Christmas in Sugarcreek (9 page)

Chapter Twelve

Six Days Until Christmas

“S
orry,” Ben muttered under his breath as the buggy lurched forward after sliding a bit on a small patch of snow.

Though the main roads had been fairly clear, their driveway was another story. The packed snow was easy for the horse to cover but not nearly as easy for the buggy.

The horse’s hooves crunched along and the buggy rocked a bit as Ben attempted to stay in the wheel ruts that had since formed on the long driveway to the house.

“S’okay,
Gual,”
he murmured. “S’okay.”

As if Beauty understood, her gait smoothed out and they were on their way again.

Beside him, Judith was tempted to grasp Ben’s arm. Not to steady herself but to reassure him. This was the first time she could ever remember him not doing anything with his trademark confidence. This new vulnerability he was exhibiting both caught her off guard and drew her closer to him. Just as it was becoming terribly obvious that he was worried about being at their home.

The whole way home she’d wanted to say something to him about it, but in the end kept her peace. Time and again, Caleb and Joshua had criticized her for coming off as a bit of a know-it-all, and that was the last way she wanted Ben to think of her.

But when he finally reined in Beauty and they stopped at the barn’s entrance, Judith knew she had to say something. It was only right.

“Do you wish you would have said no?” she asked quietly. “Do you wish you would have refused my father’s offer?”

For a moment, it looked as if he was fighting an internal battle. Then he looked at her.
“Nee,”
he finally said, his lips pursed.

The full moon’s glow on the snow on the ground created an otherworldly quality, and the faint lights shining through the windows of her home cast an illuminating sheen over both of them. Bathing them with soft light.

She’d never been so glad of the moon before. If not for that, she didn’t think she would have been able to spy the skepticism that flashed in his eyes.

“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re staying.”

“For what it’s worth, huh?” A secret flared in his expression. One that she would have paid money in order to understand. “Judith Graber, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I guess I’ll do my best. When you speak, I listen. Your opinion means a lot to me.”

He turned away then, opened his door, and hopped out. After she did the same, he guided Beauty into the barn and proceeded to unharness her.

Judith walked to his side and took the mare’s bridle. When she tried to do more, he stopped her with a hand. “
Nee,
Judith. I’ll do this. Go inside where it’s warm.”

“But I can’t let you care for Beauty by yourself.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“But—”

He faced her. “Judith, if you are concerned, ask Anson or Caleb to come out and help. But I’m not going to let you stand in this cold barn a moment longer.”

“I’m fine—”

“Go inside and get warm. Please.”

She turned away and followed his directions, hearing his words float in her head, bringing with them tender feelings that felt almost unfamiliar.

Well, outside of her dreams.

The moment she stepped into the house, she walked into the kitchen.

Her mother, sitting at the table and working on a puzzle, looked up at her with a smile. “You’re home.
Gut
. And where is Ben?”

“He’s taking care of Beauty. But he needs help.”

“Couldn’t you help him?”

“He asked for Caleb or Anson.”

“Or Anson?” A line formed between her mother’s brows. “He’s too young for that, don’t you think? He’s only . . .”

“Nine.”

She blinked. “Ah, yes. I suppose Joshua was doing chores like that at nine, hmm?” Getting to her feet, she walked to the living room and told Anson to go help Ben.

Judith stood quietly as she heard Anson complain a bit, then ultimately, he dashed beside her, threw on boots and a coat, and scampered out to the barn.

Her mother came back in, a satisfied expression on her face. “I’m right pleased with that Ben. It was good of him to ask for Anson. We all forget that boy needs more responsibilities.” She paused then, no doubt noticing Judith’s pink cheeks. “Perhaps you’d care to take off your cloak now, daughter? I’ve kept two dinners waiting on you.”

“Yes, Mamm.” Judith turned away before her mother could think to ask about her pink cheeks. Or anything else.

“B
en, how come you asked for me?” Anson asked as he stood by him and carefully brushed Beauty.

Looking down at the wiry boy at his side, Ben fought a smile. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You don’t think I’m too small?”

“To help with a
gual
? Of course not.”

“How come you didn’t want Judith to help you?”

“Because she’s been working all day.”

“But so have you.”

“Judith is a woman.” There. Surely that was answer enough? Honestly, Ben was starting to think that maybe people didn’t ask Anson to do things not because they didn’t think he could do that work . . . but rather because they didn’t want to hear the thousand questions that never seemed to stop erupting from the child.

“Everyone else asks Judith to do stuff.”

“Well, I am not everyone.” Furthermore, if he’d had his way, Judith would be doing a whole lot less.

But of course her schedule wasn’t his business.

After rubbing Beauty’s neck and then giving her a few scratches between her ears, Ben led the horse to her stall. “Do you have her feed ready?”

“Yep.” In short order, Anson put a good armful of hay in Beauty’s feed trough, followed by a cup of oats.

Beauty dug in with relish. Ben chuckled with Anson as they watched the horse enjoy her dinner.

With the horse now taken care of, Ben pushed himself away from the wooden stall. “I guess it’s my turn to eat now, huh?”

“
Jah.
My
mamm
’s got a plate ready for you.”

The consideration humbled him. Though it wasn’t any of his business, he still went ahead and spoke. “And Judith? Did your
mamm
fix a plate for her, too?”

Anson tilted his head at him. “Well, yes. To be sure. Why wouldn’t she?”

Ben knew why he’d asked it—because his parents had been masters at putting company’s needs first and his last. But he wasn’t about to utter that. “No reason,” he said as they walked out of the barn, stopping to fasten the latch behind them. “I tell you what, Anson. I think I’m going to sleep real good tonight.”

“Me, too.” Almost circumspectly, Anson watched Ben stretch his arms, and then did the same exact motion.

Ben hid a smile as they continued walking on the snow. The boy’s hero worship amused him—and gave him pause, too. To his recollection, no one had ever thought he was good enough to imitate.

The fact that Anson was doing so made him mildly uncomfortable; and though it was probably not good, it fueled his pride, too.

When they were almost to the house, Anson glanced his way. “My
daed
said you’re going to be sleeping at our house a lot now.”

“He said that?”

“Uh-huh. You’ll be in Joshua’s old room.”

“Is that near yours?”

“Nope. I’m with Caleb.” Anson stopped and pointed to a few darkened windows on the second story. “You’re right next to Judith.”

“Right next to her, huh?”

“Yep.” Anson looked at him strangely. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“Not at all.” Other than, well, he knew he was going to act like a fool and think about Judith sleeping in her bed with just a thin wall in between them.

Of course, every one of those thoughts was wrong. Seeking to lighten things up, he said, “Nothing’s wrong. Unless Judith snores. Does she?”

“I don’t think so,” Anson said as they walked onto the front porch, then opened the front door. “But I can ask her for ya.”

Hastily, Ben grabbed the door and pulled off his snowy boots in the front entryway. When Anson didn’t seem in the mood to do the same, Ben quickly said, “Anson, there’s no need to ask—”

“Judith! Hey, Judith,” Anson called out. “Ben wants to know if you snore. Do you?”

“I do not,” she called out from the kitchen.

Judith sounded horrified. If Ben could have turned right back around, he would have.

But because he had no choice, he stepped forward, following Anson’s path into the kitchen. Now he felt even more of an interloper. An outsider.

When he entered the sunny kitchen, he swallowed hard as not only Judith stared at him, but Anson and their mother, too. “I was just teasin’, Anson,” he said weakly.

Anson screwed up his forehead. “I don’t think so. We were talking about where he would sleep and he asked. Right, Ben?”

Ben didn’t know what to say now. Judith must have not either, because she seemed to only have eyes for the food on her plate.

But luckily Mrs. Graber was an expert at dealing with Anson. “Don’t pay him no mind, Ben. Our Anson always says what’s in his brain, for better or worse. Take your plate and go sit down, now.”

After washing up, Ben took a seat next to Judith. After quietly giving thanks, not only for the food and Mrs. Graber’s loving hands, but also their hospitality, he dug in.

As he’d expected, the chicken dinner was hot and filling and filled with comfort foods that he’d rarely had the occasion to enjoy. “This is mighty
gut,
Mrs. Graber.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Carefully, he cut into another portion with his knife and fork. Determined to eat and then get on to bed.

Mr. Graber entered the room and sat down on Ben’s other side. “Don’t be eating in such a hurry now, son. You’ve got cake to eat, too.”

“Cake?”

“Applesauce cake. Judith made it,” he said with a fond look at Judith.

Ben stared at her in surprise. “When did you have time to bake a cake?”

“Before I went to work a few days ago,” she said, her lips twitching. “Don’t look so surprised. It wasn’t hard to do.”

“Our Judith is wonderful in the kitchen,” her mother said. “She’s been helping me for years.”

There really was only one thing to say. “I’ll be eager to taste your cake, Judith.”

Her head whipped toward him. A heat shone in her eyes before she hid it. “I hope you will enjoy the treat,” she said stiffly. Then before he could attempt to say another word to her, she got up and rinsed off her plate.

Ben couldn’t help but watch her. Amazed yet again at all her talents. Here, she’d worked as hard as he had today, even staying late in order to restock.

Now, snug in her home, she was helping her mother without complaint, washing dishes and slicing cake. Then, to his amazement, she brought out a container of Cool Whip and placed a generous helping of whipped cream on top of each piece.

He stuffed a forkful of beans in his mouth so he wouldn’t do something dumb and compliment her. But though his mouth was full, it certainly didn’t stop his eyes from watching her every move. Thinking how graceful and feminine she was.

Thinking how pretty she was, even after a long day’s work. . .

“So what do you think, Ben? Should we go ahead and plan on that?” Mr. Graber asked.

Ben blinked. He’d been so caught up in watching Judith he’d been completely ignoring his host. “I’m sorry. I think my mind drifted . . .”

But instead of berating him as his own father would have done, Mr. Graber just looked at him kindly. “I bet you are tired. No matter. All I was talking about was whether you thought we should put some more of the baskets on sale? We might lose a bit of the profits, but I think the increase in sales would only help the Care and Share project.”

Care and Share was an organization to help Amish born with mental handicaps. “I think you are right.” Then, worried he was overstepping his bounds, he looked at Judith, who had just approached them with two plates of cake, one for her father, one for him. “What do you think, Judith?”

She stilled. “I agree as well,” she said softly as she first handed her father a slice of cake, then walked to Ben’s side.

“Judith, will you have some cake as well?”

“Not tonight. I’m afraid I’m too tired to eat much more.”

If they’d had a different relationship, he would have circled his fingers around her wrist and pulled her closer. Maybe even pulled her onto his lap, where he could give her a hug and encourage her to rest against him.

Then, when she’d finally settled, he would have rubbed her back and told her how wonderful she was. . .

“Are you going to eat, Ben?”

Great. Once again, he’d been caught with his mind drifting, staring at Judith and thinking about things that were never going to be.