Amy Admires an Amish Man Read online

  “Even with the twins being so young?”

  “Pretty safe and tame to take them to a church service instead of the cattle drive Dagmar’s ready to take them on,” Eli answered, enjoying the easy conversation between them.

  “So true,” Amy said as she slowed the horse to a stop and watched the herd in the distance.

  “You ready to meet people, as Amy?” Eli didn’t think anyone at the barbershop or café really noticed Amos. Tomorrow she’d be introduced as Amy, Tina’s friend from Texas.

  “I’ll be a little apprehensive, but Tina and Cora assured me I’ll be fine.”

  Amy was rubbing her short hair again.

  “I…saved my braid. I hadn’t tried it yet, but I’m hoping I can pin what’s left of my hair up and pin the braid over it. And with the right hat, I can look like a proper woman again.”

  “Has Cora shown you the five-trunk room yet?” Eli knew the pastor’s wife brought women to the ranch to pick out clothing from the stash Cora’s mother regularly sent her from Boston.

  “I’m staying in that room, and I can’t believe the beautiful dresses in there. The ensemble I’ve picked out to wear to church will give me the confidence to meet people.”

  “Good,” Eli said as he purposely shifted his gaze from Amy to the cattle. He looked forward to escorting her to church.

  “See the Hereford, the big red and white bull on the left side of the herd? That’s Ramson,” Eli pointed out, and Amy followed his direction.

  “He’s bulky, but not quite as tall as the Longhorns. He’s one of the pedigreed bulls you brought from Pennsylvania? How’s he adapting to the herd?”

  “Just fair. We lost the two yearling bulls who traveled with him. I’m hoping he’ll settle better with the herd once we let your new bulls out with him.”

  “My bulls?” Amy choked out.

  Eli laughed. “Dagmar calls them ‘Amy’s bulls’ since you delivered them.” Eli watched Amy’s face blush a pretty pink. He wanted her to feel pride in the delivery of the bulls. It took real gumption to ride in a carload of bulls for four days.

  “Maybe you can help us introduce your bulls to the herd next week? I’m sure Felix will feel better if you’re along,” Eli teased.

  He’d watched Amy walk out to the corral after supper most evenings to talk to the bulls for a while. Felix bawled and ran to the fence every time he saw her. It was fun to watch now, but a bull with no fear or respect for humans could be dangerous due to his growing size. Felix needed to get out in the herd and learn his place.

  “I’d like that. I’ll miss seeing them daily, but they were bought for breeding and need to be in the pasture with the cows,” Amy said as she turned her horse around.

  Apparently, Amy was ready to go back to the ranch house, although he’d like to continue talking to her. Eli enjoyed her company.

  “Then we’ll plan to ride together again on Monday to bring the group out here,” Eli agreed as they started the trip back to the ranch yard.

  But first, he’d enjoy standing by Amy’s side as she was introduced to people in church tomorrow. To protect her, or to keep men from thinking about courting her? Unfortunately, Oskar’s suggestion kept popping up in his mind.

  Chapter 9

  Pastor and Kaitlyn Reagan. Six young boys.

  Ethan and Helen Paulson, Four young girls.

  Reuben and Darcie Shepard. Two older children, boy, and girl, plus red-headed toddler and baby.

  “Amy, this is my brother, Lyle Elison, his wife Lorna, and their baby girl,” Cora introduced her sibling.

  “Nice to meet you,” Amy said for the umpteenth time this morning. Good thing it was a small town and congregation.

  “Welcome to Clear Creek, Amy,” Lorna Elison greeted her warmly.

  Pale-blonde haired woman. Baby has almost white hair.

  “You’ll figure them all out soon enough,” Eli whispered from behind her. “I’ll write down the connections later if you want.”

  Eli had been shadowing her after church as Cora introduced her to people. At least Amy felt comfortable in her light blue dress and matching hat. She’d never worn anything so lovely or pretty in her life.

  “Thank you, Eli. I’d appreciate that,” Amy said softly out of the corner of her mouth.

  “You’ve met Dagmar’s sisters, Rania and Hilda, who are married to two Wilerson brothers, Jacob and Noah.”

  The Hamner parents and four siblings couldn’t be missed as they stood a head taller than the rest of the congregation standing outside after the church service.

  “Now look around and match up the rest of the Wilerson family. Marshal Adam is their brother, who married Millie, Darcie Shepard’s sister.

  “Then there’s their widowed mother, Cate, who married Isaac Connely last year. They are each holding a baby. Cate’s daughter, Sarah, is holding the third baby of the triplets.”

  “Oh, my word. Triplets? I thought twins were a lot of work.”

  “That’s not all. Sarah’s husband, Marcus Brenner, Isaac’s nephew, is holding their toddler, Maisie. Now count all the children, including the babies, around them.”

  “Eight?” Amy answered as Cora was caught up talking to someone else.

  “Yes, the Brenners adopted eight orphaned children, from two families—all at once—on their wedding day.”

  “Hello, I’m Faye Tucker, and this is my baby, Violet Rose,” a young woman with dark hair boldly stepped right in front of Amy with her right hand extended.”

  “Nice to see you, Faye,” Eli answered for her. “Amy, this is Sarah’s sister, Faye.”

  “Well, half-sister anyway. Sarah and I just met last year when I ran away from my brothel.”

  My, but the young woman was talkative Amy thought as she shook Faye’s hand.

  “Want to hold Violet Rose? She’s my pride and joy,” Faye asked Amy.

  “Hello, ma’am. I’m Rusty Tucker, Faye’s husband and the foreman of the Cross C Ranch. Pleased to meet you,” the older man said as he touched his hat brim.

  “Thank you, to both of you,” Amy stammered as she felt Eli’s hand on her elbow.

  “I see the Hamner families walking towards their rides, so we need to leave, Amy,” Eli said as he led her away.

  “Rusty, you’ll have to stop by and see the new group of bulls we got from Texas,” Eli added as a final word before they left.

  “Will do. See you later,” Rusty answered as he steered his wife in the opposite direction.

  “I take it I’m not the only woman with an interesting past,” Amy mused, as Eli helped her into the buggy seat.

  “Nope, you’ve met several mail-order brides whose stories are hard to believe, a few rich women who lost their fortunes, and at least one soiled dove,” Eli answered as he hopped in the buggy.

  Amy felt privileged being escorted by Eli in one of the ranch’s buggies today. All the equipment was top grade on the ranch, especially compared to the run-down versions she was used to on her family’s ranch.

  She couldn’t help thinking about her family, wondering how her mother and sister were doing.

  “I wish I could get word to my sister as to where I am now, but I can’t risk writing,” Amy wondered out loud.

  “Could you write to Mr. Ferguson instead? If you let him know you’re here with the Hamners, as Amy, could he get word to your sister?” Eli asked.

  Amy thought about that as the horse pulled the buggy through town and north toward the ranch.

  “Yes, I think he’d do that for me. He knows how our father treats us, and would be discreet,” Amy answered, feeling better now that Eli had offered a solution.

  “How did you like the service today? Did you go to church back home?”

  “Church attendance wasn’t an option for me at home or in Austin. But I liked Pastor Reagan and his sermon.”

  “I’m still getting used to the differences between the Amish and community church services.”

  Amy looked at Eli, puzzled at his comment.

&
nbsp; “How are church services different, other than the pastor’s preferences of Bible verses and hymns?”

  “Are you familiar at all with the Amish ways of life?”

  Amy shook her head as she watched the scenery. “Not until I met you. Besides my schooling being minimal, I don’t think there are any Amish around where I lived. In Austin, people either went to the Catholic or the Protestant church.”

  “Well, where I grew up, Sunday service was held in someone’s home instead of a church building. Men and women sit on opposite sides of the room. They sing without any instruments accompanying them. And the service can last hours instead of Pastor Reagan’s forty-five-minute limit.”

  “Sounds kind of restrictive compared to Pastor Regan’s service.” Amy thought about it a minute then asked. “Is that why you left Pennsylvania?”

  “No, but now that I’ve been out in the world, it could be one reason.”

  “One reason? What’s the other?”

  The silence and grim look on Eli’s face hinted it was not something he was comfortable talking about.

  “I’m sorry, “Amy said as she laid a hand on his forearm. “I shouldn’t pry.”

  Amy turned her head to watch the scenery as they drove out to Tina and Leif’s home for Sunday dinner. Eli would talk about his past or not. She knew better than to pry in another’s previous life. She didn’t want to discuss hers either.

  “The main reason I left was that the woman who was supposed to be my wife married another.”

  Amy didn’t say anything, waiting for Eli to elaborate if he wanted to.

  “Rebecca and I had been betrothed since I was seventeen. It wasn’t an arranged marriage, but our parents pushed us together. But that was fine with me because I’d loved her since I started noticing girls. Rebecca was an only child, and her parents needed her husband to take over the family farm and take care of them in their old age.

  “My oldest brother had inherited my parent’s farm. Taking over Rebecca’s family farm would give Rebecca and me a permanent home and income.”

  “What happened between the two of you?”

  “As I look back, I was in love with her, but Rebecca was in love with an English man she’d been seeing on the sly.”

  “What do you mean by ‘English man’?” Amy interrupted him.

  “That’s what the Amish call a person who isn’t of their faith.”

  Eli went quiet, working his jaw back and forth in thought.

  “With all our family and friends around us during the wedding ceremony at her parents’ home… Instead of repeating her vows after mine, she turned and ran out of the house.”

  “Ah…I’m so sorry, Eli.”

  Eli looked as if he was picturing the scene again. “Rebecca looked out the window and saw the man and his buggy parked on the road. In a snap decision, she chose the man instead of me and left.”

  “What did you do?” Amy couldn’t help asking.

  “Stood there watching in disbelief as they drove away.” Eli shook his head. “And without Rebecca, I had no home or profession.

  “I left home and got a job with an English man who specialized in raising Herefords.”

  “How long ago was that?”

  “That happened November of ’72. Already a year and a half ago.”

  Amy thought of how her life had changed in that amount of time too. A kiss from a ranch hand had her thrown out of her home. She hadn’t seen her family since then. If not for letters back and forth while she was in Austin, she’d have had no contact at all.

  “During that time, have you traveled to many states delivering animals?”

  “Just around Pennsylvania and area states. But the states are small compared to the Midwest, and you could deliver animals one day and go home the next.”

  “Kansas was a long trip then. Why did you stay here instead of going home?”

  “I wanted a fresh start. I brought my belongings, including my horse when I traveled here.”

  “The tug to go home is hard on me, but I could never go back while my father is alive.”

  “Then look ahead,” Eli suggested. “The past is the past. That’s what I’ve learned since moving to Kansas. I’ve made new friends, have a job I love…and I’m getting used to seeing land without trees on it,” Eli finished with a sly grin.

  Amy couldn’t help laughing since they hadn’t seen a tree since they’d left town.

  “Is that house painted red?” Amy stared at the homestead buildings they were approaching.

  “Yes, that’s Leif’s and Tina’s home. They call the color ‘Falun red’. Most of the houses in Sweden where the Hamners grew up, were that color because of the pigment dug from a mine near their town of Falun.”

  “Like I said, you can do anything you want in Kansas, including painting your house a bright color.”

  Amy watched as the Hamner families got out of their vehicles, chatting and laughing with each other as they unloaded children and food.

  It dawned on Amy that she’d never had that opportunity growing up. Her father didn’t get along with his own family in southern Texas, so he moved north, separating his wife from her parents and siblings too. Amy had never met her grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins—if she had any.

  Nor did they get together with neighbors, attend town functions or a church. Amy hadn’t been able to live a normal life because of her father, both on the ranch and when she got stuck in the saloon.

  “You just got a look on your face as bright as a candle wick flaring to life, Amy. What are you thinking?” Eli quietly asked, but Amy knew he knew.

  Amy turned to Eli. “My past is my past, and I’m free to do what I want.”

  Eli barked a laugh. “Welcome to Kansas, Amy. You finally figured it out.”

  Eli flicked the reins, guiding the horse and buggy toward the red house and the lawn full of happy people.

  Thank you, Tina, for sending your letter.

  Chapter 10

  Eli watched Amy as Leif helped her out of the buggy. Amy's mood and personality had changed the instant it dawned on her that her past wasn't following her anymore. Her open smile and sparkling eyes dazzled him.

  "Eli! You gonna move your buggy or keep gawking at Amy?" Dagmar teased as he pointed the finger at the barn, and then at Amy.

  Eli felt his face redden with Dagmar's teasing. "I'll move the buggy," he shot back as he flicked the reins.

  He couldn't help comparing Dagmar's tease to what his stern father would have said. Yeah, life was so much better here than his strict former home. And meeting Amy might become one of the best highlights so far.

  Eli unhitched the horse and led him to the water trough, watching Robby as the boy followed them.

  "Hey, Mr. Fisher, can I bring your horse to the barn when he's done drinking?" Robby asked quietly as he carefully walked around the back end of the horse and stopped beside Eli. Leif had taught the boy well about livestock this past year since his mother and Leif had married.

  Two years ago, Eli thought he'd have the same opportunity to teach his children such things, but Rebecca's leaving him destroyed that. Eli's heart ached to realize that Rebecca and her chosen husband probably had a baby by now.

  "I got hay already in the manager, and I'll add a little oats to the pile if you say it's okay," Robby continued, waiting for Eli's answer.

  "Thank you, Robby. I'm sure Snow would like that."

  "Why you name your horse 'Snow’? Just cause he's white?" Robby held his hand out flat and let the gelding sniff him."

  "Partly. Besides his coloring, he was born early in spring when we still had snow on the ground. He blended in with a snowdrift, and we didn't see him right away."

  Eli had taken care of the near frozen colt, and they'd bonded. When Eli left his father's farm, Snow was the only thing he'd asked for. Eli’s father finally agreed after his brother stood up for him.

  He wrapped his clothing in the quilt his mother had made for his bed and left the farm riding his horse,
carrying that bulky bundle under his arm.

  At the time he didn’t think he was leaving his family and faith behind forever. Eli just needed to get away to lick his wounds. But working with someone outside of their Amish community, and being shunned for it, made the trip to Kansas one way.

  “Snow’s done drinking,” Robby said as he reached for the rope dangling from the halter Eli had slipped onto Snow’s head after taking off the harness.

  “Okay. Go ahead,” Eli said as he handed Robby the rope and stood back to watch the two walk for the door. Robby chatted softly to Snow, who obediently followed behind the small boy.

  A flash of thought hit Eli. That’s probably what he and Snow had looked like when they were both young.

  And Eli wanted to watch his child do the same thing.

  He turned to find Amy in the group. She was laughing as she talked to the other women, holding baby Oliver against her hip.

  For the first time since he’d left Pennsylvania, he felt a real interest in a woman. He’d thought of marriage, as a convenience, rather than for love, but there were few single women in the area. That’s why men ordered mail-order brides. He’d thought of going that route but hadn’t committed to the idea yet. It would be no different than an arranged marriage, but since that didn’t work out at home, he was shy to do it.

  He and Amy had similar backgrounds, although neither were good ones. But he could see himself living with the Texas woman. They seemed comfortable in each other’s presence, even though her short hair still bothered both of them.

  She was blending in with the ranch’s schedule, family, and livestock with ease too.

  Zach moved close to Amy, saying something that made Amy tilt her head and smile up at him. A burn in Eli’s heart sent Eli walking to join the group. Zach was a good man, but Eli didn’t want him, or any other man, thinking of Amy as their future wife.

  "You have a lovely home, Tina. I just can't believe how your life changed in an instant with that train wreck," Amy said as they sat around tables behind the house. Tina sat across from Amy. Eli made sure he sat by Amy, keeping Zach and the other hands from being close to her.