Chapter 12
Church was at Lila’s parents’ haus on Sunday. As usual, they hosted the service in their barn. Because there was no chance of rain in the forecast, they’d elected to serve lunch on the driveway.
Tables were set up on the grass near the drive, in the barn, and on the Troyers’ back patio.
Like most everyone did, Jenna and Burke had taken special care with their lawn.
The grass was lush and green, every flower bed was freshly mulched, and a wide variety of tulips, daffodils, and pansies were blooming.
The yard looked as beautiful as Daisy had ever seen it, and she made sure to tell Lila’s parents that.
“Danke,” Jenna said. “Our weekend snuck up on us, but now we are going to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you.”
“Please don’t worry about that. Lila told us about your accident.” Frowning, Jenna added, “It’s a miracle you weren’t injured worse.”
“My parents said the same thing.”
“We’re on our way over to sit with them,” Mr. Troyer said. “Would you like to join us?”
“Thanks, but I’m going to say hello to some other people first.”
Jenna smiled. “Enjoy your day, dear. Come over one day soon when you are feeling better. With or without Lila.”
“Danke. I will.”
When the couple turned away, Daisy worked her way over to where Ruthie and Mervin Miller were sitting with Kyle.
She felt a happy little adrenaline rush at the thought of spending more time with him. He was so handsome and kind.
Once again, Kyle was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and gray pants. Today, though, he’d switched to a straw hat instead of his usual black felt one. She thought the straw hat looked nice with his tan and blond hair.
Kyle stood up when she approached. “You are sure getting around pretty good on your crutches now.”
“They’re getting easier, that’s for sure and for certain,” she said with a laugh. “May I join you?”
“Of course, dear,” Ruthie said. “Kyle, help Daisy with her chair.”
He dutifully pulled out the fold-up chair and held it steady as she lowered herself onto the seat. Then, he even went so far as to take her crutches from her and lean them against his chair.
“There’s no need to do that,” she protested. “They can go on the ground.”
“I was about to get going before you got here.” He folded his hands behind his back. “I hope you are feeling much better?”
He sounded so formal. She wasn’t sure if it was because he was with the Millers, at church … or if it was for another reason?
Realizing that she was thinking too hard, she said, “I am. Almost all of my bruises and cuts have faded and the doctor says my leg is healing nicely.”
“Are you following his directions?” He stared at her intently.
“Of course.” Curious, she tilted her head to one side. “Why would you think I wouldn’t?”
“No reason.”
“Well, how are you? I haven’t seen you in over a week.”
“I’ve been good. Busy.” Kyle’s voice sounded distant. Not unkind, but so different than how he’d sounded when she’d first gotten home from the hospital.
Hoping to get him out of his shell, she said, “How is your plowing going?”
“It’s gut. Hot, but that is to be expected.” Before Daisy could comment on that, he turned to Ruthie. “I’ll be back at the farm by supper.”
“This is your day of rest. Enjoy it. I’ll leave a plate for you in the refrigerator if you aren’t home when we eat.”
“Danke.”
“Have a good afternoon, Kyle,” Daisy called out quickly.
“Danke. You too.”
Kyle had been acting like he couldn’t wait to get away from her. But surely that wasn’t the case? She turned to the Millers. “Where is he going off to in such a hurry?”
“Any number of places, I’m guessin’,” Mervin joked. “Ruthie, let me know when you’re ready to go. I’m gonna go sit with Henry Troyer for a spell.”
“Sounds gut.”
As she watched Mervin head over to the men on the back patio, Daisy felt embarrassed. “Gosh, I feel like I just ran off your men.”
“Not at all. Mervin enjoys fellowship with the other men, and a day off work for Kyle is a rarity right now. The fields have kept him plenty busy.”
“I guess so.”
“To be honest, I’m rather pleased that they left. I was hoping I could speak with you about something.” She looked around the area. “Or are you getting ready to leave as well?”
“Not yet. Sometimes I leave early with Ben or Lukas, but both of them had plans today. I’m all yours,” she joked. Unbidden, Daisy thought about Kyle again. Maybe Ruthie knew something special about him that she wanted to share?
“I’m glad about that. Daisy, more than one person has told me that you’re good with animals.”
“I do like animals. That’s true.”
“As you might imagine, I’ve been discovering that life with farm animals is much different than only seeing them at other people’s farms from time to time.”
“Indeed it is.”
“I am comfortable with Lizzie. She’s our basset hound, you know. But there’s another animal that has kept me up worrying quite a bit. I need some advice.”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
“It’s Velvet. Our dairy cow.” Ruthie frowned. “Do you have much experience working with cows?”
“No more than most other girls who’ve had to milk in the morning. But I’ll be glad to talk to you about her. What’s going on?”
“I think Velvet is having a difficult adjustment after the Burkholders left.”
“What do you mean?”
“She seems listless. Plus, she won’t hardly look at me.” Ruthie leaned forward. “I know, I know, she’s a cow. But … I saw how she was with Rachel Burkholder. That cow practically glowed when she spied Rachel. It was obvious that she liked Rachel very much.”
“Let me guess. Velvet isn’t glowing whenever you walk in the barn?”
“Nope. She’s not glowing even a little bit.”
Glad to be concentrating on something that she could help with, Daisy asked, “What about her milk? Is she producing much?”
“Some, but not as much as she did when we first arrived.” Looking more worried, Ruthie added, “At first I thought I was imagining things, but when I asked Kyle what he thought, he agreed.”
“Anything else?”
“Jah.” Looking completely serious, Ruthie whispered, “Velvet has also been kind of mooing. What do you think that means?”
Daisy couldn’t help but chuckle. “Cows are supposed to moo, ain’t so?”
“Of course they are, but this is different. Daisy, this isn’t a happy moo. It’s a mournful-sounding one. I’m beginning to be very worried about Velvet.”
“Maybe she’s sick? Is Mervin worried, too? And what has Kyle said? What did he suggest when he agreed about Velvet’s milk production?”
“Well, you see, that’s where I’m stuck. Neither of the men want to call a veterinarian yet.
Vet calls can be very expensive, you know.
” She shrugged. “I do think Kyle wishes he could help, but he’s been busy with the fields and planting.
” She bit her lip before lowering her voice. “And supervising Mervin, I’m afraid.”
Daisy covered her mouth so Ruthie wouldn’t see that she almost smiled. “Why does Mervin need to be supervised?”
The frown lines around Ruthie’s eyes seemed to deepen. “Here’s the thing, Daisy. I fear that Mervin isn’t enjoying farm life as much as he thought.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Jah, me too.” Lowering her voice, she added, “Sometimes I am afraid that neither of us are enjoying farm life as much as we thought.”
“Farming is hard work. Very hard.”
“It’s more than that. It’s that there are no days off. It’s expensive. Plus, we’re both nervous nellies around here. We don’t want to do the wrong thing so sometimes we wait too long and then don’t do anything.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Daisy, does hearing this make you angry?”
“What? Not at all.”
“Are ya sure?” She averted her eyes. “Of course, we had no idea, but since we’ve moved in, we’ve learned that it is well-known that you’ve been saving for a long time to buy the farm. That is true, isn’t it?”
“It is. I had hoped to buy the Burkholders’ place.”
“And now here we are, having all sorts of trouble with it. Why, I wouldn’t blame you if you were upset about Mervin and me not doing as well as we’d hoped we would.”
“I’m not upset.” When Ruthie still didn’t look as if she believed her, Daisy confessed something of her own. “If I’m being honest, you are right. I was. But lately, I’ve been wondering if there might be something to that saying about unanswered prayers.”
“‘More tears have been shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones,’” Ruthie murmured.
Feeling bad about Ruthie’s dilemma, Daisy said, “I don’t know if I can be of much help with Velvet, but I’ll be happy to help. I could stop by whenever you’d like.”
“Would it be too much trouble to ask you to come over this afternoon?”
“Well …”
“I know this is pushy, but Velvet does seem to be in a state, and we have our buggy. Mervin and I would be pleased to drive you to our house and then back to your home afterward. Please?” she asked again.
“Mervin was joking about selling Velvet if she doesn’t begin producing milk like we expected, and you know what happens to dairy cows who aren’t good milkers. ”
They were butchered and used another way.
Tears pricked her eyes, not because she had a strong attachment to Velvet, she didn’t at all. But because Ruthie cared so much. She didn’t want to give up on an animal that might be simply going through a difficult time.
Like she was. Like Ruthie was. Like Lila.
Like maybe most everyone, from time to time.
Making the decision, she nodded. “I’ll be happy to do that, Ruthie. Let me let my parents know what I’ll be doing and then I’ll meet you back here.”
“You are a lifesaver, dear. Danke.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do a thing to help her.”
“If you’re willing to try, then that is enough.”
“I can certainly do that.” She smiled as she stood up and adjusted the crutches underneath her arms.
An hour later, armed with a variety of fruits and vegetables from the Millers’ kitchen and a cool glass of water for herself, Daisy sat down on a chair next to the stall.
Mervin had been first stunned then amused by his wife’s concern for Velvet. He’d been agreeable enough about taking Daisy to their barn, however.