Lilly's Wedding Quilt (10 page)
As she stirred, she thought about his courting comment, concentrating on ignoring Kate’s ill-contained murmured hints to leave.
Typically, a courting couple met alone, in secret, at the girl’s house once everyone else had gone to sleep, but after the engagement announcement, they could meet anytime with anyone present. She thought how different things would be if her father were still alive, but then, perhaps she’d never have come to be engaged to Jacob. It occurred to her that her heavenly Father was the one who’d have to approve her marriage now.
She brought three blue mugs to the table and ladled in the steaming chocolate drink. She sat opposite them and stared down at her cup, unsure of what someone was supposed to do as part of a courting couple—or trio.
“Why are you uncomfortable around horses?” Jacob asked.
“What?” She looked at him in confusion as Kate yawned.
“You told me that you were uncomfortable around horses—I wondered why.”
“I really don’t think now is a good time …”
“Oh, come on,” Kate snapped. “Even I know that story. I’m just surprised that you two—being engaged and all—wouldn’t have talked about it.”
Jacob gave her a quelling glance. “What story?”
Lilly played with the rim of her cup. “It’s silly, really,” she said after a moment.
“Yes, it is silly to tell old tales,” Kate said.
“I want to hear it anyway.” Jacob sipped his hot chocolate, his look encouraging Lilly to speak.
She took a deep breath and avoided Kate’s bored expression. “I guess you don’t remember it, but when I was seven years old the community prayed for my healing because of a horse.”
“May I have more chocolate?” Kate interrupted. “It will help me to concentrate. I’m so easily distracted around a handsome man.”
Lilly kept her voice even. “You needn’t concentrate, Kate. Besides, you really must learn not to be swayed by every handsome man who picks you up—alone—at night.”
“I would’ve been eight,” Jacob interrupted, seemingly oblivious to the byplay of the two women. “What happened?”
Lilly sighed in faint exasperation. “My
mamm
allowed me the rare privilege of accompanying my
daed
on a veterinary call. It was a colicky horse over at the Millers’. The horse was down by the time we got there and thrashing its hooves in pain. I foolishly thought it would help my father if I tied up the horse’s legs while he turned to retrieve something from his bag. I got a blow to the head that left me unconscious for more than a week. I guess no one knew if I’d recover, but
Derr Herr
was merciful.”
“You could have been killed.”
“The Lord moves in mysterious ways,” Kate said.
“I was close enough that the horse didn’t have as much power as he could have.”
“I didn’t know.” His eyes softened. “Of course you’re afraid. It’s a wonder you’re even willing to drive.”
“Ruler can be slow and stubborn under harness, but he’s quite docile when Jonah gets him ready.
Daed
sold his draft horse to buy him for me when he knew he had cancer.”
Kate sighed loudly and plunked her elbow on the table and propped her head on her hand. She couldn’t have looked more bored.
Lilly swiveled in her seat, turning slightly away from Kate, and fixed her eyes on Jacob.
Jacob set his mug down. “I remember
Daed
selling your
daed
that horse. He was one of the most mellow horses we ever had.”
“We got him from you? Why didn’t you say so?”
Jacob shrugged. “I thought you knew.”
“Big deal,” Kate said. “I can’t see why a horse purchase is of such importance. One horse is as good as another—as long as it can pull a buggy.”
Jacob didn’t even look her way, keeping his focus on Lilly. “If you like, I can help you feel more comfortable around horses. Will you let me sometime?” Jacob reached across the table to grip Lilly’s hand.
Her breath caught at his touch and she found herself nodding, lost in the intense pull of his eyes in the lantern light. “I—don’t know if I’d like it, but I’d be willing to try.”
He smiled at her and she returned the look, feeling a flood of friendship wash through her at his words. And friendship was a good thing to have in a marriage …
Kate broke the moment, drumming her fingers briefly before she abruptly rose from the table. “Jacob, my
mamm
will be worried. If you’re not ready to go just yet, I guess I’ll just walk. Thank you for the chocolate, Lilly.”
Somehow, the girl managed to sound vulnerable, even to Lilly’s practical ears, and she withdrew her hand from Jacob’s.
“You’d better go,” she murmured, not meeting his eyes.
She saw them to the door and out onto the porch when Jacob turned back from the top step. He bent close and whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry, teacher. About today.”
She smiled at him. “I’m sorry too.”
He grinned and even the sound of Kate’s tinkling laugh on the cold night air could not diminish the surge in Lilly’s spirits.
W
hy the green shirt?” Seth asked as Jacob headed down the hall past their bedrooms.
“It’s Meeting.”
“
Jah
, but you haven’t worn that shirt since—”
“Since I thought that I could win Sarah?” Jacob laughed over his shoulder as they went down the stairs.
“Did I miss some major lightning bolt in the middle of the night—besides your impending engagement?”
“Nope. Just feel like wearing my best shirt.”
“And so you should,” Mary Wyse interjected from where she stood at the cookstove. “It brings out the color in your eyes.”
“Vanity,
Mamm
, vanity,” Seth teased, encircling his mother’s waist with a hug.
Jacob bent to kiss his mother, then took a plate to the table. “I suppose mothers are allowed a bit of partiality.”
Samuel Wyse lowered
The Budget
from in front of his face and eyed Jacob. “Feeling well this morning, son?”
“Right as rain.”
“And how is Miss Lilly?”
“She’s
gut
,
Daed
.”
“She’s had a lot to deal with since Doc Lapp passed. I imagine you’ll lift a lot of weight from her shoulders once you marry.”
Jacob nodded. “I’ll try.”
“We’ll miss you here about,” his father said from behind the paper, and his
mamm
made a soft sound of agreement.
“I’ll be here for work every day and will come anytime you’d like to have us. I want to get Lilly used to the horses.”
“
Gut
, maybe I’ll teach my beautiful future
schweschder
-in-law to ride,” Seth announced, sliding up to the table with his plate of bacon and eggs.
Jacob took a sip of coffee. “Too late, little
bruder
; I’ve already offered.”
“
Ach
, my loss.”
“I know quite a pretty girl who might be willing to have lessons from you, if you’ve got the time.”
“Who?” Seth sat up straighter, eyes wide with interest.
“Kate Zook.”
Seth sighed. “I find myself too busy for lessons after all.”
“Boys!” Mary Wyse admonished from the stove.
Jacob shot a look at his brother and they smiled together in silence.
L
illy sighed under her breath as her mother continued her tearful explanation as to why she could not attend Meeting—yet again. Sometimes Lilly felt she could withstand her mother’s sharp tongue more than her crying, but in all honesty, all
Mamm’s
recent behaviors were becoming more difficult. Lilly had been praying lately to respond with more love to her
mamm’s
needs, and so she tried again.
“Please,
Mamm
. There’s plenty of time left to get ready. You could wear one of your new blouses. And besides, I miss your company. And, well, today the deacon will officially announce the engagement.”
“Yes, but it’s not your place to be there when it’s announced. Every other girl stays home the day of the announcement.”
“I know,
Mamm
, but Jacob already spoke of it before everyone.
Sei so gut
, won’t you consider coming?”
“I don’t feel well, Lilly, yet you’re always trying to pressure me. Sometimes it feels like you don’t really care about me at all.”
Lilly blinked back her own tears at the accusation and sat down on a small chair near the bed. “
Mamm
, I love you. I always have. I don’t mean to sound as though I don’t care. I can remember when I was a little girl and we made applesauce together, and you’d sing the hymns from Meeting. You taught me so well.”
Her mother sniffed. “I remember those times too, Lilly. You had such beautiful hair …” She reached over and touched Lilly’s
kapp
with gentle fingers. “You still do. I loved to braid it before Meeting.”
Lilly smiled. “And I always wanted to pull away from you and the comb!”
“You did. I’d chase you all over with your hair flying out behind you like a beautiful banner.”
“And you never grew angry,
Mamm
—no matter how late we were. I loved that moment when you’d catch me up in your arms and laugh.”
Her mother slipped her hand down to cover Lilly’s. “Do you remember Sunday afternoons? We’d go down to the watermelon patch in the summer to play and thump the melons with our fingers, trying to find the ripest one?”
“
Ach
,
jah
,
Mamm
. And then we’d haul the melon back to the house in my little red wheelbarrow and ice it down for supper. There was nothing like that frosty sweet redness!”
“You loved to spit the seeds out—always having distance contests with your father.” Her mother sighed suddenly and slid her hand away. “It seems like, since he died, I just forget things—even the words to our beloved hymns.”
Lilly touched her arm. “
Ach
,
Mamm
. Let me help you remember.”
Miriam Lapp shook her head. “I can’t, Lilly. I just can’t. It’s just too hard to face all those people. You go on now. Forget about me.” She turned her face resolutely to the wall.
Lilly rose from the chair, knowing when she’d lost the moment. “I’m sorry,
Mamm
. I won’t trouble you again to go. I know you don’t feel well.”
She went down the stairs, mentally exhausted, and the day had yet to truly begin. At least, she told herself as she put on her cape, she could gain the comfort of Meeting, and that was something to be grateful about.
H
ere she comes,” Seth murmured, giving Jacob a poke in his lean ribs.
Jacob sighed as Kate Zook made her purposeful way to where the brothers were standing, waiting for Meeting to assemble.
“She may well be seeking you since I’m engaged.”
“I don’t think anything’s going to derail that girl’s train.” Seth grinned. “It’s an express headed straight toward you.”
“But why?” Jacob pleaded.
“It’s your shirt.”
“Seth … Jacob.” Kate smiled, baiting them with her attractive eyes. “It’s so good to see you … again.”
“Kate.” Seth smiled. “Always a pleasure.”
She nodded in an absent fashion but stared at Jacob until he wished he had kept his coat on.
Seth clapped him on the shoulder. “Gotta get to my seat.”
When Jacob would have followed, Seth waved him still. “
Nee
, stay and visit with Kate a bit. I’ll save you a place. No problem.”
Jacob ground his teeth but smiled down at the coy face of the girl in front of him. “So, how are you feeling after your chill last night?”
“Oh, I’m fine, thanks to you—and Lilly Lapp, of course. And the buggy ride home. It was so warm …” She shifted her weight onto her other foot and briefly laid her hand on his arm. “I’ve been thinking, after seeing you and Miss Lapp together that … well, maybe this whole engagement thing is just a ruse. Will you tell me the truth?” She swept her lashes downward. “I can keep a secret.”
Jacob controlled the angry words that came to his lips. He told himself that she was young and naive, impetuous, and not unlike how he himself had been at her age.
“No ruse, Miss Zook. Just a marriage, plain and simple. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
She laughed deliberately, a high-pitched sound that caught the attention of several women nearby. Jacob straightened and frowned.
“
Ach
, Jacob Wyse, you are as entertaining as can be.”
“Right,
danki
.”
“I’m not like Lilly.” She lowered her voice to a husky drawl. “I love horses and am not afraid of them at all. And it’s finally perfect weather for a sleigh ride.” She batted thick eyelashes while he plotted ambushing Seth in his sleep for leaving him in this situation. His gaze swept the barn for an excuse, any excuse. When he caught sight of Lilly’s calm profile as she sat on the end of one of the hard Meeting benches next to Alice Plank, he tipped his hat to Kate.
“Miss Zook, a good day. Excuse me, I see Lilly …” He crossed over two empty benches with his long legs and escaped to the other side of the barn, leaving Kate’s angry and speculative frown behind.
“Lilly, Alice.” He pulled off his hat. “How are you both today?”
“Very well,” Alice said.