Neighbors Of Lancaster County: Amish Weddings Part 4

"Need some help?"

Reuben turned toward the door. The Englisch man from the day before was headed toward them.

"Hi, Trevor," Rose said, speaking in a friendly manner. That was her way.

"Hi." Trevor glanced from Rose to Reuben. "I worked on a dairy back in Delaware. Want some help?"

"Sure!" Rose's face lit up.

Reuben moved away from the cow as Trevor stepped forward. The man was tall-nearly a head taller than Reuben-and muscular. He wore a long-sleeved T-s.h.i.+rt, but his muscles bulged enough for their outline to be apparent through the fabric. He stepped up to the cow with confidence. He didn't shove her, not exactly. He simply leaned against her and walked forward with confidence. The cow moved with him, stopping when she reached the trough. Trevor quickly secured the cow and then hooked up the machine.

There was no sign of the emotional turmoil from the day before. Reuben realized he'd been staring at the Englischer and headed back toward one of the cows that was milked and ready to be released.

The work went quickly with Trevor's help. As they neared the last of the cows, Rose said she was going into the house to get supper on the table. "We'll just have sandwiches-I didn't have time for anything more, but I do have a chocolate shoofly pie for dessert," she said. "Both of you should come in and eat."

Reuben wasn't sure about Rose inviting a stranger in when her father was gone. He cleared his throat.

"Don't worry," Trevor said, his voice low. "I told Joel I'd eat over at their house."

Reuben simply nodded. At least the man had some common sense.

"Come on, Trudy," Rose called out to her little sister, who had been playing with a kitten for the last half hour.

After Rose and Trudy left, it took another half hour for Reuben and Trevor to clean up. When they'd finished, Reuben shook Trevor's hand. "Thank you," he said.

"What about in the morning? Who'll do the milking then?"

"Tim and Rose," Reuben said, sure Tim wouldn't spend the night at the hospital. Zane might-but Tim would come home.

"All right," Trevor said. "I'm staying with the Becks for a few more days. I'll check in with Tim and see if there's anything I can do to help. Zane's been a good friend to me-I'd like to be able to help out any way I can."

"I think Tim will be all right doing his own ch.o.r.es." Reuben didn't care if he sounded defensive. He didn't like the thought of an Englisch man hanging around the Lehman farm. "On the other hand," Reuben said, adjusting his voice to a kinder tone, "I really needed your help tonight. I appreciate it."

"Grateful I could help." Trevor started toward the door. Reuben followed him out of the barn and called out a good-bye as Trevor headed toward the gate to the field. He seemed to know his way around awfully well already.

Reuben watched as Trevor disappeared. Reuben felt his father, as the bishop, had been too lenient about the influence the Becks had had on the Lehman family all these years. It seemed as if it had been one thing after another. Reuben's father was a good man, but he tended to give people the benefit of the doubt more often than he should. Tim's friends.h.i.+p with Beth was simply another example of his father's leniency.

By the time Reuben reached the house, Trudy had the table set and Rose was heating up a pot of soup and finis.h.i.+ng making sandwiches. Rose looked enchanting by the light of the lamp hanging above the sink that cast a soft glow over her face.

"I'm going to go check the answering machine," Rose said. "I should have done that before I came in. Maybe Dat left a message about Lila." She dried her hands on her ap.r.o.n. "Wash up," she called out as she hurried out the back door. "We'll eat as soon as I get back."

After he washed, Reuben headed back to the kitchen. Trudy sat at the table, looking a little lost. Reuben wasn't sure what to do and hoped Rose would return soon-it shouldn't take long to listen to the messages. A knock on the back door startled him.

Before he could react, Trudy scampered to the mud porch. "Beth," she said, her voice full of relief.

Trudy pulled her teacher into the room.

"h.e.l.lo," the woman said. She wore her cape and bonnet. "I thought perhaps Rose and Trudy could use some company. I didn't realize you'd be here, Reuben."

"I helped with the milking." He hoped it didn't seem inappropriate for him to be in the house. He stepped toward the back door. "Rose went to check the answering machine. I'll go tell her you're here."

"I already said h.e.l.lo to her." Beth took her bonnet off. "She told me to come on in."

"Oh?"

Beth nodded. "She's talking to an Englischer out there. I think she said his name is Trevor."

Reuben nodded and tried to sound calm even though he was alarmed Trevor had returned. "He helped us with the milking."

"So he said." Beth slipped out of her cape and headed back to the mud porch, most likely to hang up her things. She returned with a container that she must have left on the shelf when she first came in.

"I brought lemon bars," she said. "I'm guessing Rose already has dessert made, so these can be for tomorrow." She put the pan on the counter and then placed her arm around Trudy. "How are you doing, sweetie?"

Trudy grew sniffly. Reuben pointed toward the door and said, "I'll go check on Rose." As he trudged down the steps, Trevor headed toward the lane.

Rose must have already gone to the barn, and Reuben decided to sit down on the steps and wait for her. The sun set as he waited, and immediately a chill filled the air.

When Rose returned, her face was pale, and she pulled her cloak tight around herself.

Reuben stood. "Was there a message?"

Rose nodded. "Lila's badly hurt. Internal injuries. Something about her spleen rupturing. Something's broken-I can't remember exactly what. And a concussion, like Simon had when he was young."

Reuben put his arm around her.

"Dat said he would come home tonight. Shani will bring him. But he'll go back after the milking's done in the morning."

"I can help as needed," Reuben said. Tim was supposed to work at the lumberyard the next day, but he wouldn't be able to do that.

"Denki," Rose said. "And I'm guessing Trevor will help as needed too. And Joel and Adam. I'll call over there after supper."

Reuben cleared his throat, wanting to warn her about Trevor.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said, changing his mind. If Trevor's motivation really was to help, Reuben didn't want to put any ideas in Rose's head.

She leaned against Reuben. "I can't believe this happened to Lila." Rose shook a little, maybe from the cold but more likely from the shock of Lila's injuries.

Reuben knew that in the past the sisters hadn't always gotten along, but in the last couple of years that had changed. Emotion welled inside of Reuben. It was for Lila, jah, but more for what Rose was feeling. "Don't you think she'll be all right?" he asked. Hopefully they got her to the hospital in time.

Rose exhaled. "I hope so. She's already had one surgery and it sounds as if she may need another."

He squeezed her shoulder, and Rose turned her doe-like eyes toward him. He sensed a hunger in her, or perhaps more accurately a desire. It was something he'd never seen in Lila, at least not directed toward him. He would have liked to kiss Rose then, but it hardly seemed appropriate with her sister in the hospital.

"Are you worried about Lila?" he asked.

"Jah," she answered. "Are you?"

"Of course," he answered. But his thoughts weren't on Lila. They were on Rose, on the fullness of her lips, on the look in her eyes, on the way she tilted her head toward him.

"Let's go eat," he said. "Beth and Trudy are waiting for us."

By the time he reached his dark house, Reuben felt nearly overcome with loneliness. Not many Amish people lived alone, but he had since his sister married and moved out. Before that their father lived with them, until he married Monika and moved into her large home.

Before that, their mother lived with them, until she died. Before that his two brothers lived with them too. But they'd both moved out and married years ago.

Reuben was the only one left in the old house by the lumberyard. He stopped the buggy by his barn, unhitched his horse, led her into her stall, brushed her down, and fed her.

He entered his house through the back door, went into the kitchen, and leaned across the first table he'd made with the help of his Dat. He pulled his battery-operated lantern closer and turned it on. He was grateful he'd already eaten at the Lehmans' place. There was nothing worse than sitting at his kitchen table by himself. He looked forward to Rose cooking for him. He enjoyed the food she made, more than he'd let on. He didn't want to praise her too much, to make her prideful, but no one made a better lemon pie than she did. Or a better pecan one. Or a better peach cream pie. And the chocolate shoofly pie she'd made for tonight had been delicious.

He picked up the lantern. The kitchen hadn't changed in the thirteen years since his mother died. A home needed a woman. He never thought he'd be twenty-six and without a wife. He'd waited for years for Lila, only to have her reject him. He wouldn't be so foolish as to wait so long for Rose.

Reuben walked through the kitchen, into the empty living room. His sister had taken most of the furniture when she moved out. Sometime before he and Rose married, he'd need to buy some more.

He headed on up the stairs to the landing and stared out the window overlooking the lumberyard. He'd lived in the house his entire life and worked in his father's business for as long as he could remember. His father said he would sign the house over when Reuben married, and in time the business would belong solely to him too.

There were three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. It wasn't a big house, but it was large enough. He'd shared a bedroom with his brothers while their sister had one to herself.

Reuben thought four children would be a good amount. No doubt Rose would be a good mother. She was good with Trudy, and she seemed to do well as a mother's helper.

She wasn't as serious as Lila, and Reuben appreciated that. He didn't see any reason to be overly concerned about world events or what happened outside their district. There was little to be done about it anyway. He liked that about Rose, that she didn't dwell on things that didn't impact their Plain world the way Lila had. That had been Zane's influence, Reuben was sure, but also Lila's disposition.

The truth was, he'd been devastated when Lila broke things off with him. She said it wasn't because of Zane, but Reuben wasn't surprised when a few months later they began seeing each other.

Reuben knew Lila and Zane had always been friends, but he never guessed she would choose an Englischer. He was even more surprised that Zane became Amish. He hadn't expected that at all. Oddly, Reuben's father seemed to have influenced Zane's decision.

He sighed and headed down the hall, stopping at what used to be his parents' room and opening the door. He held the lantern high. Their old bed, with a quilt his mother made, and a bureau were all that was left in the room. He hoped Rose would like it.

He imagined coming home to her, to her laughter, her teasing, and her wide smile. He imagined kissing those lips of hers every day. Several times a day. Just the thought made his heart race.

She was the life of the party at every singing. Sunday he hadn't wanted to stay and play volleyball because he hated the way the boys watched her. Even the men. He didn't like the jealousy he felt over it, and he would never tell her how he felt. It wasn't her fault.

Many outsiders believed Amish women to be quiet and pa.s.sive. That wasn't true. Most of the Amish women he knew were quite a.s.sertive within the community, making their opinions known, and sharing in the decision making. Rose very much enjoyed interacting with others in their district, but she was friendly with everyone, Amish and Englisch alike. He'd never seen her shy away from anyone.

Lila had insinuated a few times that Rose was lazy, but that was a side Reuben had never seen. She would make a wonderful wife, homemaker, and mother. She had a playfulness to her that he appreciated, that made him smile.

He closed the bedroom door firmly and continued on down the hall. One single bed, a small chest of drawers, a small table, and pegs along the far wall were all that were in his room. He lived a spa.r.s.e life-that was for certain.

The evening had grown chilly, so Reuben undressed quickly and slid under the quilt on his bed. He picked up a library book on different kinds of wood from his bedside table and began to read. Soon his eyes grew heavy and he put the book down and turned off the lantern.

Jah, it was time for the house to have a woman in it again. As soon as Lila was stable, Reuben would talk with Rose. They didn't have to wait until Lila and Zane could marry, especially if Lila's recovery took a while, which it probably would from the sound of her injuries. True, it might be seen as insensitive, but he couldn't put his life on hold because of Lila again. He needed to take charge and make sure his plan worked out this time. The sooner the better.

5.

Rose rubbed her hands together, trying to warm them up in the early-morning chill, as she spoke to Dat. "I need to get breakfast started and wake up Trudy for school."

"Go ahead," he said. "I can manage."

"Trevor would-" He'd given her his cell-phone number the evening before.

Her father shook his head.

"But he's staying with the Becks. He helped Reuben and me last night. He used to work on a dairy."

Dat shook his head. "I'll finish up just fine. You go on ahead."

Shani had dropped Dat off long after Reuben and Beth had left the night before. Rose had stayed up as late as she could and was just heading to bed when she heard Shani's van outside. Dat hadn't said much, just that Lila was on a lot of pain medication and was out of sorts. Rose hoped she could go see her soon.

"I'll have breakfast ready when you come in," Rose said.

Dat nodded.

"Then will you go back to the hospital?"

"Jah," he said. "I have a driver coming soon."

"What about Shani?" Rose said.

"She has some sort of early meeting at work-she was going to leave about now."

Rose wrinkled her nose. "I'd like to see Lila sometime too."

"Jah," Dat said. "That would be gut."

Rose wasn't so sure he would make it a priority for her to get to the hospital. She'd ask Shani, once she was back from her meeting, if she could get a ride with her.

By the time Rose returned from taking Trudy to school, Dat had left. She poured herself another cup of coffee and then tackled was.h.i.+ng the frying pans. Once she finished, she decided to walk up the lane and see if Shani had come home.

The morning fog had burned off, and the suns.h.i.+ne was beginning to warm the world. Along the lane, the changing leaves of the maple trees fluttered, and the boughs of the cedar tree swayed in the breeze. Rose quickened her step. She was worried about Lila, but her thoughts went to Reuben. It was like him to put Lila and Zane first. Rose admired his unselfishness, but she couldn't help but resent it also.

Lila wouldn't care if Rose and Reuben married first. Rose wished he'd lighten up a little. Play a game of volleyball. Laugh a little more. Touch her more. She longed to have his arms tightly around her-not just around her shoulder like last night. And she longed to have his lips on hers. She sighed. What was taking him so long?

She knew she shouldn't be thinking about Reuben when Lila was so horribly injured, but she couldn't help it. Their relations.h.i.+p wasn't turning out the way she expected. And now, with Lila's accident, everything would be delayed further.

She stepped around the bend in the lane and the Becks' house came into view. Shani's van wasn't anywhere in sight. Either she wasn't home yet, or she'd parked it in the shed or by the barn. She continued on. Joel would be at work and Adam at school. Maybe Shani had stayed up at the hospital to see Lila. There weren't any other cars around, so that meant Trevor had already left for the day. She wasn't sure what he would be doing though. Maybe he'd gone up to the hospital to be with Zane.

She might as well knock on the door and see if anyone answered. Some of the leaves of the geraniums that filled Shani's pots on her porch had turned yellow, but the flowers continued to put off big red blooms. Rose hurried up the steps and knocked lightly at first and then a little harder. When no one answered, she turned to go. When she reached the bottom step the door opened.

As she turned back around, Trevor said, "Rose? Is that you?"