The Farmer Next Door (4 page)

He hadn’t been able to save his wife or his son. That bitter truth haunted him day and night.

He blinked hard to clear his vision. Faith’s face swam into view. She understood. He saw it in her eyes. It was more than sympathy and compassion. She had been in the same dark place that surrounded him.

“How old was your son when he died?” she asked.

“Four.”

“You mustn’t think me cruel, but four years is a gift. I wish I might have had four years, even four days, with my daughters.”

“You’ve lost children, too?”

“Twin daughters who were stillborn. I always wondered if that was why Mose was never able to settle in one place. If we’d had a family, maybe things would have been different. Only God knows.”

“I wanted at least six children. Lovina wanted a dozen or more. Gideon was the first and he was perfect.”

Adrian couldn’t believe he was talking to this woman about his family. He hadn’t been able to talk to anyone about them since Gideon’s death. Maybe it was because she’d known the same kind of tragedy that he felt she understood what he was
going through. Maybe it was because Ben had brought the subject up yesterday.

Whatever the reason, Adrian suddenly decided not to bare more of his soul. Remembering was too painful.

He said, “The coffee cake is appreciated. I’ll be back tonight to help finish your fence. I need my bean crop kept safe from your overgrown rabbits.”

“Your help has been most welcome, neighbor.”

He settled his hat on his head and walked outside into the summer sunshine. At the foot of her steps, he stopped and looked back. She stood framed in the doorway, her arms crossed, a faraway expression in her eyes. He wondered what she was thinking about.

Was she thinking about the children and husband she had lost or the work that needed to be done? Did she find it hard to go forward with her life? Somehow, he didn’t think so.

Faith Martin was a remarkable woman.

The moment the thought occurred to him, he began walking, putting as much distance as he could between himself and his disturbing neighbor.

He’d come to Faith’s home today to do his Christian duty by helping a neighbor, but he’d also been interested in seeing exactly what shape the place was in. The more he saw, the less he expected she would be able to manage it alone.

He might yet be able to buy the land. If he made some improvements for her, well, that would mean less work for him later.

Having a fence around the orchard was a good idea. Letting the alpacas graze down the overgrown grass would make it easier to mow later, or he could put sheep in to do the same job.

At the edge of his hay meadow, he stopped and glanced toward Faith’s house once more. Helping her might turn out to
be a good idea—from a business point of view. Not because he wanted to spend time in her company.

His wife might be gone, but he wouldn’t be untrue to her. Lovina had been the one love of his life. He had no business thinking about spending time with another woman.

He had come to Faith’s place to lend a hand. He hadn’t been looking for sympathy or a shoulder to cry on. He hadn’t planned on finding someone who could understand the pain he lived with. Yet, that was exactly what he’d found with Faith Martin.

Was that why he found her so attractive? His feelings toward her troubled and confused him.

He had already promised to help her. He wouldn’t go back on his word. As promised, he would help her get her home in order as a good neighbor should, but he wouldn’t spend any more time alone with her.

I
t was shortly before noon on Saturday when Faith heard the sound of a horse and buggy approaching the house. She dropped the sponge she’d been using to wash grimy windows into her pail, dried her hands on her apron and waited to see who had come calling.

The buggy stopped in front of her gate, and three Amish women stepped out. They all carried large baskets over their arms.

“Guder mariye,”
called the oldest woman. She wore a bright, beaming smile of welcome. Behind her came a young woman with black hair and dark eyes followed by another woman with blond hair.

“Guder mariye,”
Faith replied. A faint flicker of happiness sparked inside of her. She was free to make new friends here—if they would have her. She wouldn’t have to hide her bruised face or bear pitying looks from those who suspected her husband’s cruelty.

The leader of the group stopped at the bottom of Faith’s steps, adjusted her round wire spectacles on the bridge of her nose and switched her heavy basket to her other arm. “Welcome to Hope Springs. I am Nettie Sutter.”

She indicated the dark-haired girl standing behind her. “This is my daughter-in-law, Katie.”

“And I am Sarah Wyse,” the blonde added. “My cousin is your neighbor to the south.”

“Adrian?”

Sarah nodded. “When I heard he’d met you, I thought it best to rush over and assure you the rest of Hope Springs is more hospitable than Adrian is.”

“He has been most kind and welcoming.”

“He has?” Sarah exchanged astonished glances with her companions.

Faith swept a hand toward the front door. “Do come in, but please excuse the condition of the house.”

“None of us can keep our houses free of dust in the summertime. With all the windows open to catch any breeze, the dust piles up before you know it.”

Faith had more than a sprinkling of dust to contend with. She had twenty years worth of accumulation to haul out. She was thankful that she had made a coffee cake for herself while making one for Adrian that morning. At least she had something to offer her guests.

The women gathered around the kitchen table, each one setting her basket on it. Sarah opened the lid of the one she carried and began to pull out its contents. “We brought a few things to help you settle in and get this old house in order.”

Out of her basket, Sarah brought cleaning supplies, plastic pails, pine cleaner, rags, sponges and brushes. “Where shall we start?”

Faith was speechless. She hadn’t expected help from the community so soon.

Nettie picked up the pail and carried it to the sink. “I will finish these windows for you. Sarah, why don’t you take a broom to the front porch and steps? Elam, Eli and his boys will be here to paint this evening.”

“I’ll get this food put away.” Katie opened her basket and brought out two loaves of bread and a rhubarb pie with a gorgeous lattice crust just begging to be eaten. A second later she began unpacking mason jars filled with canned fruits and vegetables.

Faith was overwhelmed by their kindness. “
Danki.
This is far too much.”

“No thanks are needed,” Nettie assured her.

Perhaps not needed but gratefully given. Faith asked, “Who are Elam and Eli?”

Nettie smiled broadly. “Elam is my son and Katie’s husband. Eli and his sons live down the road a piece. Our farm is a little ways beyond that toward Hope Springs.”

“Where do you need me to start?” Katie asked, looking over the kitchen.

Faith took a second to gather her thoughts. “I’ve cleaned out one bedroom upstairs, but the others haven’t been touched in years. If you want to start in one of them, that would be great. Sarah, perhaps you could help me drag the mattresses outside so I can beat the dust out of them.”

Sarah held out her hand. “Lead the way.”

The house quickly became a beehive of activity. Old bedding was taken out, walls and floors were scrubbed free of grime and rubbish was hauled out to the burn barrel. Everywhere inside the house, the crisp scent of pine cleaner filled the air. In one afternoon the women managed to do more inside the house than Faith had accomplished in four days on her own.

Her heirloom clock was striking five when the women gathered in the kitchen once more. Faith wiped her forehead with the back of her sleeve. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked up an appetite. I believe I will sample this pie. Would anyone else care for a piece?”

Nettie smiled brightly. “I thought you’d never ask.”

“Where are your plates?” Sarah was already moving toward the cabinets.

“To the left of the sink.” Chuckling, Faith turned to Katie. “Would you like some?”

“Yes! I could eat the whole thing.”

Nettie grinned. “That’s because you are eating for two.”

Faith endured a sharp stab of wistfulness but quickly recovered. “Congratulations. When is your baby due?”

“The last week of November.”

“Is this your first?” Faith gathered forks for everyone and brought them to the table.

Katie shook her head. “It will be my second. We already have a little girl, so we’re hoping for a boy.”

Nettie sliced into the pie and slipped a piece onto the plate Sarah supplied. “Either will be fine with me as long as it is a healthy grandbaby.”

Faith decided it was the perfect opening to share something about herself. “I am expecting a little boy soon.”

Everyone’s glances fell to her trim waist. She chuckled as she appeased their unspoken curiosity. “I’m hoping my nephew can come to live with me soon. That’s why I have to get this house in some kind of order.”

“Is he visiting for the summer?” Sarah asked. The women all took a seat at the table.

Sadness put a catch in Faith’s voice. “
Nee,
he is not coming for a visit. I hope he will live with me until he is old enough to marry and have a family of his own. My English brother and his wife were killed recently in a flash flood in Texas when their car was swept off the road. Fortunately, Kyle, their son, wasn’t with them at the time. I’m all the family he has now.”

Sarah reached across the table and laid a hand over Faith’s. “I’m sorry for your loss. I lost my sister not long ago, so I understand your grief.”

“
Danki.
I had not seen my brother for many years. He fell in love with an English girl and left our faith. I’ve never met his son. I’m trying to adopt him, but the process is painfully slow.”

Nettie finished dishing out the pie and handed the plate to Faith. “It will be a hard change for him coming from an
Englisch
life to live in an Amish home.”

“I am worried about that. What if he says he doesn’t want to live here?”

Sarah gave Faith an incredulous look. “What little boy wouldn’t love to live on a farm?”

“One who is used to television and video games.” Faith was giving voice to one of her biggest fears. That Kyle would hate living with her.

“To worry about such things is to borrow trouble,” Nettie chided. “God is bringing this child into your life. He knows what is best for all of us.”

“You’re right. I will put my trust in Him.” Faith took a bite of her pie and savored the sweet tart flavor and tender, flaky crust. Nettie Sutter really knew how to make good pie.

“Tell us about yourself,” Katie prompted. “I hear you have some unusual animals.”

“I have ten alpacas. I raise them for their fleece. I spin it into yarns. Once I get this house in order, I will start looking for a place to sell my work.”

Sarah brightened. “I work at a fabric store and we sell many types of yarn. The store owner’s name is Janet Mallory. You should speak to her.”

“In Hope Springs?” Could it possibly be this easy to find a market for her work? Faith dared not get her hopes up.

“Yes, we are on Main Street, downtown. You can’t miss it. It’s called Needles and Pins. Janet is always looking for things made by the local Amish people to sell in her store. We get a fair amount of tourists in Hope Springs. Amish handmade
items sell very well, although most of our yarn is bought by local Amish women for use at home.”

Faith said, “I’m grateful for your suggestion. I will come in once I have my house in order.”

Sarah leaned forward. “Is it true that your animal spit on Adrian? His brother, Ben, said he smelled as bad as a skunk.”

Faith felt the heat rush to her cheeks. “Myrtle did spit on Adrian. I don’t blame him for being upset.”

Sarah laughed, a sweet light sound that made Faith smile, too. “I would have given anything to see Adrian lose his composure. What did he say?”

Faith crossed her arms over her chest and mimicked his deep stern voice. “Your creatures are eating my beans.”

“
Ja,
that is just the way he talks.” Sarah giggled again, then took another bite of her pie.

Faith couldn’t let them think Adrian had been unkind. “He was upset, but he helped me catch them. Except for Myrtle, the others seem to like him. He’s also been helping me build fences to keep them in.”

Sarah sobered. “Adrian is coming over to help you build fences? That’s interesting. He has stayed mainly to himself these past few years.”

Faith’s curiosity was piqued. Wanting to learn more about her stoic neighbor, she asked, “Why is that?”

Sarah glanced at the other women, then back to Faith. “Adrian’s wife died shortly after their son was born. He raised the boy by himself. His son was his whole world. One afternoon, Adrian was walking home from his field that lies across the highway from his house. His son saw him coming and raced out to greet him. He ran right into the path of a car and was killed in front of Adrian.”

Faith’s heart twisted with pity knowing the pain he must have felt. “No parent should have to bury a child.”

Nettie sighed heavily. “There is no greater sorrow. That is how we know God loves us. For He allowed His only son to die for our sins so that we may rejoice with Him in heaven for eternity.”

From the tone of her voice and the sadness in her eyes, Faith knew that Nettie was speaking from firsthand experience. She said, “It is our solace to know they are waiting to greet us in heaven.”

“Indeed it is,” Nettie agreed.

Katie was the one to break the ensuing silence. “I have never seen an alpaca up close. May I take a look at yours?”

“Of course.” Faith took pity on the expectant mother having to listen to such a somber conversation. Rising to her feet, she motioned for Katie to follow her. Nettie and Sarah deposited the dirty plates in the sink and quickly joined them.

Outside, they crossed the yard in a tight group. Nettie eyed the sad state of the barn. “You will need to find a strong husband to get this farm in shape. We have several bachelors in our church district who would make a good husband to you and a father to your nephew.”

Quickly, Faith said, “I have no plans to marry again.”

“Not even if the right fellow happens along?” Katie teased.

“I’m too old to remarry,” Faith added firmly.

Nettie started laughing. “No, you aren’t. I’m getting married in a few weeks. If I found someone at my age, you can, too. It is all up to God.”

Katie asked Nettie a question about preparations for the upcoming nuptials, and the two women began an animated discussion.

Faith slowed her pace and hoped that would be the end of her part in the conversation, but Sarah shortened her stride and dropped back beside her. “Nettie is right. It’s up to God.”

“It is up to me, too. I see no need to marry again.”

She felt Sarah’s keen eyes studying her intently. Finally, Sarah said, “Your marriage wasn’t a happy one? I understand. We won’t speak of it again.”

Faith could only wonder if Sarah’s experience in marriage was the same.

As they rounded the barn, Faith saw her alpacas were all grazing except for Myrtle. She stood alone near the barn door. Faith called out to them. “Come here, babies. I have people who want to meet you.”

They all raised their heads to look at her, but only Socks ventured close.

“Will they spit at us?” Katie asked.

“They only spit if they are startled. Sometimes they will spit at each other if they are annoyed, but for the most part they all get along.”

“They are so cute,” Katie gushed.

Faith had had the same reaction the first time she’d seen one. “They are wonderful animals. They are docile and they are quite smart.”

“Which one spit on my cousin?” Sarah leaned her arms on the top of the gate.

Faith pointed. “That was Myrtle. She’s the gray one standing by the barn door. She is expecting in a few weeks.”

Katie started laughing. “I know just how she feels. Being pregnant makes me moody, too. Some days I feel like spitting at my husband. Poor Elam knows to stay out of my way when I get in a temper.”

Nettie and Sarah joined in Katie’s laughter. Myrtle moved as far away from the noise as she could get. She huddled by the corner of the barn and watched them all with a wary expression.

Faith felt a glimmer of hope begin to grow in her heart. She would enjoy having these women for friends. It seemed things were beginning to look up for her in this new place.

“Here you all are!”

Faith looked past Myrtle as a woman walked into view from around the corner of the barn. Myrtle took quick exception to the stranger coming so close. She spat and galloped to the far side of the pen, giving an alarm call that sent the entire herd milling in panic.

The middle-aged woman stood frozen with a shocked expression on her face as alpaca spit dripped from her chin.

Katie clasped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, no, not her.”

“Who is it?” Faith asked, knowing full well she didn’t want to hear the answer.

“The bishop’s wife,” Katie whispered.

“You should have seen the look on Esther Zook’s face.” Sarah started giggling again. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. It was the funniest thing. Poor Faith, I’ve never seen anyone so contrite.”

Adrian, sitting in the corner of his living room, continued his pretense of reading the newspaper while he listened to his cousin regale his mother with her story. Sarah was a frequent visitor in his home. They had been close since they were children.