Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Rancher for Christmas\Her Montana Christmas\An Amish Christmas Journey\Yuletide Baby (42 page)

Chapter Fourteen

T
oby stared at the array of shocked faces around the kitchen table. The room began to spin. He fell to one knee but managed not to drop Marianne who was whimpering as she clung to him.

Greta jumped to her feet and hurried toward him. “Toby, what happened?”

“Marianne needs help. The van ran off the road.”

The elderly man with Greta lifted Marianne from Toby's arms. An older woman began issuing orders. “Take her in to the sofa, Joseph. Lizzie, fetch some towels, antiseptic and bandages from the bathroom. Betsy, Greta, get this young man into the other room.”

The women helped him to his feet, but he staggered when things started spinning again. Greta immediately pulled his arm around her neck and grasped him around the waist. “Lean on me.”

She was much stronger than he expected and she smelled so good, but he could only rest for a moment. He tried to pull away. “Arles is still in the van. He's hurt, too.”

Greta refused to let go of him. “You are in no shape to go back out into the storm.”

Betsy left his side and began putting on her coat. “I'll get Carl. Where's the van?”

“Near the creek that's north of your lane. We hit a stone wall.”

“I know the place. Duncan, come,” she commanded. The dog followed her outside.

Relieved to know he didn't have to stagger back to the vehicle, Toby closed his eyes but the spinning sensation continued.

“Can you make it into the other room?” Greta asked.

“I'm covered with snow. I'll make a mess.”

“A little water on the floor is a small concern. It's the blood dripping from your head that I'm worried about.”

One of the sisters hurried back into the room. She held out a towel. Greta took it and pressed it to the side of Toby's head making him wince with pain. “
Danki,
Lizzie. Keep this tight against the cut, Toby.”

He managed to hold the towel to his head and not fall as Greta led him to the doorway at the far end of the living room. Marianne was being helped out of her coat by the elderly couple. She was awake, but she still seemed dazed. She didn't protest when the woman took her bonnet and laid it on the folded coat. Toby hadn't seen her without the oversize head covering since they'd left the hospital. Their eyes met across the room. Hers widened with shock. “Toby, you're hurt!”

He stopped leaning on Greta, straightened and pointed to the towel pressed against the side of his head. “This? It's a scratch.”

She pressed her lips into a tight line to stop their quivering. Toby hated to see her upset, but he was in no shape to do anything about it.

“It's a scratch that needs looking after,” Greta said. She steered him to a chair. He sank gratefully into it, happy to see she had chosen one that faced away from Marianne. She didn't need to be frightened by a badly bleeding head wound even if it was only a scratch.

The woman who had handed him the towel now stood beside him with a basin of water. Greta gently sponged the area near his scalp. “It's not bad enough to need stitches. Toby, this is my sister Lizzie. Over there is my grandfather, Joseph Shetler, and his wife, Naomi.”

“Nice to meet you all of you. Ouch!” He jerked away from Greta and the antiseptic she was using.

“Don't be a baby.”

“Is that your way of saying you're sorry you hurt me? I would rather have a little more sympathy.”

“You poor fellow. I'm so sorry. This is going to sting.” She didn't sound the least bit sorry as she dabbed a cotton ball against his wound. He hissed at the burn. Was this her way of getting back at him for kissing her?

“That's the worst of it.” She opened a large bandage and carefully applied it to his forehead.

The doorway down a short hall opened. Morris scowled at everyone. “What's going on?”

“There was an accident. The van skidded off the road and hit a stone wall,” Toby told him.

Greta finished taping the bandage in place. She rose to her feet, looking contrite. “I'm sorry we disturbed you. We will be quieter.”

“Is the little girl okay?” Morris looked around the room.

“I'm fine,” Marianne said.

Toby noticed the relief in Morris's eyes. The old man had taken a liking to his sister. But why was Greta cowering in front of him?

“What about the driver?” Morris asked.

“I had to leave him in the van,” Toby said.

“Betsy and Carl are seeing to him,” Greta added.

Morris leaned heavily against the door frame and pressed a hand to his heart. Greta quickly crossed the room to his side. “Where are your pills? Do you need one?”

He shook his head. “I have put them on the nightstand, but I don't need one. I think I will lie down again.”

“Of course.” She stepped back as he closed the door.

Toby heard the front door open and started to get up, but Greta pushed him back into the chair. “Stay put. I can only deal with one patient at a time.”

She and Lizzie headed into the kitchen. Marianne came to Toby's side. She had a goose egg on her forehead. “Are you sure you're okay?”

He took her hand. “I'm a little banged up, that's all. You should put some ice on that bump.”

“I was just on my way to get some for her,” Naomi said. “I'll bring some for you, too.”

Duncan, the large black-and-white dog with tan points, came into the living room. He stopped to sniff at Toby and Marianne and then began to wag his tail.

“He likes you,” Joseph said.

Marianne eyed the dog warily. “Greta said he bit her uncle.”

“He did, but I don't think he liked the taste of that old buzzard. He won't do it again. You can pet him. He likes girls. Of course, he would have to since he lives in a house full of them.”

Marianne stretched out her hand. Duncan licked her fingers and made her smile. Suddenly, her smile faded and she looked at Toby. “Where is Christmas?”

“I think she's still in the van.” Her precious cat was responsible for the wreck. Would Arles expect Toby to pay for the damages? He had every right to. It would take a while but Toby would pay him back.

“I have to go get her,” Marianne said.

Toby shook his head, but it made his dizziness worse. “You're not going out into that storm. She's fine where she is.”

“She's not fine. She's scared and she's hurt. I have to go get her.” Marianne dashed away from Toby and ran out of the room.

Chapter Fifteen

G
reta was helping Betsy get Arles out of his coat when she saw Toby's sister dart toward the front door. “Marianne, what are you doing?”

“I have to find Christmas.”

“You can't go out dressed like that!” Greta leaped to shut the door as the child tried to pull it open.

Marianne wore a white prayer
kapp
over her blond hair. The gauzy white bonnet was see-through, as was the practice in some Amish churches. It was heart-shaped in the back and sat behind the child's ears and offered no protection from the wind and snow. Greta was able to see for the first time the extent of the burns on the girl's neck and face.

Her left ear was small, deformed and still an angry red color. Part of her hair had burned away above her ear; part of it had been cut off. The puckered scars extended down her neck to vanish under the collar of her dark green dress. Marianne had suffered a great deal and Greta's heart when out to her. She glanced at her family members. Their eyes were filled with sympathy.

“Is Christmas by chance this tortoiseshell cat?” Carl asked from his place by the stove. He held a bundle in his arms. He uncovered one end and the cat's head popped out. She meowed her displeasure.

Marianne ran toward him. “Christmas, are you okay?”

Carl handed her the bundle. Christmas began purring and rubbing her head against Marianne's chin.

“I think she is happy to see you,” Carl said.

“I'm happy to see her, too.”

Betsy hung up Arles's coat and came to look at the cat. “My, isn't she a pretty color. Like a kitty rainbow. She looks quite handsome in her bonnet, doesn't she, Naomi?”

Naomi and Lizzie gathered around Marianne. “Very handsome. And such a sweet personality. She doesn't appear upset at all by her strange surroundings.”

“She's very calm and affectionate. She hasn't even scratched at her stitches,” Marianne said, concentrating on showing off her pet. She didn't seem to realize she was the center of attention, as well.

“That's because she has a calm and affectionate owner,” Carl said. “Animals learn a lot from the people around them. I don't think she is any worse for wear. That's more than I can say about Mr. Hooper.”

Looking contrite, Marianne turned to the driver. “I'm sorry Christmas jumped on you and made us crash. Did you get hurt?”

He held one arm folded across his chest. “The seat belt kept me from being thrown around the way you and your brother were. I surely do wish you folks would put a little more faith in them.”

“God is our protection, Mr. Hooper,” Naomi said.

“I know that's your belief. I respect it, but this is the first time me or anyone has been hurt while I was driving.”

“I am truly sorry,” Marianne said, holding Christmas closer.

Naomi examined the bump on Marianne's head. “
Gott
had a reason for stopping the car, child. Your pet was only an instrument of His plan. Here is an ice pack for that goose egg, and here's one for your brother. Come along, I want you to rest on the couch until supper is ready.”

“Okay.” Marianne allowed herself to be shepherded out of the kitchen.

Greta looked at Lizzie and Carl. “
Danki.
She is very self-conscious about her looks.”

Lizzie slipped an arm around her husband's waist and smiled at him. “I'm used to dealing with odd-looking folks.”

“Hey, who are you calling odd looking? You're the one who will resemble a pumpkin in a few months. Don't forget that.”

Greta smiled at their teasing and sat down beside Mr. Hooper to examine his arm. His wrist was swollen and turning purple-blue. “What happened?”

“When the airbag deployed, it was like a hammer hitting my wrist. I hope it's not broken. My poor van's in bad shape. I'm afraid I'm not going to get those folks to Bird-in-Hand tonight. Even if I could get a tow truck to pull her out, I don't think she's drivable.” He looked ready to cry.

Greta felt sorry for the man who loved his van as much as her grandfather loved his sheep. “There's no point in worrying about that tonight. Let me bandage that wrist for you. It will feel much better with some support. We will decide what's best to do in the morning.”

Carl said, “There is a phone shack a half mile past the end of our lane. I will call a tow truck for you tomorrow. There's a garage on the other side of Hope Springs out by the interstate. The mechanic there has a good reputation. I'm sure he can fix your van.”

“I hope so. I have Amish folks depending on me to drive them places over the holidays.”

“Can't you use your cell phone to call?” Greta asked.

“It got busted in the crash. It's useless.”

Naomi came into the room. “We must give thanks that this accident wasn't worse. I could use some help getting supper ready for everyone. Betsy, would you run down to the cellar and fetch up two jars of the corn you girls put up last summer? Lizzie, do you feel up to making dumplings? I've got some canned chicken I can whip into soup. Greta, when you are finished with Mr. Hooper, would you get some of my rhubarb pie filling out of the pantry? I think a couple of your wonderful hot pies will be
goot
on a cold evening like this.”

“Can I make peach?” Greta asked, thinking of Marianne's preference.

Naomi smiled at her. “Make whatever you like, child. Having you home again is
wunderbarr.
”

While Naomi and the rest of the women set about preparing to feed their unexpected guests, Greta bandaged Mr. Hooper's wrist. After she was finished with him, she went to check on Toby and Marianne. Her grandfather and Carl were visiting with them. Arles followed her in, and her grandfather gave up his recliner to the
Englisch
driver, even going so far as to fetch him a pillow to prop up his arm.

Toby and Marianne were seated together on the sofa holding ice packs to their heads. Christmas lay curled in Marianne's lap looking as Amish as her owner with her head bandaged and her chin resting on her paws as if in prayer. The cat's gaze was fixed on Duncan sitting beside Carl. She gave an occasional low growl in her throat.

Greta approached Toby. “Let me take a look at that dressing. I want to make sure the bleeding has stopped.”

He removed the ice pack and tipped his head so she could see. “How does it look?”

She reached to brush his hair back, but hesitated and quickly put her hand down when she saw Carl watching her. She and Toby weren't traveling in the back of the van anymore. That kind of familiarity would not be accepted by her family. She was expected to be circumspect around men. She clasped her hands together and kept her tone neutral. “It looks fine.”

* * *

Toby tried to make a joke out of it. “I reckon my hard head is a blessing.”

He wanted to see her soft smile, the one that warmed him all the way through. He wanted to recapture the easy camaraderie they'd shared, but Greta didn't smile at his jest. Was she angry with him? His heart sank.

She had every right to be. A modest Amish
maedel
might not kiss a fellow until they were engaged, maybe not even until their wedding day. He had cheapened their relationship with his impulsive behavior.

Surely, she didn't think he considered her a loose woman. Nothing could be further from the truth. How could he make her understand that? He glanced around at her family watching them. Finding time alone with her would be difficult if not impossible.

What if he couldn't undo this mistake? When would he learn to think before he acted?

“I praise God that it wasn't worse,” Greta said.

He studied her, trying to pinpoint what was different about her. Then he realized she wasn't standing as tall. Her shoulders were bowed and her head lowered. He tried once more to make her smile. “Maybe He was trying to knock some sense into me.”

It didn't work. She turned to his sister. “Let me see your bump, Marianne.”

Marianne leaned closer and whispered, “Can I have my bonnet back? Your
mammi
took it away.”

“It had some of Toby's blood on it and it was wet from the snow. Once it is washed and dried, you can have it back. Would you like to borrow one of my
kapps
?”

Marianne glanced around the room covertly. “
Ja,
please.”

“Come upstairs with me and I'll find you one.”

At least she was still being kind to his sister. He was grateful for that. Marianne handed him the cat who continued to growl low in her throat. He wasn't sure he actually wanted to be holding her if the big dog decided to accept her challenge. After the girls left the room, an awkward silence prevailed.

Toby looked at Arles trying to get comfortable in the chair. “Would you like this ice pack for your arm? I'm finished with it.”

“Might as well try. It aches like nobody's business.”

Joe stood up. “I'll give it to him. You sit and hang on to that cat. Are you still dizzy?”

“
Nee
, I'm fine.” Toby handed over the ice pack.

Joe took it to Arles and returned to his chair. “How was your journey with my granddaughter and her uncle?”

“It was fine.” He would need to start using a new word.

“Toby and your granddaughter got along like two peas in a pod, sir, but Mr. Barkman was something of a trial,” Arles said.

Joe leveled a stern look at Toby. “Like two peas in a pod?”

Toby squirmed on the sofa and resisted the urge to loosen his collar. “Greta was a fine traveling companion. She took to my sister quickly and was able to entertain her. She was very worried about her uncle, though.”

Arles chuckled. “Once the child had the cat, you two were left to entertain each other in the back.”

Joe's eyes narrowed. “Exactly what type of entertainment did my granddaughter supply?”