The Courtship Basket (16 page)

Mike grimaced. So that was what she was referring to that day he took her home in his buggy, when she mentioned she had thought she'd be marrying in the fall but the plans fell apart. How could this David break up with her for someone else? Didn't he see how special Rachel was?

Leroy wagged a finger at him. “Now, you didn't hear this from me.”

Mike held up his hand. “I won't let on that I know anything.”

“
Danki
. Let her tell you when she's ready.” Leroy sipped some water. “Rachel was devastated, as you can imagine, and she jumped at the chance to be a teacher when Malinda asked her. I think it was a true blessing that she started teaching. Not only is it giving her a chance to start a new life, but she also has a gift to share with students.”

“That's true. She's been a
wunderbaar
help to John.”

“She loves teaching, and I'm
froh
she found it after the way David broke her heart.” Leroy shook his head. “It was terrible. I'm so thankful she's doing better now.”

Mike tried to imagine how anyone could hurt Rachel that way. It didn't make sense. He didn't want to pry, but he wondered how much better she was really doing. Had she gotten over her heartache? Would she ever trust another man?

“Have you ever done any leatherwork?” Leroy asked.

“No, I haven't.” Mike examined the leash coiled on Leroy's desk. “How did you learn the trade?”

Mike enjoyed listening to Leroy talk about his work. Leroy was a friendly, confident man, and, again, he reminded Mike of how his father used to be before the kidney disease strangled most of the life out of him. Leroy was in the middle of showing Mike how to finish the leash when John appeared beside him.

“Can I help make the leash?” John asked, craning his neck to watch Leroy work.

Leroy grinned down at John. “It's fine with me if it's okay with your
bruder
.”

“That's a great idea, John.” Mike stood and patted the stool. “Here. You sit with Leroy, and I'm going to go see what Rachel is doing.”

“Okay.” John began grabbing tools. “What do we do next, Leroy?”

“Let's see.” Leroy winked at Mike before turning his attention to John and their project.

“I'll leave you two to your work.” Mike started for the door.

“Mike,” Emily said, coming around from behind the cash register. “Wait one minute.” She motioned for him to step outside with her, and he followed. “I'm
froh
you and John came by today. I'm so glad Rachel met you. Your friendship means a lot to her.”

“
Danki
,” Mike said with surprise. “I'm thankful for her friendship too.”

“
Gut
.” Emily gave him a little wave and then returned to the store.

As Mike walked toward the house, he did a mental headshake. Rachel and her family seemed too good to be true. They were so welcoming and encouraging, and their friendship warmed his soul. He hadn't realized how lonely he'd been until he'd met them.

Mike felt as if he might wake up and realize this whole visit had been a dream. For too long he'd been caring for his family with only the help of his cousins, and now he'd found some wonderful friends. He hoped he could cultivate his friendship with Rachel and the whole Fisher family.

“Mike!” Rachel waved from the porch. “I was just going to come and get you.” She held up two glass mugs. “Do you like root beer?”

“
Ya
,” he said, picking up the pace as he approached the steps. “I love root beer.” He took the steps two at a time and then sat down in a rocking chair.

She handed him a mug and sat down in a rocking chair beside him. “
Mei dat
makes the best root beer.”

Mike took a long draw from the mug and nodded. “It's the best I've had.”

“I told you.” She took a sip. “Did you enjoy spending time in the harness shop?”

“I did.” Mike pointed toward the store. “John stayed for a leatherworking lesson.”

“I bet
mei dat
is enjoying giving lessons.” She pushed her feet on the porch, and the chair moved back and forth. Her gaze moved to the edge of the porch where the planter sat. “I love the planter and the daisies.”

Mike smiled. “John wanted to give you something special since you're his favorite teacher.”

Rachel shook her head. “I don't deserve that honor, but
danki
.” She took another sip of root beer.

“You've really gone above and beyond your expected duties by helping John on Saturdays.” He studied her brown eyes. “It's difficult to believe you didn't always want to be a teacher.”

She shrugged and studied the mug of root beer. “It's like I said last week, it's funny how sometimes God has other plans for us.”

“I can definitely relate to that.” He sipped more root beer, savoring the cool carbonation on his throat. He enjoyed their comfortable silence and wondered if Rachel would ever trust him enough to share that painful story about David with him.

Would she ever consider Mike a close friend?

The silent question caught Mike off guard, and he shifted in the rocking chair. He hadn't allowed any young woman to awaken feelings in him for years, but now he found himself yearning to get to know Rachel better. But why? How had she managed to get under his skin and break down the barriers he'd kept secured around his soul, especially since his father had become ill?

“How's your dad doing?” she asked, jolting him from his deep thoughts.

Mike rested the root beer mug on the arm of the chair and blew out a sigh as the image of his ill father appeared in his mind. “The treatments have been tough this week. He's been more exhausted than usual.”

“
Ach,
no.” Rachel's eyes widened, and the concern in her expression squeezed at his chest. “Do you need to get home to him soon?”

“No.” Mike shook his head. “As John said when you invited us to lunch,
mei aenti
and Marie are with him. They wanted to visit him. John and I can stay for a while longer.”

“
Gut
.” She ran her finger over the condensation on her mug.

While Mike took in her beautiful face, he felt the wall he'd kept around his heart begin to crumble. A mixture of fear and happiness settled over him. He didn't want to care about her, but his feelings for her were deepening as the day wore on. He was falling for her, and it shook him to his core. He couldn't allow himself to be hurt when she rejected him because of his obligations to his father and brother.

“Do you like to go fishing?” Rachel asked, crossing her ankles.

Mike shrugged. “I do, but I don't get to go as often as I'd like to.”

“Did your
dat
like to fish before he became ill?”

“Oh
ya.
Some of my best memories with my
dat
are when we went fishing.” He angled his body toward her. “We used to go to this pond behind the farm. One time I caught a fish that was this big.” He held up his hands to illustrate the size of the fish and told her the story of how he fell out of his uncle's boat.

Rachel laughed along with the story, and soon they were sharing their favorite childhood memories. Before Mike realized it, a couple of hours had slipped by.

“Mike,” Mattie said, appearing on the porch. “Will you and John stay for supper? I'm going to make stew and cornbread.”

Rachel's eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, you and John have to stay.” She reached out to touch his arm, but then suddenly looked embarrassed and stopped. “
Mamm
makes the best stew.”

“
Danki
, but we have to get home. My
aenti
and cousin have stayed with
Dat
long enough, I think.” Mike stood. “I should get John and head out.”

“All right.” Mattie shook his hand. “I'm so
froh
you could come by today.”

“I'll walk you to your buggy,” Rachel said, standing. “
Mamm
, I'll come in and help you cook after I see Mike and John off.”

Mike and Rachel walked to the harness shop together where they found John and Leroy working on a belt.

“It's time to go, John,” Mike said, rubbing his brother's straw-colored hair.

John's face fell into a frown. “But we're still working on this belt. I need to help Leroy finish it.”

Mike and Leroy shared a grin.

“Why don't you come back again soon, and we'll finish this belt together?” Leroy asked with a warm smile.

“
Ya
, that's a
gut
idea.” John nodded with emphasis.

“Great.” Leroy shook John's hand and then shook Mike's. “It was nice meeting you both. Hope to see you again soon.”

Mike and John said good-bye to Leroy and Emily and then followed Rachel out of the harness shop to Mike's horse, where he hitched up his buggy.

“
Danki
for coming over,” Rachel said.

John wrapped his arms around her waist. “I had fun. I'm going to come back and help your
dat
with his store.”

Rachel smiled down at him. “I hope you come back soon.”

John hopped in the buggy and leaned out the window.

Mike stepped over to Rachel, and he fought the urge to tell her that he and John would like to stay for supper after all. He couldn't stand the idea of leaving her when he didn't know when he'd see her again. “
Danki
for letting us visit you.”

“You can visit anytime you'd like.” Rachel pushed one of the ties for her prayer covering over her shoulder. “Maybe you can stay for supper next time.”

“That would be great.” He shook her hand, enjoying the warm feel of her skin. The air around them felt charged, and he didn't want to release her. They stared at each other a long moment. He
wanted more time with her, and he longed to pull her back up to the porch to sit and talk for a few more hours.

She suddenly broke the trance, released her hand from his grasp, and glanced back toward the house. “I'd better go help
mei mamm
.”

“I'll see you Monday, Teacher Rachel,” John said from the buggy. Mike spun and faced his younger brother. For a moment, Mike had forgotten John was there.

“
Ya
, you will.” Rachel waved at him.

“Good-bye,” Mike said before climbing into the buggy.

He waved at Rachel as he guided the horse down the driveway toward the road.

“I had a lot of fun today,” John said as he gazed out the window.

“I did too.”

“We need to do this more often. I like spending time with Rachel and her family.”

A feeling of dread pooled in Mike's stomach. John was developing a deep attachment to Rachel, and Mike was too. But Mike couldn't allow himself to risk his emotions right now. He had to find a way to push those feelings aside and concentrate on only being Rachel's friend.

But then he recalled how much he had wanted to stay and how John hugged Rachel before they left. How could he not fall in love with Rachel, when she seemed to be just what he and John both needed?

R
ACHEL WAVED AS THE HORSE AND BUGGY STEERED DOWN
the driveway. Then she rubbed her hands together, climbed the back porch steps, and went through the mudroom and into the kitchen. She couldn't stop thinking about how Mike had held her hand before he left. And why had his expression seemed so intense?

It was almost as if he'd wanted to stay, even though she knew he felt an obligation to get back to his father.

“Did you have a nice visit with Mike and John?”
Mamm
asked as she chopped carrots.

“
Ya
, I did.” Rachel pulled out a bag of potatoes and began to peel one, and she remembered how she'd taught John how to peel potatoes last week. She smiled while recalling John's determination. With his tongue sticking out of his little mouth, he pinched his eyebrows together and worked diligently with the little peeler. She had quickly grown to love that little boy, and she would do anything for him and his family.

She'd been so disappointed when Mike said they couldn't stay for supper. She didn't want them to leave. How had she permitted herself to get so attached to John and Mike? Rachel closed her eyes and shook her head. She couldn't allow herself to walk into another disappointment after the way David had hurt her.

“Mike seems like a nice young man,
ya
?”
Mamm
shot Rachel a knowing expression over her shoulder.

Rachel shrugged and ignored her mother's smile. “
Ya
, he's very nice.”

Mamm
stopped chopping and faced Rachel. “Didn't you enjoy talking with him on the porch?”

“Of course I did.” Rachel shrugged again, as if it weren't a big deal that she'd spent most of the afternoon getting to know Mike Lantz.

“You two seemed to be engrossed in a conversation when I walked outside earlier to take some root beer down to the shop.”
Mamm
continued to smile, making Rachel feel more and more uncomfortable.

“We were. He's very easy to talk to.”
And he's handsome, sweet, kind, a
gut bruder
to John . . .
Rachel swallowed a groan. She had to stop thinking about Mike as more than just her student's brother. “He's a
gut freind
.”

Mamm
placed her knife on the counter. “Is something wrong, Rachel? You look upset.”

“Everything is fine.” Rachel concentrated on peeling the potato in her hand.

“I thought you'd be excited Mike brought John over to see you. You were so worried Mike didn't like you. It's obvious he likes you quite a bit.”

“I am
froh
they came over. But Mike and I are only
freinden
. We really have nothing in common except we both care about John. I want to be the best teacher I can for John, and Mike appreciates that.”

“You and Mike have nothing in common?”
Mamm
gave Rachel a withering look. “You don't really believe that, do you?”

“It's the truth,” Rachel insisted. “We talk about John quite a bit. Did you know John had a nice time in the shop with
Dat
? John wanted to stay and learn more about how to make belts and leashes.
I hope they come back again soon because
Dat
said he'd let John help him finish the belt they were working on together.”

Mamm
walked to the table and placed her hand on Rachel's arm. She continued to look unconvinced. “Did Mike say something to upset you?”

“No.” Rachel shook her head. “Why would you think that?”

“You just seemed so
froh
while he was here, and now you're upset. Did something happen before he left?”

“No, it's not that at all. He was very cordial when he left.”

“Are you upset he didn't stay for supper?”
Mamm
pressed on, and Rachel shook her head again.

“Of course not. He had to get back to his
dat
. He said his
dat
has had a difficult week with his dialysis treatments. I understand he's needed at home.” Rachel frowned. Why would Mike even consider wanting to date Rachel when he had so many more pressing things to think about, such as caring for his ill father?

“Rachel,”
Mamm
said. “You know you can talk to me.”

“I know that.” Rachel wiped her hands on a paper towel. She longed to tell
Mamm
she didn't want to have such strong feelings for Mike, that she couldn't figure out how to push these feelings away. But how could she admit she was interested in someone else so quickly after losing David? What would her mother think of her? Would
Mamm
say she was immature?

“Did Mike say something to hurt your feelings?”
Mamm
asked, oblivious to Rachel's inner turmoil.

“No, no. It's nothing like that.” Rachel rolled the paper towel up as if it were a softball and took a deep breath. “It's just that . . . I really like him,
Mamm
. I didn't think I would like someone so quickly after David broke up with me. It's overwhelming.”

“
Ach, mei liewe.
”
Mamm
's smile returned. “Love can be both unexpected and overwhelming.”

“Love? I'm not ready for love. I don't want to get hurt again.
It's too soon.” Rachel sniffed as tears threatened her eyes. “I see David and Sharon at church and at youth gatherings, and it's too painful.” Her voice hitched and she cleared her throat. Why was she getting so emotional? She should be past the pain already.

“You need to forgive David and Sharon and let your heart heal.”
Mamm
wiped away an errant tear trickling down Rachel's cheek. “You shouldn't be afraid to move on. You're going to meet the right man. Don't be afraid to give Mike a chance. I can tell he loves his
bruder
, and I think he really cares about you too.”

“I can't risk having Mike break my heart and then having to bear seeing John at school,” Rachel said, folding her arms over her apron. “I'm too connected to John and his family. It would be difficult to have to see Mike at school functions, like the picnic and the Christmas program. Besides, Malinda says I shouldn't get too involved with the scholars and their families. I could tell she didn't approve of my weekend tutoring sessions, but I felt like I owed it to Mike after the way I treated him.” She wiped away another tear and focused on her peeling.

“I can understand taking your time and letting yourself heal, but don't push Mike away so quickly.”
Mamm
rested her hand on Rachel's shoulder.

“I'm not pushing him away. I'm just being cautious with my emotions. I'm trying to stay realistic. I was too eager to get married, and I've learned I can't force marriage. I will meet the right person, fall in love, and get married when God decides it's my time. Right now I need to focus on being the best teacher I can. Marriage will come when the time is right.”

“That's true,”
Mamm
agreed as she returned to the carrots. “It will happen for you when it's the right time, but you need to keep your mind open and don't close yourself off to everyone.”

Rachel enjoyed working in silence as a bird sang outside the open window and the warm breeze drifted throughout the
kitchen with the aroma of earth and rebirth. After the vegetables were chopped, they dropped them into a large pot, along with stew beef, broth, and spices. Once the stew was cooking,
Mamm
pulled out the ingredients for the cornbread and Rachel considered what chore she needed to do next.

“I have gone through my own heartache,”
Mamm
suddenly said as she combined the ingredients. “I was sure I'd never fall in love again, and I pushed your
dat
away at first.”

Rachel raised her eyebrows. “You pushed
Dat
away?”

Mamm
nodded as she kept her eyes trained on the large mixing bowl. “
Ya
, I did. I told you he used to bring me meals in that basket you've been using to send meals to Mike and his family. That basket served as a kind of mediator between your father and me. It's sort of a symbol of how we worked things out.” A faraway expression overtook
Mamm
's face as if she were recalling those early memories with
Dat
. “I'm thankful he didn't give up on me. If he had, then I wouldn't have had my three
wunderbaar dochdern
.”

“I thought you and
Dat
grew up together.”

“We did,”
Mamm
said. “But we had a rocky start to our relationship when we became more than just friends. Sometimes things are more complicated than you expect.”

Rachel studied
Mamm
as questions rushed through her mind. What difficulties did her parents have to face when they were first together? “I had no idea,
Mamm
.”

“You don't need to worry about that. We worked things out, and it was for the better in the end.”
Mamm
looked up at Rachel and smiled. “Don't fight God's plan for you. It will work out the way it's supposed to.”

“I know.” Rachel held the pan as her mother poured the batter into it.
Mamm
's words tumbled through her mind. She knew God had the right plan for her, but she couldn't stop the anxiety that gripped her whenever she thought about Mike. She enjoyed
talking to him and getting to know him, but the fear of another broken heart caused her to restrain the feelings threatening to take over her heart.

M
IKE GUIDED THE HORSE UP THE ROCK DRIVEWAY TOWARD
the large barn behind the Lantz farmhouse. He brought the horse to a stop, and John leaped from the buggy.

“I can't wait to tell
Dat
I made a leash!” John rushed toward the back porch.

Mike grinned as he climbed out and began to unhitch his horse.

Sam appeared beside him.

“I wasn't expecting to see you today,” Mike said, but then noticed Sam's buggy next to his
onkel
's.

“
Mei mamm
mentioned she and Marie were coming over today.
Dat
came too. Since Mandy and I were in the area visiting one of her
freinden
, we thought we'd stop by and see your
dat
as well.” Sam nodded toward the house and began helping Mike with his horse.

“How has he been today?” Mike asked.

When Sam frowned, Mike's stomach clenched.

“
Mamm
said all he's done is sleep. I've never seen him this worn out.” Sam shook his head. “Marie and Janie told Mandy and me he was getting worse, but we had no idea he was getting this bad.”

Mike nodded. “The dialysis has been taking a lot out of him lately.”

“What are the doctors saying about his condition?” Sam asked as he helped Mike stow the buggy in the barn.

“He's just very weak, and his heart is getting weaker. There isn't anything they can do.” Mike stepped out of the barn and led his horse to the pasture. “We just have to keep praying for him.”

“I definitely keep your
dat
in my prayers.” Sam leaned on the fence. “
Mei mamm
said you went to visit a
freind
. Who did you go to see?”

“John wanted to visit his teacher.” Mike leaned on the fence across from him. “He wanted to thank her for tutoring him. She spent the last few Saturdays here giving him extra help. She says he'll soon be the top student in the class.”

Sam lifted his eyebrows. “Did you go see that
schee
teacher who came to visit you at the shop awhile back?”

Mike nodded. “
Ya
, Rachel Fisher.”

“So you like her?” A smile twitched at the corners of Sam's mouth.

“No, I didn't say I liked her,” Mike said a little too quickly. “John wanted to visit her.”

Who was he trying to kid? He never was a good liar. He was always the student caught when the boys tried to pull a prank in school. In fact, Mike was the only one who had to stay after and clean the schoolhouse when the boys put frogs in a couple of the girls' desks. It was Mike's expression that gave him away when the teacher asked who had brought the frogs in from the pond behind the schoolhouse.

Sam chuckled. “You are as transparent as the blue sky above us, Mike. You like her.”

Mike rested his elbow on the fence. “Sure, I like her. She's a great teacher, and she's done wonders with John. You should hear him read aloud. He's more confident, and he's doing well with all his schoolwork. He's even behaving in class and on the playground, which wasn't the case when he first started there. He's like a new
kind
. I'm so thankful for all her hard work with him.”

Sam continued to grin. “And she's
schee
. Isn't she the one who was sending meals home with John?”

“How'd you know about that?” Mike asked.

“
Mei schweschdere
keep
mei mamm
informed, and she shares everything with
mei dat
and Mandy. It always finds its way back to me.” Sam lifted his straw hat and ran his hand through his light brown hair. “It sounds like Rachel cares a lot about you and John.”

“
Ya
, she does care a lot about John, and I appreciate it.” Mike turned his gaze toward the pasture where the horses pranced and played in the late-afternoon sun. “She's a
wunderbaar
teacher.”
And I wish I could get to know her even better
.

“I'm so
froh
for you.”

“What?” Mike turned toward his cousin.

“You finally found someone. Mandy wanted to introduce you to one of her
freinden
, but I told her to give you time. I knew you'd eventually find someone.”

“No, no.” Mike shook his head. “We're not seeing each other. I only went to see her so John could thank her. It was his idea.”

“I knew that
bu
was
schmaert
. He even wants to see you
froh
and with a
gut maedel
.”