The Hope of Refuge (45 page)

“Hi.”

He stopped at the foot of the steps. “What are you doing out here by yourself?”

“Wishing you were here to talk to. Got a minute?”

His gray blue eyes mesmerized her, and she tried to slow her heart.

He took a seat beside her. “I have all evening.”

“I don’t think Anna Mary will appreciate that sentiment.”

He propped his forearms on his knees. “Well, that’s sort of what I came to tell you. Anna Mary and I have stopped seeing each other.”

Her heart went crazy. “What? Why didn’t Deborah tell me?”

“Because I asked her not to.”

“Why?”

“Reasons we should probably talk about in a few months, okay?”

“Yeah. I knew Anna Mary would be hurt and angry, but I didn’t think she’d dump you for being friendly to me.”

“She didn’t, and can we change the subject?”

“Not yet. When did you two break up?”

“Before you moved out of my place.”

“Three months ago?”

He nodded. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

She blinked, trying to gain control of her emotions. Could he read in her expression the hope she felt? “Oh yeah. Uh. The bishop came by. Not only did he welcome me to attend the church meetings and to consider joining the faith, he apologized.”

Ephraim chuckled. “So does this mean you believe in God now?”

She laughed. “Can we go for a walk?”

“Sure.”

“Give me a minute to check on Lori and make sure Ada will watch her for me. Last I checked, Lori was in the kitchen sitting in Deborah’s lap.” Cara hurried into the house, made arrangements with Ada, grabbed her sweater, and bounded out the door.

Without a word spoken she and Ephraim headed for their favorite spot. “If Anna Mary’s not the issue and I’m not taboo anymore, why are you staying away?”

Laughing, he tilted his head heavenward. Then he mocked a sigh. “Why don’t you just say what’s on your mind?”

Obviously one of us has to.”

“You know why. I don’t want to pressure or influence you in the choices that lie ahead.”

“That was good thinking, but I’ve already made my choices.”

Ephraim stepped in front of her and stopped. “Well?”

“Ah, so you left me hanging for months, thinking you still had a girlfriend, but you want my answer right now?”

“I’d have preferred an answer long before you even knew you needed to give one. And I’ve been unbelievably patient.”

“You word things in a way that’s very hard to argue with.”

“And yet it never stops you, does it?”

“Shut up, ’From. I’m trying to tell you something.” She pinned a lock of hair behind one ear. “I intend to join the faith.”

He didn’t smile or move or anything.

“The world has nothing to offer that could ever mean anything to me like being a part of a community that holds the same values.”

His eyes moved over her face. “How sure are you?”

“Completely.”

He studied her, and slowly a lopsided smile hinted at what she wanted to know—hope for who they might be was the reason he’d stopped seeing Anna Mary.

“I’ve missed you so much, Ephraim.”

He took her hands into his, looking oddly shy. “Everything is empty without you. I’d like to start coming here more, and maybe one day you’ll feel comfortable coming to Dry Lake.”

Cara finally had one untarnished moment of complete happiness. “Like dating?”

He nodded. “What’s the English word for when you’re not seeing but one person?”

“Exclusive.”

“Ya, that’s it.”

“Worried about me becoming interested in other Amish guys, are you, ‘From?”

He released one of her hands and brushed her cheek with his fingers. “Maybe a little.”

Cara washed the supper dishes while Lori dried them and passed each item to Deborah to put away. Ada stood inside the walk-in pantry, going over the list of tomorrow’s baked goods and matching that against the ingredients.

The bishop had come to see her last night, and she was bursting with news to tell Ephraim. It’d only been three weeks since the bishop had visited on Labor Day, and yet he’d been back to tell her good things.

Deborah placed a dish in the cabinet. “I miss Ephraim being here tonight. He hasn’t skipped a day of coming since Labor Day.”

“I know. All of us going to the top of the mountain and stargazing every night has been so great I feel spoiled.” Cara barely wiped her wet hand against her black apron before she tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. Even with a hair net, pins, and a prayer Kapp, her short hair found its way free.

“Don’t think I’m climbing that mountain again tonight.” From inside the pantry, Ada half griped and half laughed the words. “Where is he, anyway?”

Cara rinsed a glass. “He’s working late, something about hardware for a set of cabinets didn’t come in on time. I’m a bit tempted to just show up and help him. Anyone up for the drive to Dry Lake?”

Deborah took a plate from Lori. “I need to visit Daed. Ada, you want to ride with us?”

She stepped out of the pantry. “I told Lori I’d teach her how to sew some doll clothes tonight.”

“We’re gonna make my doll an Amish dress just like mine.”

Deborah put the last item in the cabinet. “Ephraim will be surprised to see you in Dry Lake. I was beginning to think it’d be six months before you crossed that border.”

“Ephraim says I’m stubborn. Sometimes I think he’s right.”

Ada dropped her list and mocked complete shock. “You? He had to be mistaken.”

Deborah pulled her lips in, trying not to laugh. “I’ll go pack to stay at Daed’s for the night. You can share my clothes and my bedroom. You get the horse hitched.”

“We’re going
and
staying the night?”

“It’ll be good for you. You need some time around Daed and Becca.”

Cara dried her hands and tossed the towel into the dish drainer. “I guess. I mean, if you say so.”

Deborah put her arm around Cara and hugged her. “You and Lori have family and friends in Dry Lake. Get used to it.” Deborah smiled, but tears brimmed. “Go get ready. Ephraim will love being surprised. You do know none of us have ever seen Ephraim so… well… I’ve never seen him even slightly crazy about anyone. I always figured it was just who he was—unable to care passionately about anyone.”

Lori grabbed Ada’s notepad off the floor. “He loves me and Mom.”

Cara’s heart startled, and she looked to Deborah and then to Ada. “He said that?”

“Yeah,” Lori said. “And he hopes we’ll be a family someday. But he doesn’t think you’re ready to talk about that yet.”

Cara chuckled. “I guess I better keep you around, kiddo, so you can keep me posted on things.”

Lori helped Cara hitch the horse to the buggy. Her daughter and Ada waved as Cara and Deborah drove out of sight. It was freeing to have people in Lori’s life that she fully trusted. She asked Deborah a dozen things about the Amish lifestyle as they spent more than an hour getting to Dry Lake—things like how a preacher, deacon, or bishop was chosen, how the Amish always seemed to find work among their own, why some of the younger girls wore the aprons and some didn’t. Soon they were nearing Levina’s old place.

“Hey, Deb, why don’t you let me off here at the conjoined trees?”

“Okay.” Deborah pulled the buggy to a stop. “But whatever you do, don’t go to my brother’s place and fall asleep.”

“Very funny. Just tell him someone’s hanging around the barn with a batch of puppies. That’ll make him head this way.”

“It could make him run for the hills.”

“Then I’ll be in that tree waiting all night.” She jumped down from the buggy and ran to the tree. A dozen memories flooded her as Deborah drove off. Wishing she had on jeans, she managed to climb it, then she rocked back against the trunk and waited.

Ephraim glanced up from the wood in front of him, catching another glimpse of his sister. She looked better every time he saw her. He wasn’t naive enough to think the grief was totally behind her, but it didn’t own all of her anymore. Cara had been very good for her. A little of her New York, in-your-face toughness could go a long way in helping someone like his sister.

Deborah stood in the doorway of the shop. “You need to go to Levina’s barn.” She’d said the same thing a few minutes ago. He ran the plane across the flat surface, removing a bit of wood. “I’m busy.”

His sister huffed. “If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

Her tone startled him, and he laughed. “I do believe I just heard Cara in your voice.”

“Ya, I think you did. G’night, Ephraim.” The screen door to the shop slapped loudly as his sister left.

He drew a deep breath and set the tools in their place. Maybe he should check out what was going on at the barn. Walking through the dried cornfield, he thought of the first time he’d met Cara. If she’d lived in Dry Lake as she should have, they’d have married years ago. He probably wouldn’t have courted anyone else. She spoke to his soul like no other. They fit.

The more time they had together, the more time they wanted. And he knew it’d be that way for the rest of their lives.

As he came out of the edge of the cornfield, he saw movement in the tree.

“A girl could spend a lot of time up here waiting for you to come by.”

His heart filled with pleasure as he stepped forward. “It’s almost too dark to see you, and I started not to come this way at all, but like my Daadi always said, even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in awhile.”

“Are you calling me a nut, Ephraim?”

He moved closer. “What are you doing up there?”

“Waiting for you.”

He propped the palm of his hand against the trunk. “I’m here. Are you coming down?”

“Nope. I have things I want to know first.”

“Like how hard you’ll hit the ground if you fall out of that tree?” Wondering if she had any idea what she’d done to his heart, he leaned back against the tree. “Fire away.”

“I’ll be allowed to go through instructions this spring.”

“Really? The bishop said that?”

“Yep. You know what that means, right?”

“Ya. You’ll be a member of the Old Order Amish faith come summer.”

“That too.”

“Too?”

“As in
also
. Meaning not the main thing.”

“So what’s the main thing, Cara?”

She shifted her body until her stomach was on the branch. As she clung to the thick branch and lowered herself toward the ground, Ephraim wrapped his hands around her waist and helped her make a soft landing.

They stood face to face, but he couldn’t find any words.

Sliding her fingertips against the palm of his hand, she leaned against the tree. “That you can marry me next fall, or technically winter if we choose to wait that long.”

Ephraim wanted to ignore prudence and kiss her, but he forced himself to think logically. “I know you’re aware most Amish have large families, but have we discussed the fact that the Amish allow God to choose how many children they’ll have? That’s usually a breaking point for those who’ve been raised as Englischers.”

“Are you trying to talk me out of a marriage proposal you haven’t even given?”

Soft laughter rose within him. “You’re something else, Cara Moore. And I want nothing but more time with you and more of your heart. But you’ve got to understand some things.”

“I understand. You hope to get lucky often enough to have lots of children, and you’re trying to make sure I agree to that now.”

“You know what I really think?”

“No, but I bet you’re going to tell me.”

He placed one hand on her waist. “I think you’re in love with me.”

“You
think?
You mean you don’t know?”

Could his heart beat any faster? “I hoped.”

“You’ll still have to wait like thirteen or so months from now.” She pointed a finger at him. “But you will wait for me.”

He cupped her face in his hands. “And why would I do that?”

“Because you’re in love with me.”

He brought his lips to hers, feeling the power of things he’d always hoped for. “I am. You’re absolutely right about that. I think maybe I always have been, so waiting until the next wedding season isn’t all that bad.”

Excerpt from

The Bridge of Peace