Chapter 44
D enny was blown away by Lydia’s skill in caring for Princess. Only an hour ago Princess had seemed one step away from death, but now the mama dog was licking and cleaning her pups. And they were suckling with gusto. Denny was pleased to see Rosie getting plenty of attention from Princess. Denny admonished herself for not offering Princess water sooner. Denny had been paralyzed by fear. In some ways, she was a dummy, and Lydia had the smarts. Maybe in most ways.
Denny felt Alec’s presence behind her. She wondered if he was mesmerized by Princess and the puppies or by Lydia. No use sulking, Denny told herself. An unattractive trait that was sure to scare Alec away. So she decided to do something drastically different from her ordinary self.
“You were amazing, Lydia.” Lydia’s face showed surprise. “Thank you so much for saving Princess and the pups. Especially Rosie, who is nearest and dearest to my heart.”
“It was nothing,” Lydia said. “Mastitis is common on the farm, and veterinarians are far and few between. Not that we don’t hire them when needed.”
“You should think about becoming a veterinarian,” Alec said. “You’re so good with animals.”
“That would mean going to veterinarian school. I would never be accepted. I’ve only graduated from eighth grade.”
Denny couldn’t contain a sputter of laughter. “You’re kidding.” But Lydia didn’t answer.
Alec neared her. “Did I hear you right?” he asked Lydia. “But why?”
“The Ordnung , our set of rules we Amish must live by. Amish children attend school only through eighth grade, then they focus on learning a trade.” Lydia shrugged. “As you can see, I am not following the Ordnung.” She patted her hair. “Ach, why did I cut my hair? I could kill myself.”
“That seems a bit drastic. It will grow back.” Denny tried to console Lydia, when in fact she had no idea what Lydia was talking about. Why shouldn’t she style her hair the way she wanted?
“It will eventually grow back but not for years and years,” Lydia said. “I can’t believe I cut off my hair. Surely, I will burn in hell and deserve to.”
“As I said, it will grow back,” Denny said. “Cutting your hair can’t be the worst thing you’ve ever done.”
“That’s the truth.” But Lydia didn’t elaborate. Denny was dying to know more but didn’t ask. Not with Alec here.
Denny scooted around her to pet Rosie. She wondered why she was drawn so much to this one pup but decided to accept the fact that she was. Like love at first sight. And Princess seemed to like Denny and accept the fact that she was a city girl and helpless when Princess had needed drastic intervention. For a moment, Denny considered attending veterinary school herself. What was stopping her, other than laziness? And money. And good health. She’d accumulated decent grades in college when she’d studied English literature. But would a veterinary college consider that worth a hoot? In hindsight she wished she had studied science. Particularly biology. But none of this mattered if she had cancer eating away at her like a savage pack of hungry wolves. She never should have come on this trip. Not true. Because she wouldn’t have met Alec and found her darling Rosie. But would Gordon sell her? She envisioned herself going home alone to her apartment and her empty bookstore. Part of the reason she’d come on this trip was to buy books. But there was no way she could buy them in this storm. She glanced to the window and saw white.
“What are you thinking about,” Alec asked her.
“My mind was wandering.” Humongous lies, insignificant lies. Denny’s life was a mountain of duplicity. Maybe everyone’s life was built upon falsehoods. Was there an honest person left on this earth? Should she admit to him that she was possibly dying? She bet that Lydia was honest. Of all the people she knew, Lydia seemed the most honest. Which made Denny dislike her all the more. There, she’d been honest with herself. Honest enough to admit that she despised Lydia. Little Miss Perfect. And yet she hadn’t kept an eye on Amanda. Where was the girl?
Denny couldn’t breathe. She imagined herself in Maureen’s shoes and felt panic encompass her. Maureen must be scared to death. If only their father was still alive. He would swoop in and save the day. He had been a take-charge type of man, who had all the answers. Their mother too. She stayed calm during a crisis. But both of their parents were dead. No nice way to put it. Denny found the term passed disgusting. They hadn’t passed. They’d expired. Denny’s throat tightened, and her lungs wouldn’t expand.
“I just called Gordon,” Alec said, breaking through Denny’s bonds of anxiety. “I could barely hear him above the noise of the pub.”
“They’re in a pub this time of day?” Outrage inundated Denny at the thought of Maureen and Gordon in a warm pub, drinking and whooping it up. “Have they found Amanda?”
“Doesn’t sound like it. Has she done this kind of thing before?”
Denny heard a vehicle, chains on its tires, in the distance. “Not that I know of.” Denny turned her head toward Alec. “She is a bit of a prankster.” Denny was making light of a serious situation because in fact she had never known Amanda to run away from home. Where could she go, and how would she get there?