The Hope Read online

  Faron’s eyes lit up. “Did you see the Great Lakes? I want to hear all about it.”

  “Later,” Ruth said with a sour look for Owen. The rare times he came to visit he filled her son’s head with stories of far-off places and it was months before Faron stopped talking about seeing them for himself. Why couldn’t the boy realize the best place in the world was right under his feet, on the land his father and grandfather had poured their blood, sweat and tears into?

  She was afraid Owen would lure her son away from home and from her with his tales of travel and adventure. She couldn’t let that happen.

  “Your mother is right,” Owen said. “We have a skating party to attend. We don’t want the bride and groom to be late.”

  Zack and Ella grinned at him as they got in. The sleigh was a black vis-à-vis style with two maroon tufted bench seats that faced each other behind a raised seat for the driver. Faron scrambled up top and took hold of the reins. Ruth’s black buggy horse, Licorice, stood patiently waiting for the trip to start. Her harness was decked out with brass sleigh bells that jingled with her every move.

  Ernest scooted across the front seat to give her room to sit. Owen held out his hand to help her in. She hesitated but had little choice except to place her hand in his. Why did he have to show up today when her emotions were already raw?

  The strength of his touch sent her heart thudding wildly and triggered memories of their time together as teenagers. She thought she had been in love with him when she was a foolish seventeen-year-old. Only later did she come to realize it had been an infatuation and not the true, deep love she’d found with Nathan.

  She pulled her hand away and slipped on her gloves. Owen could be charming, but he wasn’t dependable, and she wasn’t seventeen anymore.

  * * *

  RUTH WAS NOT happy to see him.

  Owen hadn’t expected she would be. That he hadn’t stayed to help with the farm after Nathan’s death had been the final straw in their uneasy relationship. He had returned to Cedar Grove this time at his uncle’s invitation and with the intention of making amends, but Ruth wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

  He didn’t agree with the plan Faron and Ernest had concocted between them. Faron intended to accompany Ernest and the newlyweds to Missouri and down into Arkansas. Owen understood that the boy wanted to see more of the country but springing it on his mother without warning wasn’t the right way to go about it. Owen was happy for the chance to show Ruth she could depend on him to help while the men were gone, but he was pretty sure she was going to blame him for her son’s idea to travel with Ernest.

  Ruth settled beside Ernest. Owen stepped up and sat beside her in the rear-facing seat. She was sandwiched between Ernest and him. She spread a blue-and-white quilt over them. Owen pulled it across his lap, making sure she had enough to keep her warm.

  Faron urged Licorice to a trot and headed down the snow-covered lane toward the county road. The sleigh bells jingled merrily as the horse trotted along and the sleigh runners hissed through the snow. Other than the muffled hoofbeats on the snowy road, they were the only sounds in the crisp air.

  Within minutes Ruth’s cheeks were red from the cold and wisps of her blond hair escaped from beneath her bonnet to flutter around her face. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She looked more like a girl of twenty than a woman past forty. It was easy to see why she had captured Nathan’s heart. He pushed aside the thought that she had once owned his heart, too, although he hadn’t realized it until it was too late.

  Zack and Ella began whispering with their heads together and their red-and-green quilt pulled up to their chins.

  Ernest leaned toward Ruth. “Do you think they would notice if we jumped out and went back to the house?”

  Ruth’s lips curled in a small smile. “Only if we took the picnic basket with us. Then I’m sure they would come after us.”

  “So would I,” Owen added. “You always were a goot cook.”

  She cast a narrowed glance his way. “As seldom as you’ve eaten at my table, I’m surprised you’re any kind of judge.”

  He laughed, settled his hat lower on his forehead and folded his arms over his chest. “Always quick with that sharp wit. You haven’t changed a bit, Ruthie.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t imagine you have, either.”

  “You might be surprised.”

  “You won’t mind if I don’t hold my breath, will you?” she asked sweetly.

  “Are you excited about the party?” Ernest asked Ruth, breaking into the tense moment.

  “I am,” Faron said before his mother could answer. “All my friends are coming. It should be loads of fun.”

  “Loads of fun,” Ruth repeated with a wry smile.

  “What are you going to do with all your free time after Zack and I leave?” Ella asked.

  Ruth rolled her eyes. “I’m sure I will think of something.”

  Ella leaned forward. “You should consider marrying again.”

  Her comment caught Owen by complete surprise. He turned to stare at Ruth, waiting for her reply. He never imagined she would remarry, but there was nothing to stop her. She appeared as stunned by Ella’s suggestion as he was.

  Ruth shook her head. “Nee, for Gott already blessed me with my soul mate. I don’t look to find another.”

  Her answer was what Owen expected. He didn’t believe there was a better man than Nathan for her anywhere or even one half as good.

  Ruth smoothed the quilt on her lap. “I won’t be bored if you are worried about that, Ella. I’ll enjoy having some free time. I certainly need to catch up on my letter writing. Besides, the two of you will bring me grandbabies to spoil in due time. Who knows, you may decide to move back to Cedar Grove and raise your family here.”

  “Don’t hold your breath for that one, Mamm,” Faron said.

  “Why not?” She turned to look up at her son.

  Owen rolled his eyes. Faron was about to ruin Ruth’s day.

  “Jamesport has a lot more going on than Cedar Grove will ever have. There are Amish-owned furniture factories and a homemade-candy store that does a lot of business with the Englisch. Some Amish there give buggy rides to tourists. Others own restaurants or sell baked goods and garden produce from their homes. They embrace the financial benefits that outsiders bring.”

  By the look on Ruth’s face, Faron’s obvious admiration for the distant community didn’t sit well with her.

  “And how do you know all of this?” she asked with a pointed look at Zack. Her new son-in-law shook his head no.

  “Owen told me,” Faron said brightly.

  She turned her icy gaze in Owen’s direction. “Owen did? I never would have guessed.”

  “He’s done so many things, worked at so many different jobs. You know I like to hear his stories. He’s almost as funny as Onkel Ernest.” Faron looked back at his mother and stopped talking when he realized he’d said more than he should.

  Owen was happy to shift the attention from himself. “No one is funnier than Ernest. He’s more entertaining than a barn full of frisky kittens.”

  Ella and Zack chuckled. Ruth didn’t appear amused.

  Ernest leaned forward. “Speaking of cats, did I ever tell you about the time a mouse ran up my pant leg and a cat tried to follow it?”

  “You have.” Ruth turned her glare back on Owen. “Cousin Owen may be skilled at many trades, but farming is the finest profession an Amish man can undertake. To care for the land and animals is to care for Gott’s creations. To grow food for ourselves and for others is part of our Amish heritage,” she said, still looking at Owen. “Don’t you agree?”

  It was a warning to stop filling Faron’s head with ideas about seeing new places. “The best profession is the one Gott has planned for a man, the one a man can put his heart into. Don’t you agree?”

  Ruth’s
lips pressed into a narrow line.

  “There are a lot of Amish farmers in the Jamesport area,” Zack said to fill the sudden awkward silence.

  “Mostly corn, I imagine,” Ernest said.

  “A mix of crops, about like here. Not as much wheat but plenty of soybeans, hay and some cotton.”

  “Cotton is a crop I’ve never tried, but ten years ago I wasn’t planting soybeans.” Ernest and Zack discussed crops and land prices for the next ten minutes. Ruth remained stubbornly silent.

  The sun shone overhead with only a few gray clouds scuttling across the blue sky. The surrounding fields devoid of crops and blanketed in a foot of snow sparkled and gleamed so brightly it was hard to look at them without squinting. The air was chilly, but the sun felt warm on Owen’s face.

  When Zack and Ella began conversing quietly again, Owen leaned toward Ruth. “Gott has blessed us with a beautiful day for a sleigh ride and a skating party.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t spoil it for everyone by pouting because I’m here.”

  Her eyes widened. “I am not pouting,” she whispered back sharply.

  “Aren’t you? That’s what I would call it.”

  After a minute, she relaxed. “It is a pretty day for a sleigh ride. Danki.”

  He tipped his head slightly not quite trusting her sudden change of mood. “Thanks for what?”

  “For reminding me to be grateful for Gott’s daily blessings. However, I was not pouting. I was simply lost in thought.”

  That was another thing that hadn’t changed. Ruth was never wrong.

  “My mistake. The forecast is for more snow tonight. I hope it doesn’t start before we get home this evening.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I’ll be glad when spring gets here in spite of the fact that lambing makes it my busiest season.”

  The sound of a car approaching caught Owen’s attention. Faron headed the horse toward the shoulder of the road as he muttered, “What is wrong with that fool?”

  Owen leaned around to see what he was talking about. He saw a dark green car weaving toward them coming much too fast on the snow-covered road. “Hang on!”

  His warning came too late. The car clipped the left rear side of the sleigh. The impact tipped the sleigh over flinging everyone out. He heard Ruth cry out and then silence as he hit the snow.

  CHAPTER TWO

  A SNOWBANK CUSHIONED some of Owen’s fall. He sat up slowly, checking to see if anything hurt. It didn’t. He brushed the snow from his head, found his hat and looked around. Faron was already trying to calm the spooked horse to keep her from pulling the overturned sleigh farther along the ditch. Ernest sat at the edge of the road dusting off his coat. Zack was helping Ella to her feet. They both seemed unharmed. Ruth lay on her back a few feet away from Owen. She wasn’t moving.

  Fear made his already rapidly beating heart pound wildly. He floundered through the snow to her side and dropped to his knees, fearful of what he would find.

  Please, Lord, let her be okay.

  She moaned softly. She was alive. Relief made his head spin. He grabbed her hand. “Ruth, are you all right? Ruth, speak to me.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. “What happened?”

  He sank back on his heels as he gave silent thanks for the Lord’s mercy. “A car hit us.”

  “Is everyone okay? Faron? Ella?” She tried to sit up and groaned.

  “Everyone is on their feet except you and Ernest. Can you stand?”

  “I think so.”

  As he helped her up, she grimaced and fell against him. He kept a steadying arm around her. “What’s wrong?”

  “My knee. I must have twisted it.” She took several deep breaths, then nodded. “I’ll be fine. Was anyone in the car hurt?”

  “I reckon not. They didn’t stop.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “They drove away without seeing if we were injured? I can’t believe that.”

  “I think the driver was drunk,” Faron said, leading Licorice toward them. He had unhitched her from the sleigh. Her brass bells jingled as she tossed her head and sidestepped in agitation.

  “Did you see who it was?” Ernest asked as he got to his feet.

  Faron shook his head. “It happened so fast. The sun was glaring off the windshield. I saw the car weaving as it came toward us and then I was flying through the air. I didn’t recognize the car, either.”

  Zack and Ella joined them. “Englisch teenagers out for a joyride.” Zack looked as furious as Owen felt.

  “Did you see them?” Ruth asked.

  “Nee, it’s only a guess on my part,” Zack admitted.

  “A good one, I think,” Faron said as he checked over the horse. She quieted as he ran a soothing hand over her neck and down each of her legs.

  “We’re all okay thanks to Gott’s mercy.” Ella gripped her husband’s hand.

  Owen realized he was still holding Ruth. For some reason he couldn’t move away from her. The sight of her lying motionless in the snow was burned into his mind. He straightened her bonnet and brushed the snow from her coat. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m shaken up.” She tried to step away from him but cried out and crumpled as her leg gave way.

  Owen caught her before she fell and held her tight against him. “You aren’t okay. What’s wrong?”

  She grimaced. “My knee doesn’t want to hold me up.”

  Ella rushed to her side, moving Owen out of the way. “Zack, bring one of the quilts over here.”

  He spread the blue one on the roadside and helped Ella lower her mother to sit on it.

  Ernest came to stand beside Owen. “Are you okay, my boy?”

  Owen stuffed his hands into the pockets of his coat and hunched his shoulders. “I’m fine.”

  Was he?

  Holding Ruth brought back a long-repressed memory of the last time he’d had his arms around her. He had been taking her home in his buggy after a singing. He’d stopped the horse at the end of her father’s lane and asked if he could kiss her. She had nodded shyly. It was an awkward, amazingly sweet kiss. The effect it had on him had scared him half to death. At eighteen he hadn’t been ready for the kind of commitment she deserved. He was an orphan with nothing to offer except a farmhand’s pay and a little sister waiting for him to come get her and make a home for them both. As much as he cared for Ruth, he believed she would be better-off with someone else.

  He should have talked to her after that night, at least said goodbye, but he never found the courage. Fear that he wouldn’t be able to leave if she asked him to stay kept him from seeing her. He headed to Ohio a few days later but before he left he had encouraged Nathan to ask Ruth out. Nathan was the kind of man she deserved. It turned out he was right about that. Nathan had been her soul mate.

  Owen had gone to collect his sister from their aunt in Ohio. Only she wasn’t there. He’d spent the next twenty-five years trying to find her.

  How different would his life be if he had stayed on the farm and kept seeing Ruth instead of running away from his feelings for her?

  It was a pointless question. Rebecca was part of the reason he’d left. Although he’d finally found her two months ago, she was also the reason he had to leave Cedar Grove again in a few weeks. It didn’t give him much time to make amends with Ruth, but he was determined to try.

  Owen pushed the memory of their kiss to the back corner of his mind, where it belonged.

  * * *

  RUTH DIDN’T UNDERSTAND the look in Owen’s eyes as he stared at her. He looked confused, almost sorrowful. The sound of another vehicle approaching drew everyone’s attention to the roadway. A blue tractor pulled up beside them and stopped. The Cedar Grove Amish, like most Kansas Amish, were allowed to own and drive tractors. They could even drive cars or trucks for work, but they weren’t allowed to own them. Ruth recognized Joshua King. His wife,
Laura Beth, and her sister Sarah were riding in an open trailer behind the tractor. “Is everyone all right?” Joshua asked.

  Sarah scrambled out of the trailer and raced to Ella. The two girls had been friends for years. Sarah hugged her and stepped back. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when we saw that car hit you. Is anyone hurt?”

  Ella looked around in amazement. “We all seem to be fine except for Mamm. She hurt her knee.”

  Ruth waved aside everyone’s concern. “It’s nothing. I twisted it, that’s all. It’s already feeling better.”

  Ernest stepped up to the large tractor tire to speak to Joshua. “The only casualties seem to be the sleigh and the picnic basket. A sad, sad loss if you ask me.”

  Ruth realized the contents of the sleigh had been strewn along the ditch. Her wooden picnic basket hadn’t survived. It lay in splintered pieces. Many of her food containers had spilled, including the one with her cookies. They lay scattered along the edge of the road.

  Joshua got down and helped his wife out of the trailer. She held his one-year-old son, Caleb, in her arms. The boy looked like an adorable stuffed toy in his blue snowsuit, white knit hat and white mittens.

  Joshua had left the Amish as a young man but returned the previous spring with his infant son. A widower, he met and married Laura Beth Yoder not long afterward. He now farmed and operated a large engine repair business with his neighbor Thomas Troyer. Joshua looked back in the direction the car had taken. “I witnessed the accident if you want to report this to the sheriff.”

  Ruth glanced at her family. They all shook their heads. She turned to Joshua. “We will not. It’s not our way. We forgive the driver and pray that he or she sees the error of their actions.”

  Joshua took a deep breath. “It’s not my way now, either, but it’s hard to let something like this go. I guess I was in the outside world too long. Let’s see if we can get your sleigh upright.”

  Owen and the other men went to examine the vehicle. Sarah began to gather up the scattered belongings. Ernest soon joined her.