Rebecca's Bouquet (3 page)

A loveliness that even the ugliest of garments couldn't conceal. Rebecca's eyes sparkled. Her creamy skin glowed. He liked the proud, determined lift of her chin. What he loved most about her was her ability to reason. Rebecca was the most logical person he knew.

He glanced around the sawdust-filled room and considered their future. He dreamed of giving her a wonderful life. A beautiful home. He wished he could provide her with a kitchen like Beth's.

When he rested a gentle hand on her shoulder, she turned.

“Beth told me about your nightmare. Want to talk about it?”

To his surprise and disappointment, Rebecca shook her head. “I'd rather not.” She changed the subject. “William, if you could have anything, what would you ask for?”

Together, they lifted a large cherry cabinet and carried it to the delivery station. As they set it down, their eyes locked. William smiled a little.

“That's easy. You. And a house full of children.” He lowered his voice. “You mean the world to me, Rebecca. I couldn't imagine being here without you.”

“Do you still dream of building a house together?”

“Of course. And I want a pond so our boys can fish.”

“What about our girls?”

He grinned. “You can teach them to make quilts. And to grow vegetables. You're a wonderful gardener. I can already see our little ones picking flowers. They'll be just like you.” He paused. “What do you dream of, Rebecca?”

“You.”

He beamed. “What else?” He took in the thoughtful expression on her face.

“Children.” The excited look in her eyes turned serious. “I also pray for my parents to live to be very old.” She quickly added with a newfound excitement, “And I'd like a zillion flower plants, to make arrangements.” Old Sam had given her a spot in his barn to dry them.

William chuckled. “You and your plants.”

“I love watching things grow. It's amazing what blessings God has given us. And the best things cost nothing at all.”

They returned to the main work area. She gently touched his shoulder. “William, I've noticed your folks don't have a garden.”

He shrugged. “They buy fresh produce at a farmer's market.”

“Jah, but don't you suppose Daniel would enjoy a small garden?” Before William could answer, she added, “You know, just to look at while he recovers? Flowers are good for the soul.”

William considered the question. “He might.”

“I'd like to do that for him.”

William smiled widely. “You're so thoughtful, Rebecca. That's one of the reasons I love you.”

As his gaze penetrated hers, there was more he yearned to tell her. Like his longing to own a car. Of living like the English. But he didn't. Because wanting these things was selfish.

He had been raised to not place such emphasis on material possessions. And he was ashamed of himself. What would Rebecca say if she could read his mind?

* * *

Katie's friendly smile and warm green eyes immediately made Rebecca feel at home. Katie was tall and willowy with porcelain skin and a beauty that seemed to come from a centered, thoughtful personality.

At the same time, she wore a long, brown dress and black shoes. Like Rebecca, her hair was pulled tightly back on her head and covered with a kapp.

After Beth paid Katie for the eggs, she glanced at the girls and waved a hand in dismissal. “Why don't the two of you sit on the patio and enjoy a cup of tea?”

Katie grinned at Rebecca. “I have a better idea. How 'bout a ride in my buggy? I have some errands in town.”

A wide smile lifted Rebecca's lips. “I'd love it.”

They made their way to the “black box.” An orange-and-yellow YIELD sign decorated the back. They lifted the skirts of their long dresses to step up to the bench seat.

After Katie yanked the door closed, she straightened in her seat and grabbed the reins. With a light jolt, the horse trotted. As it whinnied, Rebecca let out a contented sigh.

A soft, folded quilt of beautiful hues covered the bench seat. Rebecca felt at ease. After all, this was what she knew. Shiny autos didn't tempt her at all.

A sleek, smooth leather car seat couldn't compete with the buggy's homespun goodness. Above, the sun brightened the sky. The warm breeze loosened tendrils of hair from her bun.

“Do you like it here?”

Rebecca offered a slight nod. “I adore William's parents. Beth is so kind. And Daniel teases her about ordering him around. Their home is lovely.” She hesitated. “But I feel a bit out of place.”

“Of course. You're used to a simple life. Is this your first encounter with the English?”

“No. The town I'm from has them. But this is a first for being away from my family.”

“Do your parents have a phone?”

“They share one with neighbors. It's in a booth between two houses. Oh, Katie, I miss little things. Chatting with my little brother and sister over breakfast. Going to church with my family. Helping Mamma in the garden.”

As they proceeded down the country road, everything was familiar to Rebecca. The distinct smell of horses. The gentle rocking of the carriage.

“The English lifestyle must be tempting.”

Rebecca shrugged. “At times, I think about wearing my hair down.” She giggled. “And I wonder how I'd look in blue jeans.”

Katie laughed. “I'm proud of you for practicing your customs. We Amish girls are a tough breed. We never take the easy way out. That would be too simple. But sticking to our beliefs when we're in the minority?” She gave a firm shake of her head. “That takes courage.”

“I never thought of it that way.”

“You must really love William to move so far away for him.”

“Oh, didn't Beth tell you?”

“What?”

“This is temporary. William and I are only here until Daniel's back on his feet.”

Katie raised a curious brow. “Are you sure?”

Rebecca frowned. An uncomfortable sensation tightened her chest. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

With a roll of her eyes, Katie cleared her throat. “Because Beth mentioned how nice it would be for William and Daniel to become business partners.”

* * *

William waved good-bye to Rebecca and Katie from the front yard. He blinked as the late June sun appeared from under a cloud. Already, he sensed Katie was good company for Rebecca. He lifted a concerned brow. Rebecca's nightmare was still on his mind. And . . . that she hadn't shared it with him. They had never kept secrets from each other. What had she dreamed about that had caused her to scream? Whatever it was must have been awful.

As he fingered the tip of his hat, he took in the Conrad estate. He'd never imagined so many luxuries. They'd been here less than a couple of weeks, but already, he knew he liked the amenities that came with the English lifestyle.

Beth's sleek BMW boasted a sunroof. The large-screen television Daniel watched from his bed was like something from the future. Cell phones. Electric garage-door openers.

Of course, Aenti Sarah and Uncle John were fully aware that all of these accessories existed. They shopped at Walmart and Sears.

While the sun appeared from behind a white fluffy cloud, William compared his new life to his old. He pressed his lips together in deep deliberation and shoved his hands into his pockets as he studied the ground.

He respected Amish ways, yet it seemed unfair that Aenti Sarah used an air compressor to power her washing machine, while Beth merely tossed her laundry into an electric Maytag and did other things while the machine worked.

Things were too easy here. But were Daniel and Beth bad people? William shook his head. To his surprise, he enjoyed their luxuries. Especially the ESPN channel.

Would God disapprove? Long, thoughtful moments passed while he wondered who he would have been had he driven a car instead of a horse and buggy. Nervous, guilty steps took him to the edge of the yard and back. Would he have become the same William his Rebecca loved? His gaze landed on Beth's silver car and he imagined cruising the country roads with the windows down.

For one blissful moment, he smiled. His imagination wandered to a land where he sat in the driver's seat. He stepped hard on the accelerator as the warm summer wind lifted his hair. He'd never felt so much power as he clutched the leather-covered steering wheel that tilted up. On the front dash were all sorts of buttons and arrows. He was in control as he swept past fields. Towns. From the open window, he waved at people he knew.

They reciprocated. In the rearview mirror he watched their gazes follow him. He chuckled. Life couldn't get better than what he saw here. A large house. A color television with tons of cable channels and a remote control.

As the engine hummed, William could do anything. Because he drove the smoothest, sleekest car around.

A squirrel dashed in front of him, interrupting his thoughts. With a frustrated sigh, he frowned and forced his mind to reality. A few moments later, he shrugged and struggled to accept what he had. He reasoned that there were definitely advantages to driving a buggy.

No gas tank to fill. Or tune-ups. And no monthly insurance payments he'd heard Daniel talk about. Still, William would love having a car.

A strong pang of guilt swept down his arms and landed in his fingertips, making them tingle. He flexed them to rid himself of the uncomfortable sensation. Temptation. It filled his heart and his soul. Was it wrong? Was it possible to be around these luxuries and not want them?

As he swatted away a fly that buzzed near his nose, William considered those challenging questions. He raised a thoughtful brow and tapped the heel of his foot to a nervous beat. What he felt was actually stronger than temptation. It was envy. His heart sank. God was surely disappointed in him.

Perhaps it would have been better to have stayed in Arthur. He wouldn't have been exposed to so much. In Illinois, he wouldn't have been tested.

Yet there were plenty of English at home. They shopped in the same stores. Dined in Yoder's Kitchen, the popular local restaurant. All the same, he had never lived in their houses.

Being isolated from evils was taking the easy way out, wasn't it? He supposed he could view this experience as an education. He smiled a little. His guilt began to slip away as he considered the word “education.”

While the sun slipped behind a cloud, the temperature dropped a notch. Surely he couldn't be blamed for enjoying his father's way of life. And certainly God wouldn't have approved of him neglecting his own flesh and blood.

William's thoughts drifted to Rebecca, and he squeezed his eyes closed in acute pain. A guilty shiver crept up his spine and landed at the base of his neck. He gave a quick shrug of his shoulders to rid himself of the uncomfortable sensation, but it lingered. So did his wants. What would Rebecca say if she knew what he was thinking?

* * *

Rebecca watched Henry Kreggs write William a check for the first half of their large order. The recollection of her buggy ride with Katie the day before prompted a wide smile.

Rebecca took in Natalie's high heels and tight-fitting jeans. Rebecca had never dreamed of changing her faith or what she wore, but for the first time in her life, she felt a bit frumpy in her long, solid-colored dress and tennis shoes. She gritted her teeth.

In fact, when she'd first met Natalie, she'd experienced that same insecure feeling. Rebecca hadn't missed the disapproving look the girl had darted her. But she strongly suspected that Natalie's negative attitude involved much more than Rebecca's ways.

And Rebecca sensed that William was the cause of the animosity. She noticed the sparkle in Natalie's eyes when she stared at him.

And this wasn't the first time Rebecca had noted that look. She rolled her shoulders to rid the uncomfortable tenseness. Natalie liked William. Was there reason to be concerned?

As the ceiling fans whirled, Rebecca pushed a rebellious strand of hair back over her ear and considered her relationship with William in the most logical manner she could. First of all, she was certain of his feelings. Secondly, they'd known each other forever. At least, since they'd started school. And not only did they love each other, but they were best friends.

Suddenly she was too warm in her long sleeves. Her chest tightened, making it more difficult to breathe.

William's love for her was as solid as an oak table. Tight jeans and high heels couldn't steal that, could they?

As William and Henry lifted a box and loaded it into the back of a white pickup, Natalie stepped to Rebecca. Automatically, Rebecca forced a friendly smile. Natalie glanced at Rebecca's head and frowned.

“I'm curious about your head wrap. Is it something like the Muslim women wear?”

The question was asked politely enough, but Natalie's tone was edged with sarcasm.

Rebecca raised her chin and responded, “It's called a kapp; it's worn by Amish women.”

Natalie's voice hinted frustration. “You have to be different, don't you? Why don't you dress like the rest of us? You're not in your Amish town, Rebecca. This is the real world. And this is the way
real
people dress.” She pointed to her jeans.

Rebecca tried to stay calm. Getting upset would get her nowhere. Besides, what Natalie said was true. Rebecca wasn't in an Amish community, and she was the one out of place.

“Not everyone practices the same beliefs, Natalie.”

Natalie wrinkled her nose. “I wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. Couldn't you find something a little more stylish?”