Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Rancher for Christmas\Her Montana Christmas\An Amish Christmas Journey\Yuletide Baby (41 page)

Chapter Twelve

S
he couldn't move.

All the years of cringing and avoiding Morris, of trying not to attract his attention, trying and failing not to trigger his wrath, all those memories and more put a wall in front of Greta. She didn't have to help him.

Even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew it wasn't true.

She did have to help. If she didn't, she would be no better than he was. He did not get to win. He did not get to make her into his own image.

She rushed across the brown grass and knelt at his side. He was breathing. She gently rolled him onto his back and loosened his collar. Was it enough? What else could she do? Should she scream for help or run back to the van?

He moaned. She took his hand between her own. “
Onkel,
can you hear me? What do I do?”

“Another pill,” he whispered.

She checked his pockets but the vial was gone. She looked around and saw it lying near his feet. She grabbed it, quickly shook a pill into her hand and put it under his tongue. After a minute, his breathing grew easier.

“I'm going to go get help.” She rushed through the arbor and saw Toby waiting for her beside the van.

The instant he caught sight of her he broke into a run toward her. “What's wrong?”

“Morris has had another attack.”

Toby rushed past her, and she hurried to keep up with him. When Toby reached Morris, he gently lifted his head. “Do you need an ambulance?”

“
Nee,
I don't want to die in a hospital. Help me to my feet. I can walk now.”

She and Toby helped Morris stand. He wavered for a moment, then straightened. “It appears God is not ready to take me. Here comes the child. Don't alarm her.”

“What's wrong?” Marianne asked as she rushed to Morris's side.

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I walked too far, and I needed a short rest, but I'm ready to go back to the van now.”

“I'll help you. You can lean on me,” she said.

Her uncle did something that Greta had never seen. He smiled, but there was a faraway look in his eyes. “
Danki,
Miriam. You have always been my
goot
little helper.”

“My name is Marianne, but you can call me Miriam if you want to,” she said as they walked away.

He shook his head as if to clear it. “You must forgive an old man for his foggy memory. Marianne is your name, and that is what I will call you.”

Greta stood beside Toby and watched the odd couple walk away. “I have never seen my uncle smile in all the years that I have known him. Your sister has a remarkable effect on him.”

“As you have had a remarkable effect on her.”

“You give me too much credit. I think Christmas is the one we should thank.”

“I noticed how she was acting, too. From now on, I think your uncle and the cat should stick together.”

“I'm not sure Marianne will agree to that.”

“She will understand. The cat belongs to you.”

They returned to the van. Greta quietly explained to Arles what had happened. “There is a hospital in Millersburg. Do you want me to stop there?” he asked.

“Only if my uncle is feeling worse or has another attack.”

“I'll leave it up to you, then. We should be there in thirty minutes. Hope Springs is only forty minutes from Millersburg. If you don't think we should stop at the hospital, I'd like to drive straight through. I'm afraid the storm is catching up with us.”

When everyone was settled, Arles pulled out and headed down the highway.

Now that she was in the home stretch of her journey, Greta found herself at a loss for words as she sat beside Toby. It was as if the companionship they shared was evaporating the closer she got to home. Perhaps that was the way it was meant to be. Theirs was a fleeting friendship and nothing more.

As they rolled into the outskirts of Millersburg, Greta moved forward to sit beside her uncle. “How are you feeling?”

“Tolerable.”

“We can stop if you would like.”

He sneered and then looked away. “A happy family reunion awaits me. Why would I wish to delay that?”

Greta knew Arles overheard them. She caught his eye in the rearview mirror and shook her head. There was no need to stop.

Beyond Millersburg, they ran into heavy snow as they passed the leading edge of the storm. The wind drove it down the highway in white slithering snakes and began to pile it in drifts along the edges of the roadway. Heavy gusts buffeted the vehicle, forcing Arles to slow down. The forty-minute journey stretched into an hour, but finally her grandfather's mailbox came into view at the side of the road.

“Turn left here,” she said.

Arles braked, but the van fishtailed and skidded past the lane before he brought it back under control. “Sorry about that, folks. There must be some ice under the snow.”

He managed to turn the vehicle around and safely negotiated the corner at a much slower speed. When her grandfather's house and barns came into view, Greta was both grateful and sad. She was home, but her time with Toby was done.

Arles stopped in front of the gate but left the engine running. “I'll help you get your bags out.”

“I'll help her,” Toby offered.

As Greta and her uncle stepped out, Marianne slipped the cat back into the pet carrier. “Goodbye, Christmas. I hope you like the farm. It's got to be better than that town.”

She fastened the top closed. Her lower lip was quivering, but she bravely offered the box to Greta. “I know you'll take good care of her.”

Greta folded her arms. “I was thinking that she might be happier living with you.”

“Really?” Marianne's eyes brightened.

“Really. I'm afraid that our dog will chase her.”

Morris shifted from one foot to the other. “He is a savage beast. The cat will be safer with you.”

“Are you sure about this?” Toby asked, giving Morris a direct look.

“I shall have all my loving nieces to attend to me. Let the child have the cat. I'm going inside. It's cold out here.”

Marianne put the carrier back on the seat. Then she jumped out of the vehicle and threw her arms around Morris. “Goodbye and thank you for letting me keep Christmas. I hope you get well soon. I will remember you in my prayers every night and every morning.”

“Bless you, Miriam. You are a good child.” He turned away, climbed the steps slowly and went into the house.

Greta dropped to her knees before Marianne ignoring the snow that covered the ground. The child threw her arms around Greta's neck and hugged her tight. “I'm going to miss you, Greta.”

“I'm going to miss you, too. Take good care of Christmas for me. And remember, she isn't ugly because she has a good heart. Never believe anyone who says otherwise.”

“I'll remember.”

“You had better get back in the van. Smile. You will be home in a few hours.”

Marianne got in and waved. “Goodbye and happy Christmas.”

“Happy Christmas to you and to Christmas, too.” She closed the door of the van to keep out the cold.

Toby carried Greta's bag up the porch steps, and she followed him. Now was her chance to say goodbye without an audience. He turned to face her and everything she wanted to say flew out of her mind. The only refrain in her head was something she couldn't say.

Don't go.

* * *

The snow whirled around the house, enclosing them in a cocoon of white. Toby was reluctant to leave. In two short days, she'd had a remarkable impact on him. He knew he would never forget her. “You made it home safe and sound.”

“It was an interesting journey.”

She didn't move toward the door. It gave him the courage to take a step closer. “I know you must think I'm a bold fellow, but I was wondering if I might write to you. Please?”

“I would like to know how your sister is doing and how Christmas is getting along.”

He pushed his hands deeper into the pockets of his coat. She cared about his sister and about the cat, but did she care about him? “I hope you and your uncle can make amends.”

“
Danki.
I know you and your sister will do fine.”

“I should get going. The snow was getting heavier. I know Arles wants to leave.”

He started to turn away, but she stopped him when she said, “I will want to know how you are getting along in Pennsylvania, too.”

He smiled, happy to know she did care about him and gave her the address. He'd already made a mental note of the number on her mailbox. “I want to hear all about your schooling and how your uncle gets along with your sisters and the dog.”

“I wish you could come in and meet my family.”

“If I ever get back this way, I'll stay long enough to meet all of them.”

“I would like that,” she said softly. He couldn't be sure, but he thought she might be blushing.

“Goodbye and Merry Christmas, Greta Barkman. May God bless and keep you.”

She lifted her gaze to stare into his eyes. “And you, Toby.”

He wanted to kiss her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. He took another step closer. Arles beeped the horn.

“Have a safe trip.” She lifted her face ever so slightly to gaze up at him. Her lips, so close to his own, were an invitation he couldn't resist. He bent forward and covered her mouth with his own.

She pulled back in surprise, her eyes wide with shock.

He called himself every kind of fool. This wasn't how he wanted their time together to end. “I'm sorry, Greta. I didn't mean to startle you.”

She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Don't be sorry.”

His heart thudded against his chest. Sandwiched somewhere between disappointment and hope.

I wanted one kiss to remember you by. One touch of your sweet lips to last a lifetime.

“I'm not sorry I kissed you. I'm only sorry if I frightened you.”

“Goodbye, Toby.” She picked up her bag and hurried into the house.

Arles sounded the horn again, and Toby trudged down the steps to the waiting van. He had probably given Greta a disgust of him.

Probably? She couldn't wait to get away and safely in the house. He was blessed that she hadn't set the dog on him.

What a fool he was. She would never write to him now.

As they pulled out of the farmyard, Toby looked back at the house. The snow quickly hid it from his sight. He missed her already. There was something about her presence that was comforting and yet in a strange way exciting. Would he ever see her again? It was unlikely unless he made a point of returning to Hope Springs. Once he and Marianne were settled, could he return then? First, he had to find a job and then save enough money. How long would it take? A year? Two years? He had no way of knowing. His heart grew heavy as he realized how improbable his plan was.

One kiss would have to be enough.

Christmas began yowling loudly and scratching at her box. Marianne opened the lid to peek in. “What's wrong?”

Christmas nudged her way out and before Marianne could stop her, she leaped over the front seat and onto Arles's shoulder. He yelped in surprise. The van swerved wildly, skidded sideways and plunged off the road.

Chapter Thirteen

G
reta stood with her back against the door, her hand pressed to her chest trying to still her wildly beating heart. Why had Toby kissed her? What had he meant by it? Anything? Had he been toying with her the whole trip? Had he been bored enough to start a flirtation with her? Had her inexperience amused him?

Or, had she tempted him in some way she wasn't aware of?

Did he think she wanted his kiss, that she had low morals and didn't care about what was proper? They were little more than strangers. A good Amish woman never kissed a man she barely knew.

She raised her fingers to her lips. They still tingled from his touch.

Why didn't I kiss him back?

If only she could return to the moment and see what that would have been like. Instead, she ran away like a frightened rabbit. She would regret that for the rest of her life.

What if no one ever kisses me again?

“Where is everyone?” Morris asked. He stood in the doorway that led to the living room.

Greta pushed away from the door. She refused to believe the worst of Toby. She would remember him fondly and treasure his gesture. Her amazing journey had come to an end. A very special man had come into her life for two days and now he was gone. Reality was waiting for her. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Welcome to our home.” Naomi gave Morris a tentative smile. Greta's grandfather stood behind her. He wasn't smiling. Betsy and Lizzie came in behind them. Duncan, standing at Lizzie's side, growled low in his throat. Lizzie shushed him.

“
Danki
for inviting me.” Morris inclined his head slightly, but his voice was laced with sarcasm.

Naomi came forward. “I have your room ready if you would like to lie down for a while.”

His shoulders slumped. “That would be nice. Traveling has been tiring.” He suddenly looked as weary as he sounded.

“I understand. Please, come this way. Joseph, would you bring his bags?”

She led Morris out of the kitchen and into the living room. Instead of heading up the stairs, she turned left down a short hall and held open the door to Joseph's bedroom.

Joseph came forward and kissed Greta's cheek. “I'm glad to have my
goot
Greta with me once more. How was your trip?”

“Interesting.”

“You'll have to tell us all about it.” Joseph hefted a suitcase in each hand. “First, I have to give up my bed to him. Now, I'm expected to carry his bags, too. The things I do for that woman.” He marched out of the kitchen.

Betsy and Lizzie raced to throw their arms around Greta. Lizzie said, “We're so glad you're home. Was it awful traveling with him?”

“Of course it was awful,” Betsy said.

Greta hugged them each in turn. “It wasn't fun, but it was not awful. I had quite an adventure, but I will wait till Naomi and
Daadi
return to share everything. I would dearly love a cup of tea.”

“I'll fix one for you,” Betsy said, already on her way to the stove.

Greta held Lizzie's hands. “How are you?”

“I've been feeling much better. I saw the doctor yesterday and he thinks the worst is behind me.”

“I'm so glad. I've been worried about you. Where is Carl?”

“He is out in the barn. We've got two sick ewes he's looking after. He should be back any moment.”

Naomi and Joseph returned to the kitchen by the time the teakettle began to whistle. Joe had a deep scowl on his face. “He says the battery-operated lamp in his room is too fancy. He wants a kerosene one.” He opened a cabinet door and withdrew a lamp with a tall glass chimney. “If this doesn't suit him, he can stay in the dark.”

Naomi took a seat at the table. “Morris says he doesn't want anything to eat. I've got some leftover casserole from lunch that I can heat up if you are hungry, Greta.”

“
Nee,
I'm fine. Only a little tired, too.”

“Here's your tea,” Betsy said, placing a mug on the table.

“Danki.”
Greta sat down with a sigh. Picking up the mug, she blew on it before taking a sip. It was hot and delicious, exactly what she needed.

“Tell us the whole story,” Betsy said, sliding into the seat beside Greta.

“
Ja,
tell us the whole sorry tale,” Lizzie said, taking a chair on the other side.

Joseph returned and sat at the head of the table. Naomi took usual her seat at his left-hand side.

Greta smiled at her family. No words could express how wonderful it was to be with them again but she had to try. “First, I want to say how good it is to be home.”

“Tell us about your trip,” Betsy urged.

“You girls remember how long the bus trip was coming this way. I can assure you it is just as long on the return trip. Our van driver, Arles Hooper, met me at the bus station. There was an Amish family named Coblentz waiting for the same van. A young Amish fellow named Toby Yoder and his sister joined us at the hospital where we picked up
Onkel
Morris. Marianne, Toby's sister, had been burned in a house fire that killed their parents. Her brother is taking her to Pennsylvania to live with some family there. And then there was a cat named Christmas who joined us, but I'm getting ahead of myself. What I really need to talk to you about is what the nurse at the hospital told me about
Onkel
Morris.”

Duncan dashed out from under the table and began barking. The outside door flew open with a bang. Toby staggered in with Marianne in his arms. Blood dripped down the side of his face.