Chapter 17
“Need help with anything else?” Perry slipped his hammer inside the leather bag.
Nelson shook his head. “Not that I can think of. Danki for coming out on short notice and fixing her hoof. I’m glad it’s only a bruise and not an abscess.”
“Me too.” He stroked the mare’s nose. “The pad I put on it will give her some cushion as it heals. Give her as much rest as
possible. That will promote faster healing.”
“Will do.” He gave the horse a pat on the back and Perry stepped to the side as Nelson led her to her stall. “Ready for Saturday?”
When Perry gave him a confused look, he added, “Don’t tell me you forgot Devon is coming back to town. He’s bringing the family
too. Mamm ’s got the whole day planned for all of us, including a huge meal.”
He hid his groan. With all the distractions he’d had lately, he’d forgotten about his oldest brother’s visit from Fredericktown.
“Seems like he was just here.”
“Two months ago.”
“I still remember that cold I had.” He’d been laid up for nearly a week, even after taking Margaret’s foul-tasting concoction to help his coughing and sneezing.
Nelson exited the stall and walked over to him. “We all figured you’re bringing that girl you’re seeing.”
Perry froze. “Huh?”
“Grace’s cousin.” He grinned. “Charity told Ella that Phoebe told her that Mamm can’t stop talking about how you’re finally not a bachelor anymore.”
“Um...” He lifted his finger, then let his hand drop to his sides. “ Ya .”
“We knew you could do it.” Nelson laughed and punched him in the shoulder.
Perry rubbed his arm. Even though it was a playful thump, his brawny brother didn’t know his own strength. And he should have
predicted his mother would be talking about him and Daisy. Now what am I supposed to do?
“We’re getting there early to help set up so the kinner can spend some time with Mamm and Daed . What’s your maedel ’s name, again?”
“Daisy,” Perry said weakly. If he corrected his brother, that would trigger a bunch of other questions that he didn’t want
to deal with.
“Can’t wait to meet her.” Nelson grinned and headed to the front of the barn.
“Glad you’re finding this so funny,” he muttered.
He opened the door and let Perry go ahead of him. “Oh ya . Very funny. I’m just glad it’s not me in the hot seat. Daisy must be a special girl if she’s got your attention.” He clapped
him on the back, a little less forceful this time. “After all these years, Perry Bontrager’s finally seeing someone.”
Perry barely nodded, not wanting to bring up his past relationship with Ruby. He would never bring her up. She was a mistake—one that he would keep to himself. His pact with Daisy was a mistake too. So was holding her on his lap. He never should have allowed that to happen.
“I gotta get back to the shop,” Nelson said. “I promised Mamm I would provide the meat on Saturday. I’ve got some quality hams in the smoker. I’m bringing ribs and steaks too.”
Perry’s mouth almost watered. “What about the pastrami?”
“Gotcha covered.”
Perry finally managed to smile. His brother’s pastrami was the best in the area, and he was gaining an excellent reputation
for it. People traveled clear from Cleveland and Columbus to visit his butcher shop and deli for the pastrami sandwiches made
with Ella’s fresh-baked bread.
“See you Saturday.” He gave Perry a short wave goodbye and walked across the street where his shop and Ella’s family grocery
store were located.
Perry climbed into his buggy. Time to head home. He wasn’t as late as he thought he would be, mostly due to Nelson’s panic
over his horse’s hoof being a false alarm. After finishing his scheduled job today, he met Nelson at his barn. His brother
was worried it was going to be a bad infection, and at first Perry thought it might too. But when he took out his testers
and examined the hoof, he discovered the bruise. If there had been an abscess under the hoof, it would have taken a little
more time to figure it out and treat, but thankfully the injury was a quick fix.
As he drove, he thought about Ferman and hoped he was feeling better. This morning when he woke him up, he apologized to him
for being so curt yesterday. Immediately Ferman had moaned and started acting strangely. Perry couldn’t explain the sudden
relapse, but he knew Ferman was in Daisy’s good hands.
Daisy. Working on his drawing of Lady in his butterfly room had calmed him down, and he came to a decision. He wasn’t going to help her anymore, for his own sanity. He couldn’t keep denying he was attracted to her—that had been extremely clear yesterday. But she was off-limits, period. Even if she wasn’t devoted to Maynard, he knew better than to get involved
with her or anyone else. He needed to lock up his own heart and destroy the key.
Then Nelson reminded him about the Bontrager family gathering. His best-laid plan just went up in smoke.
The drive from Nelson’s house to his was a short one and soon he was home. Dread filled him. He should tell Daisy about Saturday,
but there was another option—go to the party and inform his family that they weren’t seeing each other anymore. That would
have a ring of truth once Ferman left.
He stopped a few feet from the house, his temple throbbing. If he told his mother he and Daisy were done, she would get right
back to matchmaking. Also, if he neglected to tell Daisy about the party, she might be upset. She should at least know he
planned to set the record straight with his family as soon as possible.
He entered the house, pausing at the cozy scene in front of him. Ferman was in his chair reading The Budget while Daisy was on the couch, her feet curled underneath her as she worked on a cross-stitch pattern. The scent of meat and
vegetables cooking filled the small living area, blending with the fresh air coming through the open window by the dining
table.
It’s good to be home.
Ferman nodded at him, barely looking up from the paper as Daisy set down the cross-stitch and stood, a shy smile on her face.
Despite his vow to be unaffected by her, he returned her smile with a small one of his own. Then his unease returned. It wasn’t suppertime yet, and he needed to get this over with. He glanced at Ferman. The Budget was shielding his face. Perry craned his neck toward the front door and mouthed to Daisy, “Can we talk?”
Her eyes slightly widened, but she got up and followed him to the front porch. Ferman didn’t say a word about them leaving.
As soon as they were outside and the door was closed, she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“ Ya . How’s Ferman?”
“Fine. He’s hurting a bit more, and I made sure he rested today. Aenti Rosella came over and visited while I made the stew, and she had a great time visiting with him. He can be a charming conversationalist
when he wants to be. Yesterday might have been too much for him, though.”
Noted. “Should we let Margaret know?”
“I don’t think so. He’s been cooperative.” She glanced to the side. “And a little nosy,” she muttered.
He wondered what she meant by that, but he couldn’t allow himself to get sidetracked. He slid his palms over his dirty pantlegs.
“I saw my brother Nelson today.” He explained about the horse’s bruised hoof, then said, “I forgot that my family is getting
together on Saturday at my parents’ house. My entire family.”
“That’s nice. Do they have room for everyone?”
“ Ya . It’s a large compound. My oldest brother, Devon, and his family are coming for a visit. And my brother-in-law Jalon and
his cousin Adam own the farm next door, and Adam’s married to one of the bishop’s daughters—” He halted his words. Too much
detail.
“Sounds like fun.” She smiled.
Cute. He inhaled a groan and forced himself to focus. “It will be entertaining. Somewhat.” The thought of being around so many
people was overwhelming, even though they were all family. “That probably doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t to me anyway.”
“ Nee . I understand.”
That was Daisy. She always understood, and he wanted her to again after he said his next words. “ Mamm has been talking about us.” His feet shifted. “She’s really happy we’re together.”
Her cheeks turned rosy. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry, Daisy. I didn’t mean for things to geh this far.”
“It’s to be expected, ya ?”
“But I thought she’d see us together one time, and then later on I would tell her we—” He shook his head. There was no point
in going over what he thought would happen. “They’re expecting both of us, but I understand if you don’t want to geh .”
“Of course I want to geh . I like your familye . I’m just glad there’s nix wrong.”
He almost laughed at the absurdity of her statement. Everything about this was wrong, and now they were perpetuating a lie,
one he would straighten out after Saturday was over. But he knew what she meant. The window by the door was open, bringing
the scent of supper outdoors. “What are you cooking?” he said, eager to change the subject. “It smells great.”
She beamed. “Beef stew. I got some ingredients from Aenti Rosella’s while she was visiting with Ferman.”
“Sorry the pantry is so bare.” He hadn’t had time to go to the store, or even get Ferman’s clothing. The old man seemed fine
wearing Perry’s and hadn’t asked for his. Or anything else from his house, come to think of it. Then again, he might have
been expecting to go home tomorrow. Now with this small setback, he wouldn’t be able to unless a miracle happened and he woke
up healed enough to be on his own.
“What time is the party?” Daisy asked.
“I’ll pick you up around ten if that sounds gut .”
She nodded and glanced over her shoulder, then back at him. “The stew is ready whenever you and Ferman feel like eating. If you don’t mind, I’m going to get my things and geh home. I want to spend some time with Grace.”
“Oh, ya .” But it didn’t seem right that she wasn’t joining them for supper since she went to so much trouble to make it. Just as
he was about to point that out, she moved closer to him and stood on her tiptoes.
“Spend some time in your butterfly room,” she whispered. “Ferman will be fine.” She turned and went back inside the house.
Perry didn’t move. Ruby never would have encouraged him to spend time doing his hobby, and she supposedly had cared about
him. Even said she loved him once. And here was Daisy who, only after knowing him a little more than a week, had realized
he needed to be with his butterflies.
Maynard is an idiot.
***
“I’m glad to hear Ferman’s feeling better.” Grace picked up several mancala stones and placed them in the wells.
“Me too.” Daisy frowned. This was the third time tonight she and her cousin had played the game. Grace had won each match
and it appeared she was going to do it again. She grabbed her two stones and played them.
“When do you think he’s going home?” Grace asked.
“I’m not sure.” That was the strange thing. For the first time since she’d been taking care of him, he hadn’t mentioned leaving. And although he’d been in pain this morning, that had seemed to subside throughout the day. He’d even gone outside to sit on the patio and enjoyed the warm spring air while Daisy had fixed the stew. When she went out to check on him, he was asleep. Right before she turned to go back inside, she spotted a painted lady landing on Ferman’s knee. Unlike Perry, she couldn’t tell if it was Lady or not, and she’d forgotten to mention it to him when they were outside talking.
“I’m assuming he’ll leave soon, ya ?” Grace picked up her pieces and plunked them in the wells.
“You’re so gut at this,” Daisy grumbled, seeing she could only play one piece.
“It’s Kyle favorite game.” She rested her chin in her hand. “He taught me all his secrets.”
Daisy smiled, wondering what Perry’s favorite game was. Oh, and Maynard’s. They’d never played a game together. That was something
they would have to do when she went back to Dover.
“How’s Perry?” Grace asked.
Talk about a loaded question. When he arrived home, she noticed his anxious expression. Then his face suddenly relaxed, only
to tense up again before they talked on the porch. Throughout their conversation he seemed uptight, and when he told her about
Saturday, she could see why. While she enjoyed going to parties and gatherings and she liked the Bontragers, there was that
pesky problem of them all thinking she and Perry were dating. Even Ferman had been inquisitive about her love life for some
reason.
When he woke up from his nap outside, she joined him for a little while. No sooner had her backside hit the plastic chair
than he plied her with questions about Dover and her life back home.
“You have a lot of friends then, ya ?” he said, angling his stocky body in the chair so he was looking straight at her.
“I wouldn’t say a lot. Most of them are married, so we don’t spend as much time together.”
That must have been the magic phrase, because he then asked, “And how about yourself? Any marriage plans in the future?”
She almost couldn’t answer him, she was so shocked. And how was she supposed to explain Maynard? She hadn’t wanted to tell
Grace or Perry about her complicated relationship with him, much less Ferman. She didn’t want to lie to him either. “There’s
a possibility.”
His expression fell, or at least she thought it did. He didn’t ask her anything else after that, and in hindsight she should
have told him to mind his own business. Then Aenti Rosella came over and that was the end of the conversation.
“Daisy?”
Her eyes focused on Grace, who was frowning at her. “ Ya ?”
“Is something on your mind? You kind of faded away for a bit.”
She stared at the mancala board, trying to focus on her next move, only to think about Perry again, more specifically when
she had whispered that he should spend some time in his butterfly room. She didn’t want to risk Ferman eavesdropping, not
knowing if Perry had told him about it or not. She doubted he did. He was clear about keeping that room a secret from everyone.
A flutter appeared in her stomach. He’d smelled of hard work—leather, dirt, sweat—but she didn’t mind. Being close to him
had been... ahh .
Grace grinned. “Thinking about Maynard?”
Daisy sat up straight. “Huh?”
She chuckled. “From the smile on your face, you must be.”
“ Ya . Maynard. That’s who I’m thinking about.” She jumped up from her chair. “Do you want some chips?”
“Sure. They’re on the third shelf.”
Daisy hurried to the pantry and looked, but for the life of her she couldn’t see the bag. Grace was right—she should have been thinking about Maynard, not Perry. “There they are,” she mumbled, grabbing the nacho-flavored chips and shutting the door. She poured them into a medium-sized bowl and set it down at the table. “Wait,” she said, looking at the mancala board. “You won again?”
“Yep.” Grace picked up a chip and nibbled on the corner. Then she got up. “I’ll geh get Dutch Blitz.”
“ Danki .” She sat down. “I don’t think I can take much more defeat.”
Grace winked and left the kitchen at the same time Aenti Rosella walked in. “You maed having fun?”
“Grace is.” Daisy chuckled and took a chip.
Her aenti went to the covered pan of chocolate chip brownies on the counter. “I know I shouldn’t,” she said, opening a drawer to get
out a knife. “But I shall. You want one?”
“ Nee . I had two for dessert. Those are delicious.”
Grace entered the room with a forest-green pack of cards. She set them on the table and sat down. “Be gentle,” she said with
a smirk.
“After you destroyed me in mancala?” Daisy shook her head and opened the pack. “Never.”
“It’s so gut to see you two playing together again.” Aenti Rosella slid a generous square of brownie onto a plate. “Like old times.”
Daisy exchanged a smile with Grace, then looked at her aunt. “Do you want to join us?”
“Not tonight.” She set the knife in the sink. “The latest issue of The Budget arrived this morning.”
Her aunt didn’t have to elaborate. Mamm was the same way when the Amish newspaper was delivered—they both read every word. Ferman had also enjoyed perusing the paper.
“Lovina used to read this,” he’d said, a touch of sadness in his tone. “I canceled my subscription after she passed. Polly Ann isn’t much of a reader.” Daisy was about to ask him who Polly Ann was, but he lifted the paper in front of his face.
Aenti Rosella started to leave the kitchen, then stopped in the doorway.
“Oh. I almost forgot.” She frowned slightly at Daisy, only for it to quickly disappear. “Maynard called right before you came
home.”
She stopped mid shuffle. “He did?”
“ Ya . I told him you’d call him back. But there’s nee rush,” she said quickly and disappeared.
Grace pulled a face. “That’s weird. It’s almost like she doesn’t want you to talk to him.”
She doesn’t. Daisy wondered if she should tell Grace that Aenti Rosella was in cahoots with her mamm about Maynard, then decided not to. Things were already too complicated.
“Have you told your mamm yet about your ‘date’ with Perry?”
“It wasn’t a date. It was church,” she reminded Grace. “ Nee . I decided to let her know in a couple of weeks.”
Grace nodded, then paused, the deck in her hand ready to be dealt. “Do you want to call Maynard? We can play another night.”
She started to say yes, but something held her back. This was the second time he’d called her since she left Dover, and she
glanced at the clock to check the time. It was only seven thirty and Maynard always retired for the night at eight. That would
give them thirty minutes to talk, so it wasn’t like she didn’t have enough time for one of their short conversations.
Then she looked at Grace and the cards. Because she’d been with Ferman and Perry so much lately, she missed being with her
cousin. Grace was the main reason she’d come here, and even though that initial reason had changed, she was enjoying hanging
out with her. And she still didn’t have a clue how to make conversation easier with Maynard.
Like it is with Perry.
But that was because she didn’t like Perry the way she liked Maynard. Maybe that was it. Things were cumbersome between them
because they hadn’t reached their relationship potential. She shook her head. “ Nee . I’ll call him in the morning.”
“Okay.” Grace looked a little taken aback. “I just know if it were Kyle—”
“He’s not Kyle.”
She paused. “You’re right. He’s not.”
Daisy touched Grace’s hand, trying to soften the surprising harshness of her tone. “I want to play cards with you,” she said.
“Maynard’s not going anywhere.”
Grace smiled and started to deal. “You’re going to see him in a month anyway.”
She smiled. Then it hit her—a month wasn’t that far away. Before she knew it, she would be leaving her cousin, aunt, and uncle.
Ferman too. And Perry. She’d have to make the best of her time here, because once she went home, she and Maynard would start their new life together
as an engaged couple. After they had “the talk,” of course. And she’d call him tomorrow morning, first thing before she went
to Perry’s.
Right now, she just wanted to enjoy herself.
***
Ferman Eash was in a quandary.
It was Friday afternoon, four days after he’d decided to put off going home for the sake of Perry and Daisy. But now he was questioning his decision. Oh, he was still correct about the two of them having feelings for each other. Even though Daisy hadn’t stayed for supper on Tuesday and Wednesday, she had last night, and he sat and watched as the two of them talked. It wasn’t an exciting conversation. Or a flirty one. It was comfortable, like a mann and frau have when they miss each other after being apart for the day.
Those two stymied him. He’d managed to find out that there was a possibility for Daisy back in Dover, but that wasn’t exactly confirmation that she was romantically invested. And as for Perry, getting
him to disclose anything personal was like trying to open a can with a straw. There was only so much prying he could do without
tipping his hand. Top that off with how fine his hip was feeling and that he was getting antsy just sitting around doing puzzles
and snoozing in the chair, he didn’t know if he could continue staying here, never mind if he should. Faking his pain and
mobility wasn’t the right thing to do, and he was being stingy by keeping Perry on the couch instead of in his own bed.
Still, not only was he trying to figure out the situation with his young friends, but he was also curious about what was in
that room , as he now thought of it. After supper each night, Perry entered the room and shut the door, staying in there for an hour
or two before retiring for the night. The door was always closed, and Daisy hadn’t gone in there either—at least that Ferman
had witnessed. More than once, he was tempted to find a way to unlock it and peek inside while Daisy was busy outside or running
next door to Rosella’s to get this or that.
Then again, it probably wasn’t anything special. Maybe a storage room that needed cleaning and organizing. Perhaps Perry was
a secret pack rat. That explanation didn’t hold much water, though.
With Perry back at work and Daisy busy, either with house chores or her cross-stitch, Ferman unfortunately had plenty of time to think and it was becoming clearer that staying here wasn’t just because he was curious about Perry and Daisy’s true feelings for each other or his desire to find out what was in that room.
Truth was, he liked the company. Even though Perry spent time alone each evening, they did talk at supper and sometimes before
Ferman went to bed. Again, nothing too personal, but he did find out about Perry’s family, his numerous nieces and nephews,
how long he’d been a farrier and how much he loved his job. In turn, Ferman talked about Lovina and growing up in Marigold,
steering clear of discussing Junior and Polly Ann. Perry wasn’t the only one who kept things close to his chest.
Going back home and letting Perry have his house back was an easy choice. But every time he leaned toward asking Perry to
take him home, he balked, the idea of rambling around a house full of memories making his heart pinch. I never expected to be in this pickle, Lord.
Ferman got up from his chair. Daisy had left to get a few eggs from Rosella’s coop, even though Perry had finally gone to
the grocery store on Tuesday and picked up a dozen, which Daisy promptly used during the week. He went to the restroom, then
paused in front of that room . He hobbled to the closed door. At least he could settle one thing in his mind if he found out what was on the other side.
And he’d only take a smidge of a look. Perry would never know.
Ferman touched the doorknob, gripped the cold metal, and started to turn—
“Hello?”
He jumped at the female voice that wasn’t Daisy’s. All his weight shifted to his left hip and leg. “Ow!”
“Ferman?”
The pitter-patter of feminine footsteps headed his way, and he recognized the voice. Margaret Bontrager. What was she doing here? His gaze darted back and forth. Too late to dash into Perry’s room. Maybe he could hide in the bathroom? Nah, too obvious. He had no choice but to surrender. “I’m comin’,” he groused, meeting her at the edge of the living room. “Let me guess. Lecture time, ya ?”
She smiled. Like Daisy, she seemed unfazed by his testiness. “That depends,” she said, going to the couch without being invited.
She sat down. “Are you still following orders?”
“ Ya .” He limped to the chair and lowered himself down. His hip ached more than usual due to her scaring him.
“You’re moving well.” She untied her black bonnet ribbons and took off the head covering. “I was out and about today, and
I thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing.”
“We just saw each other on Sunday.”
“And now we’re seeing each other again.”
A snug feeling went through him. She and Daisy reminded him of Lovina—caring, but with a backbone. “I, uh, appreciate you
stopping by.”
“Where’s Daisy?”
“Gathering eggs at Rosella’s,” he said. “She’ll be back soon.”
“Have you given any more thought about our last conversation?”
He blanked his expression, even though he knew exactly what she was referring to.
“About you either moving in with someone or having someone live with you?”
Ferman scrambled for an answer. While he’d given plenty of thought about returning home, he refused to entertain her suggestion.
He still didn’t want to move in with Junior, and he had no idea who would want to live with him. “A smidge,” he said. Maybe
if she thought he was taking her seriously, she’d drop the subject.
She chuckled. “Well, that’s something.”
For the next few minutes, he answered her questions about his pain level, his mobility, and if he was having any side effects from the medicines he was taking. He fudged a little bit about how much his hip ached and stated that he was having some trouble walking. Then the guilt arrived. He should be honest with her, but he couldn’t. Not just yet.
“I won’t be giving you more tea,” she said, rising from the couch. “You don’t seem to need it anymore, and it’s not something
you should take long term. What you should do—”
“Is get a hip replacement.” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t need you telling me that.”
Her mouth downturned slightly. “If you would have let me finish, you would have heard me say to spend as much time outside
as you can. You’re looking a little pale.”
Ferman touched his cheek. “Really?”
She put her bonnet back on. “I would also say that you could help Perry with his garden, but I know you’ll be going back home
soon.”
“ Ya .” Then he said, “Garden?” The few times he’d been outside, he didn’t see anything that hinted that Perry had a garden. The
only thing in his yard was grass and the clothesline.
“He had one way in the back of his yard last year. Small, with only a few vegetables. Lots of flowers, though.” Margaret picked
up her basket. “If you insist on living alone, I hope you don’t mind if I check in on you from time to time.”
His heart softened at her words, something he refused to let her see. If he showed too much weakness, she might be more insistent.
“I’ll be fine.”
“I’d like to make sure of that if you’ll let me.”
Ferman was finding it hard to look this lovely woman in the eye. “Only if it’s not too much trouble,” he muttered, then lifted his chin halfway. “I don’t want to impose on nobody.” He inwardly cringed. He was imposing on Perry and Daisy right now.
She moved closer and patted his shoulder. “I’m happy to do it.” Turning, she headed for the door. “You have a gut afternoon, Ferman.”
“You too.”
After she left, he slumped in the chair, his hypocrisy almost strangling him. I’m being selfish.
He slapped his thighs with his palms. No more imposing, and no more stalling. Perry was going to his family’s tomorrow, and
then there was church on Sunday in Marigold. But after the service, he was going straight to his house. If God meant for Perry
and Daisy to be together, he was gonna do it without Ferman Eash. He glanced up at the ceiling. “You certainly don’t need
my help.”