Snowfall (3 page)

“Not even then.”

Thomas swung his feet. Shifted. Stood up and pressed his nose to the cold windowpane. After staring out the window thirty seconds, it was obvious he was bored. “Can I come with you today?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“Because we're cutting and loading trees today, son.”

“I could help.”

“I'm afraid you can't. It's dangerous work. I don't want you to get hurt.”

He straightened his narrow shoulders. “I'm pretty strong.”

It took everything Martin had to keep a serious expression. “You are a mighty fine boy. And you are strong for being only eight. But I'm afraid you're not big enough to help. Not yet. One day you will, though.”

“When? Next year?”

“I'm thinking when you're twelve.”

Thomas's eyes widened, then settled into his scowl. “That's forever from now.”

“You should enjoy being eight,
boo
.”

“I'm sick of staying home with old ladies.”

Resting his hand on his boy's shoulders, Martin added, “I know it's hard, but someone needs to look after you all.”

“It's boring. All Mrs. Keim wanted to do was sit in the kitchen and watch the clock.”

Martin figured it would be best to say nothing about that. “Regardless, I have a feeling someday you'll be working so hard you'll be wishing for days like this.”

“Days when I'm waiting for another grumpy babysitter? I don't think so.”

“We don't know for sure if this one will be grumpy.”

“Daed, she works with old people all day,” Thomas said with the supreme confidence that only a child could have. “She's gonna be grumpy.”

Since Martin felt his son had a point, he pressed his lips together and started simply hoping for a reprieve from the questions.

It was almost a relief to see the horse and buggy clip-clopping up the driveway. “We shall soon find out, won't we?” Turning, he saw that his Katrina had the rest of the
kinner
lined up in the other room. They were standing in front of the window and looking out with various expressions of forbearance and dismay.

He stood up and carefully tucked his chair back under the kitchen table and motioned for Thomas to do the same. Then he stepped into the dining room and quietly spoke. “You all stay here while I go out and greet Ruth.”

“Can you make sure she's nice, Daed?” Meg asked, her eyes filled with hope.

Reaching out, he pressed his hand on the top of his youngest child's
kapp
. “I will do my best,” he promised.

While the children watched, Martin slipped on his coat, positioned his black stocking cap on his head, and then walked out the door just as the buggy came to a stop in front of one of the hitching posts in front of the house. Hoping all the while that this Ruth was going to be nicer than expected.

“Please, Lord,” he quietly prayed. “Please, since it's almost Christmas and all, won't You consider giving me just a little bit of a break? 'Cause I could surely use some help here. Make this woman not be too terrible. My
kinner
have already lost their mother. They don't need a sourpuss babysitter, too.”

As the cold wind brushed against his cheeks, he lifted his eyes to the heavens and gave a fierce look. Then, as Ruth's horse pawed restlessly at the dry, hard ground, he hurried over to help. “Hello,” he called out, just as Ruth Stutzman deftly hopped out of the buggy. Their eyes met. After the briefest of pauses, she smiled.

Martin blinked. And then, to his embarrassment, he blinked again, just as if he'd never seen a woman before.

Ruth Stutzman was young. And pretty, too. She had dark, wavy hair and bright blue eyes. A smattering of freckles danced across her nose, and the palest of pink brightened her cheeks. She was of medium height and blessed with the kind of curves he'd always thought women should have but always tried hard to not think about.

Maybe it was because she'd taken him so off-guard, or maybe because he was sadly out of practice when it came to conversing with pretty women, but he blurted the first thing that came to mind. “You are nothing like I expected.”

Raising a pair of finely arched eyebrows, her smile turned into a full-fledged grin. “Isn't that something? I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

Martin wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not. And because he was so confused about his reaction, he turned away and grabbed hold of the horse. “It's too cold for your horse to be out here for long. I'll take him into the barn.”

“I've got a blanket for him in the back of the buggy. Would you like me to cover him for you?”

“Nee.”

She stared at him, obviously waiting for him to explain himself, or say that he would take care of the blanket.

But he did neither. He simply stood still, holding the gelding's reins. He had never been a man of many words.

But suddenly, well, absolutely not a single one came to mind. Not a single, solitary one.

As Ruth gazed at Martin Rhodes, she reflected that there had to be a first time for everything.

And at the moment, she was standing in front of a man who seemed to be tongue-tied. Furthermore, all she seemed to be able to do was smile.

Fact was, Martin Rhodes was brawny and tall, with lightly tanned skin, green eyes, and thick, dark brown hair. He was much more handsome than any father of six children had the right to be.

In short, he was nothing like she'd imagined, and she'd spent quite a bit of time last night wondering what he would be like.

Ruth wasn't so sure how she felt about that.

Though he was now holding her gelding's reins, he was facing her again. As she felt his eyes skim over her from head to toe, she stood still and gazed unabashedly at him. She knew she wasn't the prettiest girl in the world. Far from that. Her measurements were a little too big, her features a little too bold.

After another few seconds stretched between them, he blurted, “What did you think I was going to be like?”

She had a lot of answers to that one. None of which seemed appropriate. So she cut to the chase and said the first thing that popped into her head, “Older.”

He laughed. “I thought the same thing about you.” As her horse nudged him with his nose, Martin rubbed his muzzle. “Looks like you've got a fairly forthright horse here.”

“His name is Rocky. He's my landlady's horse, but I have found him to be a bit forthright as well.”

“Perhaps it's a good match.”

“Maybe so. I've grown to be very fond of him.”

“I'll go put him in a stall. Would you like to go with me to the barn? Or would you rather go on inside and meet my
kinner
?”

“Which would you prefer?”

“Well, if you walk with me, you'll get a moment's reprieve from my children.” He nodded toward the house. “They're waiting for you, you see.”

She turned her head and saw six small faces staring back at her. Two boys, four girls. Not a one of the children was smiling.

But none of them was glaring, either.

Dear Lord
, she silently prayed.
Remember my prayers
.

Martin was staring at her, too. “Do you like children?”

“I think so.”

“You think so? Don't you know?”

“Well, I don't know these
kinner
, so I don't know if I'll like them,” she teased.

But instead of being amused, he looked like he was tempted to roll his eyes. “I meant, do you like spending time with
kinner
? Do you enjoy watching them?”

She opted for the truth. “I don't know. I don't have much experience watching children.”

“Then why did you want to come here?”

“I didn't. I somehow got talked into it by Lovina Keim. And then, well, I just got laid off from my job at Daybreak.” When she noticed his eyes turn sympathetic, she explained. “Budget cuts.”

“That's hard. I'm sorry about that.”

“I am, too. However I am grateful for this opportunity.” And suddenly, she realized she
was
glad. Not only had she been worried about her finances, she'd also been dreading the thought of spending another Christmas season alone. After her parents died when she was only five, Ruth had become her extended family's charity case. They'd all taken her in for a year at a time, sometimes grudgingly, sometimes with kind hearts. But no matter what the situation, Ruth had learned over time that she was never to get too attached. That it could only bring more heartbreak.

Now, at the very least, Martin was going to pay her, and she would be surrounded by noise and chatter. Even if the
kinner
were as rambunctious as Lovina had described, Ruth knew it would be far more difficult to be sitting in her rented room completely alone.

Green eyes danced. “Just to let you know, Lovina talked circles around me, too.” Patting the horse again, he added, “She's the kind of woman who makes me glad I spend most of my time with trees and horses.”

Surprising herself, Ruth chuckled.

His smile grew brighter. “So, Ruth, would you like to walk to the barn with me . . . or are you ready to go in and meet the children?”

Maybe it was because he was still absently patting Rocky. Maybe it was because he looked just as apprehensive as she felt. Or maybe it was because she'd spied something in his children's faces that looked a whole lot like optimism.

Whatever the reason, she quickly reached into the buggy's interior and pulled out a large picnic hamper. “I think I'll go on in and meet your children. They've been awfully patient.”

“Might be a good idea. They've been alone for ten minutes.”

“They're that rambunctious?”

His lips twitched. “They are. Hey, what's in the hamper?”

“A surprise for the
kinner
.”

He stared at it as if he was afraid it was about to explode. “There's no handcuffs inside, is there?”

“Not today, Martin.” She shrugged, enjoying the silly, irreverent conversation. “But if they misbehave, I might have to resort to such tricks tomorrow,” she joked.

Martin looked at her with eyes wide. “Ruth, you just made me the happiest man on earth.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you're already talking about coming back.” He chuckled. “All right, well, then, once I get Rocky settled, I'll head off to the farm. But don't worry, I'll come in first to make sure you are all set.”

“That won't be necessary.” Making a shooing gesture with her hands, she said, “Go on now, we'll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very much so.”

“All right. I'll return in three hours.”

“Wait—is there anything I need to know?”

“Yeah. There's six of 'em. Make sure when I come back that's still the case.”

Unable to help herself, she laughed. Maybe being here wasn't going to be so bad after all. Maybe, just maybe.

I talk more than Karin. That's how you can tell us apart. Plus I've got a freckle on my left pinky.

Brigit, Age 5

Still feeling hopeful after her promising conversation with Martin, Ruth picked up her wicker hamper and trotted into his home. Maybe this wouldn't be such a difficult job, after all.

Perhaps the kids would be just as appreciative and kind as their father. Maybe they wouldn't realize she had little experience with people their age, or they wouldn't hold it against her.

Perhaps she would actually like being with them, and they would like being with her. It might even be fun teaching the children to make some Christmas crafts.

Plus, she could be around all of them during the Christmas holidays. And wouldn't that be something? Though she enjoyed her days at the retirement home a lot, being with a family was exciting. It had been a long time since she had felt included, really included. She hadn't been in an actual home in more than a year. She hadn't been in a home where she'd been happy for longer than she cared to remember.

Especially since she always tried her best not to remember.

The Rhodeses' door needed a fresh coat of paint. Okay, it needed more than that. It needed to be sanded and painted a bright, glossy black. Currently it looked as if it had once been stained brown or maybe gray. It looked dark and dismal against the house's white siding. The whole outside of the house would look much better if a coat or two of paint were applied.

If the weather warmed a bit, perhaps the children could help her paint the door. They could sand the wood and then carefully paint the door black and the trim around it a fresh, bright white. She seemed to remember hearing that children liked projects.

Now filled to the brim with good intentions, she turned the handle and walked through a small mudroom into a spacious kitchen. At first glance, it looked just as neglected as that front door. Though everything looked clean enough, there was a tired air about it that made her think no one had given it anything but minimal attention for a quite a while.

Just as she set her basket on the center of the kitchen table, a line of children entered the room. They were beautiful
kinner
, four blessed with dark brown hair and green eyes, two with blond hair and brown eyes.

Every one of them was watching her intently. Not a one was smiling. Instead, they were looking at her the way she might look at a stray cat in her yard. She wouldn't be mean to it, but she wouldn't especially want a strange animal living in her midst, either.

And in that instant, all her optimism fled as reality set in. This wasn't going to be all that different from her life with all of those distant relatives.

“Hi,” she said. “I'm Ruth.” When no one replied, she cleared her throat. “I'm going to be looking after you until New Year's Day. I expect your father already told you this.”