Amish Dreams (Amish Romance) Read online

  “Gut night, my dochder,” Peter said with a smile.

  Ruth bid her father good night before taking her tea out to the porch. It was cool outside, a crisp chill in the air. As she took a seat on the rocker, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was pushing too hard. Was her father ready to start over after leaving everything behind? Was he ready to build a new business? Concern etched her eyes at the thought, the last thing she wanted was to push him over the edge, but she couldn’t sit by and watch him wasting his days away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Still Grieving

  A few days later Noah was in the barn with his father. The new calves needed to be checked on and the cows had to be milked. Noah always enjoyed spending this time with his father. It was lovely to see his father work with the cows, whispering and cooing to them as if they were kinners. Congratulating them on the milk they supplied and rewarding them by setting them out to pasture afterwards.

  How many times had Noah not wished that he had the same love for the dairy farm as his father did? How many times had he wished that his love for wood would vanish, that the possibilities that a piece of lumber held would disappear from his mind?

  He cleaned out the horse stables and laid fresh bedding before he tended to their food and water. It was bound to be a long day with new cows arriving from yesterday’s auction. Once a year his father would sell the older cows and buy in heifers. Although it was necessary, Noah often felt sad when this happened. He knew it was a business decision, but he was still sad to see their cows loaded up for the slaughterhouse.

  Ever since the barbeque on Saturday he tried his best not to think of Ruth Yoder. He tried his best to push all thoughts of her from his mind, but it was harder than he imagined. Her bright blue eyes haunted him at night, the soft cadence of her voice kept filtering into his mind.

  How was he going to forget about the beautiful woman who lived next door? How was he going to push the sadness he had seen in her eyes aside whenever her husband spoke about his belated wife? He wished things were different, but he knew it was none of his business.

  Noticing he was in a little world of his own, his father placed a hand on his shoulder, “Something bothering you today, seeh?”

  Noah shook his head. “Nee, just a lot on my mind. How are those calves doing, drinking enough?”

  “They’re sturdy as their Mamms. And thirsty,” his father laughed, shaking his head as he ushered another cow in for milking. Some dairy farmers had taken to mechanical milking techniques, but Noah’s father refused. He said once you let a machine do the work, you start overlooking problems with your milk cows. The best approach was hands on. Noah couldn’t argue, his father’s cattle were all in great condition.

  “I’m going to empty the wheelbarrow.” Noah hoisted the wheelbarrow and headed out the barn. They had dug a hole behind the barn for just that purpose and used the same heap after a few months for fertilizer in the small acre they used to farm hay. Just as he rounded the barn he noticed Ruth Yoder climb into her buggy. Even dressed in her plain clothes, with her kapp hiding most of her face, just the sight of her made Noah’s heart skip a beat.

  He sighed, shaking his head as he continued on his mission. He knew she worked at the Amish gift shop in town and wondered if she enjoyed it. She was such a vibrant young woman, surely she enjoyed interacting with people for most of the day?

  Perhaps after the commotion of the day was behind him he could find an excuse to go into town to see her. Just stop by and incidentally bump into her. As soon as the thought occurred to him, Noah shoved it aside.

  He stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes. “Gott, please help me. Take away this interest and make me blind to her beauty.”

  Noah sighed and continued with his chores even though Ruth still lingered in the back of his mind. He met his father in the kitchen for breakfast a few hours later and noticed his father’s frown.

  Noah took a seat and served himself a plate of bacon, biscuits and pancakes before adding a generous dollop of honey. The kaffe was strong and sweet just the way he preferred it, he thought as he made quick work of the hearty breakfast. When he was finished, he noticed his father watching him curiously. “Daed? Something wrong?”

  His father shook his head before letting out a sigh. “Ach, nothing’s wrong. More like something’s on my mind.”

  “Would you like to talk about it?” Noah asked, pushing his plate away.

  “I’m going to hang these on the line,” his mother moved through the kitchen carrying a basket of laundry before she disappeared out the back door.

  “I don’t want to talk about this in front of your mother, but I need to know what your plans are, Noah. Sometimes it feels to me like you enjoy the dairy farm and other times it’s like you can’t wait to get away. Do you have other plans for your life?”

  Noah’s heart skipped a beat. He knew now would be the time to tell his father how he felt. How he didn’t want to become the person his familye expected him to be. For a moment he even considered fetching the small horse he had carved out of wood to explain to his father how he felt. But his courage left him at the last minute.

  “What would give you such an idea?” Noah asked, forcing a smile.

  “I’ve never asked you. I realized that a few days ago. All these years your mother and I just accepted that you would take over the dairy farm one day like I did, my father did, and his father did. I never bothered to ask if you wanted to do something different with your life.” The honesty and consideration was so sudden, so unexpected that Noah found himself at a loss for words.

  “What do you want, Noah?” His father leaned closer, his eyes the same hazel as Noah’s, waiting for an answer.

  “Daed… I’m not going anywhere,” Noah finally said. It wasn’t the truth but nor was it a lie. For the moment he had no plans of leaving and he hadn’t really committed to taking over the dairy.

  His father nodded, satisfied with his answer. “I understand you can’t speak for the long term, after all we don’t know who you’ll wed one day.”

  Noah forced a terse laugh and hoped his father couldn’t see through it. If his father knew about his interest in their new neighbor’s wife, he would be disappointed. He hadn’t raised Noah to envy another mann, but Noah couldn’t seem to help himself.

  Maybe if Ruth hadn’t looked so sad, he wouldn’t have felt as he did, but she did. Every time he saw her she seemed so lonely, so sad. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe, even if he knew it wasn’t his responsibility.

  He couldn’t understand how a nice mann like Noah could marry Ruth, young enough to be his dochder, while still grieving his wife.

  Noah pushed the thought aside and continued with his chores. Another mann’s life was a closed book and it wasn’t his place to want to read between the covers. Perhaps Ruth needed a husband, perhaps there were circumstances that forced them to move to Lancaster County. Even as the thoughts started to form in his mind, Noah knew it was wrong. His imagination was running away with him and for all he knew, Ruth and Peter were very much in love.

  Noah doubted that was the case, though.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A Song in her Heart

  Everything was falling into place for Ruth. The trees were losing their leaves of burnished gold and the mornings were chillier than when they arrived a few weeks ago, and the crisp chill in the air reminded Ruth of the fresh start they were after.

  Jennifer was a perfect employer and Ruth loved working at the gift shop. She enjoyed telling Englischers about the Amish pieces and the stories behind them, and to her surprise Jennifer had given her a small increase in wages after just two weeks because sales had increased with her presence in the store.

  Jamie Potts, who she had met at her uncle’s barbeque, had come in a few days before with her adorable boppli and invited Ruth to visit. So after work, Ruth did just that.

  After handing the baby to Ruth to hold, she made them tea and they headed to the living room. T
he boppli was placed in the rocker and Jamie turned to Ruth with a big smile. “To be honest, I’m glad you moved here. We joined the community almost two years ago but it’s hard making friends, especially since we weren’t born Amish.”

  Ruth glanced around the small house and noticed nothing that would give her any indication that Jamie was an Englischer only a few years before. “It doesn’t look like you were Englischers. Was it hard for you to adapt?”

  Jamie laughed, shaking her head, “You would expect that it was, wouldn’t you? But nee. I’ve been fascinated with all things Amish since I was small. I was raised in Harrisburg and on weekends we would drive through Lancaster to visit my uncle. I always wished I could be one of the happy kinners dressed in plain clothes. My husband and I were married for about a year when I told him of my yearning to learn more about the Amish. To my surprise he had always felt the same. We weighed up the pros and cons of raising a child Englisch or Amish and decided we wanted a plain life. Our proving period lasted six months and it was easier than we expected.”

  “You decided to stay?” Ruth asked with a smile.

  “Jah. After six months we both knew this was what we wanted for our future.”

  “It’s a gut life,” Ruth agreed, sipping on her sweet tea.

  “Jah. It is. I can’t even imagine being Englisch again. How about you? Why did you move from Ohio?” Jamie sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. My husband says I’m too curious.”

  “Don’t worry; I’m curious as well by nature. My mamm passed last year,” Ruth paused a moment to compose herself. “Daed and I had no familye left in Ohio and we both thought a fresh start would do us good. Eli Yoder is my uncle.”

  “Ach, that’s wunderbaar. Well, I for one am glad you came.”

  They chatted for a while longer about the winter that was on its way, about the boppli and other trivial matters before Ruth realized the time. She greeted her new friend, promising to visit again soon, and then she headed home.

  After searching through the haus and not finding her father, Ruth headed out back. She heard his voice inside the work shed. Quietly, she approached. He had cleaned out the entire shed and had set up his working easels and his carpentry tools. As he worked, he sang his favorite hymn from the ausband. A smile spread across Ruth’s face, things were truly falling into place.

  “Hullo, Daed. I see you’ve been busy?” Ruth asked stepping inside.

  Her father turned to her, surprised, “Jah. I think you’re right, if I don’t at least try I’ll never know if it will work. I’m going to make a few pieces and we’ll see if they sell at the shop where you work; then we can work from there.”

  Ruth laughed, elated at the thought. “That’s wunderbaar, Daed.”

  “I hope so, because you’ll be taking care of your old mann until I start earning money.” He laughed, but Ruth could see the worry in his eyes.

  She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around her father. He smelled like sawdust and hard work, “I’ll be honored to take care of you. I’ll start right now and get supper on.”

  “I won’t be much longer,” her father promised, but Ruth knew once he started she would struggle to get him out of the shed.

  “Take your time.” Ruth headed into the kitchen and began on dinner when she realized they were out of milk. In her rush to visit with Jamie, she had completely forgotten to stop by the general store for a pint of milk. She glanced at the Fischer farm through the window and wondered if she had the courage to go over to buy milk.

  After a moment’s consideration, she knew she didn’t really have a choice. They would need milk later this evening and for breakfast. She collected a container and made her way through the small field that separated their homes.

  There was a light on in the barn and instead of going to the haus, Ruth decided to head to the barn which was after all where the milk would be.

  She stepped into the barn, the scent of cows, hay and farm lingered in the air as she saw Noah transferring the milk from buckets into bottles.

  His shoulders were broad, his brown hair slightly ruffled, and that familiar tickle in her tummy made Ruth catch her breath.

  Noah turned around and their eyes met. Neither said a word for a brief moment. In that moment Ruth realized that the tickle in her tummy, the flutter, the rapid beat of her heart all indicated one thing. She was attracted to Noah Fischer.

  “Hullo, Noah,” Ruth said feeling suddenly shy.

  “Ruth, what a gut surprise. How are you?” Noah said, wiping his hands on the seat of his pants before taking a step towards her.

  “I’m gut, denke,” Ruth said, noticing his eyes were more a light hazel than the usual dark brown. Intrigued, she looked a little deeper into his eyes and felt her heart skip a beat.

  Noah pointed to the bottle in her hand with a crooked smile, “Need some milk?”

  Ruth laughed. She had been so intrigued by her confusing emotions that she had forgotten her reason for being there. “Jah. If you have, we’ve run out.”

  Noah smiled taking the bottle from her. “It’s a dairy farm, we always have milk. One pint or two?”

  “Just one.” Ruth felt flustered by Noah’s smile as she handed him the bottle.

  She watched as he carefully filled it, reaching into her pocket for the money when Noah held his hand up. “This one’s free.” He offered her the bottle. It was still slightly warm, freshly milked.

  “Denke,” Ruth smiled and knew she was supposed to turn around and leave but she couldn’t seem to move. “How have you been?”

  “I’ve been gut. Been busy around here with a few new calves.”

  “Can I see?” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth at the thought of the calves.

  “Sure, follow me.” Noah led her to a stable housing three calves. “They’re quite tame.”

  Ruth laughed as he reached for a calf, which immediately began suckling her fingers, “That’s disgusting and cute at the same time.”

  Noah laughed. “Jah, they tend to do that.”

  She allowed the calf to suckle for a few seconds more before retracting her hand. Noah brandished a cloth and took her hand gently. “Here, let me clean that for you.”

  He touched her arm lightly as he cleaned her hand. Even though the touch was light, it did send warm tingles up her arm.

  “How’s Peter?” Noah asked suddenly.

  “Gut. He decided to start up his carpentry business again. He cleared out the shed today and set up his tools.” The words tumbled from her mouth, a welcome distraction from his touch.

  Noah smiled as he stepped back, “That’s wunderbaar. I’m sure the community will be grateful to have a new carpenter in town.”

  “I hope so. To start off he’s going to make a few pieces to display in the gift shop.”

  “That’s a gut idea. Is he excited?”

  “Very much, we both are,” Ruth added for good measure.

  “I’m glad you’re settling in,” Noah smiled, and Ruth felt her tummy tie into a knot again.

  “I’d best get going,” Ruth stepped back, realizing she needed to get away to compose herself.

  “Of course. Just come over if you need milk again.”

  “I will, denke,” Ruth smiled before turning and heading out the barn.

  Walking home, she couldn’t help but wonder if Noah would ask her for a buggy ride if she attended Sunday singing in a couple of weeks. He was a very attractive young mann, kind too. With a song in her heart and a skip in her step, Ruth headed home, her thoughts filled with Noah.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  High Spirits

  Noah couldn’t help but be in a gut mood after Ruth left the barn. She was such a nice young girl, he couldn’t help but like her. When the calf had suckled her fingers, he had been sure she would grimace. Instead, she had allowed it to suckle for a few moments more before pulling away.

  After decanting the milk into bottles for tomorrow’s collections, he made sure everything was set for the night before turnin
g out the lamp inside the barn. Just as he pulled the barn door closed, he heard a scream coming from the direction of the Yoder haus.

  He didn’t even think, he just started running. By the time he reached the edge of their property his chest was burning, his legs aching from the sudden exertion. He followed the sound of Ruth’s voice to the shed where she was holding Peter’s hand, concern shining in her eyes.

  “Noah, gut of you to come,” Peter said with a forced smile as soon as he saw Noah.

  “What’s wrong? I heard a scream?” Noah glanced from Peter to Ruth and noticed the blood on her hands. He stepped forward, concerned, “Ruth, you’re bleeding?”

  “Nee, it’s not me; it’s his hand. He cut it badly,” Ruth opened the white rag she had folded over Peter’s hand to reveal a nasty wound. Concern etched her eyes as she carefully closed the wound again.

  For a moment Peter wished that she cared that much for him. That she would be so concerned for him. What would it be like to have a woman like Ruth care for you, love you with all her heart? He pushed the wayward thoughts aside, clearing his throat. “Do you need to go to hospital?”

  “Nee,” Peter argued immediately. “We just need to clean it and bandage it.” Peter started to stand, but quickly sank back in the chair. “Feeling a little dizzy.”

  “Ach nee. It must be the shock. Noah, can you help me get him back into the haus?” Ruth asked, her eyes wide with worry.

  “Of course,” Noah moved towards the older mann and slipped an arm underneath his before helping him up. It went slow, slower than Noah had imagined. Ruth held Peter’s hand all the way, securing the white rag over the wound, Noah helping to bear his weight.

  When they finally arrived in the kitchen, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Noah helped Peter into a chair and Ruth carefully laid his hand on the table. “Let me boil some water and get some disinfectant. Noah, will you stay with him?” Ruth asked, waiting for his nod before disappearing down the hallway.

  “Stupid mistake. I should have known that blade could still cut even though it’s too blunt to cut through wood.”