Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2) (17 page)

A large Christmas tree loomed over the booths, shedding fractured sparkles of light as the decorations turned in the wind.

“It’s like magic,” she whispered, watching the lights dance along the ground.

“This from the bishop’s daughter.” Elam laughed.

“So because the bishop’s my father, I can’t believe something is wondrous?”

“You didn’t say wondrous. You said magical.”

“Are you going to tell on me?”

“Not a chance.”

He took up her hand and led her past the giant tree to where another manger had been set up. This one didn’t have a real baby inside, but the man in the Santa Claus suit was. He knelt by the baby, his hat in his hand and his head bowed.

The sight brought tears to Emily’s eyes. “It’s so
schee,
” she said.

The entire evening had been picture-perfect, but this one demonstration embodied Wells Landing at its finest. The town was a seamless mix of
Englisch
and Amish, of Christianity and the world. She was so blessed to be a part of it all.

 

 

Elam pulled the tractor to a stop in the side yard and switched off the engine. All in all, he considered tonight a success. His goal was to take Emily out, show her a good time. He thought he’d succeeded on all accounts.

“
Danki
.” Emily swung down from the tractor like she had been doing it her entire life.

Jah,
he admitted that the tractor hadn’t been entirely necessary, but he wanted a little edge. He might be Amish and planning to stay right where he was, but he was modern, progressive even.

“I had a
gut
time,” he said, climbing down next to her.

Not once had the proposal come up, and that was just the way he planned it. No pressure. A fun evening with just the two of them. And fifty other people who happened to be milling around at the same time.

“Would you like to come inside and warm up before you go home? I’m sure
Mamm
has some pie left from
nachtess
.”

He would like nothing more than to stay with Emily for as long as possible, but tonight was about courting, and he was determined to keep it that way. He patted his stomach. “I think I had enough at the Christmas show.
Danki,
anyway.”

Together they walked up the porch steps.

“Would you just like to come in?”

He shook his head. After their scorching Thanksgiving kiss, it’d be better if he got back on the tractor and hightailed it home. “Four-thirty comes mighty early.”

Her brow puckered into a frown. Had she expected him to jump at the chance to be with her? His goal was to change her expectations, show her a different way. Surprise her.

“It’s better like this,” he said.

“How so?” she asked. Her voice dropped to a low whisper that Elam found hard to resist.

“It gives you more to think about.” He took a step closer to her, loving the way she smelled like outdoors and cinnamon.

“
Jah?
”

“
Gut nacht,
Emily.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then loped off the porch without a backward glance.

Christmas Eve held an expectant air. There was just something about the celebration of Christ’s birth that made the day seem heavier. More important, different somehow.

Emily said her prayers and crawled into her bed. Tomorrow morning she would spend the day with her family, then in the afternoon she was going over to Elam’s with the gifts she had made for Elam, James, and the rest of the Riehls.

Their date had been one of the most spectacular evenings of her life. Though being left at the door with only a chaste kiss to the forehead left her anxious to spend more time with him.

He had kissed her at the Thanksgiving party, so why didn’t he kiss her after their date? Did he want to kiss her?

She rolled onto her side and punched her pillow to smooth out the lumps. All she did was make it worse. She sat up, fluffed the pillow again, and lay back down with a frustrated sigh.

She shouldn’t be thinking about such matters. She was supposed to be concentrating on the holiday and all it meant to her and her family. Yet after their date, Elam would be forever intertwined in her best memories of Christmas.

Just like before, she rolled to the side, listening to the soft sounds of the night.

Only one person threw stones at her window.

She pushed out of the bed and rushed to the window. Up went the sash and she gazed out into the yard. “Luke?” she whispered into the starry night.

“Emily.” He looked much the same as he had the last time she had seen him. Plain coat, blue jeans, baseball hat. He had his hands shoved into his pockets as he stared up at her. “Meet me in the barn?” His voice barely carried up to her window, but he pointed as he spoke.

She hesitated, then nodded.

Part of her wanted to tell him no, crawl back in bed, and pretend she had never seen him. But then this other part . . . that was the part that raced down the stairs, grabbed her coat off the hook, and hurried out the door while still trying to put it on.

The barn door slid open with minimal effort and there he was. “Luke.” Emily fought against the confusion raging inside her. She was so happy to see him, but her feelings were tangled as well. She wrapped her arms around herself and held on. “What are you doing here?”

He tilted his head to one side. “You aren’t happy to see me?”

“I did not say that.”

“You didn’t have to.” A frown puckered his brow, and his demeanor turned from open to surly. “I hitchhiked all the way here to be with you on Christmas, and this is the reception I get?” He pulled a piece of hay from the bale he leaned against and tossed it away.

“You hitchhiked? That’s dangerous.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I didn’t have any other way to get here.”

“What about your car?”

He shrugged again. “It’s not always that easy, Em.”

“I don’t understand.”

He shook his head. “I don’t expect you to.”

She stood, silently watching him stare at the ground. So many changes.

He wasn’t the same
bu
he had been when he’d left. He had been carefree and adventurous. Now he seemed tired . . . defeated.

“Luke,” she started, her voice low in the night. “If you are unhappy, why don’t you come back here? To stay, I mean.”

He stared off at nothing.

Her heart hurt for him as she watched him. She wanted to put that sweet smile back on his face, but was it her responsibility to make sure he was happy? He had to want it as well, and as he stood there she knew the
Englisch
world still had ahold of his heart.

“I’m looking toward the future, Em. Surely you can understand that.”

“A future with me or a future driving a race car?” She wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to that.

“Why can’t I have both?” His words were quiet, heartfelt, and so much like Luke. In his mind, he had the world by the tail, and he didn’t understand when things didn’t go his way.

“Do you think we can have a future if you can’t even knock on the front door? You sneak in to see me, slink out the way you came.” She shook her head as if that could help her work the kinks out of her thoughts.

And then there was Elam. Sweet, loving Elam who only wanted her to be happy. Who only wanted her.

“Emily, you just have to be patient. All I need is a little time and—”

“Elam Riehl proposed to me.”

He stopped, the expression on his face unreadable. “You told him no,
jah?
”

“I haven’t told him anything.”

“But you are going to tell him no.”

There was a part of her that wanted to say of course, why would she marry Elam if she was in love with Luke, but she wasn’t so sure anymore. Not just about her feelings, but Luke’s as well. Elam? She knew how he felt. He had been forthcoming from the start. It was refreshing and real to know that he loved her. It was special and made her feel warm inside. Almost as if he was there holding her. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she whispered. Yet deep down, the choice was obvious.

“You have to give me some more time, Em.”

“For what?” She wanted promises. Was that too much to ask?

“Just hang in there with me,” he begged. “Please.”

She shook her head. “I . . . I’m just so confused.”

“You don’t have to make up your mind right now.” His voice held an urgent edge. “Just don’t tell Elam yes.”

“What’s wrong,
liebschdi?
”
Mamm
asked the following afternoon.

Emily had been unusually quiet even for a reverent Christmas Day, but she couldn’t tell her
mudder
why. She needed to talk about it, get it out in the open, and examine all the pieces that made up this puzzle of her life, but she couldn’t talk to
Mamm
. She just couldn’t.

“Do we have any ginger cookies left?” she asked.

Mamm
nodded. “
Jah,
a dozen or so. Why?”

“I thought I might go out to see Caroline and Andrew today.”

Her mother smiled. “I think that sounds like a perfect idea. It’s a beautiful day for visiting.”

And that was how Emily found herself swaying along under the blue sky. The air still held the chill of winter, but it was a
wunderbaar-gut
day to get out and visit with friends. Course’n it didn’t hurt that she needed to talk to her friend in the worst way.

Caroline herself had recently had to choose between the two loves of her life: Trey Rycroft, her baby’s
Englisch vatter,
and the handsome Andrew Fitch. Thankfully Trey had stepped aside, allowing Caroline and Andrew to get married and raise sweet little Emma on their own. Emily wasn’t sure what it cost Trey emotionally, but she could imagine the pain he felt at walking away and leaving his child with another. Yet he had done it for the good of everyone involved. Everyone but him.

Emily had almost lost her friend to the
Englisch
world and now was about to lose Luke to the same.

She didn’t know.

She pulled into the drive at the horse farm and guided her mare up the lane.

Caroline was on the porch before she was even parked. “Merry Christmas,” she called.

“Merry Christmas,” Emily returned, looping her arm through the basket handle and hopping down from the carriage.

“Come in, come in. I’ll have Andrew see to your horse,
jah?
”

Emily smiled in gratitude and made her way up the porch steps. Caroline enveloped her in a quick hug and steered her into the house.

“Where’s Emma?” Emily asked after she’d taken off her coat, and Caroline had sent her husband out to see to Emily’s horse.

“She’s down for a nap.”

Emily nodded and picked at an invisible spot on her apron.

“Come, sit.” Caroline waved her into a chair. “You unpack whatever is in that basket, and I’ll get the coffee.”

Emily nodded. Somehow Caroline knew she needed to talk and for that she was grateful. “I thought Esther and Abe would be here,” she said as she took the lid off the container holding the cookies.

“They will be by later. For now they wanted to give us some private time on our first Christmas together.”

“Oh.” Emily started to put the cookies back into the basket. “I’ve intruded. I didn’t think . . . I—”

Caroline carried the coffee to the table and laid a gentle hand on Emily’s to stay her action. “You have not intruded.”

“It’s just that I—” She bit her lip.

“Have something big on your mind.” Caroline nodded.

“
Jah
.” She was grateful her friend understood. What would she have done if Caroline had gone back to Tennessee and lived with Trey Rycroft? She definitely needed to thank the Lord for that small miracle.

“Sit,” Caroline instructed. “And tell me what is bothering you. You look like you are about to explode.”

Emily slid into the chair and glanced toward the door. “Andrew?”

“Is a smart man,” Caroline finished. “He won’t be back from the barn for a bit.”

The air left Emily in a rush. She felt herself almost wilting under the strain. “Luke Lambright came to see me last night.”

Caroline’s eyes grew wide. “
Nay
.”

Emily nodded. “That’s not all. Elam Riehl asked me to marry him.”

Caroline collapsed in her seat, snatching a cookie on her way down. “Are you joking?”

“I wish I was.”

Her friend took a quick bite and studied her as she nibbled on the treat. “What are you going to do?”

“I wish I knew.”

 

 

Emily was still wondering as she pulled into the driveway at the Riehl house later that afternoon. Though she hadn’t gotten any firm answers during her talk with Caroline, she felt better having confessed all that had been going on.

Caroline hadn’t said as much, but Emily knew her friend thought Elam’s proposal to be worth consideration.

And it was.

But Emily had been pining after Luke for so long, she wasn’t able to let it go just yet. Maybe with a few more days of prayer . . .

“Emily’s here! Emily’s here!”

She smiled and swung down from the buggy as Johanna did a little dance on the front porch.

“
Dat, Dat!
Emily’s here.”

But it wasn’t James’s smiling face that came to the door, but Elam’s.

“Merry Christmas,” she called.

“Merry Christmas.” She loved when he smiled. It was as if the simple gesture turned his face back ten years. Suddenly he looked young and carefree. What she wouldn’t give to see that look on his face for always.

“I’ll get the horse.” Becky pushed past them and hustled over to Emily’s rig, then she turned back toward them with a stern frown. “But no opening presents until I get back,
jah?
”

Emily laughed. “I promise.”

Elam let her in the house and once again Emily marveled at how different it was now compared to the first time she had come to visit.

Pine boughs decorated the mantel over the fireplace where a fire cheerfully crackled and burned. Cream-colored streamers of ribbons and purple snowflakes hung from the ceiling on strings. A wooden nativity scene sat on the table, little bits of hay scattered around it. But it wasn’t only the decorations that brought in the differences, the entire atmosphere of the house was more cheerful . . . hopeful.
Jah,
that was the word. The Riehls had hope now and she was pleased that she had played even a tiny part in the transformation.

Joy stood at the kitchen door, wiping her hands on a dish towel. Johanna had gone back to putting a puzzle together with Norma while James sat at the table.

“Emily. I was hoping you would come by today. It’s Christmas, you know.” James stood from cutting snowflakes from the construction paper she’d brought him. Little pieces of purple paper littered the wooden floor like forgotten confetti.

“I do know. Merry Christmas,” she said. Elam was behind her. Steady and true. He didn’t have to touch her for her to know he was there. His presence was comforting and joyful, and she was so glad to have it.

“Merry Christmas.” James grinned. “
Guck
. None of them are the same.” He unfolded the paper to reveal the cuts he’d made.

“That’s beautiful, James.” She blinked back sudden tears. What was wrong with her? But she knew. She was overcome with happiness and indecision. Anyone else would feel the same if they stood in her shoes.

“Miriam and Ruthie showed me how to cut them.”

The twins flashed her grins of their own.

“And you taught us,” Ruthie said as Miriam nodded.

She had made a difference. The thought was humbling.

“You’ll stay for
nachtess?
”

“
Jah,
” Emily replied. “Mary said she might stop by later. She was going over to see Aaron when I left.”

“That would be
gut,
” Becky said as she came back into the house. “Your horse is all taken care of. Did I miss anything?”

Emily laughed. “Not a thing. But . . .” She held up the basket of treats and presents she still carried. “I have a few things for you.”

“For me?” James and Johanna said at the same time.

She couldn’t stop her smile at their eager expressions. “For all of you.”

 

 

Elam had wanted to sit beside Emily as they exchanged gifts, but James had quickly claimed one spot and Johanna the other. Elam was forced to take up a place across from her. It wasn’t his first choice, but the view was right nice.

“Me first, me first.” Johanna bounced on her toes as she chanted the words. Elam was about to counsel her in the virtue of patience and waiting her turn when he realized that she didn’t want to open her present first, but wanted to give Emily the present from her before anyone else gave her theirs.

He nodded his consent. She went to the table where the presents were laid out and brought her gift back to Emily.

“
Danki
.” Emily took the sack from his youngest sibling. He loved the look on her face as she peeked inside. “Oh, my,” she said, pulling out a pair of purple mittens. “Did you make these yourself?”

Johanna smiled. “
Nay,
but I picked them out in town.”

“I love them,” Emily said, giving Jo a quick hug.

And so started the exchange of all things purple.

New purple markers, more purple paper, lavender soap, lavender seeds, purple ribbon, even purple glitter and glue.

Somehow during all the excitement, Johanna had abandoned her place and Elam had quickly claimed it as his own.

“Now this is for everyone.” Emily popped open a tub of folded-up cookies. He had seen them once before at the Chinese restaurant in town, but these were purple, of course.

He leaned in close to her. “Does the bishop know that you are passing out fortunes?”

She had the good graces to blush. “I’ll have you know that I made these myself, and they are not fortunes.”

“Oh,
jah?
” He snagged one of the cookies from the tub and broke it in two before pulling out the tiny strip of paper inside.

He stared at the paper as everyone grabbed a purple fortune cookie and read what Emily had tucked inside. All encouraging Bible verses. It was as if she had known all along what he needed to hear. What they all needed to hear.

Quite simply, she was amazing.

He had tried to be patient about his proposal, hoping that giving her time would allow her to make the best choice: the choice to marry him. But his impatience was starting to get the better of him. He wanted to do anything and everything he could think of to get her to say yes.

But for now he would bide his time and pray.

Dat
rose to his feet and gathered the last gift bag from the present stash and handed it to Emily. “These are for you,” he said, grinning at her with such pride, Elam figured he’d have to pray about it later.

Emily took the bag, a bit of surprise in her eyes. “For me?”

His
vatter
nodded. “
Jah,
from all of us.”

“That’s right,” Norma chimed in as the others nodded.

Emily smiled and pulled out the first wad of tissue paper. She reached into the bag again and retrieved a clothespin . . . a purple one.

Elam chuckled.

“Read it,”
Dat
said.

Emily turned it over until she found the words. “‘A purple a day keeps the doctor away.’”

Everyone laughed as she dropped that pin back into the sack and pulled out another one. “‘All’s fair in love and purple.’”

More laughter. She grabbed another one. “‘Purple is as purple does.’”

“They’re all
Englisch
sayings,” Becky explained.

“But we added the purple part.” James nodded.

“And painted them,” Johanna added.

Emily looked up from the sack, her gaze flitting to each one of them in turn. “I love them.
Danki
.”

“You’re welcome,”
Mamm
said. “Anyone
hungerich?
”

“Come, come.” Miriam and Ruthie clapped their hands together. “It’s time to eat,
jah?
”

Everyone stood to gather around the table when a knock sounded on the door. Norma went to open it, and Mary stepped into the house.

“Merry Christmas, Mary Ebersol,” the Riehls called to her.

Norma barely gave her time to unbutton her coat and take off her bonnet before grabbing her by the hand and dragging her toward the kitchen table. “It’s time to eat.”

This time Elam purposefully sat across from Emily. He wanted to be able to see her face as they ate. It was sappy, he knew, but that was how he felt all the same.

They sat down, bowed their heads, and prayed over their food. Elam also prayed for a bit more patience where Emily and his marriage proposal were concerned and that God would guide her heart in the right direction. Couldn’t she see how much she had come to mean to him? To his family?

Dat
lifted his head to signify the end of the prayer and everyone followed suit.

Becky lifted her brows in
Mamm
’s direction.
Mamm
nodded in response, and Becky rose from the table. What were they planning?

A few seconds later, Becky returned to the table carrying a covered dish. “Ahem.” She cleared her throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “In light of this being such a special day,
Mamm
and I came up with a special dish.”

A series of
yum
s went up around the table.

Becky paused, allowing the drama to build. “Mashed potatoes,” she announced.

Norma and Johanna’s mouths fell to frowns, while the twins tried to put on uninterested faces.

Becky pulled the lid from the pot to reveal mounds of violet. “Purple mashed potatoes.”

Elam couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped him.