Plain and Fancy (6 page)

“Sure, okay.” Darla stood and started for the door. “Oh, I almost forgot—you had a phone call while you were out exploring Amish land.”

“Who was it?”

“Mrs. Evans took the call, and she just told me it was some guy asking for you.”

“Hmm ... maybe it was Dad. But then why wouldn’t he have called on my cell phone?”

“I really couldn’t say, but I think Mrs. Evans left a note in your mailbox.”

“I’ll go check.” As soon as Darla disappeared into her own room, Laura ran down the steps and found the note in her mailbox. It read:

A man named Dean Carlson called around two o’clock.
He said he had tried to call your cell phone several times and only got your voice mail. He wants you to call him as soon as possible.

Laura sucked in her breath.
Is Dean really missing me, or is he just checking up on me? Should I call him first thing in the morning or make him wait a few days?

“You ought to keep your cell phone charged and check your voice mail once in a while, Laura. I tried for two days to get you and finally had to call your school and leave a message.”

Laura held the cell phone away from her ear and grimaced. She knew she had made a mistake calling Dean so early in the morning. She should have remembered he was a bear before his third cup of coffee. “Well, you’ve got me on the phone now, so you don’t have to make such a big deal of it.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“What did you want, Dean?” she asked, tapping her foot impatiently.

“I thought that I’d come to Lancaster to see you next weekend.”

“What?” Laura’s mouth went dry. “Coming here is not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I’m busy, that’s why.”

“But I miss you, Laura, and I—”

Laura lifted her gaze to the ceiling. She and Dean had only begun dating a few months before she’d left Minneapolis to come here, but he acted like they were practically engaged. “It’s not that I don’t want you to come. It’s just that—well, I’ll be coming home for Christmas soon, and—”

“Christmas? That’s three months away!”

Laura could almost see Dean’s furrowed brows and the defiant lift of his chin. He was a handsome man with jet black hair that curled around his ears, and eyes as blue as a summer sky, but he was way too possessive. “It would be nice to see you, Dean, but I always have a lot of homework to do on the weekends.”

“Were you studying when I phoned yesterday?”

Laura knew she couldn’t tell Dean about her Saturday date with Eli Yoder, but she didn’t want to lie to him, either. “I went to the farmers’ market.”

“What’s that got to do with homework?”

“I was researching the Amish culture.”

“Sounds real interesting.” Dean’s tone was sarcastic, and it irritated her.

“Actually, it’s very interesting. I’ve been studying their quilts and getting some ideas for my next design project.”
I’ve been studying a fascinating Amish man, too.

Dean cleared his throat. “How about next weekend? Can I come or not?”

Laura chewed on her lower lip. She liked Dean ... or at least she had when they were seeing each other socially. So why was she giving him the runaround now? It took only a few seconds for her to realize the answer. She was infatuated with Eli and wanted to spend her free time with him. Dean would only be a distraction, and if Eli found out about her English boyfriend, it might spoil her chances with him.

“Laura, are you still there?”

Dean’s deep voice drew Laura back to their conversation, and she sighed. “Yes, I’m here.”

“What’s it going to be?”

“I’d rather you didn’t come.”

“Is that your final word?”

“Yes, but as I said before, I’ll be home for Christmas, so I’m sure we’ll see each other then.”

Dean grunted and hung up the phone without even saying good-bye. Laura breathed a sigh of relief.

Over the next several weeks, Eli saw Laura as often as possible. In fact, he could hardly get her out of his thoughts. The vision of her beautiful face, smooth as peaches and cream, inched its way into his mind on more than one occasion. When he’d told his folks he was still seeing Laura, the news hadn’t gone over so well, especially with Mom.

“She’ll try to change you,” she admonished one Saturday as Eli hitched the buggy for another trip to meet Laura. “Why, the first thing you know, that woman will be asking you to leave the faith.”

“
Ach,
Mom, you worry too much. No one could ever talk me into something I don’t want to do.”

His mother pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Love does strange things to people.”

Eli’s eyebrows shot up. “Love? Who said anything about love? Laura and I are just friends.”

Mom gave him a knowing look. “I’ve seen the face of love before. Every time you come home after being with that fancy woman, I can see the look of love written all over your face, and it scares me, son.”

Eli’s face heated up. He would never admit it, especially not to Mom, but he was beginning to wonder if his fascination with Laura might be more than curiosity or friendship. What if he were actually falling in love with her? If she felt the same way about him, would she expect him to leave the faith? Since he hadn’t yet been baptized or joined the church, the decision to stay or leave was still his to make. However, there were too many things about his way of life that he would miss if he left home and became English. Besides, there were too many things in the modern world that he didn’t particularly care for.

“You have no call to be worried or scared,” he said, giving her arm a quick pat. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“I hope so.”

Eli climbed into the buggy and gathered up the reins. “See you later, Mom.”

“Say, Eli ... I was wondering if you could do me a favor.” “What’s that?”

“Selma Hostetler has been laid up with a bad back for the last couple of days.”

“Sorry to hear that. Nobody likes back pain.”

Mom nodded. “I baked some zucchini-banana bread yesterday, and I thought maybe you could drop a loaf by to her. It might help cheer her some.”

“Can’t Lewis or Jonas do it? I don’t want to be late meeting Laura.”

Mom’s eyebrows drew together. “They’re both out in the fields with your daed, which is where you really ought to be, don’t you think?”

Eli shook his head. “This is my day off from work, and even though I sometimes help Pop on my day off, he said he didn’t need me this morning.”

“I see. Well, can you drop off the bread to Selma then?”

“Jah, I suppose, but—”

“I’ll go get it now.” Mom rushed off before Eli had a chance to say anything more.

A few minutes later, she was back wearing a smile that stretched ear to ear. She handed him the bread, which she had enclosed in some plastic wrap. “Danki, son.”

“You’re welcome.”

As Eli clucked to the horse, his mother waved and called, “Don’t be too late for supper tonight. And remember that I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

When Pauline heard a horse and buggy pull into the yard, she hurried to the back door, not wanting her mother to be disturbed. Mom had taken some aspirin for the pain in her back and had returned to her bed soon after breakfast was over.

When Pauline saw Eli step down from one of their closed-in buggies, her heart skipped a beat. Had he come to see her—maybe invite her to go someplace with him today? She waited on the porch with sweaty palms and shaky legs as he headed to the house. When he reached the porch, he stopped and held out a loaf of bread.

“Mom asked me to deliver this to your mamm. I hear her back’s been acting up.”

Pauline nodded as a sense of disappointment flooded her soul. She took the bread and mumbled, “Danki. That was thoughtful of your mamm.”

Eli shuffled his feet a few times as he stared at the ground. “Well, I—”

“Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?” She motioned to the door. “I just made a fresh pot, and it might help take the chill out of your bones on this frosty morning.”

“I ... uh ... appreciate the offer, but I can’t stay.”

“Are you working today?”

“No, it’s my day off.”

“Then surely you have time for a quick cup of coffee.”

He shook his head. “I’m meeting a friend in Paradise, and I’m already late, so I’d better go.”

Pauline clenched her teeth.
I’ll bet it’s that fancy English woman Eli’s meeting. Should I come right out and ask?
She was about to, when Eli turned toward his buggy and started walking away.

“See you at church tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder. “Jah, see you then,” she muttered as she went back into the house.
Will I ever get through to Eli? Will he ever see me as anything more than a friend?

“I’m sorry I was late picking you up,” Eli said as he helped Laura into his buggy. “I had to make a delivery for my mamm.”

“That’s okay. You’re here now, and that’s all that counts.” Laura drew in a deep breath. “It feels and smells like winter is coming, doesn’t it?”

Eli nodded. “It’s a lot warmer inside my daed’s closed-in carriage, but I sure do miss my courting buggy.”

“Don’t you use it in the winter months at all?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes on the milder days, but it’s much nicer inside this buggy today, don’t you think?”

“Jah.” She giggled and flipped the end of her ponytail.

Eli grinned. “You look real schee today.”

“Nice. You said I look nice today, right?”

He nodded. “You’re catching on fast to the Deitsch.”

Laura’s heart fluttered. “Thanks for the compliment.”

Eli only nodded again and made the horse go a bit faster.

“Where are you taking me today?” Laura asked.

“I thought you might like to see one of our schoolhouses.” “Schoolhouses? You have school on Saturdays?”

He chuckled. “No, but Saturday’s the best day for a tour of the schoolhouse. There won’t be any kinner about, and no teacher wearing a stern look or carrying a hickory switch.”

“Eli Yoder, you’re such a tease.” Laura reached across the short span between them and touched his arm. “Maybe that’s why I like you so well.”

“Because I like to kid around?”

“Yes. I find your humor and wholesome view on life rather refreshing. It’s like a breeze on a sweltering summer day.”

Eli scrunched up his nose. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been compared to a breeze before.”

She withdrew her hand and leaned back. “I’ve learned a lot from you.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“It’s good, of course.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I could teach you a lot about English ways, if you’d let me. We could take in a movie sometime, or—”

Eli held up his hand. “No, thanks. I think I know more than enough about the fancy life.”

“How can you say that? Have you ever given yourself a chance to find out what the modern world really has to offer?”

“I’m not blind, Laura,” he muttered. “I see what’s out there in the world, and even though I haven’t felt ready to join the church, I’m not all that interested in electrical gadgets, fancy clothes, or thinkin’ I don’t need God.”

Laura’s mouth dropped open. “Who said anything about not needing God?”

“I’m sure lots of English folks do love God,” Eli said. “But I’ve seen many people who seem too self-centered to give Him anything more than a few thoughts, and then it’s only when they’re in need of something.”

“Where did you hear that?” she asked, her voice edged with irritation. Was this going to turn into a full-fledged disagreement? If so, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea to give her opinion. After all, she was trying to appease, not aggravate, Eli.

He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter where I got the notion. The important thing is, I’m happy to be a child of God, and I don’t need any worldly things to make me complete.”

“My father says religion is a crutch for weak men, and I’m inclined to believe him.” The words were out before Laura had time to think, and she could have bitten her tongue when she saw the look of irritation on Eli’s face.

Eli pulled sharply on the reins and eased the horse and buggy to the shoulder of the road. “Are you saying I’m a weak man, Laura?”

She turned to face him. “No, of course not. I just meant—”

“Maybe we’ve come too far,” Eli said, his forehead wrinkling.

“Too far? You mean we missed the schoolhouse?”

He shook his head. “Too far with this friendship we probably shouldn’t be trying to build.”

Laura’s heart began to pound, and her throat felt like she’d eaten a bunch of hot peppers. If Eli broke things off now, there would be no chance for them. She couldn’t let that happen. She would not allow him to stay angry with her for something so ridiculous as a difference of opinion on religious matters.

She touched his arm and was glad when he didn’t pull away. “Eli, I respect your religious beliefs, but can’t we just agree to disagree on some things?”

“It’s kind of hard to have a friendship with someone when we keep arguing.”

She nodded. “I know, so let’s not argue anymore. In fact, if it would make you feel better, I’ll just sit here and listen to you narrate. How’s that sound?”

He reached for the reins and gave her a sidelong glance. “You’re a hard one to say no to, you know that?”

Laura smiled. “That’s what my father says, too.”

“Your wife called five times while you were in court today and left messages for you to call her back as soon as you could,” Wesley’s secretary told him when he entered the reception area of his office.

“Did she say what she wanted?”

“No, just that it was important and she wanted you to call as soon as you could.”

“I can imagine how important it was,” he grumbled as he headed to his office. “Probably some major crisis over a broken fingernail.”

Wesley had no more than taken a seat behind his desk, when his phone rang. He picked it up on the second ring, recognizing the caller ID. “Hello, Irene. I heard you called a few times while I was in court.”

“Yes, I did, and I’m very upset.”

His gaze went to the ceiling. Irene was always upset about something it seemed. “What’s the problem?”

“It’s Laura. I got an e-mail from her today, and she’s in real trouble.”

Wesley’s heart began to race. “Is she sick? Has she been hurt?”

“No, no. She’s all right physically, but I think she’s taken leave of her senses.”

He shifted the receiver to his other ear. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Our daughter’s been seeing some Amish man. She’s gone out with him several times, and—”

“Whoa! Hold on a minute, and calm down. You’re not making any sense.”

“Laura’s e-mail said she’s involved with an Amish man named Eli. I think his last name is Yoder, or something like that. She said they’ve gone on a couple of picnics, to the farmers’ market, and for rides in his buggy.” After a brief pause, Irene released a shuddering sob. “We’ve got to put a stop to this right away, Wesley. Can you fly out to Pennsylvania and speak to her about this?”

“Me? Why can’t you go? I’m tied up in court for at least another week, and then I’ve got—”

“I can’t go, either. I’m involved with that benefit dinner I’m helping plan for the historical society, and then there’s the country club luncheon I’m in charge of.”

“So you’re not that worried about Laura, are you?”

“Of course I am.”

“Well, you needn’t be. Our daughter is old enough to make her own choices about whom she sees and when. I think if we try to interfere, it will only make things worse.” Wesley reached for the cup of coffee his secretary had just placed on his desk and took a drink. “Besides, Laura will be home for Christmas in a few weeks. I’ll talk to her about this Amish fellow then, and if I think she’s in over her head, I’ll try to dissuade her.”

“All right. I guess that would be best. Oh, I’ve got a call on the other line. I’ll see you when you get home.” Irene clicked off without saying good-bye.

Wesley shook his head. “Like mother, like daughter.”