Amish Romance: Losing Ariel (Nancy's Story Book 2) Read online

  But if she returned…

  If it suits… Her last words floated to him again. Had he misread her completely? The possibility that she might not care for him in that way, bothered him. Wasn’t she more than a friend? Maybe he should write her after all. Just to see where things stood.

  Yes. That was what he’d do. He’d write her straight away. For it did suit him just fine…

  Chapter Four

  Nancy lay completely still under the tattered quilt her grossmammi had stitched for her when she was a child. Next to her, Linda breathed in a soft rhythm, and Nancy assumed she’d finally fallen asleep. They had chatted late into the night about everything that had happened in both their lives since Nancy had left Linnow Creek those months before.

  But there was one thing Nancy had held back.

  She hadn’t shared with Linda about her feelings for Luke Rupp. Maybe if Nancy knew what her feelings were, it would be easier to share them. She liked him—that she knew.

  She sighed heavily and pulled the quilt up to her chin even though it made her too hot. She flopped on her side and squeezed her eyes tightly closed, hoping for sleep.

  She didn’t want to think about Luke Rupp, especially right before sleeping. It was too dangerous, too likely she’d dream about him. She’d dreamt of him before, and it had only served to upset her. Truth was, she liked him entirely too much.

  That evening, she’d sat with her family around the dinner table, trying to feign complete interest in everyone there. But her thoughts were back in Hollybrook. Even having to sit next to Susan hadn’t bothered her that evening. She was too distracted.

  Nancy knew her mother was watching her with eagle eyes, trying to discern whether she had totally forgiven Susan for stealing her beau. Nancy had been careful not to give any indication otherwise. Besides, she had forgiven Susan. But that didn’t mean she enjoyed being around her. Nor would she enjoy being around Susan and Mark together. She prayed she wouldn’t have to face that.

  Her dat wasn’t himself. Linda said he was coughing more and more. Of course, he hadn’t gone to a doctor. The stubborn man rejected anything Englisch.

  Which brought her mind back around to Luke Rupp. He’d spent a lot of time with the Englisch. His rumspringa had lasted well into adulthood. Much too long to even be considered a rumspringa. But the people in Hollybrook had been generous, labeling it as such. But he’d returned—not to immediately join church as his dat hoped. Luke had come back changed—more open to Englisch ways. More than once, he’d overstepped common bounds by touching her. Once, he’d even brushed his lips across her cheek.

  Nancy let go of her tight grip on the quilt and touched her cheek where his lips had been. Despite herself, she smiled into the dark. His kiss had been so tender. She tensed and dropped her hand from her cheek, tucking it resolutely back under the covers. Perhaps it had been tender, but it had been totally and completely inappropriate. After all, they weren’t courting.

  And now, following her strange treatment of him the day before, they probably weren’t even friends anymore.

  She sighed and flopped back on her other side. This was ridiculous. At this rate, she wouldn’t get a minute of sleep, and she wanted to spend some time with her father early the next morning before he went out to work. She wanted to discern for herself how he was feeling.

  It was another hour before sleep finally came.

  Nancy heard the rooster crow through the window. She stirred, opening her eyes. She blinked into the fading darkness. The sun was already tossing its light across the land. Her dat was probably already up. She lay perfectly still and listened. She thought she heard the bathroom door open. She glanced over at the lump on the other side of the bed. Linda. She wasn’t moving, so she was still asleep.

  Sliding out of bed as softly as she could, Nancy got up. She hurriedly dressed in the morning shadows and slipped out the door. She heard something rustle about below, and she crept down the stairs. It was probably her mother in the kitchen. Or Susan.

  She hoped not.

  She nearly knocked into her two brothers, Amos and Peter.

  “Morning, sister,” Amos said, and his teenage voice cracked.

  “Gut morning. Is Dat already out in the fields?”

  Amos looked at Peter and then back at her. “Nee. We usually beat him out there.”

  Nancy’s brow raised. “Really? He’s not the first one up?”

  “Not these days,” said Peter. “Come on, Amos. Let’s go.”

  Neither brother seemed inclined to discuss the matter further. A sliver of worry gnawed its way through Nancy. “See you at breakfast then,” she muttered.

  The boys got to the chores and out to the fields before her father? This was strange indeed. She wandered into the kitchen and saw that her mother had left everything out and ready for breakfast. She began mixing up the dough for the biscuits.

  “Gut morning, daughter,” her father said, leaning against the kitchen doorframe.

  Nancy glanced up. “Dat. I was hoping to see you before you went out.”

  He coughed into the crook of his elbow. “I don’t got much time. The boys are already out there.”

  She circled the large kitchen table where they prepared the food for the family. “Jah, but I’ve only just come home. Surely, you can spare a minute or two.”

  He scowled. “A minute or two.”

  “How’ve you been, Dat?”

  He looked at her with suspicion. “Right fine. Like always.”

  Irritation flared through her. Couldn’t he tell her the truth? It was obvious that he was poorly.

  “But your cough…”

  “This cough ain’t nothing. Everybody gets a cough now and then.” He moved into the kitchen and took a glass out of the cupboard.

  “Can I get you some tea?”

  “Don’t have time for tea. I’ll just have a drink of water.” He turned on the tap and filled his glass. She waited while he gulped it down.

  “I’m worried about that cough,” she said, trying again.

  “Well, don’t. Your mamm worries enough for the whole family.” He set the cup into the sink. “I’m off. Will be back in an hour for breakfast.”

  “Have you seen a doctor?” she asked.

  He stopped and turned to her. “An Englisch doctor? Is that what’s filling your head in Hollybrook? Going to the Englisch with your troubles?”

  His voice was thick with warning. Nancy held his gaze for a moment before dropping her eyes back to her baking. “Nee. My suggestion hasn’t got a thing to do with Hollybrook.” She raised her eyes again and hoped the worry she felt wasn’t too obvious. “Linda told me that you’ve been coughing for months. That’s too long, Dat. Something could really be wrong.”

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with me,” he snapped. “And it ain’t Linda’s business.”

  With that, he walked from the house.

  Nancy watched him go. In general, her father was a kind man, and he didn’t ruffle easily. Hearing and watching his testy reaction to her inquiry only served to deepen her concern. The only reason he would be acting so cranky was if he was worried.

  Chapter Five

  Luke stared at the blank piece of paper he’d ripped from his tablet. He hadn’t written a letter in years and didn’t know where to begin. He chewed the tip of his pen. The last letter he’d written was to his cousin up in Canada when he was about thirteen years old. For a while there, he and Jeremy had been regular pen pals. He’d enjoyed it. Getting a letter in the mail had always been an occasion.

  But writing Nancy Slagel was a whole different story. He had no idea what to say. And what if she got the wrong idea? What if she thought this was a courting letter?

  He heaved a sigh. Was it? Was he courting her now?

  She’d gotten under his skin, that was for sure. And now that she was gone, he felt out of sorts. Restless. Annoyed. But still… There was no understanding between them. Well now, there couldn’t be, could there? He hadn’t been baptized, hadn’t jo
ined church. She could hardly give him any consideration as a beau.

  He tossed his pen aside and began pacing around the small front room of the daadi haus. It was inevitable, he supposed. Joining church. During the last Sunday service, he’d felt an urge to belong. Fully belong. But then he’d glanced over at his father’s sour face. Saw him scrutinizing him with clear disgust. Luke had stared back at him brazenly. When his father’s brow knitted into a deeper frown, Luke had dropped his gaze.

  And just like that, his urge to belong had morphed into irritation.

  So, was that it? His rocky relationship with his father was dictating his relationship with God? Luke grimaced. It appeared so. Which wasn’t right.

  Surely, God was annoyed with him now, too.

  Luke pushed through the screen door and tromped outside. There had to be some wood to chop or a fence to mend or something. He was in no mood to sit still and try to craft a letter to a girl who didn’t care a fig about him.

  “Luke?” Irene called him from the side yard.

  He walked around the chicken coop out back. “Over here, Irene.”

  She scurried across the lawn toward him. “You have company.”

  “I didn’t hear a buggy? Who is it?” He wiped his hands on his trousers.

  “It weren’t no buggy.” She had a strange look on her face.

  “Nee? Then someone walked over?” He strode to meet her, and they turned toward the house.

  “They came in an automobile,” she said.

  He frowned. “A car?” His eyes widened. “My Englisch friends?”

  “I suppose they are. There’s a young man and a girl.”

  A girl? His heartbeat raced. Was it Ariel? Had she come to see him? His stride lengthened as he hurried around the house. He stopped short and gazed at both Ariel and her brother, Rick. His attention immediately went to Ariel. He took in her bright blue eyes and her soft brown curls. His eyes roved down her trim, athletic body. She was wearing a dress. In all the months he’d known and loved her, he’d never seen her in a dress. It was a soft pink affair with a hem that hit just above her knees. She wore strappy sandals and a string of pearls.

  He knew Irene was probably aghast by how much of Ariel’s flesh was showing.

  “Hey, man,” Rick cried, coming forward quickly to shake his hand.

  Luke pulled his attention from Ariel long enough to smile at his friend. But then his awareness flew back to Ariel. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she wore a shy smile.

  “Hello, Luke,” she said. Her voice was like a cool drink on a sweltering day. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed her.

  She stepped forward awkwardly. Back in the Englisch world, she would have run to him and thrown her arms around him. Here in Hollybrook, she stood, unsure and clearly nervous.

  He went to her and grabbed her hand, knowing that Irene was watching intently.

  “Ariel…” He squeezed her hand and then let go. “It’s gut to see you.”

  Her eyebrows raised at his accent, which he’d done everything he could to avoid when he was living in Indianapolis.

  Irene gave a soft cough.

  “Ach!” he said. “Irene, these are my friends, Ariel and Rick. Ariel and Rick, this is Irene.”

  Ariel and Rick nodded and said hello. Irene greeted them with a smile that Luke knew was forced. She glanced at him, but then focused back to the visitors.

  “You must be tired from your journey. Come, sit on the porch and I’ll fetch some lemonade.” Irene gestured to the porch and then scurried off to get the drinks.

  When she was out of earshot, Ariel grabbed Luke’s hand again. “You’re not mad, are you?”

  “She wouldn’t shut up till I promised to bring her,” Rick told Luke. “She’s been a mess since you left.”

  Ariel grimaced. “Hardly a mess, Rick. Thanks a lot.”

  Luke was overcome. Seeing his friends standing there in the middle of the yard on an Amish farm, just seemed so completely odd, so completely out-of-place, that he could hardly think what to say.

  “You are mad, aren’t you?” Ariel asked him, stepping closer.

  “Nee … no,” he said, getting control of himself. “I’m not mad at all.” He took a deep breath. “It’s wonderful to see you guys. Come on, let’s sit on the porch.”

  “Irene seems nice,” Ariel murmured.

  “She is.”

  Rick gazed around himself. “So, this is Amish country, huh?”

  Luke smiled. “Jah. This is Amish country.”

  Rick nodded. “Looks nice enough.”

  They climbed the steps and sat down—Rick in a rocker and Luke and Ariel on the swing. Luke shifted uncomfortably when Ariel sat so close to him, nearly on his lap. Irene wasn’t going to be comfortable with this.

  Within minutes, Irene reappeared, carrying a tray with three glasses of lemonade.

  “Aren’t you going to join us?” Luke asked.

  Irene shook her head. “Nee. Zeke’s awake, and Debbie is stirring. Enjoy your visit.”

  And just that quickly, she was gone.

  “How’ve you been?” Ariel asked. She glanced over Luke’s attire. “You look funny in those clothes.”

  Luke gazed down at himself. “It’s what I wear every day.”

  “Looks funny.” Ariel grimaced. “I’m used to you in jeans.”

  “Jeans would be nice on the farm,” Luke said with a laugh. “But they’ve got zippers. And I hardly know of anything that says Englisch louder than a pair of jeans.” He laughed again, trying to recapture some of their normal humor together.

  Ariel didn’t join in. She just continued to look into his eyes as if searching for the man she used to know.

  Rick smacked his lips. “Good lemonade.”

  Neither Ariel nor Luke looked at him. Luke’s mind raced with memories of what Ariel had meant to him.

  Rick cleared his throat, put down his glass of lemonade with a gentle clink, and stood. “I think I’ll have a look around. Is that okay?”

  Luke nodded, his eyes back on Ariel. He barely heard Rick leave the porch.

  Chapter Six

  “Luke?” Ariel whispered. She grabbed his hand.

  He felt her warm fingers curl around his. He tried to enjoy it, but all he could think of was whether Irene was looking at them through the window. Not that she would. But still. It didn’t feel right, sitting there holding onto an Englisch girl’s hand.

  Even if that Englisch girl was Ariel.

  “Come on,” he said, pulling his hand away and standing up. “Let’s take a walk.”

  Ariel followed him down the steps. “What about Rick?”

  Luke shrugged. “He’s a big boy. He’ll be fine.”

  She grinned, and he saw relief flood her expression. “There. That sounded like you.” She nearly skipped to catch up to him. “Where are we going?”

  “To Edmund’s Pond. It’s a short piece from here and really pretty.”

  “Edmund’s Pond. Does he live there?”

  “Who?”

  “Edmund.”

  Luke laughed. “Never thought of that. I don’t think anyone in the district even knows who Edmund was.”

  She fell into step beside him. She reached for his hand, but he crossed his arms.

  “Oh,” she said.

  They were on the main road now, walking between the ruts made by hundreds of buggy wheels.

  “You’re not supposed to hold hands?”

  “Not really,” he said. He attempted a laugh. “Too forward in public.”

  “Holding hands is too forward…” She said it quietly, and he heard her pensive tone. “I knew that the Amish were old-fashioned. But holding hands?”

  Luke felt a surprising need to defend his people. “It’s not just old-fashioned. In fact, that’s not really it at all. We have our own ways. Our own traditions.”

  “Well, you must be doing more than holding hands,” she teased. “I hear Amish families have tons of kids.”

  Her vo
ice was light-hearted, but Luke found himself annoyed. He kept his eyes forward, knowing she was trying to get him to look at her. They continued walking, both of them silent. He loved Ariel. He’d fallen for her the first time he’d clapped eyes on her. She had a way of always making him feel better about himself. And she made him laugh.

  But he wasn’t laughing now. He only felt distinct discomfort.

  Edmund’s Pond wasn’t far, and they easily reached it in fifteen minutes. Luke prayed no one would be there. He certainly didn’t want Ariel’s visit to get back to his father. That would only add fuel to the fire of his displeasure.

  The banks around the pond seemed deserted enough. Although, much of the pond was bordered by thick trees. Anyone could be lurking about. Luke groaned inwardly at his own thoughts. What had happened to the open mind he’d so carefully cultivated during his rumspringa? Was he now judging things without giving them any real thought?

  He turned to Ariel, determined to find his own mind again.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” he said.

  A warm smile broke across her face. “That’s a relief,” she said, with a long breath. “You had me worried there. I thought maybe I’d made a mistake by coming.”

  They were wandering around the pond and had entered the trees. She grabbed his hand again. “Surely, we can hold hands here. In private.” Her blue eyes were wide and full of love. “I know you broke up with me. But I didn’t … well, I didn’t…” Her voice faded.

  Luke stopped and faced her.

  She licked her lips. “I thought you only broke it off because you were returning here. Not because you didn’t love me anymore.” Her words came out quickly as if she’d been afraid to voice them.

  Luke rubbed the back of his neck and felt his chest tighten. She was right. That was why he’d broken up with her. But since his return, he’d come to believe that it really had been for the best. Ariel was too different from him. She couldn’t possibly know or understand so much of what made him who he was.