Two

“I never pegged you for a chicken.”

Nelson side-eyed Jesse as Charity set a delicious-looking quiche—was that ham he smelled?—next to a skinny loaf of fresh bread in the middle of the table. Brook, their one-year-old terrier mix, sat underneath the table at Jesse’s feet, patiently waiting for any crumbs to escape from the table. Malachi was still a no-show, even though he’d been gone the entire day since Nelson left the warehouse. Nelson had returned to the buggy shop and spent the rest of the morning and afternoon helping Jesse and Micah, mostly sweeping and tidying up since he didn’t know anything about buggy building. His brother didn’t either when he first took the job with Micah, but now he was not only exceptionally skilled at making buggies, but he also machined the brakes. Nelson was impressed. His pesky younger brother had finally grown up.

Charity sat down and put her hand on Jesse’s. “You can continue complimenting your bruder after we pray.”

Nelson smirked and bent his head in silent prayer. After they finished, Charity started to dish out the quiche. “I’m not a chicken,” he said as she plopped a big slice on Jesse’s plate and handed it to him.

“Then you’ll have nee problem buying the warehouse and starting your business,” Jesse said, setting down his food. “Looks appeditlich, Charity. Julia Child?”

“I decided to try someone different. Jacques what’s-his-face. The librarian told me how to pronounce his name, but I forgot.” She handed Nelson his slice, one that was bigger than Jesse’s.

“I’m not even sure I want to open a butcher shop.” His mouth watered at the steaming quiche. Charity sure could cook. Malachi didn’t know what he was missing. Where was he, anyway?

“You’ve been talking about it ever since you came back from Devon’s,” Jesse said. “Now you have an opportunity. You need to seize it.”

“Are you talking about the building next to Yoders’?” Charity looked at Nelson. Her cheeks were covered in freckles, like the rest of her, and her carrot-colored hair was tucked underneath her kapp. Although she and Jesse had been married for over a year, Nelson still marveled that they’d gotten together in the first place. Jesse had been adamant about not getting married, and because of a foolish prank he’d pulled years ago that had long-lasting repercussions, he’d almost lost Charity. But here his brother was, the man all the Bontragers thought would be the last one to tie the knot, living his happily ever after.

“Ya. It’s for sale.” Nelson grabbed a small slice of bread. A baguette, Charity had called it. He slathered it with fresh butter and took a bite. Whatever it was called, it was delicious.

“You want to buy it?” she asked.

“Maybe. I don’t know. Probably not.”

“As long as you’re sure.” Jesse grinned and ducked his hand under the table.

“Stop feeding Brook,” Charity said. “She’s going to get fat like Monroe.”

“Then she’ll be fat and happy.” But he brought back his hand and kept it on the table, looking at Nelson. “What’s keeping you from buying the warehouse?”

Nelson glanced at Charity, who was focused on cutting her slice of quiche. He wasn’t keen on having this discussion in front of her. Not because he didn’t trust her. He definitely did. But it wasn’t easy to admit to himself that he was uncertain about his future, much less say it in front of his younger brother and his wife. “I want to be sure I’m making the right decision,” he finally said, landing on the truth without admitting all of it.

“That’s wise,” Charity said. “Nix wrong with taking your time.”

“Unless the building sells out from under you,” Jesse pointed out. He forked a bite of quiche. “You don’t want to miss out on a prime opportunity.”

He frowned. Since when did his little brother start giving him advice? Good advice at that?

Jesse glanced at the door. “Where did you say Malachi was?”

“I don’t know.” He polished off the last bite of his quiche. Charity slid the round baking dish with the remainder toward him. “Last time I saw him he was with Junia. I think that’s her name.” He took another helping.

“Junia Yoder?” Charity exchanged a quizzical look with Jesse.

“Ya. Why?”

“She’s, um . . .” She cringed a little.

“She’s what?”

“Different,” Jesse supplied.

“Not that it’s a bad thing,” Charity quickly added. “Lord knows I’m different.”

“And I love that about you.” Jesse grinned, a smitten look in his eyes.

Bleh. It was one thing for Jesse to get married when no one, including Jesse himself, expected him to. It was quite another when it turned out he wasn’t shy about showing his feelings for Charity. Not that they were publicly affectionate with each other. That wasn’t the Amish way. But when he spouted off a sticky-sweet compliment like that, Nelson thought it was too much.

Charity’s cheeks turned rosy underneath her freckles as she gazed back at him, just as moony-eyed.

Nelson shoveled half the quiche slice in his mouth. Anything to distract himself from the newlywed puppy love in front of him. He glanced at Brook, who had moved out from under the table and was lying next to the woodstove. The pup closed her eyes. Even she’d had enough.

One more bite and he would leave Jesse and his wife to . . . whatever. He had to find Malachi anyway. They needed to head back to Birch Creek soon.

The door suddenly flew open. Nelson spun around as Ella Yoder bounded inside, much like she’d done at the warehouse earlier. Without preamble she glared at Nelson. “Where’s mei schwester?”

*  *  *

As soon as Ella saw Nelson, Charity, and Jesse’s shocked expressions, she wondered if she should have knocked on the door instead of barging into the Bontragers’ tiny house unannounced. But time was of the essence. Junia was missing, and Malachi was the last person she was seen with. She hadn’t shown up for work all day—incensing, and then worrying Ella. As usual, her father seemed unconcerned. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t upset. All he’d said was Junia was a grown woman, and she would be fine.

Not coming back to work without a word of explanation was not fine. Not in Ella’s book.

Nelson stood, frowning. “You haven’t seen her?”

“If I had, why would I be here?” Especially after their encounter this morning. He was by far the most unpleasant man she’d ever met. All she did was ask him a simple question about his intent to buy the warehouse, and he scowled at her. Of course that had set her off, and while in hindsight maybe she was a little nosy, he didn’t have to be rude. Or scowl, like he was doing now. “Where are Junia and Malachi?”

He hesitated. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen them either.”

The dread that had started a few hours ago when Junia didn’t return began to grow. The Bontragers’ little dog came up to her. Sniffed her ankles. Sat on her haunches and stared up at Ella, her tail wagging against the floor. She was a cute puppy, but Ella couldn’t pay attention to her right now.

“We’ll geh look for them,” Jesse said as he got up from the table.

Charity went to her. “I’ll make us some kaffee. Or tea, if you’d like.”

Ella shook her head. “I’d like to know where mei schwester is.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.” Nelson shoved his straw hat on his head and walked to the front door where his boots were. He pushed his feet inside. “Malachi wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

“They probably just lost track of time,” Charity said with a weak smile.

“Doing what?” Ella put her hands on her hips.

Nelson and Jesse exchanged a look. Charity focused on the wooden floorboards. Brook wagged her tail faster.

“They just met each other!” But Ella wouldn’t be surprised if Junia and Malachi had “lost track of time.” She didn’t want to think about what that might mean, but she hadn’t missed the adoring looks they were giving each other before they left the warehouse following Nelson’s departure.

Nelson finished putting on his boots and coat while Charity opened the drawer of the end table by the love seat across the room and pulled out two flashlights. She handed one to Jesse, then crossed the small room and gave the other one to Nelson. He opened the door. Ella dashed past him and walked outside, turning on her flashlight. Jesse and Charity lived right next door to the buggy shop, and they shared a parking lot.

“What are you doing?” Nelson asked.

“Going with you.” She pointed her light back on him and he shielded his eyes. Oops. She lowered her flashlight slightly.

“Nee. Jesse and I can find them.”

Behind Nelson, Jesse and Charity came out of the house, closing the door behind them. “We can split up,” Jesse said.

“I’ll geh with Charity,” Ella said, moving to stand beside her.

Jesse moved closer to his wife. “Charity and I will go west. You two head east.”

Nelson blew out a breath. “Is it really necessary to pair up—”

But they were already walking away.

“Stop wasting time and let’s geh.” Ella motioned for him to follow her.

He turned on his flashlight and caught up with her.

She aimed her light at the field on the left. Nothing but grass and a few trees, the branches swaying in the faint evening breeze. She grimaced. Her feet hurt, she was cold, and she still needed to clean up the kitchen, because of course Junia wouldn’t do it unless Ella made her, and tonight she was too tired and angry to get into a fight with her. Of all the things Junia had done—or more accurately, hadn’t done—disappearing with a complete stranger was the most inconsiderate. Not to mention foolish. “I can’t believe she did that,” she muttered.

“What?” Nelson matched her stride, which was easy to do, considering his legs were so much longer than hers.

She marched on, ignoring his question.

“Women,” he grumbled.

“Excuse me?” She shined her light on him.

He guarded his eyes again. “Will you stop doing that?”

“Sorry.” She aimed the light straight ahead.

“Wow,” he said. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Had what?”

“An apology.”

She clenched her back molars together. “Listen, I wouldn’t be out here in the cold, wasting my time, if it wasn’t for your nephew’s irresponsible behavior.”

“My nephew? What about your irresponsible schwester?”

It was one thing for Ella to insult her own sister, but she wouldn’t abide someone else getting their digs in. “How do I know Malachi didn’t lure her away?”

“Because he wouldn’t.” He halted. “This is a waste of time.”

“Finding Junia is not a waste of time—”

“I meant arguing is a waste of time.”

“Oh.” She had to admit he was right.

“Does she have somewhere special she likes to geh?” he asked. “A place where she can be alone?”

Ella lifted her flashlight a little, enough to illuminate his face but not blind him. “Why would she need a place to be alone?”

He smirked. “I can think of at least one reason.”

She pursed her lips together. “You’re really something . . . Wait.” She remembered an old abandoned barn that was less than a quarter mile from their house and tucked back behind bushes and brush. She was surprised she’d even thought about it since she’d discovered it on a walk a few weeks after she and her family had moved here. She was mad at Junia again and had stormed out of the house, taking a walk to let her anger cool. Did her sister know about the barn? And if she did, it wasn’t exactly a place she’d expect Junia to go to. Too dirty and dilapidated. But it wasn’t far from where she and Nelson were now, and it was worth investigating. She strode past him, cutting across the road in the opposite direction.

“Where are you going?” Once again, he quickly caught up to her.

She kept her light pointed to the field on the right. So far all she saw was grass. The barn was around here, right?

“Ella—”

“There it is.” She saw the shadow from a large area of scrub and headed into the field.

Nelson shone his light in the same direction, and they both headed for the bushes. As they neared, the leaning form of the rickety barn came into view. “You think she’s here? When it’s so cold out?”

It did seem ridiculous now that they were standing close to the barn. The structure was so old and deteriorated, only a few boards held it together. As they both flashed their lights and did a quick search, it was clear Junia and Malachi weren’t there. Good, because it looked like a slight breeze could topple it over.

She started to shiver. In her haste to find her sister, she’d grabbed her thin peacoat instead of her winter coat.

“Any other ideas?” He sounded surprisingly less irritated than he was a few minutes ago.

“Nee.” She stuck her cold hand in her pocket and tried to keep still. “I-I have n-nee idea where they’d be.”

He moved a step closer to her. “Let’s get you home,” he said.

She shook her head. “I have to find J-Junia.”

“If she’s with Malachi, she’s okay. Trust me. My nephew is a gut man. He gets a little ab im kopp when it comes to maed, but he wouldn’t do anything untoward. You have mei word on that. I’m sure wherever they are, they just lost track of time.”

Ella paused, then nodded. There was something about his calm tone that settled her worry. “Junia tends to have her head in the clouds, so I can see that happening.” Although their flashlights were pointed away, she could see Nelson’s shadowed face break into a half smile. “All right. I’ll wait for her at home. Danki for your help.” She turned and briskly walked toward the road. When she reached the asphalt, he was already by her side.

“Jesse’s house is in that direction.” She pointed to the right. “Just turn left at the end of the street.”

“I know.”

“You’ve been to Marigold before?”

“Just to mei bruder’s. But I’ve got a gut sense of direction.” He directed his flashlight in the opposite path. “Your haus is that way, ya?”

“Ya.”

“Then let’s geh.” He started to walk, but when she didn’t join him, he stopped and turned around. “What?”

“You don’t have to walk me home.” She preferred he didn’t. She was already embarrassed that she’d panicked over Junia, and now that she was thinking more clearly, she’d also insulted Malachi by making assumptions about him, on top of getting Jesse and Charity involved. She was also a little confused about Nelson’s gentlemanly behavior. He’d been the exact opposite earlier that day.

“Nee self-respecting mann would let you walk home in the dark.”

“I have a flashlight.”

He lifted his. “We’ll have double the light.” He half-smiled again.

She sighed. Arguing would make her look more foolish, so she nodded and fell into step beside him, prepared for the small talk she would have to engage in. Her house wasn’t far, but it wasn’t that close either. Plenty of time for banal conversation, something she intensely disliked. If she was going to talk to someone, she wanted the dialogue to be meaningful. Besides, she had enough shallow conversations with Junia, who could chatter nonstop about basically nothing.

Nelson started to whistle.

Ella looked up at him. He was staring straight ahead, his flashlight raised enough to illuminate the road in front of them. His other hand was in his pocket, and tiny puffs of his breath hung in the air as he continued to whistle the pleasant, unfamiliar melody. “What song is that?” she asked, shivering again.

He turned to her. “Song?”

“The one you were whistling?”

He shrugged. “Nee idea. Sometimes a tune will come to me. Most of the time I don’t realize I’m whistling, so I never remember what I just whistled. It’s a habit I developed as a kinn. Some of my brothers do it too. Just don’t be around Jesse when he starts.”

“Why?”

“He couldn’t carry a tune if he had a bucket.”

“Ah.” She shivered again. It seemed like the temperature had dropped even more since she left the house. Then she felt the heavy weight of Nelson’s coat on her shoulders. She stopped walking and touched the lapel. “What are you doing?”

“You’re clearly cold, so I gave you mei coat.” He continued to walk.

She hurried to catch up, eyeing his short-sleeved shirt. “But now you’re going to be cold.”

“Nee. I run hot. I usually put on a coat out of habit more than anything. I end up taking it off sooner than later.”

She didn’t quite believe him, but he also didn’t seem to be bothered by the dipping degrees. They were almost to her house, so it didn’t matter anyway. But as they continued to walk and he started whistling again, she stopped shivering. His coat engulfed her and was toasty warm. She pulled it closer as they rounded the corner of her street. In the distance she could see the bright streetlamp that shone on the grocery store parking lot. Other than their flashlights, it was the only light around.

Despite the cold and being upset with Junia, not to mention being chagrined that she likely had overreacted—again—she kind of, sort of enjoyed the last stretch of her walk home. Nelson’s whistling was a nice accompaniment and much better than striving for a casual conversation. But she was curious about something. “Have you decided to buy the warehouse?”

The whistling stopped, followed by a heavy pause. “Nee. I haven’t.”

Relief washed over her. She still had time to convince her father to purchase it, and she would make sure to stress that there was already another person interested in it. Hopefully that would light a fire under her dad’s typical reticence.

“The Realtor couldn’t give me much history about it,” Nelson said. “Do you know anything?”

He had no idea he’d just given her a chance to influence his decision not to buy the building if she were willing to fudge the facts. But she wasn’t, not even for a prime business opportunity. She couldn’t live with herself if she did. “Nee.” Other than it’s a perfect place to expand my store.

“Oh. Well, the thought occurred to me that you might, considering you’re so interested in whether I’m going to buy the property.” He shrugged and shifted his flashlight to the other hand. “I haven’t settled it in mei mind about the butcher shop anyway.”

“Butcher shop?” Her left brow lifted. “You’re a butcher?”

“Ya. I was considering opening mei own shop in Birch Creek, but we already have a family-owned deli that opened a year and a half ago. I don’t want to take any business away from them.” He blew out a breath. “I should probably stick to farming.”

“You’re a farmer too?”

He nodded. “All mei life. Thought I would be one too, until recently.”

“What made you change your mind?”

Nelson didn’t look at her. “Life.”

His tone warned her against delving deeper, so she kept quiet. But her mind was whirring. Having a butcher shop next door could be advantageous. They sold a few meats and cheeses at the grocery store, but not the specialized cuts that people had to go to Barton to purchase. Probably Birch Creek too, now that she knew they had a deli. Customers who went to Nelson’s shop would then stop by hers for the rest of their supplies. It would be even better than expanding because she wouldn’t have to spend the money to purchase the building. “I think you should buy it.”

“Why?”

His quick question caught her off guard. “Because . . .” She couldn’t just blurt out that her reasoning was self-serving. That might turn him off completely. “We could use a butcher shop here. Marigold is a growing community, and you would have plenty of customers.”

“That’s gut and all, but I have another problem. I don’t know anything about running a business.”

Ella grinned. “I can help you with that.”