Along Wooded Paths (14 page)

“Charlie, can you help me out?” Aaron turned to the boy who was hobbling out of the kitchen after sneaking yet another cookie from the tin.

Charlie glanced up, sheepish. “Sure.”

“Could you fetch me my sketch pad? I left it in the top drawer of my dresser. And a pencil too?”

Charlie nodded and hurried to Aaron’s room. Aaron could hear from the boy’s quicker movements that his leg was healing. Aaron only wished he would mend soon as well.

Less than a minute later, Charlie emerged from the bedroom, sketchbook in hand. His eyes were fixed on the page in front of him. Aaron’s heart quickened. He’d sketched the picture last night before he put the book away.

“Is this Marianna?” Charlie lifted his head and scrunched his nose, gazing at the sketch of a beautiful Amish woman sitting in a rocking chair before the woodstove.

Aaron reached out his hand.

“Oh, it’s just a picture . . . no one in mind.”

Charlie paused and shook his head. “I’d think you’re fibbing yet. It is Mari. She always sits like that, and from her face it’s easy to see it’s her.”

Aaron curled his fingers, giving Charlie the signal to bring the sketchbook closer. “Well, if I tell you it is, do ya promise to keep a secret?”

Charlie’s eyes widened. “
Ja
, I won’t tell.” He handed over the book and pencil and then smiled. “Are you fancy on her?”

“Yes, Charlie, I am.”

Charlie giggled. “You gonna marry her?”

“I’d like to. I’m gonna ask, but you promise not to tell anyone, right?”

Charlie bobbed his head. “I won’t tell.”

Then he looked out the window and pointed.

Aaron turned to look and saw that Marianna approached, her hands in her coat pockets, a smile on her face. She appeared to be enjoying the day. Aaron couldn’t stop from smiling too.

“You gonna ask her now?”

“No. I’m going to wait until the time is right.”

Charlie’s brow furrowed. “I hope you don’t take too long. I’ve never kept a secret more than a few days afore.”

Aaron shook his head and sighed, and then turned his sketchbook to a fresh page and began sketching the trees. “You have to, Charlie. I’m depending on you. It’s gonna take more than a few days. I guarantee that.”

“But I don’t understand, why don’t you ask her now?” Charlie leaned his elbows on the window ledge. His breath fogged up the glass.

“Well, I . . .” Aaron rubbed his temples. He’d planned on asking her quick like after he got here. He’d thought about it on the train ride over. He was going to spend time with her walking through the pines, and then he’d start giving her the letters he’d written over the months. They talked about his care more than he could speak. When he saw her response, well, then he’d know for sure. Then he’d be willing to risk his heart.

Now, of course, they couldn’t go on walks. He couldn’t even get all dressed nice for her. Even though he managed to wash up everyday, his hair stuck to his head and needed a good washing. But they
had
been spending time together. He smiled. Maybe he should start letting her read some of the letters anyhow. Charlie was right, why wait?

“You know. I can’t tell you when it’s going to happen, but it’ll be before Christmas, for sure.”

“Christmas!” Charlie sighed. “That’s forever long.”

Aaron chuckled. He’d make his intentions known long before Christmas. He just wasn’t going to tell Charlie that. Let him think it would take longer. Aaron didn’t want anyone to expect it coming as soon as it was.

Especially not Marianna.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Marianna glanced up at her house. Two sets of eyes and two handsome faces watched her from the window. Both guys wore smiles. Large smiles, like they were waiting for something or had a secret they were eager to share.

She hurried up the steps and laughter poured from her as she stepped through the door. “Aaron, you’re up!”

He sat in a chair by the window, his casted leg extended out in front of him. He had a proud and excited look on his face, like David’s face the first time he hitched up the buggy alone.

“
Ja
, my leg’s feeling better. Doesn’t throb quite as much when I get up and hobble around.”

Charlie stood by Aaron, his hand resting on Aaron’s shoulder. His eyes were large and round, like Annie’s cinnamon rolls.

“So what are you doing, Charlie?” One of his hands was bent behind his back. Did he have something in it? He had a secret, she could tell.

“You hiding something behind your back?” She took off her coat, hung it, then stepped forward and eyed him.

Charlie shrugged. “Jest another pencil. Uh, Aaron wanted to draw. I got an extra.”

Marianna looked down at the page in front of Aaron with the beginning sketch of trees.

Something was up.

Aaron took the extra pencil from Charlie. “Yup, it’s a beautiful day. I wanted to catch the light coming through the trees.”

Marianna removed her boots. “Oh, okay.” The lightness in her chest fell. She’d thought sure they had some type of surprise. “Where is everyone?” She tilted her head and listened for footsteps upstairs.

“David and Josiah ain’t home from school yet. Mem and the little kids went to Carashes’, down the road.” Charlie leaned against Aaron as he talked. They were so comfortable with each other. “Said they needed to get out while the sun shined.”

“That’s a good idea.” She sat down in a chair at the dining room table, waiting and watching. A minute passed and Aaron was still looking at the pencil and paper in his hands.

Something
was
up.

She straightened. “You going to finish that drawing?” Aaron glanced up, his cheeks slightly pink. “I was . . . but since you’re here. Well, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“I got washed up pretty good, but I’ve had a hard time with my hair. I can’t bend down enough to wash it in the sink with this cast and . . .”

“You need me to wash your hair? Sure, I can do that.” Marianna stood, trying to pretend her heart wasn’t pounding in her chest. She looked around. The bathroom would be out of the question. There wouldn’t be enough room for both of them and his cast. And the kitchen didn’t seem right. She thought about the bedroom, but that didn’t seem appropriate.

“Why don’t you lie back on the couch and lay your head over the end. I can put a basin of water there.” She moved to the screened-in back porch, where they kept their laundry supplies, and got the basin she and Mem used to wash small items. By the time she returned, Aaron had used the handmade wooden crutches Dat had made to hobble across the floor.

“I can help too!”

“Good idea.” She smiled at Charlie, thankful he was here. If not . . . well, it would have been too easy to let her mind wander. To pretend this was their home—hers and Aaron’s—and that she was caring for her husband.

“Charlie, why don’t you run to the bathroom and get the shampoo and a towel.”

Marianna filled the basin and heated the water on the woodstove. When it had warmed enough, she set it on a chair that she’d pulled to the edge of the couch. Aaron lay on the couch on his back and hung his head over the end. He looked up at the ceiling and she knelt next to him.

“I’ve never done this before.” She soaked a washcloth with water and then put it on his hair, squeezing.

“Me neither.”

“Well, I’ve washed my siblings’ hair . . .

“It’s not really the same, is it?” His voice held a slight quiver.

No, it certainly wasn’t.

After she wet his hair, she took the shampoo from Charlie and squeezed some in her hands. Then she worked it through Aaron’s blond hair.

He let out a long sigh and closed his eyes.

“Tell me if I hurt you or pull your hair or anything.” Her fingers scrubbed his scalp, then she worked through the ends of his hair. Touching him like this was more intimate than she’d expected. She liked being needed this way. What it would be like to be close to him in other ways? To sit by him, their legs and arms touching. To rest her head on his shoulder.

Charlie set the towel down and started playing with Trapper. He wasn’t nearly as intrigued by this event as she was.

“That feels good.” Aaron opened his eyes. “I appreciate it.”

“Sure. It’s
gut
to help. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it sooner.”

After she finished shampooing, Marianna rinsed Aaron’s hair. The warm water poured through his hair and down his temples. She dabbed his forehead with the dry towel to make sure the water wouldn’t drip into his eyes. Satisfied his hair was clean, she pulled the basin away and wrapped the dry towel around his head. She rubbed his hair dry—and Aaron reached back. His hand covered hers.

“I can do that.” He began to sit up.

“No, it’s okay.” She kept her hands there, enjoying his touch. “If you sit up you’ll drip all over your clothes. I don’t mind.”

“All right.” Aaron chuckled and removed his hand. “But I can comb my hair.”

“Sure.”

She finished drying his hair, and Aaron sat up. Just then the door opened, and Mem stepped in with Joy bundled in her arms and Ellie walking by her side. Mem looked from Marianna, to the towel in her hands, to Aaron’s wet head, to the basin, and her brow furrowed.

“You’re home early, Marianna.”

“Yes, well, with Jenny’s help we had all the baking done early. And good thing, because I was needed around here.”

Aaron looked worried, but that look quickly disappeared as a smile spread across Mem’s face.

“
Gut, gut
. You should be home more often. It’ll be nice when you don’t have to work away from home, don’t you think?”

“Yes, of course.” Marianna said what was expected, but she had to admit she enjoyed work. She loved baking and enjoyed the customers. She looked forward to spending more time with Jenny. Just helping her in small ways mattered.

Marianna rose to carry the basin out the front door to dump it. As she walked away from the sofa, she noticed Mem looking over her shoulder and smiling. Marianna glanced back. Were Charlie and Trapper doing something funny? No, that wasn’t it. Mem’s smile wasn’t from humor, but rather joy.

Marianna saw the look of loving appreciation in Aaron’s gaze as he watched her, and she couldn’t help but smile too.

Dear Journal,

Today I washed Aaron Zook’s hair. We’ve yet to kiss, but in a way this seemed more intimate. He was appreciative, and I was glad I could help. It seems like he’ll make a good husband for someone, some day. He doesn’t take much for granted. Says thank you. That’s different from other guys—guys I knew back home who sometimes treated their wives as slaves. Not all guys, but there were some. Seems because most Amish women don’t work outside the home that thinking of them like that can come natural.

I have to say that I’ve enjoyed serving lately. I musta glanced at Aaron’s clean hair a dozen or more times during the evening by lantern light. Makes me think of Jenny. She appreciates even the small things. She’s said a little of what her life used to be like and it’s hard to imagine. When most folks’ lives are like yours, you forget others don’t got it as good.

Makes me think of what I read in the Bible today. Annie’s Bible was open on her desk, and I read it during my break. Jesus was saying it’s better to serve than be served. Our Amish ancestors understood that. I knew it before with my head, but lately it’s moving to my heart, dripping down like an icicle melting, filling me up in places love and understanding hasn’t been before.

Enough of that. There was news at the store today. A newly wed couple moved to West Kootenai from Ohio. They are staying at a small cabin that belongs to a cousin. It seems like a hard time to come to Montana, but I suppose newly wed couples don’t need to leave their place and brace the snow much. I think I’ve said enough about that. After washing Aaron’s hair today I don’t need my mind wandering down that path.

It’s been doing too much wandering lately.