Cousin's Challenge (24 page)

He chuckled. “I didn't drag you anywhere. Looks to me as if you came out here of your own free will.”

“Jah, well, That's because I needed to let my dress dry out.” She frowned. “Do you enjoy humiliating me, Jake?”

“No, of course not. Why do you always assume the worst where I'm concerned?” He touched her arm, and she shivered.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I'm fine.”

“I don't think so, Ella. I don't think you're ever really fine when you're with me.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper that had been folded in half, and handed it to her. “Is this
your
handwriting?”

Ella opened it and gasped as she stared at the words. “Wh – where'd you get this?”

“Found it this morning. It was stuck in the back of my sock drawer.”

“Oh, I see.” Ella's voice quavered, and her hands shook so badly that she had to hold them tightly against her sides.

“I vaguely remember finding the note in our mailbox soon after I turned sixteen, but I'm not sure how it got in my sock drawer.” Jake leveled Ella with a look that could have stopped a wild horse in its tracks. “Did you write that note?”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked several times to keep them from spilling over. “You do enjoy humiliating me, don't you, Jake?”

He shook his head. “'Course not. I just want to know if—”

“I wrote the note, okay? In case you've forgotten, you used to walk me to school every day, and you even carried my books. Then one day you promised that I'd be the first person you took for a ride when you got your own horse and buggy. You lied to me, Jake.” Ella's voice rose higher, but she didn't care. Jake had forced her to admit she'd written the note, and she wasn't going to stop until she'd told him everything she'd been keeping bottled up inside her these last ten years. “There was a day when I would have fallen at your feet just to be near you, but did you care about that? No! You just made promises you never planned to keep!”

“Ella, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you.” Jake took a step toward her and reached out his hand.

She jumped back, afraid that if he touched her she'd dissolve in a puddle of tears. “To you, I was probably just a little girl with a big crush, but you shouldn't have made me a promise that you didn't plan to keep.”

Jake's face turned red. “I wasn't intentionally trying to break a promise. I—”

Ella's hand shook as she pointed her finger at Jake. “It wasn't bad enough that you lied to me; you had to go and break my cousin's heart by lying to her, too.”

“If you're referring to the fact that I went to Montana, I did plan to come back and marry Loraine, but things happened, and I—” Jake broke off his words and took a deep breath. “I know what I did was wrong, but I've apologized to Loraine. She's forgiven me, so why can't you?”

Ella knew she was being childish, holding a grudge for something that had happened ten years ago. Even so, it was hard to believe that Jake wouldn't lie to her again. If she only knew for sure that Jake would be staying in Indiana. If she just knew how Jake felt about her now.

“I think my dress is dry enough, and I need to get back in there,” she said. “Besides, you've got a horse to shoe.”

“That's true, but I'd rather talk to you.”

“No, Jake, there's really nothing else for us to talk about.” Ella turned and fled.

Ella dropped the silverware they'd used at breakfast into the sink's soapy water and glanced out the kitchen window. It was the third week of April, and the grass had turned a deep emerald green. She smiled when she spotted several white butterflies hovering over the field near their barn. New life: That's what spring always brought. New life and a new hope.

Ella's thoughts went to her cousins. Katie and Freeman were happily married and settling into a routine in the home they shared with Fern. Loraine and Wayne were enjoying little Jonas, the precious baby boy Loraine had given birth to several weeks ago. Ella had gone over there a couple of times since she and Jake had first paid the baby a visit. It was always a joy to hold little Jonas, and it made the longing she felt to be a mother even stronger.

“Jake,” Ella murmured. He'd seemed so interested in the baby and had even asked if he could hold him. Ella wondered what kind of father Jake would make—if he ever married and had children, that is. He'd probably fool around and tease quite a bit, the way he'd done when he was a boy and still did now, for that matter. But he'd probably make his children behave, the way she'd seen him do with his siblings. A healthy balance of love and discipline is what all children needed.

Ella's face heated as she thought about the discussion she'd had with Jake at Katie and Freeman's wedding. She'd had trouble thinking of much else. Jake had come over a few times to buy baked goods since the wedding, but there'd been no mention of the discussion they'd had. He had, however, mentioned that he planned to stay in Indiana and buy some land so he could start his own business. Ella wondered if Jake's decision to stay had anything to do with her. She wouldn't ask, but did she dare hope?

No, I can't be the reason Jake's decided to stay. He doesn't even know I'm interested in him.
Ella's face grew hotter.
Maybe he does know how I feel, since I allowed him to kiss me. Not once, but twice, no less! I wish I knew how Jake felt about me. I wish I knew if...

She sloshed the sponge in the warm water as more confusing thoughts swirled in her head. The day she and Jake had gone over to Loraine's, he'd asked her to have supper with him, but she'd turned him down. Had that been the right thing to do, or should she have said yes? He might have taken her answer to mean that she wasn't interested in him.

If I'd have said yes, he'd have known I was interested,
Ella reasoned.
Can I trust my feelings for Jake, or should I keep a safe distance from him?

A prayer came to mind, and she closed her eyes.
What am I supposed to do, Lord? Tell me what to do, and I'll do it.

Jake had spent the last two weeks trying to figure out what to do about Ella. He'd read Proverbs 17:25: “A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.” It had caused him to realize that one of the reasons he'd left home in the first place was to get away from Dad and his constant accusations. But that had been a foolish thing to do, because he'd managed to hurt his folks, Loraine, and Ella, too. Even though he and Dad didn't see eye to eye on many things, Jake's place was at home. He'd never be truly happy if he stayed in Montana and remained English. Oh, he'd be returning to Montana, and soon, but it was only to pick up his things and buy a few horses.

He didn't want to go, however, until he'd spoken to Ella first. Now that he knew why she didn't trust him, he hoped to put her mind at ease. He also hoped that once she realized he was going to stay in Indiana and join the Amish church, she'd be more receptive to the idea of going out with him. Maybe, if she went out with him a few times, she'd realize that they weren't so bad together and could actually have a good time. Maybe she would forgive him for not keeping his promise to her when she was a girl. Maybe, if she'd let him, Jake could start over and do things right.

I wonder if I should talk to someone about Ella,
Jake thought as he headed out to the barn to check on the new horse he'd bought.
It should be someone who knows her well and might have some influence with her.

He was almost to the barn when an idea popped into his head. He could speak to Jolene about Ella when he had his next signing lesson. Better yet, he could stop by the schoolhouse that afternoon.

“How come your scholars look so sad?” Jolene asked Fern as the children filed out of the school.

“Allen Stutzman's daed was here a few minutes ago and gave us the news that Allen's been diagnosed with leukemia.” Fern's face revealed her sorrow as she slowly shook her head. “Things don't look good for Allen. Ella's brother Larry took it the hardest, and I'm worried about him because it hasn't been that long since he lost his daed. I'm afraid if he loses his best friend, too, he might sink into depression.”

Jolene's heart went out to Larry, but she felt especially sad for Allen and his family. She hoped the boy's folks would be able to get him the kind of treatment he needed, and she prayed that he would live.

“One of the scholars told me that, on the way out, Larry said something about not wanting to go home,” Fern reported.

“I'm sure he was just talking. From what I know of my cousin, he always goes straight home from school so he can have a treat from Ella's bakery.”

“I hope he went straight home today, because he's going to need a bit of consoling.” Fern stepped out the door. “See you tomorrow, Jolene.”

Jolene watched as Fern climbed onto her bicycle and pedaled down the driveway. She was almost to the end when a horse and buggy rolled in. Jolene was surprised when she recognized the driver as Jake, because he wasn't supposed to have a lesson until Monday evening at her home.

When Jake strolled up to the schoolhouse, he greeted Jolene with a smile, but she didn't smile in return.

“What's wrong? You look like you've lost your best friend.”

Jolene motioned for Jake to take a seat on the porch step, and she did the same. Then she told him about Allen Stutzman and about Larry's reaction to his friend's illness.

“That's a shame.” Jake rubbed his chin. “I was planning to stop by Ella's bakeshop today. While I'm there, I'll ask how Larry's doing. In the meantime, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.”

“What's that?”

“Umm ... it's about Ella.” Jake ran his hand across his sweaty forehead. It wasn't going to be easy to admit how he felt about Jolene's cousin, but if she had any influence on Ella, it might be worth the embarrassment.

“What about Ella?”

“I'm ... uh ... well, I think I'm in love with her.” There, it was out. Jake sat back and waited for Jolene's response.

She stared at him for several seconds, and then her face broke into a wide smile. “I suspected as much.”

His eyebrows lifted. “You knew?”

She nodded. “Does Ella feel the same way about you?”

“I'm not sure, but I think she used to.”

“What do you mean?”

Jake explained about the promise he'd made to Ella when she was a girl and said he'd never thought much about it before. He went on to explain that he now realized that Ella'd had a crush on him back then. He blew out his breath in one long sigh. “Some time ago, I asked her to go out to supper with me, but she said no.”

“That doesn't mean she doesn't like you. She could have been too busy.”

“I wish that were true, but the real reason Ella won't go out with me is because she doesn't trust me, and besides, she says we argue all the time.” Jake touched Jolene's arm. “Would you be willing to put in a good word for me with Ella?”

“I suppose I could do that,” Jolene said, “but I think it would be better if you did some things that might help win Ella's heart.”

“Got any suggestions?”

“You might buy her a gift; say some nice things about her when she's around; stop over to see her more often; maybe volunteer to do some chores around their place.”

“I've already done plenty of chores, and that hasn't helped me win her favor. I've also bought lots of baked goods and given her some money at Christmas.” Jake grimaced. “I've stopped over there more often than I probably should, and I think I've worn out my welcome. The only thing I haven't done is to say some nice things about Ella to her face.”

“I don't suppose you've told her that you're in love with her?”

“No. I was afraid she wouldn't believe me, and I'm even more afraid of her rejection.”

“You won't know until you try.” Jolene gave Jake's arm a gentle squeeze. “My advice is to go see Ella and say something nice, then wait and see what her reaction is.”

“Okay! I'll do that right now.” Jake grinned as hope rose in his chest. “And while I'm there, I'll have a talk with Larry and see if I can cheer him up a bit.” He raced across the yard to his buggy, more anxious than ever to see Ella.

Ella glanced out her bakeshop window. Amelia and Helen had come home from school over an hour ago and said that Larry had walked home by himself, a different way. Ella was getting worried and felt tempted to go look for him but didn't want to leave the shop unattended. Charlene had taken Mama to a doctor's appointment, and Amelia and Helen couldn't watch Sue Ann and also wait on any customers who might come into the bakeshop.

Why would Larry walk home by himself?
Ella fumed.
He knows he's supposed to walk with the girls.
She sighed.
Guess if he's not home by the time Mama and Charlene get here, I'll have to look for him.

Ella ushered her three young sisters into the back room of her bakeshop and gave them some cut-up apples and milk to snack on. When she heard her shop door open, she headed that way to see who'd come in. She was both pleased and surprised to see that it was Jake.

He offered her a dimpled, kind of shy-looking grin. “Afternoon, Ella.”

“Hello, Jake,” Ella said, feeling suddenly shy herself in his presence. She wondered if whenever he looked at her, he thought about the kisses they'd shared. “What can I do for you today?”

He cleared his throat a couple of times. “I ... uh ... wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed those sweet rolls you sold my mamm the other day. They were sure good.”

“I'm glad you liked them.” Ella swallowed hard. Jake was looking at her in a peculiar way that made her toes curl inside her sneakers.

“With your baking skills, you'll make a good wife for some lucky fellow someday.”

A wave of heat flooded Ella's face. “I doubt that I'll ever get married.”

“What makes you say that?”

Ella leaned on the counter for added support. The intense look on Jake's face made her squirm. “For one thing, I need to help my mamm raise my bruder and schweschdere. Then there's the fact that I don't have a—”

“Speaking of your brother—I stopped at the schoolhouse before I came here, and Jolene mentioned how upset Larry had been when he'd heard about Allen Stutzman.”

“What about Allen?”

“He has leukemia. Figured you knew.”

She shook her head. “I knew he hadn't been feeling well, but I had no idea he'd been diagnosed with leukemia.”

“Guess all the scholars took it pretty hard, Larry most of all. Jolene said she overhead him telling one of the scholars that he didn't want to go home.”

Alarm rose in Ella's soul. “Larry's over an hour late. You don't suppose...”

“He's probably off by himself somewhere, thinking about his friend and trying to come to grips with it.”

“Larry took Papa's death pretty hard. If he loses Allen, I don't know what he'll do.” She glanced at the battery-operated clock on the far wall. “I'd like to go look for him, but Mama and Charlene are still at the doctor's, and I don't want to leave my younger sisters unattended.”

Before Jake could respond, an idea popped into Ella's head. “If you wouldn't mind staying with them for a short time, I'll hop on my bike and go search for Larry.”

“I've got a better idea,” Jake said. “I'll look for Larry, and you can stay here with your sisters.”

“You wouldn't mind?”

“'Course not. What are friends for if not to help each other?”

Friends.
At least Jake considered her a friend. She managed a weak smile. “I appreciate that, Jake.”

He leaned across the counter and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. “Not to worry; I'll find Larry and bring him home.”

Jolene's arms swung at her sides as she hurried toward the variety store in Topeka. She needed to buy a baby gift and get over to Loraine's before it was time to start supper. Jolene had visited Loraine and her baby a few times, but she still hadn't bought him a gift.

She'd no sooner entered the store when she saw something that made her blood run cold. A man wearing a ski mask that covered his eyes and nose stood near the counter, holding a gun in his hand. Sadie Smucker, the store owner, along with Eunice Byler and an English woman Jolene didn't recognize, stood next to the counter with their hands raised over their heads.

Jolene halted her footsteps, not sure what she should do. Gathering her wits about her, she decided that the only thing she could do was to run back outside and get some help. She was about to do that when Eunice turned and looked at her. So did the gunman.

He pivoted the gun toward Jolene. “Come over here!”

With her heart pounding and her legs shaking so badly she could barely walk, Jolene made her way across the room. When she reached the counter, the gunman grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly to his side. She winced but made no move to protest for fear that he might shoot her or one of the other women.

The man said something to Sadie then, but his head was turned away from Jolene and she couldn't make out what he'd said. Then he said something to Eunice and the other woman. They nodded, cast a quick glance at Jolene, and followed Sadie out the door.

Jolene looked up at the gunman and said, “Please, let me go.”

“Not a chance! You're my ticket to freedom.”