Her Amish Christmas Sweetheart

She stood, grabbed her crutches and hobbled toward the kitchen. Did Peter already know of their parents’ arrangement? Her stomach burned with anxiety. She’d see him tomorrow at her aunt and uncle’s. Would he mention the party? Refuse to work with her?

* * *

Sunday morning, after a decent night’s sleep provided by her pain medication, Meg rose from the bed in the first-floor sewing room. Her sisters, Leah, Ellie and Charlie, were working in the kitchen. Leah was at the stove, cooking eggs. Ellie was setting the table, and Charlie was putting out jars of jams and jellies. Meg had usually been up by six at the latest before the accident, and was shocked that she’d slept until eight thirty. “I’m sorry I slept so late.”

“You needed the rest,” Leah said with a smile. “Come and eat.” She pulled out a chair and helped Meg get situated at the table. “Eggs and toast? Or muffins with jam?”

“A muffin will be fine. Without jam,” Meg said, as she reached for a chocolate chip muffin. “Where’s Mam and Dat?”

“Dat’s outside getting the buggy ready. Mam’s upstairs.”

Meg broke open the muffin and took a bite. “Did Dat borrow a wheelchair?”

Ellie set down two cups of tea, one in front of Meg, before she sat across the table from her. “He did. He’s already put it in our buggy.”

Leah took the chair next to Meg and proceeded to fix her own cup of tea. “Does it bother you? The idea of being in a wheelchair again?”

Meg shook her head. “Nay. ’Tis not the same as before.” She’d spent several weeks in a wheelchair after she’d been discharged from the hospital, when a ruptured appendix had nearly killed her. A broken leg and a few bruises would heal much faster than severe complications from appendicitis.

After breakfast, her family headed to the Samuel Lapp farm, where Meg saw people she knew gathered around as her father steered their horse into the barnyard. Dat parked next to the carriage belonging to her cousin Eli and his wife, Martha. She smiled and waved at them before she saw Horseshoe Joe and Miriam Zook, along with Peter, pull in on their other side. Meg locked gazes with Peter before he climbed out of the vehicle. Then she turned her attention to her father, who reached in to lift her from the back seat.

Meg stood on her good leg as her dat went for her wheelchair. She reached to grab the buggy as she teetered there, then struggled for a better handhold. An arm immediately slipped about her waist in support, and she sighed with relief, glad for her sister’s help. But the clean, fresh scent of soap and man made her realize that the arm was masculine, strong, and most definitely belonged to Peter Zook. Her heart started to pound as she met his gaze.

“I’m steady now,” she assured him, eager for him to move away. Her world tilted, but then righted itself as he released her and stepped back. He turned to leave.

“Peter.” He halted and faced her. “Danki,” she said softly. Her throat constricted, and she felt her face heat.

Peter eyed her intently and nodded. Then he caught up with his mother and father as they approached the house. Meg watched him go with emotion akin to regret that he hadn’t stayed to chat—because she’d chased him away.

Her father moved the wheelchair close to where she stood. “Hold on, and I’ll help you.”

She felt drained and weak, and was glad to sit. As Dat pushed her toward the farmhouse, she started to believe that coming today had been a mistake. She felt tired, shaky...and unsettled by the memory of the warmth and strength of Peter’s arm as he’d steadied her.

* * *

Peter entered the Lapp house, his thoughts filled with Meg. He’d been fighting the emotion overwhelming him ever since he’d held her in his arms as he’d pulled her from the water.

He spied Agnes across the great room and immediately headed in her direction. His feelings about Meg would surely settle down if he spent time with his friend. “Hallo, you,” he said, greeting her with a smile.

“Hallo back,” she quipped with a crooked grin.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.” But he was glad she was, if only to take his mind off the sweet scent of Meg’s hair and the warmth of her beneath his arm as he’d kept her from falling.

Agnes shrugged. “Katie invited us. She saw my mudder at the store.”

The Joshua Beilers lived in another church district. Occasionally, they came to church service in the Zooks’ community, but not often. Peter had met Agnes after a service last year and they’d become instant friends. Agnes was easy to talk with, and her obvious delight in the world was refreshing. She was the complete opposite of Meg, in looks as well as temperament.

Familiar voices in Katie Lapp’s kitchen told him that the Stoltzfus family had entered through the back door of the house.

“Is that Meg?” Agnes asked. “I heard about the accident. How is she?”

He shrugged, pretending indifference. “Fine.”

“Let’s go see.”

“Maybe we should let her get settled in first.”

Agnes met his gaze. “I heard she broke her leg.”

Peter inclined his head. “Ja. She’s on crutches.” He couldn’t forget how she’d looked lying in her hospital bed, bruised, pale and vulnerable.

His brother came into the room, and Peter stared. “Josiah, you came! I haven’t seen you in months.”

Josiah grinned. He had married Nancy King of the Amos Kings, who lived across the road from Samuel and Katie Lapp. The couple had moved after their marriage, and Peter rarely got to see the two of them. “We came in last night. We’re staying with my in-laws. I wanted to surprise Mam and Dat.”

“Have they seen you?”

His brother nodded. “Ja.” He grinned, as if delighted by their parents’ reaction. Josiah’s gaze went to Agnes, who stood silently beside him.

“Sorry,” Peter said to both of them. “Agnes, this is my older brother, Josiah. Josiah, meet Agnes Beiler.”

The two greeted each other warmly. As Agnes turned to have a word with her twin sister, Josiah shot a pointed glance toward her before raising his eyebrows at Peter.

“We’re friends,” Peter said, before he could ask.

Josiah nodded. “I saw Meg Stoltzfus.” He glanced toward the kitchen with concern. “She was in an accident.”

“Ja, Reuben Miller was taking her home from last week’s singing when a car hit his buggy and forced it from the road.”

“Anything serious?” his brother inquired. “I didn’t want to ask.”

“Worst of it is a broken leg.”

“You two getting along yet?”

“We’re...polite.” Peter had told his brother about Meg overhearing their conversation. His brother had understood and been sympathetic. “She’s with Reuben Miller now.”

“And you have Agnes?”

Peter shrugged. “If all goes well.”

“There you are,” a warm female voice said. His brother smiled as his wife, Nancy, approached. “Hallo, Peter.”

“Hallo, Nancy,” he replied with a grin.

“You knew I wouldn’t be far.” Josiah regarded his wife with affection. “Weather’s too chilly to be outside today.”

His brother was lucky to have found a woman to spend his life with, Peter thought.

Elijah, Jedidiah and Jacob Lapp entered the room. “How about a game of baseball?” Elijah suggested. “’Tis cold out, but we’ll be warm soon enough.”

Martha overheard her husband. “You’re going to play baseball outside?” Beside her, his sister Annie pushed Meg’s wheelchair.

“They’d better not play inside,” Annie retorted.

“Why not?” Jed said. “’Tis not raining.”

Elijah’s expression softened as he eyed his pregnant wife. “You’ll stay inside, ja?”

“Why?”

Elijah opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly shut it again.

“Why should any of us stay inside? We’ll watch from the porch.” Martha addressed Meg. “What do you say? Are you feeling up to watching your cousins smack a baseball around?”

It was clear that Eli didn’t like his wife’s decision. Martha was far along with child, and he was clearly concerned about her. “Martha...”

“I’ll be fine, husband,” she assured him. “Meg?”

“’Tis not like I can stand and watch them,” she said with good humor.

Peter studied her with concern. Meg had only recently been released from the hospital. The doctor was treating her with antibiotics to help her lungs stay clear. Would the cold air be bad for her? Wouldn’t it be better if she remained inside?

His brother-in-law, Jacob, frowned as he studied his cousin. “Meg, I’ll get a blanket for you.” He glanced at the other women. “I think you all should have blankets.”

“Gut thinking.” Annie beamed at her husband. “And I’ll make us some hot tea.”

“Peter?” Jedidiah smiled. “You playing?”

Peter glanced at Agnes, who returned his gaze. “I’ll play for a while.”

“I can’t play long,” Noah Lapp, another brother, said as he entered the room. “Food’s almost ready.”

The men avoided the kitchen entrance and left via the front door of the farmhouse. As they stepped outside, Peter caught sight of the younger Lapp brothers, Isaac, Daniel and Joseph, on the front lawn. Joseph held a ball and bat. Joshua and John King, neighboring boys from across the road, grinned as they all gathered on the dormant grass.

“Who wants to be a team captain?” Peter asked.

There was a good-natured debate as it was decided that Jedidiah and Noah would be captains with the privilege of choosing their teammates. Jedidiah chose Jacob, Peter, Daniel and Joshua. Noah’s team was Elijah; Jacob’s fraternal twin, Isaac; Joseph and John.

Playing in the outfield first, Peter saw the women emerge from the house and make themselves comfortable on the Lapps’ covered front porch. Annie pushed Meg close to the rail, then took the chair next to her. Noah’s wife, Rachel, along with Martha and Agnes, joined them, each settling in a rocking chair. Meg remained in her wheelchair with a blanket across her lap.

Peter noted that Agnes sat on the opposite side of the porch from them. She smiled and waved, and he nodded before he returned his attention to the game in time to catch a fly ball hit by Isaac. Jedidiah and his teammates cheered, as did Agnes and Annie.

The game continued. Jedidiah’s team exchanged places with Peter, who went up to bat. As he waited for his turn at the plate, Peter glanced toward the porch and captured Meg’s gaze. She stared at him without once looking away. His heart beat wildly as he refocused his attention on the game.

“Peter!” Jedidiah called from first base, where he’d landed safely. “You’re up!”

He nodded, picked up the bat and slammed the ball across the yard, sending Jedidiah to second base and Jacob to third, before they both continued all the way home.

Katie Lapp stepped outside with her granddaughter Susanna on her hip and her grandson EJ standing next to her. “Food is ready!”

The game ended with a difference of opinion on which team had won, since the score was even, but Jedidiah’s team didn’t get to finish the inning. The men climbed the porch steps as the women turned to head inside. Martha and Elijah went in together. Agnes chatted with her sister Alice, who stood in the entryway and held the door open until Jedidiah grabbed hold of it. Everyone had entered the house except for Jacob, Annie, Meg and Peter.

“Peter,” Annie said. “Will you push Meg’s chair inside?”

“Ja.” He and Meg gazed at each other. Her eyes widened slightly and her skin flushed red as he turned her chair toward the door.

“You don’t have to help me,” she said. “I can stand.”

“Like you did when you arrived earlier?” he asked as he tipped up the front wheels of the chair and lifted it over the threshold. “Does it bother you to have me help you? You just got out of the hospital, Meg,” he said, his voice gruff. “You shouldn’t take chances.”

* * *

Meg stiffened. It felt as if he was poking fun at her near fall earlier. “I don’t need your help or a scolding, Peter Zook.”

“Meg, I didn’t mean—”

When they were inside the entryway, he came around the wheelchair to face her. She was offended by what he’d said. And she thought they could start over and work together on the party?

“Danki, Peter. I can manage from here,” she said in a tight, dismissive voice. She grabbed hold of her chair’s wheels and rolled forward, nearly hitting Peter, who instinctively jumped out of the way. He stared at her, and she flushed with guilt.

“Meg.”

She stopped and waited for him to reach her.

Peter sighed. “Are you this difficult with everyone?” he asked. “Or just me?”

Meg refused to answer him. She alternately fumed and fought embarrassment as she wheeled herself into her aunt Katie’s kitchen. She was aware that Peter Zook followed closely behind her. She bit her lip to keep herself from telling him to leave her alone. Perhaps she was overreacting. In fact, she probably was, but she was tired, in pain, and wanted nothing more than to go home.

As she rolled her chair into the bright kitchen, where food filled the table and countertops, she felt confused and ill. She shouldn’t have come. She should have insisted that her family attend without her. It was too soon after her hospital stay for her to be out and about. She could have been napping or gazing silently out the window at home. Instead, she was aware of Peter behind her, a man who didn’t like her. But he’d been thoughtful despite how he felt about her, she realized. Sometimes it seemed as if he could read her mind and gauge exactly how she was feeling.

She sighed. And she’d been rude to him. Again. She’d promised to be a better person. Please, Lord, help me to be thoughtful and kind to everyone, especially to Peter Zook.

“Meg.” Her mother approached. “I’ll fix you a plate.”

“Danki, but nay. I can manage.” She was determined to prove that she was fine. As soon as everyone left the room and couldn’t watch her, she’d stand up and get some food. Her head and bruises hurt, and her leg throbbed. She looked around but saw no sign of her father or any of the older men. “Where’s Dat?”

“In the barn,” Mae King said. “Most everyone has moved out there.”

Meg glanced at the older woman, who was a close friend and neighbor of her aunt’s. “They’ve set up tables?”

“Ja,” Mam said. “Samuel brought in a heater to take away the chill.” She settled her gaze on someone behind Meg and smiled. “Peter, here’s a plate.”

“Danki, Missy,” he said as he accepted it.

Meg rolled her chair into the corner, out of the way. Refusing to watch Peter while he selected food, she stared at her lap. The quilt that her cousin had gotten for her was done in pretty shades of green and yellow. She was glad it hid her heavy cast. Every time she saw it, she felt helpless and a little afraid.

“Peter.” Agnes entered the room and swept past her. Meg watched as the young woman took his plate, then proceeded to fill it for him, with selections from every available cold meat platter, salad and dessert. “Do you want iced tea?”

Meg stared as Peter bent and murmured something in Agnes’s ear. She heard her chuckle before Agnes turned toward Meg’s aunt with an amused expression.

“Katie,” she heard Agnes say, “got any Pepsi?”

“In the back room. Help yourself.”

Meg watched as Agnes left. She couldn’t keep her gaze from Peter, who had moved into her focus. He stared back, his dark gray eyes unreadable, and she quickly glanced away.

Agnes returned with the glass of cola. “Here you go.”

“Missy,” Mae King called, “come see what Katie has done to the quilt we’ve been making.”

Her mother slipped from the room. Meg watched Peter and Agnes. The two were smiling, sometimes laughing, clearly enjoying each other’s company. Meg blinked back tears. She didn’t know why she had the sudden urge to cry. She realized that it had been a long time since she’d felt that free and joyful.

“Meg?”

Startled, she glanced up into Agnes’s face. “Hallo, Agnes.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but I’ll live.”

“I’m sorry you were hurt.”

Agnes’s sharp perusal made her squirm. She didn’t want or need the girl’s pity. “I’m fine.” Meg glanced at Peter, who waited patiently next to Agnes. He eyed Meg intensely, as if he was debating whether or not to say something to her. She looked away.

“Do you need anything?” Agnes asked.

Meg managed a smile. “Danki, but nay. I appreciate the offer, though.”

Her cousin Isaac opened the door and peeked into the room. “Peter, Agnes, are you coming out to the barn?”

“We’ll be there soon,” Agnes said airily. “Have everything you need, Peter?”

“Ja, danki,” he told her warmly.

Agnes gave Meg a sympathetic look. “Take care of yourself.”

“I will.” Meg watched the couple leave the house. For a moment, she was alone, which was a relief. She should get up and fill a plate, but she wasn’t really hungry. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

“Meg.”

She gasped and opened her eyes to see a plate of food being thrust in her direction. Peter. He was eyeing her with concern. Something warmed inside her. She grew flustered as she realized he’d picked all her favorite foods. “Danki,” she whispered. Heart thundering in her chest, she wheeled herself closer to the table.

“Did you want to join us in the barn?”

“I... Nay. I think it will be better if I just stay here.” She saw him nod, then watched the dark-haired, gray-eyed man depart to rejoin the others. Peter had been thoughtful enough to fill her a plate. The thought made her experience a strange myriad of emotions she couldn’t understand. Her face felt warm as she stared at her food. She picked up a fried chicken drumstick and took a bite. It tasted delicious, and suddenly her appetite was back.

She thought of Peter’s kindness as she ate every bite of her meal. The man confused and fascinated her. But did he still think as badly of her as he had years before? And if he did, why was he being so nice to her now?

Chapter Four

Peter sat with Agnes on a bench behind a table that Samuel Lapp had constructed using plywood on sawhorses. The girl beside him was chatting with her sister Alice and Meg’s sisters Ellie and Charlie. He listened with half an ear, and only fully tuned in when picking up Meg’s name during the conversation.

“She’s oll recht?” Agnes asked, her expression filled with concern.

“Meg’s tough,” Ellie said. “She’ll be fine in a week or so.”

“She looks bad, though, doesn’t she?” Meg’s youngest sister, Charlie, added.

“Ja, poor dear.”

Peter frowned, disturbed that Meg was the topic of conversation. Why weren’t her sisters inside keeping her company? He felt a sharp kick to his innards. Why hadn’t he stayed awhile to talk with her?

But he knew the answer—because he needed to get over her. Which had been harder for him to do since the day he’d found her floating in the water after the accident.

The girls switched to another subject, and the pain in his stomach eased. He turned his attention elsewhere. Directly across the table from him sat Eli and Jacob Lapp, with their wives, Martha and Annie. Annie held EJ in her lap, while Jacob had his arms filled with their daughter, Susanna. He studied them, glad his sister was happy with a man she loved and two beautiful children. He shifted his gaze from his little niece and found Annie eyeing him closely.

He arched his eyebrows. “What?”

His sister shrugged. “I guess you know what you’re doing.”

Peter stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“Not a gut time, bruder. Best if we talk later.” Her impish look reminded him of all of the times during their childhood when she’d teased him.

“Annie...” Peter warned.

Jacob narrowed his gaze on Peter, then looked for an explanation from his wife. “Are you taunting Peter again?”

“With love, Jacob. Only with love,” she murmured, her eyes soft as she regarded her husband, who tenderly shifted their young daughter on his lap, bringing her up to rest her sleepy head on his shoulder.

Peter felt restless. He turned to Agnes and touched her arm. “Want to go for a ride?”

Agnes faced him, her expression brightening. “We can if you’d like.” She stood and pushed back her chair.

Peter hurried to help her. They were outside before she said, “I have an idea.”

She headed toward the house, and he grinned with the thought of the desserts she’d pack for their buggy ride. But Agnes didn’t head toward where the pies, cake and other goodies had been laid out. She went to Meg instead, seated in her wheelchair, finishing the last bite of her meal.

“Meg,” Agnes said in greeting as he stood silently behind her. “We’re going for a ride. Would you like to come?”

Meg appeared stunned by the invitation. Peter studied her, recognizing her surprise and confusion. She looked tired, as if the day had already been too much for her. The bruises on her face were more pronounced than they’d been when she was in the hospital. He should offer to drive her home, but he didn’t think she’d appreciate it any more than she did Agnes’s invitation. He’d known her long enough to read the subtle changes in her gaze that told him when she was overwhelmed and uncomfortable.

“Danki, Agnes,” she said quietly. “It’s kind of you to ask, but I’m not feeling my best, so it would be better if I just stayed here.” Meg managed a smile. Peter couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Agnes frowned. “I don’t like seeing you sitting here alone.”

Meg’s expression made Peter ache. The last thing she wanted, he was sure, was for Agnes to try to change her mind while he watched. He touched Agnes’s arm. “She’s not feeling well, Agnes.”

Agnes shot him a look. “I know.” She turned a sympathetic gaze on Meg. “Rest now. I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help.”

“Danki.” Meg sounded suspiciously close to tears. Peter couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Despite her bruises, she looked beautiful. The royal blue dress she wore intensified the bright azure of her eyes. Her white prayer kapp was slightly askew, revealing shiny dark hair pulled back in the Amish way. Her gaze fell on him, and he had to glance away before he did something ridiculous like reach over, pick her up and carry her to his buggy to take her home.

Instead he followed Agnes from the room. Once outside, she faced him. “Let’s not go for a ride. Why don’t we go for a walk instead? I’ll ask Alice to join us.”

“The weather is nice enough,” he agreed, as he followed her back toward the barn. Agnes went to talk with her sister. Unable to forget how tired Meg looked, Peter headed toward his sister Annie.

* * *

Meg was chatting with her mother and aunt when Jacob and Annie entered the kitchen from outside.

“Meg, we thought you might like to go home.” Jacob smiled as he approached, carrying his daughter. “’Tis been a long day for you.”

“We can take her,” Mam immediately said.

“No need,” Annie assured her. “Our little ones are ready to be home.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Meg asked, delighted by Jacob’s offer. She wanted nothing more than to rest.

“I don’t think you should be alone,” her mother murmured with concern.

“Mam, I’ll be fine. I’ll take a nap. Please stay here and enjoy yourself.”

“We can stay with her for a while.” Annie picked up EJ, who had been holding on to her hand.

Meg gazed at her cousin-in-law gratefully. “Mam, I’ll be fine. I’m not seriously injured. I have a broken leg.”

“I should check with your vadder.”

“Nay!” Meg exclaimed. “You know how Dat is. He’ll want to bring me home. He’s enjoying himself, Mam. I’ll be fine for a couple of hours. Honestly. I’ll just close my eyes and sleep.”

“Endie Missy, Meg will be fine,” Jacob assured her. “I’ll make certain of it.”

Her mother stood and retrieved Meg’s coat. “Oll recht. I’ll see you at home a little later.”

Feeling sore and highly emotional, Meg rolled her chair closer to her mother. “I love you,” she whispered with tears of gratitude.