Brush of Angel's Wings (13 page)

Naomi clasped her hands behind her back and swayed. “He hasn't gained courage to ask for my hand if that's what you mean. He's only started
kumming
to sit with me on the porch.”

“I'm sure you've given him plenty of hints,” Rachel teased.

“Of course. He's shy. I'd still be waiting for him to sit with me in the evenings if I hadn't told him about the new wooden bench
mei daed
made.”

“New bench?”

“I told him I'd never sat with a
bu
on it.” Naomi tilted her head, considering Rachel. “You need to be forward too.”

“I've only been asked once to be driven home from a singing and Jordan interfered with that. He could have let me ride with Peter. What harm was there in that?” She balanced the plate of peanut butter cookies over the cups.

Naomi grabbed the other cups. “Forget Peter. He drove Anne home after you left. Jordan is the one. I'm telling you, you're blind if you can't see he's interested.”

Rachel's mind reeled.
He took Anne home?

Naomi nudged her. “You have a porch swing.” She cast her eyes toward the window. “And the evening
wedder
is pleasant.”

Rachel wanted to tell her friend to leave it alone, but she held her response and headed for the sitting room.

After serving the women, Rachel sat next to the window. The women's chatter merged into the background as she sipped her coffee and gazed outside, lost in her thoughts. A pickup entered the driveway and stopped in front of the barn. Rachel scooted closer to the window for a better view.

Kayla Davy climbed out from the driver's seat.

“Is that someone in the driveway?”
Mamm
craned her neck, as did most of the women.

“An
Englisher
,” Katie said, taking in the outside activity.

Rachel set her cup on the side table and stood. “George Davy's girl. She's probably
kumm
to check on her horse.” Rachel rose to her toes to see where Kayla had gone. The lilac bushes in full bloom obstructed her view. “I'll tell her that
Daed's
working in the field,” she said, walking to the door.

Once Rachel rounded the bushes, she stopped. Wearing a blue-and-white checkered shirt tucked into a pair of skintight jeans, Kayla rocked on the heels of her boots while talking to Jordan at the edge of the field.

Jordan leaned close to Kayla, his attention never leaving her lovely face.

Chapter Nine

J
ordan eyed Kayla Davy's stance. With her thumbs laced through her belt loops and her fingers tapping the pocket rivets on her Wranglers, he couldn't help but notice the shiny buckle that was centered over her petite waistline. The adornment boasted of a champion barrel racer, and Kayla seemed mighty proud to wear it as she rocked on the heels of her boots. The sun's reflection off the silver buckle sparkled.

Jordan cleared his throat. “What can I do for you?”

She smiled. “I thought I would go for a ride.”

Jordan scanned the area. “It's too muddy for trail riding, and I wouldn't trust that horse on the road if I were you.”

“Maybe you should be my guide and keep me safe.” She raised an eyebrow.

Jordan steadied his focus on Micah as he approached them. Maybe in the absence of her father, Micah's caution would influence her not to ride today.

“Good afternoon, Kayla. I hope you don't mind if I shoe your horse on Monday.”

“That's fine. I was actually hoping to ride today.”

Micah glanced at the clouded sky.

“I asked Jordan if he wants to ride along with me”—she bowed her head slightly while directing her eyes up at Jordan—“but he hasn't answered.”

“Not today,” Jordan said. This wasn't the time for trail riding. It was time for hard work. He needed to prove he was worthy of his pay. He spoke to Micah. “We've got that last patch of ground that needs turning.”

She cleared her throat. “Okay, I'll go alone.” She spun around and walked away.

Tangus chased after the girl, filling her head with flirtatious ideas and movements, while Nathaniel held his position next to his charge.

Dancing around the girl, Tangus caused the sunlight to shift and shadow about her. “She's a beauty, isn't she, Jordan? Probably the prettiest girl you've ever seen. And she wants to spend time with you! She'd be clay in your hands—moldable to fit your desires.” Tangus curled his lecherous tongue over his lips. “You find her beauty enticing; don't deny yourself. She's yours. Don't let her walk off alone.”

Nathaniel created a gust of wind that shook the branches of the poplar trees. A balsam scent filled the breeze and drew Jordan's attention upward.

“That's right, Jordan, look away. Flee temptation.” Nathaniel pressed his hand on Jordan's shoulder. “Turn from temptation.”

Tangus spoke louder. “Your heart desires her. It's okay. God wants to give you the desire of your heart. Embrace it and run after her—after fate.” Tangus purred with satisfaction when Jordan's focus shifted from the sky.

Jordan watched Kayla head to the barn. She was so different from Rachel. She was open and eager to spend time with him.

No!
He closed his eyes to ward off being distracted. To mentally shake off Kayla's image, he spoke to Micah. “You think we can finish before the sun goes down?”

Micah evaluated the unbroken ground. “If
nett
today, then next week we will.” He looked at Jordan, considering him. “Grace would be pleased with you.”

“Thank you, sir. But I still have a lot to learn. I don't know much about plowing.” He fisted his hand. “I'm not good at milking yet either.”

Micah smiled. “I meant not yielding to temptation.”

Jordan shifted awkwardly.

“May I ask a personal question?”

Jordan coughed into his hand. “Sure.”

“Where's your father?”

All kinds of emotions let loose inside him. “I don't know. I guess he's a truck driver. I haven't seen him since I was . . . a kid.”

“He hasn't tried to reach you since Gracie became ill?”

Gracie?

“I'm sorry. Is this too hard to talk about?”

Jordan shrugged. Micah was easy to talk to, but he'd never talked much about his father, even with his mother.

Micah cleared his throat. “I'm sorry. Sometimes I miss the long talks my
sohn
and I had.” He peered at Clyde standing in the field. “What do you say we finish the plowing another day? I'll fetch Clyde. You start the evening chores.”

“I heard about your son. I'm sorry. It must be difficult without him. No one told me what happened.” Jordan wished he hadn't said anything after seeing the pained look in Micah's eyes.

“It happened two years ago. He tried to save a stray sheep from the river and the current swept him under.”

Jordan swallowed. He hadn't thought about it before. No wonder Rachel was adamant about not being brothered.

“I'm sorry.”

When Micah's eyes watered, Jordan had enough sense to give the man space. “I'll start the chores.” He walked to the barn.

Kayla looked up from tightening the saddle cinch. “Change your mind about riding?”

He leaned against the support beam and crossed his arms. “No.”

She flipped the stirrup down and gave it a quick tug, then took the reins in her hands. “Would you get the door?”

He pushed off the wall and unlatched the door.

The sudden light spooked Pepper, who sidestepped the entrance.

“It's okay, boy,” Kayla coaxed softly. The horse took a few steps back until he backed into the wall between the hay and the milking area, then he burst forward. The reins slid through Kayla's hold.

Jordan reached out and grabbed them as Pepper was about to speed by. “Whoa.” He pulled the horse's head around so he could do nothing but move in a circle. “Ride another day. He isn't settled.”

She crossed her arms and planted her feet. “I'm not frightened by a horse.”

She was foolish not to be. Dripping wet, she probably didn't weigh much more than the saddle. She'd be tossed off him like a fly if Pepper decided he didn't want her there anymore.

“Are you sure?” This horse was clearly too much for the girl to handle.

“Absolutely sure.” She let Jordan lead Pepper out of the barn and into the sunlight. Rachel was not far away, standing at the clothesline. He sensed her pretending not to notice him as she unfastened the clothing from the line. His stomach pitted with an odd sensation.

Kayla came around the horse's left side. “Will you give me a leg up?” She stood on one foot, her other leg bent at the knee, and looked at him, not giving him much choice.

He hesitated. The horse rippled with energy, unable to stand completely still. Kayla hopped about to stay with him.

“Jordan, please?”

He put his hands underneath her bent leg, supporting it. She began to bounce gently. “One, two, three,” they counted together. On three, Jordan lifted and Kayla expertly swung her free leg over Pepper's back and set herself in the saddle. As she secured her feet in the stirrups, he said, “Stay out of the field. It's too muddy. I'd take the trail through the woods, but watch for downed limbs—”

“Maybe you should ride along with me.” She smiled, looking coy and enticing.

“I'm not crazy.”

“And you think I am?” She held the reins tight as the horse sidestepped. “You wouldn't be riding Pepper, you'd be riding a much, much tamer horse.” Her brown eyes flickered with an untamed spirit similar to that of her horse. They both seemed to have vinegar running through their veins.

He grinned. “Should I call you a fool instead?”

“If that's what you think of me.” She reined her horse in a tight turn. “But a good Amish
bu
would repent over saying that.” She loosened the rein at the same time she nudged Pepper with her calves. The horse bolted forward and mud soon shot up behind his pounding hooves.

He wanted to yell that a real horsewoman warmed up her horse before asking for speed. She wouldn't hear and she wouldn't care anyway.

A moment later Rachel walked up beside him. “What did you say that Kayla said you should repent?”

“She was teasing.” He shifted his weight when Rachel didn't drop the scowl. “I called her a fool. That isn't a big deal.”

The women near the house were bidding each other good-bye.

“They heard what she said too.” Rachel nodded toward the women who had just finished their sewing time. “A
gut
Amish
bu
would—”

“I don't have anything to repent over. I'm not Amish,” he said with a sparkle in his eye and a grin on his lips.

The long-haired cat meowed, and Rachel stooped down to scoop him into her arms. “Smokey!” she cooed. “Where have you been?” As she rubbed him, he began to purr.

Jordan backed away before the cat's dander blocked his breathing. He collected the water buckets from each stall, then held his breath as he moved past her. So far his chest hadn't tightened, and he wasn't wheezing in the close proximity to the cat. But he could sense a sneezing fit about to take over.

Jordan set the buckets under the well spigot and cranked the handle to prime the pump. Hooves pounded the ground. Jordan spun. Galloping to the barn, Pepper was riderless.

Jordan bolted toward the barn to catch the horse. He grabbed the dangling reins, and as he quickly mounted the prancing horse, Rachel stepped out of the barn. He wasn't thrilled about getting on this tightly wound bundle of energy, but he had no choice. It would take too long to saddle up another horse. He only hoped Pepper had a lot of his fire.

“Tell Micah I went to find Kayla. She might be hurt.” He guided the horse to head in the same direction he'd watched Kayla go.
God, I know I don't pray often enough, but let her be okay
.

On the wooded trail, the budding birch trees offered an open view, but the fading light would become an issue if she wasn't found soon. He spotted fresh hoofprints and began to follow them.

“Kayla?” His voice echoed. He swept his eyes across the path. The rushing river grew louder. She had to be somewhere close. His eyes locked several feet ahead on her checkered shirt. Jordan prodded the horse to move faster and dismounted before the horse stopped a few feet from her.

He looked her over from head to toe as he knelt beside her. She was caked with mud, but he didn't see any blood. He tapped her shoulder. “It's Jordan. Can you hear me?”

She groaned.

He reached for her hand. “Where do you hurt?” Just because there weren't visual signs of injury didn't mean she hadn't suffered internal injuries.

She managed to pull herself up to a wobbly sitting position, then winced and laid back down on the ground. “I'm fine. I'm just dizzy.”