Chapter Thirty-Five

Zeb hit his forehead against the side of one of the Holsteins, and the heifer mooed at him with irritation. He slapped her hide. She kicked the air, and he spat when she smacked him with her manure-coated tail. As Zeb stood then walked outside to the water trough, the heels of his boots hit the ground hard. He cupped his hands and wiped off the dung from his cheek and neck.

It shouldn’t be this way. He’d waited for two months, and now that he’d finally gotten Emma home, he still didn’t get much time with her. Not alone, anyway. With Monique staying with the Miller family, it was more difficult than ever.

He walked out of the corral, leaving the machines going. Just over the next farm was the Millers’ place. He couldn’t see it clearly with the trees in full bloom, but he knew exactly where the large, red barn sat. Mark was probably milking their cows, and Emma would be teaching Monique some chore. It took Emma twice as long to get things done now. Had he known, he wouldn’t have agreed to bring Monique. She had lived in that godforsaken place long enough to make her own way.

Merv went over and stuck his nose in the air. He came closer. “Is that you that smells?”

“Heifer gave me a smack of her tail.” Zeb rubbed his neck again, but the smell wouldn’t go away until he took a bar of soap to it.

“So, are you and Emma still together?” Merv set down the two milk containers he’d cleaned, seeming oblivious to how the question angered Zeb.

“Why would you ask that? Of course we are.” He dragged his hand against his homespun pants, knowing he’d have to get them washed now that he’d spread the smell on to them.

“You’re never together. It’s like she didn’t come home.” Merv didn’t realize how big his mouth was. He’d never been able to figure out when to open it and when to keep it shut. “And after all that time with Caleb…” He looked up at Zeb. “You just never know.”

Zeb let out a breath so he wouldn’t smack him. “Monique takes up her time now. She won’t be around forever.” He shouldn’t have said the last sentence out loud. Merv would end up letting it fly the next time he was around Emma or Monique, and that would be even worse.

Monique had a way of looking at him like she wanted to whip up on him. Her need to protect Emma was not only irritating but unnecessary. The dangers here weren’t like Philadelphia. He thought back in disgust, angry that he’d ever let Emma go there.

At least Caleb is out of the picture. That’s what matters most.

Zeb was sure Emma and Caleb would get together again while she was gone, but to his pleasant surprise, they hadn’t. He hoped Emma chose him because she cared more for him, but even if she didn’t, he’d get what he wanted. The sooner he married Emma, the sooner he could have a working produce farm as well as the dairy.

“Zeb!” Merv yelled at him louder than necessary.

“Lower your voice. I’m standing right here.”

“You wouldn’t answer.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you’re acting strange.” He turned to get another canister.

Zeb almost stopped him to find out what he meant, but then decided he didn’t care. His mission today would be to find Emma and talk with her in private. He’d ask her to make time for him and make plans for Monique to leave. He would help get her home again, to show his good side—that should smooth things over—and their lives together could finally begin. Courting was in full force with summer half over—wasted time that he couldn’t get back.

A ruckus from the barn got his attention. He’d left the cows too long. “Merv!”

He was out of earshot.

Zeb’s boot skidded as he bore down to make the corner of the barn. Merv rushed through the side doors. A kick by a cow to Merv’s gut bent him over and left him gasping for air.

Zeb reached for the heifer’s lead rope and yanked her close to calm her down. If one did, they would all fall into place.

Merv went down the stalls to calm them, but moved too quickly, and got a quick hit in the side as he walked by. A cow can see what’s beside her, but not what’s directly behind.

“Darn cow.”

“You know better.” As Zeb grinned, he realized he hadn’t had reason to smile for too long. Merv helped him clean the cows, led them out to pasture, and cleaned up the barn. “I’m going over to Emma’s. Don’t count on me for the noon meal.”

“Gut. I’ll hold things down here.” Merv began the tedious work of washing the equipment. With as many Holstein as they now had, it would take a good part of the afternoon.

Oh his way to Emma’s, Zeb thought of a number of different ways he could draw Monique away. He’d have to think of something that would warrant her full attention. He pondered a few scenarios, but nothing came that would work to the extent he needed. Then he stopped cold. What better way to take away her biggest distraction than to bring Abe into the picture? Even the threat of him being remotely close would send her packing.

A smile spread across his lips as he hatched his plan. An anonymous letter giving Abe information as to where Monique could be found would be simple enough, but he didn’t know Abe’s location, only the church where they’d stayed.

I’ll just have to make it work somehow. Sending the letter to Alex and asking him to give the letter to Abe would be absurd—unless there was some sort of information that he would need to know.

Deep in his thoughts, he’d reached Emma’s farm in no time. When he considered his plan he shamed himself, until he looked up to see Monique walk out on to the porch. Then he started scheming again.

“What are you doing here?” She crossed her arms over her chest. He didn’t know how she meant it, but he’d give her the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t want to tangle with her.

“Came to see Emma.” He stretched out his hand. “And you.” The lie would only go so far. They had a mutual animosity toward each other. Zeb’s was because she seemed to see right through him, and he hated her need for Emma to babysit her. Monique’s seemed to be that he just existed. It didn’t matter much. They agreed to disagree, tolerating each other for Emma’s sake.

“She’s busy.” She ignored his hand and kept her arms crossed.

“So am I. So if you could find her for me, I’d appreciate it.”

Martha came to the screen door and stared. “Hallo, there.” Since she was willing to acknowledge him, Zeb took advantage of the opportunity and asked her to get Emma.

She turned her head back toward the mudroom and shouted, “Emma, Zeb’s here!”

He could see Monique’s face flush with irritation.

“Danke, Martha.” He held out his hand to her. She came out and accepted his handshake, tucking her small hand into his.

“We don’t have the time that you do,” Monique said. “This family has to work for what they have, unlike you with that fancy cow farm.” She waved her hand in the direction from which he came, clueless as to what she was talking about, in his opinion.

“Sounds like someone’s put a bug in your ear.” He tried to smile but was sure it looked as fake as it felt.

“I hear things,” Monique said.

He speculated as to who it would be, but then decided he didn’t care. If his plan worked, she’d be gone soon enough. “We run a dairy farm.” He came across condescending, but he felt too strongly to hide it. He did wonder where she’d heard the line. She hadn’t been here long enough to know he had a flourishing dairy farm. “Everyone here owns livestock of one kind or another, and some are more lucrative than others. We’ve been blessed.”

She took her steps quickly and walked over to him. “You’re blessed to have Emma.” She stuck a finger in his face and continued her attack.

He saw Martha jump and seized the moment. “Martha, are you afraid?”

Monique grunted and bent down. “Let’s go inside and eat one of those sugar cookies Emma and your mamma were making.”

Zeb squeezed Martha’s hand a bit too hard.

“Ouch!”

He instinctively let go, and she went running into the house. Without Martha there, Monique could continue her banter, so Zeb moved to the side and went toward the door. “It’s always good to see you, Monique,” he said in a loud voice. The timing was perfect—Emma came to the door.

“Zeb, I was just thinking I should make a call over your way.” She led him to the kitchen and offered him a cookie. He took it, making sure their hands touched as he did.

“Danke. Why didn’t you? I haven’t seen enough of you.” He was tense, waiting for Monique to come in and say something he didn’t want to hear.

“Monique’s been learning her way around. It’s nice to have company while I work.” Emma and Monique shared a smile as she came in and sat right next to Zeb.

Emma’s eyebrows pinched together as she watched them interact. She was too observant not to notice the tension between them, so Zeb would make sure he brought out Monique’s bad side, which wasn’t difficult.

“Why don’t you show me some of these chores you’ve learned, Monique?” He stood to show her he meant it.

She frowned and glanced at Emma. “You coming?”

“Go on ahead. I’ll be out after this last batch of cookies is done.” Emma watched them go, her brows still knitted.

The minute they were out the door, Monique started in. “What you stirring up?”

“What do you have against me?” As soon as they were in the barn, he stopped.

She put her hands on her hips and gave him a sideways stare. “You want Emma for all the wrong reasons. Not like Caleb, who wants her for all the right reasons.”

Zeb’s chest burned when he heard the name. “Caleb’s not here. If he cared about Emma, he would be.”

Monique frowned. “He does care about her. They just want two different things.”

“They had time to reckon with that, and they did. It’s over, Monique.” When he noticed her brows wrinkle and then release, he knew she’d considered what he said to be truth. He widened his stance and analyzed her. Emma was all she had now, and he was the only obstacle in the way. “We’ve been courting for some time now. Come fall, we’ll be married.”

Monique met his eyes and squinted. “That’s not what Emma wants.”

“You’ll be gone by then. This is none of your concern.” With that he went by her and started tidying up the barn. Everything was pretty much in its place, but he wanted the diversion to give Monique time to think. He wasn’t done with her—she had a tough spirit—but he would break her down. His plans depended on it.

She started to walk out of the barn and then stopped short. “If you don’t think I know what you’re doing, think again.” She turned to leave right as he called her name.

“Monique. It’s interesting you think you know more than anyone else does, and you just got here.”

“I know people. I been around all kinds. And I know what people are. Emma, Caleb, Abe. And I know you.” Her dark eyes shone flecks of gold, mesmerizing him.

“Don’t be so mysterious. If you have something to say, say it.”

“I don’t know what you’re after. But it ain’t Emma you really want.”

Zeb chuckled with unease. “Of course it is. What else would there be?”

“I don’t know. But I’m gonna find out.” She waited a beat and then turned away with the appearance of rejection, but she’d had the last word and gotten him worked up while she remained cool and calm.

Zeb threw the tool he held, letting it hit the back of the workbench. If he didn’t know better, he’d think for sure she knew his plans for the land they stood on.