A Mother's Secret (31 page)

Carolyn looked over from the sink where she was washing the breakfast dishes and raised her eyebrows. “I knew you’d be excited. I’m happy we can work on the project together.”

“Are you ready to go?” Rosemary stepped into the kitchen and wrung her hands together. “I can’t wait.”

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes. I’m just finishing cleaning up after breakfast.”

“I can’t wait to see Danny.” Rosemary picked up a dish towel and began drying dishes. “I miss him. I haven’t seen him since youth group Sunday night.”

Carolyn frowned. “
Ach
, you have to remember that he’s nineteen, and you’re only sixteen. You shouldn’t get so wrapped up in him. You’re too young to date, and he’s too old for you. Believe me, I know what the consequences can be.”

“I know that, but I can’t help how I feel.” Rosemary placed a stack of dry dishes in the cabinet. “I want to be his friend.”

“Just be careful. You can be his friend, but keep some distance between you and him.”

“I’ll try.” Rosemary’s expression brightened. “I have a great idea! We can make lunch and take it over there for everyone. We can eat at the picnic table by the porch.”

Carolyn considered the idea. If they ate outside, then no one would say that they were behaving inappropriately. After all, they would have to eat lunch, so they might as well eat together and enjoy the spring weather. “I think that’s a nice idea.”

“Great! I’ll go get lunch together. I’ll meet you outside.” Rosemary started for the door, but then she suddenly stopped, turned around, and hugged Carolyn. “
Danki
for asking me to work on the garden with you.” She then rushed out before Carolyn could respond.

Carolyn laughed and shook her head as her niece disappeared.

An hour later, Rosemary sat next to Carolyn and held a large picnic basket on her lap as they made their way to Joshua’s farm.

“We’re going to have so much fun working on the garden,” Rosemary said for probably the twentieth time. “I know we’re there to work, but it will be fun to see Danny too. I mean, even though we’re only friends,” she added quickly.

“We’ll have a lot of fun.”

“Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.” Rosemary angled her body toward Carolyn. “Do you remember when we were at the barn raising a few weeks ago?”

“
Ya
, of course I do.”

“I talked to Emma, and she mentioned that her
dat
wanted to date you. She was so excited. She said that if you married her
dat
then she and I would be family. She’s so sweet. I would love to be her cousin. So are you going to marry Saul?”

Carolyn swallowed a groan. She didn’t want to lie to her niece, but she also didn’t want to hurt Emma in the process of telling the truth.

“Did I say something wrong?” Rosemary frowned. “I’m sorry if I did.”

“No, no. You haven’t said anything wrong. It’s just complicated.” Carolyn glanced toward Rosemary. “Saul and I are getting to know each other right now. He hasn’t asked me to marry him. If he did, I’d need to consider not only how it would affect my life, but also how it would affect Ben’s.”

“Oh. Right.” Rosemary gnawed on her lip. “That makes sense.”

“Please don’t tell Emma what I said, okay? I don’t want to hurt her feelings or make her think I don’t like her. I like her a lot, but I need to figure out what’s best for Ben and me.”

“I understand.” Rosemary changed the subject and talked about Daniel for the rest of their ride to the farm.

When they arrived, Benjamin and Daniel came out of the barn and walked over to meet them.

“We brought you lunch.” Rosemary held up the basket as she stood in front of Daniel. “We can all eat together at the picnic table later.”

“
Danki
. I’ll have to leave soon after lunch today. I need to help
mei daadi
finish a project at his
haus
.” Daniel reached for the basket. “Let me carry that for you.”

Rosemary turned to Carolyn. “I’m going to start weeding.”

“Okay,” Carolyn said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. I need to talk to Josh and get the seeds.”

Rosemary and Daniel started toward the house.

“How’s your day going?” Carolyn asked Benjamin.

“
Gut
.” He pointed toward the stable. “Josh has a mare in labor right now. She keeps stopping and starting the contractions. Josh is with her.”

“Oh.” Carolyn looked toward the stable. “I’m going to let him know we’re here and ready to work on the garden.”

“Maybe you can convince him to leave the mare for a little while.” Benjamin frowned. “I’ve been telling him to walk away and give her some space, but he’s really worried about her. He loves his horses.”

The comment warmed Carolyn’s heart. “That’s sweet.”

Benjamin pointed toward the large barn. “I’ll go find the rake, watering can, and the other supplies you’ll need.”

“
Danki
, Ben.” Carolyn padded toward the stable and found Joshua in the back, standing by a stall where a horse paced back and forth. “Hi.”

Joshua looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Hi. I’m glad you made it.”

“I promised you I’d come.” She crossed her arms over her apron. “Did you think I wouldn’t keep my promise?”

He leaned against the stall and grinned. “No, I knew you’d keep it. Did Rosemary come too?”

“
Ya
, she did. She insisted that we bring lunch for everyone. She couldn’t wait to get here.” Carolyn looked at the mare to avoid the way his smile caused her pulse to race. “It looks like she’s almost ready to have her
boppli
.”

“I think it’s going to be soon.” He gestured toward her. “You can see Daisy’s milk is ready. That’s one of the signs that it’s almost time.”

Carolyn watched the horse pace. “She looks uncomfortable. Poor thing.”

“I hope it’s over for her today.” He turned toward her. “So, you say you brought lunch?”

“
Ya
, but it was Rosemary’s idea.”

“Sure it was. You just couldn’t wait to see me again,” he teased.

“Why would I want to see you?” she countered with a smile.

“I was just asking myself the same question.” His expression became tender, and he suddenly reached down and pushed back a wisp of her hair that had fallen loose from beneath her prayer covering.

The gentle touch of his fingertips caught her off guard. Her mouth dried, and she had to work against her raging emotions to regain her composure.

“I was wondering where the seeds were,” she said, her words coming out in a rush. “Ben went to the barn to get the tools we’ll need to start weeding and planting.”

“Oh, right. You need the seeds.” Joshua started for the door. “I put them in the kitchen. I’ll run in and get them for you.”

Carolyn followed Joshua to the house and waited on the porch. Thoughts of his tender touch continued to assault her mind while she stared at the back door. He soon returned and held out the bag of seed packets to her. She gave him a quick nod, took the bag of seeds, and then moved to the garden, where Rosemary was already crouched and filling a bucket with weeds.

Carolyn tried to engross herself in the garden, but her mind kept slipping back to the memory of Joshua’s fingers on her cheek. The intimacy of his gesture confused her. Did he want to be more than friends? If so, then what would happen when he found out the truth about Benjamin?

“Are you all right,
Aenti
?” Rosemary asked while she pulled another handful of bright green weeds.

“
Ya
,” Carolyn said as she crouched beside her. “It’s a
schee
day,
ya
?”

“
Ya
, it is.”

By noon, Carolyn’s back was sore, and her stomach was growling. She and Rosemary served lunch to the men at the picnic table. After lunch, Daniel left to help his grandfather with a project, Benjamin and Joshua returned to the stables, and Carolyn and Rosemary continued working in the garden for the remainder of the afternoon.

“It looks like it might rain.” Carolyn brushed the back of her hand over her chin as she looked up at the large gray clouds clogging the sky. “I wanted to get those seeds planted before we left.”

“I wonder what time it is.” Rosemary angled her face toward the back porch. “I’ll run into the kitchen and see.”

Carolyn grabbed another handful of weeds and marveled at how much they’d accomplished in one day. The garden was almost ready to be tilled and then seeded.

“
Aenti
.” Rosemary rushed back onto the porch. “It’s after four.”

“
Ach
, you’d better go.” Carolyn stood. “It’s almost time to make supper. Your
dat
will be upset if you’re not home by five. He made it clear that you had to be home on time or you couldn’t help me with the garden.”

“Fine.” Rosemary frowned. “I’ll pick up the picnic basket.” She disappeared into the house. When Rosemary returned, she and Carolyn headed out to the buggy, and the men were nowhere in sight.

“I wonder where Ben and Josh went,” Rosemary said as she placed the basket in the buggy.

“They might be with Daisy.” Carolyn gestured for Rosemary to follow her to the stable. They found Benjamin and Joshua standing by the stall and watching the horse.

“It’s getting late.” Carolyn sidled up to Joshua. “Rosemary needs to get home, but I want to stay and finish the garden. I’d like to get it seeded before the storm hits.” She turned to Benjamin. “Rosemary needs to be home by five.”

“It’s time for you to go too, Ben.” Joshua turned toward Benjamin. “You can go hitch your horse.”

“Would you please take Rosemary home?” Carolyn asked Benjamin. “I’ll head home after I finish planting.”

“Okay.” He disappeared from the barn, leaving Carolyn and Joshua there alone.

“I think she’s getting ready,” Joshua said, nodding toward the horse. “She seems really uncomfortable. I hope it’s her time now. She’s been suffering for a while now.”

“I hope it’s soon for her too.” Carolyn grimaced while watching the horse move back and forth. “I feel so bad for her.”

Joshua faced her. “I’m glad you and Rosemary started on the garden.
Danki
for lunch.”

“
Gern gschehne
.” Carolyn nodded.

His expression softened. “Even though it was really Rosemary’s idea, not yours.” He winked at her.

Carolyn laughed. “
Ya
, it was. I didn’t want to come at all.”

“Now you tell me the truth.” Joshua shook his head. “You’re something else, Carolyn Lapp.”

Carolyn looked into his blue eyes and again remembered the tenderness of his touch earlier in the day. She knew at that
moment that she loved him, and she prayed he’d someday return that love despite her past.

She pulled herself back to reality. “I better get back to the garden. I’m certain that storm will be here soon.” She jammed a thumb toward the door.

“I’m going to stay here with Daisy. I’m worried about her.” Joshua leaned on the stall door. “Be sure to say good-bye before you leave.”

Carolyn stepped out of the barn and waved to Rosemary as she and Benjamin rode in the buggy toward the road. She then returned to the garden and finished up the weeding. She tilled the dirt and then began to plant the cucumbers, broccoli, and lettuce seeds. She was finishing up when the wind picked up and the sun began to set.

“Carolyn!” Joshua’s voice bellowed from the stable. “Carolyn, I need help!”

“Okay!” Carolyn’s heart thudded in her chest as she jogged toward the stable. “
Was iss
letz?
”

“Daisy is struggling,” Joshua yelled toward her, his face full of fear. “Something is wrong. I need some help.”

“What can I do?” She moved toward him, wringing her hands.

“A vet named Cameron Wood lives in the blue house directly across the street.” He pointed toward the road. “Would you please go get him? I think Daisy and her foal are in trouble!”

“
Ya
, I’ll go. You stay with her.” Carolyn ran down the rock driveway and crossed the street. When she reached the blue house, she found the driveway empty and a note stuck to the front door. She climbed the steps and read the note, which said, “Out of town. Be back Sunday night.” The date for his return was listed, and it was nearly a week away.

“
Ach
, no.” Panic seized Carolyn as she rushed back to Joshua’s farm.

She found Joshua in the stable, watching the horse pace.

“Cameron isn’t home.” Her words came in short bursts as she worked to get her breath back. “A note on his door said he’ll be gone until Sunday.”

“I was afraid of that. He’d mentioned to me that he planned to visit some family out in Michigan.” Joshua shook his head. “
Danki
for checking. She was just straining and then it stopped again. I’m worried that the foal is in trouble.” He blew out a sigh. “I would call
mei dat
, but he went to his cousin’s
haus
in western Pennsylvania today and won’t be home until late tonight.”

“I’ll stay.” Carolyn walked toward him.

“No.” Joshua shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“I can help.”

“You can?” He looked surprised.

“
Ya
, I helped
mei daadi
deliver a foal once. The horse was in trouble, just like Daisy, and I was the only one home. I can help you.”