Amish White Christmas Pie (19 page)

Karen sighed. “Will’s already gotten the wrong impression. He thinks Leroy is interested in me.”

“Well, you used to go out with Leroy. I can see why Will might be jealous.”

“But we broke up a long time ago, and I was never really serious about Leroy in a romantic sort of way. We’re just good friends, same as we have been since we were kinner.”

“Even so, Leroy’s attention could be misconstrued.”

“But the other day, you said a little jealousy isn’t such a bad thing.”

“I know what I said, but after seeing the way Leroy looked at you just now, I’ve changed my mind. I can see why Will might be jealous, and I feel for him.”

“I don’t think Leroy looked at me in any special way. I also don’t think Will has any more reason to be jealous of me and Leroy than I do of him and Mary Jane.”

Mom’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Mary Jane hangs around Will every chance she gets. Whenever I’ve been in the health food store when Will’s been working there, Mary Jane’s always smiling and talking his ear off.”

Mom smiled. “Of course she would be talking to him. Mary Jane works at the health food store, so it’s only natural that she would talk to the owner’s son. I’m sure she’s not romantically interested in Will. They’re just friends, same as you and Leroy.”

“I hope you’re right, because I’m feeling kind of anxious about the way things are between me and Will right now.”

Mom reached across the table and patted Karen’s hand. “Remember what the Bible says about worry. In 1 Peter 5:7, we are reminded to cast all our cares on the Lord because He cares for us.”

Karen nodded. “Jah, I know, but sometimes it’s not so easy to remember.”

“With your wedding day only a month away, you’re probably feeling a bit overanxious, and so is Will. Most brides and grooms feel that way right before they’re married. I know your daed and I sure did. We almost called off the wedding because we were both feeling so naerfich, which of course led to a big misunderstanding.”

Karen had no idea her folks had almost called off their wedding. “What was the misunderstanding about?”

“You know, it happened so long ago that I can’t remember all the details. The point is, tension happens and nerves can be on edge when a couple’s wedding day approaches. That’s why you and Will need to discuss your feelings. If you air things out between you now, you’ll have fewer problems with communication once you’re married.”

Karen considered Mom’s advice. Maybe she was right. Talking about their concerns might do wonders for both of them.

“Is it all right if we stop by the Stoltzfuses’ on our way home so I can talk to Will?” Karen asked. “I’d like to see those puppies his dog had not long ago, too.”

“Could it wait until this evening? Mavis can’t work this afternoon, so I’m going to need your help in the store for the rest of the day.”

“But Cindy’s working today. Can’t you do without my help for an hour or so this afternoon?”

“Normally I could, but your daed has an appointment with the chiropractor at three o’clock, and Cindy’s going with him because her neck’s been hurting.”

Karen shrugged. “I guess if Cindy and Dad need to see the chiropractor this afternoon, then I’ll wait until after supper to see Will. I want to get some things resolved between us before we have a misunderstanding that could ruin our plans to get married.”

As Will helped Papa Mark herd the cows from the pasture to the milking barn, he continued to fume over seeing Leroy at Das Dutchman with Karen. He’d been so upset when he left the restaurant that he’d forgotten all about getting any baked goods to bring home. He just couldn’t figure out why Leroy hung around Karen so much if he had no interest in her romantically.

“You seem preoccupied,” Papa Mark said as they approached the milking barn. “Is something bothering you?”

A dark gray cat darted out of the barn, and another cat followed. The first cat zipped under one of the cows. As Papa Mark bent down to shoo away the cat, the cow let out a raucous
moo
and kicked out her back leg.

Papa Mark groaned and dropped to the ground in a heap.

Will gasped and rushed forward. “Are you okay?”

Papa Mark lay quiet and unmoving.

Will’s heart pounded in his chest. He had to get help for Papa Mark!

R
egina sat in the hospital waiting room feeling done in and discouraged. She stood up and began to pace.
I wish Will was here. I feel so alone
.

Will had said he would come as soon as the milking was done, and she knew that job couldn’t wait. But it had been hard to come to the hospital without him and wait by herself while Mark was being examined. When Will had come to the house and told her about the accident, Regina had rushed to the phone shed to call for help.

She walked to the window and peered out at the night sky. How thankful she felt that her husband was still alive. Many weren’t so fortunate. Just last year, Owen Kauffman, one of the minister’s sons, had been killed when an unruly horse had kicked him in the head. Last fall, Silas Bontrager had broken his neck when he’d fallen from the hayloft in his barn.

Life was full of uncertainties and tragedies, and Regina had learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with life was to take one day at a time and trust God in all things.

“I came as soon as I heard the news. How’s Mark doing? Is he going to be okay?” Susanna Chupp asked.

Regina whirled around. She’d been in such deep thought that she hadn’t heard anyone come into the room. “Mark suffered a concussion, but the doctor thinks he should be okay in a few weeks.” She clasped her friend’s hand. “How’d you know we were here?”

“Aaron heard the sirens blaring, and when he saw the ambulance go up your driveway, he and Nathan went right over. They got there soon after the ambulance took Mark away, and when Will told them what had happened with the cow, Nathan stayed to help with the milking.” Susanna drew in a quick breath. “Then Aaron came home and called our English neighbors to give me a ride to the hospital. He figured you’d be here alone and might appreciate some company.”

“Jah, I sure do. Danki for coming, Susanna.”

“Of course. That’s what friends are for—to support one another during times of need.”

Tears welled in Regina’s eyes. “Mark was unconscious for several minutes after the cow kicked him, and I was afraid he might not make it.”

Susanna motioned to the chairs behind them. “Shall we sit awhile?”

“If Nathan’s helping with the milking, it shouldn’t be long until Will is able to get a ride to the hospital,” Regina said as she took a seat beside her friend.

“Jah, I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

“The doctor said Mark won’t be able to do any of his chores for a few weeks, so it’s going to put a hardship on us for a while.”

Susanna gave Regina’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Once the word gets out about Mark’s accident, you’ll have plenty of help.”

“I appreciate your coming over to help me,” Will said as he and Nathan left the milking barn.

“No problem. Glad I could do it, even though you did most of the work and had to talk me through my part of the procedure.” Nathan motioned to the phone shed in front of the health food store. “You’d better call for a ride and get to the hospital so you can see how your daed’s doing.”

Will nodded. “I was really scared when that cow knocked him unconscious, but I felt better when the ambulance got here and he started coming around. I don’t know what Mama Regina would do if anything happened to Papa Mark.”

Nathan clasped Will’s shoulder. “If something happened to your daed, I know you’d miss him, too.”

Will moved toward the phone shed. “You’re right about that. Papa Mark has been like a real daed to me.”

“It’s always hard to lose a loved one.” Nathan pointed to the driveway. “Looks like a buggy’s coming in. The word must be out about your daed’s accident already.”

Will halted and waited to see who it was. When the horse and buggy stopped, Karen stepped down.

“You must have heard the news,” Will said as he rushed up to her.

Karen’s eyebrows furrowed. “What news?”

“Papa Mark was kicked by one of our cows and was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Goshen.”

Karen gasped. “Ach, that’s
baremlich
!”

“It is terrible,” Nathan agreed.

“How’d it happen?” Karen asked.

Will grimaced. “One of our barn cats was chasing another cat, and it ran under the cow. Papa Mark bent down to shoo the cat away, and the cow kicked him in the head.”

“Is he going to be all right?”

“I hope so. He was unconscious for a spell but came awake before the ambulance took him to the hospital.”

“Did your mamm go with him?”

“Jah. I told Mama Regina I would join her there as soon as I got the milking done.” Will motioned to Nathan. “Thanks to my good friend’s help, I was able to get it done quicker than I could have on my own.”

Nathan smiled. “That’s what friends are for.”

Will nodded and turned to face Karen. “If you hadn’t heard the news, what prompted you to come over here this evening?”

“I wanted to talk to you about some things.”

“What things?”

Her cheeks colored slightly. “It’s not important. I mean, what I had to say can wait for another time.”

Will wondered if what Karen wanted to talk about had anything to do with the lunch she’d shared with Leroy today. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind about marrying him because of something Leroy had said.

“Will you be heading to the hospital soon?” Karen asked.

“I was getting ready to call for a ride when you showed up.”

“I’d like to go along if you don’t mind.”

“Of course I don’t mind. I’d appreciate the company.”

“I’d like to go, too,” Nathan put in. “My aunt’s probably there with your mamm by now. She and I can get a ride together when she’s ready to head for home.”