Chapter Twenty-Five
As Chloe found one excuse after another to delay leaving on Friday morning, Micah struggled not to snap at her. Although nobody enforced his starting time at work, he wanted to be there during business hours, and he disliked being late.
After her fourth trip upstairs for an item she’d forgotten, Micah blew out a long, exasperated sigh. “We need to leave now.”
“You don’t have to wait for me,” Chloe said. “Jabin and I can get to school by ourselves.”
Micah had given in and let them take scooters to school, but he liked to keep an eye on them for at least part of the way. “Please make it quick.”
Ignoring his foot tapping in a you’d-better-hurry-or-else rhythm, Chloe dragged her feet coming down the stairs. When she saw him still standing by the back door, disappointment clouded her features.
“I thought you were leaving.”
Micah placed his hands on his hips. “Have you been trying to get rid of me?”
Chloe dipped her head and mumbled, “Jah.” Then she straightened and tilted up her chin. “I want to take the pony cart to school.”
“Absolutely not.” Micah’s chest tightened at the thought of her and Jabin in a tippy cart directly behind the pony’s back legs. “It’s much too dangerous.”
His niece glared. “I knew you’d say that.”
“And you’re too young.” Even as Micah said it, his excuse sounded weak.
“My friend Maria’s eight, and she drives hers.”
“Not to school. Besides, you’re only seven.” Micah seized on that.
Tears shimmered in Chloe’s eyes. “But I already know how to do it. Mamm taught me.”
Micah knelt and hugged her. “I’m sorry.” As much as it pained him to see her grief, he couldn’t give in on a safety issue. “Let’s talk about it next year, when you’re eight.” Not that he’d necessarily agree then, but maybe it would put off the argument.
“That’s too long.” Her eyes still damp, she mounted her scooter when Micah handed it to her, but the conflict was far from over.
If she already knew how to hitch up the cart, what if she sneaked out to the barn one day and took off?
All day long, he worried about Chloe defying his rules. He had to find a way to protect her.
* * *
Hope walked her Friday afternoon student to the exit, opened the door, and stopped.
“Micah?” She hadn’t been expecting him.
“I don’t want to interrupt your work,” he said, “but when you have a minute, I’d like to ask a favor.”
“I’ll be right back.” She walked Kelvin and his foster dad to their car, but her mind stayed on Micah.
“That your boyfriend?” Kelvin’s loud question rang out. Surely Micah had heard. Hope’s face burned. “No,” she whispered, but her flushed face and flustered motions must have revealed her feelings.
“Coulda fooled me,” Kelvin muttered before Jasper shushed him.
She hoped Micah hadn’t also guessed the truth.
After seeing Kelvin off, she rushed back toward Micah, but Logan loomed in the doorway to the barn, and she slowed her pace.
When she reached Micah, he followed her gaze to where Logan stood, hands on hips, staring at them. “I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you long,” Micah said. “Just one quick question. Would you be willing to board our pony here?”
Conscious of Logan’s stare, Hope didn’t meet Micah’s eyes. “Of course, but why?”
“Chloe wants to drive the pony cart.”
“Yes, she told me that.” Micah’s surprised look made Hope feel guilty. She should have mentioned it to him.
“I told her no, but I’m pretty sure that won’t stop her.”
Hope smiled. “Knowing Chloe, you’re probably right. Logan might know someone with a horse trailer who could pick up the pony.”
Micah shot a wary glance in Logan’s direction. “I don’t know if—”
Hope didn’t wait for him to finish. She hurried to Logan and asked, then beckoned Micah over to make the arrangements.
“My brother has a trailer,” Logan admitted grudgingly.
Micah looked as if he wanted to refuse, so Hope took over. “Could he get the pony tonight or early tomorrow morning?”
Blowing out a martyred sigh, Logan pulled out his cell and called. “What time tomorrow?”
Hope nudged Micah, who seemed reluctant to answer.
Micah responded, “The harness shop opens at nine, so I leave for work at eight thirty. Any time before that’s fine. And I’ll gladly pay for his time and gas.”
Trying to smooth over the awkwardness after Logan hung up the phone, Hope turned to him. “Why don’t you have your brother come here in the morning, and Daed can ride with him to show him the way?”
That would give her father something to do. He really missed Chloe and Jabin, and he’d been moping around ever since the twins started school.
Micah turned to leave. “I need to pick up Chloe and Jabin right now, but thanks for arranging everything.” Micah’s impartial glance from her to Logan cut her deeply. Not even a brief smile. Not that she’d been expecting him to show her any special attention. But she couldn’t help wishing.
At least she’d see him tomorrow. She followed the buggy’s slow progress down the driveway. Maybe having the pony here meant he’d stop by more often.
“How often does he visit when I’m not around?” Logan’s annoyed tone grated on her.
Not often enough. “I don’t think that’s your business.” She kept her response tart to prevent any more questions.
“I’m warning you . . .”
Hope spun and faced him. “My life and friendships have nothing to do with the business.”
“That’s not true. We’ve already talked about that.”
Hope fixed him with a calm and steady stare until he stalked off.
* * *
Micah had washed the last breakfast bowl and handed it to Chloe to dry when a loud engine growled in the driveway.
Chloe nearly dropped the dish, and Micah grabbed for it. “Finish drying so Jabin can put it away.”
“What is that?” Jabin backed up and covered his ears as the trailer rattled to a stop near the back door.
“Don’t worry. It’s only a horse trailer.” Micah set a hand on Jabin’s shoulder.
Without being asked, Chloe did Jabin’s job of putting the bowl in the cupboard. Micah sent her a thank-you smile. The truck engine died, and Micah took the twins’ hands to keep them close when they went outside.
A man who looked like Logan jumped from the truck cab. Micah forced a friendly smile. He shouldn’t judge anyone before getting to know them. The passenger door creaked open, and Isaac emerged.
Chloe screamed a welcome and raced toward him.
Isaac held up a hand. “Don’t knock me over,” he said, but he accompanied his warning with a smile. He eased himself to the ground and held open his arms for a hug. “I miss your long visits. I wish you’d come and spend more time.”
“We want to.” Chloe flung her arms around his neck. “Don’t we, Jabin?”
Jabin approached slowly, a ghost of a smile on his lips. To Micah’s surprise, he nodded and stepped into Isaac’s hug. Chloe threw one arm around her brother and pulled him close.
“Did you come to play with us?” Chloe asked Isaac.
He shook his head. “We’re here to pick up your pony and take it to our farm.”
Chloe whipped her head around to glare at Micah.
Before she could say anything, Isaac groaned and stretched. “Can you help me stand, Chloe?”
With a sideways glance, Micah sent a silent thank-you to Isaac for defusing the situation. Isaac nodded and then struggled to his feet despite Chloe’s enthusiastic tugging, which seemed more likely to yank him off balance.
“Danke.” Isaac patted her on the head. After he helped Logan’s brother load the pony, he headed over to Micah. “Hope said you had to work today. Could I take Chloe and Jabin back to the house with me? I really enjoy their company.”
Micah hesitated. “I planned to take them to work with me.”
“Please?” Chloe begged.
Although Jabin remained silent, his eyes pleaded with Micah to let them go. Even Isaac waited for his answer with an imploring expression. How could Micah say no, especially if it meant he’d get to see Hope later?
At his nod, Chloe grabbed Jabin’s hand and scrambled into the truck, then reached down a hand to help Isaac, who beamed at her. After they took off, Micah headed off to work, humming a hymn.
When he strode into the shop, Eli glanced up. “You’re cheerful.” Then his face fell. “Are you going to Sus—I mean Sylvia’s—for lunch today?”
Micah shook his head. If he had been, he wouldn’t be this joyful. “No, I just solved a problem this morning.” Having the pony moved to Hope’s meant Chloe would be safe, but his happiness stemmed from more than problem-solving.
Eli’s features relaxed into a smile. His interest in Susie was apparent and might be the perfect solution for a different problem.
“Listen, if Susie does stop by, maybe you could take my place.”
“You don’t mind?” Eli searched Micah’s face.
“Not at all.” Micah had no desire to court Susie. None at all.
Once Micah reassured Eli of that, humming and whistling filled the workroom until noontime. Both of them spent the rest of the morning with songs in their hearts and on their lips.
Micah slipped out a little early to avoid running into Sylvia, and Eli gave him a grateful smile as he finished closing out the register. He appeared as eager to take Micah’s place as Micah was to give it up. Only one person interested him, and he was heading to see her now. Only she had no interest in him. Or anyone.
* * *
Hope greeted the twins when they arrived with Daed and turned the pony into the pasture. “Would you like to feed him some carrots?”
At Chloe’s enthusiastic “yes,” her father went into the house and returned with two carrots.
“Stay on this side of the fence,” Hope warned.
She and Logan had one student after another lined up, so she wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on the twins. “You’ll watch them?” she asked Daed.
“Of course. I invited them as company.” He laid a hand on Jabin’s shoulder. “Do you two want to come inside and play a board game?”
The pony had already nibbled Jabin’s carrot, so he turned willingly, but Chloe was still holding out her carrot.
“I want to stay with Chips for a while.” Chloe waved her carrot, and the pony trotted toward her. “He might be scared in a new place.”
A car pulled into the driveway, and Hope went to greet her student. Logan waited for them near the barn. In Hope’s last glimpse of Chloe before they ushered Graham inside, the little girl had her hand through the split-rail fence. Although Hope couldn’t hear what Chloe was saying, she was talking earnestly to the pony.
Hope smiled at the picture of the two of them together. It must be hard for Chloe to be separated from her beloved pony. If it had been a student out here, Hope would have been obligated to stay and keep her company. But Chloe was here as a friend, and Amish parents didn’t coddle their children. Logan might feel differently, but he’d already walked into the barn with Graham.
During their third lesson of the morning, a strange banging and clanking came from the closed-off end of the barn where they kept their buggy and farm wagon. Did Daed plan to take the twins somewhere? But when he didn’t come inside for Biscuit, she decided he’d changed his mind.
As she and Logan finished the lesson and were walking Priscilla and her younger brother Asher out to their buggy, Micah drove in. Beside Hope, Logan stiffened. He still spoke kindly to Asher, but he kept an eye on Micah’s approach.
* * *
As he pulled to the end of the driveway, Micah screamed, “Chloe!” He jerked his horse to a stop and slammed on the buggy brake. Without even stopping to tie up Daffy, he dashed toward the pasture fence.
Chloe, a gleeful expression on her face, was driving a pony cart around the track. Ignoring his shouts, she urged the pony into a gallop.
Behind him the back door of the house slammed. “Nooo!” Isaac shouted as he scuttled toward the fence. “Chloe, that harness isn’t—”
Snap! The harness let loose on one side. The flapping leather spooked Chips. She bucked and bolted.
Micah froze. His childhood nightmare unspooled before his eyes. Only this time it was happening to Chloe.
With a loud screech, Chloe dropped the reins and gripped the metal rail of the pony cart. Eyes wide and panicked, she hung on as the cart tipped onto one wheel. Then it rocked back down.
Logan and Hope raced from the barn, followed by a woman and a young boy. They’d never make it in time.
Only Micah was near enough to help.
Save Chloe! Save Chloe! That thought drowned out his terror.
The pony tore around the circular enclosure. As Chips made the turn and headed toward him, Micah hoisted himself up onto the split rails and vaulted the fence. Please, Lord, keep Chloe safe.
He’d have only one chance to grab the flying reins.
Hooves thundered toward him. The pounding crescendoed like his heartbeat. Sickness enveloped him. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t swallow. He couldn’t do this.
Stay back! Jump out of the way! Save yourself! His brain warred with his heart. Save Chloe! He couldn’t let anything happen to her.
God, please help me.
“Grab Chloe,” a man’s voice yelled close to his ear. Logan dropped to the ground beside Micah. “I’ll get the pony.”
A whoosh of air rushed past Micah, pinning him to the fence as Chips passed. He had only a split second. The thud of hooves paralyzed him. The reins whipped wildly through the air. Instinctively, he ducked to avoid getting smacked in the face.
And almost missed Chloe.
“Micccahh!” she screamed as she went past.
He dove for her.
She tightened her grasp on the metal sidebar as the cart tipped. “I’m falling,” she shrieked.
He wrapped his arms around her and yanked. “Let go,” he ordered as Chips dragged the two of them along.
Chloe released the bar, and her weight catapulted him backward. He slammed to the ground and lay stunned.
Chloe landed on top of him, so he cushioned her fall. Micah ached all over from the impact. Even his teeth hurt from the jarring. But Chloe was safe.
Thank you, God! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Gingerly, he sat up, hugging her close. She clawed at him, digging the fingernails of one hand into his skin and clonking him with her cast. She’d buried her face against his shoulder. Her chest rose and fell as she gasped for air. Too winded to speak, Micah patted her back.
Logan still hadn’t caught the pony. The cart had overturned, slowing Chips a little. Logan positioned himself near the fence and waited until the pony rounded the track again. This time Logan caught the reins and lifted up. Micah had been taught to do that for runaway horses, but he doubted he’d have remembered. He was grateful that Logan had the presence of mind to execute the right moves.
Finally, Chips stood shuddering, covered in sweat, his flanks heaving.
“Easy, boy.” Talking soothingly to the pony, Logan undid the harness. “You’re all right,” he repeated over and over.
The words washed over Micah like a litany. He stood, with Chloe still clinging to him. Hope rushed through the gate and wrapped her arms around both of them. The comfort of her embrace and her “Thank God, you’re safe” should have calmed his hammering heart. Instead, his pulse jumped into an unsteady rhythm.
She stared up at him with admiration shining in her eyes. “I can’t believe you went in there with a runaway pony. That was so brave.”
Though he swelled with pride at her compliment, Micah tried to dismiss it. “So did Logan.” He flicked his chin toward the track, where Logan was walking the pony to cool it down.
“But Logan has no fear of horses. You do, but you didn’t let it stop you. You saved Chloe.”
“Is she all right?” Isaac’s voice, tight with terror, penetrated the fog surrounding Micah.
Her face scarlet, Hope stepped back at her Daed’s approach and let her hands fall to her sides. Micah missed her warmth and closeness. Chloe still clung to him with her uninjured arm and kept her face hidden. Her breathing remained swift and uneven, much like Micah’s heartbeat.
“I’m so sorry.” Isaac set a hand on Chloe’s head and blubbered. “If she’s hurt, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Chloe lifted her head and met his eyes. “I’m all right,” she wheezed out and wriggled away from Micah. He set her gently on the ground.
“This is my fault. All my fault.” Isaac wrung his hands.
Chloe rushed over and flung her arms around his legs. “No, it isn’t.” She hung her head. “I sneaked out when you went upstairs to get something.”
“I thought you had a lesson or went out to help Hope. I should have kept a better eye on you.”
“It’s over now,” Micah said, “and everything’s fine.” Except maybe for his heart.