Sisters of the Heart - 03 - Forgiven (9 page)

“Oh, would you look at that?” Sam said to Winnie as they passed the Oberlins’ farm. “Benjamin’s got a new pup. Think he’s going to be a good farm dog?”

Winnie turned just in time to see a speckled dog with popped up ears tagging alongside Ben and his plow. She chuckled. “He’ll be good if he learns to mind the horses. Ben’s got a team of four out today. That’s a lot of hooves for one small
hund
to look out for.”

“I betcha before long that dog is going to be taking a rest in the sun and leaving the hard work to his master.”

“I imagine so.” As the farm faded from view, she turned her attention once again to Sam. He’d been kind enough to offer to drive her to the doctor that morning. And though he said he didn’t mind the errand, she still felt a bit guilty. The trip back and forth to the medical center was sure to take the better part of a day. “I hope Eli could spare you today.”

“He can, I promise. We’ve been plowing and preparing the fields since I arrived. We are both happy to take a break.”

That was yet another thing she liked about Sam. No matter what, he seemed to have a pleasant disposition. She’d rarely heard him ever complain. “I’m hoping to get some good news today.”

“I hope you will. It looks like your skin is healing.”

“I’ll have some scars, but it’s a small price to pay.”

“That’s the right attitude, Win. Good job,” he added, sounding very much like the teacher he was.

The traffic got thick. She was still nervous enough around the large tractor trailers to fall silent so Sam could concentrate on the many vehicles around them. But every time there was silence, she found herself thinking about how their lives might have been if Sam had never left.

Moments later, he pulled into a parking place. As he unbuckled his seat belt, he grinned at her. “Now, don’t you go running off without me, Winnie Lundy. Your brother would have my hat if I didn’t insist you sit in your wheelchair.”

Her cheeks heated at his gentle teasing. “Go on with you now, Samuel. I don’t have all day.”

But underneath her gruff words, she held these moments close to her heart.

A few days later, Winnie’s ears were filled with jubilant shouts. “They’re here! They’re here!” Hannah shouted
before racing Mary down the hall and jerking the door open with a flourish.

“Careful now, Hannah,” Winnie called out, but her warning was ignored. Not hard to understand, since it was she who was stuck in the wheelchair, not her nieces.

Winnie sat quietly and listened to the three Miller men enter and get greeted with a round of excitement. It was hard to tell whose voice was whose as a chorus of “Hi, Sam! Hi, Eli! Hi, Caleb!” rang out.

As Katie joined them and conversation flowed, Winnie slumped as she continued to listen. Being in a wheelchair surely prevented her from being in the thick of things.

Slowly, she wheeled herself to the edge of the family room, so she could peek into the kitchen just enough to catch a bit of what was going on. Anything was better than seeing nothing.

After stomping their boots clean on the grate outside, the men finally came in. While Eli merely waved a hello and Caleb made a beeline toward the tray of vegetables and dip laying on the counter, Sam walked toward her. Winnie noticed that same amused look that always seemed to lurk behind his eyes. “How is your foot today?”

Looking at her cast, Winnie shrugged. “The same. I can’t wait to get this cast off. I feel like I’m a prisoner. All I can do is watch from the sidelines.” She winced then as she heard herself. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I
sound like a petulant child. I know you didn’t come over here just to hear me complain.”

But instead of being taken aback by her clumsy words, he sat down on the tile in front of the bare fireplace. “I came over here for meatloaf and mashed potatoes, if you want the truth.”

That admission brought her out of her pity party and made her laugh. “Samuel, you came to the right place. Katie is a right fine cook.”

He pushed stray locks away from his forehead. “So, what have you been doing?”

“Quilting. Katie and I are making a wedding ring quilt for Henry and Anna. And, well, the girls are working on place mats for the couple.”

“I figured you wouldn’t be restless for long.”

“I have been, but I’m trying not to let it get me down.” She shrugged. “I like being busy.”

“I like that about you.”

“Well, you must like all Amish women, then. We all do a fine job of keepin’ busy.”

He chuckled. “Winnie, one thing’s for sure. You are sure to never run out of things to say.”

Once again, her penchant for speaking her mind made her feel self-conscious. Winnie swallowed and tried to pretend she wasn’t moved by his attention. But, just as when they’d been in the truck together, she was. Still conscious of his gaze settling on her, she pushed the conversation along.

“So, what is new with you?”

“I got a new teaching assistant to help with labs. Her name is Kathleen and she’s sharp as a whip.”

“Kathleen?”

“Yep.” Sam’s eyes shone as he continued. “You would get a kick out of her, Winnie. She asked more questions than anyone I’ve ever met. And she carries around enough books for three people.”

In spite of her jealousy, she was intrigued. “Why so many?”

“When I asked, she said they were more useful than her computer! She’s going to keep me on my toes, I tell you that. Some days I feel like I can hardly keep up with her, she’s so smart. Yesterday afternoon, she questioned the validity of one of the experiments we were working on. That led everyone into a rousing discussion. Two boys almost started yelling.”

“It sounds exciting.” But, really, his words brought forth a feeling of doom. In her world, she felt as confident and smart as anyone else. But in Sam’s college world, she felt like a
dummkopp
—a dunce. When he started talking about scientific methods and organic compounds, she was completely lost.

Sam just kept talking, lost in his musings. “It was incredibly exciting. It’s moments like that when I remember why I got into teaching. There’s nothing like a group of interested, active minds.”

“I’m sure they like you, too.”

“They will, until I grill them over the reading and question all of their methods and theories. Then I have
a feeling they won’t like me very much.” He chuckled. “Having to justify a hypothesis is a difficult task to perform.”

Once she filtered out all the fancy language, Winnie got to the heart of the matter. “Test-taking is part of learning,
jah
?”

Sam blinked, then smiled at her with dawning respect. “Of course, you’re right. I forget just how sensible you are, Winnie. And forthright.”

In spite of her best intentions to keep emotionally distant, Winnie was pleased. Rarely did people praise her for being sensible. In the past, most men she’d been interested in had preferred a more dreamy type of woman. They’d viewed her blunt way of seeing things as unfeminine. Of course, the only schooling she’d had was in the one-room Amish schoolhouse that he had been in, too. Like most other Amish, her formal schooling had ended at fourteen. After that, she’d focused on other important lessons, such as how to keep a good home.

“Sam, what are you doing?” Eli called out.

“Talking to Winnie.”

“Well, come on over here, wouldja? Jonathan was just going to tell us about his plans for the new barn.”

“You better go, the plans are exciting, to be sure,” she said quickly when he hesitated.

“Okay.” Standing up, he grasped the handles of her chair. “I’ll push you into the kitchen. That way you won’t have to be here by yourself.”

“It’s okay. I can move myself, and well, I’ve heard plenty about the barn plans. Go on.”

As soon as he was out of sight, Winnie rested her head against the padded fabric of the wheelchair. Oh, but he made her heart race, he was so terribly good-looking. She liked the way he was interested and seemed to care about so many things. There always seemed to be a hint of mischief lying beneath his eyes, like he was thinking of so much more than he ever spoke aloud.

No, there was nothing plodding and quiet about Sam.

Once, at the hospital, she’d noticed a pair of women looking at him with interest. One had whispered to the other. After a moment, they’d both giggled. Winnie could only imagine the interest he inspired among the women at his college.

That new Kathleen was probably smitten with Samuel, too. Valiantly, Winnie decided that was good. After all, he would be a fine husband for some woman.

The door opened again. Moments later, the welcome voices of Anna and Henry joined the throng. To her pleasure, both Katie and Anna soon left the kitchen and joined her.

“We couldn’t take that conversation a moment longer,” Katie said as soon as she sat down. “Plans and more plans. Those men are excited about every nail!”

“Henry’s acting as if it is
his
dream barn they’re fixin’ to construct! These men are planning for it to be double the size and twice as sturdy.”

“It’s too bad Sam and Eli’s parents aren’t here,” Winnie said. “They’d help settle everyone down. Mr. Miller always has been the voice of reason.”

“I don’t think even Mr. Miller could settle this talk down,” Katie murmured. “Eli can’t seem to stop talkin’ about a bigger tack room, a work shed, and even a storage area for the house.” She paused. “ ’Course, a storage area might come in handy. There’s never enough space in the kitchen.”

“Don’t get roped in,” Winnie advised. “If you give those men any encouragement, they’ll never stop the plans.”

“Like they would even think about listening to us.”

Anna rolled her eyes. “What do we know anyway?”

Katie puffed up her chest. “Nothing about barn building, only about keeping a home.”

“And we all know that is nothing like organizing a fine barn.”

Unable to stop herself, Winnie erupted into giggles, and her friends joined in. “Soon enough, the men will be having to help us with wedding plans. I’m so glad you aren’t going to delay the wedding, Anna.”

“I am, too, though I’ve been concerned about doing the right thing.” With a worried look at Katie, Anna murmured, “Are you sure you don’t mind a celebration in the middle of so much chaos? I feel awfully selfish.”

“No one would accuse you of being selfish, Anna,” Katie said. “You’ve put a lot of your own needs to the side time and again. It’s time to put yourself first.”

Anna’s gaze softened before murmuring, “Henry’s worried about the timing of the wedding, too.”

“He shouldn’t worry, and neither should you,” Winnie said. “Whether you get married or not, it won’t change
what already happened. Now we’ll get to have something to look forward to.”

“And we need a celebration soon,” Katie said. “Too much doom and gloom will only keep us up at night.”

Anna looked at Katie. “Your mother said the same thing.”

Katie chuckled. “More and more, I fear I am sounding like my mother. Who would have ever thought!”

Anna turned to Katie. “How is Jonathan holding up?”

Katie paused. “I think the mystery of who started the fire is bothering Jonathan more than he lets on. His heart and mind want him to forgive and forget, but how can he if no one claims responsibility?”

“Maybe we can help?” Anna ventured.

“How?” Winnie asked. “I don’t know who we would even talk to.”

Katie nibbled her bottom lip for a moment, then spoke. “Winnie, remember how we used to go to the Weavers’ home for singings?”

“
Jah
. They were a wonderful couple.” Looking at Anna, Winnie explained. “Often a family will host singings for the community’s teenagers on Sunday evenings. It’s a time for young people to get a chance to be together and have fun.”

Anna scowled. “And what do singings have to do with us?”

“I think we ought to host a few singings and visit with the kids a bit. We might learn something,” Katie said practically.

Winnie’s eyes danced. “It will be like we are playing detective.”

“That could be dangerous,” Anna warned. “Whoever set the barn on fire has got to be feeling guilty. Plus, what will we do if we do find out who did it? Tell the authorities?”

Katie sighed. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. All I know is that it’s hard to forgive someone who hasn’t sought forgiveness. And I think Jonathan needs that.” Katie shrugged. “Besides, he doesn’t have time to ask questions of people. He’s working at the lumberyard, and at tearing down the barn.”

“Henry is busy, too. We’ve had a lot of guests at the inn.”

“Eli’s got planting and Caleb to watch,” Winnie added. “And Sam…” Winnie stopped, feeling self-conscious, especially when Katie looked at her curiously.

“Yes?”

“Nothing. I was just going to say that I’m sure Sam has a lot to do, too.”

“Of course he does. He’s busy with things at his college. And his own life—right?” Anna said the last as a question.

“Yes. Well, I mean, I suppose.” But wouldn’t it be wonderful if he wanted to stay with them? Wouldn’t it be something if his life was right there in their community, too?

“Sam is a good man,” Katie said slowly, but with a tone edged in steel. “I’m glad he’s been so helpful. But he’s not really one of us any longer. We can’t expect him to drop everything and help us build a barn.”

No matter what happened in the future, Winnie knew Sam had become a part of her world. Again. “He may not live here with us, but I know he still cares. It’s not like he is shunned.”

“That is true,” Katie agreed slowly. Without even trying to be subtle, she glanced over her shoulder toward the kitchen door. “And he did stop by today. That is new.”

After glancing at the door as well, Anna turned to Winnie, her eyes narrowing with speculation. “He sure is a handsome man, isn’t he?”

“I only have eyes for Jonathan, but I do have to admit that I’ve always liked his sunny personality,” Katie said.

“He’s been a good brother to Eli and friend to Jonathan, visiting me like he did in the hospital.”

With a mischievous smile, Anna said, “Are you sure he only visited you for his brother?”

“Of course.”