the road a bit.”
He took a bite of the sweet.
“Her daed will be planting lots of celery this year, jah?” She thought of the long rows of the traditional wedding food that would never be planted for her. That was like a knife to the heart.
Jacob squirmed a little, discomfort crossing his face. He frowned. “Jah, that was the plan.”
Becky doubted she’d get any more information from him. Amish were, by nature, closemouthed, and sharing details about courting was verboden, even though most people could figure them out. She searched for something else to say. Before she could come up with anything, though, a puddle of milk flowed toward her.
Becky jumped to her feet and hurried around the table to grab a rag.
Mary frowned at her doll. “You need to be more careful. Now I need to change your clothes.” She stood and darted from the room.
Becky ran the rag over the spill, quickly wiping it up. Jacob reached out and put his hand over hers, stilling it. Shock waves raced to her heart. Her gaze jumped up to meet his.
“You’ll go with me to the singing tomorrow night, jah? For moral support?”
Like he’d need moral support.
“Introduce me around?”
That would be the polite thing to do. Daed and Mamm would want her to. But still, she’d been serious when she’d said she’d never go to another one. She started to say “Nein,” but the grip of his hand tightened.
“Please? You’d have fun.”
She’d have fun. Right. What had happened at the last singing had not been her idea of a good time.
Becky swallowed hard. “Nein.” It came out harsher than she’d intended it to. Yet, not feeling inclined to apologize, she jerked her hand from under his and turned, dashing from the room after her sister.
***
Ach, she was stubborn.
Jacob frowned, staring at the doorway she’d disappeared through.
She would go with him. If not tomorrow, then the next time. Or the time after that. He had to get her out around people, although if her own family wasn’t enough to make her smile, then he didn’t know how being around her peers would. But that just seemed to be the next natural step—forcing Becky out of her comfort zone so she could meet other men. Surely, Leah would babysit her granddaughter while Becky went out and had fun.
He figured he should check on that before assuming anything, though. Somehow, he had to get everything worked out so that she’d have a hard time saying no.
For her own good.
And maybe his. This sequence of rejections was beginning to wear on him.
He forced himself to calm down as he reminded himself of reasons why she’d refused so quickly.
She didn’t know him. Didn’t trust him. And he’d expected her to warm up to him quickly? Plus, he had a girl back home.
Ach, he was befuddled. Besides, Becky needed time.
Time, he had plenty of.
Maybe he should back off some and let her get to know him. To learn to trust him and realize he would not hurt her. And maybe then she’d agree to go.
Jacob drained his coffee and moved to put both his mug and Becky’s in the sink. He picked up Mary’s two tiny play cups and set them there, as well, then wiped the table.
If it would help Becky thaw out a bit, he’d willingly do women’s work.
He laid the damp rag on the edge of the sink, then straightened, turning back around as Daniel and Leah came into the room, talking quietly.
Hearing the sound of an engine, Jacob glanced out the window. A black car came to a stop in front of the shop.
Daniel grimaced. “Ach, Jacob. Ready to get to work?”
Chapter 9
Usually, Becky enjoyed Sundays. The quiet afternoons were filled on alternating weeks with long church services where they sang from the Ausbund, their hymnal, and visiting relatives. This Sunday would be a time for visiting folk, and she hoped Jacob would find someone to be friends with, even a girl, so he’d leave her alone. She didn’t want him to hang around Seymour, though. Nein, the faster he returned to Pennsylvania
He took a bite of the sweet.
“Her daed will be planting lots of celery this year, jah?” She thought of the long rows of the traditional wedding food that would never be planted for her. That was like a knife to the heart.
Jacob squirmed a little, discomfort crossing his face. He frowned. “Jah, that was the plan.”
Becky doubted she’d get any more information from him. Amish were, by nature, closemouthed, and sharing details about courting was verboden, even though most people could figure them out. She searched for something else to say. Before she could come up with anything, though, a puddle of milk flowed toward her.
Becky jumped to her feet and hurried around the table to grab a rag.
Mary frowned at her doll. “You need to be more careful. Now I need to change your clothes.” She stood and darted from the room.
Becky ran the rag over the spill, quickly wiping it up. Jacob reached out and put his hand over hers, stilling it. Shock waves raced to her heart. Her gaze jumped up to meet his.
“You’ll go with me to the singing tomorrow night, jah? For moral support?”
Like he’d need moral support.
“Introduce me around?”
That would be the polite thing to do. Daed and Mamm would want her to. But still, she’d been serious when she’d said she’d never go to another one. She started to say “Nein,” but the grip of his hand tightened.
“Please? You’d have fun.”
She’d have fun. Right. What had happened at the last singing had not been her idea of a good time.
Becky swallowed hard. “Nein.” It came out harsher than she’d intended it to. Yet, not feeling inclined to apologize, she jerked her hand from under his and turned, dashing from the room after her sister.
***
Ach, she was stubborn.
Jacob frowned, staring at the doorway she’d disappeared through.
She would go with him. If not tomorrow, then the next time. Or the time after that. He had to get her out around people, although if her own family wasn’t enough to make her smile, then he didn’t know how being around her peers would. But that just seemed to be the next natural step—forcing Becky out of her comfort zone so she could meet other men. Surely, Leah would babysit her granddaughter while Becky went out and had fun.
He figured he should check on that before assuming anything, though. Somehow, he had to get everything worked out so that she’d have a hard time saying no.
For her own good.
And maybe his. This sequence of rejections was beginning to wear on him.
He forced himself to calm down as he reminded himself of reasons why she’d refused so quickly.
She didn’t know him. Didn’t trust him. And he’d expected her to warm up to him quickly? Plus, he had a girl back home.
Ach, he was befuddled. Besides, Becky needed time.
Time, he had plenty of.
Maybe he should back off some and let her get to know him. To learn to trust him and realize he would not hurt her. And maybe then she’d agree to go.
Jacob drained his coffee and moved to put both his mug and Becky’s in the sink. He picked up Mary’s two tiny play cups and set them there, as well, then wiped the table.
If it would help Becky thaw out a bit, he’d willingly do women’s work.
He laid the damp rag on the edge of the sink, then straightened, turning back around as Daniel and Leah came into the room, talking quietly.
Hearing the sound of an engine, Jacob glanced out the window. A black car came to a stop in front of the shop.
Daniel grimaced. “Ach, Jacob. Ready to get to work?”
Chapter 9
Usually, Becky enjoyed Sundays. The quiet afternoons were filled on alternating weeks with long church services where they sang from the Ausbund, their hymnal, and visiting relatives. This Sunday would be a time for visiting folk, and she hoped Jacob would find someone to be friends with, even a girl, so he’d leave her alone. She didn’t want him to hang around Seymour, though. Nein, the faster he returned to Pennsylvania
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