Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2) Page 7

  Chapter Seven

  Emily slid from the buggy two days later and smoothed her hands over her lilac dress. It wasn’t the same purple one that James loved so much, but hopefully he would enjoy this one just as well.

  She reached behind the seat and pulled out the basket of goodies she had collected. Tucked in the bottom, underneath the bag of grape jelly flavored jelly beans, the plastic school box full of markers and crayons in a variety of purple shades, and the stacks of purple construction paper was the info she had gathered at the library Saturday evening.

  She had wanted to come yesterday and share what she had learned, but her family had traveled to the neighboring district to attend church. Given the length of the service and all of her regular milking duties, she hadn’t had enough time to give to the visit. The delay also gave her a bit more time to gather fun things for James to do and her courage to face the wrath of Elam.

  She had wanted to immediately go and put what she had learned into practice, but she didn’t let herself. If Elam Riehl was upset about her taking his father outside, he would be furious at what she was about to suggest. It was best to give him a chance to completely cool off before starting up again.

  She drew in a deep breath. He was not going to like what she had discovered.

  “Emily?” Becky rushed out onto the front porch. “I am so glad to see you.” She skipped down the stairs and looped her arm through hers. “Are you staying the entire afternoon?”

  “As long as your family will have me.”

  Becky’s smile beamed. “I’ll send a messenger to your family then so they won’t worry about you.”

  “Jah?”

  Becky pulled her close. “Because we’re keeping you forever.”

  We’ll see, Emily silently added.

  “Mamm, Mamm,” Becky called as she hurried up the porch steps. “Look who’s here.”

  Emily followed Becky into the house.

  Joy Riehl came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Emily, so gut to see you.”

  Emily smiled in return and lifted her basket. “I brought some things for James.”

  Joy’s smile was both relieved and pleased.

  Emily had to admit the house had never looked better. Even as much as pride was a sin, she was proud of the job she and her sisters had done for this family. She’d just have to pray about it later.

  “Where is James?” Emily set the basket on the kitchen table.

  “Can I?” Becky asked, indicating she wanted to unload what Emily had brought.

  Emily gave her a quick nod.

  “He’s napping.” Joy said. She pressed the back of one hand to her forehead. As if to stay the beginning pangs of a headache.

  “Are you allrecht?” she asked.

  Joy nodded. “I’m tired is all.” She slid into the closest kitchen chair. “James had a bad night. He had crazy dreams. Then he got up and rambled all over the house.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Emily murmured. What she had printed out from the library might just be the solution this family needed, but she held back. She needed to present this gently. “What time did he finally get to sleep gut?”

  “It was about four.” Joy sighed. “Of course that was after he fell. Thankfully Elam was already awake. Together we got him back to bed.”

  “What’s this?” Becky held up the folded papers Emily had printed at the library.

  “It’s just some information.” She pulled the papers from Becky’s grasp.

  “What kind of information?” she asked.

  Emily slid into the chair opposite Joy and unfolded the papers. She smoothed them flat, searching for the right words. “I went to the library the other day and printed out some information about the medications James is taking.”

  “Jah?”

  Emily wasn’t sure how to read the expression on Joy’s face. Quietly open was her hope, so she pushed on. “Some of these medications have severe side effects.” She pushed the papers across the table. “It’s all in there. You should read it. Maybe ask his doctor. I just . . .” She took a deep breath and gathered her courage. “I think his medicine might be doing him more harm than good.”

  “I thought I told you to stay away from my family.”

  Emily whirled around as Elam stormed into the room. How long had he been standing there listening to their conversation? Long enough.

  “I am only trying to help.”

  Joy picked up the papers and started flipping through the sheets.

  “Well, you are failing.” He loomed over her.

  Emily stood, like that did any good against his superior height. Or his anger.

  “Elam.” Joy’s voice was unreadable, and Emily wasn’t about to look at her. She was locked in a stare-down with Elam. Why was he being so stubborn?

  “Just read what’s there.” That was not too much to ask, to keep an open mind and seek answers.

  He stalked around the table and scooped up the papers. He fisted them in his big hand, reducing them to a wad of crumpled words.

  “Elam,” Joy’s voice admonished.

  “What if it helps him?” Emily asked.

  A moment hung suspended between them.

  He stilled. “What if it doesn’t?”

  Emily kept her eyes on him, her gaze steady and reassuring. “If he were my vatter, it would be a chance I’d be willing to take.”

  He wilted a bit, his eyes filled with pain and something else. Regret? Remorse? Then he tossed the papers back onto the table and stalked out the door.

  Joy and Becky watched him leave, their expressions a mirror image of confusion and apology.

  “I don’t know—” Joy started, but only finished with a shake of her head.

  Emily pointed toward the wad of papers. “Will you read it?” she asked.

  “Jah.”

  “That’s all I can ask.” She turned on her heel and followed Elam out into the bright sun.

  She found him standing under the large tree to the side of the house, the very same one where she and James had watched the men paint a few days before.

  “What is wrong with you?” She hadn’t intended her words to come out sharp and accusing, but she’d had about all of his contention she could stand. She was only trying to help, after all.

  He braced his hands on the tree and tucked his head between his arms. He said something, but she couldn’t quite make out the words.

  “What?” she asked, doing her best to keep her temper under control.

  He raised his head. “I don’t know.”

  She stopped. A little of the starch that had sustained her this far escaped. “I think you do.” She crossed her arms and eyed him. “Why are you so against reading that information?”

  He shook his head.

  “You’re afraid.” Big strong Elam Riehl was scared. “But of what?”

  “You don’t understand,” he whispered.

  “Then tell me.”

  He braced his back against the tree and slid downward until he was sitting between the roots.

  Emily lowered herself to sit in front of him, so close their knees almost touched.

  “He was so strong before.” Elam’s voice was quiet, almost hesitant.

  “I remember.”

  He leaned his head against the tree, its trunk smashing the back of his hat. “He was my everything and to see him like that . . .”

  “Now you have to be everything to everybody instead. And everything to him.”

  “Jah.” The words were spoken so quietly she almost thought she had imagined them.

  “You don’t have to always be strong, you know.”

  “I’m not.” His eyes were closed, but she didn’t need to see the green depths to know his pain.

  “You try to be.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long time. He just sat under the tree, his eyes closed, his breathing slow. Emily wondered if perhaps he had fallen asleep.

  “Danki,” he finally said. His eyes flickered open. He see
med to have recovered in those few moments. His gaze was clear, his shoulders relaxed. He looked like they had just come out for a stroll.

  “You’re not alone in this,” she told him.

  He nodded. “That’s what Mamm keeps telling me. I try to trust her. After all, she’s been my mamm since I was eight years old.”

  Emily had forgotten that his mother had died when he was so young. Not that she remembered firsthand about Linda Riehl’s illness and death, but she had heard the story many times in the years following. But when James married Joy Detweiller, talk of the past died down and only murmurs about the future could be heard.

  “Well, she is right. You are not alone. You have her and God and—”

  “You?”

  Emily paused, just a half a second between when he spoke and when she answered. “Jah,” she said. “You have me.”

  Elam felt a little more in control by the time he and Emily made their way back into the house. Enough so that he managed to read the papers she’d brought concerning his father’s medications. Ach, he tried to read them, but there were so many medical terms that he was soon way over his head.

  He stroked his chin, a gesture he’d seen his father perform a hundred times. “I don’t understand half of this.” He turned his eyes to Emily, hoping he didn’t sound half as hopeless as he felt.

  “I’m no expert either, but the best I can figure, it sounds like your father’s medications may be a little strong for him. He might even be allergic.”

  “Allergic?”

  Emily nodded. “That could cause all sorts of side effects.”

  “Like him being dizzy?” Joy asked.

  “Or falling?” Becky added.

  “Jah. I s’pose.” Though Emily sounded a little hesitant. After all her push to get them to listen, why was she pulling back now?

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them.”

  “Dat!” Becky slapped a hand over her heart. “We should put a bell on you like we did the cat.”

  True. Without shoes on, his dat could make it into the room before anyone even knew he was up and about. All the more reason for them to figure out if the medication was indeed making him worse than his injury alone.

  Dat shook his head, but smiled. “So you can talk about me without me hearing what you say?”

  “We are checking into your medications,” Becky said. “They might not be right.”

  “And?” James asked.

  “Well.” Mamm drew the one word out until it seemed like three.

  “We’re looking into it,” Elam said, and the relieved expression on Emily’s face made it all worth it.

  This was not ridiculous, Emily told herself as she knocked on the door. It was Tuesday, three days after the work frolic at Elam’s house. She’d helped out the Riehls. What difference was there in helping out the Lambrights?

  She knocked again on Joseph Lambright’s door, but to no answer. Her only option would be to leave the bread on the rocker out front and try another day.

  Emily tucked the linen towels around the loaves. As much as she hated to leave without news from Luke, she didn’t have much choice.

  “Ach, Emily Ebersol, is that you?”

  She whirled around as Joseph came out of the barn, a leather harness flung over one shoulder.

  Emily had never noticed how much Luke and his uncle favored one another. They were both not as tall as some men, about five foot eight inches. Which was good for her because Luke didn’t tower over her like other people she knew. Both men had the same inky black hair full of waves that tended to curl under the edge of their hats. But whereas Luke’s eyes were clear blue like the summertime sky, Joseph’s were a stormy gray of the clouds before it rained.

  “I brought you some bread, Joseph Lambright.”

  He smiled. “I bet you’ve come for news from Luke.”

  The heat rose into her cheeks but she kept her gaze steady. “Jah,” she said. “I have at that.”

  “Come on in the house.” He climbed the porch steps and led the way inside. “You wouldn’t happen to have any pie in that basket would you?”

  Emily laughed. “Only bread. But there is a loaf of pumpkin spice.”

  Joseph grinned. “We’ll have some coffee and a snack then, while I tell you what my nephew has been up to.”

  “Is he doing all right?” Emily asked after the coffee had been brewed, the cups poured, and the bread sliced and served.

  “I s’pose so.” Joseph took a bite of the pumpkin bread and smiled around the crumbs. “That’s delicious,” he said and bit off another large hunk. “He called last week. Said something about getting a sponsor for his car.”

  Emily didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one. From the look on Joseph’s face, neither did he. “Did he ask about me?”

  “Jah, jah.” Joseph nodded. “He said to give you something.” He stood and went to his desk, shuffling through papers before finding what he was looking for. He located it, then handed it to Emily.

  She took the folded piece of paper, and her heart thumped in her chest. Her first news from Luke since he’d left. She opened the paper to find numbers written on the other side.

  “It is his cell phone number. He said for you to call him anytime.”

  Joy burst inside of her. She could call Luke, hear his voice, talk to him, and find out firsthand how the Englisch world was treating him. “Danki,” she said, slipping the paper into her apron pocket. She took a sip of her coffee and tried to appear calm when she was anything but. She wanted to jump up from the table and race to the phone shanty out front. She wanted to call Luke that very second and hear his beloved voice. But she would have to wait. At least until she finished her visit with Joseph Lambright.

  “Go on,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I know that is why you came all the way out here. Not that I don’t appreciate the bread and such. You go on home and give him a call.”

  Emily smiled and pushed back from the table. “Danki, Joseph. I’ll come back in a couple of weeks and check on you.”

  He smiled. “Next time, could you bring some pie? I really love pie.”

  Emily was so very aware of the piece of paper in her pocket as she drove the buggy back to her house. It seemed to burn straight through her clothes, which was silly, but she supposed love could do that to a person. Turn them silly.

  She wished they lived closer to each other. She was so anxious to call Luke, she was bursting at the seams. As it stood now, it would be another half an hour before she could even think about calling him, and that would mean she would only get to talk to him twenty minutes or so before it was time to start the milking again. Coupled with the fact that church was at the Ebersols’ house this week, it would be days and days before she could call him again.

  She sighed. She would take anything she could get. She just hoped Luke answered when she called.

  The phone rang three times before he answered.

  “Hello?”

  Emily’s mouth went dry. It had been months since she had talked to him, but he sounded close, as if she could reach out a hand and touch him. “Luke?”

  “Emily. It’s so gut to hear your voice.” His smile floated across the lines as clear as his words.

  “You, too. How is everything for you?”

  “It’s amazing here.” She listened while he chatted about sponsors, dirt tracks, and safety gear. She understood none of it, but listened as closely as she could. He seemed happy, so much so her heart gave a lurch. It wasn’t that she wanted him to be unhappy, but how would he ever return to Wells Landing if the Englisch world was tempting him with fulfillment of his dreams?

  “I share a place with three other guys,” Luke said, finally taking a break from racing talk. “It’s sort of crowded, but we all seem to get along.”

  “When are you coming home?” Her time to talk to him was quickly evaporating, like mist in the summer sun.

  Someone spoke on the other end of the line. Not Luke. “Listen, Emily, I h
ave to go.”

  “Jah,” she said, trying not to let her disappointment taint her voice. She really needed to get off the phone before she raised her dat’s suspicions as well.

  “Call me tomorrow, okay?”

  “I can’t. We’ve got church here this week and—”

  “Then call me when you can, okay?” His tone seemed distracted.

  “Jah,” she said, pushing her frustration deep inside. “Ich liebe dich.”

  “I love you, too,” he said, and then he was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  The next two days were filled with cleaning and cooking and otherwise getting ready for the church service to be held at their house.

  As was their usual custom, they had started cleaning weeks ago, washing down the walls, cleaning the baseboards, and polishing the windows.

  Emily told herself that she had been too busy to tell Mary about her conversation with Luke, but the truth was she wanted to keep it all to herself. She only wished he had answered her last question, and she knew when she could expect him home.

  “Mamm?” Emily started just after breakfast Friday morning. “I know there is still a lot left for us to do, but I was hoping to ride out to the Riehl farm today and visit with James.”

  Helen turned from drying the dishes. “I think that’s a fine idea.”

  “I promised him I would be by this week, but the time seems to have gotten away from me.”

  Mamm nodded. “That is the way of church week, jah? So much to do.”

  “So much that you wouldn’t be able to ride out there with me?”

  “Me?” Mamm stacked the dry plates, one on top of the other, and lifted them into the cupboard above her head. “Why, I don’t know.”

  “Please, Mamm. It’s just . . .”

  Her mother dried her hands on a dishcloth and studied her with those pale blue eyes. “What is on your mind, Emily Jane?”

  She never could get one over on her mudder. Too many years as the bishop’s wife had honed her skills to a fine point. “I want James to come to the church service this week, and I don’t think Joy or Elam will let him attend if I ask. But if you were to invite him . . .”