Thanksgiving In Hollybrook (Hollybrook Holiday Amish Romance) Read online

  Noah was just climbing out.

  “Ach, Leora, you’re ready.”

  “I am,” she answered. He looked tired. “Were you at the Yoders last night?”

  His eyes widened. “I was. You heard about the fire.”

  “Jah. Tom Yutzi came by in the middle of the night.”

  Noah took her basket from her. “He did? Why?”

  “Martha was worried about me.”

  He nodded slowly. “Everyone is a bit skittish. So then, you know the fire was set.”

  “Tom told me.”

  Noah opened her side of the buggy and placed the basket behind her seat. “It’s happened in other districts.”

  “But never ours.”

  “Nee. Never ours.”

  She climbed into the buggy, but before Noah could shut the door, she put her hand on his arm. “Do you think it was a one-time thing?”

  “I pray so.”

  “You don’t think the person will come around and set more fires?”

  Noah looked deeply into her eyes. She dropped her hand, but she didn’t take her eyes from his.

  “Are you worried, Leora?” His voice was soft.

  She blinked. “Um, nee. Nee. I’m fine.”

  “It’s all right, you know. You’re entitled to be concerned…”

  “Nee,” she said quickly, embarrassed now. “I-I just wondered is all.”

  He didn’t move, and his gaze stayed fixed on her. The cold outside air wafted into the buggy, mingling with the heat pooling close to her feet.

  “You have locks on your doors?” he asked.

  “Jah. Of course.”

  “And you use them?”

  “Tom told me to lock up last night.”

  “He’s right. It’s a gut idea.”

  “Uh, we better get going. I thought maybe we could stop by the Yoders. I have some baked goods for them.”

  He glanced behind her to the basket he’d put on the floor. “That was right nice of you.”

  She shrugged. “I was awake…”

  “You baked in the middle of the night?”

  “Jah.”

  He shook his head and smiled. “If I’d known you were up and baking, I’d have stopped by for a bite.” He laughed and then seemed to realize what he’d said, and his face turned red. He backed away. “You’re right. We’d better get underway, or you’ll be late for work.”

  He shut her door and went around to his side. They started down the road, and it didn’t take long to arrive at the Yoders’ place. Noah turned the buggy up the drive, and Leora suppressed a gasp. What was left of the barn stood like a hulking shadow of charred wood. Most of the walls had crumpled, leaving only some beams and a jagged portion of roof. The ground was heaped with blackened chunks of wood and ashes. The ground around the barn looked soggy and grooved with tire tracks, probably left by the fire trucks.

  She put her hand to her mouth and shook her head. “It’s gone,” she whispered. “Burned to the ground.”

  Noah was solemn as he said, “Jah. Nothing left to salvage.”

  It was as if they were driving through a cemetery, slowly and almost reverently. Noah’s eyes were misted over, and Leora held back her own tears.

  “The animals?” she asked, fearing the answer.

  “They’re safe.”

  She exhaled with relief. When they neared the house, Ellen Yoder stepped out onto the porch. She wiped her hands down her apron. Her face was ragged, and it looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. Leora grabbed the basket from behind her seat and got out.

  “Ach, Ellen, I’m so sorry,” she said, going to Ellen and giving her a hug. “How are you faring?”

  “We’re all safe, thanks be to Gott.”

  “Noah tells me that your animals are safe, too.”

  Ellen nodded and wiped a tear from her eye. “Jah. We got them all out.”

  “I brought you some baked goods,” Leora said, holding out the basket.

  Ellen took it with a smile. “Thank you, Leora. That was kind of you.”

  “It was the least I can do. When will the barn raising be?”

  “I don’t rightly know. The bishop will be coming by later this morning. Truth is, we aren’t supposed to touch the ruins until an inspector goes through. They’re looking for clues, I s’pose.”

  “It’s hard to believe someone would do such a thing.”

  Ellen blew out her breath. “We must pray for them. A person like that has got to be hurting.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  “People were mighty upset last night,” she went on. “It gives a person an unsettled feeling. You know, to think someone is out there…”

  “I locked my doors last night and when I left the house this morning.”

  “You know, Leora, we try to live apart from the world and worldly things. But sometimes, the world invades us.”

  Leora had never heard it put quite like that. It gave her an uneasy feeling, but she agreed, thought she didn’t like to think about it.

  “We’ll just continue praying for Gott’s protection,” Leora said.

  “Can you come in for a few minutes?” Ellen offered.

  “Nee. I’m on my way into town for some errands,” she said, and then she corrected herself. “Actually, I’m on my way to work at Jeffreys Diner.”

  There. Her friend Martha couldn’t accuse her of being mysterious right then. She wondered if Ellen would question her about her job, but she was clearly too distracted, which was understandable.

  “Gut bye, Ellen. Give your husband my greetings.”

  “I will. He’s fast asleep sitting in his chair in the front room. Thank you for coming by and for the food.”

  “I’ll be here with more food on the day of the barn raising,” Leora told her and turned to go.

  Back in the buggy, Noah smiled at her. “I bet she was right glad to get the food.”

  “Seemed so,” Leora said, her mind still coming to grips with the blackened pile of what used to the Yoders’ barn. How many times had she attended preaching service in that barn? She couldn’t remember. But she’d always liked their barn. It was more airtight, making it warmer in the winter months. And Sam Yoder kept it spotless, which was no small task.

  Well, they’d soon have another barn, their district would see to that.

  “Has the bishop been by yet?” Noah asked. “When’s the barn raising?”

  “She doesn’t know, but the bishop is coming soon.”

  “News will spread quickly,” Noah said. “It’ll be arranged by nightfall, for sure and for certain.”

  Leora nodded, settling back for the ride into Hollybrook. But they were stopped on the way, when another buggy pulled them over on a wide spot in the road.

  “Any more information on the fire?” Henry Lapp called out through his buggy window.

  “Nothing new,” Noah said. “How are you doing, Henry?”

  “A bit tired from last night is all. The missus was plenty upset. I had to practically keep vigil the rest of the night to make sure no one set our barn on fire.”

  “Nasty business,” Noah said.

  “You’re right at that,” Henry said. “It’s got everyone on edge. I hope the Englischers get it figured out before anything else happens.”

  “I’m sure nothing more will happen.”

  “I hope you’re right, Noah.” Henry craned his neck. “Leora Fisher? That you? Gut morning.”

  She leaned around Noah. “Gut morning, Henry.”

  She cringed, wondering what gossip would follow this meeting. Now, folks would think she and Noah were courting.

  “We’ll be seeing you around,” Noah said, snapping his reins again. When they were underway, he turned to her. “Sorry about that.”

  “About what?” she asked.

  “I could see it bothered you for Henry to notice we were riding together.”

  “Nee. It doesn’t matter,” she said, but she was lying. It most certainly did matter. She didn’t want people ge
tting the wrong idea. She analyzed her thoughts for a moment. What difference did it really make what people thought? It didn’t change what was. And she and Noah were not courting—no matter what conclusion others might come to.

  And would it be so bad if they were? She shuddered, not comfortable with where her thoughts were taking her. She wasn’t courting anyone. She was a widow, and she still missed her husband.

  But did that mean she couldn’t fall in love again? Did it?

  She pressed her lips together in a fine line. She needed to put her mind elsewhere.

  Chapter Eleven

  Bill Jeffreys was on the floor of the diner when she entered. His gaze immediately went beyond her to Noah’s buggy pulling away from the curb.

  “Noah give you a ride again?” he questioned.

  She flushed. “Jah.”

  He stepped toward her. “We heard about what happened last night. It’s all over town. I assume they were friends of yours.”

  She nodded. “Jah. The Yoders. Gut people.”

  “Did they catch who set the fire?”

  “Nee.”

  “I heard everyone was all right. And that the animals got out of the barn safely. Is that true?”

  She nodded again.

  He gave a low whistle and shook his head. “I can hardly believe someone would do that. What motivation could they have had? It’s not like you folks go around making problems.”

  “No motivation is needed,” she said. “Some people fear us. We’re different. That makes us a threat in some people’s eyes. You’d be surprised what has happened at times.”

  He took her arm and pulled her toward a spot against the wall where the fountain drinks were poured. “Like what?”

  She frowned. “You really want to know?”

  “I really want to know.”

  Donna breezed by, greeting Leora with a smile.

  “Some customers just came in,” she told her brother over her shoulder. “I’ll have an order for you in a minute.”

  “I’ll be ready,” he answered. He looked down at Leora. “Like what?”

  “Like trying to run us off the road sometimes. Like throwing rocks at us in our buggies—”

  “What?” He cut her off.

  She shrugged. “It happens.”

  “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t you who did it,” she said.

  “Still…”

  “And there’s all the gawking and pointing at us and sneaking to take photos of us, like we’re ignorant and don’t know it’s happening.” She gave him a rueful smile. “Not that any of that is dangerous like setting a barn on fire.”

  He squeezed her arm. “You must think non-Amish people are terrible.”

  She shook her head. “Nee. We don’t. Most Englischers I know—we know—are fine folks.”

  He lowered his head to speak more directly to her. “Am I included in that? Am I one of the fine folks?”

  She felt there was more behind the question than the actual words he used, and she squirmed a bit, stepping back.

  “Of course,” she finally said. “You and your sister are kind and gut people.”

  He laughed, his face alight with amusement. Just then, his sister came over with an order. He listened to her, and after smiling once more at Leora, he disappeared into the kitchen.

  * * *

  It was only a few hours later that Leora realized her mistake. She hadn’t made arrangements for Noah to pick her up, nor had he asked when she’d be ready. The fire had clearly shaken both of them up. But now, she was ready to go home, and she would have to walk. She sighed, wishing she had her bicycle. It would have been cold and uncomfortable, but a far sight better than walking.

  Still, she had no other choice. Even if she were to call the closest shanty to Martha’s house, there was no reason for Martha to be listening to messages at that precise time on that precise day.

  Leora was stuck. And she didn’t want to ask Bill Jeffreys for a ride.

  She bundled up in her cape and scarf and mittens and headed out of her office. Bill stood behind the steaming griddle, looking completely preoccupied, so she didn’t even bid him farewell. If she did, he’d probably ask her how she was getting home, and he was entirely too busy for her to impose on his good graces.

  She went onto the floor and caught Donna’s eye. Leora waved good-bye to her and slipped from the diner. The cold November air bit at her cheeks as she turned to head home. She figured it would likely take her about two hours to walk home. She shrank further inside her cape and increased her speed. She could probably cut off about fifteen minutes if she walked fast.

  At least her feet were warm, and that was something. Her heavy woolen socks and sturdy black shoes worked well in the winter. They were only inadequate if there was a lot of snow on the ground. They’d already had snow that year, but it was mostly melted now, leaving only occasional dirty clumps scattered about. But the temperature had to be hovering near freezing.

  There wouldn’t be any problem walking as long as there was sidewalk, but soon she’d turn onto the country roads where she’d have to pick her way carefully in case there were patches of ice.

  It wasn’t dark, so that was good. She would have had to swallow her pride and ask Bill for help if it’d been dark. She remembered once when David had caught her walking home from Martha’s in the dark. She’d stayed much longer than anticipated, and then had dallied along the way when she’d been distracted picking bouquets of wildflowers in a field not too far from Edmund’s Pond. She kept envisioning how lovely the flowers would look on their table and on the dresser in their bedroom, and she’d spent much more time than she should have. When darkness began to fall, she’d increased her speed, but still she hadn’t made it home before it grew pitch dark.

  Within minutes, she’d heard a buggy coming toward her at a very slow speed. The lanterns hung in the front swung wildly and Leora noticed the driver was shining a flashlight onto the road, too. She realized it was David come to look for her. She stopped walking and waved her hands, which were full of flowers.

  David drew up beside her and wasted no time in lecturing her about walking in the dark.

  “But look, David,” she’d said, “I’ve got beautiful flowers for the house.”

  He’d paused and stared at her. She saw the instant the anger and worry left him to be replaced with amusement.

  “Ach, Leora,” he’d said, groaning, “what am I to do with you? Get on in.”

  She’d scrambled into the buggy, and he’d kissed her soundly on the lips.

  Now, Leora smiled in remembrance. It had been a sweet time together, and a lovely evening when they’d gotten home. She used to be more light-hearted. In fact, she remembered frequently teasing David and him laughing and even tickling her sometimes.

  Well. Those days were long over. The responsibilities of the last year weighed heavily on her, and she feared that happy girl was gone forever. She stepped on a loose chunk of asphalt and nearly lost her balance. She righted herself and kept on, increasing her speed. Englisch people sometimes jogged this road. Leora had never jogged in her life. She wondered how it would feel to run a mile or more. If someone saw her, they’d think something drastic had happened. Her mind went to the fire at the Yoders and she shuddered. Better not think about that.

  Leora guessed she’d been walking for close to an hour when she saw him coming. She knew it was Noah because she recognized Flicker. She slowed, wondering if he was coming for her. He stopped the buggy and called out to her.

  “Ach, Leora! I’m so sorry. Come and get in.”

  She didn’t argue. She crossed the street and climbed into the buggy, and the warmth inside made her eyes water.

  “Can you ever forgive me? I didn’t know when you’d be finished, but I figured I’d just go to the diner and wait for you. I was leaving the Feed & Supply when Eliza cornered me. I had to stock a top shelf before she’d let me leave. Are you frozen through and through?”

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sp; Leora looked into his worried face and felt herself relax. “Nee, Noah. I’m all right.”

  He kept looking at her, his gaze soft and full of regret. “I’m really sorry, Leora.”

  “Please don’t worry about it,” she said. But in truth, it felt nice to have someone worry about her.

  “Let’s get you home.” He snapped the reins and turned his attention toward the road. He found a spot to turn around, and they were heading toward her house in no time.

  She sank back into the seat and let the heat soak into her. In truth, it felt so warm and cozy in the buggy that she would have been happy to let Noah drive around for hours. Instead, he got her home in record time. She gazed at the outside of her little house, almost dreading to go in. She hadn’t banked a fire, so it was going to be cold inside, and she hated to leave the warmth of the buggy. He pulled right up to her porch.

  “Let me get your door,” he said, and before she could protest, he’d run around the buggy to let her out.

  She got out, once again plunged into the cold air.

  “I’m going to grab an armful of wood and make sure your fire is going well,” he told her. “Go on inside, and I’ll be right in.”

  Her eyes widened. He hadn’t even given her time to refuse his offer. He’d already disappeared around the side of her house, and she really wasn’t inclined to stand there in the cold and wait for him. So, she did as she was bidden.

  She unlocked her door and went inside. Even though it was still daytime, the inside of her house was fairly dark. The sky was overcast and not much light made its way through her windows. She quickly lit two lanterns, which bathed the cold room in plenty of light. Noah shoved through the front door, his arms full of chopped wood.

  She hurried and closed the door behind him. He eyed the warming stove and made his way directly to it, letting the wood tumble out of his arms and into the metal box situated to the side of the stove.

  “This should take you through the rest of the day and the night,” he told her. Without preamble, he knelt before the stove and opened its iron door. He began placing wood inside, wadding up pieces of old newspaper she had saved for that very purpose.