Neighbors Of Lancaster County: Amish Weddings Part 8

"Perfect," Shani said. "Joel will bring the cot over this evening. If you can spend tonight then I'll spend the next two."

"All right," Rose said. "There's a barn raising on Sat.u.r.day at Daniel and Jenny's. The weather is supposed to be nice. I'd like to go to that-with Reuben."

"Of course," Shani said. "Zane will be here to help then."

Lila closed her eyes again. She'd forgotten all about the barn raising. Daniel had been up to the hospital two days ago but hadn't mentioned it.

She must have fallen asleep again, because the next thing she knew, Shani was waking her, asking her about her pain levels.

She must have slept for quite a while because the light in the house had faded, and she was in a lot of pain. "Pretty bad," she said.

"I probably should have woken you earlier." Shani had her medicine ready and a bowl of soup too. "Rose will be here any minute, and then I'll leave to get the kids."

Lila took the medicine and a few bites of the soup. She noticed Shani looking at her watch and said, "You should go ahead and go. I'll be fine. I'm not going anywhere." After a few more minutes, Shani agreed.

Lila rested again, and about ten minutes after Shani left, Rose came in the door. Her cheeks were pink, and she was out of breath. This time she took off her bonnet and cape, but she didn't say anything about being late.

She didn't ask how Lila was either.

"So what do I do?" she asked. "Just sit with you?"

"Sure," Lila said, having no idea what Shani would want Rose to do. "Pull the recliner around."

Once Rose did, Lila asked her how things were going with Reuben.

"Good," she answered, blus.h.i.+ng.

Maybe Reuben had been over at the house and that's why she was late. "Is he working today?" Lila asked.

"Jah, just like every day. Dat's at the lumberyard too. I forgot to tell you earlier that he said he'd come over this evening."

"What have you been doing?"

Rose blushed again. "You know. The usual. Cleaning. Getting supper started. That sort of thing."

Lila nodded. She did know. She just couldn't figure out why Rose kept blus.h.i.+ng.

It was a relief when Shani returned with Adam and Trudy. Lila hadn't seen her baby sister since before the accident. It seemed that Shani had prepared her, because she didn't seem nervous and came right up to the bed. Lila motioned for her to climb up and then told her to stretch out beside her, without b.u.mping the fixator. She did.

Adam had a concerned look on his face, while Rose seemed restless. "You can go back to the house," Lila said. "I bet Adam will walk Trudy home later."

"Perfect," Rose replied. "I need to get supper started."

"I thought you already had," Lila answered.

Rose blushed again. "Well, you know, I need to get it on the stove."

Lila was tempted to press her sister more, but she didn't have the energy. "See you tonight," she said. For a moment she feared perhaps Rose had spent time with Trevor earlier and that's why she was late, but surely she wouldn't be foolish enough to do that.

Rose grabbed her bonnet and cape and headed out the door without saying another word.

7.

I'll walk you back over," Dat said to Rose as she headed toward the mud porch. "I want to say h.e.l.lo to Lila on her first day back." He hadn't gone over when he said he would. Rose felt bad she'd told Lila that he would, but now wasn't a good time.

She shook her head. "Trudy hates to be alone. I think she'd be frightened if you weren't here." She was in bed but not asleep. "I'll be fine," Rose said. "I'll take a flashlight and go down the lane."

"I wanted to see Lila today."

Rose shrugged. "She'll understand. Besides, she's probably already asleep."

Dat tugged on his beard and then said, "All right. Tell her I'll stop by tomorrow."

"I'll see you in the morning." Rose would help him with the milking, get breakfast made, and then get ready for the barn raising. A couple of years ago, Reuben came to help with the milking every morning so Lila could take care of their grandmother after her surgery. Rose wished he'd have offered to help regularly now, while she was caring for Lila. But he hadn't said a thing. Everyone always seemed more willing to help Lila than to help Rose.

Rose turned away from Dat, quickly put on her cape and bonnet, and then grabbed a flashlight and her bag. She called out a good-bye to Dat, which he answered, and headed out the door into the drizzly fall night.

She breathed in the acrid smell of smoke from the wood stove and hurried down the driveway, pulling the hood of her cape over her bonnet. When she reached the lane she turned left and waved the flashlight in front of her, dodging the potholes filled with rainwater as she walked. She stayed close to the edge of the lane, under the row of trees.

When she reached the cedar at the halfway point, headlights came around the curve. She stepped closer to the tree, hoping it was Trevor. It was. She returned to the lane and waved, glad their plan had worked out. They were both right on time.

The car stopped when it reached her, and the pa.s.senger window slid down a little. "How about a ride?" he asked playfully.

"Jah." She stepped closer. "I'd appreciate it."

He smiled as he leaned across and opened the door for her. As she climbed in, he pushed a b.u.t.ton to make the window go up. The winds.h.i.+eld wipers were on a low setting, mixing a rhythmic swish in with the low hum of the engine. She settled into the seat and fastened her seat belt as Trevor turned the car around in the lane.

He'd been down by the creek when she walked through the field on her way to sit with Lila. They'd had a pleasant conversation, which had made her late. That was when they made the plan to see each other now. "How was the rest of your day?" she asked.

"Good," he answered. "I was just helping Zane with the bathroom. The toilet and sink are both in now, but there's still quite a bit to do. Joel's going to buy handrails, but we'll have to put plasterboard up before they can be installed." He slowed for a pothole. "And I got a job." He smiled.

So he planned to stay. "Where?"

"With the same construction company Zane is working for. I talked to his boss when I picked him up. I'm going to be doing cleanup, to start with. I've had some construction experience in the past, so hopefully I'll be doing more soon."

Rose felt conflicted. She enjoyed talking with Trevor, even flirting, just a little, but she thought he'd only be around a short time. That had made interacting with him feel safer. "So you're going to stay?" she asked.

He nodded. "At least for a while, but over at Charlie and Eve's. Shani, in particular, seems to think that will be best. I'll stay there tonight." He paused for a moment and then added, "This will work out well. I can give Zane rides to and from the job site, and that will make his life a little easier."

She nodded. Sometimes Zane worked on the other side of the county, which made for a long commute.

Trevor shook his head. "I still can't figure out why he'd give up his truck. I mean, I get that he's in love with Lila and pretty much a pacifist, and that he likes your lifestyle. Honestly, I admire that. But I can't imagine not being able to drive." He patted the steering wheel with both hands as he spoke.

Rose didn't blame him for not being able to understand. Englisch people loved their vehicles.

He pulled around in front of Shani and Joel's house and then continued along the side of the barn. But instead of driving on to the little house, he stopped and put the car into Park. Rose's heart began to race. What was he doing?

He turned toward her. "I just wanted to let you know how much I've appreciated getting to know you."

Rose's face grew warm. She didn't want to have a serious talk.

"You've been kind to me-when I've needed it." He glanced at her, a pained expression on his face, and then shrugged. "I'm grateful."

"You're welcome," Rose whispered, hoping he wouldn't start crying again.

He didn't. Instead he s.h.i.+fted the car back into Drive and then crept forward. "Sheesh," he said. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable just now."

"No," she said. "It's fine."

"I wasn't thinking."

Her face grew warmer, embarra.s.sed that she'd thought he might have ulterior motives. Of course he didn't think about her in a romantic way. She was a young Amish woman. A relations.h.i.+p with her was the last thing he'd be considering. For some reason he enjoyed talking with her-flirting, just a little. But that was all.

Trevor stopped the car in front of the little house, and Rose thanked him. As she climbed out he said, "I hope to see you soon."

She nodded, her heart racing. He had that effect on her. She hurried through the drizzle, reached the front door, and turned back to the car. The pa.s.senger-side window was down again, and Trevor was smiling at her. She liked that. She waved and opened the door, feeling giddy as she stepped into the house.

A battery-powered lamp cast a bit of light from the table beside Lila's bed. She appeared to be asleep. There was a cot in the room now, against the far wall.

A knocking noise in the back of the house startled Rose at first, but then she started toward it, going through the kitchen. Zane, with his profile toward her, was standing in the little bathroom, wearing a headlamp that illuminated the entire room and banging a hammer against a two-by-four.

"h.e.l.lo," she said.

He kept banging.

She said it louder.

He turned around quickly, the hammer held high. "Oh, Rose. You startled me."

"Sorry." She stepped back a little. "Did your Mamm go home already?"

Zane nodded. "She wanted to tell Adam good-night before he fell asleep." He leaned against the doorway that had the frame torn from it. He was probably planning to enlarge it.

He inhaled, as if catching his breath, and said, "She left some instructions for you." He pointed toward the counter. In the dim light, Rose could make out a piece of paper. She wished Shani had stayed to tell her.

"There's a walkie-talkie on the table beside Lila. I'll have the other one with me. If anything happens, call me immediately."

Rose nodded. He didn't need to worry. She'd call in a heartbeat.

"I'll go ahead and clean up now," he said. "And get out of your way."

Rose picked up the sheet of paper and headed toward the lamp in the living room. Shani had left instructions about pain meds and positioning Lila. She wrote that she'd be over at five a.m. so Rose could help with the milking. Rose said a silent prayer that Lila wouldn't need anything before then.

Once Zane left, Rose put on her nightgown and brushed her teeth. She checked on Lila one more time. She was sleeping soundly, probably from the pain meds. Rose placed the lamp beside her cot, turned it off, and climbed under the blankets.

She intended to say her prayers, but instead her thoughts drifted to Trevor.

The next morning, Rose leaned back against the buggy seat as she rode with Reuben to the barn raising. The cold morning air helped perk her up a little, but a second cup of coffee would probably help more. Surely Jenny would have a pot brewing. Staying with Lila, doing the milking and all of her ch.o.r.es, and fixing breakfast had resulted in a nonstop morning.

"How is Lila doing?" Reuben pulled to the edge of the road to let a vehicle pa.s.s.

"All right," Rose answered, but she wasn't really sure. She'd given her pain meds during the middle of the night, but Lila hadn't woken up by the time Rose left. She turned her head to the right. An Englischer farmer harvested silage, sending up a cloud of dust that made her sneeze.

"Are you looking forward to the day?" Reuben asked.

"Jah," she answered. There was nothing better than a barn raising-it was even more fun than a singing. The weather had turned sunny and warm, which wasn't unusual for late September. She looked forward to a day spent with the women while the men put up the barn.

Daniel and Jenny had moved to a little farm about a year ago. The old barn wasn't worth saving, and Daniel had torn it down. Thankfully the foundation was good, and it wouldn't take long for the men to put up a new one.

"Rose?" Reuben was staring at her.

"Jah?"

"I asked how you are doing. If you're able to keep up with everything."

"Oh," she said and then yawned. "I didn't sleep well," she said. "Lila needed pain meds in the middle of the night, and then I was up early to do the milking."

"Jah," Reuben said. "But it's temporary, right? And you know Lila would do the same for you."

"Of course." She tried to keep her voice light. "That's what I keep telling myself."

Reuben reached over and patted her hand, and they rode in silence after that. She couldn't help but feel as if he had just scolded her.

She thought of Trevor stopping his car on the other side of the barn the evening before, and her heart raced again.

"You're quieter than usual," Reuben said.

Rose smiled a little. "You should welcome the silence," she teased. "Because I'm sure it's temporary."

He patted her hand again but didn't say anything more. A few minutes later, he turned down the road to Daniel and Jenny's house.

Several people had already arrived, including Dat. Trudy had decided to stay with Shani and Lila for the day instead of coming to the barn raising.

Dat headed toward the lumber that had been unloaded out in the field, not far from the foundation of the barn. Rose asked Reuben if it had come from his lumberyard.

"Jah," he said. "I hired a truck to deliver all the sawed logs and the beam earlier this week. Daniel spent a few days making the peg holes."

Rose knew he would have used a hammer and chisel to do that.

Reuben stopped near the old farmhouse, and Rose jumped down. "Have fun," she said, giving him what was probably a sa.s.sy look. Even though she hadn't intended to.