The Amish Nanny (8 page)

Rumor also had it that he wanted to court Leah Fisher, though I didn't imagine he'd make much progress there. Leah had obviously set her sights on Will Gundy, and we all knew Leah Fisher got what she wanted. If Silas pursued her, he would end up in the same boat as I, rejected and alone. Too bad he and I had no interest in each other, at least not in that way. We might have made a good life together—one that could even include travel. But I knew without question that such a union would not include love, and if that were the case, what would be the point? Some of my friends wanted marriage at any cost, but as far as I was concerned, I'd rather grow old all alone, a spinster to my death, than live out life with a man I did not love and who did not love me.

Feeling weary to the bone, I leaned my head against the seat and closed my eyes, glad when it sounded as though the little wedding movie had finally ended and Ella was taking back her phone. Soon my seatmates began to quiet down, leaving me with only the rhythmic rattle of the rails to punctuate my thoughts.

More than anything I wanted a husband, some children, and a home of my own, but I couldn't imagine anyone other than Will Gundy as the man in that scenario. If that really was not to be, then I would have to learn to fill my life in other ways, with teaching, with serving the community, with caring for my parents as they grew older. Surely God in His wisdom would eventually still the yearnings of my heart and help me find some sort of peace in such a life. Teaching would be the best, first step toward finding that kind of happiness.

Unless even my dream of teaching was not to be. Rumor or truth? If only I could know for sure. When I got home, I would visit Levi Stoltz immediately and find out exactly what was going on and why I had not been given the job he had promised me, if indeed I had not. I was eager to have that conversation and get this whole thing straightened out once and for all. But that couldn't happen for another two and a half days, so I decided that between now and then all I could really do was to plan out exactly what I would say, enjoy the trip while it lasted, and spend much time on the matter in prayer.

Across from me Silas was busily texting away on his cell phone. Zed and Ella were resting, their heads lying back against their seats. Zed was fast asleep, judging by his snores, though Ella was not. She, too, was texting with someone, though at a much slower pace than Silas, stirring every few minutes to read her screen and type something in response before again closing her eyes. At one point, she held the phone in her lap with its screen facing toward me, and though I knew I shouldn't, I stole a peek before it went dark. No surprises there. She was communicating with Ezra, her last text declaring that she was “literally counting the hours. LITERALLY!!!” until she would see him again.

Turning my attention back to Silas, I watched him type for a moment, his dirt-stained fingers clumsy on the tiny keys. Eventually he glanced up at me, as if sensing my gaze.

“Someone special?” I teased, gesturing toward the phone.

His face broke into a grin. “How did you know?”

“Your eyes are twinkling.”

He laughed, his cheeks flushing a bright pink. “
Ya
, I suppose so. It's Leah. Leah Fisher.”

I gave him a nod and a smile, though I hoped the pity I felt didn't show on my face. Didn't he know Leah wasn't interested in him that way? Didn't he realize her plan was to become the wife of Will Gundy, the handsome widower with the three adorable, motherless children—and that when it came to what Leah wanted, no other man stood a chance?

Before either of us spoke again, his phone dinged, and when he looked down at the screen, the grin on his face widened. He didn't bother to share what he read, and suddenly I was feeling quite left out.

“So what's the news from home?” I asked, wondering if I might be able to interest anyone in taking a walk to the club car soon for a game of Rook or Uno. “Anything earth-shattering take place while we were all away?”

After he finished returning her text, Silas shifted his attention back to me.

“Not sure about anyone else,” he said, “but Leah has big news.”

“Oh?” I asked, something shifting inside my chest. Surely that news wasn't about her and Will. Couldn't be. If it was, Silas wouldn't be sitting here acting so relaxed and happy. “What is it?”

Beside me, Ella got another text. She raised her head and opened her eyes to read it, and then a small moan suddenly escaped from her lips.

“Well?” I pressed Silas, ignoring Ella and her teenage dramatics beside me. “What's Leah's big news?”

“Silas, don't—” Ella began, but he was already speaking again, saying Leah had just gotten a job.

“There was an opening for a new teacher,” he added, glancing at Ella and then back at me.

I nodded, swallowing hard. “And?”

“And she got it.”

“Got it?” I managed to squeak out.

“Yes, the job. She got the job. It's official. Leah Fisher is the new teacher at Willowcrest School.”

E
lla gave me a sympathetic look as I excused myself and headed toward the restroom, my heart racing. If Silas had said anyone besides Leah Fisher had been given the job, I wouldn't have believed it. But I had to be honest, at least with myself. Now I was worried. There was no doubt in my mind that if Leah had wanted this job, it was hers.

As the train rumbled along, I braced myself against the counter in the tiny bathroom and called the phone in the barn at
Mamm
and
Daed
's, leaving a message that everything was fine and I was on my way home, but I had a question for them and could they please call me back as soon as possible.

Ordinarily, of course, they might not even check for messages for several days, but I had a feeling they were keeping a closer eye on the machine while I was gone. I was hoping to hear back from them by nightfall. In the meantime, the only choice I had was to ignore Ella's dramatic version of what she thought was compassion and distract everyone from the subject of Leah entirely with some board games in the club car.

That and dinner got us through the rest of the evening, but by the time we were settling back into our seats for the long night, I was frustrated that my parents still hadn't called. Somehow I managed to fall asleep anyway, and in my dreams the steady
click-clack
of the rails became the clomping of cows' hooves against long, wooden walkways that had no end.

After a restless night of tossing and turning and trying to get as horizontal as possible in the angled seat, I was finally awakened in the early dawn by an odd sensation against my hip. As I struggled toward consciousness, I realized that what I was feeling was my phone, vibrating silently in my pocket. Pulling it out, I managed to rise and make my way toward the end of the car as I answered in a hushed whisper. Fortunately, the bathroom was empty, so I slipped inside where I could have a conversation without waking up my fellow passengers.

“What time is it?” I asked softly, closing the door and leaning against the narrow counter, my stocking feet cold on the metal floor.

“Almost eight thirty,” my mother said, which meant it was five thirty here, unless we had already crossed into Mountain time. There was no window in the bathroom, but I could tell from the soft gray glow that had lit my way in here that the sun was just coming up outside.

I removed my
kapp
and ran a hand over my hair, trying to smooth it into place as best I could. It was no use. I would have to take it all the way down and start over.

My mother was anxious to hear how I was doing, so I assured her everything was fine. Once I felt awake enough to converse coherently, I came right to the point. “I heard Leah Fisher got the teaching job. Is it true?”

“Talk to your father about that,” she said, and then after a moment my
daed
came on the line.

I repeated the question, pulling bobby pins from my hair as I did, soft blond waves falling loose against my shoulders.

“I'm very sorry, Ada, but it is true.” His voice sounded so timid and far away, and for a moment I felt bad for him, that he had to be the one to confirm this rumor for me. “Bishop Fisher told us just last night.”

“But Levi Stoltz promised me the job!”

“It wasn't his to promise.”
Daed
explained Levi was new to being the president of the board and hadn't realized the others might end up outvoting him.

“But why?” I demanded, my voice sounding bitter. “Just because Leah's the bishop's daughter?”

“Now, now, Ada, don't cast aspersions. There were legitimate reasons for the board's decision.”

“Such as?”

“Concerns about your health, for one thing.”

“My health is fine.”

“And some felt Leah was…better suited for the position.”

“She's
not
,” I answered. For years everyone had always said how good I was with children. I was a born teacher. Leah, on the other hand, was far too focused on herself and her looks—not to mention whatever man she happened to have in her sights.

We both knew it was true, but my father chose not to respond to my statement. He'd never said a negative thing about a soul in his entire life. I shouldn't expect him to start now.

“Another job could come up,” he said instead, and I knew that was true. With so many children and schools in Lancaster County, some years there were more jobs than teachers. But at this point it was likely too late to secure another position for this fall. If only Levi had been honest with me from the start.

“Ada.” It was
Mamm
again. “How have you been feeling? Have you gotten enough rest? Been careful not to overdo?”

“Yes, Mother, I've been careful. I'm perfectly fine.”

If there was one thing that drove me almost to insanity, it was
Mamm
's hovering. I'd put up with it my entire life, but suddenly I felt as though I couldn't tolerate it a moment longer.

“You're sure?”

“Yes,” I said, sighing. “I'm sure.”

My condition, hereditary spherocytosis, had caused me to suffer for years, off and on, with haemolytic anemia. Occasional blood transfusions had provided the only relief—until Lexie showed up this past spring, that is. Lexie was a nurse, and after learning of my condition, she had suggested I start taking certain supplements, primarily folic acid, which had been known to have a profound impact on my condition. Sure enough, since the day I started taking them I hadn't had to have a single transfusion. In fact, I felt better than I had in years. Other than following several important precautionary measures in the future, such as getting an annual flu shot, I didn't even see my health as an issue anymore, thanks to my sister, who I hadn't even known existed until she showed up and changed my world, inside and out.

“Well, we're looking forward to you being home,”
Mamm
said quietly. “You've been gone so long.”

Cradling the phone to my ear with my shoulder, I reached up and used both hands to pin my hair back in place.

“I've really enjoyed traveling,” I answered.

“Oh.”

“A lot,” I added, feeling a little guilty for the emphatic tone of my voice.

After a long pause,
Mamm
said simply that
Daed
would meet me at the station in Lancaster tomorrow afternoon. It was obvious she was ready to get off the phone. I was too.

“Please tell him thank you,” I said, heat suddenly rising in my cheeks. I wanted to add that I appreciated it, I really did. But after having been snippy with her I knew that such words would sound disingenuous. “I'll see you soon,
Mamm
.”

“
Ya
. See you tomorrow.”

After finishing with my hair as best I could and pinning on my
kapp
, I made my way back to my seat, relieved to see that Ella, Zed, and Silas were still asleep. As quietly as possible, I dug out my carry-on bag and returned to the bathroom to brush my teeth, try again with my hair using a brush this time, and clean myself up for the day.

After I was finished, I looked and felt much better. Returning again to my seat, I put away my bag and tried to get comfortable, knowing I was too wired up for any more rest. I wanted to watch the misty landscape roll past as the sun continued to rise, but my seat was on the aisle, and Ella had closed our curtain.