TABITHA GAZED DOWN at the other girl and felt nervous tension flood her body. It was such a different feeling from what she’d been experiencing only a moment before—heady pleasure and the warmth of love—so that she’d felt slightly dizzy standing next to John.
“I’ve kumme to put the ham in, John. I’ll be baking it for your supper, and I thought I’d come a bit early in case there was anything you . . . wanted.”
“Danki,” John said, sounding short to even Tabitha’s ears. “There is nothing that I want.”
Tabitha swallowed and decided it would be better if she were kind to Barbara, even though she found her to be as sneaky as a barn rat. “Barbara, if it’s all right with John, won’t you kumme inside and share lunch with us after you’ve put your dish in the oven?”
John rose and yanked the sheet off his neck, then turned to her with a gentle smile that belied the anger of his movements. “You are both graceful and kind, Tabitha. Thank you for my haircut.” He turned to stare down at Barbara. “By all means, kumme in.”
Tabitha watched the other girl flounce up the steps, then enter the screen door without any permission.
John smiled down at Tabitha and caught her wrist when she would have turned to follow Barbara. “I really do appreciate my haircut, and I’m sorry your no-doubt-delicious lunch has to be interrupted in this manner.”
Tabitha nodded. He was staring at her so intently—she wondered if her kapp was on crooked. She thought he might say something more, but he let go of her wrist and they walked together to the door.
Inside Tabitha put down the scissors and washed her hands at the sink while John sat down with Matt, who was finishing his own meal at the table. Tabitha hoped there would be enough food, as Matt seemed like he had torn through the buttered noodles with ruthless appetite.
She was surprised when Barbara sidled next to her and spoke in an undertone beneath the cover of the bruders talking.
“You don’t fool me one bit, Tabitha Beiler—you and your false piety. Letty told me all about poor Rob Yoder and your betrayal. Wait until he comes back . . .”
“Tabitha,” John called from the table. “These noodles are wonderful; just as gut as my mamm’s, and I wouldn’t be afraid to say so.”
Tabitha moved away from the hiss of Barbara’s voice and sank down on one of the benches opposite John. “Thank you.” She knew her smile trembled on her lips because she was unused to such a blatant attack from another.
Both Matt and John must have noticed, because they asked in unison, “Are you well, Tabitha?”
She had to laugh then, her confidence renewed as she nodded, deciding that Derr Herr would protect her from Barbara’s sniping. She was even able to call Barbara away from the stove when she took the tinfoil off the cookies.
“Will you have one, Barbara? They’re soft ginger with orange glaze.”
The other girl sniffed. “Nee, I’ve my figure to think of.”
John took two and Tabitha smiled, taking one herself then joining in with both bruders to enjoy the tasty treat.
When they’d cleaned up, Tabitha moved to pick up the wide picnic basket, and John took it from her hands. “I’ll carry it to the buggy for you.”
“And then you’ll be back, John?” Barbara asked in a sultry tone.
“Nee, we’ve deliveries to make. But do be comfortable as you cook . . . although I’d watch out for bats if I were you.”
“Bats!” Barbara screeched, scrunching down. “What do you mean?”
“Big bats,” Matt mumbled, chewing a cookie as he shouldered out the door. “Colony in the attic, John thinks.”
Barbara straightened and put her hands on her hips. “Well, I am certainly not going to stay in a haus with bats! I’ll see you at the next singing, John. The ham should be done at five.” She marched past the other three, and the screen door slammed behind her.
“Bats?” Tabitha inquired softly. “I love bats. They’re so graceful even though they’re blind. They display Gott’s artistry so well.”
John smiled down at her. “I have to seal the hole when the colony is out tonight—would you like to help me? Matt’s scared.”
“I am not!” Matt hollered through the screen door.
“I’d love to,” Tabitha said, feeling her heart race a bit at the thought of spending more time with him. “I’d really love to—danki.”
Tabitha gently stroked the pussy willow branches that filled the simple vase in Aenti Elizabeth’s bedroom.
“Danki, child, for bringing the outside in to me.”
Tabitha turned to face her aenti, who was sitting up, ready for bed. “I wish I could do more for you, Aenti Beth.”
“Like what?” the old woman laughed. “You are a joy to me and always have been.”
Tabitha sighed and pulled a small chair closer to the bed, sitting down on the edge of the woman’s rocker.
“Aenti Elizabeth, I have to tell you. I—I’ve been deceiving you—outright lying, in fact, and I want to tell you the truth.” Tabitha reached for the hem of the bed quilt and began to play with it nervously.
“I’ve always found that the best place to begin is whatever comes to mind first when you’ve got to have a difficult talk, and I promise you that whatever you say, I will always love you, Tabby.”
Tabitha met her aenti’s kind eyes, and then the whole story came tumbling out in what seemed like confusing bits and pieces, but somehow Aenti Elizabeth seemed to make sense of it all. She smiled gently and caught Tabitha’s hand. “So, child, John Miller is the true love of your heart?”
“Ya,” Tabitha half-sobbed, the truth rushing through her like a cleansing spring.
“Well, the truth, my dear, is the best place to start in any relationship, and I am so blessed that you chose to share this with me. You know I’ve never been married, but the Bible teaches a great deal about marriage that I think you should study upon.”
“I know some,” Tabitha admitted shyly.
“Ach, I’m sure you do, child. But what about applying what you know from Gott’s Word to everyday life in a marriage?”
Tabitha shrugged helplessly, and Aenti Elizabeth squeezed her hands. “I think that love and grace and mercy—extended to your husband or to any children who might come along—that is the key application and one that will always safeguard your relationships. Now, would you do me the honor of both you and John coming in for a moment to see me before you leave this nacht?”
Tabitha nodded in confusion. “Ya, surely, Aenti Beth.”
“Gut. Now run along and tidy yourself. I love you, dear child.”
Tabitha caught her in a fierce hug. “And I love you, Aenti Elizabeth, with all my heart.”
After his supper of not-so-tender ham, John waved Matt off in the van, then set about grooming Tudor to go and pick up Tabitha. He couldn’t deny that he had been moved by the tenderness and delicate workmanship that Tabitha had displayed while cutting his hair. Even now he touched the black strands with a sense of wonder.
Then he shook himself, tossed the horse brush back with the other tack supplies, and hitched up. There was only so much time, really, for the bats would leave at twilight to hunt, then come back as a group when it suited them, so he urged Tudor into a trot and made his way down the short mile to the Beilers.
He set the brake, got out, and tied Tudor to the hitching post, then he mounted the steps to the door, feeling his heart start to thud a bit as he realized that it felt a whole lot like an English date and he knew he was playing with fire.
Fram Beiler opened the door though, a sad contrast to John’s expectations of the beautiful Tabitha.
“Well, kumme in, don’t just stand there lollygagging all nacht, buwe.”
John suppressed the desire to roll his eyes and responded politely instead. “Ya, sir.”
“The womenfolk are in Lizzy’s bedroom. Said to knock on the door when you got here. Heaven only knows what they’re up to.”
“Okay.” John nodded and made his way to the master bedroom door as Fram retook his seat in the living area with a grunt.
John knocked tentatively on the wood, not knowing what to expect, as he’d certainly never been invited to an elderly woman’s bedroom before.
Tabitha opened the door, her eyes meeting his once, then her lashes lowered demurely, their light fullness resting on the cream of her cheeks.
“Hello,” he said, feeling awkward. “Am I invited here, or is Fram having a gut joke at my expense?”
She smiled then and widened the door. “Of course you’re invited. Aenti Elizabeth actually wanted to say good nacht to us together before we go on our bat adventure. I’ve just gotten her into bed and settled with her Bible. Sei se gut, come in.”
John entered a bit nervously but then relaxed when he saw Beth Beiler sitting upright against some comfortable pillows, swathed in a double wedding ring quilt and with her gray hair still kapped, for it was the privilege of only a husband to see his Amish wife’s hair unbound. The old woman smiled graciously at him and extended her hand. He took it easily, then bent and kissed her cheek, still as soft as a rose petal and as delicate.
“John Miller.” She smiled, her eyes bright. “Danki for making an auld woman happy. I like your haircut.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’m afraid I have nothing to do with how well it looks.” He heard Tabitha laugh softly behind him and smiled.
“Ach, but you would be a fine figure of a man, even with a bowl on your head,” Beth laughed.
“Danki,” he acknowledged with a grin.
“Well, I called you both in here to bid you gut nacht. I hope that you have a successful time sealing up the entrance, though bats can be tricky as well as wondrous . . . but I know you’ll both have a gut time together.”
John leaned forward and kissed her cheek again, feeling in some strange way that she was giving them a blessing through her commonplace words, though he couldn’t understand why. Tabitha came round the bed then and he rose and stepped out of the way, but not before he caught the simple mint fragrance that seemed a natural part of her, and one that played havoc with his senses.
He watched the two women embrace, then looked down at the pegged hardwoods on the floor, feeling again like he was witnessing something special, though he couldn’t put his mental finger on it. Then Tabitha was by his side and they left the room, leaving Aenti Beth reading her Bible.
Fram grimaced when Tabitha bid him good night, and John had the unholy desire to wallop the man, though he doubted it would do any good. Fram Beiler seemed miserable enough as it was. But he was not about to let the older man ruin his time with Tabitha.