“Ellie,” he murmured as he stepped into the room. “Elizabeth.”
She studied him carefully. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been called in to work.” Reuben looked sheepish, apologetic. “I can’t take care of Ethan.”
The man appeared anguished. She saw the pain in his blue eyes, the sorrow in his handsome features. “You want me to watch him?”
“I have no right to ask.”
Ellie arched an eyebrow. “I don’t have a problem with giving or accepting help, Reuben. You do.”
He glanced away. “I know. I’m sorry.”
She was stunned. “’Tis oll recht.” She reached out for Ethan, and Reuben released his little son into her arms.
He wouldn’t meet her gaze. She could feel the tension emanating off him, the confusion, his fear.
“I’ll take gut care of him.”
He nodded as he raised his eyes to lock gazes with her. “Danki.”
“You should go before you’re late.”
“Ja.” He shifted. “I would have come to apologize even if I hadn’t been called to work. I was...ill-mannered and ungrateful.”
“Your usual self,” she quipped with good humor.
His features relaxed as a spark of amusement entered his blue eyes. “I’ve never met anyone like you,” he said.
Ellie frowned, unsure if it were a good or bad thing that he thought her different. Vaguely, she wondered what he would have thought if she’d marched up to his house this morning, despite his unwillingness to have her in his home and with his child.
“I’m one of a kind,” she finally agreed.
He smiled. “I’ll stop after work to pick him up unless...”
“I’ll be happy to take him home in a little while,” she said. “As long as you don’t mind me in your haus again.”
Regret flickered in his gaze. “That would be fine.”
Ellie was surprised when he hesitated before leaving. “Don’t you have to get moving?”
Reuben blinked. “Ja. I will see you after work.”
“Ja, you will.”
Since she’d already called Rebecca to cover for her today, Ellie brought Ethan inside to have some breakfast before she took him back to the house. It must have taken a lot for Reuben to come and apologize. It said a lot for his character. He did it because he needed her, but still, it couldn’t have been easy. She recalled the regret in his blue eyes. He felt bad about the way he’d treated her, though she found it easy to forgive him.
An hour later, Ellie and Ethan headed home. She used the key Reuben had given her to unlock the door. She stepped inside and took stock of her surroundings. The kitchen was sparkling clean. Had Reuben eaten? There was no sign of dishes, either in the sink or drying in the drain rack.
Why am I worried about him? He wouldn’t appreciate it.
The day went quickly. Ellie cleaned the rooms upstairs while Ethan napped downstairs. She stopped what she was doing often to check on him, but the little boy continued to sleep. Then she heard a sound at the side door announcing Reuben’s arrival. She was on the great room floor changing Ethan’s diaper when Reuben walked in. “Hallo,” he greeted pleasantly. He sounded friendly.
“Reuben, hallo. Did you have a gut day?”
He nodded. “We got a lot done.”
“Gut,” she murmured as she fastened Ethan’s clean diaper. Holding him by the waist, she stood Ethan on his legs. The baby laughed with delight and reached out a hand toward her prayer kapp. She chuckled. “Nay, you don’t, little man!”
She felt Reuben’s intense regard and glanced at him. Ellie was surprised to see a soft expression on his face. She stood and held Ethan out to his father. “Would you mind?”
He took his son easily and without hesitation, holding him in one arm while he watched Ellie, who picked up the wet diaper to dispose of in the diaper pail to be washed later.
“Are you hungry?” she asked as she returned. “There are potatoes and sausages in the oven. I hope you like them.”
He gazed at her a long time with what looked like awe. “I do. I haven’t had them since I was a child.”
Ellie beamed at him. “I hope these are as gut as those you remember.” She collected her bag, rubbed Ethan’s back where he lay cuddled in his father’s arms, then headed into the kitchen. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Reuben had followed her. “Don’t you have to work?”
She shook her head. She had asked Rebecca to cover her workload for the entire week. Thankfully, Rebecca had agreed. She’d stop by Rebecca’s house on the way home to confirm. “I’m available to watch him.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” He no longer appeared to mind her in his house, spending time with his son. She sighed with pleasure. Being friends with Reuben was better than being at odds with him.
As she steered her buggy home, she tried not to think about why it was wrong to cook for Reuben, care for his child and clean his house. She found she enjoyed babysitting better than cleaning Englishers’ houses. And therein lay the problem. She was filling in for Reuben’s sister until her return or until the man found himself a wife. A wife he wouldn’t love. A woman he wanted only as a mother for Ethan.
For the next few days, Ellie went to Reuben’s after her morning chores. It was more or less an amicable arrangement. The tension of those early days between them had dissipated. She and Reuben were friendly to each other, and the time flew by quickly until she realized with amazement that it was already Friday afternoon. As Ellie had thought, Charlie was happy to spend time with Nate before school started again and she would be back teaching in the classroom. Her sister came home each night with a goofy smile of love and affection for her man still on her face.
Reuben greeted her warmly at the end of each workday, and she felt something blossom inside. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling, but it felt good. Tomorrow was Saturday, but he still wanted her to come. She would go after she did what she could to help her parents. And she’d make sure Charlie was available to help while she was absent.
The next morning, she rose early and went to take care of the animals, as usual. As she fed the goats, she was happy to see her sister enter the barn. “Charlie, did you sleep well?”
Charlie smiled. “Like a baby.”
“Not a crying newborn, I hope,” she teased.
Her sister laughed. “Nay.”
“Charlie,” Ellie said, her tone serious, “will you be home today?”
“Ja, why?”
“Reuben wants me to watch Ethan, but I want to make sure Mam and Dat have the help they need.”
Charlie frowned, as if puzzled. “I’ll be here. Nate may stop over later. He can help Dat if he needs anything.”
Ellie felt the tension leave her frame. “Danki.”
“You love that little boy, don’t you?”
She nodded. “He’s a sweet baby.”
“And the father isn’t ugly either,” her sister teased.
“Reuben has nothing to do with this,” she insisted.
Charlie narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She turned back to grooming one of the horses as Ellie went outside with a bucket of chicken feed.
When she was done with the animals, Ellie went to the house to collect her bag and the chocolate cake she’d baked for Reuben. As she took it off the washer in the back room, she wondered why she’d baked for him again. Her sister’s words came back to jolt her. And the father isn’t ugly either.
It was true. Reuben was an extremely handsome man and she was attracted to him. But she knew better than to think that anything could happen between them. Especially given his decision to marry not for love but for Ethan.
“I’m leaving, Mam,” she called as she came out of the room. Her mother turned from the kitchen sink, where she’d been washing the breakfast dishes. “I should have helped you with those,” she said apologetically.
“I can handle the dishes, Ellie,” her mother replied with a smile.
Ellie noted that her mam looked well today. The dark circles that she’d seen under her mother’s eyes were gone, as if a good night’s sleep had erased them. “I feel like I haven’t been around much to help out,” she said softly.
“With what?” Missy Stoltzfus looked confused. “I manage fine without help.”
“But Charlie will be home today, ja?”
Mam smiled. “Ja. And Nate. She loves that young man. ’Tis gut to see them together.”
She nodded. “They are eager to be man and wife.”
“I want the same happiness for you.”
“Mam...”
“You work too hard. I think you like caring for Ethan Miller because you love children.” Missy eyed her silently. “You’d make a gut mudder to Ethan.”
“Nay. I’m just helping until Sarah comes back.”
“You seem happier spending time with the child than you are cleaning haus for Englishers.”
“Mudder...”
Her mother shrugged as she smiled. “Just a thought.” She reached into a cabinet and pulled out a box of baby cookies. “Take these for Ethan. I’m sure he’ll love them.”
Ellie blinked, stunned that her mother had purchased something for Reuben’s son. “Mam, I’m not marrying the man. Ethan will not become your grandchild.”
Mam chuckled. “With God’s blessing, one can always pray and hope.”
His son was still sleeping after Reuben had been up well over an hour and a half. He needed to get work done on the house, but he didn’t want to disturb Ethan’s rest. A quick glance at the wall clock in the kitchen made him wonder what time Ellie planned to come. It was nearly eight thirty. Had they arranged a time? He frowned. He didn’t think they had.
Once Ellie arrived, he’d ask her whether or not it would be wise to wake Ethan. He’d hoped to replace the flooring downstairs. He’d purchased linoleum for a reasonable sum, and would install the same pattern in the kitchen and great room. It was an unusual pattern for linoleum flooring. Made of heavy vinyl, it resembled wood. Linoleum was best kept clean with a damp mop, and a lot of Amish families used it in their houses.
He opened the side door to allow in air. The day looked promising. Not too hot or humid, with a light breeze wafting in from outside. He put the coffeepot on to perk, then went outside to sit in the morning sun. The sound of carriage wheels drew his attention as Ellie steered her pony cart toward the barn and parked. She hopped out, tied up her horse, then skirted the vehicle to head toward the house.
She froze, faltering, when she saw him. But then she approached with a smile on her face. “Reuben, gut mornin’. Have you had breakfast?”
He shook his head, noting how pretty she looked in a pink dress with black apron and white head covering. Her blond hair was neatly pulled back and tucked underneath her kapp. “Just put a pot of coffee on the stove.”
“And Ethan?”
“Still sleeping.” He studied her with a frown. “That’s oll recht, ja? That he’s still sleeping?”
She smiled in reassurance. “’Tis fine. He’s a little boy who needs his rest. He had a busy day yesterday.” She went to the counter and set down the chocolate cake she’d brought. “I made chocolate.”
He grinned. “Sounds gut.”
“Would you like eggs and bacon?” She reached into the refrigerator for the carton of eggs and package of bacon.
Reuben stared. He hadn’t gone shopping lately. Were the eggs from when Sarah was here? He must have said something aloud, because Ellie answered.
“I brought a few things with me yesterday.” She paused. “I hope you don’t mind.”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. To object would make him ungrateful. They were just eggs and bacon, after all. He watched her get out a frying pan, then add a pat of butter. The coffeepot had finished perking, and Ellie turned off the gas burner, then grabbed him a mug and poured him a cupful. She silently handed it to him, then turned her attention back to making his breakfast.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked when he saw she’d made enough for only one.
“Nay, I ate before I came.”
“You don’t have to cook for me, Ellie.”
“I don’t mind. I like cooking.”
He felt himself smile. “Oll recht. Danki.”
In a few short minutes, she had heated the pan, cooked his bacon and eggs and dished them onto a plate. He sat down at the table and was about to suggest that she sit with a cup of coffee when he heard his son cry out.
“I’ll get him,” Ellie said with a grin. “I’m sure the little man needs to be changed before he eats.”
Reuben watched her leave, marveling at the easy way she had about her. She made him feel relaxed, content. It was only as he remembered Susanna and his decision to marry for Ethan rather than love that he stiffened his spine and hardened his heart.
When she came into the room a few minutes later with Ethan, he had the mind-set to ignore the fact that she was pretty. Or that he’d been attracted to her for a minute. Or fifty.
Ethan smiled, obviously happy to be up, as Ellie set him in the high chair.
“Would you like more coffee?” she asked.
He rose from the table. “Nay, I should get to work.”
She took a box of cereal out of the pantry and dumped some onto Ethan’s tray. “What are your plans for today?”
“I’d like to install flooring here and in the great room, but since you and Ethan are here...”
“I can take him home with me if you’d like.”
He jumped at her offer. If he didn’t, he was afraid he’d find himself thinking about how pretty she was again. “I’d appreciate that.”
She blinked. “How long do you need us to be gone?”
“Until this afternoon? About three or so?”
Ellie nodded. “Come, little man. You can finish your breakfast at my haus.”
Without meeting his gaze, Ellie packed a bag for Ethan, then reached for her purse. “Help yourself to the cake. I think there is still lunch meat if you’d like a sandwich later.”
And then Ellie left, taking Ethan with her. The house suddenly seemed empty and silent. Too silent. The afternoon, when they would return, seemed a long way off. There was just one thing to do—get to work. He would start in the kitchen, then move into the great room. Once he laid the flooring, they would have to stay off it until the glue set well. And if he got it done soon, he could head over to the Arlin Stoltzfus household to invite Ellie and his son home. Maybe he could offer to buy her supper.
He scowled. What happened to keeping his mind-set about women and marriage?
Reuben released a huge sigh and went out to get the rolled linoleum he’d purchased a while ago out of the barn.
Ellie was disappointed and she didn’t know why. She enjoyed taking care of Ethan. It had nothing to do with Reuben Miller. Or did it? It bothered her how quickly he’d accepted her offer of leaving with Ethan.
Her mother grinned as Ellie entered the house with the boy. “What a nice surprise!” She held out her arms and Ethan reached for her.
With a chuckle, Ellie relinquished her hold on the little boy. “He feels comfortable with you, Mam.”
“He is a sweetheart.”
She watched her mother hug and love on Reuben’s child and wondered whether she’d been disappointed that she’d had five daughters and no sons. Ellie asked her.
Mam looked at her with frown. “Nay. I’ve never been disappointed. Neither has your vadder. You girls have given us great joy. You were sweet youngsters and have grown up to be fine young women.”
Suddenly misty-eyed, Ellie gazed at her. “I love you, Mam.”
Her mother regarded her with warmth. “I love you, dochter.”
“Ethan hasn’t finished his breakfast.”
“Let’s make sure he has plenty to eat, then, shall we?” Mam ran a gentle finger along Ethan’s baby-smooth cheek.
Ellie worked in the kitchen with her mother and Charlie while Ethan played on the kitchen floor. When it was time for lunch, the three women ate sandwiches and fixed a plate for Dat. Ellie held Ethan while she gave him some cooked carrots that had cooled off enough for him to pick up and eat. The little boy enjoyed them immensely, eagerly grabbing up another one, then shoving it into his mouth. For dessert, she gave him a cookie especially made for babies. Holding it with both hands, he chewed on it with a grin, then held it up for her inspection. Ellie smiled and praised him until she was sure he had eaten all that he wanted. She then cleaned him up and put him down for a short nap.
At three o’clock, she grabbed her market tote and Ethan’s bag and put them in the backseat after settling Ethan in his buggy seat up front. She, her mother and Charlie had baked five loaves of bread and two butter pound cakes today. Her tote carried a loaf of bread and one cake for Reuben. As she steered the buggy toward his house, she eyed the passing scenery, glorying in the sunny afternoon. She wondered how Reuben had made out with the flooring.
The man was outside with a cold drink when she drove up to the hitching post. She got out, then reached in for Ethan, but left their bags in her vehicle. Straightening, she glanced toward the house and encountered Reuben’s intense blue gaze.
Heart skittering in her chest, she approached and managed a smile. “Reuben,” she greeted with a nod.
“Elizabeth.”
She frowned. When he used her given name, she felt as if he was putting her in her place. What had she done wrong now? “Did you finish the floor?”
“Ja. We should be able to walk on it now.” He smiled, and the change made her catch her breath. “Want to see?”
Filled with excitement, she followed him into the house. She stepped in the kitchen and halted. Her eyes widened. The floor looked beautiful—shiny wood that added to the appeal of the room. “You put this wood down in one afternoon?” she asked, astonished.
Pleased by her reaction, Reuben grinned. “’Tis not wood, El. ’Tis linoleum. Here. Feel.” He felt the warmth of her skin as he took her hand, then pulled her down to touch the floor. Ethan squirmed in her arms.
Reuben reached for his son. “Come here, little man. Now you can sit and play on this new floor without a blanket.” He set his son carefully in the middle of the kitchen and straightened.
“It looks lovely,” Ellie murmured as she walked farther into the room. The soft, awed way she said it smacked him hard in his chest.
He reined in his feelings. Ellie Stoltzfus churned up something inside him he didn’t want or need. “’Tis a floor,” he said with less warmth.
She glanced at him, her blue eyes wide. “Is something wrong?”
Reuben felt immediately contrite. It wasn’t as if she’d done anything to upset him. He had done that entirely on his own. “Nay, everything is fine.” He managed a smile. “I appreciate you taking him with you this morning. I wasn’t sure how I’d get all this done with him here.”
Ellie nodded. “Ja, I can understand that.” He sensed her sudden discomfort as she turned away. “I should get our bags in from the buggy.”
Definitely uncomfortable, he thought. It was as if she was using an excuse to escape. He allowed her to leave, watching with pleasure as Ethan scooted across the floor on his hands and knees. When did he start doing that?
The thought came that he should pick Ethan up, then follow Ellie to help with the bags.
The door opened and Ellie entered with two bags, one he recognized as belonging to his son. The other one was hers. He’d seen it before. With a brief smile in his direction, she went to the table and set down both bags. She opened her bag and pulled out two wrapped loaves of bread and a large round plastic container. “I brought bread and cake.” She picked up the bread loaves and set them on the counter close to the refrigerator. “Are you hungry? I can cut you a piece of cake.”
“You brought me bread and cake,” he muttered, floored. She was always doing something nice for him and Ethan. Was it any wonder that she’d been the focus of his thoughts a lot lately? She was a friend. A helpful friend, and while he didn’t like taking help from anyone, he didn’t mind that she was helping Ethan. He had simply benefited from her presence and care of Ethan.
She was eyeing him warily. “You don’t want my bread and cake?” she asked quietly.
He made a quick decision. “I’ll have a slice of each.”
When she grinned, looking pleased, he knew he’d made the right choice. After all, he had to think of Ethan. If he upset his caretaker, then where would he be?
He simply ignored the niggling inside that suggested he was fooling himself to believe his only concern was Ethan.