Chapter 18
Ruthie would’ve never guessed it, but she was starting to look forward to spending an hour every morning with Velvet.
After she straightened the kitchen, made the bed, and did most of her morning chores, she and Lizzie would walk out to the barn, put Velvet’s new bridle on, and lead her out to the pasture to the left of the barn.
She was no expert, but Ruthie thought that field was the best part of the entire farm.
The ground was slightly rolling, the grass was thick and vibrant green, and dandelions, daisies, and black-eyed Susans grew in clumps here and there.
The Burkholders had confided that the field had once been set aside for their goats, but they’d ended up selling the herd when they realized that their goats were both smart and wily.
Needing to do something with the field, they’d planted an assortment of wildflowers, intending to let the field support flowers and bees for a year or two before it became useful again.
They’d never done so. Rachel had even confided that the beauty had been too hard to give up.
When they’d first moved in, Ruthie had considered growing corn and pumpkins in it, but that idea had evaporated when she realized that the vegetables were going to take a great amount of time that neither she nor Marvin had.
Now, inadvertently, it had become Velvet’s morning happy place. The heifer seemed to truly enjoy being out in the morning sun. She’d wander around, nibble on fresh grass and would constantly look for her and Lizzie. If Ruthie ever had to go inside for a spell, Velvet would make a mournful noise.
Truly, it sounded as if she was crying.
Mervin, unfortunately, wasn’t all that sympathetic to the milk cow’s need for sun and companionship. He took every opportunity he could to fuss about her.
“Have you noticed all those cow patties, Ruthie?” he asked almost a week ago. “It’s near impossible to walk in a straight line without running into one.”
She was tired of his complaints, so she just shrugged. “I think that walking in a straight line is overrated.”
He’d been so irritated with that retort, he’d barely talked to her for two days. Ruthie felt a little guilty for being snippy, but not really. After all, Velvet had become theirs when they bought the farm. She was theirs and it was their duty to make their milk cow happy.
Ruthie thought spending time together in the morning or midday was helping Velvet’s disposition, too.
Now when she approached Velvet’s stall, the cow’s pretty brown eyes seemed to light up.
She stood still when Ruthie attached the bridle and line and walked without a bit of fuss to the field.
She didn’t even seem to mind when Lizzie barked at birds.
Instead, the hound’s antics seemed to amuse the cow to no end.
After eating some grass, watching a pair of cardinals with Lizzie, and wandering around a bit, Velvet lay down on a particularly fluffy-looking patch of grass and took a nap.
Ruthie, who’d begun taking the milking stool outside with her, sat down and stretched her legs out, too. Sure, it was a lazy way to spend the morning, but she reckoned that that was what retirement was for.
“It looks like Velvet’s penchant for sunbathing has worn off on you,” Kyle called out.
Startled, she looked up, then stood up when she realized he wasn’t alone. He was walking with Daisy on the Lapps’ land. Daisy was using a crutch but she seemed to be getting along okay, especially since it looked as if Kyle was staying close to her side.
Realizing they were probably waiting for a response, Ruthie joked, “Jah, this cow should’ve been born in Pinecraft. Sometimes I think she would enjoy lazing on the beach more than most folks there.”
“Wouldn’t that be a picture?” Daisy giggled. “I can see the postcards now: Come to Velvet’s favorite beach.”
Enjoying the silly conversation, Ruthie pretended to consider the idea for a second. “Eh, the sand might irritate her hooves, and there won’t be a flower in sight. I think I’ll keep her here.”
“Probably a gut idea,” Kyle murmured as they walked closer to the fence. “How is Velvet doing today?”
“I think she’s happy as a duck in water. She sure seems more content.”
“What helped?” Daisy asked.
“I’m not sure if it was just one thing. I think she was maybe longing for a change of scenery.” Feeling the need to confess the whole truth, she added, “Mei mann is sure I’ve lost my mind.”
“Because you care about your milk cow? Certainly not.” Daisy let her crutches fall to the ground as she rested her arms on the top of the white fence. “Velvet has an important job in your family. You depend on her for your millich, jah?”
“We do. She provides all our milk and butter.”
“Then there’s nothing wrong with seeing to her needs from time to time.”
Velvet, seeming to realize that she was the topic of conversation, boosted herself up and then ambled over to Daisy.
“Hiya, girl. Are you enjoying these flowers as much as the rest of us?” Daisy cooed.
To Ruthie’s amusement, the cow seemed to nod her head right before she ambled closer to the fence. She stopped right where Daisy’s outstretched hand was.
“Careful now,” Kyle said.
“I’m all right,” Daisy said as she began to gently rub the soft fur just next to one of the heifer’s ears. “I’m glad that I’m getting to know Velvet better.”
“You have a way with her.”
“She probably realizes that I’m a farm girl,” she said, then immediately looked ashamed.
The young woman was still sad about them buying the farm. “Daisy, dear, maybe we need to clear the air.” She took a deep breath. “I know you feel as if we took your future right out from under you. I promise that we had no idea Samuel had verbally promised it to you already.”
Her blue eyes looked stricken. “Nee! No, I don’t blame you. I don’t even blame Samuel for not wanting to wait until I could get the rest of the down payment. I’m just frustrated with my life right now.”
“Is your leg feeling better?”
“I think so. I don’t have to take near as many pain relievers. Sometimes only one at night.”
“That’s gut, jah?”
“Jah.”
“Ruthie, Daisy and I got to talking, and I invited her to help out from time to time after she gets to feeling better.”
“Why?” Ruthie knew she sounded rude, but she was taken aback, she wasn’t going to lie. Kyle hadn’t given her any indication that the farm was too much work for him.
“Not for a salary,” Daisy said quickly. “It’s just, well, until my leg is completely healed, I can’t get another ‘real’ job. And when I’m home, my mother is encouraging me to do more feminine pursuits.”
“I see. Like cooking and laundry?”
“Nee, I am more than happy to help her with those things. It’s things like sewing or canning that I don’t care to do.” Daisy looked like she’d rather pick up some of those cow patties in the field than pick up a needle and thread.
“I used to manage a sewing shop in Millersburg. I could help you with that.”
“Danke. But what I’m trying to say—”
“What she’s trying to say is that she’d much rather keep company with a cow instead of make a shirt for one of her bruders or make jam,” Kyle said.
“Hmm.” Ruthie didn’t mind Daisy wanting to help out on the farm, but most every chore she could think of needed two good arms and two good legs.
“It’s okay if you don’t want another person around,” Daisy said quickly.
Looking into the younger woman’s eyes, Ruthie saw something very familiar. A wish to be useful. She wanted to fulfill a dream, even if it didn’t make a lot of sense to everyone around her.
She couldn’t discourage that.
She also didn’t think there was a need to be yet another person to tell Daisy what she should and shouldn’t be doing with her life. Plus, if it wasn’t going to cost her and Mervin any more money, what did it matter?
“I hesitated because I don’t want you to get hurt. A broken leg is a big injury, ain’t so? But I suppose it’s all up to you. I don’t mind if you’d like to help out around here.”
“Really?”
“Jah.”
“I’ll look out for her, Ruthie.”
“I know you will.”
“I’m so excited,” Daisy said.
Ruthie laughed as Velvet gazed at Daisy with love in her eyes. “You just made my cow a happy heifer. I shudder to imagine what would happen if she never saw you again.”
“Thank you so much.” Reaching out, Daisy petted the cow’s neck. “Velvet, it looks like you and I are going to be seeing more of each other for a while.”
“Danke, Ruthie,” Kyle said.
Ruthie winked. She might say she was doing this for Daisy, but she had a feeling she was helping Kyle, too. The boy didn’t realize it, but he seemed to have eyes for pretty Daisy Lapp, too.
Why, it was practically a match made in heaven.