Healing Faith (35 page)

I blinked at her, clueless.

She rolled her eyes and continued.

"John is a gentleman. His kisses make me lightheaded.
His hands worship when he touches me. But lately I have wanted to
offer him some pleasure, like he does for me," she explained.

"What does he do for you?" I asked, curious.

Surely, Emma hadn’t gotten more from John than I had
from Nathan.

"I should not say. It is not exactly proper."

I looked at her pointedly from the side of the cow,
amused.

"Neither is kissing, but I know you do that. Your
lips are always redder when you come back from your walks," I said,
laughing.

"So are yours, Katherine! They were quite red last
night! And your hair was down. What did you really do last night in
the corn?" she teased.

“Kissed, and talked,” I said, avoiding her eyes.

“Of course,” she said and winked.

I blushed furiously and concentrated on the cow
again. She glanced towards the door again and leaned in.

"John touched my breast last night," she confided,
almost giggling.

My eyes widened and I cleared my throat.

"No, really?" I asked, suddenly thinking that John
was perhaps a little more forward than I assumed, and I was wishing
that Nathan would be just a little more forward now that I knew
what Emma and John had done.

"Does that surprise you, Katherine? We are not so
different. Of course I am sure Nathan has not ventured past a kiss,
but I am sure he would offer more if he knew you wished it," she
said and giggled when I spluttered.

"I didn't figure John as a groping sort of guy,
that's all," I replied, not looking up at her.

"He is very affectionate. Tender and supportive. I
just want to give him something back. He has been so wonderful and
patient and kind. I want to make him happy," she said, her voice a
little wistful.

I smiled and thought of them when they were together.
John was definitely happy.

"You make him happy by just being with him, Emma. I
don’t think you need to do more for him. He is happy to bring you
joy," I replied, enjoying her blushing giddy smile.

"He makes me happy," she sighed, and her face
definitely had a glow to it I had never seen before.

We finished the work, making our way back to the
house with two full containers for our work. I glanced up at
Nathan's hill and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed his
silhouette making its way down towards us. Emma chuckled and leaned
into me.

"I am not the only one that is happier these days. I
suppose we will have to discuss who gets to sit on the swing and
who gets to walk evenings," she said, smirking.

"Yes we will, Emma. We need to make it more equitable
for everyone," I joked.

"First one done with chores then?" she challenged,
sticking her hand out.

I glanced back at Nathan and took her hand, gripping
it tightly. We laughed and stepped inside with the milk, bottling
it up for Fannie before helping her pull out the breakfast
casserole she had made for the morning. I was distracted from
slicing the casserole when I heard the door open and Nathan walked
in, a pleasant smile on his face.

I was certain everyone noticed it.

Fannie smiled brightly as he put his hat up, Jonah
smirked and concentrated on his coffee. I looked away before my
blush thoroughly gave me away to what we had done the night before
and concentrated on cutting up servings of casserole. I could feel
Nathan's eyes on me as he settled in next to Jonah, and I could
feel the flutter in my stomach when I heard his soft voice. I
chanced a glance at him when I set the plates, and fought my smile
when our eyes met. The joyful glimmer in his eyes made me want to
jump for joy.

I was completely taken with Nathan Fisher.

Breakfast was business as usual. Nathan and Jonah
talked about when crops would be cleared, and Fannie detailed the
plans for the day. I was surprised when Jonah volunteered me to go
with him to Nathan's for the day. I looked up from my breakfast,
trying to stay out of the conversation for fear of blushing and
saying something telling. But my name and then hearing work at
Nathan's woke me up.

"What?" I asked meekly.

Jonah smiled and eyed Fannie with a knowing look.

"If you can spare her today. She can tend to Nathan's
house while we clear the near field. We will have mid day meal
there," he suggested.

"Whatever you would like, husband. The girls can help
me here today," Fannie replied, unfazed.

"I do not want to burden Kate with my chores, Jonah,"
Nathan started and then closed his mouth suddenly. Perhaps he
realized I would be there all day for him? It was what I had been
thinking. A stolen kiss, having him near me. We just needed to
distract Jonah somehow.

"It is settled then! And I will bring Patience as
well. Give your stallion another chance," Jonah exclaimed and made
to stand. Nathan cleared his throat and looked a little
uncomfortable, but stood as well and stepped past me, his fingers
tracing across my shoulder as he brushed past me.

Immediately I felt the rush course through me at that
simple touch. Nathan would be able to figure out so much about me.
I rushed about to gather lunch for the men while they waited
outside, Fannie pushing me out the door before the breakfast dishes
were even cleared. Nathan waited on the porch for me, Jonah gone to
the stables. Nathan's smile in the early light made me feel
lightheaded.

"Jonah said he would meet us there. Walk with me?" he
asked, his voice soft and sweet.

I smiled and fell in step with him. He took the
basket from my hands holding it in one hand so that the other could
take my own as soon as we had crested his hill. His fingers
interlaced with mine warmed me to the core. We were quiet for most
of the walk, his face relaxed and content as he looked ahead
towards his home. When we crossed the yard, he finally spoke
up.

"Did you sleep well?" he inquired quietly.

I shook my head.

"No, I had trouble sleeping," I replied, fighting a
grin.

"I am sorry, what made you sleepless?" he asked,
concern in his eyes.

"Thinking about you," I murmured and winked at him.
He grinned and pulled the door open to his home, letting me in
first.

"I had the most amazing dreams last night. I think
that was the first night I have slept and remembered my dreams," he
said.

"What did you dream about?" I asked as he set down
the basket in the kitchen.

He turned and offered me a devastatingly brilliant
smile.

"You."

I moved a step towards him, wanting to kiss him. His
hands reached for me, pulling me close. His lips were close,
leaning in.

"Nathan! Let us get the horses rigged up so we can be
done early!" Jonah called in from the front door.

Nathan pulled back with a sigh, looking off towards
the front of the house.

"Have a pleasant morning," I said, chuckling.

He laughed and stepped away, running a hand through
his hair nervously.

"It would have been had we just a few more moments,"
he said and took another step towards the front door.

"I'll see you at lunch," I said and offered him a
sympathetic smile.

He looked back once more before disappearing, leaving
me alone in his house. Looking out the window, I watched as Jonah
and Nathan worked to strap their horses into the machinery for
harvesting the corn. Nathan brought out his two Haflingers,
strapping them into the wagon while Jonah worked on the larger
piece of machinery that looked like a giant reaping machine. I
watched until I remembered I had things to do. There was no time to
daydream.

I was supposed to be tending his house. I had never
been more excited to do chores in my life. Perhaps because I knew
Nathan would appreciate a clean house. I put the food I had brought
into the refrigerator and grabbed a large sun tea pitcher from
Nathan's cupboard, filling it with water and setting it up on the
edge of the porch to steep in the sun. Looking at the disarray of
the exterior of his house I let out a heavy sigh and dove into the
task at hand, figuring I would clean outside first while it was
still cool out.

Stepping out onto the porch, I realized this would be
a great idea. I could watch them work while I cleaned. I just had
to remember to actually do something, rather than watch Nathan
standing tall in the wagon, distributing corn as it was pushed
through the contraption that Jonah handled from the ground in
front. Nathan was very distracting as he turned and pushed and
shoved, already sweaty and flushed from the hard work.

Too many times while I swept, or while I tossed out
the mop water into the dying grass, I would find my eyes searching
for him. Time and again he would be there, doing something to make
me smile and think about how good he was in his element. One
instance that had me grinning was when he went to water his giant
black horse, Magnus late in the morning.

The great beast nodded its head, bumping against
Nathan as if to insist on something that Nathan had in the satchel
he carried. I watched while he patted the horse softly and pulled
out a small apple, which he offered Magnus. It disappeared
instantly, his hand reaching for a second one to offer his hungry
horse. He paused, eyeing the red apple thoughtfully for a moment.
Nathan brought it to his nose, his eyes closing for a brief second
before opening again, a brilliant smile flashing across his face
before he took a bite of it.

I smiled to myself when the horse batted his head at
Nathan once more, swallowing up the offered apple with no thought
whatsoever. But Nathan’s smile remained. As if he had felt my eyes
on him, he looked over his shoulder towards me, his lips upturned
and his eyes happy. He took another apple out of his bag and took a
large bite out of it, winking at me before Jonah called for
him.

I turned from watching Nathan and busied myself with
making the front of his house look clean, wiping down the dusty
windows that had many months of sediment on them. The first floor
windows completed, I set to scrubbing the porch deck. It was well
worn, but dirty beyond measure. It took several buckets of water
from the water pump and a rough scrub brush to knock down the dirt
until I could begin to see the painted floorboards. I hadn't
realized how late it was until I heard the heavy footfalls of Jonah
and Nathan coming up the porch steps.

I looked up, sweaty and wet from scrubbing on my
hands and knees, to see Nathan and Jonah regarding me. Nathan
looked pained, while Jonah looked pleased at my work. I stood up
quickly and brushed myself off, pushing the hair that had come
loose behind my ear as I moved towards them.

"I'm sorry. The time got away from me. Let me go get
cleaned up and I'll get your meal ready," I said hurriedly, rushing
inside without letting them answer.

I scrubbed up in the kitchen, splashing cold water
against my face to cool off. I heard them walk in behind me, Nathan
stepping in beside me with the container of tea. He handed me a
towel to dry off and stepped in to wash his hands, quiet while
Jonah spoke.

"The porch looks almost new, Katherine! And I believe
it is lighter in the house now that the windows are clear. You have
done more than I expected! Nathan will have a sparkling home in no
time. Thank you, daughter," he said proudly.

I busied myself with pulling out the preparations for
sandwiches to hide my embarrassment.

"I'm happy to do it, Jonah," I said softly and
blushed when I heard Nathan sigh behind me.

I glanced back towards him and watched as he poured
glasses of fresh brewed tea into glasses. He settled in beside
Jonah at the table, a thoughtful look on his face as he watched me
finish the sandwiches. We ate in silence, Jonah concentrating on
his plate while Nathan and I repeated exchanged glances. Jonah
would need to be blind and unfeeling not to see the tension between
the two of us.

I wanted to reach out and touch Nathan, to assure him
I was truly happy to be here helping him. He didn't need to do it
alone. When Jonah pulled away from the table, Nathan followed him,
stretching from the meal.

"It will be too hot to do much more. We should get
the corn stored from today and work perhaps on your stalls while
the horses are out to pasture. Katherine, perhaps you can work
inside the remainder of the afternoon?" he suggested and I simply
nodded.

Nathan offered me a soft apologetic smile and
followed after Jonah, leaving me in Nathan's house on my own once
again. I set to work quietly, cleaning the kitchen first, which was
in good shape from the last time I had cleaned it. It wasn't used
much really. I made quick work of the first floor, dusting and
wiping down anything that wasn't covered. Looking towards the
stairs, I swallowed hard and took the steps slowly. I had never
ventured upstairs.

I knew immediately which room was Nathan's.

Of the five bedrooms upstairs, his was the only with
the door open. I hesitated in opening the others, out of respect
for his family. What would I find? Rooms left just as they had been
when the occupants died? Pristine shrines of people he loved?

It made me sad to think once again of Nathan in this
large house all by himself.

The house was entirely too quiet.

I slipped into his room and took it in. A small
bookshelf with a dozen worn books, a few trinkets that looked like
might be old wooden toys, and scraps of papers stacked neatly. My
heart beat a little harder at the sight of the papers; similar to
the ones I had seen that day when I first cleaned. Perhaps he had
brought them up here, in the privacy of his room, so that I would
not happen across them.

His simple wood slatted bed seemed too short for his
tall frame. But he kept it tidy and was neatly made. The dresser
under the window held no defining mementos on it that reminded me
of Nathan. The room was very plain, except for the books and scraps
of paper. He lived quietly. This was his sanctuary.