like that.” Ivan shook his head. “I have a set stored away.”
“I say it’s time to get them out then.”
“Ach!” Ivan waved a hand, dismissing the idea. “If it’s time for anything, it’s time for my lunch,” he countered. “Isn’t that right, Leah?”
She glanced back and forth between the opposing men. At Zach, obviously a man who wanted to do the best for others, whose expression was marked with a kind but very determined earnestness. And then at Ivan, who had a mind of his own and rarely seemed to like suggestions, especially when they had something to do with him.
Maybe a noonday meal really would be the simplest answer for their stalemate.
“I’m happy to get lunch for all of us,” she replied. “How about egg-salad sandwiches?”
That seemed like something the pair could agree on, and she started for the door. Yet as she took one step in front of the other, the path didn’t seem so open and clear. Puzzled, she tried to understand what was happening. Yes, she’d been dealing with the shimmering at the corners of her eyes, but now those tendrils of light had turned somewhat shadowy. Which didn’t make sense. Hadn’t the doctor just diagnosed her as farsighted with slight astigmatism?
Then why did it feel like the world was closing in on her?
Especially, at a time like this in her life when her heart was beginning to open up?
* * *
In the early evening, Zach stood in the doorway of his father’s bedroom, surprised by his daed for the second time that day. Never had he seen his father appear so comfortable and, more than that, so caring. The man was asleep, all snuggled in bed with his dozing grandson leaning against him. Samuel was still hugging the carved horse to his side while his grandfather held him close.
Earlier, Zach had heard Samuel’s voice as his nephew partly read and mostly spoke his way through a favorite children’s book. Now the book lay open on the bed. Samuel hadn’t made it to the last page. No doubt the day had left the two of them tired but obviously completely content with one another. They’d drifted off to sleep.
“Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?”
Zach caught a whiff of Leah’s flowery shampoo as she leaned over his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
“It really is,” he agreed. He couldn’t remember as a child when he’d ever cuddled with his father that way. Those times were always reserved with his mamm. Still, it was a heartwarming sight and proof again that his father did have a heart.
“It’s precious to see.” Leah echoed his thoughts. “Want me to help you put Samuel in his own bed?” she asked.
“Not yet. They look too content like that, and this is Samuel’s last night here. I’ll move him a little later. I promise.”
They turned and went into the kitchen, which he’d helped Leah clean up after dinner. It was then he remembered another promise he’d made. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the table.
“Are you still hungry?”
“Nee. I promised Bear an apple earlier and told him I’d be back with one.” He twirled the piece of fruit in his hand. “Would you want to go with me?”
She leaned over and picked up two more apples from the green-trimmed bowl and tucked them into her apron pockets. “Better take some extras for the others, just in case.”
“I guess that’s a yes then?” He cocked his head.
“It is.” She smiled up at him.
The sun had lowered in the sky but still cast a golden glow over the fields as they made their way to visit the horses. With Leah by his side, Zach caught himself thinking that he felt as if he was glowing too. After almost kissing her earlier in the day, he was thankful she didn’t seem shy or uncomfortable being with him. As they leaned against the fence gazing at the sleek-coated horses in the pasture, their shoulders brushed against each other, and she didn’t seem to mind that either.
“Bear looks like he’s found some friends out there,” she said. “You brought him around pretty quickly.”
“Now I’m wondering if I’ve made him so comfortable that he’s off with his horse buddies and has forgotten about me.”
“Oh, now.” Leah giggled. “I bet parents think that about their children sometimes too.” She gave his shoulder a friendly pat. “Apparently you’ve done well with him, Zach, and made him feel at ease and trusting with the three steps I told you about. You spent time with him, created a positive association so he thinks of you as a calming presence. And you’ve learned his likes and dislikes.” She nodded to the apple in his hand.
“I also discovered he likes to have his nose rubbed. Not so much his mane as his nose. Aren’t you proud of me?”
“Oh, now, pride goes before a fall,” she quipped, teasingly. “But I do think knowing those kinds of things about Bear has made you closer to him, ain’t so?”
“I do. And... I think it works for humans too.”
“I never thought of it like that, but I suppose it could.”
He watched her brows knit together as if considering what he’d said which gave him the courage to go on.
“It does. Take you and me, for instance.”
She turned completely and looked up at him, a curious smile curving her lips. “You and me?”
“Jah. I now know after buying many pints of the wrong flavors of ice cream that pineapple sherbet is your favorite from Dipsy Do’s.”
“That was an expensive trip to the ice cream shop that night, wasn’t it?”
Her words were somewhat apologetic, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. He wanted to tell her he’d spend any amount of money to put a smile on her face. But he kept that to himself. “Jah, but it was worth it. That was a special night.”
“With the engagement announcement, you mean?”
“That, and you and I had a chance outside of our workday to get to know each other better. We had a—what do you call it? A positive association. I liked that.”
“Me too.” She tilted her head, giving him a coy grin. “So...what else do you know about my likes and dislikes?”
“Ah, that’s easy. I know that you enjoy reading books by the creek. You love opening the eyes and minds of children. I know that, like it or not, you can’t help caring about everyone else more than yourself. And the biggest thing—” He paused dramatically, knowing that would stir her interest even more. Which it did.
“What?” She poked at his shoulder. “Tell me.”
“I know your favorite breakfast foods and that you’re verra, verra jealous of my sausage gravy and biscuits.”
Hearing her raspy, wholehearted laughter brought him great joy.
“I wouldn’t say I’m jealous exactly. I’m more like amazed. And if you’d ever share the recipe with me, I bet I could make both of those as good as you.”
“You do, huh?” He quirked a playful brow. “Let me tell you, the secret is not in the ingredients. Trust me, it’s in the way I fix those dishes.”
“Well, come to think of it, that could be true. Besides making a great breakfast, you grill up the best barbecued ribs that I’ve ever tasted too.”
“So you liked those, huh?” He was enjoying the compliments that came from her.
“Liked them? I loved them.”
“Why, danke. I like plenty of things you cook too.”
“Or things that I bake, like my grossmammi’s chocolate chip cake. I know that’s one of your favorites, along with any flavor of ice cream that Dipsy Do’s has to offer. But more than that, I think I know what’s most dear to your heart.”
Hearing her speak those last words, he couldn’t tear his gaze from her. Did she have any idea how important she was becoming to him?
“You are a fixer, Zachary Graber,” she continued. “And not just an all-around handyman sort of fixer, which comes totally naturally to you. But you also like to fix everything and everyone around you. It seems to be your greatest desire for everyone to be their best and happiest. And when you’re having trouble fixing something, I’ve seen that you don’t stop and say that you can’t. No, you keep at it, trying to find another way.”
He was so moved that he could barely speak.
“And what you’ve done for your daed so far, Zach,” she went on, “may not appear like much to you. But it is. Also, I know right now it seems like he doesn’t want to be around the horses much.”
“You’ve noticed that too?” Was she beginning to see things about his father like he did? That would surely make things easier. A wave of thankfulness washed over him—until she spoke again.
“I have. But I imagine he’s only frustrated, knowing that he can’t care for them yet the way that he used to. But I don’t believe for a minute that it means he doesn’t love them anymore. This place has been his life. The horses have been his life.” Realizing what she’d said, she cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”
“It’s fine. I admit, when I first got here, I would sit on this fence and think what a great load of work those creatures were.” He closed a hand over the wooden rail, remembering. “But after caring for them and getting to know them better, they’ve sure grown on me.”
“And when your daed’s ready, you’ll have everything in place for him. Healthy, happy horses and a farm and house that are in better shape than they’ve been for a very long time.”
Guilt poked at the pit of his stomach. He had to look away from the trust and admiration in her eyes. Blindly staring out into the pasture, he felt everything inside him was at war. He needed to come clean and tell her about Highland’s offer. But why bring up something he wasn’t completely settled on himself? Or was he? He’d hidden the proposal in a bottom drawer of his dresser. But he hadn’t stopped taking it out and looking at it every now and then. Some days he wanted to share the offer with her to get her opinion. Other days he prayed she didn’t come across the paper and think the worst of him for considering it as an answer for his father.
“Zach.” She laid a hand on his forearm, interrupting his thoughts. “I hope I didn’t embarrass you. Those aren’t just offhanded compliments. It’s all true.”
“Leah—” He squeezed her hand, unable to hold back from her any longer. “I’ve been trying to find a way to—”
“Zach, I know you have. You’ve not only tried to find a way for your daed.” Her innocent eyes searched his. “You’re making a way for him. Oh, and there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you all day. Because of your example in attempting to make amends with your daed, I wrote a letter to my sister this morning in hopes I can do the same thing.”
“You did? I hope I didn’t say anything to make you think you had to do that.”
“Not at all. But you know what? It has been a long day, and suddenly my head is pounding. I should go.”
“How about I get the horses inside quickly? Then I’ll walk you home.” In a way, he was happy to have the day end as well.
“Nee. I’ll be fine. But you should take these.” She emptied the apples from her apron pockets, handing them to him. “And you should stay since you made a promise to Bear. Because that’s another thing I know about you.”
Cupping the extra apples in his hands, he was baffled. “What’s that?”
“You’re a man who doesn’t like to break his promises.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“Bright and early, I hope.” He nodded.
“Of course,” she said softly.
Once she left his side and walked away, guilt not only poked at Zach again. It stabbed, long and hard. As he scanned the wide-open sky, brilliantly lit with the glimmering colors of sunset, all the beauty was lost on him. Instead, he bowed his head, closed his eyes, trying to unburden his heart. He prayed, asking the Lord to help him find a way to be the man Leah thought him to be. He prayed, knowing Gott was better at keeping promises than he’d ever be.
