Her Amish Christmas Gift

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She was conscious of him working beside her, the way his big hands handled the bowl carefully as he ran the towel over its surface. As he dried each one, Nate stacked them on the countertop near the cabinet where they’d be put away.

She needed to leave, she thought. Being this close to Nate made her uneasy.

“Now that you’re here, I’ll leave once I’m done here.”

She felt him tense up. “Will you come back tomorrow?”

“You want me to?” she asked with surprise.

“I need someone to stay with Jacob,” he said without warmth. “Tomorrow I’ll be working with Jed.”

Charlie closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, it was to find Nate staring at her strangely with dish in hand. “I’ll send one of my sisters if I can’t make it. Either way, Mam needs to know.”

“That’s fine. But make sure she understands that no one else can know. My dat has waited a long time for this trip. If anyone accidentally lets the news slip when he calls to leave a message, he’ll insist on coming home.”

After the leftover food was put away and the kitchen cleaned, Charlie reached for her coat by the back door. “I’m heading out,” she said.

“Danki.” The intent focus of his blue eyes gave her goose bumps.

She lifted her coat only to feel it taken from her hands. Nate held it open for her so she could slide an arm into each sleeve. Then, to her shock, she felt his hands briefly settle on her shoulders before she’d pulled the garment closed. Pulse racing, she avoided his gaze. “Tell Jake I hope he feels better.”

“I will.” There was an odd huskiness to Nate’s voice that she’d never heard before. He eyed her with an expression that made the back of her neck tingle as she met his gaze.

She cleared her throat. “I’ll make sure someone is here for him tomorrow morning.”

“Fine.” He accompanied her to the door.

“What time?”

“Eight? Jed will be here at eight thirty.”

She nodded. “Someone will be here before then.”

“Be careful,” he said, seemingly unmoved by the knowledge that she wouldn’t be the one coming. “The roads can be slippery when wet.”

Charlie didn’t respond, although she could have argued that she’d driven in the rain hundreds of times without any problems. She donned her traveling bonnet before she dashed outside. She sensed that Nate was behind her. She spun to face him. “Nay, go back inside! You’ll get wet again.”

She didn’t wait to see if he listened. She climbed inside her vehicle, picked up the leathers, then left without another look. Her thoughts were in turmoil as she steered the horse toward home. She’d ask Ellie if she could stay with Jacob. If Ellie wasn’t available, she’d ask Meg or Nell.

Tomorrow she’d speak with the bishop about becoming teacher. She couldn’t avoid it any longer. It was time to get her life in order. Her sudden desire wasn’t because the thought of seeing Nate so soon again thoroughly unnerved her.

Or was it?

Charlie released a sharp breath, all too aware of Nate’s negative view of her. She’d prove that she was the perfect woman for the teaching job, and that her students would benefit from her instruction. Not that it really mattered what Nate thought, unless it affected or hurt her chances in getting the position.

Chapter Four (#u3d475f2b-a2e5-5383-ab72-1e17b06859f9)

Nate glanced at the time and grew worried. Where is she? He had to leave shortly and Charlie promised that she or her sister would be here by now. Had he been wrong to trust her to keep her word? He recalled everything she’d done for Jacob and knew that there must be a good reason no one had arrived.

He entered the great room, where Jacob sat in a chair with his injured foot propped up on a stool. “Charlie isn’t here yet,” he told his brother. “Will you be oll recht until she arrives?”

Jacob glanced up from his book. “Charlie’s late?” he asked with concern.

“Ja. But it might not be Charlie who’s staying with you today. She said that one of her sisters might come in her place.”

Alarm settled on his brother’s features. “Something must have happened.”

Jacob’s comment intensified his fear. “Jed will be here any minute.” Nate prayed that Charlie arrived before Jed did. He swallowed hard. He prayed that Charlie was well and not lying hurt in a ditch somewhere.

There was a loud rap on the back door and then he heard Charlie’s voice call out, “Hallo?”

“We’re in here,” he called back. He stifled the urge to run to her and waited instead for her to come to them.

She entered, looking lovely, flushed and out of breath. “I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t have the use of a vehicle this morning, so I walked.”

Nate stared at her, aware of how pretty she was. “You walked?” he asked with disbelief.

Charlie nodded. “Ja.”

“Isn’t that three miles?” Jacob asked with appreciation.

Charlie shrugged. “More like four. Doesn’t matter. I told you someone would be here, and so here I am. A little late, and I’m sorry about that.”

Nate felt something inside him warm. “You’re here now and that’s what counts.” He caught a glimpse through the window of a horse-drawn wagon pulling into the yard. “Jed’s here.” He met Charlie’s gaze. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “A little winded because I was in a hurry, but otherwise I’m fine.”

Despite the fact that Jed waited, he hesitated. The sudden stark need to spend time with her startled him.

“Did you eat?” she asked. “Do you want me to fix you something before you go? A sandwich?”

“No need,” he assured her. “I already made one.” He held up a bag with a grin.

She smiled. “I’ll see you later, then.”

Jedidiah waited patiently for him as Nate left the house, crossed the yard and climbed onto the wagon seat next to him. “Gut morning,” Jed greeted.

“’Tis a gut day,” Nate responded. “Where are we headed today?”

“New Holland.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite some distance away.”

“We’re meeting a crew near Whittier’s Store where a driver and car will be waiting for us.”

Nate was relieved. He didn’t want to be gone longer than necessary. If he kept her too long from her family, Charlie might not return. For Jacob, he assured himself.

Jed steered his buggy toward the road. “Is that Charlie I just saw in the window?”

“Ja, she’s staying with Jacob today.” He explained about his brother’s injury and Charlie’s arrival on the scene of the accident. Jed expressed concern, then understanding as he explained how he wanted to keep news of Jacob’s injuries quiet. Happiness was a small community. If word got out, everyone would know and natter about it. Then someone was liable to say something to upset his father when he called to check in.

Jed grinned.

Nate scowled. “Why are you grinning?”

“Charlie helping out with Jake. She’s growing up.”

He sighed. Yes, he’d noticed. “She’s been a big help.”

Jed agreed quietly and quickly changed the subject as he drove toward Whittier’s Store.

Nate relaxed, glad that the topic of Charlie had been dropped as they headed toward a job that would earn him the remainder of what he needed to finalize the purchase of his farm.

* * *

Charlie hadn’t wanted to come, but none of her sisters were available and she’d promised that someone would be here to stay with Jacob. She watched Nate and Jed leave then went into the great room to check on her patient. “Do you want anything?” she asked. “Coffee? Something to eat?”

He shook his head. “Nay, but how about a game of Dutch Blitz?”

“Are you sure you want to play when you know that I can beat you?”

Jacob chuckled. “I’ll take my chances. This isn’t baseball.”

She snickered. “Where are the cards?”

“In the cabinet to the left of the kitchen sink.”

The morning went quickly as Charlie showed Jake just how well she could play by beating him at three games. But by the time lunchtime arrived, however, they’d won a total of five games each.

Charlie chose to clean the house after lunch. She started upstairs, dusting, sweeping floors and collecting dirty laundry. She had cleaned the bathroom when she heard thumping steps in the hallway outside the room. She was shocked to see Jacob on the landing. “What are you doing up here?”

The embarrassed look on his face told her all she needed to know. “Call out if you need help with the stairs.”

With laundry basket under her left arm, she descended the stairs then went to put the wash on. She returned to the great room to check on Jacob when she realized that he hadn’t come downstairs yet. She resisted the urge to check on him, knowing that she’d further embarrass him if she did. Heading into the kitchen, she decided to plan supper. She had no idea what time Nate would be home, but she didn’t want him to worry about fixing a meal.