Love Inspired June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: The Cowboy's Homecoming\The Amish Widow's Secret\Safe in the Fireman's Arms (27 page)

Chapter Eight

M
ose glanced up from the checker board, his gaze resting on Sarah's face. “We're almost in Tampa. You should hurry. You might not have time to make that last move you're so busy contemplating.” He grinned. She scowled back but then broke out into a wide smile, her fingers poised. Alone on the board full of black checkers, his last red king sat ready to be served up.

Her teasing expression made her face appear young and spirited. She wore an impish grin of victory. “I have time for this.” She moved her black checker toward his lone red king and snatched it off the board.

“Beginner's luck,” Mose taunted, laughing at the cross expression stealing her smile.

Sarah's huff confirmed his suspicions. He had a competitive wife.

“We'll see if its beginner's luck next time we play.” She straightened the ribbons on her
kapp
, then busied herself with wiping drool from Mercy's neck.

He loved that he'd married a feisty woman, and looked forward to their next checker game. He would only throw a game once. He was competitive, too.

The train's arrival in Tampa was announced over the intercom. The man's voice carried a heavy Southern accent. “Please remain seated while the train comes to a complete stop.”

“We're finally home,” Beatrice declared with a deep sigh.

Moments later Sarah held on to Beatrice and Mercy as the train lurched to a stop and people stood and gathered their belongings.

After grabbing the bag of small toys, she scooped up Mercy, and Mose inched his way off the train with Beatrice hanging off his back, the child's thin arms locked around his sunburned neck. Her head bobbed as his long legs ate up the distance to the outer doors. “Let's go, my little dumpling.” He laughed as he stepped off the train, turning to take Sarah's hand as she stepped into the sweltering afternoon heat.
“Danke,”
she said.

Burdened with
kinder
and the carry-on bag, they made their way across the parking lot toward a small bus stop. Mose pulled out his cell phone from his pants, checked that it still had power and punched in numbers. “I'm calling my brother to let him know we've arrived. He should be here already,” he told Sarah.

“Your community allows the use of phones for everyday use?” Sarah watched him, amazement on her face as he spoke into the quickly dying phone, then ended his conversation.

Mose smiled. “Our phones are mostly for work. We get a lot of business calls from out of state. Customers have to be able to communicate with us. Without their furniture orders we'd quickly go out of business in this difficult economy.”

“I'm just not used to having one, that's all. We always had to use the phone box across the road for emergencies.”

“My brother, Kurt, said they're at the back of the parking lot under a tree.”

He watched relief spread across Sarah's face as she glanced over at the big buses parked in rows on the glistening tar-covered parking lot. Had she thought they would be their mode of transportation to Sarasota? She was probably unprepared for a bus ride.

As they waited, loving family reunions erupted all around them. Smiling faces dotted the small bus walkway. Mingled among them were Amish and Mennonites alike, most dressed in plain clothes and sensible shoes. Seeing so many Amish in one place, Mose wondered if they reminded Sarah of the community and the people she'd left behind. He pushed away those thoughts and glanced around. He hoped she liked what she saw of Tampa. Palm trees grew everywhere and shops of every kind lined the wide streets. They'd arrived before the gray gloom of night could steal the day's last glorious rays of sunshine. The tall, swaying palm trees gave the town a tropical feel. He hoped she'd find Sarasota just as beautiful as Tampa.

Mose swung Beatrice onto his shoulders and caught Sarah's attention with the wave of his hand. “I don't want you to be concerned about meeting Kurt. I spoke with him early this morning. He knows all about our marriage and is very happy for us. He knew Joseph, too. We all grew up together in Lancaster, as boys. When we heard about Joseph's coming marriage, we both decided to go back up and help build the farmhouse. We wanted only the best for Joseph and his new bride.”

“
Danke
for all your work. So much was going on during that time. I failed miserably at giving a proper thanks to all the workers who came to do the hard work. You and Kurt must have thought me terrible.”

“
Nee
. I saw you at a distance one day and thought you lovely and Joseph a lucky man.”

Sarah blushed at his compliment. She clutched Mercy to her chest and looked away.

Mose leaned down and grabbed Sarah's free hand, leading her away from the buses. Mose rubbed her wrist with his thumb and she smiled, accepting his touch.

Walking along with Sarah, a sudden breeze cooled his neck.

“What did you tell your
bruder
about our circumstances? Does he know I was going to be shunned? That you were there for me when I needed you most?”

“I told him I found you to be a wonderful woman who makes me happy. That's all he needs to know.”

Sarah sighed deeply. Mose knew she probably dreaded meeting his family, but hoped for the best.
Will they accept her after all the rumors floating between Lancaster and here?
He longed for a start fresh for her in Pinecraft, the tiny Amish community he lived in just outside of Sarasota.
Gott
had provided a haven for her. There were a lot of things she didn't know about his family, but he knew them to be generous with their love.

Just feet away, a shiny black van with the sign Fischer's Transport came into view. Sarah's brows lifted. She tugged at Mose's hand, her questioning gaze seeking his. “Who owns the van?”

Beatrice broke free of her father's grip and ran toward the front passenger door, her small fists pounding on the metal as she yelled, “Unlock the door,
Aenti
Linda. We're finally home.”

Mose waved at someone inside and placed his hand lightly on Sarah's back, directing her closer to the back passenger door. “My
bruder
does.”

“I'm surprised he doesn't drive a horse-drawn wagon.” Sarah knew her words came out sounding judgmental. She hadn't meant to be rigid. The idea of riding in the back of this huge vehicle, instead of an Amish wagon, left her breathless with anticipation.

“Kurt usually brings the mini bus, but tonight you get a special treat and get to ride in his new touring van.”

Sarah wasn't so sure riding in the back of a van was a special treat, but she would tolerate anything to get a chance to settle the
kinder
down and get some rest. They walked up to the driver's door and she held her breath.
Gott, let them like me.

* * *

“Hoe gaat het, bruder?”
Mose greeted his lanky younger brother with a bear hug and several warm-hearted back slaps. He grinned at his sibling's attempt at growing a beard since his recent marriage, the beard unkempt and scraggly. Reddish-blond hairs jutted in all directions. “I see you're having some problems here.” Mose jerked the straggly beard and laughed. “I hope your marriage is going better than this mess.”

“Not everyone can jut out a forest of hair in weeks,
bruder
.” Kurt laughed.

Enjoying his brother's discomfort, Mose grinned over at his sister-in-law, Linda. Beatrice had already managed to connect herself to the thin woman, her blond head snuggled against her chest.

Mose brushed aside a momentary pang of concern for Linda. Pregnant with her first child, she didn't look a day over seventeen, even though he knew her to be close to Sarah's age. She oozed healthy confidence and looked forward to the birth of her first child. Not everyone had complications.
But Greta had.
Gott, let all will go well for this baby.

“You're looking very rosy-cheeked and happy,” Mose teased. “Pregnancy seems to suit you. It's given you that motherly glow everyone talks about.”

He watched as Linda glanced over at Sarah and a smile lit her face. Not prepared to explain anything about Sarah and their marriage, he pretended to pat Linda's tiny, protruding tummy.

Kurt seemed happy now that he had married his childhood sweetheart. Mose grinned. He would pray for an easy birth for Linda and leave their fate in
Gott's
capable hands.

Standing behind him, Sarah tried to hide herself. He reached around and urged his new wife forward to introduce her. “This is Sarah, my
frau
.”

* * *

Sarah had never been a shy person, but today she felt dimwitted and backward. She had dreaded meeting Mose's family and worried they might reject her. Only
Gott
knew what Kurt must think of her, marrying his
bruder
so soon after Joseph's death. Amish custom in her Old Order community required a two-year waiting period to remarry and, even then, people would talk about the short interval. She moved forward and did her best to smile at him in a friendly manner.

Kurt extended his hand. Sarah took it and he squeezed her fingers in a firm grip. She was surprised at the
Englisch
gesture coming from an Amish man. Back in Lancaster, hand-shaking was often avoided. She had to keep reminding herself she didn't live under harsh rules anymore. This new community would allow her freedoms she'd always longed for.
Everything will be okay, please Gott.

Kurt looked nothing like Mose with the exception of his piercing blue eyes. He had a slight but muscular build, with a thick mass of sandy red hair. His skin color, which should have been pale and freckled, looked tan and glowed from the warm days in Florida's sunshine.

Sarah finally allowed her gaze to move to her new sister-in-law and her knees almost buckled with relief. Linda Troyer stood at Kurt's side. She was an old friend Sarah had known since childhood. They'd gone to school together, and years later, had taught the younger
kinder
during the same semesters. Linda smiled at her, draining all the stress and fear from Sarah's body.

“Linda Troyer! I can't believe my eyes. I knew you'd moved to Florida, but I didn't know you knew Mose's family.”

“Kurt and I got married last fall, just a few months after my family moved down here. My last name's Fischer now, like yours.” The two women hugged tightly, their reunion as warm as the brothers had been. Their happy tears mingling as they kissed each other's cheeks and laughed.

“I forgot. You did tell me you'd met a man named Fischer during
rumspringa
a couple of years ago. I guess I was too wrapped up in my own courting and coming marriage to Joseph to remember everything. Forgive me.”

Linda grabbed Sarah's hand. “I don't know how you forgot. I must have mentioned Kurt's name a million times. I bored you with details for weeks. Remember, you even threw a going-away party when my family decided to leave for Florida. Your dad got so mad at me for dancing like a heathen in your front yard. Don't you remember him running me off and calling me an ugly name?” Linda laughed as she drew Sarah close for another hug, her fingers pinching Mercy's chubby cheeks before she leaned away. “Those were the good ole days. I've missed you.”

Sarah grinned. “I probably missed you more. I am so thrilled that you're living in Florida.”

“Not just Florida. We live in Sarasota, at Pinecraft. We're going to have the best time picking out a new home for you that's close to ours. You won't mind, will you, Mose?”

Both women turned toward the two silent men standing next to the van.

Strong emotions flitted across Mose's face, his brow furrowed, but his words came out friendly and light. “Wherever you want to live is fine with me. As long as it's near the schoolhouse.” His smile seemed genuine, but there was still something in his expression, something she couldn't define that troubled her.

Chapter Nine

“Y
ou're being awfully quiet for a guy who's got a lot of explaining to do.” Kurt lifted the girls' bag of toys and threw it over his shoulder.

Not sure what to say, Mose slowed his pace. He shifted the suitcase he was carrying from one hand to the other and repositioned the bulging dirty clothes bag slipping out from under his arm. Mose cleared his throat. “I really don't know where to start.”

“Start at the beginning. What made you propose to Sarah, and why does she look so ill?”

“We really don't have the time to dig into all this right now. The van's just a few more rows over and the women will be wondering what happened to us. We're supposed to be picking up the remaining luggage from the train, remember? Not having a friendly chit-chat like two old women.”

Kurt stopped in his tracks and gave Mose a piercing look that spoke volumes. He seemed determined to get the facts, one way or another.

“Do it now, or do it later, but tell me you will.”

“All right. Sarah was in a deep depression over Joseph's passing. She needed help. We got to know each other while she cared for the girls. I offered to marry her to get her out of a bind.”

“A bind? Marriage is an awful lot of help, Mose. I know you're a kind man, but people don't up and marry a widow of less than six months just because she's in a bind. Not even when they were best friends with the widow's dead husband. There has to be more to this story than you're telling me.”

“I didn't marry her just to help her out. I need help, too. She had to leave Lancaster and the girls were desperate for a mother. They fell in love with her while I helped rebuild the burned-out barn. Sarah's a very loving woman and so good with the
kinder
. Her situation came up suddenly and we married out of convenience, nothing more. We have a clear understanding. Now, can you stop making more of this than there is, and let's get going? We can talk later. These bags are heavy and it's getting late.”

Mose took off, his leather soles smacking against the parking lot pavement. He had enough on his mind without trying to satisfy his younger brother that he hadn't completely lost his mind. He knew he hadn't lost contact with reality and needed time to think, to talk to Sarah. This would all work out. He just prayed to
Gott
the rest of the family wasn't going to be this inquisitive.

* * *

Sarah looked inside the big van, comparing it to the small Amish wagons she was so used to. This vehicle was amazing, plush and definitely not plain. Three rows of soft leather seats lined the back, enough room for at least eight people. The space amazed her beyond words. She stepped in, the carpet under her feet like walking on marshmallows. Weak as a kitten, she longed for a nap. A sigh of relief escaped her as she bent forward and lifted Mercy's body into a child's car seat. A few minutes of fiddling had the baby secure in the strange contraption. Jerking on each strap, she made sure everything snapped into the right slots and flopped down next to Mercy for a moment of rest.

Linda slid Beatrice into the child seat at the front of the van with experienced ease, then gave her a box of animal cookies to quiet her.

Linda patted the seat next to her and motioned Sarah deeper into the van. Both women slid into the third row. Linda grinned. “It's really wonderful to see you, Sarah. I've been wondering how you were doing. I started to write when we first moved away, but figured your
daed
would just throw my letters away.”

They laughed. Sarah enjoyed the moment of relaxation. “You know, he probably would have thrown them away.” Sarah grinned and hugged her friend. “You have to no idea how wonderful it was to see you standing there next to Kurt. Recognizing your smiling face was such a surprise and a blessing.” Sarah took Linda's hand and squeezed. “I've missed our friendship so much.”

Linda laid her hand on her protruding stomach and rubbed lovingly. “Did you notice I'm pregnant? I told Mose to tell you when he got to Lancaster, but knowing him, he probably didn't.”

“Sarah patted her friend's hand and squeezed it with joy. “I'm so happy for you and Kurt. Having a
bobbel
is such a blessing from
Gott
. You must be so excited.”

“I am, but it's Kurt who's behaving like a fool. He's thrilled over the prospect of being a father.”

Sarah listened as Linda laughed and continued to ramble on. But in the back of her mind, the words of the woman on the train came back to haunt her.
Could I be pregnant, too?
Was it possible all the nausea and lethargy she'd been experiencing were from an unexpected pregnancy? How could she possibly be pregnant and not know it?
Wouldn't I have suspected something by now?

“Just listen to me. I'm rattling on about my life and I haven't asked you if you're doing okay.” Linda's expression became somber. “I was so sorry to hear about Joseph's death. I can't imagine what you've been going through.”

Sarah felt a warm tear slide down her face. “It was all so sudden. Joseph and I were so happy. Life was perfect for the first time in my life...and then he was gone and everyone kept saying his death was
Gott's
will. I was told not to talk about him, to forget him. They expected me to act as if he never existed.” Sarah wanted to share how she'd blamed herself for his death. Linda deserved to understand why she'd married Mose so soon after Joseph's death. A quick remarriage was completely out of line with their teachings.
She'll be wondering, thinking I've made a big mistake.

What would Mose's people think when they heard she had been threatened with being unchurched for helping the neighbor boys leave their abusive father? Her heart ached with regret, but not for helping the boys. She hoped her old friend would understand that her motives had been pure, but what about the other family members? Beads of sweat dampened her forehead.

“You're so pale. Have you been eating well and drinking enough water?” Linda handed Sarah a lacy handkerchief and watched her as she mopped her face.

“I'm fine, really.” Sarah reassured her. “I've just been sick to my stomach lately. Probably just a bug.”

“When did these stomach problems start?”

“A while back. Nothing big, just off-and-on nausea and I'm tired all the time. But that could be from all the stress and chasing after the girls.” Sarah leaned over to cover Mercy's bare legs with a lightweight blanket. She smiled as the tiny girl puckered up, as if she was nursing on a bottle.

Linda's hands pressed into her growing waistline. “Have you seen anyone about the stomach problems?”

Sarah watched for Mose and Kurt. “
Nee
, I thought about it, but I've been so busy that I put it off. I'm sure I'll be fine in a day or two.” Sarah fiddled with the dangling ribbon on her
kapp
as she turned back to Linda. “You'll get a good laugh from this. A lady on the train saw me throw up and assumed I was pregnant. Can you believe it?” Sarah held her breath as she waited for Linda to laugh, to reassure her she had nothing to worry about.

“Are you?”

Sarah hadn't expected her serious question. Linda wasn't laughing. “I don't see how. It's been six months since Joseph died.”

“Pregnancy can sneak up on you. One morning I smelled coffee brewing and threw up in front of Kurt's
mamm
. She knew right off I was pregnant.”

Sarah flashed back to her problems with the smell of food and began to tremble. “I've been having to eat crackers to calm my stomach and...”

“What, Sarah?”

“My breasts are tender. They have been for weeks. I thought it was from my period being late...it's been months. I've been so wrapped up in Joseph's death. I thought it was just the stress keeping it away.”

“I think we'd better get a test.”

“What do you mean, a test?” Sarah asked.

“The
Englisch
have pregnancy tests. They cost a few dollars and within minutes you know if you're pregnant or not. I took one, just to be sure. It was positive.”

“Mose might not approve of such tests.”

“Are you kidding? He's the one who picked one up for me. You aren't in Lancaster anymore, Sarah.”

Sarah began to cry. She was so confused and torn. She'd know for sure if she was pregnant and then how would she feel? Had
Gott
blessed her with a baby from Joseph? How would Mose react? He hadn't bargained on raising another man's child in the agreement they shared.

“I didn't mean to bring up Joseph and make you cry.” Linda leaned forward and smoothed a tear from Sarah's cheek. “We'll get a pregnancy test in a bit and you'll take it. No more guessing and worrying. You hear?”

Always a take-charge kind of person, Linda leaned back into the soft seat of the van. Her gaze cut back to Sarah. “How did you and Mose end up married, anyway? I know you, Sarah. There's no way you'd marry again so soon after Joseph's death. Not unless something was seriously wrong. What happened? How could you have fallen in love with Mose so soon?”

The sound of the men approaching stopped Sarah's response, but she knew there'd be time for explanations later and prayed Linda would understand.

Linda greeted the men loading suitcases into the back of the van as if they'd been talking about the weather. “Listen to them huffing and puffing, Sarah. You'd think they'd been carrying luggage for a family of six.”

“These bags are heavy. Sarah must have packed everything she owns in here,” Kurt teased.

Mose smiled through the window at Sarah and waved, his expression friendly and calm. She put on a brave face, smiling and pretending everything was fine. If he did see her tears he'd think it was just her nervousness about her first van ride, not to mention her concerns about meeting his family. She willed her stomach to calm down.

“Let's hit the road before it gets dark. I want Sarah to be able to see some of Tampa's sights before we head down to Sarasota.” Kurt slipped into the driver's seat and waited for Mose to slide in and shut his door.

Mose looked back at Sarah. She grinned, silently reassuring him she was fine.
But I'm not fine.
Her mind raced like a runaway train. Kurt started the big van's motor and Sarah sucked in her breath.

“Remember, this is Sarah's first automobile ride,” Mose reminded Kurt. “You don't want to scare her to death with some of your wild driving.”

“As if I would,” Kurt teased and gunned the powerful motor seconds before the van roared off down the road.

Sarah tucked her shaking hands under her legs and closed her eyes. It was going to be a long ride to Sarasota.

* * *

Florida was more beautiful than Sarah had imagined. Palm trees lined every street and the sky looked bluer than any sky she'd ever seen. Highway 275 quickly turned into HI 19 and the impressive Sunshine Skyway Bridge came into view, amazing Sarah with its massive size and length that stretched out over the bay. She was fascinated and terrified at the same time.

I can do this.
She'd been through so many impossibly hard things the past few months. She looked back at Linda. Her friend seemed perfectly calm, as did everyone in the van. Digging her toes into the soles of her plain black shoes, she closed her eyes and prayed.
Give me strength to get through this trip across what looks like a death bridge.

Kurt spoke, “What's wrong, Sarah?” His tone was playful but without mercy. She opened her eyes and met his gaze in the van's mirror. “You're not scared of heights, are you? It's either the bridge or walk.”

Mose turned toward Kurt and sliced him a cutting look. Anger built inside Sarah, a typical example of her shifting moods of late. She would not have her husband pitying her over something as silly as a fear of heights. “Would you like me to sit in the back with you while we cross?” Mose offered.

Sarah looked back to the bridge and glared at Mose. He probably had no idea he'd just insulted her. “
Danke
, but I'm fine.” Sarah pulled at the strings of her prayer
kapp
. She squared her shoulders in determination. “I'm sure thousands of people go across this bridge every day. I'm fine.”

The awkward moment evaporated when Beatrice woke from a sound sleep and chimed, “I'm hungry. Aren't we there yet?”