An Unexpected Amish Proposal Read online

  Some of the joy she’d experienced over his plan leaked away. She’d been so excited—or maybe ferhoodled was closer to the truth—by being around him, she hadn’t considered he might see her as a charity case.

  “I’m glad to know Mose will be taken care of.” Daed dipped his spoon into his bowl.

  “Gideon also asked if I’d be willing to supply his stand with rolls and cakes. He’s adding desserts to his menu.”

  After swallowing his soup, Daed tapped a finger against his lip. “I suppose it depends on what he can afford to pay.”

  “He said full price like he’s giving Mose. He thinks he’ll make enough if he charges by the slice.”

  Daed appeared doubtful. “I don’t know about that.”

  “I don’t either. But he wants everything to be organic, so maybe he’ll charge higher prices.”

  “Organic? We’ll need to check the prices of ingredients tomorrow. Then we’ll have a better idea.”

  “If we don’t have to pay the stand rent,” Fern pointed out, “we won’t need to sell nearly as much to make what we usually do.”

  “Jah, I thought about that.” Daed smiled at Fern. “We can do some figuring tomorrow after we’ve checked the cost of ingredients, but Gideon’s offer does sound promising.”

  Hope flared in Mamm’s eyes. “Thank the Lord. Maybe we’ll be able to help Aaron after all.”

  A flicker of jealousy shot through Fern. Everything the family did revolved around meeting Aaron’s needs. She loved her brother and appreciated his mission work, but she’d remained stuck here while he’d gone to South Carolina in her place. Somehow, it didn’t seem fair. Working with the Mennonite mission had been her idea and her dream.

  Lord, I’m sorry. I know You must have a reason for this switch. Please help me to accept Your will for my life.

  * * *

  While he drank his tea, Gideon tuned out the conversation around him as his mind floated back to Fern’s glowing face when he’d offered to pay Mose full price. She had such a giving heart. And he wanted to help her as much as he did Mose.

  But he hadn’t considered he’d be seeing her and dealing with her every day the market was open. Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday glowed like beacons compared to the rest of the week. But as much as he looked forward to being around her, it wouldn’t be easy.

  “Gideon?”

  Nettie’s quiet question startled him back to the room, where his nieces and nephews lay sprawled on their stomachs under the propane lamp playing a board game. Six-year-old Katie was helping her three-year-old sister, Sadie, beat her brothers.

  “We should get the children ready for bed soon.” Nettie stood and set her teacup on the tray. “Finish up the game, Katie,” she said as she collected the empty cups. “Bedtime as soon as I wash these dishes.”

  Gideon handed Nettie his cup. Although part of him wished he had more time to daydream about Fern, he’d be better off keeping his mind on anything but her.

  By the time Nettie returned from the kitchen, Katie had closed the lid to the game.

  Sadie tugged at Gideon’s pants leg. “I won, Gideon. I won.”

  He beamed down at his niece. Strands of her curly blond hair had escaped from her bob and bounced around her face as she danced excitedly.

  With a superior smile, Katie handed the game box to Gideon, and he put it on the shelf. She and her brothers must have let Sadie win, because neither boy looked upset.

  Nettie tried to disentangle Sadie’s hands from the black fabric of Gideon’s pants. “Let your onkel go. How is he ever going to walk with you holding on so tight?”

  Sadie shook off her mamm’s hand. “I want him to carry me.” She glanced up at Gideon with pleading eyes. “Pwease.”

  Gideon’s heart melted. Beside him, Nettie expelled a soft, exasperated breath. Although she’d been working to make Sadie more independent, how could he resist that sweet request?

  “If it’s all right with your mamm.”

  Small worry lines creased Nettie’s brow. “Only for tonight. If Gideon wants to, that is.”

  He did for sure. He bent and scooped up Sadie. She twined her arms around his neck and cuddled close. Soft curls tickled his jaw, and his heart filled with so much love his chest ached.

  Lenny sidled up next to Gideon and held out a sticky palm. Gideon shifted Sadie so he could take it. At only a year older than Sadie, Lenny still preferred to have help mounting the steep stairs to the bedroom in the dark.

  Nettie shooed Katie ahead of her. Five-year-old David hung back, staring longingly at Gideon’s full arms. Usually Gideon held David’s and Lenny’s hands when they went up to bed.

  “Go on, now.” Nettie steered David toward the stairs.

  His lower lip thrust out in a pout, David glanced back at Gideon, who lagged behind, matching his pace to Lenny’s. Gideon sent David an apologetic smile.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, Gideon headed into the girls’ bedroom. He let go of Lenny’s hand to set Sadie on her bed. Then he backed up a few steps and almost bumped into David, who stood behind him with his hand outstretched.

  Gideon tousled David’s hair. “You can pick the bedtime story tonight.” Telling David’s favorite Bible story might prevent him from feeling left out. Gideon reached for both boys’ hands and led them into their bedroom across the hall.

  Once they’d donned pajamas, Gideon knelt on the floor beside David’s bed and wrapped an arm around each boy’s shoulders. Their faces earnest, they prayed.

  Tucking the blankets around David, Gideon asked, “What story do you want to hear tonight?” He really didn’t need to ask. David always asked for the story of his Biblical namesake.

  “David and Goliath.”

  Gideon straightened Lenny’s covers, which had slipped to one side. “Slide over a bit. I’ll sit beside you to tell the story.”

  Lenny scooted closer to the wall to make room. He often shivered through the stories. By the time Gideon got to the part about David facing the giant, Lenny was trembling.

  Gideon put an arm around him and held him tight. “You don’t have to be frightened. God will take care of David and of us.”

  “I wouldn’t be scared.” David puffed out his chest to prove how strong and courageous he’d be, but his shaky voice gave him away.

  “No matter what happens,” Gideon reminded them, “we don’t need to be afraid. God is always with us.”

  “I know,” Lenny said, his words whispered and wobbly. He cuddled closer to Gideon.

  David looked longingly at both of them. “I wish you’d sit on my bed sometimes.”

  Gideon couldn’t figure out why both boys seemed more upset than usual about the story. Maybe he’d been dramatizing it too much. Sliding Lenny over more, Gideon made room on his other side. “Why don’t you hop up here?” He patted the empty spot beside him.

  David shot across the room and bounced onto the bed.

  “Whoa, you could just sit,” Gideon teased as the mattress dipped up and down.

  David laughed and leaned against Gideon’s chest. “Now we can all be brave together.”

  “Good idea.” Gideon went back to the story. With one arm around each boy, he couldn’t do his usual motions. No aiming a slingshot. No whirling it in the air. No loud slap to his forehead when the stone hit Goliath. No loud clap when the giant smashed to the ground.

  Still, he kept his voice dramatic. So dramatic that Nettie peeked into the room.

  “Is everything all right in here?”

  “Gideon’s just telling us about David and Goliath,” David explained.

  “I see.” A soft smile lifted the corner of Nettie’s lips.

  “Maybe I’m a little too loud.”

  “It’s all right. Sadie’s fast asleep, and noises don’t bother Katie.”

  “I’ll finish in a quieter voice.”

  “Whatever you were doing is fine.” With a tender glance at her sons that also included Gideon, Nettie backed out of the room and shut the door.

  The glow in her eyes had been that of a doting mamm, but something about her look disturbed Gideon. Nettie seemed overly appreciative of everything he did for the children, making him uncomfortable. He hadn’t taken care of all of them for praise. He’d rather fade into the background.

  He’d tried to do that ever since the evening Thomas had been taken to the hospital. Gideon hadn’t been trying to take their father’s place that night, but Lenny and David had clung to Gideon. They cuddled close, asking questions in their two-year-old and three-year-old baby talk as they tried to understand where their daed had gone.

  Daed will be home soon, everyone had told them. He’s sleeping at the hospital. Gideon had begun the nightly routine that had continued ever since, because Thomas had never regained consciousness. He’d slipped from his coma into eternity.

  The boys’ confusion and sadness increased at the funeral. They didn’t understand why their Daed didn’t wake up and play with them. In the days that followed, both boys clung to Gideon as Nettie and little Katie, who shadowed her mamm everywhere, cared for the baby.

  Many nights, Gideon held the boys, wiped their tears, and rocked them to sleep. He took Thomas’s place in their lives—teaching them chores, telling them Bible stories, praying with them.

  At first, Nettie had been too fragile to care for all the children. Then she’d lost the baby she was carrying, and Gideon had taken over her bedtime duties until she’d recovered.

  He’d gotten so attached to his nieces and nephews, he’d find it hard to give up his role if Nettie married again. So far, she hadn’t shown any interest in dating. Being a widow with four children might discourage romance.

  For his part, Gideon had sometimes found the responsibility of caring for his brother’s family to be heavy. That, as well as his brother’s confession before his death, had dampened Gideon’s desire to marry. Never would be soon enough for any relationship. But why couldn’t he get Fern off his mind?

  Chapter Five

  On Wednesday morning, Fern drove Daed to the food suppliers, and he haggled over costs until he got the prices he wanted. Then they headed home, and Daed worked out estimates. Finally, he and Fern went over the final figures he’d copied neatly onto a fresh sheet of paper.

  “I have no idea what this Gideon pays in rent or takes in from his chicken business, but I hope this will be fair for both of us. I’ll need to meet with him. My main concern is whether he’s upright and honest.”

  “He is.” Fern could vouch for that. As her father studied her, Fern’s face heated. “Well, he’s kind and thoughtful. Look what he’s done for Mose.”

  “He does sound like he’s a caring young man, but people aren’t always what they seem. And you haven’t been around him enough to tell about his business practices.”

  If Daed had any idea how often she’d observed Gideon, he’d be shocked. And probably quite worried. Fern kept that to herself. But she could tell Daed about one observation.

  “One time when I was in line there, he underpaid a man by a nickel. The customer hadn’t noticed, and Gideon’s older brother told him to forget it, but Gideon left the stand to give the man the correct change.”

  “That speaks well of him. Although if his brother isn’t honest, I don’t want you working with them.”

  “His brother died a few years ago, so Gideon runs the stand alone.”

  “I see.” Daed cleared his desktop and set his pen on top of the paper for Gideon. “I’d like to meet him and judge his character for myself. If he doesn’t seem honorable, we’ll pray that your onkel can find you a job.”

  Fern had no doubt Gideon would impress Daed, the same way he’d impressed her. At least, she hoped so. She’d much rather work with Gideon than go to the Maryland market. Even if it meant dealing with her unrequited feelings.

  The next morning, Daed rode into the market with Fern. They left early so Daed could catch Gideon before the market opened.

  Fern unloaded her containers onto the handcart and pushed them inside. She had to walk slowly to keep everything balanced and allow Daed to keep up with his walker.

  Inside the market, Daed studied the layout by the front door while she parked her cart behind the counter. “I can see why the organic business wanted this area. It’s the best spot in the market. They’ll have a lot of customers passing by here. Your mammi picked a good spot for her business.”

  “Jah, she did.” Fern loved being near the front door to see all the customers when they came in.

  “You know,” Daed said sadly, “I haven’t been here in years, but this part of the market looks the same as it did when I courted your mamm.” He nodded toward Nick’s candy stand. “I used to stop there to get those soft peppermints she loves. I can’t believe all this will be gone in two months.”

  “I can’t either.” To keep her mind off that gloomy thought, she dusted her hands on her apron. “Should I take you to meet Gideon now?”

  Daed nodded. “I have the paper right here.” He patted his pocket, then gripped the handles of his walker, and followed Fern down the aisle.

  Gideon had his back to them when they reached his counter. He was stringing chickens on a spit. He turned when she called his name. Their eyes met, and her mouth dried. All words fled.

  “I know you, young man,” Daed said.

  Fern turned to him, startled. How could Daed possibly know Gideon?

  * * *

  The older man Gideon had worried about a few days ago stood beside Fern, but Gideon forced his attention away from her. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “I’m Ezekiel Blauch, Fern’s father. You know my dochder?”

  Her father? And Gideon definitely did know his daughter, but he stood there speechless, trying not to glance in Fern’s direction. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Nice to meet you. I’m Gideon Hartzler.”

  “I figured.” The dry humor in Ezekiel’s voice indicated he saw a lot more than Gideon wanted him to. “I’m here to discuss the offer you made my dochder.”

  Had he phrased it that way on purpose? Was he jabbing Gideon over his interest in Fern? Gideon stiffened. He needed to come across businesslike. “Of course. I’d be happy to discuss it with you.” He’d managed to get out a coherent sentence.

  “Is now a gut time?” Ezekiel examined the chickens waiting on the counter. “I could come back another time.”

  Gideon didn’t want to keep Ezekiel waiting. The poor man didn’t look too steady on his walker. But the chickens shouldn’t sit out on the counter. Gideon couldn’t risk giving anyone food poisoning.

  Fern moved restlessly beside her father. “I should get back so I can get set up before the market opens.”

  “You do that,” Ezekiel said. “I’ll take care of things here.”

  “See you.” Gideon nodded in Fern’s direction without actually looking at her. He had no desire for her father’s eagle eyes to read anything into Gideon’s attempt at a casual gaze. Better not take that chance.

  “Why don’t you get that chicken cooking first?” Ezekiel suggested. “Then we can talk. Unless you have other things to do.”

  Gideon had a lot of other preparations to make, but he’d do them after they’d talked. “I’ll do that quickly. If you’d like to come behind the counter, you could sit down. I have a stool and a chair.”

  “Danke. That would be gut.” Ezekiel clunked around the corner and sank onto the wooden chair.

  With Ezekiel staring at him, Gideon’s movements were jerkier than usual. He slowed down to make them a little smoother. As soon as he’d put the final spit in the rotisserie and turned it on, he sat on a stool beside Ezekiel.

  “First of all, we appreciate your offer. It was kind of you to help Mose and my dochder, but I want to be sure you are making a fair profit.”

  No one else had worried about that. Neh, to be fair, both Mose and Fern had questioned him about the prices he’d offered. Only Nick had gouged him, but Gideon had said Nick could set his price, and Gideon planned to honor that. Besides it was only one small section of his stand. Gideon would consider the small amount Nick planned to pay as extra. He’d make his profit from the rest of the business.

  Ezekiel sat still, waiting for Gideon to respond. Instead, Gideon had made more of a fool of himself by woolgathering.

  He tried to make up for his silence. “Like I told your daughter, um, Fern, if I sell individual slices of cake, I’ll make money.”

  “Will it be enough to cover your overhead, though?”

  Gideon would rather not answer that question. He’d offered to take on these products to help. Profit hadn’t entered into it. “The business does quite well already.” Or it would if Thomas hadn’t run up so much debt.

  His eyes narrowed, assessing Gideon, Ezekiel pointed out, “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I’m sure the new products will bring in even more customers.”

  Ezekiel blew out a long breath. “I see you don’t intend to give me a straight answer.”

  “To be honest, I don’t know how adding all these products will affect my income. I’ve never offered full meals before.”

  “Fair enough.” Ezekiel reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper. “I worked out what I think are fair prices for both of us.”

  Gideon’s eyes widened. “Are you sure Fern—and you—will make enough?”

  “We’ll be fine.”

  “Could you also give me prices for sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and pastries? We do a brisk business from late morning until closing.” He hoped Ezekiel didn’t think he was bragging, but Gideon wanted to assure Fern’s daed that the business made money. “I don’t usually get customers until later in the morning, so I thought we could sell Fern’s baked goods in the morning with coffee, juice, and milk.”

  Ezekiel nodded approvingly. “That’s a wise idea.”

  “I thought Fern’s regular customers would miss their breakfast treats, so if she’s willing to bake those, I’m happy to sell them.”

  “You’re a gut man.” Ezekiel clapped Gideon on the shoulder, then struggled to his feet. “I’m sure Fern would be happy to make more.”