The Wonder of Your Love (A Land of Canaan Novel) (8 page)

She sat down on the couch next to Eli and had to admit it was touching, the way he cradled Jonas and made funny little baby talk. She’d never seen a man do that, and she lifted her hand to her mouth as she stifled a grin.

“He is a beautiful child.” Eli glanced over at Katie Ann. “Like his—”

“If you say
grossmammi
, I’ll smack you.” Katie Ann was shocked at her own playful comment, but Eli’s face lit up, and a certain amount of tension between them seemed to melt away.

“I was going to say, like his
mudder
.”

Katie Ann felt the flush filling her cheeks. His smooth, gentle voice sounded almost seductive, and she became very aware of how intimate this scene was. But as he returned his gaze to Jonas, Katie Ann let her eyes scan the stranger sitting next to her. He was handsome, no doubt. Even beneath his long-sleeved blue shirt, she could see the strength in his arms, and she’d already noticed the tall, confident way he carried himself. A trace of gray at his temple and speckled discreetly through his beard lent him a sophistication that was attractive. His hazel eyes were soft, and when he smiled, laugh lines filled his face. Martha’s voice rang in her mind.
“He’s happy, Katie Ann.”

“Danki,”
she finally managed to say. She watched as Eli lifted Jonas to his shoulder, patting him on the back. She wondered if Ivan would have been as involved with Jonas as this visitor in her living room. “Tell me about your
kinner
,” she said.

Eli lowered Jonas, placed him faceup in his lap, and rubbed his tummy as though he’d done it a million times. “Jake is my oldest. He’s twenty-three. Then there are all my girls—Hannah, Ida Mae, Karen, Frieda, and my youngest, Maureen.” He leaned down, smiling at Jonas. “And I’ve been blessed with six grandchildren.” He glanced up at Katie. “And one on the way. Laura Jane is expecting in a couple of weeks. She’s Jake’s
fraa
.”

“When did your . . .” Katie Ann wondered if she was being too personal.

“When did
mei fraa
die?” Eli looked up, but his eyes drifted somewhere else as he spoke. “She died giving birth to Maureen. Seventeen years ago.”

“I’m so sorry,” Katie Ann said. “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been on you. And the
kinner
.”

Eli turned to face her, and a different kind of expression filled his face, one Katie Ann couldn’t quite interpret. “I had lots of help in the beginning, but over time I realized that I was somehow going to have to be both parents, and be
gut
at it, if I wanted
mei kinner
to have a
gut
upbringing.” He chuckled. “Everyone tried to match me up with women in our district, but no one could compare to my Sarah.” Eli’s face brightened as he mentioned his wife’s name.

Katie Ann bit her bottom lip.
Why couldn’t Ivan have loved me like that?
“I’m sure you did a wonderful job raising them all. Jonas has sure taken a fancy to you.”

Eli gently lifted the baby and handed him to Katie Ann. “
Ach
, I don’t know about that.” He avoided meeting her eyes.

He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “I do feel like I’ve earned a bit of a vacation, so to speak. All
mei kinner
have made fine homes for themselves, and I plan to travel some.” He raised his brows. “Of course, I’ll still farm. My love of the land won’t change. But I plan to enjoy some time to myself.” He looked hard into Katie Ann’s eyes. “Do you think that’s selfish?”

She was surprised by the question. “
Nee
. I don’t. I know how much time and energy it takes to take care of one small
boppli
. I can’t imagine you raising six
kinner
on your own. Very admirable.” She smiled. “I think you’ve earned some time to yourself. Where do you plan to travel?”

Eli stood up, walked to the fire, and gave it a poke. “
Ach
, I have a long list.” He turned to her and smiled as he stowed the fireplace tool. “But I’m starting here in Colorado. Maybe you can tell me some nice spots to visit while I’m here?”

Katie Ann cradled Jonas in her arms and rocked him back and forth. “I’m probably not a
gut
person to ask. Since we’ve lived here, I’ve either been pregnant or with a newborn. I’m afraid I haven’t had a chance to travel much farther than Monte Vista, the nearest town.”

Eli sat down beside her, took a sip of his coffee, and stared at her for a moment. “You do know that several of the folks around here are trying to play matchmaker between us, no?”

Katie Ann pulled her eyes from his, again feeling a blush in her cheeks. “I—I, uh . . .”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just felt it was best to clear the air. I’m planning to stay for a short while to do some sightseeing, so I’m sure we will be seeing each other, but I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me.”

She lowered her head and rubbed her forehead. “I’m in mourning, and it would be inappropriate to . . . to . . .”

Eli ran a hand the length of his beard and shook his head. “No worries. I know you recently lost your husband, and we . . . well, we’re in two different places in life.” He shrugged. “But we could sure give them all something to talk about.” He grinned. “You said you haven’t seen much of the area. Would you and Jonas like to spend the day doing some sightseeing with me?”

Katie Ann was shaking her head before he even finished his sentence. “
Nee, nee
. I’m not going to fuel gossip. And besides, it’s much too cold for Jonas to take a buggy trip anywhere.”

Eli chuckled. “It must be different here than where I come from. Gossip might be frowned upon, but it’s plentiful just the same.”

Katie Ann started to agree, but Eli went on. “And no buggy ride for me. I’m going to hire a driver. You should take advantage of my offer and see some sights while I’m here visiting.” He grinned. “And providing a ride with a heater.”

It was a tempting offer, but inappropriate. “
Danki
. But I think not.”

“Why?”

Katie adjusted Jonas in her arms and stiffened. “Because I just can’t shuck my chores around here and go on a frivolous outing with you.”

“Why?”

She narrowed her brows. “Because I just can’t.”

Eli drank up the last of his coffee. “Okay. I just thought it might be nice for two friends to share a sightseeing trip together.”

He stood up as if preparing to leave.
Finally
. She rose from the couch, too, and allowed herself a few moments to dream about seeing more of the San Luis Valley, maybe even the sand dunes. She’d heard about the massive mounds just an hour away. “Where are you planning to go?”

Eli chuckled. “Aha. You are interested, just a little?”

Katie Ann shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe.” She had felt a bit claustrophobic as of late. And she’d never admit it, but it would be fun to see Vera, Lillian, and especially Martha’s reaction to her spending time with Eli. And besides, Eli’s plans for his future were so completely opposite of her own that he suddenly seemed
safe
. Maybe even someone she could be friends with.

“Tomorrow there isn’t worship service, so I thought I would spend the day with Elam, Vera, and the
kinner
. Monday I was planning to travel to the Great Sand Dunes. Have you heard of them?”

Katie Ann’s heart leaped as she considered the possibility. “
Ya
. I have. David took Emily there before they were married, and they said it is quite the sight.”

“I can be here with a driver on Monday at nine o’clock. How does that sound? You, me, and Jonas can have a nice lunch somewhere and see some things neither of us has seen before.” He raised a brow. “Always more fun to sightsee with a friend.”

Suddenly she remembered Lucy. “I’m sorry. I forgot that, um . . . the woman you saw earlier . . . she’ll be here Monday morning.”

Eli walked toward the front door. Katie Ann followed, watching him pull his hat and coat from the rack.

“I’m wide open on Tuesday too.”

She took a deep breath and wondered if spending time with Eli would be acceptable. It wasn’t like they were teenagers. And Eli had made it clear that he sought nothing from her but friendship. Before she could answer, Eli spoke.

“I hope that you and the woman named Lucy have a nice conversation.”

It was a strange thing to say, in light of what he had seen, and it was clearly an invitation for Katie Ann to share about Lucy, which was not going to happen.
“Danki
,” she said smoothly.

He looked at her, waiting.

“I’m sorry about the display earlier. Lucy is someone I knew in Lancaster County, and as you could see, Martha is not fond of her.”

Eli grinned. “I noticed that. I hope I don’t ever get on Martha’s bad side.”

Katie Ann couldn’t help but smile as she propped Jonas up on her shoulder. “It’s not a
gut
place to be.”

“See you on Tuesday?” Eli adjusted his hat.

Katie Ann bit her bottom lip for a moment. “I would like to see the sand dunes.” Then she shook her head. “But I don’t know, Eli—about Jonas. Maybe I shouldn’t have him out in the weather.”

Eli leaned close and touched Jonas on the cheek. “We will keep this little one bundled up well.”

Jonas puckered with delight at Eli’s touch, but Katie Ann went weak in the knees as Eli’s hand brushed against hers. She wondered if she was making the right choice about going with him. But she just nodded.

E
LI FOUGHT THE
night chill all the way to his cousin’s house, and by the time he got home everyone had retired for the evening. He went straight to bathe, then propped himself up on the bed. After he adjusted the lantern, he read from the Bible for a while, but eventually his thoughts about Katie Ann won over, and he closed the book. He sighed as he made a mental note to do a little extra reading from the Good Book in the morning. Right now he couldn’t seem to shake the vision of Katie Ann playfully teasing with him about not calling her a grandmother. She didn’t smile a lot, but when she did, it stirred things in Eli that had long been dormant. A thought that was both exhilarating and frightening.

He snuffed the lantern, lay back, and closed his eyes, wishing that things were different. Katie Ann was the first woman since Sarah who had lit a spark inside of him, but she was not anyone he’d ever pursue. Although she was lovely, and Jonas was a cute little
boppli
. He smiled, thinking about his time holding the child.

Rolling on his side, he knew those days were behind him. All he had to take care of was himself, and it had been a long time coming. But surely it was safe to spend time with Katie Ann. The woman was mourning her husband, and Eli had been deliberate in his use of the word
friend
in their conversations.

He rolled onto his back, then back onto his side.

So why am I having so much trouble falling asleep?

K
ATIE
A
NN
F
INISHED
nursing Jonas, laid him back down, and watched him until he fell asleep. Normally she’d eat a bowl of homemade granola for breakfast, but this morning she’d made herself some scrambled eggs. She couldn’t wait until Jonas was old enough to sit at the table. Lillian often invited her to take dinner with her family, since they lived right next door, and Martha came for most suppers, but breakfast time was lonely.

After checking on Jonas, she carried her leftover eggs out to the barn. Maybe Dash would eat scrambled eggs. She opened the barn door and was pleased to see that the cat was using the blanket she’d laid out for him. “I have a treat for you,” she said softly as she walked across the barn. She hadn’t taken three steps when the cat dashed around the corner and out of sight. “I’ll leave this for you anyway.”

She set the plate down, then headed back up to the house. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door. She looked at the clock on the wall. As Katie Ann predicted, Martha had arrived early.

“
Guder mariye
, Martha.”

Martha squirmed out of a black jacket and stocking cap and hung them on the rack by the door. She grunted before she asked if Katie Ann had coffee ready.

“
Ya
. A fresh pot in the kitchen. I knew you’d be here early.” She grinned as she closed the front door.

Martha didn’t say anything as she padded across the room in a black velour sweatsuit, her brownish-gray hair matted in the back of her head as it rested in a crumpled mess above her shoulders.