Tuesday, December 19
Though she tried not to be too obvious, Amanda kept a close eye on the way her sister and Neil Vance interacted. Susanna could sometimes be headstrong and impulsive. Those character traits had led her into trouble more than once. She sometimes charged ahead without weighing all the consequences, just as she tried to take on as much responsibility as she could so their mother wouldn’t worry.
Back at the house, Amanda had been concerned that Susanna had been only pretending to get along with Neil.
But as she followed the couple back through the fields toward town, Amanda began to feel relieved. Their easy camaraderie showed that their relationship had evolved into something warmer. It was obvious that they’d come to some kind of understanding.
Amanda was glad of that. She and Susanna had enjoyed a large circle of friends back in Berlin. Though Susanna was assertive, she was also more socially awkward than herself.
She, on the other hand, excelled at making plans and enjoyed going to frolics and parties with lots of people, especially around Christmas and other holidays. The tension that had been brewing between Susanna and Neil had been weighing on her. She didn’t want Susanna to put herself in a situation she wasn’t sure how to handle.
As they got closer to the bridge, she noticed Dale standing next to it, obviously staring in confusion at the blank spot on the floor of the bridge.
“Looking for this?” Neil called out as they got closer.
“I was,” Dale replied as he walked a little bit to the side, then scampered over the rocks and ice like a nimble deer. “’Course, I didn’t expect to be seeing it under your arm.”
“I’m ready to get rid of it myself,” Neil replied with a grin.
Dale’s eyes lit with amusement. “Hello, Susanna. Hi, Amanda.”
Meeting his gaze, Amanda felt that familiar little pattering in her heart that she was beginning to realize only happened around him. “Hello, Dale.”
After sharing a small smile with her, he turned back to his friend. “So, is there any specific reason you are now carrying part of the bridge with ya?”
“There is. We’re about to go visit with the sheriff about it.”
All traces of amusement faded from Dale’s expression. “What’s going on?”
“Our sister got hurt two nights ago when she was crossing the creek on the bridge.” Pointing to the board, Susanna said, “I think someone deliberately sabotaged it.”
There was no way Amanda was going to let her sister carry the weight of that claim by herself. “Nee. We think someone did. I agree with Sue completely.”
Dale’s eyebrows pulled together. “You certain about this, Neil?”
“As certain as I can be.” Holding out the wood, he said, “Look at that cut there. Nature didn’t make it.”
Dale whistled under his breath. “Neil, you and me practically rebuilt that bridge about a year ago.”
“I know.”
“Now I’ve seen everything. I’m beginning to get pretty irritated. We just got that fencing repaired.”
“After what happened with the fence and Susanna’s buggy accident, we’re pretty worried,” Amanda said. She wasn’t sure what Dale would think about her statement, but she wanted him to have no doubt about her feelings.
Dale shoved his hands into his pockets. “Since the bridge is half on our property, can I tag along?”
Neil looked a little unsure. “I don’t know. Four seems like a lot of people to pop in on the sheriff.”
“Dale and I can always stay off to the side or something,” Amanda agreed.
Smiling at her, Dale said, “Jah. I can do that.”
Neil narrowed his eyes at his friend. “We need to get going now, though. I’ve got to go to work this afternoon.”
“Come on, then.” He smiled and stepped to Amanda’s side as both he and Amanda watched Neil help Susanna over the creek.
Susanna scrambled over it without seeming to even hesitate. Amanda was far more cautious, though.
Even as Susanna and Neil continued on, obviously thinking that they were right on their heels, she stared at the creek in building trepidation.
“You’re going to think I’m silly, but I’m a bit afraid to cross it,” Amanda admitted. When she was a little girl, she’d fallen into a creek one spring. The ice wasn’t thick and her foot broke through. Next thing she knew, she was caught up in the current and was screaming for help.
Her father had pulled her right out. Actually, she probably wasn’t in the creek more than two or three minutes at the most. But still, that memory clung to her like a sharp piece of glass. Deeply embedded and difficult to get out.
Looking at the frozen creek, she shivered a little bit. “I know I don’t have anything to be afraid of. I know it’s not deep.” But the difference between the reality and the images her brain was inventing was staggering.
To her amazement, Dale didn’t tease her. Instead he said, “I’ve got an idea. Let’s cross this way. I’ll go first, then you can follow.”
Following did not sound easy! Glancing up, she noticed that Neil and her sister were watching impatiently from about twenty or thirty feet in the distance. “Actually, maybe I shouldn’t—”
Before she could protest any more, he went out halfway and, balancing himself on two of the rocks, held out a hand. “Grab my hand and I’ll help you.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to yank you down or something.”
“If you do, it doesn’t matter. My feet will simply get wet.”
Put that way, she nodded. Gingerly placing her hand in his, she stepped on the first rock. And . . . of course her boot slipped. “Oh!”
Dale slid his hand from her palm to her forearm, securing her better. “One step at a time. Jah?”
Releasing a ragged sigh, she nodded. “Jah.”
Feeling like each foot was made of lead, she lifted her left foot and stepped onto the next rock. By the time she was halfway across, Dale had both feet on the opposite bank and was holding her opposite hand in his. Making her feel doubly secure.
She looked down. Was it her imagination, or was the creek running?
“Don’t look down. Just look at me.”
She could do that. Staring into his eyes, she stepped again. And again. Finally she had one, then both feet on solid ground.
She had done it! Feeling pleased, she smiled at Dale. “Danke. I’m so embarrassed that something so simple could have made my heart race like this. But thank you.”
“No thanks are needed. I’m glad I was here to help.”
She was, too.
“Dale? Amanda? Is everything all right?” Neil yelled.
“We’re fine,” Dale called out. “You go on ahead. We’ll catch up in a minute.”
Susanna and Neil turned around and started walking. They followed. After a moment, she and Dale seemed to both realize he was still gripping her elbow.
“Sorry!” Dale released her arm like it was on fire. “I think I was holding on to you so tight, you’re going to have a bruise.”
“I doubt that.” She blew out some air. “I guess it’s obvious that I fell in a creek years ago. I don’t know why I’m not over it yet.”
“Amanda, did you notice me complaining?”
Feeling herself blush, she shook her head. “I know you didn’t.”
“Then remember that, wouldja? I didn’t mind helping you. I won’t mind helping you when we head back, either.” Winking, he said, “As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it.”
“Oh?” She hoped she sounded composed, but she had a feeling she sounded as giddy and awkward as she felt.
“Oh, to be sure. A man needs to feel like he’s useful every now and then, you know. It’s good for one’s ego.”
She giggled before she could stop herself. Laughing while they walked to the sheriff’s office probably wasn’t the best way to behave.
But, she decided as she continued to walk by Dale’s side through the snowy pasture, maybe it wasn’t the worst way to act, either.