Accidentally Amish (15 page)

Jakob glanced at Verona, as if to ask which of them would chase Maria.

Verona paled and slumped. A second later, she slid off the crate, unconscious.

N
o matter how early Annie walked through the foyer to the dining room for breakfast, Rufus was already at work. He measured and calculated and sketched and spread wood samples around, evaluating the natural light.

Eight days.

Eight days since she fled the threat to her livelihood. Eight days since meeting the Beiler family and wondering about her own Byler family history. Eight days since she looked into those violet-blue eyes for the first time. Annie shook off the sensation that came with that memory. She had moved back to the motel, where Rufus had begun the remodeling project with steadfast attention to detail.

Lee Solano had hurled a wall of paperwork against Richard D. Stebbins and successfully postponed the court date assigned to the suit Rick filed. This gave Annie time to build a case to strike back. Rick stopped trying to contact her, and Barrett seemed to have ceased trying to hack her system. Annie breathed easier and had begun to use her credit card when she ventured into town.

Today Rufus was on his knees inspecting the back of the reception desk when Annie approached the lobby with her bag over her shoulder. She slowed her steps for a moment and watched him, wishing that she could see him in his workshop crafting form and function together.

“Good morning, Rufus,” Annie said.

He nearly bumped his head getting himself turned around to greet her. “
Guder mariye
.” He gestured toward the desk. “It will take three men to get the desk out.”

“Are you at that stage already?”

“No. I just like to be prepared when it’s time.”

“How is your family?” Annie asked.

“They are well, thank you. Jacob asks about you every day.”

“He’s a sweet boy. Give him my best greetings.”

“Perhaps you would like to do that yourself tonight at supper.” He tilted his head. “It would make Jacob happy.”

“Then by all means.” Annie would have accepted the invitation on any excuse. Was it possible that she missed the farm?

“We will go together from here at six o’clock.”

Annie nodded. “That’s fine.”

Rufus turned back to the dilemma of how to remove the desk, and Annie went into the dining room to pick up an apple and a blueberry muffin to eat while she walked to town. Meaning no offense to Mo, who made passable coffee at the motel, Annie was holding out for the more robust offering of the coffee shop. In only a few days, she had formed the habit of spending her mornings there with her laptop.

Annie settled in with a mocha caramel grande nonfat latte and flipped open her computer. In a few seconds the Internet connection icon went solid and she was online, scrolling through her e-mail looking for messages from Jamie or Lee Solano. A grunt at the next table seemed just purposeful enough to make her look up.

“You have a cool computer.” A teenage boy slouched in his chair, his knees sticks poking out of baggy green shorts.

“Thank you,” Annie said, unsure if she wanted to encourage conversation. He looked to be about fourteen with a stereotypical adolescent chip on his shoulder.

“I really need a computer,” the boy said, “but my parents say we can’t afford it.”

“Don’t you have any computer at home?”

“Just a stupid desktop that’s like, ancient. It’s almost three years old. My dad says it’s good enough for homework and he doesn’t have money to throw around on a computer every time something new and better comes along.”

Annie twisted her lips to one side. “I guess it can get expensive.”

“No kidding. I’ve tried to find a job, but there aren’t any around here. I’m not old enough anyway.”

“Maybe something will turn up.”

“I have two sisters. They spend more time on the computer than they do in the bathroom. I never get a chance.”

“That doesn’t seem fair.” Annie sipped her coffee, her eyes on her screen.

“I know. My dad just says, ‘Life’s not fair.’ Like that solves anything.” He stood up. “Hey, can you watch my bag for a minute? I need a bagel.”

Annie glanced at the backpack the boy left behind. An ID tag hung from the strap with a name and address in clear block letters. She did not even have to get up to see it.

She turned back to her laptop. A few clicks later, she smiled smugly to herself. One teenage boy was going to be very happy in about three days. What was the point of having money if she could not be spontaneous with it?

Rufus helped Annalise into the buggy promptly at six o’clock. She had changed into the same full skirt she had worn to church a few days earlier and a simple blouse. Rufus appreciated her attempt to be respectful of their lifestyle, but it would have been more convincing if her denim bag did not hang from her shoulder. His mother and sisters carried purses—sometimes backpacks—so the bag itself was nothing unusual. But anyone could tell it held her laptop. Why was she loath to leave it behind? Her cell phone was no doubt silenced but in her skirt pocket as if it were a third hand.

“What’s the matter?” Annalise asked. “You’re scowling.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s something.”

He hesitated then said, “Your computer. You never go anywhere without it.”

“I can’t be sure it’s safe if I don’t have it with me,” Annalise said. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to sneak off to use it in the middle of dinner.”

Was he wrong to wish she would confide in him?

“If I ask you about it,” Rufus said, “you’ll tell me it’s complicated, right?”

“It
is
complicated.”

They rode in silence for more than a mile. Then Rufus spoke, “It seems to me it takes a great deal of energy to grasp at the air as much as you do.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m sorry. I should not have said that.” Rufus sighed. He felt the wall rise between them and changed the subject. “Jacob will be so glad to see you. It’s a surprise.”

“Tell me you told your mother you were bringing me home for dinner.”

“How could I? I haven’t seen her since breakfast.”

“You have a cell phone.”

“I only use that for business or emergencies.”

“That doesn’t sound very convenient to me,” Annalise said. “What if it’s a not a good evening for having a guest?”

Rufus laughed. “I know my mother well. And you have a lot to learn about our ways.”

Annalise raised one hand to check the hair she had pinned down in a severe manner. Annalise was trying too hard to respect their ways. With a pang, he wished she would remove the pins and let her hair fall around her face. It would be beautiful in the afternoon light.

And immediately he felt guilty. To have such thoughts about any woman—if it was God’s will for him to be alone, he could not have such thoughts.

“I hope you will enjoy a good home-cooked meal,” Rufus said. “I imagine you have exhausted the restaurants in Westcliffe by now.”

“Twice and three times over.” Annalise laughed. “But I’m used to eating out. I’m afraid I’m not much of a foodie.”

“A foodie?”

“I’m not much use in the kitchen.”

“I see.” He paused. “Would you like to be?”

“Useful in the kitchen?” She turned toward him and twisted up a lip. “I would need a committed teacher.”

“Amish women are determined. My mother would teach you.” He had gone too far, but he did not want to take back the words.

They rode another mile. This time Annalise broke the silence.

“Can I ask you a question?” she said.

“Of course.”

“I thought Amish people didn’t have anything to do with outsiders. I mean, I understand you can build cabinets for them to make a living. But why … I mean … me? Taking me in when I fell. Church. And now dinner with your family?”

Rufus swallowed. “People sometimes want to visit our church, and I’ve invited you to share a meal to make a little boy happy.”

“Aren’t you encouraging Jacob to get a taste of the big, bad world or something? Face it. I’m a technology addict. I’m the ultimate un-Amish. What must your family think about the last week?”

“I can see that you are in trouble,” Rufus said. “You hide away in Tom’s truck. You hire a lawyer. You do not let your computer out of your sight, and you jump if your cell phone rings. I may not live in the way of the
English
, but I can see what is plain before my eyes. The Good Samaritan could not walk past what was plain before his eyes.”

“Well,” Annalise said, “Thank you for your concern, but I’m managing quite well under the circumstances.”

“Managing? You’re hiding. How is that the same thing?”

Her face blanched, but he was not sorry he challenged her. She did not know her own value. Three cars whizzed by them on the highway, leaving the buggy to quake in their wind.

“Those people should slow down,” Annalise said.

Yes. And they are not the only ones.

Eli Beiler read from a German
Biewel
while food steamed on the table. The aroma of Dutch-spiced pot roast made Annie suddenly ravenous. Her eyes feasted on the beans and carrots from the garden, rich in color. The family bowed for silent prayers. When at last Eli said, “
Aemen
,” Pennsylvania Dutch flew around the table with the passing dishes. Annie filled her plate and smiled.

“We have a guest,” Eli reminded everyone. “We will speak English.”

“My brothers in Pennsylvania have sent letters,” Rufus explained quietly to Annie.

The conversation switched to English.

“Daniel says the new
boppli
looks just like our little Jacob at his age.” Franey heaped mashed potatoes onto her plate.

“What did I look like when I was a
boppli
?” Jacob wanted to know.

“You were round and bald and slobbery,” Sophie said, ignoring Lydia’s elbow in her side.

“Matthew says the farm is doing well this year. He bought a new plow.” Franey’s face lit with a sheen Annie had not seen before. “And he and Martha want to come to visit. I wonder if Tom would be willing to drive all the way to Denver to get them from the train.”

“We can ask,” Rufus said.

Serving dishes clinked around the table, and Annie’s plate filled rapidly. Although she could not understand the family jokes, clearly Sophie and Lydia were teasing each other, and Joel was quick to add to the banter. Jacob, sitting between Annie and Rufus, wove between speaking English to Annie and Pennsylvania Dutch to the family. Every few minutes, Annie was caught off guard when someone addressed her and anticipated a response.

“Annalise is interested in our family history,” Rufus explained unexpectedly. “Her grandmother’s name was Byler. Maybe there is a connection.”

“Perhaps,” Eli said. “We have a book you are welcome to look at.”

“What sort of book?” Annie asked.

“Genealogy of our family name,” Eli said. “Beiler is a common Amish name spelled several ways, but we suspect all the spellings go back to Pioneer Jakob Beyeler who came from Switzerland.”

“I would love to see the book.” Annie leaned forward to see Eli at the end of the table.

“Then you shall. I’m afraid the print is small and hard to read. You are welcome to take it with you and study it as much as you like.”

“Thank you! I’ll be careful with it.”

“Let us know what you find,” Franey said. “I don’t think anyone here has ever looked at that old book.”

Jacob wiped his face with his cloth napkin in dramatic fashion. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. It’s time for my chores in the barn, anyway. Can Annalise come with me?”

Faces around the table turned to Annie.

“I would love to.” She looked over Jacob’s head to catch Rufus’s eye.

“It won’t take long,” Rufus assured her. “He just needs to check on water for the horses and the cow, and sweep the work area.”

“Sounds great,” Annie said.

Rufus shook a finger at Jacob. “I left my toolbox in the barn. You stay out of it.”

Jacob took Annie’s hand and led her out the back door and down a path past the garden to the barn. Refusing her help, he pushed the wide door open by himself.