The Amish Christmas Matchmaker, page 8
“Because you mentioned her quite a bit, but hardly spoke at all about her bruders.”
“Oh, her bruders seem like nice people too.”
Simon smiled, but he didn’t comment on that. Realizing that he would hear about his and Annie’s dating, Levi decided to tell him about it before someone else could.
“Actually, we’re going to be stepping out together—Annie and I.”
“Thought you were seeing the Weaver girl.”
“Ya, I was, but we decided...that is, it seems like...well, what I mean is, we’re freinden, is all.”
“Love often starts as friendship.”
Did it ever start as enemies? The question almost popped out of Levi’s mouth, but he managed to rein it in. He and Annie hadn’t been adversaries—not exactly. That was too harsh a word. It was true that they were on opposite sides of the Texas issue, but now he understood why. It didn’t weaken his resolve to move there. In fact, he realized, in that moment, that he felt less anxious than he had since moving to Goshen. It no longer seemed that Annie was working against him, only that they were on separate paths.
“She’s a gut girl, our Annie.” Simon ran a hand up and down the walking stick checking for rough spots. “Seems as if only yesterday she was a young thing, running around with the kinner.”
“Not many Amish women run their own business.”
As soon as he uttered the words, Levi remembered Annie admonishing him about how many Amish women did work to help the family budget—bakers, quilters, etc. She’d been right. He’d simply never taken the time to think about it.
But what she’d done?
The wedding trailer?
Cooking for hundreds of people at a time? Nein. There weren’t many women that he knew who could accomplish such a thing.
“It’s true,” Simon said. “But Annie saw a need in our community and met it.”
“Because Goshen has grown so much.”
“That—and also because now Amish women are busier than ever.” Simon added a touch of oil to his rag and proceeded to rub it into the cane. “Raising a household of children, keeping the house and preparing the meals—those things are a tremendous amount of work. Plus, most families now have cottage businesses that are important to their livelihood. Unfortunately it’s become harder and harder to make it on farming alone.”
It occurred to Levi that Simon’s thinking was remarkably clear tonight. There was none of the confusion he’d witnessed earlier. Hadn’t he mixed up the Red River with the Mississippi just the day before? Perhaps his confusion only happened when he was tired or stressed.
“I agree that times are hard—even for an Amish farmer who is supposed to be self-sufficient. The cost of land is so prohibitive. It’s why I want to start a community in Texas.”
“Ya. Sure and certain it could be less expensive there, if you pick the right spot. But farming is always hard, Levi, especially dry-land farming.”
“I didn’t claim it wasn’t.” He felt the old defensiveness rise up in him—like a cat being stroked the wrong way.
“I knew you were aware. We’ve lived there—you and I have. You were old enough when we left to know that the farming was difficult—it wasn’t all bluebonnets and rodeos.”
“Are you against the idea of moving?”
“Not at all.” Simon ran the rag over the cane one last time, then stood and carried it to a corner of the room where he placed it with the ones that were ready to go to town. “But I wouldn’t want to misrepresent what we’re doing. We’re not going to the promised land, though it might appear that way from a distance.”
“I’m aware.”
“We work and toil in this life, live simply, try to be a good neighbor and follow Gotte’s word. Rest assured, you’ll face challenges in Texas same as here. Let’s be very certain that everyone understands that.”
Levi wanted to take offense at the words. It felt like the old guy was lecturing him, but a crack had opened in Levi’s dreams and the smallest bit of doubt had crept in.
Was he only remembering the best parts of Texas?
Had he forgotten how difficult it was living there?
And worse yet, what if Annie was right? What if there was somewhere closer, somewhere better, that he hadn’t considered? Not only would he be risking the money he’d saved, but he’d be leading a group of people right off the proverbial cliff with him.
Chapter Seven
Annie was busy on Thursday—from the moment the sun rose until it settled in the west. She barely had a moment to rest what with catching up on the household chores and setting things straight in the wedding trailer.
By Friday morning, she felt that she’d made up for the day she’d lost harvesting. As she drank coffee with her mamm, she made a long list of things she needed to purchase. Although Priscilla bought most of their food in bulk at the local big-box discount store, there were still items she needed to pick up at local stores.
And there was another reason she was eager to take the buggy out. On the way to town, she had to pass right by Martha’s place. No harm in stopping to see if she’d like to ride along.
Her mamm thought it was a fine plan and added a few things she needed to the bottom of Annie’s list. After they’d had breakfast and cleaned up the dishes, her dat brought the buggy around. She couldn’t help smiling when she walked up to Bella. They’d bought the mare four years ago, but Annie still thought she was the prettiest buggy mare she’d ever seen—chestnut colored with three white socks and a sweet disposition.
She headed off to town feeling fairly optimistic about the day, though she dreaded confronting Martha. “Not a confrontation,” she tried to assure herself. “More like an informational meeting.”
Big Tom was off with one of his bruders, looking at goats.
“He’s quite excited,” Martha said. “We had some, years ago, and he’s forgotten how much trouble they can be.”
“My dat says if water can get through a fence, a goat can and will.”
“Ya, I’ve heard that one. There’s some truth to it too.”
Martha was keen on spending a few hours away from the farm. They stopped by the fabric store where Annie purchased several yards of lace that she planned to use on her centerpieces the next day. Then they went to the general store for the rest of the items on her list. By the time they were finished there, Annie realized she’d skipped lunch and was starving.
“Coffee and a treat?”
“You’ll never hear me turn down either of those things.”
Annie ordered coffee and a cranberry-walnut scone. Martha chose coffee and a large blueberry muffin. When they sat down, both girls cut their treat in half and swapped. It was something they’d done since they were young. They didn’t even think about it anymore—best friends shared, and Martha certainly was her best friend.
It was after they’d finished their food and were sipping on refills of coffee that Annie brought up the subject of Levi. She explained how he’d helped with the harvest, how her family had misinterpreted their friendship and what they’d decided to do about it.
By the time she was done, Martha was grinning like a child who’d caught her first fish.
“Why are you looking at me that way?”
“What way?”
“As if you expected this.”
“But I did expect this.”
Annie stared at Martha. She wasn’t offended exactly, more surprised. Martha had always been the more insightful one, while Annie had always been the one to jump into action. Still, she hadn’t seen this coming at all.
“It’s not real,” she reminded her.
“Uh-huh.”
“We’re not truly interested in each other.”
“So you mentioned—at least three times now.”
“It’s just that my parents are quite single-minded. You know how they are. Once they get an idea in their heads, it’s impossible to convince them it isn’t so...” The rest of her explanation died on her lips when she saw Martha was now outright laughing at her, though she was attempting to hide it behind her napkin.
“What?”
“Maybe you don’t realize that Levi is quite taken with you.”
“Taken with me?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Now you’re being narrisch.”
“I’m perfectly sane and you know it.”
“Then why would you suggest such a thing?”
“Because it’s true.”
“Definitely is not true.”
“I’ve spent a lot of time with him the last few weeks, thanks to the elaborate plan you concocted.”
“Desperate more than elaborate.”
“He talks about you all the time.”
“What?” Her voice had climbed an octave and an older Englisch couple turned their direction, eyebrows raised. Annie forced her voice down. “What are you talking about?”
“Always it was Annie this and Annie that. He’s quite smitten with you and probably doesn’t even know it.”
“Martha Weaver. I believe you’re teasing me.”
“I’m not.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. “One day he even told me that you would make a fine fraa...”
“He said that? About me?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What else did he say? I can tell you’re holding something back.”
“Nein, I’m not.”
“Spill it.”
“Well, okay. He said you’d make a fine fraa for someone who didn’t mind an opinionated, stubborn and very strong-willed woman.”
“See?” Annie sat back, satisfied that she hadn’t misread the situation. “That sounds more like the Levi I know.”
“If you say so. It’s a little warm in here. Are you ready to go? I think I need some fresh air.”
The day was drizzly, but they’d stopped by the library earlier, and she’d checked the weather on the computer. The forecast promised things would clear off during the late afternoon. Tomorrow should be sunny but crisp—perfect weather for a wedding.
She pulled in a deep breath as Martha joined her on the sidewalk, linked their arms together, and turned them toward the buggy.
Martha’s voice was suddenly serious. “It’s okay, you know. If you like him.”
“Because you two are just freinden.”
“Yup.”
“Because you’re so much alike.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m going to disagree with that. You’re kind and giving and compassionate...”
“If you could have seen Levi with Big Tom, you’d understand that he is those things too.”
“All right. I’m not saying he doesn’t have gut qualities, but he’s also more bullheaded than those Texas longhorns he’s always bragging about.”
“Not always a bad thing.”
They’d reached the buggy. Annie fed a carrot to Bella, patting the mare and thanking her for waiting so patiently. When they were settled inside, and Annie had set the mare into a nice trot down the street, Martha said what was on her mind, what she’d probably been trying to say from the beginning.
“It’s okay if you change your mind about a thing or a person. Sometimes first impressions aren’t the best. Sometimes we have to see past that impression to the scars and hopes and dreams underneath, and then we understand who they really are.”
“And you think that’s what is happening between Levi and me?”
“Maybe.”
“I don’t know. Honestly when I think about Levi, my thoughts and feelings are a jumble.”
“Give it time, my friend. But please, keep an open mind.”
Could she do that where Levi was concerned? And did she owe it to Levi to give him a fresh start? She hadn’t made the best first impression, either. She could still remember the lecture she’d given him that first night he’d had dinner at her parents’ house.
So what was she supposed to do?
See past Levi’s scars, as Martha had suggested?
How did a person even do that?
She puzzled over that question long after she’d dropped off Martha at her place. She was nearly back home before it occurred to her that maybe this wasn’t something that she could figure out on her own. Maybe it was something she needed to pray about.
* * *
Levi kept trying to find time to speak with Annie on Sunday, but either she was extraordinarily busy or she was avoiding him. There was no church meeting that day. Instead, it was a visiting Sunday, and he and Old Simon had been invited to eat with Annie’s family. The place was starting to feel very familiar to him. It was starting to feel more like home than his mother and stepfather’s place ever had.
He drove Petunia right up to the barn and released her into the adjacent field as Old Simon made his way over to the luncheon tables.
Unfortunately it wasn’t the quiet, intimate affair he’d hoped for. It seemed that all of Annie’s family were there—two older bruders, two older schweschdern, all their spouses and plenty of nieces and nephews. He gave up trying to remember all the children’s names.
For reasons he couldn’t fathom, Annie was in a state of constant motion. She was the last to sit down to eat—taking a place at the opposite end of the table from him—and the first to jump up and start clearing dishes. It was possible she was avoiding him.
The thought bothered him more than he wanted it to. He wanted not to care. It wasn’t like she’d confessed her affection for him, but they had come up with a plan. He’d thought he was helping her out. Now he wasn’t so sure.
Clouds had been building through the morning, so it was no surprise when the sky darkened even more and a gentle, soaking rain began to fall. The adults sought refuge on the wraparound covered porch. The children headed to the barn. After confirming that Annie wasn’t on the porch, he darted across the yard, soaking his clothes in the process. It was worth getting wet because the minute he stepped into the barn he found her.
She looked as pretty as she had bustling around the table, but now her eyes were covered with a checkered dishcloth that had been folded into a rectangle and tied around her head. She held out her arms to keep from walking into anything, and a bright smile covered her face. The children called out to her as she sought to tag them.
“Can’t catch me.”
“You’re not even close.”
“This could take days.”
Before he realized what had happened, she’d banged an arm against his chest and shouted “Ha! You’re It.” The expression on her face when she yanked off the blindfold and saw who she’d tagged was priceless.
“Where did you come from?”
“Outside. It’s raining.”
“Ya. I know. That’s why we’re in here.” Her face was flushed and she was twirling the blindfold in her hands.
If he’d thought he would have time to talk to her, he was sadly mistaken. They were surrounded by kids. It seemed as if the number had doubled since lunch and they were all shouting, “You’re It, Levi. She tagged you!”
It should have been a simple game.
One he hadn’t played in many years.
Still, it was embarrassing that it took him so long to tag someone. He kept hearing Annie’s laughter and lurching toward her, only to slap a bale of hay or the barn wall or one time the tabby cat that hissed and swiped at his arm. This sent the entire group into fits of laughter.
Finally, he caught the littlest nephew, a small tyke with white-blond hair and blue eyes. “I’m It? I’ll never catch anyone.”
“I’ll help you...”
“His name is Teddy.” Annie pulled the blindfold from Levi’s hands and began to tie it around her nephew’s eyes.
“Teddy?”
“Short for Theodore.”
“I’ll help you, Teddy.”
“You will?” Teddy jerked his head in Levi’s direction, though he couldn’t see him as the blindfold was now firmly in place.
“Sure, just follow my voice and ignore everyone else.”
It only took a couple of minutes.
Teddy’s older schweschder Molly happened to trip and fall in the hay. Lucky for Teddy. He fell on her claiming, “I got ya. You’re It. We did it, Levi.”
They played another half hour, Teddy sticking close to Levi the entire time. When the children finally decided they were hungry again and ran from the barn, Levi collapsed on top of a bale of hay.
“Young ones wear you out.”
“Oh, you’re worn out, are you?”
“Ya. Aren’t you?”
“I suppose.” She glanced out the door and then back at him as if she was uncertain whether she should stay. As if she didn’t know whether she should chance being alone with him.
“You can sit down, Annie. I won’t bite.”
“I never said you would.”
“Then why does it feel like you’ve been avoiding me all day?”
“Avoiding you? Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I brought it up.”
She rolled her eyes but sat down on an overturned crate.
“We should talk about our first date.”
“We should call it something else.”
“Really? Like what?”
“I don’t know.” She swiped at a lock of hair that had fallen free of her kapp. “Doesn’t matter, I guess.”
“I thought the point was we want your parents to think we’re dating.”
“Yes, yes...”
“And then it won’t work, and then they’ll leave you alone.” He smiled triumphantly. “See? I was listening.”
“Fine. So where are you taking me on this date? I was thinking a fancy restaurant...”
“What?”
“Or maybe even an Englisch movie. I love the popcorn and soda there.”
“Do you know how much those cost?” He realized too late that she was baiting him. Feeling ridiculous, he countered with, “This whole dating thing—where it’s assumed the guy will pay for everything—is not fair.”
