Amish White Christmas Pie (4 page)

Tiny lines formed across Cindy’s forehead. “You make him sound like he’s an old
mann.”

“He’s not an old man—he’s just too old for you.”

“Mind if I ask you a personal question?”

Karen shrugged.

“I think Leroy’s more fun and easygoing than Will, and he’s sure a lot cuter, so I’m wondering how come you broke up with Leroy and started going out with Will.”

Karen turned the gas burner down on the stove. “Good looks, humor, and big muscles aren’t everything, Cindy. Leroy can be overbearing and too much of a jokester at times. He can also be a bit pushy.”

“But you liked him once. Isn’t that right?”

“Jah, but now I’m in love with Will, and we have a lot more in common than Leroy and I ever did. That’s why Will and I are getting married in two months. Now can we drop this silly discussion?”

When Cindy nodded, Karen breathed a sigh of relief.

As Will guided his horse and buggy down the road, all he could think about was seeing Leroy standing in the Yoders’ kitchen, grinning at Karen and making comments about the soup she’d fixed during their courting days. Despite what Karen had said, Will was sure Leroy still had an interest in her.

Will flicked the reins, giving his horse the freedom to trot.
Leroy probably wishes Karen was going to marry him. He might think he’d make a better husband for her than me
.

He snapped his teeth together with a click.
Maybe Leroy
would
make a better husband for Karen. After all, he does have part ownership in a busy blacksmith business, and he doesn’t have a past that haunts him and makes him feel moody at the most unexpected times. I wonder if Karen regrets breaking up with Leroy and agreeing to marry me
.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Startled by the horn of a passing car, Will realized his horse had drifted over the center line. He pulled on the reins, guiding Ben back into his own lane of traffic. Some roads in this area had a lane for horse and buggies, but not this one. He had been careless to let his thoughts wander.

Beep! Beep!
Another horn honked from behind. Why was everyone so impatient?

The car whipped around Will’s buggy, going too fast and coming too close. Apparently Will’s horse thought so, too, because he reared up and tore down the road.

“Whoa, Ben! Steady, boy!” Will pulled back on the reins, but Ben kept running. As the horse picked up speed, the buggy began to vibrate and rock from side to side. Will’s hands shook as he struggled to gain control. “Slow down, Ben! You’ve got to stop running!”

W
ill gripped the reins and continued his struggle to gain control. Finally his horse slowed to a steady trot, and the buggy quit rocking. Will breathed a sigh of relief.

Feeling the need to steady his nerves, he guided the horse to the side of the road and brought the buggy to a full stop. He drew in a couple of deep breaths and sat very still, hoping to calm his racing heart.

It took several minutes until he felt relaxed enough to head back down the road. He was about to get the horse moving again when another horse and buggy pulled up behind him. A few seconds later, someone tapped on the driver’s side of his buggy.

Oh no, it’s Leroy!
Will opened his door. “What’s up?”

“I was behind you a ways and saw your buggy weaving back and forth. When you pulled off the road, I figured I’d better stop and see if you were okay.”

“My horse got spooked when a car sped past blowing its horn, but I’ve got everything under control.”

Leroy squinted. “Are you sure? Your face is awfully red, and you’re breathing real heavy.”

“I’m fine.”

“How’s your horse? You want me to check him over?”

Will’s fingers dug into the palms of his hands. “Don’t trouble yourself; Ben’s fine, too.”

“Okay. Guess I’d better get home with the supplies I bought from the Yoders’ store.”

“I’m surprised you’re heading home already. I figured you’d still be with Karen and Cindy having lunch.”

Leroy shook his head. “Decided I’d better get back to the blacksmith shop and help my daed and bruder get some work done. They’ll be on their own again this afternoon while I make a trip to Shipshewana to pick up some supplies and get a gift for my mamm’s birthday.”

The mention of Lovina Eash’s birthday caused Will to remember that his own birthday was coming up. He’d be turning twenty-two. When he’d stopped over at Karen’s, he’d planned to ask if she would go to supper with him to help celebrate, but after Leroy had shown up, Will had forgotten to extend the invitation.

Leroy tapped on the side of Will’s buggy. “Before I go, there’s something else I’d like to say.”

“What’s that?”

“We both know I used to court Karen, and I was wondering if the reason you left Karen’s without staying for lunch is because the idea of sharing the same table with me would make you feel uncomfortable.” Leroy tipped his head. “Was that why you hightailed it out of there so fast?”

“It would take a lot more than sitting at the same table with you to make me feel uncomfortable.”

Leroy shrugged. “Okay. Just wondered, is all.”

“Jah, well, danki for stopping.”

“Sure, no problem. Glad to see you’re all right.” Leroy sauntered back to his buggy.

I wasn’t about to tell Leroy the reason I didn’t stay for lunch
. Will gathered up the reins and turned his horse in the direction of the Yoders’.
Since Leroy won’t be sitting at Karen’s table, I think I’ll go back and talk to Karen about my birthday. If it’s not too late, maybe I can get in on some of that tasty chicken-corn soup!

Regina pursed her lips as she stood in front of the kitchen counter cutting ham to make sandwiches for their noon meal. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get Will off her mind.

She bowed her head and prayed,
Dear Lord, please comfort Will. He’s a good man with a kind heart, but it’s obvious he’s still quite troubled by his past
.

“You look like you’re in deep thought,” Mark said, stepping up to Regina.

She turned to face him. “I was praying for Will.”

“Mind if I ask why you were praying for him?”

“I was thinking about how moody and despondent he acted this morning, and I was asking God to comfort him.”

“Will’s been a bit moody ever since he came to live with us.” Mark pulled his fingers through the ends of his full, nearly gray beard. “Never know what’s going to set him off.”

Regina nodded. “Normally he does pretty well, though. It’s just when something happens to remind Will of his past that he gets out of sorts.”

“What brought it on this time?” Mark asked as he washed his hands.

“An article about a little girl who was abandoned by her parents and left on a park bench in a small Michigan town.” Regina reached for the loaf of bread and pulled out four slices. “The article brought back unpleasant memories for Will about his daed leaving him with us.”

Mark glanced around the room. “Speaking of Will, where is he?”

“He went over to see Karen.”

“If anyone can put Will in a good mood again, it’s Karen.” Mark pulled out a chair and sat down. “He always seems happy when he’s with her. Maybe after they’re married, Will’s bouts of moodiness and depression will be over for good.”

“I hope that’s the case.” Regina glanced at the battery-operated clock on the far wall. “Since it’s lunchtime and Will’s not back yet, he must have been asked to stay and eat with the Yoders.”

“Probably so.”

Regina worked in silence until the sandwiches were made; then she placed them on the table, along with two glasses of milk, and took a seat. After their silent prayer, she said, “Since Will’s birthday is next week, I was thinking maybe we should have some of Will’s friends over for supper.”

“I thought we’d talked about taking Will and Karen out for supper.”

“We did, but when I spoke with Karen after church last Sunday, she mentioned the idea of a surprise party. I’d be willing to host it here.”

Mark reached for his glass of milk and took a drink. “A surprise party for Will is fine with me. If time spent with Karen doesn’t brighten our son’s spirits, then the party will do the trick.”

When Karen heard a horse and buggy roll into the yard, she glanced out the kitchen window. “Mom’s home,” she announced. “I’m sure she’ll be hungry, so let’s get things set out on the table.”

Cindy touched Karen’s arm. “You won’t mention anything to Mom about what I said about Leroy, will you?”

“I won’t if you promise to stop thinking about him.”

Cindy’s lips turned down. “Since he’s so good-looking and comes around here a lot, it’s kind of hard for me not to think about him.”

“I mean it, Cindy; Leroy’s too old for you. You need to get any romantic notions you might have of him right out of your mind.”

The back door opened, and their mother stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry I’m late.” Mom patted her flushed cheeks. “Your grossmudder was especially chatty today, and it was hard to get away.”

“It’s not a problem,” Karen was quick to say. “I got my wedding dress cut out, and then Cindy helped me get lunch going.”