Faith rested in the safety of Adrian’s embrace, relishing the strength and gentleness with which he held her. Gazing up into his face, she saw his eyes darken.
Did he feel it too, this current between them that defied her logical, sensible mind?
How had it happened? How had she fallen in love with him?
He said softly, “Kyle is okay.”
“I knew he would be if he was with you,” she whispered. She and Kyle would always be safe if Adrian was with them. If only it could be this way forever. It couldn’t. She knew that.
Adrian was still in love with his wife. She couldn’t compete with a ghost.
Besides, she had to concentrate on Kyle. Finalizing his adoption had to be her top priority. Adding Adrian to the picture would only complicate and delay things.
Reluctantly, she left the comfort of Adrian’s embrace and sank awkwardly to the ground beside Kyle. She gathered him close in a tight hug. “I was so worried when I couldn’t find you.”
He wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her back. Suddenly, he let go and stepped away. Faith saw he was looking at the sheriff and Miss Watkins as they approached.
Faith cupped his chin and turned his face toward her. “It’s all right. You aren’t in trouble.”
The sheriff pushed his hat back with one finger. “Looks like the lost sheep has been found.”
Miss Watkins clasped her hands together. “I am so sorry that we wasted your time, Sheriff Bradley.”
“Don’t be. I like a happy ending. I just wish all my calls were so easy.”
Miss Watkins focused her attention on Kyle. “You frightened us very badly, Kyle. Why did you run away from home?”
“I didn’t.”
Faith accepted Adrian’s hand as he helped her to her feet. She said, “Kyle, you must let me know when you are going to visit a friend or a neighbor.”
“Okay.”
Miss Watkins stepped forward with a sharp frown on her face. “What’s wrong with your hands, Kyle?”
“I got some blisters. Adrian fixed me up. He gave me this horse.” He held up the toy.
Glancing between the adults, Miss Watkins leaned down to Kyle’s level. “How did you get blisters? Did you touch something hot?”
“No.” He shrank away from her and toward Faith.
Faith said, “He got them cleaning out a stall and helping us with the peach crop.”
Adrian spoke up. “He rubbed his bandages off cleaning one of my stalls. I washed his sores and redressed them. He’ll be okay in a few days.”
Holding out her hand, Miss Watkins asked, “May I see your blisters?”
Kyle buried his face in Faith’s skirt and put his hands behind his back.
Turning his face up to hers, Faith smiled encouragingly at him. “Is it okay if I unwrap them?”
He held out his hands. Faith unwound the dressing from his right hand. Miss Watkins took a closer look, then said, “Okay. Kyle, why don’t you go to the car with Sheriff Bradley. I bet he’ll show you how the radio works.”
The sheriff nodded toward his SUV. “Come on, Kyle. Would you like to turn on the flashing lights?”
Kyle glanced from Faith to Adrian. “Is it verboten?”
Faith exchanged an amused look with Adrian, then said, “It’s not forbidden. It is okay for Amish boys to do such a thing.”
Kyle followed the sheriff, but the worried expression lingered on his face.
Miss Watkins folded her arms. “I will be the first to admit that I’m not familiar with Amish ways, but to work a child of six until both his hands are covered in blisters is not acceptable.”
Faith cringed before the social worker’s anger. Fear stole her voice. Beside her, Adrian said, “The boy worked hard to prove that he belongs among us. We did not make him do this.”
Caroline shook her head. “Be that as it may, I’m not convinced this is the best arrangement for Kyle.”
“Please, don’t take him away from me.” Faith wanted to race to the car, grab her child and hold on to him so tightly that no one could take him from her. Adrian’s hand settled on her shoulder holding her in place.
Caroline sighed heavily. “I don’t want to take him away, Mrs. Martin, but I have to know that he’s in a safe environment. I would be neglecting my job and Kyle’s welfare if I placed him in a questionable home.”
“I’ll do anything you ask. Please, don’t take him away,” Faith pleaded.
“Ultimately that decision is up to a judge. I’m here to help make the adoption possible. I want you to rethink how much work a child of six should be doing. I’ll be back to visit again next Friday. Before then, you will need to make a list of Kyle’s chores. We can go over them together and see if we can agree on what’s appropriate for his age.”
“I can do that,” Faith quickly assured her.
“Keep in mind that he’s going to be in school. There will be even less time for him to do chores.” She walked back to the sheriff’s vehicle leaving Faith and Adrian alone.
Faith started to follow her, but Adrian caught her arm. “Faith, we need to talk.”
“I can’t. Not now.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat. “All right. Go home and take care of your child.”
She squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Adrian.”
“For what?”
“For understanding.” Faith left him and took a seat inside the sheriff’s vehicle.
“Are you ready for your first day of school?”
Bright and early Monday morning Faith climbed into the buggy beside Kyle.
He hooked his thumbs through his new suspenders giving them a sour look. “Do I have to wear these? I look like a dork.”
“You must dress plain now. All the boys will be wearing them.”
“Are you sure?” He let them snap back against his chest.
“Ja, I’m sure. Do you like your hat?”
He raised his flat-topped straw hat with both hands and looked up at it. “It’s okay. It’s like the one Adrian wears.”
“He wears suspenders, too.”
“Yeah, he does, doesn’t he?” That mollified him.
“Are you excited about school?”
He sat back and folded his arms over his chest. “No. Everyone’s gonna think I’m stupid cause I can’t speak Pennsylvania Dutch.”
She folded her hands in her lap. “Kyle, you are learning our language just as the Amish children at school will be learning English. If you help them, they will help you and nobody will be stupid.”
“Maybe.” He didn’t sound convinced.
Faith cupped his chin and raised his face so she could see his eyes. “I know this is hard for you, but school is not all bad. You will learn many good things. Do you like to play baseball?”
“Yes.”
“Amish children also like baseball. When I was in school, we played it almost every day. Not in winter, of course. In the winter, we went sledding during recess.”
“Really?” He looked at her with interest.
“Really.”
“That sounds kinda cool.”
She grinned. “It wasn’t cool. It was downright cold.” She poked his side making him giggle.
“Can I drive the buggy?” he asked.
“You may, but just to the end of the lane.” Faith had no fear that Copper would bolt. The mare was well trained and placid. In fact, it was hard to get her into high gear anymore.
“Hold the reins like this.” Faith demonstrated. Kyle was quick to copy her and soon had Copper moving down the lane. Faith sat ready to take the lines at the first sign of trouble. Thankfully, they reached the highway without incident.
“How’d I do?” he asked as he handed the reins back.
“Very well. You’re a natural.” She headed Copper down the road toward the schoolhouse a mile and a half away. After today Kyle would be walking, but she wanted to make sure he could find his way. Besides, the first day of school was special for any child, and she wanted to be a part of it.
When the building came into view, she said, “We’re almost there.”
Kyle slumped in his seat again. “Do I have to go? I feel sick.”
She understood the anxiety he was feeling, but she knew he would soon make new friends. Faith had met earlier with his teacher, Leah Belier. A young Amish woman in her early twenties, Leah seemed devoted to students and to helping them learn. She had promised she would do her best to help Kyle adjust to his new surroundings.
Faith stopped the buggy on the sloping lawn of the one-room schoolhouse. Several other buggies were tied up alongside the building. Children were already at play on the swing set and the long wooden teeter-totter.
Faith sensed Kyle’s interest, but he moved closer to her. Before she could convince him to get down, Leah came out of the schoolhouse door and waved to Faith.
Faith returned her greeting. Kyle buried his face in Faith’s lap. “Can we go home, please?”
Leah was quick to assess the situation and approached the buggy. “You must be Kyle King. I’m so glad to meet you. I was hoping you could help me this morning.”
Kyle eyed her with suspicion. “How?”
“I need a strong young boy to ring the bell for me.”
Looking past her, Kyle assessed the situation. “I guess I could do that.”
“Wonderful. Faith, would you like to sit in on class today?”
“I would.”
After securing Copper to the hitching rail, Faith walked with Kyle to the school building where Leah waited for them. The teacher pointed to the bell rope hanging inside the doorway. “Give it a yank, Kyle. It’s time to start our classes.”
Gritting his teeth, Kyle pulled with all his might. The bell clanged loudly.
Leah clapped her hands. “Very good, Kyle. You’re every bit as strong as you look. Now, I need someone to put pencils and papers on all the desks. Can you help with that?”
“Sure.”
“Danki. That means thank you.”
“I know.”
“The papers and pencils are on the table behind my chair. The desk directly in front of mine belongs to you.”
The other children began entering by twos and threes. Leah welcomed them all by their first names, asking after family members and previous students. It was clear she enjoyed her job.
Faith took a seat at the back of the room where several young mothers sat visiting with each other.
She stayed for the first hour of class, just long enough to make sure Kyle was going to be okay. Leah kept all the students well in hand as she switched back and forth between English and Pennsylvania Dutch to make sure everyone understood her instructions.
After leaving the school, Faith drove home and set to work spinning another batch of yarns. Once they were done, she would take them into town after she picked up Kyle. She had a special treat in store for him.
By early afternoon, she had several dozen skeins ready to be dropped off at Needles and Pins. She hitched up Copper again and arrived at the schoolhouse just as the main door opened and a rush of children poured out.
Kyle, grinning from ear to ear, skidded to a halt beside her and held up a piece of paper. “I drew a picture of Shadow. Did you know we’re the only people in Hope Springs who have alpacas?”
She grinned at his enthusiasm. “I suspected as much.”
“Anna Imhoff and her brothers want to come over and see Shadow. Can they?”
“Perhaps tomorrow. Today, we must go into town and celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Your first day at school. It’s a big deal and it calls for a celebration.”
“What kind of celebration?”
“I’m treating you to supper at the Shoofly Pie Café.”
“Can we get pizza?”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Goot. That means good in Pennsylvania Dutch. I learned it and some more words, too.”
“I’m pleased to hear your day wasn’t wasted. Did you make some new friends?”
“Anna Imhoff wants to be my friend, but she’s a girl.”
“Girls can be friends, too.”
“Her brother, Noah, started teasing me ’cause I can’t talk Amish. Anna got mad and scolded him.”
“Then she sounds like a very good friend to have. Did everyone play baseball at recess?”
His mood went from happy to dejected. “Yeah, but no one picked me for their team.”
“You are little yet. I’m sure you’ll play many games when you’re older.”
“Maybe if I got a glove.”
Leah approached the buggy. “He did well, Faith. He needs to work on his sums and his reading, but overall he’s a bright, friendly boy.”
“Wonderful.” It was a relief to know that Kyle was fitting in. She had worried that the language barrier would make school unhappy for him.
Leah left to speak to other parents, and Faith turned Copper toward town. Once they reached Hope Springs, Faith dropped off her yarns at the fabric store and drove on to the Shoofly Pie Café.
She and Kyle entered the homey café and were instantly surrounded with the smell of baking bread, cinnamon and frying chicken. A young Amish girl came forward. “Velkumm to the Shoofly Pie café. My name is Melody. Would you like a table or a booth?”
“A booth,” Kyle answered before Faith could say anything.
The waitress led them to one of the high-backed seats that lined the walls of the room. Faith slid into the nearest bench. Kyle scooted in opposite her and propped his elbows on the red Formica tabletop.
Suddenly, Kyle’s eyes lit up. “It’s Adrian.”
The boy waved. Faith turned to see her neighbor entering the door. He raised a hand and waved back. He was carrying a small package wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with string.
He stopped beside their booth. Faith wished her heart would stop trying to gallop out of her chest each time he was near.
Kyle spoke up eagerly. “I went to school today.”
Adrian grinned at him. “So I heard. How was it?”
“Pretty fun. I learned to count to ten in Amish and how to say please and thank you.”
“Those are all good things to know.” Adrian focused his gaze on Faith. “How have you been?”
Missing you madly. “Fine, and you?”
“Busy. I’ll start cutting corn tomorrow if this nice weather holds.”
She couldn’t care less about the mundane details of his life. Just seeing his face brightened her day.
He asked, “May I join you?”
Surprised and delighted, she said, “Certainly.”
Kyle scooted over to let him sit down. Adrian said, “I brought you a present, Kyle.” He slid the package toward the boy.
“Why? It’s not my birthday.” Kyle tore open the wrapping to reveal a baseball mitt. It was too big for his hand, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Cool. I’ve been wanting one like this forever.”
Adrian smiled at him. “Happy first day of school.”
Faith couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something different about Adrian today. He was more lighthearted, happier than she had seen him. She liked the change. She liked it a lot.
He met her gaze. “Every boy needs a good baseball glove.”
She said, “You didn’t need to spend money on Kyle. I could have gotten him one.”
“It’s an old glove I had lying around. I thought Kyle might put it to good use.”
“I sure will. Now they won’t pick me last.” Kyle smacked his fist in the pocket.
Faith’s heart warmed to see Kyle so excited and happy. She started to convey her thanks, but Adrian stopped her with a shake of his head. “It’s nothing.”
The look in his eyes said differently. Then it hit her. She reached across the table to lay her hand on Adrian’s arm. “It was Gideon’s glove, wasn’t it?”
“It was, but now it is Kyle’s.” His glance settled on her nephew. It was easy to read the deep affection he had for the boy.
It was only when Adrian looked into her eyes that she became unsure of his feelings. He said, “I know Kyle’s adoption is your main priority right now, but when that’s over, I’d like to talk about the future.”
Faith pulled her hand away. The future? What was he suggesting? Did he have more plans for the farm, or was he suggesting they could have a future together? Her heart raced as her breathing quickened. “The hearing is the last day of this month.”
He winced. “That is a long time to wait.”
“Then perhaps you should come over this evening if it’s important.” She bit the inside of her lip as she waited for his reply.
“It is important to me and I hope to you. Ja, I will come by later.”
“I’m having pizza,” Kyle announced.
Adrian tweaked the boy’s nose. “Sounds good to me. I like pepperoni and extra cheese.”
“Me, too.” Kyle looked at Faith. “What kind do you like, Aunt Faith?”
“I’ll have whatever the two of you are having.”
Food was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. What was on Adrian’s mind that couldn’t wait? Did she dare hope he returned her feelings of affection, or was she tricking herself into imagining what wasn’t there?
“You’re late getting back from town,” Ben said, as he finished greasing the wheels of the grain binder and wiped his blackened fingers on a piece of cloth lying on top of the machine.
“I had supper at the café. Are you done already?” Adrian checked his brother’s work and found it satisfactory.
“Ja. When will you start cutting?”
“I took a walk through the corn this morning. I think it will be ready by the end of the week, if it doesn’t rain.”
“Dat wants to start on our fields early tomorrow. We should be done in four or five days. When we’re finished, I can come and give you a hand.”
“I always appreciate your help with the farm work.” Could he trust Ben with an even more important task?
Adrian hooked his thumbs in his suspenders. He wasn’t ready to reveal his intentions toward Faith to his family just yet. He wanted to know her feelings first. She had been adamant that she would not remarry. If those were her true feelings, he would respect them and never bring up the subject again.
He needed to speak to her alone, but he couldn’t do that with Kyle listening in. Knowing the boy’s penchant for turning up in the wrong place at the wrong time, Adrian didn’t want to risk it.
The smart thing to do would have been to wait until the adoption was over or at least until the boy was in school tomorrow, but Adrian didn’t want to wait another day to know if Faith cared for him as he’d grown to care for her.
Oh, he’d had every intention of waiting until the time was right…then she’d smiled at him in the café and laid her hand on his arm to comfort him. The understanding in her eyes had done something wonderful to his heart.
His carefully laid plans had flown out of his head, and he’d told her he would be over tonight.
Tonight! This was what he got for his impatience. He had to rely on his baby brother to help him secure time alone with Faith.
“Ben, I’m wondering if you could give me a hand with something this evening?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
Drawing a deep breath, Adrian forged ahead before he could change his mind. “I need someone to stay with Faith Martin’s boy for an hour or so.”
There was a long moment of silence, then Ben crossed his arms. “Why?”
“Because…because I need to speak to Faith, alone.”
Ben grinned from ear to ear. “You’re going courting.”
Adrian closed his eyes. This had been another bad idea. What was wrong with him today? “I never said that.”
“You don’t have to say anything. It’s written all over your face. The whole family has been wondering when you’d finally wise up. Wait until I tell Mamm she was right about you two.”
“Please, don’t. Not until I know how Faith feels.”
Ben stepped forward and laid a hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “She’d be a fool to turn you down and I don’t think Faith Martin is anyone’s fool.”
“I pray you are right.”
“Let me wash off this grease and then we can go. I won’t keep you waiting to see your lady love.” Ben walked away, chuckling to himself.
Adrian blew out a deep sigh of frustration. This was to be his punishment for involving his baby brother. Ben was never going to let him live this down, and he was never going to keep it a secret.
Twenty minutes later, the two men were driving toward Faith’s house with Ben at the reins. Adrian’s stomach churned with butterflies now that he was actually on his way. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pant legs and tried to figure out what he was going to say.
Ben slipped his arm around Adrian’s shoulder and gave him a brotherly hug. “Relax. She isn’t going to bite your head off and I doubt she spits like an alpaca. You should drive her over toward the Stultz place and take the left fork just past their barn. The road winds up in a pretty little meadow beside Croft Creek.”
“Where the old stone bridge has fallen down?”
Ben shot him a surprised look. “You know the place?”
“You don’t think you’re the first fellow to take a girl out there for a picnic, do you? Dat took Mamm there when he was courting her.”
“No kidding? Our folks?” Ben looked as if he’d bitten a lemon.
It was Adrian’s turn to laugh. “Love finds all sorts of people, little bruder. Every papa and granddad you see was once a young man with stealing a kiss on his mind.”
“I reckon you’re right.” Ben pulled the horse to a stop in front of Faith’s gate.
She and Kyle were both outside. Faith sat at her spinning wheel on the porch. Kyle was playing on the swing Adrian had built for him. The moment Kyle caught sight of them, he jumped out of the swing and ran toward them.
“Howdy, Adrian. Howdy, Ben. What are you doing here?” He slowed to a walk when he drew near the horse.
Ben hopped out of the buggy. “I’ve come to see your alpaca herd up close.”
“I’ll show them to you. We’ve got a new cria. His name is Shadow and he belongs to me. Adrian gave me a baseball glove. Want to see it?”
“Sure. Maybe we can play some catch after we’re done seeing your critters.”
“Cool beans.”
Ben gave Adrian a wave and walked toward the barn with the boy dancing beside him.
Adrian sat in the buggy as Faith came down the steps toward him. She looked so pretty this evening in a dark purple dress with an apron of the same color over it. His butterflies returned in full force. He nodded toward her. “Evening, Faith.”
She paused behind her gate. “Hello again.”
“It’s a right nice evening, isn’t it?” He tried not to fidget.
“Very nice.”
“I was wondering if you might like to take a buggy ride?”
She glanced toward the barn. “I’m sure Kyle would enjoy that.”
“Ben is going to stay here with Kyle until we get back.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened.
Adrian held out his hand. “It will be just the two of us.”
Faith hesitated. She wanted to go with him, but what was she getting herself into? This wasn’t going to be a farming discussion. She had sense enough to know that. Could he really want to be alone with her because he was ready to open his heart to another woman? To her?
Was she ready for another relationship?
There was only one way to find out. She pushed open the gate and took his hand to climb in his buggy.
When she was settled beside him, he clicked his tongue and slapped the reins to set Wilbur in motion.
At the highway, he turned south toward his farm but passed by his lane without stopping. She asked, “Where are we going?”
“Some place we can talk without being interrupted.”
He turned off at the first dirt road to the Stultz place and then took the left fork just past their big white barn. The little-used road wound around the side of a hill and came out into a small meadow. A white-tailed doe grazing near the trees along the creek threw up her head and then bounded away in alarm.
Adrian drew his horse to a stop. “Will it bother you to walk a little way?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“It isn’t far.” He got out and helped her down. As his strong hands grasped her waist, she realized she didn’t fear his touch. It didn’t matter how strong Adrian was. He was always gentle.
Together, they walked side by side into the forest and down a faint path. She could hear the sound of the water splashing over rocks. The smell of damp earth and leaves mingled with the scent of pine needles crushed underfoot. A few yards later, they came to the remnants of an old stone bridge, an arch broken in the middle and covered by leafy vines. Just below it, a wide flat slab of stone jutted out over the creek. A single boulder made a perfect seat in the center of it.
“How pretty it is in here.” Faith sat on the moss-covered stone. The coolness of the forest and the rushing water brought a welcome relief from the summer heat and the heat in her cheeks.
Adrian took a seat beside her. “This was one of my wife’s favorite places.”
There it was, the reminder that he still loved his wife. Faith’s heart sank. She looked down at her hands clasped together in her lap. How foolish she’d been to think there could be something between them. “I can see why she liked it.”
Adrian said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t bring you here to talk about Lovina.”
“I understand if you feel the need to talk about her. You must miss her very much.” If nothing else, Faith could lend a sympathetic ear. If that eased his pain even a little, then she would be glad.
“I did miss her deeply for a very long time, but lately I haven’t been thinking about her as much.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’ve been thinking about you.”
Faith raised her face to look at him. “Me?”
“You have no idea what kind of effect you have on me, do you? You and your creatures upset my solitude, played havoc with my work, forced me to take a look at the way I…wasn’t living. Until you came, I was only biding my time until I died, and I didn’t even know it.”
“I’m sorry.” She didn’t understand what he was trying to say.
He smiled at her. “Don’t be sorry. Don’t ever be sorry, Faith Martin.”
He reached out and cupped her face in his hands. “You and Kyle have brought joy to me when I never expected to have it again. I will never be able to thank God enough for bringing you here.”
Before she could say anything, he bent his head and kissed her.
Startled, Faith pulled away. Adrian’s hands still cupped her face. He stared into her eyes, waiting.
Waiting for her to say yes or no.
Oh, she wanted to say yes. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Softly, his mouth covered hers again.
The sound of the rushing water faded away as Faith tentatively explored the texture of his lips against hers. Firm but gentle, warm and tender, his touch stirred her soul and sent the blood rushing through her veins. She had never been kissed like this. She didn’t know it was possible for her heart to expand with such love and not burst.
When Adrian drew away, she kept her eyes closed, afraid she would see disappointment or regret on his face.
“Faith, look at me,” he said softly.
“Nee.”
“Why not?”
Old insecurities came rushing back to choke down her happiness. “You will say you’re sorry. That this was a mistake.”
“It was not a mistake. I will kiss you again if you need me to prove it.”
Her eyes popped open. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
He sat back. “I’m rushing you. That wasn’t what I had in mind when I brought you here.”
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To tell you that I care about you and about Kyle. To discover if you care about me. I know this is too soon, we’ve only known each other a short time. I know you have much on your mind and you are worried about Kyle’s adoption, I know you have said you’d never marry again, but—is there a chance you could look with favor on me and allow me to court you?”
“Adrian, I don’t know what to say.”
“If you’d but nod, I’d take that as a goot sign.”
She smiled at his teasing, even though she saw the seriousness in his eyes. How was it possible to feel so happy? “Ja, Adrian Lapp, you may court me, but I warn you, I’m no prize.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
The word “judge” brought her back to earth with a thump. Would the adoption proceeding be put on hold if Miss Watkins or the agency learned of this? Would Adrian be subjected to the same scrutiny she had endured? It could take months. Now that the hearing was finally drawing near, she couldn’t face another delay.
“Adrian, this must remain just between us until after Kyle’s adoption is final.”
“Why? Surely it could not hurt your case for the Englisch to know I stand ready to serve as Kyle’s father.”
She grasped his arm. “Perhaps not, but I can’t take that chance. We must be friends until then and nothing more.”
He covered her hand with his large warm one. “I will always be your friend. Do not look so worried, Faith. It is all in God’s hands.”
He was right. She relaxed and nodded. “I have faith in His grace. It will be fine.”
Faith tried to retain her positive attitude as the week slowly rolled by. Miss Watkins’ coming visit would be the last one before the official adoption hearing. Her recommendations would weigh heavily with the judge.
After supper on Thursday evening, Faith cleared the table and then sat down beside Kyle. He was coloring a page for his homework assignment. She said, “I have something important to talk about.”
“What is it?” He exchanged a red crayon for a green one and began to work on the grass in his picture.
“Miss Watkins is coming tomorrow.”
His small browed furrowed. “Why does she keep coming back?”
“Because she wants to make sure you have a safe place to live.”
“I want to live here.”
She planted a kiss on his brow. “I want you to live here, too. I love you.”
He kept his mouth closed. He wasn’t ready to say those words to her. Would he ever be? She went on as if nothing were wrong. “I want you to promise me that you’ll stay close to the house tomorrow while Miss Watkins is here.”
“Why?”
“We don’t want her to think you don’t like it here. That you’d rather live someplace else, do we?”
Confusion deepened his scowl. “I don’t like it here a whole bunch.”
Faith drew back in surprise. “You don’t? I thought you were happy here. Is it school? Do you dislike your teacher, or is someone bullying you there?”
“School is okay. I don’t want to talk about it.” He gathered his paper and crayons and ran out of the room.
Faith stared after him in shock. Was she doing the wrong thing trying to raise him as Amish? Would he be happier in a home with Englisch parents? What should she do?
If only Adrian were here. She looked out the window toward his farm. What advice would he give? She hadn’t seen him since he’d asked permission to court her. She wanted to believe it was God’s plan for them to have a future together, but she was afraid to hope for such happiness.
It seemed as if she’d spent her entire life being afraid.
That night she went to bed but sleep proved elusive. She tossed and turned beneath the covers and prayed that she was doing the right thing.
When the morning finally came, she made breakfast and went out to do the chores. When she called Kyle down, her heart ached for him. His eyes were puffy, and he looked as if he hadn’t slept any better than she had.
“Kyle, we should talk about what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing’s bothering me. Can I have jelly on my toast?”
She set a jar of peach preserves on the table and waited until he helped himself. “Kyle, do you want to live somewhere else?”
He put down his toast without tasting it. “No.”
“If you do, that’s okay.”
“Where else could I go?”
“I’m not sure, but there are a lot of people who would love to have a little boy like you.”
“No, I can’t go anywhere else. I have to stay and take care of Shadow. Shadow needs me. I’m his friend.”
“All right. It’s time to get ready for school. You’d better hurry. You don’t want to be late.”
She walked Kyle to the end of the lane and waited with him until the Imhoff children arrived. Faith bit her lip as she watched them walk down the road toward the school swinging their lunch coolers alongside.
When they were out of sight, she glanced toward Adrian’s farm. She wanted to talk to him, to share her burden and her fears. Biting her thumbnail, she waged an internal war. Tell him or don’t tell him? Before she could decide, she caught a glimpse of him driving his grain binder into the cornfield.
He had more than enough work to do. She didn’t need to add to his troubles.
She opened her heart and began to pray. “Dear Lord, please let the social worker’s visit go well. Let Kyle come to love me as I love him and to be content here among Your people. Give me the strength and wisdom to guide him throughout his life.”
A car whizzed by, bringing her attention back to the present. She turned and walked toward the house. There was plenty of spinning to keep her busy until Kyle came home again. Praying while she was spinning was easy, too, and she had a lot of praying to do.
It was a few minutes before four o’clock when Miss Watkins arrived for her last visit. Faith put her spinning away and went out to greet her. After exchanging pleasantries, Miss Watkins got down to business. “Have you had a chance to make out a chore list for Kyle?”
“I have.” Faith produced the paper hoping she had done as Miss Watkins wanted.
After reading it, the social worker looked at Faith. “Is he to clean stalls every day?”
“It is a chore most Amish children take care of at his age without a problem. I’ve limited it to just Myrtle’s stall. Shadow is his animal, and he must take care of her.”
“All right. That’s a valid point.” She reviewed the rest of Faith’s paper and said, “It seems like a lot of work for one boy.”
“There is much work to be done around here and I can’t do it all.”
Caroline glanced at her watch. “I thought you said he normally gets home from school at four o’clock. It’s four-fifteen.”
Faith rose to look out the window. The lane was empty. “He should be here any minute.”
“I’m concerned that he doesn’t have enough supervision on his way to and from school.”
“Amish children walk to school. He doesn’t walk alone. The Imhoff children walk with him.”
The two women sat together in silence until another fifteen minutes had passed. Faith rose to her feet again as worry gnawed at her insides. She opened the door and walked out onto the porch. Had Kyle gone to Adrian’s instead of coming home?
A splotch of red by the barn caught her eye. Kyle’s lunch pail sat beside the barn door. She turned to Miss Watkins. “He’s here. That’s his lunch cooler by the barn door. He must have gone to do his chores first.”
Faith walked down the steps and crossed the yard with Miss Watkins right behind her. As soon as Faith opened the door, she knew something was wrong. Myrtle was calling frantically for her baby as she rushed from one side of the stall to the other. Shadow was gone.
“Oh, Kyle. What have you done now?”
Miss Watkins came up behind Faith. “What’s wrong?”
“Kyle has taken Shadow. I need to find Adrian.”
Faith rushed out the back door of the barn and through the orchard to the cornfield where Adrian was working. His horses plodded along with their heads down as they pulled the large grain binder. The noise of the gasoline engine running the belt almost drowned out the clatter of the mower head as it sheered off cornstalks as thick as her wrist with ease.
He was headed toward her, but he didn’t see her. His attention was focused on the binder as it dumped out bundles of cornstalks and on keeping his horses traveling in a straight line. Faith hurried toward him knowing he would help her find Kyle.
She stumbled several times as she crossed the rough ground. Where could Kyle have gone? Why had he run away again?
She was within fifty yards of Adrian when movement in the cornfield caught her eye. She crouched down to see better between the stalks. Was that Kyle hiding in the corn?
A scream erupted from Faith as she realized the danger Kyle was in. Adrian didn’t see him. The deadly blades of the binder would cut through a boy as easily as it did the tough corn.
She began to run, screaming at the top of her lungs to get Adrian’s attention. Screaming at Kyle to get out of the way. She had to reach him. She tried to run faster, but her weak leg gave out and she fell.
Lying in the dirt, she screamed Kyle’s name as tears blurred her vision.
Please, God, let them hear me. Please save my child!