A Simple Faith: A Lancaster Crossroads Novel (34 page)

“This morning as I was driving down the lane to your house, I
realized I don’t know beans about what goes into taking care of an orchard.” Dylan eyed a stray chocolate chip that had fallen from Haley’s plate. He shot her a look, then swiped it in one swift move.

“Stop,” Haley teased, sliding her plate away.

Edna smiled as she placed a mug of tea in front of her son. “Do you want another piece, Dr. Monroe?”

“No, thanks. I just couldn’t bear to see that morsel go to waste.”

James didn’t react, but at least he’d been watching.

“Anyway, what does it take to manage an orchard? I’m guessing there’s not a lot going on this time of year, since there’s no fruit to be harvested or protected.”

“Winter’s the time for pruning,” James said. “And you’ve got to watch that the trees don’t go without water.”

James explained how the average rainfall and snowmelt provided the orchards with plenty of water for the winter. However, a few years ago, there had been a dry winter “that just about did our trees in.” James and his brothers had devised watering systems to keep the fruit trees alive.

Listening, Dylan could imagine James and his brothers out in the orchards, winter, spring, summer, and fall. He could also sense James’s strong connection to this farm, his feel for the land, his ingenuity and experience tending to the trees. James talked about learning to climb the trees as a young boy, eating a fresh-picked apple as he straddled a thick bough. This orchard was the fabric of his life.

At last, he had hit on James’s passion, evoking more than a string of five or six words at one time.

Haley kept quiet as she nibbled on her pie, but occasionally, he caught a glimpse of recognition in her eyes. She, too, was intrigued by this new facet of James.

“So it’s pruning time.” Dylan nodded toward the windows. “Are all those trees going to be okay without you?”

“We got most of the pruning done before the accident. My dat and brothers have been working on the rest.”

“A good thing, because you’ve got a lot of trees out there. I’ve noticed how you can go a mile down the road and you’re still passing Lapp orchards.”

“We’ve got some acres,” James said modestly, “but it’s not so much work at pruning time. If you take care of your trees every year, there’s just some trimming to do. It’s just a few trees that have a mind of their own and need to be reshaped. The centers have to be opened up to allow light to reach all parts of the tree.”

Dylan could picture that … a few clipped branches falling to the ground so that sunlight could reach the fruit growing at the heart of the tree.

It felt great to hear James’s voice. “Before today I never thought much about what went into growing a peach or an apple.”

As James rubbed his clean-shaven chin, Dylan thought he detected a trace of a smile. “It’s not so much,” James said. “You do a little pruning, and the Almighty Father takes care of the rest.”

Dylan cocked his head to one side. “Remember what you just said about pruning the branches, that sunlight could reach all parts of the tree?”

James nodded.

“It’s a good image. I’m just wondering if that’s true of a man’s faith. Sometimes we have to prune away our fear and anger so that the power of God can reach our hearts.”

Edna closed the door of the fridge. “How do you prune away anger?”

“Maybe it’s just a crazy thought,” Dylan said. “A verhuddelt thought,” he added, trying to incorporate the Pennsylvania Dutch word he’d learned.

James stared at him, as if the answer were forming in the air between them.

“It’s just some food for thought,” Dylan said.

James nodded, a silent promise that he would think about it.

As Dylan followed Haley out to their cars, a chill wind swept over the winter grasses.

“Ooh!” Haley squealed, struggling to zip up her jacket. “I’m kafrizzling.”

The instinct to sweep her into his arms and warm her with a kiss burned strong inside him. As they came around the barn, out of sight of the house, he reached over for her hand. “Come here.”

Her eyes registered surprise, but she did not hesitate to face him and give him her hands. “Your hands are like ice cubes,” he said as he rubbed warmth into them.

“It was cold in there. Did you know they’re running out of coal?”

He frowned. “I guess that auction can’t come soon enough.” He pressed her hands to his flannel shirt as two rosy patches appeared on her cheeks. “I know it’s cold. I just … I think I owe you some explanation, and I’ve got to do it now before I lose my nerve.”

Her golden eyes opened wide, so warm and receptive. He wanted to kick himself for not being honest with Haley long before this.

“So here it is, for your ears only. You probably realize there’s a reason I’m not jumping into a relationship with you.” The truth sat on his tongue, painfully bitter. “The thing is, I have a past that I’m struggling to reconcile. I was married, very happily married.”

“Oh, Dylan …” Haley stood motionless, her sweet lips pressed into a frown as she nodded. “Tell me.”

“There isn’t much to tell.” That was a lie. There were plenty of stories, but it hurt him to go there. He swallowed back the knot of emotion growing in his throat. “Kris and I had a wonderful life in
Philadelphia. We did the DINK thing in the city, then our daughter came along. Angie. And our lives changed in a way I’d never expected. We were …” His voice was suddenly strained, and he paused. If he told Haley every blessed detail about his baby girl, they would be here forever. “You don’t need the long version. In a nutshell, I lost them both in a car accident a few years ago.”

“Oh, no.” Reflexively, she put her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

He stared straight ahead, aware of the pain but also relieved to have the truth out.

“If you don’t already know …” Haley said with a note of levity. “The nursing students have been dreaming up scenarios about your past, but I don’t think anyone imagined this. How long has it been since … since the accident?”

“Four years … a little more than that. After it happened I quit my teaching job and went back to school for my master’s in social work. I think I needed the whole psychology thing to keep my own fluctuating emotions in check.”

“That’s understandable. And, boy, did you make the right choice. Being a therapist … I think it’s a great fit for you.”

“Well … thanks for that.” He gave her a squeeze, then leaned back so that he could decipher her golden eyes. “Though I wasn’t fishing for compliments. I just wanted to share these things with you because I value our relationship. I really do.”

His voice was low and hoarse, threaded with emotion. He put his hands on her shoulders, as if to hold on to her. “I don’t want to lose you, Haley, but I don’t know if I can get involved yet. I’m not sure about a commitment.” He screwed his mouth to the side, annoyed with himself. “Bottom line, I’m not very good boyfriend material, and I don’t know if that’s ever going to change. I might wind up a wizened old hermit and you … you deserve to have love in your life. I’m afraid you need to move on.”

Haley gripped the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close. “Look and listen. I’m not going anywhere, Dylan. You’re not going to shake me loose that easily.”

“But this is so unfair to you.” He raked back his hair with one hand. “You deserve better than me. You don’t need some ghost of a man in your life.”

“You are flesh and bones, Dylan.” She gripped his arms for emphasis. “And I value every minute we have together.”

He took in a breath. “I’m crazy about you, kid. I may be a beet field hermit now, but if there’s ever anyone I’d like to share the beets with, it would be you.”

The sincerity in his blue eyes, crisp and clear as a summer lake, evoked a visceral reaction deep inside her. How could she work so closely with this man and not fall in love with him? He needed her support, and she was going to be a friend to him. “Tell me what you need and I’ll be there,” she said. “I think you know that patience is not one of my personal virtues, but I’ll do my best. I’ll pray on it and give it up to God and try to cool my jets.”

He laughed. “You have such a poetic way of putting it.”

“But I mean it. I—” She wanted to tell him that she loved him—the feeling was so pure and strong in her heart, she was sure he could see it in her eyes. But she didn’t want to rush him. “You know, I’ve been praying for healing, for both of us,” she said. “And God is answering. This is an answered prayer.”

“You seem surprised at that.”

“Not surprised. Just hopeful.” After years of gray skies, the clouds were breaking apart and sunlight was streaming through. After years of sorrow, she saw hope streaming through, and it was a beautiful sight.

38

F
or the past hour, Elsie had peered out the shop window, watching the traffic on Main Street swell into a slow crawl. She had prayed that everyone was headed toward Zook’s barn, where Ruben had been working since before dawn, preparing for the big event. Once Caleb had replaced her at the shop, she had hustled up the street, grinning as soon as she saw the cars and people surrounding the barn.

Her prayers had been answered!

She nodded to Zed, who was busy outside the big red barn, directing cars and buggies to parking areas. With a glorious swarm of Englishers and a full staff of Amish helpers, the benefit auction was off to a good start. Young boys in black hats and dark jackets waited near the doors for customers who needed help carrying their purchases to their cars.

As Elsie passed through the wide barn doors, her feet felt surprisingly light. Her usual discomfort in large public places wasn’t
pressing on her so much today. Maybe because she knew it was worth coming out for this cause. In any case, she avoided the crowd gathering near the auction stage to weave through the stragglers at the back of the barn.

A long line of booths was set up for Amish merchants to sell items like the Fishers’ baked goods and hot coffee and tea, courtesy of Ye Olde Tea Shop. Market Joe and Lizzy were in charge of the Kings’ booth, where they were selling a variety of cheeses. Lizzy wore a bigger gown with more room at the waist for her growing belly, and her cheeks were rosy with good health, thank the Lord. Remy King waved at her from the same booth, and Elsie waved back, smiling at the sight of little Sam grinning up at a customer with his missing front teeth.

Taking in the many familiar faces from her community, Elsie took a breath of pure joy. She thanked Gott for these generous Plain folk who were quick to come to the aid of those in need.

At the far end of the barn was a banner that read: THANK YOU FROM THE LAPP FAMILY. Nearby was a table where the Lapps sold pie fillings from their orchards: peaches and cherries, apples and apricots. Fanny also canned fruits when they were in season, and Elsie knew there was nothing quite as mouthwatering as a pie made from ingredients that were put up in the peak of freshness.

“Elsie!”

Hearing her name, she turned to see Rachel waving at her with James beside her, wheeling himself over the dirt floor of the barn.

Elsie smiled and hurried over to meet them, relieved that James had decided to come to the auction after all. There’d been some doubt, when he told his family that he didn’t want to be wheeled out “like a wounded pet,” just to make people empty their pockets.