“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Courtney sat on the bus looking out the window at the scenery that had been the same for the past two hours and asked God to forgive her for keeping the secret from Bessie Fuller. There was no one in the community she’d just left who knew that she was expecting. Being slim and tall she was able to hide her pregnancy under full dresses and aprons. If she’d told Bessie of her condition, Bessie would never have recommended her to work for her nephew. Getting away from the community and starting afresh somewhere was an opportunity she had to grab with both hands.
Bessie had described Giles County as being in a remote area with only a few families living there, and that was very different from the two communities she’d lived in.
From Bessie’s description she knew Aaron was a kind man, and from what she’d heard in his letters, the children had grown unruly, but Courtney wasn’t concerned about the children. Whatever the conditions were in Giles County she’d make it work—she had to.
Her husband had died months ago when a truck ran into his buggy. They’d only been married ten months, and they hadn't known she was expecting. Besides being left penniless due to Mark’s family, she also chose to leave the community in Ohio because everything reminded her of him. She’d been staying with Wilma and Peter for three months and felt that was far too long a time to be enjoying their hospitality, but they didn’t seem to mind.
Whenever she was nervous or anxious about anything, her fingernails always found their way to her mouth. Once she was aware that she was biting her nails, she clasped her hands together in her lap. All her fingernails were bitten down and looked dreadful—nail-biting was a habit she’d have to break.
The issue making her nervous right now was that she knew she’d have to confess to her new employer that she was expecting a child. With every passing moment, she grew more nervous, and she clamped her hands more tightly together, when she saw a sign beside the road: it read, ‘Bells Creek,’ and she knew that was the area which was her stop.
Her tummy lurched when the bus slowed.
She looked out the window and saw a lone Amish man standing tall. That must be Aaron. He looked strong and fit—well muscled with broad shoulders and dark hair poking from beneath his wide-brimmed hat. As the bus drew closer, she was surprised that he was so easy on the eyes.
“Is this your stop, Miss?” the bus driver asked as soon as he came to a halt.
Courtney rose to her feet. “Yes, it is.”
The bus driver headed out of the bus to open the luggage door outside the bus as he’d done for everyone who’d arrived at their destination that day.
She stepped out of the bus and locked eyes with Aaron. His eyes were dark brown fringed with thick dark lashes. His features were even, and she couldn’t find a flaw about him. His nose was a perfect size, and his skin was tanned but not weather-beaten.
“Courtney?”
She nodded. “That’s me—and you’re Aaron?”
He smiled to reveal white teeth, which stood out against his dark olive skin. “I am.”
Courtney reached her hand out, and he shook it.
“Just the one bag, Miss?” The driver asked.
“Yes, just the one—the brown one there.” Courtney pointed to her case.
“I’ll take that,” Aaron said reaching down and taking the suitcase. He looked back at Courtney, and then his eyes fell to her middle. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, “Are you expecting?”
Her fingertips went straight to her mouth in shock. “I am.”
Shaking his head and with no hint of his former smile, he said, “There must be some mistake. I described to Bessie the kind of nanny I was looking for and she never mentioned your condition.”
“It won’t stop me working.”
“How can that be? This is a full-time position and in fact, it would take up most of your time. I did give my aunt a list of duties I'd need you to manage, and my three children have developed into a handful.”
“I’m quite capable—nee— more than capable of everything you described to your aunt in your letters. She read your letters aloud to me and the list of your requirements.” Since he was silent she kept going, “My husband died some months ago in an accident, and I need to get away and make a life for myself and my child.”
He stepped back and tipped his hat back on his head and looked at the bus as it pulled away. Courtney knew he was wondering if he could send her back on the bus. “I don’t know that you’d be able to do all the things I’d need you to do as well as look after your baby.”
“I’m strong enough to do everything.”
A hint of a smile touched his lips, and then he glanced down at her bag. Looking up at her face he asked, “When is your baby due?”
“Eight weeks. Please give me a chance; you won’t be disappointed. Just give me a chance?”
“Since you’re already here I suppose we’ll both have to make the best of things until I can work something else out.”
This was not the response that Courtney wanted. Now she felt as though everything was up in the air. “I thought this was to be a permanent position.”
“So did I,” he said nodding toward his waiting buggy. “There’s my buggy.”