Thanksgiving In Hollybrook (Hollybrook Holiday Amish Romance) Read online

  David, she thought. Why did you have to die?

  She shuddered, not willing to follow her thoughts. It did no good. So she was alone. Lots of people were.

  Which wasn’t exactly true—at least, not in her district.

  She pulled open the shed door and retrieved her bicycle, re-shutting the door against the cold. Determined now to take Noah up on his promise, she climbed on her bicycle and pedaled out of her drive and directly toward his house. She hoped he was there, because if he wasn’t, she would have to ride even further to get to town since his place was in the opposite direction.

  Be there, be there, be there, became the rhythm in her mind and the rhythm of her pedals.

  * * *

  Noah studied the thick gray cloud covering. It didn’t look good, but he’d promised Doris to take her for a drive, and he wasn’t one to go back on his word. He hitched up Flicker and flipped on the heater in his buggy. He headed back to the barn to pull the door shut.

  If it got too slippery, they could cut their drive short. In truth, Noah didn’t really know what he was going to show her anyway. It wasn’t like there were any fascinating landmarks in the area. He supposed they could just ride around and maybe go through the town of Hollybrook. Nothing really special there, either, but then he didn’t think Doris would mind.

  If what Doris said was true, they were just playing out a game of sorts anyway. He chuckled. Wouldn’t Eliza be hopping mad if she knew all of this was for nothing? Doris already had someone she was sweet on. He wondered why her father would be against the fellow. Was he Englisch? If not, what was wrong with him?

  Well, none of it was his business.

  He was heading back to the buggy when he spotted Leora on her bike. Why, she was turning into his drive. His breath hitched. Was something wrong? Had something happened? He hurried toward her.

  “Leora? Is everything all right?”

  She jumped off her seat and straddled her bike. “Uh, hello, Noah.”

  “Hello. Can I help you with something?”

  Her eye caught sight of his buggy. “Ach, you’re going somewhere,” she cried.

  He followed her gaze and then turned back to her. “I was… Well, I… What is it? Do you need a ride?”

  Had she actually come to take him up on his offer? He was so surprised that it left him completely flustered.

  “I was…” she said. Then she squared her shoulders and put on a brave smile. “Nee. Never mind. I just thought I’d stop and say a quick hello and then be on my way.”

  She hoisted herself back on the seat and made to ride off.

  “Leora … wait.”

  She hesitated.

  “You need a ride, don’t you? You surely didn’t come by to say hello.”

  She slumped a bit. “Nee, I don’t need a ride. I’ll see you later, Noah.” She pedaled away.

  He ran and caught up with her, grabbing her handlebars, forcing her to stop.

  “Leora, you clearly want a ride. Are you going into town? To your job?”

  She blinked and she looked so vulnerable in that moment, that he had to stifle an urge to take her in his arms. But the moment passed, and she smiled at him. “I am going to my job, and I need to hurry, or I’ll be late.”

  “Because you rode out of your way to see if I’d give you a ride, ain’t so?” His voice was gentle.

  Her eyes misted over with tears, but she blinked them away. “You’re clearly going somewhere. You’re busy, and I’m fine. Now, please let go of my bicycle, and I’ll be on my way.”

  “Get off,” he told her. “Come on. Climb off.”

  She gripped the handlebars more tightly. “I won’t. Now, let me be on my way.”

  “Leora Fisher, I’m not joking around with you. Get off this bicycle. I’ll put it in my barn and give you a ride to work.” He wasn’t about to let her ride off. She’d actually come to take him up on his offer.

  “B-but you are going somewhere.”

  “I am,” he said, dreading that she would know what he was doing, but there was no help for it. “We’ll pick up Doris on the way to Hollybrook.”

  “Doris?” There was hesitation in her voice.

  “Eliza Troyer’s niece from Linder Creek. Now, hurry up, or you will be late.”

  In truth, he was surprised when she actually got off the bicycle. Goodness, but she was a stubborn one. He knew she was mulling over why he would be picking up Eliza’s niece, but she didn’t question him. She just climbed off her bike and stood there while he ran it back to his barn. When he emerged, he called her over.

  “Why are you still standing out in the cold?” he asked. “Climb in. The heater’s on.”

  She trudged to the buggy, clearly still reluctant to accept his ride. He hurried around to open the door for her, but she beat him to it, climbing over the front seat to get in the back.

  “You can sit up here,” he told her.

  “Nee. I’ll leave it for Doris.”

  “Do you know her?”

  “Nee.” She pressed her lips tightly together, obviously not wanting to converse further.

  By then, he was deeply regretting his promise to Doris. He would be much happier just taking Leora to work.

  “What time do you get off?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure…”

  “Jah, you are. What time?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t need a ride home.”

  He tensed. Of course, she wouldn’t need a ride home—Bill Jeffreys would take her home.

  “Sure, you need a ride. If you don’t tell me what time, I’ll just show up in a couple hours and wait for you. I s’pose I could sit and order a cup of coffee and sip it for however long it takes.”

  She laughed then, and it was like the birds had suddenly come out in spring. He glanced at her, grinning.

  “You’re stubborn, ain’t so?” she said.

  “No more than you.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll probably work for three hours.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “But what about Doris?”

  “I’ll have her back to Eliza’s by then.”

  He could see the increased curiosity in her eyes and for some reason, it pleased him. He didn’t mind at all if Leora Fisher wondered about him and Doris. Suppressing a smile, he directed the buggy toward the Troyers’ place.

  When they arrived, he bounded out to go to knock on the door, but before he could, Doris came out. She looked pretty in her deep blue cape and knitted scarf. Her cheeks were rosy as if she’d already been out in the cold.

  “Hello, Noah,” she said. She looked beyond him toward the buggy. “Do we have another person joining us?”

  She didn’t sound disappointed exactly, but there was something in her voice that he couldn’t detect.

  “It’s Leora Fisher. She needs a ride to work in Hollybrook, so I thought we’d start our tour there.”

  Doris raised her brows but didn’t say anything. She went down the steps in front of him and got to the buggy first. He joined her as she was settling into her seat. She turned and looked at Leora.

  “Hello, I’m Doris. Noah tells me you’re Leora.”

  Leora nodded. “Nice to meet you, Doris.”

  “You, too.” Doris turned back around and smiled at Noah. “Lead on, tour guide.” And then, she laughed.

  Doris kept up a stream of chatter the entire way to Jeffreys Diner. Noah noted that Leora kept silent, only answering if she were asked something. He glanced back at her a time or two, trying to read her mood, but she wouldn’t look at him. When they arrived at the diner, Doris got out to let Leora out.

  Noah got out, too, and followed Leora to the door of the diner.

  “I’ll be back in three hours,” he said.

  “No need,” Leora answered. “I’ll find my own way home.”

  She reached out to pull the door to the diner open, but he blocked her with his arm.

  “I’ll be here,” he said, standing a bit taller. In truth, he was surp
rised as his insistence. He usually wasn’t quite this forthright, but the very idea of her getting a ride with Bill Jeffreys made his throat burn.

  She looked up at him, her blue eyes snapping. “We’ll see,” was all she said.

  He dropped his arm, and she disappeared into the diner. He went back to the buggy and got in.

  “Hmm,” said Doris. “I’m thinking that Aenti Eliza got it all wrong.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She told me you didn’t have a girl, but I think she’s mistaken.”

  He felt his cheeks go warm. “She’s not my girl.” Not yet, anyway.

  “Oh, but I think she is.” Doris hit him on the arm with the back of her hand. “She seems nice…”

  He cocked a brow.

  “And awful quiet.” Doris laughed. “Course I s’pose I didn’t give her much of a chance to speak.”

  He chuckled. “Nee, you didn’t.”

  She smiled. “I like to talk.” She peered out the side window. “Hollybrook looks nice enough. You live here your whole life?”

  “Jah.”

  “I’ve lived in Linder Creek my whole life. In truth, I wouldn’t mind trying something new.”

  “And your beau? Is he in Linder Creek?”

  A shadow passed over her face, but it cleared quickly. “My beau?” She licked her lips. “Um, I guess so.”

  He frowned. “You guess so? What does that mean?”

  “He’s, um, detained elsewhere right now.”

  “Detained?” This was getting interesting. Noah couldn’t imagine how a man might be detained.

  “He’ll be back in a month or so,” she said, folding her hands on her lap.

  “Where is he?”

  She cleared her throat. “He’s in prison.”

  Noah jerked up on the reins and poor Flicker came to a jolting stop.

  “What?”

  “You heard me full well,” she said crisply.

  He hesitated. “I, uh, guess that’s why your dat wouldn’t approve.”

  She nodded and tears came to her eyes.

  “I’m sorry. It ain’t my business, but why is he in prison?”

  She sighed. “He made a stupid decision.”

  Noah waited.

  She sighed again. “Fine. He borrowed an Englisch friend’s car…”

  “Borrowed?”

  She sighed. “He took it without permission. He was going to bring it back. Trouble was, the so-called friend didn’t see it that way. But his record was clean, and the judge was merciful, so he didn’t get a long sentence.”

  Noah had never known anyone who’d been to prison. He couldn’t imagine having a beau in prison. What in the world would that be like? And why had the fellow done such a dumb thing in the first place? Well, he likely had some kind of reason…

  Doris was watching him. “I can’t believe it…” she murmured.

  “Can’t believe what?”

  “I expected to see you get all judgy when I told you. Most folks do. In fact, most folks are scandalized. Everyone in my district would be, that’s for sure and for certain. I get weary of it. My mamm is the worst of all. She simply can’t accept the fact that I still love Jordan and am waiting for him.”

  “I see. And your dat doesn’t know you love him? You said he wouldn’t approve.”

  “He might suspect it. My mamm is too afraid to tell him. Besides, she thinks my feelings will disappear. Go away. Like they’d never been there at all. Thus, her shipping me to Aenti Eliza’s house. You know, in an effort to see me rid of Jordan. And to foist me onto you.” She gave a sardonic laugh. “Sorry about that.”

  “No need to be sorry.” But he did feel sorry for her. He knew what it was to love someone and not have them. “When he gets out, what then?”

  “I assume he’ll come back to Linder Creek. His folks will take him in. And then I hope he’ll start courting me—official-like, you know?”

  “I’m sure he will.” Noah snapped the reins and they got underway again.

  “You’re not asking for all the details.”

  He laughed. “I am wondering, though. But I figure if you want to tell me, you will.” He looked at her and smiled. “It’s not like you don’t enjoy talking.”

  She burst into laughter at that comment. “You’re right on that. Truth is, I don’t know what he was thinking that night. I don’t even know all the details. My folks prohibited me from speaking with him after he was arrested, even not knowing at the time how I felt about him. So, I only heard snippets of information. None of it made much sense. But I know Jordan. He had to have had a good reason for what he did. I’ll find out soon.”

  “You been writing to him?”

  “As much as I can. My mamm is keeping a tight leash on me.”

  “Have you written since you got here?”

  She grinned. “Jah. But he doesn’t dare send me mail here. Aenti would have a heart attack.”

  Noah laughed, turning the buggy down a side road. “That she would,” he agreed.

  Chapter Eight

  Leora hung up her cape and took off her mittens and scarf. She sat down at her work desk and methodically removed her ledger from the top drawer. She sat stiffly and stared at the pages. Why was she so annoyed? She’d gotten a ride—and in a warm buggy. Noah had been nothing but nice, and so had that Doris girl. Leora hadn’t needed to ride to town in the freezing cold, worrying about sliding if sleet began to fall.

  She’d been safely delivered with a promise of a ride home.

  So, what was her problem? Because her annoyance seemed to be growing by the minute. She ground her teeth. She was acting the fool. And how ungrateful could a person be?

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she muttered to herself, trying to switch her mood.

  “For what?” came a voice from the door.

  She looked up. Bill stood there, wiping his hands on his white apron and grinning at her. “Have I done something nice and I don’t know it?”

  Her face burned with embarrassment. “Nee,” she said. “I was just… I was just thinking of something.”

  “Well if you have unclaimed gratitude, I’ll take it.”

  She shook her head, already feeling better. Bill’s smile and humor were always a good idea.

  “You didn’t ride your bike, did you?”

  “Nee. I got a ride.”

  He straightened. “With Noah? Did he bring you?”

  She knew her cheeks were flushed; although, why she should be flustered in front of him, she couldn’t fathom. “Jah. He did.”

  “Oh.”

  “Doris was with us,” she blurted.

  He raised a brow. “Doris?”

  “Jah. Noah was taking her for a drive.”

  Bill looked highly pleased with this bit of information. He stepped inside her office. “So, you’ll need a ride home, then?”

  “Um, Noah is coming to get me in three hours.”

  “With Doris?”

  “I-I don’t know,” she said, even though Noah had clearly told her he’d have Doris back to Eliza’s by then.

  “You know my offer still stands.” He walked to her desk, and his presence seemed to suck the air out of the room. Her heart rate increased, and she prayed she hadn’t turned bright red.

  “I-I know.”

  “It always stands, Leora.” He traced his finger along the edge of her desk.

  “Thank you,” she said, now completely flustered. She swallowed hard and stared at the ledger page. “I should get to work.”

  “Of course,” he said. “I know Donna wanted to work with you sometime today. I think her help is coming in at three. Does Donna know you’re here?”

  Leora looked up at him. “She saw me come in.”

  “All right, then. I better get to work, too.” He gave her a beaming smile and left her office.

  Alone, she drew in a huge breath. This was an odd day. Very, very odd. She shivered and then with great intent, focused on the work before her.

  * *
*

  Donna stood and scooted back the chair she’d brought into Leora’s office. “I think that does it for this order, Leora,” she said. “Thanks for coming in today.”

  “Of course,” Leora answered. “I’ll get these orders out before I leave.”

  Donna checked her watch. “Don’t work too late. Do you have a ride home?”

  “Noah King is supposed to be coming to get me.”

  “Noah King? I think I know who he is. Does he have brown hair and really dark brown eyes? About so tall?” She gestured with her hand. “And he often wears a dark green shirt?”

  Donna could have been describing half the guys in her district.

  But then she said, “And the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen in my life?”

  “Jah. That’s him,” Leora agreed. So, she wasn’t the only one who noticed how Noah’s smile seemed to encompass his entire face, or how even and white his teeth were, or how his eyes crinkled with mirth when he did smile. In truth, Noah’s smile was one of the nicest things about him.

  “Is he your beau?” Donna asked.

  “What? Uh, nee. Nee, I… Of course not,” she finished, wondering why in the world she was stammering so. She was a widow. She didn’t have a beau.

  “I see. Has Bill met him?”

  “Jah, just the other day.”

  Donna nodded and then put on a smile. “Well, you’ve been here for almost three hours. Why not have Noah come on in and have a cup of hot chocolate before he takes you home?”

  Leora swallowed, not wanting to invite Noah in at all. At that point, all she wanted to do was go home, but she could hardly be rude. Not when Donna was always so kind to her.

  “I’ll ask him to,” she said.

  “Good. I’d like to formally meet him,” Donna said. And with that, she left Leora’s office.

  Leora sank back into her chair. If Noah came in, then Bill would come out, and they would have another awkward exchange. She groaned. If only she had enough money to buy a buggy and keep a horse of her own. But she’d been forced to sell both after David died. Just like she’d been forced to sell off so many things they’d owned.