Chapter 27
This hadn’t been how Daisy had thought her visit to the Millers would go. She’d been sitting around the house all morning, half feeling sorry for herself, half attempting to make a shirt for Lukas for his birthday, when she couldn’t take herself anymore.
She was too blue, too confused, and sure, too inept to be making clothes for anything other than a doll. And so, on the spur of the moment, she’d told Lukas that she was going to take the courting buggy next door.
She’d been so sure that Lukas would either offer to take her or that he’d attempt to convince her that she should stay home. Instead, he’d attached Blackie’s reins to the courting buggy and waved goodbye.
Blackie was so pleased to be out for a drive that she’d first turned right instead of left and took her down a series of country roads that were essentially empty.
The few vehicles on them were farmers in less of a hurry than she was.
Within a few minutes, Daisy’s mind had eased and her spirits had lifted.
She’d become less irritated with herself and a bit more calm.
With only the buggy horse for company, she allowed herself to face facts. Winter Walker was a lovely woman and there were surely many qualities about her that Kyle would like.
Okay, that was a lie. She didn’t actually think there were many things about Winter that were good. However, that was a Daisy problem, not Kyle’s. She needed to remind herself that she could only be in charge of her feelings. She couldn’t take responsibility for Kyle’s.
The realization helped. Which made her feel as if she was in a much better frame of mind than when she’d been attempting to stitch small, even stitches on a shirt that Lukas would likely never be able to fit his broad shoulders in.
Now, here she was, doing sneaky things again. She’d just coaxed Ruthie away on the premise that she and a dairy cow needed privacy.
Which was baloney.
Or, perhaps not.
Because Velvet was currently looking at her intently and she was pretty sure that this cow had something important to get off her chest.
“Velvet, now that Ruthie’s gone, I think you need to be honest with me. Why are you still feeling blue? Are you still missing Samuel and Rachel? If you are, then I think you might have mad cow disease or some such. No offense.”
She lowered her voice. “Samuel was a gut farmer and could grow an impressive field of corn, but he was sorry company, and you know this.”
When the cow blew out air, just as if she did not want to hear any words of wisdom, Daisy clucked her tongue. “That attitude isn’t going to get you anywhere, miss.”
Velvet snorted.
“Jah, I know. You think you know everything, but I think you could maybe learn some new things, too. For example, just the other day you were happy with Ruthie, but now you’ve been obstinate with her yet again.
I think you should start counting your blessings.
After all, you are here in this pen instead of standing alone all day in a dusty barn, ain’t so? Things could be worse.”
Velvet shifted as she faced Daisy.
“There you go, Velvet. I’m glad you’re beginning to understand the facts. Now, here’s some advice. And, jah, I know that you are a cow and you will do what you want, for better or worse.”
She lowered her voice, “Velvet, I really do think that you need to open your heart a bit and listen, okay? And the fact of the matter is that the Burkholders left. But listen, they were going to leave no matter what. And if the Millers didn’t buy the farm, it would’ve been a stranger.”
Velvet huffed.
“Jah, I know. You and me thought I’d be here with you. I tried to do that, too. I tried, but the honest truth is that I wasn’t going to be able to save enough money for this place for at least another two years. I just wasn’t making enough.”
Reaching out, she ran a finger along a tuft of fur sticking out in between Velvet’s ears. “That means that things could’ve been a lot worse.”
After making sure that Mervin wasn’t nearby, Daisy added, “While I agree that Mervin and Ruthie still have a lot to learn about farming, they have good hearts. And they’re smart, too, because they hired Kyle, and he definitely knows his way around a farm.
And we like Kyle, right? He’s not only capable and strong, but he’s handsome.
Not every farmer is blessed with blond hair, warm brown eyes the color of molasses, and good biceps.
” She waved a hand. “I mean, that right there is a plus. Don’t you agree? ”
Velvet mooed. Her eyes lit up a bit, too.
So much so, that it was obvious that she had been listening intently. Daisy grinned. “I’m glad we’re on the same page, cow.”
“Sorry, but I’m pretty sure that Velvet was greeting me, Daisy,” Kyle said.
Daisy raised her eyebrows at Velvet. When the cow looked down at her front hooves, Daisy knew exactly what that cow should’ve done. That cow should have stomped a hoof or something.
“Blackie would’ve helped me out, Velvet,” she whispered. “A warning about Kyle approaching would’ve been nice.”
“Sorry, you might have all the advice, but I’m the one who milks her every morning. In the dairy cow’s world, I win,” Kyle teased.
Right before he started laughing.
Turning to face him as best she could, since she had a crutch and a blue cast, Daisy tried to look mad.
But how could she fault him for laughing? She’d just been telling a neighbor’s cow that the farmhand was cute.
“Please don’t ever tell anyone what I just said.”
Walking to her side, he reached out, played with the end of one of her kapp’s tails. “Daisy, I like you a lot, but there’s no way on earth I’m not going to tell someone about this. Sorry.”
She couldn’t deny it. She was completely embarrassed. “I need to go. Ruthie is waiting on me.”
“What for?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re going to sit and chat and have coffee and zucchini bread.”
“I’m sorry I’ll miss it, but I’ll do my best to be useful. Maybe I’ll talk to the cow about the world’s events.”
“Moo,” Velvet called out. The sound was peppy, as if she was looking forward to the conversation.
“Velvet, you traitor,” Daisy teased.
Kyle started laughing again.
And because it took her a bit to crutch her way to the Millers’ front door, Daisy allowed herself to giggle a bit, too.
After all, there was no one around to see.