Chapter 30 #2
“Everything. Those folks are the ones who buy magazines that feature articles about hen psychology.”
“Are there really such things, Ben?” Daisy asked.
Kyle smirked as he moved to stand closer to Daisy. “I don’t think that’s a thing.”
“No, it is,” Ben protested. “It’s all a thing, and Daisy is going to make all those quaint Englischer farmers up in New England so happy with their Christmas presents for their flock.”
“No one thinks of their chickens at Christmas, Ben,” she said.
“No, they do,” Lukas said. “But it’s more that they’re wondering which one to have for supper.”
Daisy giggled. She looked so cute, Kyle couldn’t help but join in. Lukas did, too.
Ben folded his arms across his chest. “Guys and Daisy, laugh all you want, but I’m telling you the truth. This is great. Daisy’s going to have tons of orders and we’ll all help get her business off the ground.”
“Sorry you came over in the middle of this wacky discussion,” Daisy whispered to him.
“There’s nothing to apologize for, though … and no offense …”
“But what?” Lukas asked.
“I mean, come on. All anyone would have to do is drill holes in a proper tree branch, thread it with rope, and secure the ends of each.”
Ben shook his head. “No offense, Kyle, but you have no idea how many folks will have no idea how to do such a thing. What do you think, Daisy? Are you willing to give this a try?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I mean, just yesterday I had kind of made my mind up to be a librarian’s assistant.”
This was new to Kyle. “Why do you want to do that?”
“I like to read.”
“And?”
“And the librarian asked her,” Lukas said.
Daisy lifted her chin. “It would be a gut job and I could start working there even with a cast on.”
“You could also make chicken swings with your time, too,” Ben said. “Though I think making these swings sounds like more fun than shelving books.”
Daisy turned to him, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. “What do you think, Kyle?”
“Have you given up farming?”
“I think so,” she said, all traces of mirth gone from her expression. “Lukas, of course, said I could help him, but the longer it’s been since I didn’t get my wish, the more I’m starting to believe that this is a case of it being a blessing that the Lord didn’t answer my prayer.”
“I’m so proud of you, Daisy.”
“For what?”
“Every time I see you, you’re thinking of something new. You haven’t given up. You just keep working.”
“Well, it’s not like I have a choice. The alternative isn’t gut, Kyle.”
“I can’t disagree.” He had a sudden urge to pull her into his arms and hold her close. Daisy had so much to offer other people, but he wondered if she actually believed that.
“Supper!” Mrs. Lapp called out.
“Are you staying for supper, Kyle? Is that why you came over here?” Lukas asked.
“Nee. Ruthie asked me to drop off a cake for all of you. And now I’m sure she’s wondering where I am, because she made supper at her haus, too.”
“Do you want to stay here?” Ben asked. “You can use my cell phone. They have a kitchen phone, right?”
“Thanks for the offer, but Ruthie made burgers, beans, corn, and tots.”
“I love tots,” Daisy said.
“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t,” he teased. “Now, I better go, and you three better get on in. I don’t want your mother blaming me for your supper getting cold.”
“Yeah, see ya around, Kyle,” Lukas said.
Though Ben and Lukas had turned around and were walking toward the house, Daisy stayed where she was.
The pull to stay by her side was strong. Was it friendship? Or was it that he saw something inside her that he recognized in himself? “Daisy,” he said gently, “I really should be going. We both should.”
“I know. But, ah … would you answer something for me?”
“I’ll try.”
“What do you think about this hen swing?” She lowered her voice, as if she was afraid someone else in the world would overhear her and laugh. “I mean, honestly.” Looking frustrated, she blurted, “I mean, do you think Ben is right? Do you think that I could sell some of these?”
He did. He thought it was an ingenious idea. A lot of people—Amish or English—loved the idea of getting something interesting and fun that they didn’t know they needed.
Plus, watching those hens wait in line was the most amusing thing he’d witnessed in years. Who wouldn’t want to see that?
But, on the flipside, he was worried about encouraging Daisy. She’d already had a number of disappointments of late. What if she invested money into this scheme and it failed?
He wasn’t sure that he could live with that.
“Daisy, the truth is that it doesn’t matter what I think. This needs to be your decision.”
“But if it was? Come on,” she added when he hesitated. “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t want to know. At the very least, please tell me what you would do.”
She was standing so close to him. He wasn’t sure how, but even after being out in the barn and around a flock of chickens, she still managed to smell like vanilla and orange.
He wondered where the scent came from. Her shampoo?
Lotion? He took a step back, realizing he was in danger of leaning closer and sniffing her neck.
Her eyes filled with emotion. Then doubt.
Daisy thought he was retreating from her. Pulling away. But the opposite was true. She was making him feel things that he couldn’t unfeel. “If it was up to me … I’d do it, Daisy.”
“Really?”
He nodded. Afraid she would think that he was just giving her words, he forced himself to attempt to sound matter-of-fact. Not caring and tender.
“It sounds like a no-brainer to me. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to give this idea a try? Your brothers could help you, you could make them at home, and it’s a cute thing for chickens.”
He cleared his throat as he warmed to the idea.
“In addition, you wouldn’t have to spend a lot of your savings, just to get a look-see.
The materials aren’t expensive. The most expensive part might be the shipping and packaging.
But even that wouldn’t be too horrible, because you could make those fees known when they buy the product, and everyone is used to paying for shipping and handling anyway. ”
“You’re right. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”
“I don’t think there’s ever anything wrong with giving something a try, Daisy.” Pretending he was offering advice to Sarah, he added, “Why, the worst thing that happens is you make ten or fifteen swings that don’t sell. They can be spares!”
She chuckled. “That’s true. I don’t think these hens are ever going to want to not have their new toy.”
“There you go. See? You’ve got this.” Unable to help himself, he wrapped his arms around her. Gave her a hug.
Daisy’s body stiffened for a few seconds before she wrapped her arms around his waist. Relaxed against him.
He leaned closer. Ran a hand down her spine. Pressed his lips to her temple.
“Daisy! Come eat!”
Kyle pulled away. “You better go eat.”
“Jah.” She was wide-eyed.
What had he done? Becoming more flustered, he blurted, “I’ll ah, see you soon. I can’t wait to hear about how many orders you get the first week.”
“It would be something if I got some that quickly.”
“It will happen, Daisy. There’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll do great.”
Her answering smile almost took his breath away.
Kyle forced himself to turn around and walk away. Daisy needed to go eat, he needed to get back home, and whatever had just happened between the two of them needed to pause.
Because he was pretty sure that it had been something big and he wasn’t going to be able to walk away from it a second time.