Her Amish Holiday Suitor. Carrie Lighte
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Название: Her Amish Holiday Suitor
Автор: Carrie Lighte
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современная зарубежная литература
isbn: 9781474097512
isbn:
She stood up and rummaged through the coats, simultaneously saying, “Well, Nick and I were about to head out together, so you might as well ask me now. Nick, would you mind giving Frederick and me a quick moment alone to chat?”
A look of utter surprise crossed Nick’s face before it brightened with elation. “Sure,” he said. “I’ll wait for you in my buggy.”
“Denki,” she replied in a syrupy voice, tilting her chin upward for added effect. After Nick left, she asked Frederick, “What is it you want to ask me?”
He stammered, “Oh, er, I was wondering if you’ll be caroling this year? In a few minutes we’re going to start the meeting to plan our rehearsal schedule and I thought you’d want to make suggestions about meeting times since I know you volunteer during the week.”
“Denki for the heads-up, Frederick. But as much as I might enjoy caroling, I have...I have other social engagements that will be taking up my time.”
Frederick looked forlorn, but he nodded and said he understood. She almost felt sorry for him, but then his mother entered the room, turned up the lamp and uttered, “Oh gut, I see Frederick tracked you down, Lucy! We didn’t know where you’d escaped to. I set a mug of cocoa for each of you near the love seat.”
A mix of embarrassment and empathy washed over Lucy as she noticed Frederick cringing. She nearly told him she’d stay after all, but Frederick said, “Lucy’s going home now. Nick Burkholder is taking her.”
“Nick Burkholder?” Frederick’s mother was obviously incredulous. There’d be no stopping the rumors from spreading now.
Lucy excused herself quickly, saying, “Jah, and he’s waiting for me in his buggy, so I’d better get going. Denki for your hospitality, Mary. Gut nacht, Frederick.”
Speechless, Frederick lifted his hand in a wave. He looked stunned, but not nearly as stunned as Mildred and Katura appeared when Lucy bade them goodbye and informed them Nick was giving her a ride home.
“Why? Are you sick?” Mildred asked. “Because if you are, you can take the buggy and Katura and I can get a ride home from someone else. Maybe Frederick’s cousin will take us.”
“Neh, I’m not sick. It’s just... Nick and I are...” Lucy allowed the innuendo to hang in the air before concluding, “I’ll—I’ll see you at home.”
Leaving them with their mouths hanging open, Lucy couldn’t help but feel a bit smug—not because they were surprised Nick was taking her home, but because for once they really would have to unhitch the buggy and stable the horse by themselves.
Nick could have jumped for joy when Lucy accepted his offer of courtship. Or of pretend courtship. Before exiting Frederick’s house, he signaled Kevin to follow him to the porch.
“Listen, I found someone I can pretend I’m walking out with. The important thing is you can’t tell anyone—and I mean anyone—that it’s not an authentic courtship. If word gets out this is a farce, it will only be a matter of minutes until Mamm and Daed find out about the fire and then we’ll both be in trouble. You got it?” Nick tapped his finger against Kevin’s chest, emphasizing his point.
“I got it,” he promised, before slyly remarking, “So who’s the fortunate maedel? I didn’t see anyone inside you haven’t already courted. Are you going to give one of them a second chance?”
Nick didn’t appreciate Kevin’s attitude toward young women, and his response was immediate and gruff. “I’ve already told you it’s no one’s business what meed I’ve courted in the past. Besides, what makes you think they’d give me a second chance?”
“I’ve always heard you’re a charmer, that’s all. It was intended as a compliment.”
Hearing the admiration in his brother’s voice, Nick set him straight. “Courting a lot of meed isn’t necessarily a gut thing, Kevin. Neither is superficial charm. It’s the quality, not the quantity of relationships, that’s important. Courtship is intended to be an opportunity to discover if you and a maedel are compatible for marriage, but regardless of how long your relationships last, you’d better treat any woman you court with respect.”
“You sound just like Daed, you know that?”
“That’s because Daed’s right.” Nick warned, “You’ve got your whole rumspringa in front of you. Your running around period is a time for you to make decisions on your own. There’s a lot of freedom in that, but there’s a lot of responsibility, too. I’ll help you clean up the mess you’ve made this time, but if you make another one, you’re going to have to take care of it yourself, understand?”
“Jah, jah, I got it already. So you still haven’t told me who you’re going to pretend you’re courting.”
Nick lowered his voice. “Lucy Knepp.”
“Lucy Knepp?” Kevin chortled. “No one will ever believe you’re interested in her. She’s such a wallflower! Haven’t you noticed how pale she is? I don’t think she ever goes outside in daytime except to attend church. She’s such a goody-goody.”
“Exactly. Which is why Mamm and Daed won’t object if they think I’m going out with her during the week,” Nick reasoned. “So here’s what’s going to happen now. While I’m bringing Lucy to her haus, you’re going to walk to ours. Mamm and Daed will still be awake and when they ask where I am, you can let it slip I’m taking Lucy home. Plant the seed in their minds, okay?”
“But what about going to Highland Springs like we planned?”
Nick shrugged. “I already told Lucy I’d take her home. If you still want to go to Highland Springs, go ahead and go. Just make sure you ask whoever gives you a ride to swing by Jenny’s haus first so you can tell her you can’t afford the cost of repairs to the cabin.” Before turning to leave, he tossed Kevin’s jacket at him and added, “Her eldre probably will just contact Daed instead of getting the police involved.”
That got Kevin’s attention. “Wait! I’ll do it. I’ll walk home now.”
“Gut,” Nick said. “And remember, you can’t let on to anyone—not even Lucy—that you know this is a sham.”
“Is it a sham?” Kevin jibed as he shoved his arm through his coat sleeve. “Or could it be this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for your entire rumspringa? To court Lucy Knepp?”
Nick elbowed his brother. “You should be thanking me, not mocking me, so knock it off.”
Grumbling, Kevin began his long schlep home and Nick went to unhitch Penny. A few minutes later, Lucy appeared. Kevin was right—she СКАЧАТЬ