Harvest of Hearts (25 page)

“No. Thanks, anyway. I’m tired, and I want to go to church with my family tomorrow.” Besides, she probably needed to apologize to Matthew. Again. If he’d gone into town with Jacob and the others for coffee, he would have realized she wasn’t working.

She didn’t want to imagine what his thoughts must be. She was a world-class fool.

He probably would have checked behind the barn when he got home from fishing to see if her car was there. And he would have found it, undisturbed.

She remained deep in thought as they walked to the car. She’d ditched her outing with Matthew, and for what? Weak excuses from Nate. A movie she’d hated. Seriously. It was worse than the first one. And dinner had been disappointing, as well: intolerably spicy dishes at a Chinese buffet. Maybe she should have insisted on the food court. At least there would have been a variety of options to choose from.

Maybe she was a high-maintenance drama queen, as a former college roommate had once called her. She tried to focus on the positive. She’d managed to find a few items on the buffet that she’d moderately enjoyed, and several scenes in the movie had been good.

Okay. Time to stop being dishonest, even with herself. She wanted to be with Matthew. She loved him. And an unpalatable buffet dinner and a terrible movie would have been so much better in his company.

She would never see a movie with Matthew, though. He’d already joined the church. Made the kneeling confession. Not that giving up movies would be a big loss. She’d never been really into them, anyway, always preferring to spend her free time curled up with a good book. It was much easier on her budget, too, and much more pleasant to be entertained by the written word.

Ach, she hoped he’d forgive her for running off on him to be with Nate.

Nate started the car. Seconds later, he pointed at his dash. “I need to stop at home. My oil light is on.” He looked at Shanna. “Want to come in for a bit? I’ll make some hot chocolate.” He flipped on his turn signal, then merged into the left lane.

Shanna’s heartbeat doubled with dread. Was this a repeat of the attempt he’d made the last time she’d been at his house? She wouldn’t fall for the same trick twice. “Uh, no, thanks. I’ll wait in the car. Um, actually, why don’t you stop at the gas station and pick up some oil?”

“I already have a bottle, but it’s at home. Won’t take long.”

She watched the traffic as they drove through the city. Soon, they turned onto the street where Nate lived with his roommates. It was dark, with no streetlights. Not too far from their college. He’d thought it’d be cheaper to commute than to pay room and board. It probably was, but she’d been more comfortable with the communal living in the dorms. Maybe because of her upbringing in a close, cloistered community.

Nate turned the car into his driveway. “You sure you don’t want to come in?”

She hunkered down in her seat. “No. I’m staying right here.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ll be out in a few.” He got out of the car, shut his door, and headed for the house. When he opened the back door, a shaft of light flickered across the driveway for a moment, then disappeared when he shut the door.

A few minutes later, the outside light came on, and Nate sauntered back out, holding a couple of plastic bottles. He set them down in front of the car, then opened the driver door and reached under the dash to pop open the hood. “Be done in a jiffy.” He slammed the door and went back around front, but she couldn’t see what he was doing under the hood.

A few minutes later, the hood slammed shut. The whole car shook with the force. Shanna watched Nate carry the plastic bottles across the driveway and dump them in a trash barrel next to the back door.

“Done!” he said as he slid back into the driver seat. “We’ll be on our way in no time.” He grinned at her. “Sure you don’t want to stop for coffee?”

She hesitated. At work, she was permitted to drink all the coffee she wanted, but it had been a while since she’d tasted some of Starbucks’ specialty drinks. “Maybe an iced latte. That sounds good. Thanks.”

“No problem.” He inserted the key in the ignition and turned it. A weird sort of scratching sound came from the engine.

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound good. My battery must be dead again, but my roommate isn’t here to give it a jump. I probably need a new one. Too bad. Come on in, Shanna, while we wait for Tom to get back.”

Shanna scooted closer to the passenger door and tried to think. She wished there was someone she could call to come and pick her up. Daed might be willing to call a driver to pick her up, but he didn’t carry a cell phone. Matthew carried a phone, but she didn’t have his number. None of her close friends would be in town. The medical mission trip in Mexico was supposed to last most of the summer.

She should be with them. But she wasn’t close enough to the Lord to serve as a missionary, anyway. The Almighty must have recognized that. She should have known better than to expect to go. He’d closed that door, good and hard. Slammed it, really.

Lord, help me think.

Shanna pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and fingered it. Joseph had one. She’d almost forgotten. And she’d entered his number months ago. She found his entry on her contact list, pressed “send,” and held the phone to her ear.

“Aw, Shanna, you don’t need to call anyone. I’m sure Tom will be here in no time. Come on in. We can watch TV, and I’ll make some hot chocolate. He’ll be back before you know it.”

She ignored him. Four rings. Finally, her brother’s voice came on the line. “Joe speaking.”

Joe? Shanna had never heard her brother go by a nickname. “Hey. It’s Shanna. Can you ask Daed to call a driver for me?”

There was a long pause. “Shanna. I’m, uh, not at home. Why don’t you call Daed?”

“He doesn’t have a phone!”

Joseph chuckled. “Ach, Shanna. So much you don’t know. Daed carries one. Business related. Let me text you the number.”

She ended the call. Seconds later, her phone made a sound to alert her that a text message had arrived. She hated having to call Daed and ask for his help after he’d warned her and she hadn’t listened. She’d gotten herself into this scrape, but she’d need his help to get out of it. No choice but to call and ask him to rescue her.

“
Don’t come crying to me….
”

His words thundered through her mind.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to go inside with Nate and wait. Drinking hot chocolate beat having to eat humble pie, for sure.

“When do you expect Tom to get back?” She looked up at Nate.

He leaned back, a satisfied expression settling on his face. “Oh, hard to say. An hour, give or take.” He shrugged.

Something about his smirk bothered her enough that she opened her phone again. And dialed Daed’s number.

***

Matthew had just settled into a chair in the living room with the family for evening devotions when a strange ring broke the silence. Levi stood and reached into one of his pockets, his face flushing. Phone calls were certainly a rare occurrence at the Stoltzfus house.

“Usually leave this thing in the office,” Levi muttered. “Don’t recognize the number.” He frowned, studied the phone for a moment, then pressed a button. “Levi Stoltzfus.” He fell silent, presumably listening to the caller, and then nodded. “If you feel uncomfortable, you did right to call. I’ll see if Tony is free. You stay put.” He listened for a second more before snapping the phone shut and glancing at Deborah. Seconds later, his gaze moved to Matthew. “That was Shanna. I need to call a driver. She went into the city with Nate, and he’s having car trouble again. Honestly, that girl.” He shook his head and stormed out to the kitchen.

Matthew’s heart lurched, and he jumped to his feet, adrenaline pumping through his body. Nate was really trying the same trick again? This Englisch boyfriend of Shanna’s was enough to make Matthew forget that he was a pacifist, and then he’d have to make a kneeling confession before the bishop. It was good Nate wasn’t in the room right now. He wouldn’t be left standing. And, judging by the anger radiating from Levi, he might have done something to require a kneeling confession of his own.

Levi turned around in the doorway and faced Matthew. “He’ll be here in about ten minutes. Matthew, do you want to go?”

He hesitated, deliberating over his decision. She’d dumped him for Nate, but now, she was in trouble. If he truly cared for her, there was no choice to be made, really. Even though he’d vowed never to be used by her again.

He drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “I’ll go.” The words left a lump in his throat. He didn’t feel at all at peace with his decision, but he needed to have a talk with her. Clarify where they stood with each other. And make it clear that if she wanted to be with him, then Nate would be ancient history.

Levi gave him a concerned look, as if he was worried Shanna might have pushed Matthew too far. And she had. The Bible story of Hosea going to rescue his prostitute wife from the auction block crossed Matthew’s mind.

“We’ll have time for devotions before Tony gets here.” Levi slid his phone back into his pocket, then returned to his seat beside the table where the big family Bible lay. He sat down, opened the Book, and started to read the German text. From the book of Hosea. Levi must have been struck by the parallels, too.

When he finished reading, he shut the Bible, and they all closed their eyes for a silent prayer. Matthew’s bolted open again when a bright light lit the room. Headlights shone through the window.

He shot a glance at Levi, whose eyelids fluttered open. The older man nodded subtly before closing his eyes again. Matthew got up and left the room quietly. As he slipped into his shoes, he breathed a silent prayer that God would go with him to guard his words and his actions—and his heart.

***

“Oh, come on, Shanna. You know I won’t hurt you. Call your dad back and tell him to forget it. You can wait until Tom gets back and jump-starts my car. Church is no big deal. You hardly ever go when you’re at school.” Nate put his left arm on the steering wheel in a relaxed stance. “Come on inside. I don’t know why you have to be such a prude.”

“I can’t help it, Nate. I guess a prude is what I am. And Daed’s already called for a driver.” She couldn’t believe he’d done so without taking the time to lecture her about her poor choices. Of course, that discussion would probably happen when they got home. She’d hear another version of the “Why don’t you listen to me?” talk Daed was so good at giving. Like he was the be-all and end-all of knowledge. Well, come right down to it, he was usually right. Why couldn’t she listen to him?

She sighed. It probably boiled down to pride, just as Daed had told her.

Nate tried a few more times to convince her to come inside. When she steadfastly refused, he called her a few choice words, further opening her eyes to his character, before jumping out of the car, slamming the door behind him, and disappearing inside the house once more.

Shanna sat in the darkness with nothing but her thoughts and the shadows to keep her company. She mulled over what Daed had accused Nate of the last time. After a few minutes, she leaned over and popped the hood open. Then, she got out of the car and lifted the hood, propping it on its support. Nate had left the outside light on, and she was able to make out the battery. It had been disconnected. Evidence seen with her own eyes. Why hadn’t she believed Daed in the first place?

Fury, fast and hot, overtook her, and she started for the house, prepared to give Nate a piece of her mind. She’d barely taken two steps when her foot touched something, and she stumbled. She shrieked before looking down. A cat. A silly cat. She picked it up, cuddling it in her arms. Just then, the door burst open, and Nate strode out.

“You okay? Thought I heard a scream.”

“The cat scared me.” Scared the anger right out of her. She tried to find the remnants of it. “And I just checked under your hood. Your battery was disconnected! I can’t believe you did that. Everything my daed said about you was true.” To her dismay, tears burned her eyes. She refused to cry now.

“Aw, Shanna. You’re so lovely. I want you, but you seem happy just being friends. How else am I supposed to make you see me as more than just a friend?”

“Definitely not by lying to me or tricking me. Wrong move, Nate.”

He stepped forward and took the cat out of her arms, dropping it on the ground. It landed on all fours with a hiss and a swish of its tail. Ignoring the animal, Nate grasped Shanna by her upper arms, yanking her to him. His mouth searched for hers and landed with a hard kiss.