A Daughter's Dream (13 page)

Later, after she “rescued” Jacob, she was going to need to be ready to referee the inevitable argument that was going to take place between her siblings. Because no matter what Amelia thought, a new baby goat named Princess was absolutely the last thing their family needed.

T
his was not how Jacob had anticipated their evening would go.

He was currently kneeling in a patch of straw in a rather dark and dingy horse stall in the back of the Kinsingers' barn. While he hammered at a stretch of chicken wire across the bottom of the railing—which he seriously doubted would keep a rambunctious goat out of trouble—the tiny goat had taken to amusing herself by nibbling on his pant leg.

Furthermore, the person he was there for, the one person in all of Charm whom he was eager to know a whole lot better, was nowhere to be found.

Instead, her sister, Amelia, was in the stall with him. She was sitting on an old barrel as casually as if she'd been sitting with a group of women sipping tea. And between looking over his shoulder and giving him instructions he didn't need, she was doing a very bad job of controlling one playful, hungry goat.

Princess seemed to have forgotten all about her penchant for chrysanthemums and now was fixated on chewing a hole in the hem of his trousers. She was as determined to get her way as a toddler on a quest for a forbidden toy.

Every time Amelia pulled her away with something silly like, “Oh,
nee
, Princess,” the goat bleated a bit, glared at Amelia, and scooted closer to him again.

Jacob was fairly certain that he was going to go home with a big hole in his pants. Disciplining the goat itself was not an option. Instead, he did his best to concentrate on creating a safe spot for Princess as quickly as possible. Then he could get out of this stall and get back to the reason he was there in the first place.

“Jacob, how do you think it looks?” Amelia asked. “Do you think it's gonna be Princess-proof?”

“I hope so.” And he really meant that. But based on Princess's behavior so far he doubted it would stand up against her for longer than ten minutes.

“I hope so, too. She's going to need to learn to like her little stall, because I don't think either Rebecca or Lukas is going to let her inside the house.”

She sounded almost serious. Turning around, he looked at her. “You actually want this goat to live in your
haus
?”

Her lips twitched. “Not really. But it's fun to think about. Ain't so?”

Princess head-butted him. He fell from his crouch and landed on the exact spot that Princess had apparently had in mind. “I think it would only be fun for a certain goat,” he teased.

As the silly animal scooted closer and craned her neck for a rub and he complied, Amelia giggled. “She's won you over, too. I knew she would.”

Smiling at her, he had to admit that it wasn't just the goat who had done that, it was Amelia, too. Now that the goat wasn't tearing at his clothes, he could get a better look at Rebecca's sister. Even in the dim light, Jacob was certain that Amelia was
the prettiest woman he'd ever seen. Blessed with light blond hair, pure blue eyes, a heart-shaped face, and a lithe figure, all matched by a sweet personality, she was truly lovely.

Part of him was surprised he wasn't thinking about her. She was sweet, pretty, and unattached. But he wasn't interested in developing anything more with her than a friendship. Instead, his heart and thoughts were thoroughly concentrating on one person and that was Amelia's sister.

“I am fairly sure this goat did not win me over, Amelia.”

“She might have.” After placing a kiss on the goat's head she added, “I knew she was the goat for me as soon as I saw her in the pen at Hershberger's.”

“You knew she was the goat for you?” he repeated with a smile.

“She trotted right up to me and stayed by my side. She liked me from the moment we saw each other.”

Jacob didn't know much about goats, but he was fairly certain little goats didn't bond with young women that quickly. Not even pretty blondes like Amelia. “You are too silly,” he teased, feeling like his life would have been even better if he'd had a little sister like Amelia around when he was growing up.

“I'm not silly, Jake. I only know what I like.”

“And you like goats.”

“It's true.”

When she let out a giggle, he laughed, too. He could only imagine what a handful Amelia had been for her siblings.

He was just about to finish up the project when the barn door opened and Lukas Kinsinger walked in. He was followed by a man of similar build but with light brown eyes and darker brown hair. They were deep in conversation, then turned in unison to the stall that he, Amelia, and one goat occupied.

Both men stopped and stared.

Amelia raised a hand. “Hiya, Lukas.”

Her brother looked thoroughly confused. The other man appeared just plain irritated.

Striding over, Lukas said, “Hi there, Jacob. When I hired you for the lumberyard, I never thought I could hire you to work in my barn, too. Is there a special reason I'm finding you hammering chicken wire in here?”

There was no way he was going to try to explain himself while crouched on the other side of a horse stall. He stood up. “I was simply doing a favor for Amelia.”

The other man approached and rested his elbows on the top rung on the stall. “Oh? And what kind of favor was that?”

Jacob knew that tone, and he wasn't about to get involved in a fight over Amelia. He raised his hands. “Obviously, I'm hammering chicken wire. Nothing more.”

“Settle, Simon,” Lukas murmured. “Jacob, this here is Simon Hochstetler. He's a
gut
friend and one of my supervisors at the mill. Simon, this is Jacob Yoder. He was just hired on over in Marcus's section.”

“Hi, Simon. It's
gut
to meet you,” Jacob said.

The other man simply glared, then said, “That doesn't tell me why you are alone in the Kinsingers' barn with Amelia.”

Jacob was too old to be cowed by another man's jealousy. And it was mighty obvious that's what this was. “I already told you what I was doing. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Unless one counted his pant leg getting chewed by a billy goat.

“Because?”

Wearing a determined expression, Amelia strode forward. “Because I got a goat today. That's why.”

“That goat is ours?”

“Absolutely.”

Lukas groaned. “Amelia, why ever would you do that?”

“Because I wanted one.” Looking at Princess fondly, she said, “Isn't she sweet?”

“That ain't how I would describe her, Amy.” Sounding more irritated by the minute, he asked, “What are you going to do with her? Make goat's-milk cheese?”

Her smile faltered. “Of course not.” Looking warily at both Simon and Jacob, she said, “I think it would be a
gut
idea if we talked about this later. When we are alone.”

“
Nee
, let's get this over with now.”

“But Lukas—”

“I'm not asking you to reveal any dark secrets, sister,” he said impatiently. “I simply want to know why—with everything else going on—that you decided to buy this . . . this . . .”

“It's a goat,” she inserted. “It's a tiny baby goat and it needed a home. She's going to be my pet.” Raising her chin, she added, “And I suggest you remember who you are talking to,
bruder
. I'm your sister, not your employee.”

Lukas pulled his hat off his head and ran his fingers through his very short reddish-blond hair. Around a groan he said, “Amelia, really?”

Just like that, her expression crumbled.

It was so disheartening to watch that Jacob was tempted to intervene, even though he didn't really know Amelia at all and Lukas was his new boss. It was obvious, to him at least, that the woman had had enough and was about to dissolve into tears.

But before he could say a word, Simon spoke. “That's enough, Luke.”

Lukas turned to stare at his friend. “What?”

Stepping closer, Simon said, “You heard me. You are being a bull-headed jerk. Don't browbeat your sister for having a kind heart. There's nothing wrong with that.”

Lukas raised his brows. “When did you become the expert on tender hearts?”

“I don't need to be an expert to know that you are overstepping. She is exactly right. You're her brother, not her father. Plus, Amelia is here all day by herself.”

“I canna help that. I've got a mill to run.”

“What I am trying to say is that while Levi is off discovering himself or something, most of the burden of the house and farm is on Amelia. I think if she wants a tiny white goat to fuss over, then she should have it.”

“I didn't ask for your opinion.”

“But you should have.” After giving Lukas a steady glare, he added, “Lukas, you are a good man and a
gut
bruder
. I know you care. But that don't mean you are always right.”

“Lukas, it will be all right,” Amelia said in a rush. “I promise, you won't hardly know Princess is here.”

“Princess?”

Lukas looked so incredulous, Jacob was tempted to laugh. With effort he remained quiet and tried to blend in with the woodwork while the drama spun out around him.

Ignoring Lukas's outburst, Simon held out a hand. “Come on, Amy. Let's get you out of the horse's stall. It looks like Jacob has almost gotten all the chicken wire up.”

“I should stay here and help,” she said.

“He doesn't need your help,” Simon retorted. “If he needs a
hand, Lukas here can help.” With another glare, he said, “That's what brothers do,
jah
?”

Amelia patted the goat before sliding through the stall door, and Simon looked at Luke. “I'm going to take her for a walk. We'll be back in an hour or so.”

As Lukas narrowed his eyes, Rebecca entered the barn. And boy, did she look angry. “Simon, I thought we already talked about this.”

Still guiding Amelia out of the stall, he shrugged. “Just because you talked doesn't mean that I had to listen, Becky.”

Looking at everyone assembled around them, Amelia seemed even more ill at ease. “Simon,
danke
, but I'm starting to think that maybe I should stay here. I don't want Princess to be any trouble.”

“It's a goat, not a baby, Amy,” Simon said in a firm tone. “She won't be any trouble. And you need a little break from this place. You've been here all day.” Turning to Lukas, Simon said, “Don't you agree?”

Lukas rolled his eyes. “
Jah
. Sure.” Softening his tone, he said, “Simon is right, Amy. I overreacted. Get on out of here for a bit. Princess will be fine.”

Looking thoroughly relieved, Amelia gazed up at Simon.
“Danke.”

Simon stared at Amelia with a tender expression. “Never thank me for wanting to spend time with you. We're friends, right?”

“Oh. Of course.”

As Jacob looked at Lukas and Rebecca, he couldn't help but think that they had a reason to be perturbed. Amelia might
think she and Simon were just friends, but there was nothing in Simon's manner or speech that made anyone think he felt the same way. On the contrary, it was starting to be fairly obvious that mere friendship was probably the very last thing Simon had in mind for Amelia Kinsinger.

When Amelia and Simon were gone, Lukas glared at Jacob, then at the goat, then kind of threw up his hands. “I'm going inside to see Darla,” he said as he strode out of the barn.

Jacob rested his arms on the top of the stall. “You look a little irritated, Rebecca. You all right?”

“Honestly? I don't know.” She opened her mouth to say something, then seemed to change her mind. “Are you okay?”

Before he could answer, Princess butted him on his calf. When he looked down and saw the little white goat gazing up at him with something that looked a lot like happiness, he crouched down and rubbed her neck and chest. “I'm
gut
. Come here and see this little thing.”

He thought she might refuse, but when she got right in the stall with him, knelt down, and tentatively petted the goat only to be rewarded with a gentle head butt, she smiled. “She's mighty sweet. I don't know if I'd call her Princess, but I'm starting to understand why Amelia fell in love with her.”

“Sometimes good things just kind of sneak up on you. Ain't so?”

“
Jah
,” she said after a moment's consideration. “You are exactly right.”

Later, after Jacob finished securing Princess's new home, said good-bye to Rebecca, and began his long walk home, he realized that he was glad the afternoon had been so full of events. It had been good and it had surely snuck up on him.

He couldn't wait to walk Rebecca home again.

Wednesday, September 16

I
t had now been three weeks since Marcus had asked Rachel to quit and she'd ignored him. And it was now one week since Rebecca had informed her that she would no longer be helping out in the classroom.

As she walked home at the end of another school day, Rachel knew that both her time and her options were running out. Marcus had become increasingly frustrated with her. He claimed he wanted her to quit because of her health, but she wasn't positive that was the reason. Something more was bothering him. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure what it could be. She'd tried several times to draw him out, to ask him about both the accident at the mill and his worries about Agnes. However, each time, he cut her off.

She needed to confide in someone before she blurted something unkind to Marcus or made herself sick with worry.

Deciding that there was no time like the present, she turned
down one of the small side streets off of Main and headed home.

Not to the home she shared with Marcus. Instead, to the one she'd grown up in. The house that had always been filled with laughter and was never quite tidy. Her mother—much to her father's amusement—was the type to start multiple projects and work on them at the same time. Because of that, there were always half-finished quilts, sewing projects, a cookbook she'd been attempting to write for three years, and a half dozen other items scattered in each room.

As Rachel walked up the front walkway and saw a pile of unfolded laundry lying forgotten on a chair by the door, a basket of clothespins keeping it company, she laughed. Some things never changed.

She opened the screen door without knocking and followed the sound of chatter through the house until she found her mother and her sister Carrie in Carrie's old room. Carrie's daughter Bliss was in her sister's arms, playing with a teething ring. Surrounding them were plastic grocery bags of quilt scraps.

Rachel grinned to herself. If Marcus saw the mess, he'd say that it looked like a quilt had exploded. It really was a mess.

“Rachel, look at you!” her mother said as she got up and enfolded her in a warm hug. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she replied. She knew Carrie and Mamm would think she was referring to her recent morning sickness, but she was actually talking about her mood. She loved being home, and her mother's hugs were always the best.

Her mother had never been especially slim or even especially pretty. She'd once told Rachel that she used to be sad that she
was such a “Plain Jane” when she'd been a teenager. She said she'd always wished that her eyes were a prettier shade of brown or that her eyebrows were arched better or that she had more prominent cheekbones.

But none of that had ever seemed to bother Daed. He always said that he'd fancied Margaret Miller from the first moment he'd spied her.

After greeting Carrie and Bliss, she sat down on the bed next to them. “What are you doing?”

“We're going to have a quilt auction at the beginning of December to help some widows over in Walnut Creek. I was telling Carrie that the auction was a perfect excuse to use up some of these scraps.”

Rachel had never been a skilled quilter, but she knew enough to be skeptical about fabric scraps. There were a lot of scraps, but not enough of each to make any kind of uniform design. At least, she didn't think so. “What pattern are ya going to do?”

Carrie grinned. “We're thinking crazy quilts. Want to help?”

“Maybe. I don't know.”

Her mother patted her arm. “Don't worry, child. I know you don't have time for this. You've got Marcus, a
boppli
to prepare for, and a class of
kinner
to teach.”

That easy reminder seemed to be all she needed to lose her composure. Tears filled her eyes before she could stop them.

“Uh-oh. What did I say?”

“Marcus wants me to quit,” she blurted. “But I don't want to.”

Carrie leaned back, picked up a box of tissues from one of the bedside tables, and handed it to her. “Of course you'll have to quit when you have your babe, Rachel. Everyone does.”

“I know. Even though I wish that wasn't true, I know.”

Her mother and sister exchanged glances. “Then why are you crying?” Carrie asked.

“Marcus wants me to quit
now
.” Around a hiccup, she added, “Actually, he wanted me to quit a couple of weeks ago.”

“Why does he want that?” Mamm asked. “He must know that the children and their parents are counting on you.”

And there the tears came again. “He doesn't care. He's been so different since I told him I was pregnant. He acted surprised that it happened so quickly, and now wants me to stay home all day long and get a ‘real' doctor instead of Agnes.”

“Oh, boy,” Mamm said.

Grabbing another tissue from the box her sister had just handed her, Rachel nodded. “I don't know what to do. I don't want to disobey Marcus but I don't want to do everything he wants me to do either.”

“What have you been doing?” Carrie asked. “Did you teach today?”

“
Jah
. I told him that I needed a few more weeks. But he's losing patience.”

Her mother's pretty brown eyes warmed with compassion. “You are so upset! You should have come over to talk to me weeks ago.”

“I didn't think talking about Marcus was the right thing to do.”

Carrie rolled her eyes. “Your husband is a handsome man and a good one, too. But that don't mean he's perfect, Rachel. Take it from me, sometimes husbands need to be managed a bit. Once you do that, they will start to do what you want them to.”

“You manage Tim?”

“Of course. And if Bethany were here, she'd tell you the same
thing about Graham. So would Joy. Her Stephen would be lost without her.”

“And Paul?” She didn't think her brother would enjoy being managed.

Her mother laughed. “If our Paul ever gets married, I think he will welcome being managed. Of all my
kinner
, God gave him my penchant for unfinished projects.” Still looking amused, her mother hopped off the bed. “Let's go get you a snack. You've got to be hungry.”

“I kinda am,” she said sheepishly. “I was so worried at lunch, I didn't eat much.”

As they walked to the kitchen, Carrie said, “I think you should pick your battles, sister. Tell Marcus that you will gladly go to the doctor instead of Agnes.”

“But Agnes delivered Bliss.”

“
Jah
, but it wasn't an easy delivery. Tim asked me to have our future children in the hospital.” Looking at her sympathetically, she said, “It wasn't a hard thing to agree to, Rachel. Tim just wanted me and the babe to be safe.”

“I guess that makes sense,” she said as they entered the kitchen.

“It does,” Mamm said as she bustled around the large, cluttered kitchen. “Marcus loves you. Now, go sit down.”

Rachel sat on one of the red barstools that surrounded the butcher-block island. “I think Marcus is still dealing with the accident at the mill,” she said quietly. “He won't talk about that day or the fire, but sometimes I see him staring off into space looking sad.”

“It makes sense that he's still struggling. It was a terrible day,” her mother said as she set a plate of sliced apples, some gingersnaps, and a glass of milk in front of Rachel.

It was the same snack she'd made for all of them when they got home from school. “Mamm, I'm a teacher now, you know. This is the snack you gave me when we were little.”

“It's still a good one. Now drink your milk.”

Obediently, she did as she was told. By the time she finished her milk and had cleaned most of her plate, Rachel realized that she felt much better. “
Danke
. I should be getting on home now. Marcus will worry.”

“Want me to leave Bliss with Mamm and walk you home?” Carrie asked. “We can talk some more about things.”

“
Nee
. I think I'm going to be all right. I'm going to tell Marcus that I'll start going to the real doctor, but that I want to teach until the doctor says I shouldn't.”

Carrie grinned. “That sounds like a good plan.”

“I'll pray for you, too, dear,” her mother said. “And I'm going to start coming up to school once a week to help you clean up your room and walk home with ya, too.”

“That's not necessary.”

“It is for me,” she said as she treated Rachel to another warm hug. “You are my youngest. And even though you're all grown-up and married, something tells me that I'm going to always worry about you.”

As she walked out the door and headed to her new home, Rachel realized that she was grateful for her mother's concern and her sister's advice. It felt good to know that she had them, no matter what happened.