The Shepherd's Bride Read online

  “Doesn’t want you here? You must be mistaken.”

  “I wish I were. I left my home and traveled here with the hope that my grandfather would take us in. Things have become very...difficult at home. He refuses to help.”

  “I thought Joe would do anything for Abigail’s children.”

  “I know he is old and set in his ways. A house full of women would be disruptive for him. I try to understand and forgive him. Can you sell the quilt for me?”

  Naomi smiled sadly. “Absolutely. I know someone who might treasure this as you would.”

  Lizzie stroked the quilt one last time. “Danki. I hope it will be useful to them. Do you know how soon I could expect it to sell?”

  “A quilt of this quality will be snatched up in no time. Don’t worry about that. I’ll send my son-in-law out to the farm with the money for you as soon as I can. Take heart, Lizzie. Something good will come of this, you’ll see. Our Lord is watching over you and your sisters.”

  Lizzie nodded. If only she could be sure this was the path He wanted them to travel.

  Naomi began folding the quilt, but her sharp eyes were fixed on Lizzie’s face. “Tell me, how are you getting along with Carl King? He’s an interesting young man, isn’t he?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Lizzie hoped she wasn’t blushing as she looked away from Naomi Wadler’s pointed gaze. “I think Carl is doing well enough. Frankly, I don’t know what my grandfather would do without him. He’s been a tremendous help with all the farmwork. I know that grandfather trusts him to take care of the place and everything on it,” she added with a rush, all the while wondering if she had given away too much of her own feelings about Carl.

  “I was more interested in how you are getting along with Carl.”

  “Me? I have barely seen him the past few days. He has a lot to do to get ready for the arrival of our lambs.” It wasn’t a lie. Carl had been making himself scarce. She didn’t need to explain why.

  “I’ve always liked that young man. It is a pity he no longer follows our Amish ways. I know that Joe is terribly fond of him.”

  Naomi was one of the few people that had visited the farm with any frequency. Lizzie couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see if she knew something about Carl’s past. “Grandfather told me a little about how they met. Did he ever tell you?”

  It was Naomi’s turn to look uncomfortable with the conversation. “Joe and I don’t really talk a lot when I visit. Even when Abigail lived at home, Joe wasn’t one to make idle chitchat.”

  “You mentioned you were a friend of my mother’s. I would love to hear about her when she was young.”

  Naomi spoke to the gentleman behind the desk. “Charles, Miss Barkman and I will be in the café if you need me.” She handed him the box with Lizzie’s quilt. “Put this in my office, please.”

  Naomi came around the counter and hooked her arm through Lizzie’s. “Let me treat you to some of the best shoofly pie you’ve ever had. My daughter makes it. I can tell you so many funny things about your mother.”

  Lizzie smiled at her. “What was she like when you knew her?”

  “She came to live with us when she was only two and I was fifteen. I became her little mother. Did she ever tell you that I was the one who chipped her front tooth with a baseball bat when we were playing ball? Of course, it was an accident, but I felt so terrible about it every time I saw her smile.”

  “She never told us that.” Lizzie allowed Naomi to lead her through a set of French doors to the Shoofly Pie Café that adjoined the inn.

  * * *

  Carl peeked in through the front window of the Wadler Inn. He didn’t see Lizzie inside. He’d waited more than an hour after she left home to come into town, as well. He was sure she would have come straight here. He didn’t want her to know what he had planned, but he was determined to help her reunite with her sisters.

  When he stepped inside the lobby, the elderly Englisch gentleman behind the counter smiled brightly. “Welcome to the Wadler Inn. How may I help you?”

  “I understand that you have quilts for sale.”

  “Yes, we certainly do. You will find our area quilters are some of the very finest. Their creations are true works of art, although the Amish do not view them as such. The ones around the fireplace are the only ones we have at the moment, but more come in all the time.”

  “I’m actually interested in a wedding-ring quilt that was brought in this morning.”

  The man looked perplexed for a moment and then said, “Let me get Mrs. Wadler to help you. That quilt is not on display.”

  Carl relaxed. It hadn’t been put on display, so it must be still available. The man went into the café next door and returned a few moments later with Naomi. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Why, Carl, what are you doing here? Joe is doing okay, isn’t he?”

  “As far as I know, Joe is being his cantankerous self with the hospital staff who get paid to put up with him. I’m here to buy a quilt.”

  Naomi’s eyebrows inched higher. She glanced over her shoulder into the café and then back to him. “Did you have something special in mind?”

  “It’s a wedding-ring quilt.”

  She steered him toward the fireplace. She took a seat and he sat across from her on a plush sofa. “Do you know who made it?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure who’s stitched it, but Lizzie Barkman, Joe’s granddaughter, would have been the one who brought it in.”

  “I see. It’s a shame you didn’t buy it from her before she left the farm this morning. It would have saved you both a lot of time.”

  He was going to have to admit why he was here. “I don’t want Lizzie to know that I’m the one buying it.”

  “Why not?”

  There was no way he was going to reveal his entire reason, but he said, “I know it means a lot to her, and I don’t want her to feel beholden to me.”

  “I can understand that, but I’m sorry to tell you the quilt is no longer available.”

  “Do you mean you sold it already?”

  She kept her gaze on the door to the café. He wondered if he had interrupted her lunch. “I haven’t actually sold it, but I am holding the quilt for someone. If they choose not to purchase it, I will be sure and let you know.”

  He rubbed his palms on his thighs. “Lizzie has an urgent need for the money the quilt will bring. Please, let me know as soon as possible.”

  “By Monday. I will let you know by Monday. And now I must get back to my guest.” She rose to her feet and he did the same.

  “Thanks for your help.” He had done all he could. One way or the other, Lizzie would get the money she needed.

  Naomi tipped her head slightly to one side as she stared at him. “Joe has placed a lot of faith in you, Carl. Please don’t let him down.”

  “Don’t worry. His sheep are safe with me.”

  “I wasn’t actually thinking about the sheep.”

  He was too stunned to reply. She gave him a wink and walked to the desk. “Charles, would you please arrange a driver for me on Sunday evening?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She waved to Carl. “I’ll be in touch.”

  * * *

  Sally and her family picked up Lizzie on Sunday morning and they joined the long line of buggies traveling single file along the country road. The line moved only as fast as the slowest horse. No one would dream of passing a fellow church member on the way to services. Such a move would be seen as rude and prideful. Even the young men with their high-stepping horses and topless courting buggies held to a sedate pace.

  Lizzie found her gaze drawn to Carl’s front door when they drove by the pasture gate. The door was closed. There was no sign of him. No smoke came from the chimney even though the morning was crisp.

  Surely
he must miss being part of a community that made God the center of their lives. Lizzie knew that she couldn’t live cut off from her faith. She prayed that she never had to find out how it felt.

  Like the previous prayer service, Lizzie was captivated by the simple but eloquent sermon delivered by Bishop Zook. He had a rare gift for preaching the word of God.

  About an hour into the service, she noticed Katie Sutter was having trouble managing Jeremiah and the new baby. Both of them were fussing. Katie got to her feet and came to the back of the room where a set of stairs led to the upper level. When Jeremiah saw Lizzie, he reached for her and began hollering at the top of his lungs. Lizzie immediately got up from her seat and took charge of him.

  “Bless you,” Katie whispered. “I think he needs changing, and the baby wants to eat.”

  Lizzie wrinkled her nose. “He does.” She followed Katie upstairs to one of the bedrooms. After she changed Jeremiah’s diaper, she took him to the window to entertain him while Katie nursed his baby brother.

  She pointed to a cardinal in the branches of the tree. “See the bird? Can you say bird?”

  He babbled happily, but none of his words sounded the least like bird. He pointed a chubby finger at something and jabbered louder. Lizzie looked to where he was pointing and saw a dog. She realized it was Duncan. He was lying under the last buggy parked at the end of the row.

  Lizzie leaned closer to the window. Was that Carl standing at the rear of the buggy?

  It was. She straightened. What was he doing here? When the next hymn began in the room beneath her, she realized that Carl was singing, too. She couldn’t hear him, but she could see the rise and fall of his chest and the movement of his lips.

  She pressed a hand to her heart as pity welled up in her. How often had he stood apart from the worshippers and worshipped from afar? How sad that he wouldn’t allow himself to return to what he clearly loved. More than ever, she wanted to find out what had driven him away.

  * * *

  Naomi softly opened the door to Joe’s hospital room. The blinds were drawn. The room was dark. He was sitting up in bed, but he had fallen asleep with the newspaper spread over his chest. He wore a hospital gown. It was the first time she had ever seen him in something other than his blue work shirt or his black Sunday coat. He looked...helpless and alone.

  The sight only strengthened her resolve. She walked to the side of the bed and took a seat in the single chair beside him. He slowly opened his eyes and focused on her. For a second, she thought she saw a glimmer of happiness before he frowned. He yanked the bedspread up to his chin. The newspaper went flying. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to see you.”

  “I’m not in the mood for company.”

  “That’s hardly surprising. You haven’t been in the mood for company for the past twenty years.”

  She laid the package she carried on his lap. “I brought you something.”

  He looked at it as if it might contain a snake. She almost laughed. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad. “Go ahead, open it.”

  “You have no call to bring me presents.”

  “I declare, you can make a mountain out of a molehill faster than anyone I’ve ever met. Just open the package.”

  “I always knew you were a bossy woman.”

  “And I have always known that you are a stubborn man.”

  He lifted the lid of the box and gazed at the fabric with a perplexed expression on his face. “I don’t have need of a quilt, but thank you. The stitching is quite fine.”

  “Abigail made it.”

  That shocked him. “Abigail? You don’t mean my Abigail?”

  “Yes, Lizzie brought it to the inn. She wants me to sell it. It’s the only thing she has to remember her mother by. Abigail made a quilt for each of her daughters before she passed away. Lizzie was in tears when she handed it over.”

  Joe ran a hand lovingly over the fabric. “My Abigail always had a fine hand with a needle. You taught her well.”

  They both fell silent as thoughts of a shared past overwhelmed them. Naomi drew a deep breath. “She also had a stubborn streak. I suspect she got it from you.”

  “Why would Lizzie sell this?”

  “Because she is desperate to bring her sisters here. Joe, we are old friends. What is Lizzie so afraid of?”

  “Morris is making Clara marry a man that Lizzie feels is unsuitable. Harsh, even. That’s why she came to Hope Springs. She was hoping I would take them in.”

  “And why have you turned your back on them? The truth, Joseph,” she demanded when she saw the belligerent glint in his eyes.

  His expression slowly softened. “Lizzie is so much like her.”

  “But she is not Abigail. I know your daughter broke your heart when she married that man. She broke my heart, too. I saw what he was long before she would admit it. But hearts mend, Joe. Love mends a broken heart.”

  “I haven’t any love left in me.”

  “You can’t fool me, you old goat. Your heart is full of love for that young man you’ve taken in and for Abigail’s daughter. You’re just afraid to admit it. You’re afraid of being hurt again.”

  “What if I took them in and they turned against me the way she did? I couldn’t bear it.”

  “So you think it’s better not to care at all? That’s selfish. Has trying not to care for Lizzie made you happy, Joseph? The truth, now!”

  “Nee, it has not.”

  “Then I see that you have two choices. Risk loving that wonderful child and her sisters and enjoy the best of what God has given you, or turn your back on His gift and keep on being a miserable shell of a man. What’s it going to be, Joseph Shetler?”

  “You shouldn’t speak harshly to me, woman. I’m a sick man.”

  She leaned forward and laid a hand on his cheek. “Not so sick that you can’t see how much I care for you, I hope.”

  He looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I had such a crush on you when I was young.”

  “A maedel’s foolishness. I’m almost twenty years older than you.”

  “Fifteen years. And while that was a lot when I was eighteen, it’s not so much now that I’m sixty.”

  “You’ve gone soft in the head or something to be talking like this. You married a good man. The right man.”

  “Yes, I did, and I loved him dearly, but he’s been gone for eight years now. Did you really think I brought all those canned vegetables and preserves to you out of Christian duty for the past five years?”

  “Well...ja, I did.”

  “You silly man. I was trying to get your attention. I see now that the only way to accomplish that is by plain speaking. I’m right fond of you, Joseph Shetler. I would know now if you feel the same way.”

  “You can’t expect a man to answer a question like that when he’s under the influence of Englisch pain medicine.”

  “When I heard you had been taken to the hospital, I realized what a fool I have been to stay silent for so long hoping that you would speak first.”

  “You could have your pick of upstanding fellows. There’s no reason for you to chase after a rickety old sheepherder. I can’t even walk. What kind of husband would I be? Besides, a sheep farm is no place for a woman.”

  “Nonsense. So Evelyn hated sheep. So what? I like sheep. And I happen to like rickety old shepherds. Are you going to make me ask the question?”

  He scooted up uncomfortably in bed and smoothed the spread over his chest. “What question would that be?”

  She shook her head and began to gather up her things. “I reckon I’m a foolish old woman who thought that maybe, just maybe, I could have a second chance to love a man and be loved in return. I see I was wrong. Good night to you, Joseph. May the Lord bless and kee
p you.” She rose and headed for the door.

  “Wait,” he called out.

  She kept her gaze fixed on the doorknob. “I have been waiting, Joseph. I’m not going to wait anymore.”

  “All right, all right, have it your way.”

  Joy surged through her. She turned slowly to face him. “What does that mean exactly?”

  “I’m not going to come courting in some fancy buggy.”

  “I don’t need a fancy buggy.”

  “Well...it’ll be lambing season soon. Any plans you’ve got will have to wait until summer.”

  She smiled broadly, walked back to his side and took his hand. “A quiet little summer wedding sounds wunderbar.”

  Worry filled his eyes. “Are you certain about this, Naomi?”

  She bent down and kissed him. Then she whispered in his ear, “I’ve never been more certain of anything.”

  “I think I’m too old to be this happy.” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

  “The good Lord didn’t put an age limit on happiness, darling. Will you buy Abigail’s quilt? If not, I will put it up for sale in my shop.”

  He looked down at the soft fabric. “I wish I knew what my daughter would want me to do.”

  * * *

  Lizzie was raking up the previous year’s litter from the vegetable garden when she saw a buggy coming up the lane on Monday. She didn’t recognize the man driving, but she walked out to meet him. He drew up beside her and tipped his hat. “Guder mariye.”

  “Good morning and welcome.”

  “Are you Lizzie Barkman?”

  “I am.”

  “I’m Adam Troyer. Naomi Wadler is my mother-in-law. She wanted me to deliver this to you.” He leaned forward and held out an envelope.

  “What is it?”

  “I believe it is payment for your quilt.”

  “My quilt has been sold already? I only left it there on Saturday.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know the details, but it must’ve sold.”

  Lizzie opened the envelope. She looked up at Adam in shock. “This can’t be right. There’s far too much money here.”