Amy Admires an Amish Man Read online

  Tina pulled back to study Amy’s face. “After you saved Oliver and me,” she laughed.

  “I can’t believe you’re here! Leif…” Tina said as her husband was already walking toward them.

  “Thank you, Miss Sanders. I know I was a gruff, upset man when I met you, but your actions changed my life,” Leif said as he grabbed Amy’s hand between his two large ones. “I can’t thank you enough for my wonderful wife and family.”

  Leif’s parents introduced themselves. Both were tall, and their faces looked like they’d spent years outdoors, which would be correct, given the stories Dagmar had told her about their years on cattle drives.

  “That’s Oliver on the floor, with Robby and Emma. He’s already walking a few steps if he hangs onto something,” Tina said with pride in her voice.

  Amy studied the children as they played hand games with the baby. Emma and Oliver had Tina’s dark hair and eyes. Robby had lighter features, probably passed to him from his father.

  “When did you arrive? I’m guessing in time to deliver the new twins?” Tina asked as she took Amy’s hand and led her over to the settee to sit down with her.

  “She came with the bulls we ordered from the Ferguson Ranch,” Dagmar quickly answered. “Amy pretended to be her brother, Amos and rode in the livestock car the whole way with them. Then when she got the bulls here, she stepped right up and helped Cora deliver Gunner and Nels.”

  Cora laughed. “Dag, please let Amy tell her story. He’s been so excited since the twins were born.”

  Amy’s hand automatically went to brush her hair again, but then she relaxed. These were good people who wouldn’t judge her for her past.

  “I was at the post office in Austin, hoping for a letter from my sister. Besides a letter from her, Tina’s letter arrived that same day, inviting me to travel to Kansas.”

  Amy would thank Tina in private for the money, in case Leif didn’t know about it.

  “Mr. Ferguson was in the post office talking to another man about looking for someone to take care of a carload of bulls he was shipping to Kansas.

  “I spoke up, saying my brother could go, although Amos had run away from home. I thought if I could find Amos, he could escape to Kansas to start over. Mr. Ferguson knew of my father’s temper…” Amy stopped, not wanting to talk about her situation.

  “It’s all right, Amy. My family knew about your father and how you ended up in the saloon, and you’ll always have our support,” Tina said quietly.

  “Thank you, everyone,” Amy said and took a deep breath.

  “Mr. Ferguson knew my circumstance too. He took me to the mercantile to buy clothes for Amos but using me as my brother’s measurements, so to speak. Mr. Ferguson asked if I had a place to hide the clothes until my brother met him at the train depot. Then I knew he was offering me a way to escape town.

  “That morning I chopped off my hair, put on the new clothes and became Amos. Four days later I arrived in Clear Creek.”

  “And I wasn’t here to help you,” Tina lamented.

  Amy laughed. “Well, that did put me in a bind when Eli said you won’t be back for a while. But he offered Amos a job until you’d be back.”

  “Didn’t he figure out you were a woman?” Annalina asked.

  “No, but Zach knew. And when Cora went into labor, he asked if I’d help deliver the babies.”

  “Amy has been wonderful help ever since. Besides taking care of the babies and me, she’s been cooking and washing for the ranch hands and us,” Cora beamed, and Amy felt a sense of pride.

  “It’s the same thing I did for the upstairs girls back in Texas, so I was used to cooking for a lot of people,” Amy said modestly.

  “I’ve asked her to stay with us, Tina, if that’s okay with you. Annalina is back to take care of the bunkhouse chores, but I’d love for Amy to help me out for a while,” Cora smiled sweetly at Tina.

  The sisters-in-law must have a good relationship as they talked and teased back and forth. Tina was so lucky to have married into the family.

  And I had a part in that, even if it was all by happenstance.

  “I’ll come over here to visit Amy then, but I want her to help deliver my next baby later this year,” Tina said as she playfully pointed the finger at Cora, then patted her belly.

  The women all laughed, and the men shook their heads.

  “I’d be honored, Tina. You gave me my life back,” Amy whispered, and Tina hugged her again.

  “You gave me my life, and family, back first,” Tina whispered as she squeezed Amy one more time, then let her go.

  “Have you had time to bake anything, Miss Amy? I need a cup of coffee at least, but bread, cake, or cookies would be nice too,” Oskar asked as he winked at his wife. “Annalina does fine at trail cooking, but I’d love to sit in the dining room with some afternoon refreshments.”

  “Getting too old to sit on the wagon tongue, Fader?” Dagmar teased his father.

  “I enjoyed being back on the trail for a short trip, but I’m looking forward to my meals on the table again,” Oskar announced.

  “And I’m ready for my feather pillow and bed tonight,” Annalina added. “After a hot bath though.”

  “I was prepared for your arrival, Oskar, because Dagmar thought you’d be arriving today. If you’ll all go into the dining room, I’ll bring out refreshments,” Amy answered, glad Cora gave her the recipe for the elder Hamner’s favorite treat.

  “I’ll help bring it to the table if someone wants to hold Gunner now,” Annalina replied, and Dagmar jumped from his chair.

  “It’s my turn,” Dagmar gleefully replied as he scooped the infant into his massive hands, and then started talking singsong to the baby in Swedish.

  “I’m glad you were here, Amy,” Annalina patted her back as they walked into the kitchen. “I was afraid the babies would come early, but Cora assured me she’d be fine.”

  “Cora is the calmest person I’ve ever been around. Nothing fazes her,” Amy noted.

  “And I can imagine what a nervous wreck Dagmar was. My four children are so different from each other. I’m anxious to see which parent Gunner’s and Nels’ personalities will mirror.”

  Amy couldn’t help snickering, still thinking about Dagmar’s comment on learning he had twins.

  “What?”

  “Dagmar was so relieved, after the shock of two infants, that the babies were boys instead of girls,” Amy confessed as she arranged the cookies on a tray.

  “Two wild girls like my Hilda would have even tested Cora’s sweet nature,” Annalina laughed. “At least Rania was Hilda’s opposite, quiet and cautious, which sometimes helped temper Hilda’s wild ways.”

  “Dagmar told me about Hilda’s horseracing.”

  “Yes, Hilda would stuff her braid into her hat to hide her identity as a girl, jump into any horse race and would usually win. Her horse, Nutcracker, kind of has a reputation between here and Texas.”

  “But, it helped her buy her homestead.” Amy had met the twins and Dagmar had told several stories about growing up on the cattle trail with his sisters.

  “That it did and made Hilda meet her husband, Noah.”

  Amy and Annalina set the platters of food and cups on the table as the group sat down around the long table. It was as beautiful a piece of furniture as the other fancy pieces in the living room.

  “Skorpor!” Oskar exclaimed as he reached for the dry rusk stick and promptly dipped it in his cup of coffee, then in his mouth. “Ah, good skorpor and strong black coffee.”

  “The same things you had on the trail every day, I’ll remind you, Oskar,” Annalina kidded her husband.

  “But this time I’m sitting in a chair. And,” Oskar pointed the second half of the rusk at his wife, “Amy put something different in her skorpor. I like it. Try it.”

  Annalina, Tina, and Cora turned their heads toward Amy. Oh dear, did she do something wrong by changing the recipe a tad?

  “I just added ground cinnamon and nutmeg since
Cora had the spices in her kitchen,” Amy lifted her shoulders in a shrug.

  She waited until everyone else dipped their rusk in their coffee and tasted it.

  “Very good!” Annalina exclaimed, and Amy felt relieved since it was the woman’s recipe.

  “I’ll add spices to the next batch I make us too. Oliver gummed these hard rusks while he was teething,” Tina replied after tasting her rusk.

  “These are good in hot cocoa too!” Robby added to the conversation.

  “You’re spoiling the children, Amy. They don’t get cocoa very often at our house.”

  “I’ve taken over Cora’s kitchen, and I know what’s in it,” Amy grinned, wanting the children to like her.

  They all turned as the sound of footsteps came in the back door and continued to the dining room. Eli entered, his hat in his hand.

  “If I had another son, I’d recommend he marry you, Amy,” Oskar stated before dipping his second rusk in his coffee.

  Amy blushed at his remark but was pleased he thought she was worthy.

  “But Eli needs a wife,” Oskar said before lifting his cup for another sip of coffee.

  Amy felt her skin flush with embarrassment as she watched Eli’s eyes widen with confusion.

  Was he surprised Oskar said he needed a wife, or in shock because Oskar recommended herself?

  Chapter 8

  Eli glanced around the room, trying to understand what the conversation was about and why Oskar said he needed a wife. He hadn’t been paying attention to the conversation when he walked in the door. He was watching Oliver smile at him over Tina’s shoulder, noting how the baby had grown over the time they’d been gone.

  “I’m sorry, I missed what you said, Oskar. I was watching Oliver,” Eli apologized as he reached for Oliver’s outstretched arms. The baby always screeched and reached for Eli when they met. Eli settled the baby on his right hip, and Oliver automatically laid his head on Eli’s shoulder and sighed. That was their own unique routine.

  “I was saying you need a wife, Eli. You need your own family instead of borrowing Oliver. And I hear Amy would make an exceptional wife. Besides handling livestock, she can take care of a home and babies,” Oskar told the foreman.

  “Oskar, you only met Amy, and you’re already embarrassing her,” Annalina scolded him.

  “You can learn a lot about a person in an hour. Taking care of six bulls and two births all in one day? Someone’s going to start courting her right after church some Sunday. I’m just saying Eli better step up first,” Oskar announced while wagging his finger at Eli.

  Eli shot a look at Amy, who was rubbing her hair again out of embarrassment.

  “Ignore him, Eli, and sit down and have coffee with us. Amy made exceptional rusks for coffee today,” Annalina pointed to an empty chair before pouring him a cup of coffee and passing it to him.

  “Thank you.” Eli shifted Oliver to his lap, comfortable to hold the boy while he ate as he did this often.

  Eli enjoyed working with the outspoken and jovial Hamner family. They were the polar opposite of his parents and siblings. But some of that had to do with the Fishers’ Amish beliefs and upbringing.

  “How did the drive go? Any problems?” Eli asked to switch the subject from his marital status.

  “No problems at all. Good to lead a cattle trail north again. The grass wasn’t as green past Kearney, but the yearlings did well with what grass had sprouted.”

  “The buyer was happy with the animals and asked for next year’s heifer crop too,” Leif added.

  “Excellent!” Dagmar announced. “Cora, will the boys be ready to ride for next year’s drive?”

  Cora rolled her eyes at his suggestion.

  “Oliver was a newborn on his first drive last year. He’s already been on his second one,” Dagmar pointed out.

  “And I’m not sure I’d suggest it when babies get to the toddler stage. Oliver was easier to handle a year ago on the trail than this trip,” Tina added her input.

  “Well, I’ll enjoy getting back on a horse. Annalina, how about we lead the trail drive next year and Dagmar and Oskar can come along to take care of the babies and cooking?”

  “I’m game for that suggestion!” Annalina remarked, looking at her husband.

  “You know I wouldn’t mind doing that. I can’t wait to spoil our grandchildren,” Oskar replied gently bumping his wife’s shoulder.

  Eli watched the banter, then glanced at Amy. She was staring at the couple like she didn’t know what to think of them. Hadn’t she seen normal couple exchange ribbing before?

  “Actually, I came inside to ask Amy if she wanted to take a ride out on the range this afternoon,” Eli interrupted the conversation again.

  “That’s an excellent idea, Eli. Amy hasn’t had a break since she arrived,” Cora smiled at his suggestion.

  “But—” Amy started to protest.

  “Good idea. It’s a beautiful day, and you need to enjoy it. I have plenty of help with Annalina and Tina here,” Cora stopped her protest.

  “Take a break to get out of the house, Amy. We’ll catch up with each other at supper time,” Tina urged her.

  “I’ll saddle the horses while you change your clothes,” Eli said to finish the conversation. He downed his last sip of coffee, then handed a protesting Oliver to Dagmar.

  “Ollie, Ollie, Ollie! Don’t worry, Eli will be back for supper!” Dagmar said as he lifted the boy into the air, swooping him around like a bird in flight. Oliver giggled, enthralled with Dagmar’s attention, and forgot about Eli’s imminent departure.

  “Thanks for the coffee, Amy. I’ll meet you in the barn when you’re ready.”

  Amy nodded, but she looked around the table as if she needed to do something first before leaving the room. Was she stalling going for a ride, or being alone with him?

  Cora reached for Amy’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Please, go enjoy a ride.”

  “All right. Thank you,” Amy answered with a nod and then left the room to go upstairs.

  Tina turned to Eli but waited to speak until she could see Amy was up to the staircase. “Amy escaped a bad life, both at home and at the saloon. Please be careful with her,” Tina warned Eli.

  “I will,” Eli said as he picked up his hat to leave the house. He’d seen the signs of an injured soul when he’d met Amos, and more so since he’d been around Amy.

  *

  “Sorry about Oskar teasing you, but now you know where Dagmar gets his sense of humor,” Eli said as they walked the horses out of the barn. “I’ve gotten used to it, but it took me a while.”

  “Why’s that?” Amy asked as she swung into the saddle with ease. She was back wearing Amos’ clothes, but they sure didn’t fit the same now that her chest wasn’t bound.

  “My father is always very serious and my mother submissive to him. Our family didn’t make jokes or fool around for fear my father would look down on us. He used our Amish faith as his excuse to be that way,” Eli answered truthfully. There was no reason to describe his family otherwise. That’s just the way it had been.

  “There was never laughter in my family either,” Amy answered simply as Eli led the way around the back corrals to the open prairie.

  “Glad to be in Kansas then?” Eli asked as the horses walked side by side. Amy handled her mount with ease, showing she’d grown up around horses.

  “Yes, but it’s taking me time to wrap my head around the fact I’m free to do what I want without any repercussions.”

  “You took quite a chance to cut your hair and pretend to be your younger brother.”

  “I was desperate,” Amy sighed as she brushed her hand below her hat brim. He could tell her shorn locks really bothered her. Eli hated to admit it bothered him too. Amish women never cut their hair—ever.

  “Your hair will grow out again,” Eli assured her. “Right now, I bet the sunshine and fresh air makes you forget about most things, doesn’t it?”

  Eli watched as Amy’s shoulders eased down and she
turned her face to the sun. That was the most relaxed he’d seen the woman since she’d arrived.

  “I couldn’t believe the topography of the prairie when I first arrived,” Eli continued to keep the conversation going. “Trees cover most of Pennsylvania except where patches have been cleared for farming or grazing. I was shocked not to see a tree in sight. Made me feel kind of…exposed, with no protection around me.”

  “Texas scenery is similar to this area, only Kansas is a few degrees cooler. But the land around Austin has occasional clumps of trees dotting the scenery though.”

  “Horses are warmed up. Ready to kick up the speed for a bit?” Eli asked, but he knew Amy would go for it. She needed to get a rush of speed after being pent up with emotions for so long.

  Amy’s answer was to kick her heels into the gelding’s side and lean over the horse’s neck as the horse shot off for the open range. Eli held his horse back a minute to let her have a good head start. She needed the feel of freedom rushing into and past her.

  She finally slowed her horse when she saw the cattle herd in the distance. Eli was glad she had the sense not to spook the cattle.

  Eli caught up and slowed his horse to walk beside Amy’s. “Feel good?”

  He was surprised by the first real laugh he’d heard from Amy since her arrival.

  “You don’t know how much,” she sighed as she turned her smile toward him. “I missed riding, and my horse, Cotton.”

  Eli felt a catch in his chest, suddenly longing to pull her close and protect her from future hurts.

  “You’ll have to go riding with me every day then,” Eli answered as he tamped down his feelings.

  “I might take you up on that, providing I can be useful while I’m out here. I can herd cattle as well as wrangle babies,” Amy grinned, relaxed by the joy of the ride.

  “I’m glad Dagmar offered you a job to do ‘whatever’ then. It’s a great place to live and work, and there’s never a shortage of tasks to be done.”

  “Typical ranch, no matter where it’s located,” Amy answered, although the smile faded from her face, probably thinking about the Texas ranch she grew up on.

  “Ready to meet the community at church tomorrow? With all the Hamner’s back home, the whole family will go.”