Chapter 40
L ydia followed Alec and Gordon up to the attic. She figured she could be of assistance and get a chance to be alone with Alec. She had seen many a water leak in the house’s, barn’s or storage shed’s roof and was confident she could help them. If they’d let her.
Gordon groaned when he saw the water dripping in through the roof’s hole. “How will I get repairmen on a day like today?” he asked Alec. “Do you know anyone?”
“I do have friends who are roofers but persuading them up there today will be a challenge. Too dangerous.” Alec examined a spot where water was leaking. “Lydia might have the best idea in putting metal containers under the damaged spots where it’s leaking until you can get professionals here.”
Lydia was happy to hear Alec speak her name, as if he were singing a melody.
She raised a timid hand and said, “Hello, I’m Lydia,” but Gordon paid her no heed. Back at home, he would have at least acknowledged her existence. She missed her parents’ community even with its never-ending chores.
She spoke to Alec. “What would you like me to do?”
“How about running downstairs and seeing if you can find any empty buckets. I doubt you’re strong enough to carry this water down.”
“I’m pretty strong,” she said and then felt embarrassed for bragging. But water couldn’t weigh any more than milk. She attempted to lift a metal container of water but found it too heavy.
“Never mind. I’ll run that downstairs and empty it,” Alec said.
Lydia did not want to be left alone with Gordon, but she said, “Danke—I mean thank you. In the meantime, I’ll find more metal containers.” But when she looked around, she noticed Gordon staring at her with a steady gaze as if sizing her up.
“I’ll empty one too.” Gordon grasped another container filled with water and splashed some on his leg. He let out what must be a Scottish expletive and then followed Alec down the stairs. Lydia could see that both men were twice as strong as she was. Still, there must be something she could do. She located one more metal container crammed with silverware and dumped the contents onto the floor. An ornate silver goblet rolled to her feet. So pretty. Lydia was seized with the desire to stuff it in a pocket. No one would be the wiser. But she heard her father’s voice in her ear, and she was filled with shame for even considering stealing again. She imagined Gordon pressing charges and having her incarcerated. She’d never go anywhere if she were in a Scottish jail. And anyway, stealing others’ property was against the law because it was wrong. What was she thinking? Hadn’t she promised herself she would never steal anything ever again?
She heard men’s voice chatting and heavy footsteps on the stairs. Moments later she saw Alec and Gordon, each carrying two empty buckets by their handles.
“Ach, I’m sorry to leave such a mess.” Lydia looked down at the silverware and the goblet that she had coveted on the floor. “I didn’t know where to put these items.” A half-truth but at least she hadn’t stolen anything. Would temptation always haunt her?
“No matter,” Gordon said. “Leave everything where it is. That hodgepodge needs to be sorted through anyway. One of my employees can do that later tomorrow or next week. After the snow lets up. And melts.” For the first time, he studied her face as if assessing her. Could he tell just by looking at her that she was being pulled in two directions—between good and evil? Maybe everyone was. But she was determined to walk the straight and narrow, as her dat would say. To follow the teachings of the Bible and the Ordnung.
She stooped down and gathered up flatware, transferred it into a cardboard box. As she added the goblet, she gave it one last looking over. It needed to be polished, a chore she would gladly do. In so many ways, life was easier back in her Amish home where someone would be looking over her shoulder and steering her on the right course.