Part 13 (1/2)
Silas a.s.sisted Rose into his open buggy, making sure she was settled in the seat before he unfolded the woolen lap robe and placed it carefully over her, then over himself. ”Might be too nippy for a long ride tonight.” He reached for the reins.
The bone-chilling cold was already seeping into her feet. ”A gut thing it's not raining,” she remarked.
”I have an umbershoot, just in case.” He grinned pleasantly. ”Are we ready?”
She nodded and smiled. They rode along without talking much for the first half mile or so, and she looked up at the stars, spotting the Milky Way right away.
Then Silas asked, ”How is your Mamm doin' this week?”
”About the same.” She thanked him for asking.
”I hope it's not a hards.h.i.+p when you're away from the house for an evening.”
”Oh no. Between Mammi Sylvia and my father, Mamm's looked after right fine.”
”Do they depend on you mostly, Rose, during the daytime hours?”
”For the past months, jah ... Mammi Sylvia had to look after my grandfather.”
She found it interesting that he seemed to be asking, in a roundabout way, if she would be sorely missed for caretaking if she were out on dates, or even married and out of the house. Being careful not to let him know she guessed at the intent behind his questions, she inquired after his mother and siblings in turn.
He spoke warmly of them, and she found herself wis.h.i.+ng she might become better acquainted with his family. Every last one of them just seemed so pleasant. It was no wonder Rebekah Bontrager had talked so highly of the Goods - and Silas especially - back years ago. Momentarily Rose wondered what might have come of Rebekah and Silas's friends.h.i.+p, but thoughts of her former friend quickly faded when Silas turned his handsome face to her.
Soon he was talking about the amount of honey they'd gathered in, as well as the wood that was already chopped, stacked, and covered for the winter. She, too, enjoyed talking about the things of autumn, saying she'd taken a short walk the other day to pick up the little b.a.l.l.s the b.u.t.tonwood trees had already shed. ”I took several back to show Mamm. She's always said Hen and I liked playing with them when we were young.”
Silas was quick to ask about Hen. Rose wondered if perhaps she'd made a slip by talking about her Englischer sister. ”Hen's got herself a job over at Rachel's Fabrics,” she said. ”Do you know where it is?”
He said he did. ”My, my ... isn't that interesting?”
”She came by the house on Monday afternoon - her first day of work there - and picked up two of her old Kapps.”
”You don't mean it!”
”She's just started wearing them again, at least to work.”
”So, there's hope she might ... ?” His voice trailed off.
”Seems she wants to spend a little of her time amongst the People.” She really had no idea of Hen's future plans. Only what her sister had shared in confidence about missing her Plain heritage.
Soon they were back to talking again of her favorite season - the coming brilliance of leaves and the hickory nuts that would scatter on the ground, crackling beneath their feet.
”Have ya ever noticed the way the maple leaves crisscross so heavily on the bishop's lane, like an orange sunshade?” she asked. When Silas said he had, Rose also remarked about the thick new growth of hair on the horses and mules.
”It'll end up in the birds' nests, come spring,” he said, reaching for her hand.
Her heart did a little skip. She breathed in deeply, slowly ... and enjoyed the fresh, crisp air as the stars created a sparkling canopy.
”I want to ask you something, Rose Ann.”
”Oh?” she said, filling the precious gap between his comment and the next lovely question.
”Will you be my steady girl?”
She didn't have to think twice. ”I'd be honored.”
Silas raised her mittened hand to his lips and kissed it. What was it about her hand in his that made her heart sing?
They continued on their way - Silas asking if he might meet her at their usual spot, up from her father's house, next Sat.u.r.day evening. She happily agreed and replayed the curious events of the evening over in her mind: Christian's cruel words, Nick's unexpected appearance at the Singing, and the way Mary and Sarah had flirted with him - as if he were the most eligible fellow there. And now this.
Rose looked fondly at Silas as they rode beneath the dazzling sky. Despite everything, this is the happiest night of my life, she decided then and there.
With some good help from Mammi Sylvia, Rose took great care, as she always did, with the weekly was.h.i.+ng, though she found herself hurrying a bit on this nippy Monday morning. She and Mammi talked cheerfully about baking pumpkin pies and cookies, and of needing to make a big batch of applesauce soon. But while Rose agreed there was plenty of baking ahead, she was eager to get out the door. She had a plan up her sleeve, one she would not tell a soul. She intended to go and visit her sister-in-law Kate, who lived not far from the Browning house.
So when the damp clothes were securely pinned to the line, Rose found her father, who'd said at breakfast he had errands to run near josh and Kate. Since Mammi Sylvia was spending the morning with Mamm, Rose was absolutely free to go.
”I'll gladly walk home,” she offered. That way, once she headed to Gilbert Browning's, she wouldn't have to scurry back to Kate's again just to get a ride home later.
Ever so pleased with her little scheme, Rose climbed into the gray family buggy. She could hardly wait to tell Nick about it, though that would have to wait till later this afternoon. Maybe then he'd tell her about Mary's and Sarah's silliness at Singing last night, too.
Dat rode quietly for a time, as was his usual way. Eventually he brought up the fact that both his horse and the bishop's Pepper had gone missing last week. ”I suspect you and Nick were out riding.”
She caught a note of dismay in his voice and didn't know how to respond.
”If you're thinkin' of letting him court you, well ... I hope you'll think twice about such a thing.”
”Dat ...
He looked at her. ”Nick's not for you, Rosie.”
She felt too shocked and upset now to enjoy the landscape rolling by or the familiar sway of the carriage. Why on earth did her father think she might have an interest in Nick ... and he in her? Surely it would ease Dat's mind if he knew of Silas's renewed interest. But she wasn't about to break with tradition to say so.
After a time, Rose was able to shake off her discomfort and wondered instead what she might find at the Browning house on a day when she was not expected to arrive.
As they rode along, she noticed a plump red-tailed hawk basking in the morning sun. She pointed it out to her father, who nodded his head, straw hat perched atop his graying light brown hair. There was a shy ruffed grouse preening behind a fence post, and a red fox skulked in the gra.s.sy ditch along the road. Rose tried to soak up the quiet, allowing the peace of the ride to soothe her.
”Sure has been nice to have Mammi stay with Mamm after breakfast,” she said, making small talk, wanting to discuss something completely different.
Dat's lips broke into an approving smile. ”Anytime you want to slip away with a nice Amish boy, she's willin' to take your place.” He paused, then added, ”Things can always be worked out for your mother's care.” Was he telling her it was all right to think ahead to her own future? Just not one with Nick.
When they arrived at Kate's, Rose thanked her father and got out of the carriage. She stopped to wave, then walked around to the back door.
Inside, she gladly accepted Kate's hot chamomile tea and a delicious sticky bun. She played with their youngest, fifteen-month-old Annie Mae, named for Kate's older sister. The baby jabbered as Rose carried her around while Kate showed her several small quilting projects she had in the works - potholders and table runners.
”It's time to start cookin' up lots of pumpkin, too,” Kate said.
Rose said she and Mammi had been talking about just that this morning. ”I like to make pies and cookies well enough, but I also like savin' some pumpkins for outdoor decorations, ya know.”
”Well now, next thing you'll be talkin' of carving a face on them.” Kate frowned.
”No need worryin' about that.” I'm not worldly like Hen, she thought, kissing Annie Mae's soft, chubby cheek.