The Amish Cowboy's Homecoming Read online

  “Both,” Isaac said, making himself move back, for he was noticing the unique, flowery scent of her skin too much. “It’s a team effort. Here, let’s get him back up.”

  A moment later, Cincinnati was standing on all fours, his long tail swishing.

  “Danke,” Grace said. “That was pretty incredible.”

  “That was you trusting me.” When he took a beat to let that sink in, Grace looked at him, her pretty blue eyes locking onto his, almost hesitantly at first. “Trust is important between any two beings,” he added before he allowed himself to analyze the look in her eyes. “Do you agree?”

  He waited, and Grace finally nodded. “Yes, I do definitely agree.”

  “I couldn’t have done it without you.” Isaac had no idea why he said such a thing. It wasn’t really the truth, and the tone as it had come out of his mouth sounded almost…flirtatious.

  Grace was looking at him, chin tilting up, eyes as blue as the sky above, making Isaac’s mouth go dry. Then she looked down at her hand—their hands, for Isaac’s was still wrapped around hers. He knew he should let go immediately, but something made him pause, to memorize the feeling of her soft skin touching his.

  But a moment was all he took.

  “Well done,” he said again, dropping her hand, then pushing that same hand through his hair, bobbing his head up and down. “That was great.”

  Grace lowered her gaze but then laughed lightly. “It really was. And you were right. Sin had to trust me, but first I…I had to trust you.”

  He waited until he knew his voice would be steady. “I’m glad you did—do.” He stepped back and raked his fingers through his hair once more.

  “About your training skills, I meant,” she added quickly as she turned her attention to Sin. She lifted her hand that he’d been holding and pressed it against her cheek for just one second. Then she shook her head and reached for the lead. “Let’s do it again. But on my own, this time.”

  Isaac made the motion of a bow, then stepped aside, way back, giving both of them plenty of space. Heaven knew Isaac needed it.

  …

  “That was really delicious,” Isaac said as he handed his empty dinner plate to Dorothy Chupp. “Those green beans tasted just like my mother’s.”

  “Danke,” Dorothy said. “It’s the lard. Makes everything taste better.”

  Isaac nodded, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. Sadie had already finished supper and was upstairs playing with the new doll he’d bought her at the mercantile in town, the two Chupp girls tagging along. Isaac knew he was probably spoiling Sadie, but her short life had been uprooted so many times, he never wanted her to feel like she was doing without because of that.

  When this job was over and his business was bringing in more money, he would build them a house of their own. He’d make sure Sadie would grow up in a loving, peaceful, obedient home.

  “Well,” Samuel Chupp said, laying his palms flat on the table. “I’m heading over to the bishop’s in a while.”

  “On a Friday?” Dorothy asked.

  Samuel sniffed and rubbed his beard. “Been some trouble out near Ben Stolzenfus’s.”

  “Another fire,” said Collin, helping himself to a second plateful of roasted chicken. “Heard talk of it at the iron shop. Only lasted a minute.”

  “Fire’s not to be taken lightly, son,” Samuel said. “Even the smallest flames. Say the wind picks up or there’s no water close by.” He shook his head. “Could be real devastating.”

  Collin shrugged one shoulder. Isaac hoped the gesture was made in understanding and not passivity. But it made him once again think that Collin wasn’t the right man for Grace.

  “Think I might stop by the Zooks’ on the way,” Samuel added. “See if John and Amos want to come.”

  This made Collin sit up. “The Zooks’? I’ll come too, Pa.”

  “You’re interested in attending the meeting?” Samuel asked his son, his head tipped to one side.

  “Meeting? Uh, no, I was just thinking of paying a visit to Grace. I was out at their place earlier, dropping off some molasses from Maam.” He leaned back in his chair. “Asked her for a date, even.”

  Suddenly, Collin Chupp had Isaac’s complete attention.

  “A date?” Dorothy said. “And what did she say this time?”

  You took the words right out of my mouth, Isaac thought, though he wouldn’t be so bold as to ask the question himself. But after that moment in the field today with Grace, being so close to her, holding her hand, even, Isaac knew Collin shouldn’t be anywhere near her.

  “It’ll happen,” Collin answered, the corners of his mouth turning up. “I have no doubt.”

  “So she said no,” Dorothy replied.

  Collin’s crestfallen expression made Isaac want to laugh out loud. Yet he was surprised by how relieved he also felt at Collin’s answer.

  “She said she’s real busy.” He pursed his lips. “Training some new horse.” He looked at Isaac, who was trying not to smile. “Hey, thought that’s what they hired you for.”

  “I…” Isaac lifted both hands, not sure what to say. “We’re working as a team. A partnership.”

  “Well…” Collin narrowed his eyes. “I don’t reckon my girl should be partners with anyone.”

  “Collin.” Samuel stood up from the table. “Is Grace Zook your girl?”

  “She will be someday,” Collin said. “Soon as she gives up all that horse training. A girl like her should be in the house. Ain’t that right, Pa?”

  “That’s John and Eve Zook’s business,” Samuel said. “Not mine. And definitely not yours. Now, don’t you have some feeding to do?”

  “Yes, Daed,” Collin said. But right before leaving the room, he sent Isaac a look that was probably meant to scare him, but all it made him want to do was laugh.

  “That boy,” Samuel said, sitting back in his chair. “Don’t know what I’m gonna do with him. Can’t even seem to find steady work.”

  “What does he do now?” Isaac asked, sensing permission to pry.

  “Helps out at the farm mostly. Works part-time at the feed store and makes deliveries for the market on his scooter. Can’t support a family on that.”

  Isaac thought for a moment, then said, “What about logging? Still a lot of trees to fell, especially around Silver Springs. Got a big logging group of plain folks out there.”

  “Really?” Samuel rubbed his beard. “Silver Springs, huh? Might be good for the boy to get away from home. Try life on his own.”

  “Might be the best thing for him,” Isaac agreed. “I might be able to put you in contact with the hiring agent.”

  “Jah?”

  Isaac nodded, feeling good because he was helping out his host, but also completely guilty for practically running Collin Chupp out of town. Away from Grace.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Grace pressed her lips to the back of her hand, the one Isaac had been holding—well, sort of holding. She had a small scratch there, and she’d nearly convinced herself that that was why she kept running her thumb over it.

  No matter what she tried, however, she couldn’t get the “incident” out of her mind, even as she attempted to fall asleep in the darkness of her room. It had been terribly thrilling to get Cincinnati to obey her so easily, but the shock of being touched like that by a man left her head spinning. She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

  Strangely enough, however, it had been a pleasure working with him this morning. Grace always thought she was the most patient trainer around, but Isaac King had her beat. When first Cincinnati would not let Isaac near him with a harness in his hand, Isaac had stood three feet away from the horse, just holding it and staring into Sin’s eyes, not making a sound. Amazingly, it was Cincinnati who’d made the first move by walking over to Isaac, softly butting his nose against Isaac’s head.

&n
bsp; Initially, Grace hadn’t been sure if she’d be able to work with a partner, but sometimes it was as if Isaac was reading her mind—they worked together almost…better than alone.

  She turned over onto her side, remembering the moment he’d seen her with her hair down. She knew she was never to not have it covered with a kapp, but out there in the back pasture, where she thought she’d been alone, she hadn’t seen the harm in it.

  She felt herself smiling, tucking her chin, picturing that enthralled look in his eyes, wondering if a man would ever look at her like that again—like she was a woman and not just a horse trainer in a grimy dress.

  Then again, would she welcome it?

  …

  The next morning, Grace practically jumped out of bed, eager to get her morning chores out of the way so she could head straight to Cincinnati. Rounding the corner into the stable, she stopped short, panting to catch her breath.

  “You’re up early,” she said, feeling almost accusatory as she placed her hands on her hips. But then she remembered the trust. She wanted Sarah to trust her. She wanted Sin to trust her. And Isaac had even said the words: “Do you trust me?”

  Grace hadn’t then, but she did now.

  “Couldn’t stay asleep,” Isaac said. “And I wanted to see if I could get here before you for a change.” He ran his hand under Cincinnati’s chin, then turned to Grace and smiled. “All it took was sleeping in my clothes, then breaking the speed of light.”

  Grace wasn’t sure what that last part meant, but for some reason, seeing him in the early morning light put a smile on her face. “Maybe we can squeeze in three training sessions today,” she suggested. “If we don’t work him too hard. He’s proven to be pretty durable.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.” He looked down and brushed at the front of his blue shirt. “Maybe we can go out to the back pasture again.”

  The way he looked at her, his hazel eyes big and inviting, made her stomach do another of those funny back flips. She was about to agree, but then thought better of it… As if an invisible angel were sitting on her shoulder.

  “M-maybe not,” she said instead, staring at him with a level, steady gaze. “Three of the Millers’ horses are loose in the front, rehab after they were spooked a few days ago. I think it would behoove Sin to be around more horses.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Just an idea.”

  “A very good one,” Isaac said. “One I should’ve thought of.” He bowed his head. “Thank you, partner.”

  Grace couldn’t help laughing, grateful that there was less awkwardness between them now. She knew that was best for Sin, and she also needed to work more at forgiving…both her father for hiring him and Isaac himself, for simply being there.

  They brushed Cincinnati for a while, small talking in between making plans for their afternoon training sessions. Right as she got to the gate of the front pasture, Isaac and the horse behind her, her father came running out of the house.

  “Call Lucas Brenneman!” he shouted, practically throwing his cell phone at Grace. “Hurry!”

  “What’s wrong?” she yelled back, seeing the alarm on her father’s face.

  “Your mother fell,” Daed said. “I need to get her to a doctor or hospital. I don’t know what—”

  “Where is she?” Isaac said.

  “On the floor by the couch. She’s not opening her eyes. I don’t know…”

  “Come with me to check on her,” Isaac said, taking ahold of her father’s arm. “Call Lucas, quickly,” he added, glancing at Grace.

  “I’ve never called someone on a phone before,” she said, holding it up like it had appeared out of nowhere, feeling panicked and useless.

  “Is his number in your favorites?” Isaac asked Daed.

  “First one.”

  “Just hit the down arrow once,” Isaac said as he began pulling Daed toward the house. “Then hit the big green button.”

  Grace looked down at the phone in a daze, already feeling lost.

  “The down arrow,” Isaac repeated as he rushed into the house. “Trust me, Grace. You can do it.”

  Grace swallowed and nodded. She found the arrow, which moved something on the face of the phone that she couldn’t read, then she hit the green button in the middle, the one shaped like the big phone her grandfather used to have in his barn.

  “John?” someone said.

  “Lucas!” Grace shouted at the phone. “Lucas, it’s Grace Zook. Something happened to my maam!”

  Right as she ended the call, Daed came running out of the house. “Is he coming?”

  “Nay,” Grace called. “He said to get her to the medical clinic in town as fast as possible but to be very careful. He’ll meet us there.”

  As if he’d been prepared for the instructions, Isaac came onto the front porch, holding Maam in his arms. Her eyes were closed, head bobbing.

  “Maam!” Grace called out, feeling hot tears in her throat. “What happened?”

  “It’s okay,” Isaac said. “Her heart feels strong and her hands and feet are warm. Help your father with the buggy.”

  Daed was already pulling the horses around, hitching them to his largest buggy.

  “Open the back door,” Isaac said. Grace obeyed instantly. “Get inside. I’m going to lay her down flat. Can her head rest on your dress?”

  “Aye.” There was plenty of room in the back of the buggy, so Grace climbed in, helping Isaac lay Maam down as gently as she could.

  “John,” Isaac called out. “I need you back here to keep her steady. I’ll drive.”

  Without a word, her father was in the back, doing what he could to keep his wife from rolling around. The buggy jerked at first, but then it was a steady ride. The whole way to town, Grace prayed and prayed, begging Gott to spare her sweet mother, to keep her alive.

  Grace’s heart sped faster when the horses slowed. She saw the medical clinic ahead, Lucas and two other men standing on the curb. Before the buggy came to a complete stop, the back door flew open and an English man wearing a white coat jumped inside.

  “Is she breathing?”

  “Jah,” Daed said. “I listened to it the entire way here.”

  “Good,” the man said. He knelt by Maam’s head, leaned down, and put his ear to her mouth, then he laid fingers on the side of her neck. “Steady pulse—that’s good. Luke, Greg, let’s get her inside for X-rays.” He turned to Grace. “It’s okay, you can let go.”

  Grace looked down to see she was grasping onto the sleeve of her maam’s dress. But instead of letting so, Grace tightened her grip like iron.

  “What’s your name?” the man asked, calmness in his voice.

  “It’s Grace.”

  Grace wasn’t the one who had spoken. She gulped in a breath when she saw Isaac standing outside the open doors of the buggy.

  “Grace,” the man said. “I’m Kevin. I’ve got your mom now. Trust me.”

  Trust was never the first thing Grace felt when it came to Englishers she didn’t know. But she knew Lucas, and she trusted him now. In fact, just seeing him made her not as frightened somehow. After they pulled out her mother on a long, flat bed, Grace and her father followed the doctors inside until they disappeared behind a pair of white double doors. Lucas led them to the waiting room.

  “We’ll run tests,” he said, touching her father’s arm. “And we’ll give her fluids. I didn’t notice any bumps on her head, but we’ll scan for that, and to see if there’s new damage to the vertebra. I’ll come back with news as soon as possible.”

  “Danke,” Daed said, his bottom lip trembling.

  Grace ran to his side and wrapped her arms around him. “What happened? Were you in the room?”

  “Aye.” He wiped his nose with a hanky. “She was reaching for a book—I told her I’d get it, but she can be so stubborn. Next thing I know, she yelled for me from the floor
, hands behind her back, pushing in right…right where it happened.”

  Grace shut her eyes. It had been two years since the accident, and her mother was still in daily pain. This time the pain had knocked her unconscious.

  “She needs that surgery,” she said.

  “I know.”

  “Can’t you borrow the money for it?”

  Her father dropped his chin. “It’s very expensive, Grace, and the church can offer only so much.”

  Grace bit down on her lip, tasting blood. “Would we have enough if I was training the Morgan on my own?” When her father didn’t answer, Grace felt the heat of a roaring fire under her hair. “We would, wouldn’t we? Daed…” She stood up, taking a few steps away. “Maam could be getting better right now if all the money was ours. Why are you paying someone else to do a job I can? I want to take over the family business when you retire. Don’t you know that?”

  Grace realized she was being disrespectful and completely irrational, but she was scared and angry, and she truly didn’t understand her father’s decisions lately.

  “Why are you wasting our money?” she said, her voice hitching, heart beating fast in her chest. “Why?”

  “Gracie, I…” Her father’s eyes brimmed with tears, but Grace’s panic and confusion were overpowering her empathy.

  She opened her mouth to say one more thing, but then closed it, knowing the new words would hurt her father’s feelings even worse. Instead, she ground her back teeth and ran toward the exit, barely registering that Isaac had been standing there the whole time.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Isaac stared as the doors of the medical clinic closed behind Grace. He wasn’t sure what to think; everything had happened so fast. When he heard John slump into a waiting room chair, he forgot about his own problems and rushed over to his boss.

  “Can I get a glass of water over here?” Isaac called to the woman at the reception desk.

  “Sure,” she said, pushing back from her desk. “Bottled or tap?”

  “Doesn’t matter—bottled,” Isaac said, annoyed at the question. “It’s going to be all right,” he said to John. “Eve is in good hands.”