Neighbors Of Lancaster County: Amish Weddings Part 9

He smiled. "I'm sure I will. You too."

The farm belonged to Jenny's uncle, who Daniel worked for. When his previous renters left, leaving the place a mess, he asked Daniel to clean up the property and work on the old house for free lodging. It was a good situation for Daniel and Jenny both. Daniel enjoyed restoring old houses, and Jenny had a knack for decorating-in a Plain way, of course. The home was two stories with a wide porch and an oak tree on either side of it.

Rose hurried toward the steps, eager to see Jenny. She had more in common with her sister-in-law than she did with Lila. Jenny always had the latest information about people in the district or a new recipe to share or a housekeeping tip or an idea about decorating. As opposed to Lila, who only liked to talk about books and current events and the latest quilt she was making.

Rose knew she wouldn't see Jenny much once her Bobbli arrived, so she was especially looking forward to spending time with her today. The front door was open, and Rose entered, greeted by the smell of coffee.

The living room was small and cozy. Wainscoting lined the walls and bookcases flanked the fireplace. No fire burned, but the house would soon be warm with so many people arriving.

Rose called out a h.e.l.lo.

"We're back here!" Monika responded. Rose hurried through the dining room into the kitchen. Monika stood at the stove, while Jenny sat in a chair in the eating nook, her legs up on another chair.

Rose stopped abruptly. "Are you all right?"

"Jah," Jenny said. "Just tired."

"It's only eight o'clock."

Monika laughed. "Most women are constantly tired the last month of pregnancy. You'll understand someday."

Jenny put her feet down on the floor, and pushed herself up from the chair. "How's Lila doing?"

"As well as can be expected," Rose said, realizing that's what everyone would be asking her today. She turned her attention toward the coffeepot on the stove. "Mind if I help myself?"

"Go ahead." Jenny placed her hand on her lower back. She'd really gotten bigger in the last few weeks. Rose didn't mention it though. Instead she grabbed a cup from the cupboard and filled it with coffee. After she took her first sip, she asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"You can make the hot cider," Jenny said. "We'll serve it with the sweet rolls when the men are ready to take a break."

Rose got to work dumping cider from the gla.s.s jugs on the counter into the large pot on the back of the stove. As she added cinnamon sticks and then cloves, more women arrived. Most of them were young and friends of Jenny. Two of her sisters came, bringing their children.

"Add a little of this," Monika whispered, handing her a bottle of maple syrup.

Rose did as she was told. She learned something new from Monika nearly every time she saw her.

"Who's the Englischer out there?" Jenny asked her mother, after coming back to the kitchen from the front porch.

"I don't know," Monika answered, peering out the window over the sink.

"He's handsome," Jenny said. "Short sandy hair. Square jaw. He's working with Reuben."

Rose's face grew warm as she guessed Trevor had shown up.

Monika stepped to the window. "Rose," she said. "Is that Zane's friend? Gideon mentioned him the other night."

Rose stepped to Monika's side. Reuben held one end of a board and someone dressed in jeans and a green jacket held the other. She couldn't see his face, but she recognized him nevertheless. "I believe it is," Rose said, doing her best to keep her voice even.

"What's his name?"

"Trevor. Trevor Anderson." She stepped back to the stove and the hot cider. He hadn't said a thing about coming today; Rose had no idea how he even knew about the barn raising. She smiled a little to herself. Perhaps Zane had told him about it. She'd find out during the snack break.

Two hours later, as she set up a piece of plywood over two sawhorses with Jenny's oldest sister, Trevor noticed her and grinned. Rose waved, trying not to smile. But by the expression on Reuben's face, she wondered if she had without meaning to. She stood for a moment, watching the men working. There were at least thirty of them, and they nearly had the entire barn framed.

When it was time for the snack, Trevor approached her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, shading her eyes from the morning sun.

"Zane felt bad he couldn't help out. I said I'd do it for him."

"What's he doing?"

"Picking up plasterboard with his dad." Trevor unzipped his jacket and then pushed up the sleeves. "Did you make the cinnamon rolls?"

Rose shook her head. "I fixed the cider."

He smiled, his eyes twinkling. "I'll think of you when I drink it, then." As he stepped toward the table, Rose quickly looked for Reuben. He was still nailing a board into place.

Rose started his way, waving at Dat and Bishop Byler as they headed toward the snacks. She was determined to show her interest in Reuben. She didn't want anyone to get any ideas about her talking with Trevor. No good would come from that.

"Come get a snack," she called out to Reuben.

He looked up and shook his head. "I'm not hungry," he said. "We have a lot of work to do if we're going to finish today."

Rose stopped a few feet from him. "I'll bring you a cup of cider. I made-"

"I'm fine." He smiled a little. Still, her feelings were hurt at his abruptness. It felt like rejection.

"All right." She watched for a moment as he pounded more nails but then turned and headed back to the others. Trevor was introducing himself to Monika. Then he turned and talked with Dat and Bishop Byler.

Daniel stood at Jenny's side. Rose's heart swelled at the beauty of the little family. Wasn't that what she hoped for? A loving husband. A home. And children.

She headed toward the piece of plywood and poured herself some cider. As she did, Trevor stepped beside her, saying, "That's really good. I think I'll get a second helping of it."

Rose smiled at him over the rim of her cup.

He lowered his voice. "What's with Reuben?"

Rose wrapped both of her hands around the cup. "He's worried the work isn't going to get done on time."

Trevor raised his eyebrows. "Is he always so responsible?"

"Jah," Rose answered. He was the most responsible person she knew, and the most dependable too. But responsibility in one area could feel like negligence in another.

"Well," Trevor said, "I should probably get back to work." He drained his cup and then held it up. "What do I do with this?"

"I'll take it," Rose said.

His hand brushed against hers, sending a tingle up her arm. "Thank you so much for helping out. I know it means a lot to Daniel and Jenny," she quickly said.

His eyes twinkled. "Does it mean anything to you?"

"Of course," she said. "I'm very grateful."

"Good," he responded, "because I keep thinking about our rides together and conversations. I look forward to more of the same."

Before she could respond, he headed back toward Reuben. Rose watched him go.

Jenny stepped to Rose's side. "Which one are you watching?"

Rose smiled.

Jenny chuckled. "Both?"

Rose shook her head and said, "I only have eyes for Reuben."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to look-as long as you don't touch."

"Jenny," Rose said, her face growing warm again.

"Just kidding," she said, her hand falling to her belly. "I was just being silly."

Rose put her arm around her sister-in-law and whispered, "I won't tell Daniel if you don't tell Reuben." They both laughed and then gathered up the empty cups left on the end of the makes.h.i.+ft table and headed back to the house. Jah, Rose would have a little fun while she could. Soon life would be all responsibility and seriousness, being married to Reuben. She was still sure she wanted to marry him-ninety percent sure, at least-but she'd have her own secret time of running around with Trevor. The Englischer would move on, and there would be no harm done.

8.

Reuben stood surveying the barn. All that was left was the roof, and he wanted to finish it as quickly as possible so he'd have some time with Rose. He feared, if it was already dark out, Tim would expect her to ride home with him. Or worse yet, what if she caught a ride with Trevor?

Reuben heard the Englischer had given her a ride to the hospital twice. He couldn't help but feel concerned. He'd lost one Lehman sister to an Englischer. He didn't want that to happen again.

He'd taken a short break at noon to eat, but other than that he'd been working nonstop all day. When Daniel had asked him to design the barn, Reuben had relied on some plans he came across, modifying them as needed. He felt responsible to make sure everything fit the way it should. Thankfully it had. Now they just needed to finish the roof.

Reuben scrambled back up the ladder. As his head came up over the roofline, he could see Trevor on top of the beam, pounding nails at the peak.

Reuben climbed back on top of the beam, too, and pulled his hammer back out of his tool belt. As he did, he started to lose his balance but caught himself before he fell backward.

"You okay?" Trevor called out.

"Jah," Reuben responded as he started to nail.

"I'm coming toward you," Trevor said. Reuben nodded. He was impressed with what a hard worker the Englischer was and how knowledgeable too. Not only did he know his way around a dairy, but he was also familiar with construction.

Reuben looked past the other men toward the house. The women would have a meal ready to eat by the time the sun set. A couple of women stood in the yard, but Reuben didn't see Rose. He knew she relished being with the other women. Reuben enjoyed the work, but he didn't crave interaction with others the way Rose did.

Trevor walked along the beam, with quite a bit of agility, and then squatted not too far from Reuben and began pounding again. A few times Reuben glanced toward the house. Finally Rose came out with Jenny, laughing. He couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. Did Rose gossip about him with her friends? Reuben had never wondered about that with Lila. She was so serious. He couldn't imagine her talking about anyone.

He welcomed Rose's constant chatter-all about happenings in the district, not issues half a world away. She didn't seem to mind if he didn't answer her, not the way Lila did. She'd wanted to hear his opinion on everything. The truth was, he didn't have an opinion on much, especially things that didn't immediately impact him. He had the feeling Rose might gossip though. Not to him, necessarily, but to other people.

As he edged down the beam to where Trevor worked, he glanced toward Rose every once in a while. One time she waved at him and he smiled back. But when he realized Trevor had held up his hammer, Reuben wasn't sure she'd been waving at him at all.

He wondered what Rose thought of him, compared with Trevor. He sighed and kept on going. He wasn't sure why he cared, but maybe it was because of being dumped by Lila. Jah, he needed to speak with Rose soon about his plan. There was no need for them to wait to marry. Lila's recovery could take months.

He finished the section and stepped over a bundle of roofing, losing his balance a little again. He must have been more fatigued than he'd thought. Trevor called out, "Are you doing all right?"

"Just fine," Reuben replied, but as he spoke his foot slipped again. He must have gasped because Trevor whirled toward him. It wasn't as if he would have fallen off the beam, Reuben was sure, probably just straddled it. At least he hoped. But Trevor grabbed his arm and held on to him, keeping him from doing either.

Reuben wondered if they had some sort of agility training in the Army. The man was like a tightrope walker.

"Denki." Reuben exhaled.

Down below a couple of men clapped. Reuben glanced toward the house. Rose stood at the makes.h.i.+ft table, her hand covering her mouth. Obviously she'd seen what had just happened. Reuben wished she hadn't.

"Are you steady now?" Trevor asked. His voice and words were kind. He wasn't being condescending, not in any way.

"Jah," Reuben said.

Trevor let go of him slowly. Reuben squatted down and began nailing again. He was sweating now, even though the day had grown chilly as the sun had fallen to just above the treetops. He drew in a deep breath and pounded as hard as he could.

By the time they finished the last of the roof, the sun was setting, leaving streaks of pink and orange in the western sky. Reuben stood for a moment, taking in the scene. Trevor stepped to his side.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Reuben asked.

"Yep," Trevor answered.

Reuben glanced his way. The man wasn't watching the sunset. He was glancing down toward the house. The yard was in the shadows, growing darker with each moment. Lanterns had been lit and placed along the table and the porch railing. Reuben squinted, scanning the area. Sure enough, Rose stood on the porch.

Trevor left before supper, saying he needed to get back to help Zane. Reuben was happy to have him leave.

Reuben sat beside Rose on the porch as they ate ca.s.seroles, broccoli salad, and bread. "Are you cold?" he asked Rose.

"A little," she answered.

Reuben quickly took off his jacket, which he'd put on after coming down from the roof, and gave it to her. He was still warm from feeling shamed up on the beam.

"Denki," Rose said. They ate the rest of their food in silence. Once they were done, Rose took his plate and disappeared into the house. At the end of the porch, Reuben's father and Tim were deep in conversation. Reuben stood, not wanting to eavesdrop as his father said, "We can talk more about this later."

"All right," Tim said. Reuben wondered why Beth hadn't come to help today. Perhaps she was keeping her distance.

Reuben hitched his horse and drove his buggy around to the front of the house. Rose stood on the porch, laughing with Jenny again. She waved to him as she hurried down the steps, a playful expression on her face.

For a moment he felt like the most fortunate man in the district. He'd bring up the topic of them marrying before they reached Juneberry Lane.

As he pulled onto the highway, Rose asked, "What happened up there on the beam?"