Chapter Twenty-One

“This will be my last trip into town, I feel,” Grace told the driver Elli had sent to fetch her. The older man had no trouble climbing the hill to the shack and had insisted she would not be walking up it when they returned. Grace was surprised the small truck climbed the steep hill at all. His name was Hank, and he wore a shirt that looked like a checkerboard, and he smelled of musk and apples. The kind of sweet scent that usually came from spray cans and not the fruit. Hank liked to talk, too. He had no children but Grace knew exactly every gift he had bought for his lovely wife, Diane. Since the night of Pictionary and pumpkin pie, Grace was feeling invigorated. Something about the holidays always lifted her spirits. Hank interrupted her thoughts to show her a button.

“Right there. I push that thing and it gives my little truck all the extra horsepower it needs. Now you buy all the groceries you need and don’t fret. I will get you right to your front door without this bloomin’ weather interfering.”

Grace smiled. It was cold and snowing, not blooming, but she understood the kindness meant.

She couldn’t imagine how she would get her groceries and goods up the long drive when she could barely wobble without tumbling. Mere days before Christmas and in a little while longer she would be a mutter. She wouldn’t be going anywhere, so she needed to prepare for what was coming. Excitement mingled with fear washed over her each time she thought about the big day arriving. Maybe she would give birth on New Year’s. Wouldn’t that just be the perfect way to begin again?

“Now, now, little one,” she whispered, rubbing her stretched middle to calm the eagerness squirming inside, then turned back to the driver. “You can let me out here. Elli said she would meet me to help gather everything. I shouldn’t be more than a couple of hours.”

“Take your time, Miss. I’ll be at the diner, just over there,” he pointed across the street to a place called Shirley’s Diner. Grace had not been in the restaurant, but everyone had told her she should give the place a try. “I’ll watch for you.”

Stepping out of the truck, careful not to slip in her descent, Grace walked into the I.G.A. and began her shopping. She was a few minutes early for meeting Elli, but if she knew the woman, she would find Grace fairly quickly. Grace tugged at one of the red buggies, loosening it from the line, and slowly began browsing the food aisles. Though the bananas were still green and hard, not the lightly brown spotted sugary look she preferred, Grace selected a bunch of them and set them in the front portion of her buggy. She had barely made thirty dollars this week, so shopping needed to be carefully planned, especially considering Christmas was just a few days away. She still needed thread to finish Betty’s gift, and maybe another yard of material for a separate gift.

“Grace Miller.”

She bristled at the familiar voice. Of all the people to run into in a grocery store, it would have to be him. Putting on her best smile, Grace willed herself to turn around.

“Hello, Elmo. Is Francis with you today?” She hoped so. Peering past the short bulky man, Grace saw no sign of Freeman’s mother.

“Just me today. Had to get the salad dressing Francis had forgotten. Is Freeman with you?”

She wanted to say most certainly not but caught hold of her tongue. This man had made known his ability to snatch the roof over her head away in an instant. Just be polite, your boppli is coming soon, she reminded herself.

“I have not seen him for some time now. I am waiting on Elli, actually.”

His frown deepened—the same look he wore the last time a word was passed between them. Crossing his arms, cradling a jar of salad dressing in a wide palm that looked too large for a man of his short stature, he clearly had something on his mind, and Grace wondered if she should wait for what it was to slip out or just push the red cart forward and leave him standing there.

She had decided on the latter when he finally spoke. “My Freeman feels you two make a match.”

Of course he does, she wanted to blurt out. Grace had seen plenty of young women in the area during church meetings, so why would the Hiltys seem to go out of their way to target her? And pregnant as she was? It was all a bit disturbing.

“Freeman has been kind and has made his intentions known to me.”

“And?” She could see where Freeman got his impatient tendencies. Grace had been taught to respect her elders, but this man was stepping over a line. Courting was private. But then again, they weren’t even courting.

“These things are private, but if you must insist, I have no romantic interest in your son, Mr. Hilty, and told him just that. I have no plans to make such decisions while I am here.” Lesson learned. Looking back, she searched for Elli. Taking in a slow breath, Grace started to maneuver the buggy forward.

“I think it best you consider making some gut decisions. A woman in your condition needs a husband,” he said after her.

What was that supposed to mean?

Elmo lifted his bearded chin with authority. “Francis seems to like ya well enough and Freeman is of the age he can no longer run around idle. It is time he takes a fraa and makes a family of his own.”

She had seen matchmakers work, usually with shy young people who could not find the words to take the next step, but this was something totally different. She felt like one of those heifers in a lot while menfolk talked over them and decided which best suited their need. She was livestock to this man, a selected heifer for his son. Her blood ran cold, sending a chill over every inch of her flesh.

The baby shifted, worst timing for sure, and she placed a slow, firm hand to one side of her belly and gripped the red shopping cart tightly with the other, all the while giving Elmo a grimace.

“Then that is what he should do,” she said a bit too firmly. “Mr. Hilty, I am not certain what you are implying, but I am of no mind to court your son. I feel nothing for him but friendship.” And even that was fading faster than the daylight hours these days. She would have pushed past him right then if not for the sting in her side, forcing her to continue facing the monster.

“I have a buyer for the cabin.” A threat not even disguised in subtlety. “Nice gentleman, too.” Elmo straightened. “Willing to pay enough to buy a worthy home for you and my son.” Temptation was a sin, and one she would never fall to again. He was trying to tempt her.

“I hope you do not delay in making a choice. We both know Tessie will not allow you into her home. Few would take you in after what you have done. You should accept Freeman’s offer; you will not get another.” He chuckled and watched to see if she would squirm. Like father like son, Grace thought. She almost blurted out that her daed planned on marrying her off to Leon Strolzfus, but that wasn’t going to happen, either. Nothing felt more pressuring than to be placed between two wrongs squeezing for dominance.

“There you are, Grace. Elli is over there.” Abram Schwartz appeared out of thin air. Just as gallant and heroic as Elli whispered the man to be. Grace could imagine he had in fact swept her off her feet years ago as Elli said he did. His dark beard, sprinkled lightly with time, matched his dark eyes, now narrowed and looking down at Elmo. Abram had a good foot on Freeman’s father.

Regardless of the pinch in her side, she pushed the buggy and hurried to the dairy section Elli was standing in front of, putting as much distance between her and Elmo as possible.

“How long have you and Abram been here?” she asked when she reached Elli.

“Long enough that Abram insisted he fetch you instead of me.” Elli seemed upset. Maybe Elmo’s threat was loud enough it had not been for her ears alone. “Come, let’s get your shopping done, dear.” Elli tugged on the buggy, urging Grace to the next aisle.

“What about Abram? I don’t think…” She glanced back to see Abram, arms crossed, lips set, listening to Elmo rattle off about something, most certainly not confessing what he had said to Grace, and she realized she had little to worry for the man’s sake. Like Cullen, the bishop, and most of the men Grace had encountered in her two months in Walnut Ridge, he could handle his own well enough.

“My Abram is exactly where he needs to be right now. I think you might want to start telling me what is really going on, though, Grace. One minute everyone thinks you’ve got eyes for Cullen—who is a great man, I might add—the next, I hear you have been courting Freeman and speaking of marriage. I know that this is private, so indulge an old woman who never had the luxury of courting.”

Elli’s face wore a hint of authority despite trying to be coy. She was no-nonsense and had a head for all complex matters. Grace could use all the help she could get before she was out in the cold.

“I will tell you everything, but first, tell me why you and Abram never courted.” Grace couldn’t help but tease. She felt comfortable around Elli, bringing out a part of her few got to know. Elli calmed at the comment, just as Grace hoped.

“We aren’t young, my dear. Nobody has time for that when you’ve got so much living to do,” she said, and Grace smiled. “Now, tell me why Elmo is threatening you.”