Elijah And The Widow (Lancaster County Weddings 4) (15 page)

The four of them—Katie, Mae, Levi and Eli—rode to Martha’s farm, where they found Martha outside hanging laundry. Upon seeing their arrival, Martha dropped a garment into her laundry basket and approached.

“Hallo.”
Martha smiled at all of them. “Preacher Levi, what a nice surprise. I didn’t expect to see you.”

Levi smiled. “I’ve come to give the fundraiser money.” He reached into the envelope given to Mae and Katie at the bank. “Here. I’m pleased to tell you that your bank loan has been paid, and there is enough left to build you a new barn.”

Martha studied the check, her eyes widening with shock. “Truly?” she gasped. She was clearly amazed by the check amount. Eli knew that the sum was more than enough money for her barn. “And the bank loan is paid?” she whispered, her eyes filling.

The preacher nodded.

“Katie. Mae.” Martha paused, blinking rapidly. “I—”

Eli understood her loss for words. He was pleased by her reaction. She would be fine, he thought, and he would be available to help. Martha wouldn’t be any wiser that not all of the money had come from the fundraiser.

“Everyone helped,”
Mam
reminded her.

Martha glanced in his direction. Eli smiled at her, and he saw something move across her expression. Then it was gone.
“Danki,”
she whispered, clearly overwhelmed. “I thought I’d be forced to sell the farm, but now I don’t have to leave my home. Because of our Happiness community, my
haus
is safe and my animals will have a new place to live.”

“We are pleased for you, Martha,” Mae said.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Eli said. “We know you are thankful. It was the Lord who provided us with help. If it’s all right with you, I’ll have
Dat
stop in tomorrow to give you an estimate for your new barn.”

Martha grinned. “That would be wonderful,” she said, and her long look in his direction caused Eli’s heart to beat rapidly with elation.

Seeing her smile, the joy in her brown eyes, gave him a rush of pleasure. He had made the right choice—the only choice for him. He would have to work hard to earn back what he’d given, but he didn’t mind. Martha was worth everything.

* * *

Without the worry of the bank loan, Martha concentrated on her jelly business and preparing for the barn raising. She watched happily as several men in the community tore down the old stables. With help from Rick Martin and Jed’s English construction boss, the churchmen were able to drag the charred metal farm equipment out of the ruined barn and into the pasture to be examined more closely.

“This one can be salvaged,” Amos said. “’Tis black with soot, but it can be used as intended. We’ll clean it up and you can keep it or sell it, Martha. ’Tis your choice.”

She liked being given a choice, as if her opinion mattered. It hadn’t with Ike, but these men were different. They were not trying to tell her what to do.

The other pieces of farm machinery were in poorer shape. “What about those?” Martha asked Matt Rhoades, Jedidiah’s boss. Jed, Eli and Amos were eyeing the burned equipment.

“I’d suggest taking them to a recycling center,” Matt said. “The center pays by weight. You should get a hefty amount.”

Eli Lapp stood silently, watching Jed and Amos crouch low to study the charred metal. Martha found herself wanting to talk to him and ask his opinion on what she should do. She’d learned a lesson since the fire. A person shouldn’t stand alone but should embrace what others have to offer. Just as she enjoyed helping out others, she had to learn that accepting help didn’t make her weak.

It had been a while since she and Eli had spoken, and while she wished things were different between them, they weren’t. Still, she had a right to seek a friend’s advice anytime she wanted—didn’t she? “What do you think?”

He appeared surprised that she’d asked his opinion. She’d been avoiding him lately, pretending that he wasn’t close during church functions and other gatherings. She missed and loved him, and she realized she’d kept her distance because she was afraid that his interest in her was simply wishful thinking.

“I think you should consider what Matt said. You can use the money from the scrap metal to replace the damaged equipment with something serviceable and less fancy.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do.
Danki
,” she said with a smile of thanks. She was aware of his steady gaze on her as she returned to Matt. “I’d like to go with your suggestion. If you can arrange to take it to the recycling center, I’ll pay your expenses and for your time.”

Matt shook his head. “I want to help. There is no payment necessary.”

Martha opened her mouth to object and then closed it. She would have to get past her determination to remain self-sufficient. No one could be entirely self-sufficient. Ike had tried to be when he’d shoveled that snow and died. “Thank you, Matt.”

As she turned back, she saw Eli and Jedidiah head to the barn, where they proceeded to tug at the ruined siding. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Eli. She had seen a longing in his eyes as he’d studied her. She’d felt it, too—a longing for what couldn’t be.

Samuel and his other sons conferred with Rick and Matt about the best transport for the scrap metal. Martha went inside the house and quickly poured drinks for the workers, who had to be thirsty after rummaging through the wreckage. She came out again with a tray of cups filled with iced tea.

“Is Eli going to buy that property for his shop?” Isaac asked Noah as they walked across the back lawn to the barn. She followed but kept her distance, still able to hear their conversation.

“
Nay
, he’s decided to wait.” Noah grabbed a hammer from his tool belt and used the claw end to pry nails from the siding. “Said he needs a few more years of work before he’s satisfied with the money he’s saved.”

Martha halted in her tracks, unable to stop listening.

“But I thought you said he had enough money to go into business now.” Isaac popped out a nail, and it fell to the ground.

“He says he’s not in any hurry now,” Noah said as he worked beside him. “Says he’s content to work at my shop or for Matt with Jed. He’ll find a better place in the next year or so.”

Martha stood, frozen with tray in hand.
Eli had enough money to open his shop and now he doesn’t?

The news bothered her. And she began to think...about the fundraiser and the money made from the Amish auction. If she hadn’t been so aware of Eli, she might not have noticed Eli’s pleased expression when Preacher Levi had told her that they’d paid off her bank loan and presented her with the money for her barn.

Martha approached the men. “Iced tea!” she exclaimed loudly with a smile. She held out the tray. “I need to run an errand,” she told them after they had accepted their drinks with murmured appreciation. “I shouldn’t be gone long.”

Samuel swallowed his mouthful of cold tea. “No rush. We have enough to keep us busy. I’ve ordered the lumber for the barn, and that cost is less than I figured. You should have enough money left to fix that lean-to in your back pasture.”

Martha tried to look pleased. She had a suspicion that some of the money didn’t come from the fundraiser, that someone—Eli—might have added funds of his own. “Sounds
gut
.”

Her heart hammered hard as she climbed into her buggy and drove the distance to the Samuel Lapp farm. She stopped on the way to drop off some jelly and jam at Yoder’s General Store before she continued on to have a talk with Katie Lapp, Eli’s mother.

Katie was seated in a chair on the front porch shelling peas when Martha drove into the yard. “Afternoon, Katie,” Martha greeted her.

“Martha! How nice to see you. How is the barn demolition going?”

“Fine. Most of the barn has been torn down. Jedidiah and Matt helped me to decide what to do with the ruined farm equipment.” She climbed the porch and took the white rocker next to Katie’s. She reached into the woman’s pile of pea pods and began to shell peas.

She worked silently with the shelling for several minutes. “Katie?”

“There is something on your mind. What is it, Martha?”

Martha hesitated. “I have a question about the fundraising money.” She saw that Katie stopped what she was doing, looked at her.

“Ja?”

Did Martha imagine it or did Katie look mildly uncomfortable? Her suspicions intensified. “There wasn’t enough money from the fundraiser,” she said. “Was there? Someone added to the total to make sure I had what I needed.”

Katie blinked. “Are you asking me?”

“
Ja
, I am.” A fly flew near Martha’s face, and she brushed it away. She studied Katie, waiting as the woman took her time before answering.

“’Tis true that there wasn’t enough funds from the fundraisers.” She opened a pea pod, slid her finger along the edge to loosen the peas and force them into a stainless steel bowl. “A few of us added a little.” She grabbed another pea pod. “But one of us put in a large sum.”

“Amos?” Martha asked, hoping that it was true.

Katie shook her head.

“Eli? Did your son use his shop money to help pay off my loan?”

The look on Katie’s face gave her answer before she spoke.
“Ja.”

Martha was upset more than grateful. She swallowed hard. “How much? How much of his savings did he give away?”

“You should ask Eli.”

“
Nay
, I want to know how much I need to pay him back.”

But Katie was shaking her head. “He doesn’t want to be paid back. He didn’t want you to know, because he was afraid you’d refuse.”

“And I would have,” Martha admitted huskily as her throat tightened even more. “Why, Katie? Why would he sacrifice so much for me? Eli’s young. He has his dream of opening a carriage shop. Why throw it away instead of opening his shop?”

Katie’s expression grew soft. “Why do you think?”

Martha blinked as she continued to shell more peas. “I don’t know why.” The answer was there, but she didn’t want to see it. “There are many young women within our community who think the world of Eli. He can have his pick of any one of them.”

“And yet he hasn’t shown an interest in them. But he has proven he cares for you.”

Martha’s face reddened. “I’m not the right woman for him.”

Katie stopped and set the bowl on the small outdoor table beside her. “You don’t like him?”

Martha felt her face and neck flush with fiery heat. “It’s hard not to care about Eli.” She loved him.

“Considering that my son gave away most of his hard-earned savings for you, I’d say he feels more than friendship for you.” Katie stopped shelling peas to gaze at her steadily.

“I never encouraged him,” Martha insisted.

“Martha,” Katie began quietly. “Eli makes up his own mind. He’s not asking for anything from you in return.”

“I know.” Martha blinked back tears as she leaned back in the rocking chair and closed her eyes. Immediately she envisioned Eli’s expression as he told her that he cared for her, and she’d dismissed his feelings as if they weren’t important to her. But they were important, almost too much. Her past relationships had made her wary, afraid. Neither John nor Ike would have sacrificed for her the way Eli had. If that wasn’t proof of his love for her, what else could it be? Eli was a man, not a child. She didn’t want to admit that.

“Do you have feelings for my
soohn
?” Katie asked.

Martha opened her eyes and met those of a concerned mother.

“
Ja.
I do. But I shouldn’t. I’m a widow who is too old for him. He deserves better than a woman who can’t give him what he needs.”

Katie raised her eyebrows. “You are what—five or six years older?”

“Seven.”

The woman smiled. “Hardly a huge difference. You married a man who was your senior by more than ten years,
ja
?” Her expression and tone softened. “It’s been months since Ike died. No one would be upset if you chose to marry again. After their wives pass on, the men in our community often choose to wed again quickly, sometimes for the sake of the children but more often than not, I think, because they miss having a life partner.”

“The age difference between Ike and me is different than between Eli and me.”

Her friend looked curious. “How?”

“Eli is not an old spinster who was grateful to be any man’s wife.”

A lengthy silence ensued.

“You love him.” Katie eyed her with satisfaction.

Martha stood, went to the porch railing to gaze out over the yard. “Does it matter if I do?”

“If you love my
soohn
,
ja
, it matters.”

Martha spun to face her. “Why?”

“Because Eli loves you. If you have any doubts at all, know this—he wouldn’t have given fifteen thousand dollars of his money to just anyone.
Nay
, he gave it to you because he loves you. He didn’t want you to know. It wasn’t a bid for your affection but a genuine act of selflessness and love. Mae and I are the only ones who know.” Katie rubbed the back of her neck. “And now you. The last person he wanted to know.”

“Fifteen thousand dollars?” Martha gasped. It took her several seconds to process that the man she loved had given away that much money...for her. If his gift wasn’t a true testament of his love, then what else could it be?

Katie looked suddenly uncomfortable. “I shouldn’t have told you. He’ll be upset with me.” She firmed her lips. “But you asked and I’ll not lie.”

“He loves me that much?” Now that her suspicions were founded, Martha knew she had to do something.

“Ja, he does.”

“Danki.”
Martha had a plan to give Eli back his money.

Eli’s mother looked concerned. “What are you going to do?”

Martha smiled in reassurance. “Nothing to hurt the man I love.”

She left then, her mind wildly active with what she had to do. It was too late to cancel the barn raising.
But it’s not too late to sell the farm.

Chapter Nineteen

E
li eyed Martha’s new barn with satisfaction. The building was larger than before and better constructed. The men of his community had begun work early that morning and continued until it was done.

The women fed the workers on and off all day. Martha, he saw, kept busy scurrying to keep food on the table. Eli had kept his distance from her. He hadn’t eaten when she was serving. He’d eaten when one of his cousins had worked the food table, and then he’d hurried back to work before Martha could catch sight of him.

He was pleased to help with the barn raising, glad that Martha had no idea of his part in making sure she had enough money. It had been a long day but a productive one. He transferred his gaze from the new building to the women gathering up the empty dishes. This would be his last day he’d get to see Martha on a daily basis. With that knowledge hovering in his mind, Eli gave in to the urge to talk with her.

Martha stood in the barnyard, thanking Amos and his family for their hard work.

“It took many skilled hands to craft this barn in one day,” Amos said, brushing off his part in the day’s labor.

Eli hung back as Martha said goodbye to the other workers and their families. Soon the only ones left were his family. She turned only to stop short when she saw him standing within a few feet of her.

“Martha,” he said.

“Eli!” she gasped as if taken by surprise. “I didn’t know you were behind me.” Her look made him squirm as if he’d done something wrong by keeping silent behind her. “You worked hard today,” she said with a sudden smile.
“Danki.”

He shrugged. “No harder than the rest.”

“I don’t have to worry about leaks now,” Martha said softly, and he was instantly reminded of the storm and their time in the barn together. Something thick and tense rose in the air between them.

Feelings intensified in Eli, overwhelming him with the love she didn’t want. He stepped back, putting distance between them. “I’m glad everything turned out well for you.”

She nodded. “I’m sincerely grateful for my
gut
fortune.”

“Eli! Are you ready?” His father stood by the family wagon with his mother in the passenger seat; his younger brothers and sister sat in the back with the tools.

“Coming,
Dat
!” He hesitated, unwilling to leave her. If only things were different and she’d give him half a chance. “I have to go.” When she didn’t answer, he forced a smile, then headed toward their vehicle, where he climbed into the back with his siblings. His father stepped up into the front and took up the reins.

Eli stared at Martha, wondering at the odd look he saw on her face as he turned. Would she miss him? Except for church and visiting Sundays, there’d be little chance for them to see each other or spend any time together.

As his father drove away from the farm, Eli stared out the back of the wagon until Martha was but a speck in his line of vision as the vehicle turned down the road toward home.

Martha still cared too deeply for her late husband to consider another man in her life. He would honor her wishes and leave her alone. He would work hard to save for Lapp’s Buggy Shop
.
He only hoped that someday he would be able to get over her.

* * *

The day after the barn raising, Martha spoke with a Realtor about selling the farm. She couldn’t live there now that she knew it was Eli’s hard-earned carriage shop money that had made it possible for her to stay. So she would sell the property, pay Eli back his money and find another place to live. She could stay for a time with her in-laws. She could return home to Indiana and face her sister and her sister’s husband or she could remain in Happiness and find a much smaller home.

The idea of living in a bungalow appealed to Martha. She’d always thought Ike’s house too big and too cold. She’d find and move into a cottage. She’d continue to make and sell jellies without the added worry of managing a farm.

She had to pay back Eli. She wouldn’t rest until she sold the farm and returned his money. She knew that the Lord approved of her plan when she received an offer for the property within two days of its listing. The original owner’s children wanted to buy back the house and land. Now that their father had passed on, the property held sentimental value for them, as their father had built the home for their mother, who had died before it was finished. Devastated by the loss, the man had stopped all construction and put the unfinished house up for sale. Ike, who’d wanted to move back to Happiness after his first wife’s death, had been the one who had purchased the property. And then Ike had married her, and the house had become their home.

* * *

For the next few weeks, Eli built hog houses for Matt Rhoades’s construction company. The money was decent, and the work was consistent. He took every hour he could get and deposited the majority of his pay into his bank account. He was determined to open his carriage shop. It wouldn’t be tomorrow or the day after, but eventually he would have his shop.

“Eli.” Jedidiah came around from the other side of the block foundation they’d constructed for the pole building. “Are you ready to go home?”

“
Ja.
’Tis been a long day, but we got a lot done.”

“
Ja
, Matt is pleased. He says you’re a
gut
worker.”

“’Tis a way to earn money.”

His brother narrowed his gaze. “What happened to your shop?”

“I still plan to open it. Why?”

“Well, to hear Noah tell it, you were all fired up about a place you’d found and then suddenly you changed your mind.”

“I haven’t changed my mind. I want to earn a little extra cash first—that’s all.”

Jedidiah nodded in understanding as they headed with tools in hand to Jedidiah’s market wagon. Eli was glad that Jed had driven today. The other family vehicles were in use, except for the two-wheeled courting buggy that needed work, which Eli planned to start on first thing in the morning.

“We’ve got a few days before Matt wants to start the next job,” Jed said as Eli climbed down from the buggy in their parents’ yard. “Are you in? Or will you be working at Noah’s?”

“I’m in if Noah doesn’t need me.”

Jedidiah frowned. “What’s with you? You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“I’m fine.”

“
Nay
,
bruder.
You’re not.” He studied Eli through narrowed eyes. “Must be a girl.” He smiled. “Martha King. You’re sweet on her.”

“Go home,” Eli said grumpily. He turned and was startled to see Martha exit his parents’ house and head in his direction.

“Afternoon, Martha,” Jed said pleasantly.

“
Hallo
, Jed.” She gave him a nod, then turned. “Eli.”

“I’m surprised to see you,” Eli said. It had been weeks since they’d last spoken. He’d seen her from a distance at church and visiting Sundays, but he wasn’t about to pursue someone who didn’t want to be chased.

“I’ve got to get home. See you at Noah’s tomorrow, Eli,” Jed said. He nodded. “Martha.”

Eli said goodbye to his eldest brother, then turned to eye Martha warily. “Why are you here?” He saw her frown and a hurt look enter her brown eyes. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. May I start again? ’Tis nice to see you, Martha. I haven’t spoken with you in ages.”

She seemed suddenly nervous. “I’m here to see you.”

“You are?” Eli stared at her. He could never get his fill of looking at her, spending time in her company.

“Why haven’t you opened your carriage shop yet?” she burst out, startling him.

“I—ah—will. I’m still working to save money.”

She looked pretty in her green dress, white head covering and white cape with white apron. She didn’t comment on his need to work and save.

“How’s the barn?” he asked, not knowing what else to say.

“Barn’s still standing. I hear the rain didn’t touch the inside the other day.”

He frowned. “You hear?”

Martha nodded. “Not my barn anymore. I’m staying with Amos and Mae until I’m ready to move into my own place. I sold the farm.”

“You what?” Eli was flabbergasted. She’d sold the farm! “You’re going to move away.”

She gazed at him, her brown eyes intent, a strange little smile on her lips. “I stopped by because I have something to give you.”

He gazed his fill of her and yearned for more. “You’re going home to Indiana?”

“Would you miss me if I did?” she teased.

“
Ja
, I would,” he admitted, feeling all his love for her inside.

“Eli—”

“Martha, I don’t want you to go.”

She regarded him with affection. “Eli, did I say I was going anywhere?”

He stared at her, confused.

“Here.” She shoved an envelope into his hand.

He accepted the envelope, careful to avoid touching her. “What is it?” He’d been working all day, and he felt grimy and sweaty. He wished she’d come after he’d showered and changed. But she was here now, and he was grateful that for whatever reason she’d sought him out.

“Open it, Eli,” she urged when he made no move to do so.

He reluctantly looked away from her pretty face to study the envelope. Slowly, he ran a finger along the sealed edge, lifting it to display a piece of paper inside. He frowned.

“Take it out,” Martha ordered.
“Please.”

He obeyed, extracting the document carefully. He recognized a bank check and met her gaze with widened eyes.

“What’s this for?” It was a lot of money—twenty-five thousand dollars, in fact.

“It’s the money I owe you with interest.”

“Martha—”

“Eli, you sacrificed your shop savings to help me. ’Twas the sweetest and most thoughtful thing that anyone has ever done for me.”

“But the money—”

“’Tis from the sale of the farm.” She raised a hand to stop him from talking. “I never wanted that big place, Eli. That was my late husband’s home. I never felt like I belonged there. I much prefer a smaller
haus
like Jacob and Annie’s or Noah and Rachel’s. I couldn’t continue to live in a place I didn’t like after learning what you’d done for me.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say a thing. When I figured out that you were the one responsible for paying off the loan and rebuilding my barn, I felt...” She blinked back tears.
“Cherished,”
she whispered, her eyes glistening.

He experienced a warm sensation. “You are cherished, Martha.”

“I know,” she said. “By you.”

He nodded as hope filled his heart. “I love you, Martha.”

“I know,” she said. “You couldn’t have convinced me any better. I realized that love is more important than age difference, and that love means taking a risk, and I’m willing to take it now. I’m willing to risk it all...for you.” She blinked up at him, her expression earnest. “I love you, Eli.”

“Then you’ll be staying,” he said with a grin. She nodded. “And letting me court you?”

“Only if you willingly take the money and more if I want to give it. Open your carriage shop, Eli. Do what you’ve always wanted to do.”

“It just doesn’t seem ri—”

She placed two fingers over his mouth to silence him. “If you love me, then you’ll take this money and talk with Noah. He has a better idea of where to set up your shop.”

“You talked with Noah?”

Martha nodded. “And your
mam
and
dat
...and Jacob, Isaac, Daniel, Joseph and Hannah—and Jedidiah. I talked with him, too, the other day.”

Eli stared. “Why?”

She shrugged. “Because I wanted to get to know better the family of the man I love.”

He grinned. “’Cause you’re going to be part of my family.”

Martha raised her eyebrows, but he saw the joy in her face. “Am I?”

“Ja,”
he said huskily, drawing her into his arms. “If I have anything to say or do about it, you will be the most important part.” He smiled against her hair as she leaned her head against his check. “Don’t think because you’re older that you’ll be heading our household.”

She lifted her head, her brown eyes twinkling. “I wouldn’t think of it.”

His lips twitched. “We’ll see.” And then he kissed her to show her who was boss.