Im sure he needs it, running such a big dairy operation. Daad had told her how Caleb had increased his herd until it was one of the larger ones in the valley. Id be most happy if you have time to take on this job for me.
She glanced at the house, trying to picture it the way it was in her dreams. With Daniels help, that dream could be a reality.
Lets go in and have a look at what you want done, Daniel suggested. He held out a hand as she reached the three steps up to the back porch. Mind the treads, now. Theres a loose board there Ill fix right off.
She nodded, turning to help Lige up to the porch. Its a little bit run-down now, she told him. But Daniel will help us turn it into a gut home for us.
Lige darted a cautious sideways glance at Daniel, but he still didnt speak. She tried to suppress a sigh. If shed realized earlier the harm Jamess behavior was doing to Elijah...but what choice did she have? James had been his father, and there was no getting away from that.
The back door opened into the kitchen, and they stepped inside.
The cabinets need some repair, Daniel said, swinging a door open and closed. But theyre good solid woodnone of those thin layers they use sometimes now.
Rebecca was busy picturing the kitchen with the cabinets freshly painted white and seedlings growing in pots on the wide, sunny windowsills. The gas range is perfect, she said. But Ill have to replace the electric refrigerator with a gas one.
I dont know much about the electrics, but theres a man I worked with on a few Englisch houses who does that kind of work. He could take out all the electrics for you.
Wonderful gut. Surely the fact that things were falling into place meant that her plans were in accord with the gut Lords will. Our table will fit in this space, wont it, Lige?
He nodded but hadnt yet let go of her skirt.
When do your things arrive? Daniel pulled himself out from behind the refrigerator, a cobweb clinging to his straw hat.
In a few days. Smiling, she reached up to lift the cobweb away, inadvertently brushing his cheek. She withdrew her hand quickly, trying to ignore the way it tingled from the brief contact. The family will store everything for us until we can move in here.
The back of the house held the kitchen, a pantry and two smaller rooms. One would be their living room and the other a storeroom or workroom. Swinging the door open, Rebecca stepped into the room at the front of the house. Her breath caught.
The room extended across the whole front of the house, and sunshine poured in through the windows to lie across the wide-plank floors. The back wall would be perfect for shelves, and she could have a display area of quilts on one side and stocks of fabrics and notions on the other.
You look happy, Daniel said, his brown eyes warm. Is this going to be your living room?
No. She swung in a slow circle, taking it all in. This will be what Ive been dreaming of. This will be my quilt shop.
She knew her happiness had to be shining in her face. And when she looked at Daniel, she saw her anticipation reflected in his eyes, crinkling as they shared her feeling. There, at last, was her old friend.
* * *
Daniel stood still for a moment, transfixed by the sheer joy on Rebeccas face. He couldnt help but share it. Obviously, this quilt shop was important to her, but why? So far as he knew, she hadnt had a shop in the past.
He didnt doubt that she was a wonderful quilter. Rebeccas sister-in-law, Leah, had shown off the baby quilts Rebecca had made and sent for each of her young ones. Rebeccas mother had a gift for designing patterns, and she must have inherited it.
Can you make this ready first? She swung toward him, all eagerness. I need to open the shop as soon as possible.
Need? That was a funny way of putting it. Hed heard that Rebecca sold the farm she and her husband had owned in Ohio. Hed think that would have given her enough that she wouldnt have to rush into business for herself.
Still, it might be that she felt she had to have something to occupy her mind and heart. Her husband had died less than six months ago, and grieving was hardhe knew that as well as anyone.
I have plenty of time for your job, he said. And if he didnt, hed make time to accommodate her, especially if it kept her looking the way she did now.
He couldnt deny that hed been shocked when he first saw her, so thin and pale, with an almost-haunted look darkening the blue of her eyes. Rebecca had always been as bright as a ray of sunshine with her golden hair, rosy cheeks and the sparkle in her clear blue eyes. He nearly hadnt recognized his friend, and that had set a distance between them.
Already she was withdrawing into herself again, her face becoming strained. But at least now hed seen the old Rebecca, if just for a moment.
So, youll tell me what you want done in here, and Ill do the measurements and work out a plan. He glanced toward the front door that led directly into the room. Wed best check out the front entrance as well, if your customers are going to come in that way.
Rebecca nodded, looking around the room as if seeing it looking very different. Ill want tables to hold bolts of fabric on this side, she said, gesturing. And then some open space where I can have a bed to show how a quilt will look and a counter near the door for checking out.
Daniel made notes on his pad that no one would ever understand but him. What about the walls?
Theyll need to have several different-sized racks to hold quilts, crib quilts, wall hangings and table runners. She unfolded a sheet of paper, and they both bent their heads over it. See, here are the kinds and sizes I need and where I thought maybe they could go.
Shed printed it all up for him with sketches. So neat, he said. Just like your schoolwork used to be. He glanced at the boy, standing quiet and solemn next to his mammi. Did he ever laugh? When we were in school together, your mammi had the best printing of anyone in the school. Whenever a sign had to be made, wed get her to do it.
Lige nodded, as if he didnt doubt it, but still he didnt smile or speak. Well, hed get a smile out of the boy even if he had to stand on his head to do it.
He turned to Rebecca. It wouldnt be bad to get another smile from her, as well. Do you want to make decisions about the rest of the house today, or just focus on the shop for now?
Just the shop today, she said quickly. Its more important than getting moved in right away.
If I know your mamm and daad, theyd be happy to have you stay with them in the grossdaadi house for always, aint so?
Her lips curved a bit, but her blue eyes were still dark and serious. Thats what they say, but we shouldnt impose on them.
Now all he could do was stare at her shuttered face. Impose? Since when is it imposing to have you home again? Your folks have been so happy since they knew you were coming that theyre acting ten years younger. Sam and Leah and their young ones have been marking the days off on a calendar because theyre so eager. Youre not imposing.
Rebecca stiffened, seeming to put some distance between them. Its better that I stand on my own feet. Im not a girl any longer. She looked as if she might want to add that it wasnt his business.
No, it wasnt. And she certain sure wasnt the girl he remembered. His Rebecca, so open and trusting, would never have doubted her welcome. Grief alone didnt seem enough to account for the changes in her. Had there been some other problem, something he didnt know about in her time away or in her marriage?
Hed best mind his tongue and keep his thoughts on business, he told himself. He was the last person to know anything about marriage, and that was the way he wanted it. Or if not wanted, he corrected himself honestly, at least the way it had to be.
I guess we should get busy measuring for all these things, so Ill know what Im buying when I go to the mill. Pulling out his steel measure, he focused on the boy. Mind helping me by holding one end of this, Lige?
The boy hesitated for a moment, studying him as if looking at the question from all angles. Then he nodded, taking a few steps toward Daniel, who couldnt help feeling a little spurt of triumph.
Carefully, not wanting to spook Lige, Daniel held out an end of the tape. If youll hold this end right here on the corner, Ill measure the whole wall. Then we can see how many racks well be able to put up.
Rebecca, who had taken a step forward as if to interfere, stopped and nodded at her son. Thats right. You can help with getting our shop ready.
Daniel measured, checking a second time before writing the figures down in his notebook. His gaze slid toward Lige again. It wondered him how the boy came to be so quiet and solemn. He certain sure wasnt like his mammi had been when she was young. Could be he was still having trouble adjusting to his daadis dying, he supposed.
Okay, gut. Now, you let the end go, and Ill show you how it pops back to me. Ready? Lige put his end on the floor and took a cautious step away, as if not sure what to expect.
Now. Daniel pushed the button, and the steel measure came zooming back, rerolling itself. There. Did you ever use one of these before?
Lige shook his head and hurried over to Daniel without hesitation. Can we do it some more?
Sure thing. Lets measure how wide the window is, because we wouldnt want a quilt to cover it, would we?
Without being told, Lige pulled the end out so that they could measure the width of the windowsill. When theyd finished, Daniel held out the tape measure to the boy. Do you want to roll it up this time?
Lige came eagerly, his shyness of Daniel forgotten. Daniel put his large hand over the boys small one, showing him the button. Now, push.
Lige did, and the tape measure performed its vanishing trick again. He looked up at Daniel, and the sight Daniel had been looking for appeared. It was tentative and a little stiff, but it was a genuine smile.
Did you see, Mammi? I did it all by myself.
Yah, I saw. Some of the color had come back into Rebeccas pale cheeks, and she met Daniels gaze with one that was so filled with fierce maternal love that it startled him. Denke, Daniel.
He shrugged. Its nothing.
Somehow that simple incident seemed to dissolve much of the strangeness between them. They worked their way around the room, measuring and talking about what she wanted in the shop, until finally Daniel squatted down and put his notebook on his knee to figure out an estimate.
He stole a covert glance at Rebecca, who was saying something to her son. He hadnt missed the slight apprehension in her face when hed talked about the supplies theyd need. Was the money a problem?
It shouldnt be, not if shed just sold a thriving farm, but how did he know? Hed do the work gladly for nothing in the name of their old friendship, but he knew Rebecca wouldnt hear of it. That steely independence of hers was new, and he wasnt sure how to handle it.
Finally he had an approximate materials cost worked out. He stood, catching that trace of apprehension in her eyes.
How much will it cost to do what I want?
In answer, he held out the notebook page. Thats an approximate guess as to the cost of the materials. Unless the mill has upped its prices for a board foot, he said. Just joking, he added quickly, not sure she was in the mood for humor.
But thats not including your work, she said. I should give you the whole amount...
Not up front, he said, interrupting her. You pay for the initial materials, so I can start. Then you can pay my labor when the job is finished. Seeing the objection rising in her face, he added firmly, Thats how its always done, Rebecca. If that outlay for materials is more than you can manage at one time, we can always break the job into smaller units.
No, no, thats okay. She opened a small bag and began counting out the money into his hand.
He didnt miss the fact that there was very little left in the bag when she was done, and it troubled him. But when she looked up at him with the smile he remembered, it chased other thoughts away.
Ill go to the mill first thing tomorrow, and then I can start work in the afternoon. He glanced at Lige. Youll bring my helper back, aint so?
The boys smile rewarded him. Can I, Mammi? He tugged on her apron.
Yah, as long as you listen to Daniel and do just as he says.
I will. I promise.
Sehr gut, Daniel said. Tomorrow then. Shouldering his tool bag, he headed out.
Rebecca and her son followed him to the porch and stood there, watching him go. As he cut across the field toward home, he took a quick look back and again was assailed by that sense of something he didnt understand. The two of them looked oddly lonely, standing there on the porch of that decrepit house.
Rebecca was home, but he sensed she had brought some troubles with her. As for him...well, he didnt have answers. He just had a lot of questions.
* * *
Supper in Leahs kitchen was a lively time, with the long table surrounded by cheerful facesLeah, Sam, their children, her mamm and daad, and now her and Lige. Lige, sitting next to her, had been engrossed in looking from one to another during the meal, his small face gradually relaxing as he realized all the chatter was normal and accepted.
It had been normal when she was growing up, as well. It never would have occurred to any of her siblings that their contributions wouldnt be welcome. But life with James, especially after his accident, had been another story entirely.
At least Lige was beginning to lose the tension that told her so clearly he was waiting for an explosion. He actually laughed at something one of his cousins said, and she breathed a silent prayer of thanks.
With the last crumb of apple crisp consumed and the silent prayer at the end of the meal said, the boys began getting up from the table to do their chores. Sam, whod been saying something to Daad, glanced up as they headed out the door.
Joshua. He raised his voice to call his eldest back.
And Lige cringed, wincing back in his chair, his face strained and fearful.
No one moved. Rebecca could hear their indrawn breaths, could see the comprehension dawning on the faces of the adults. Rebecca bent over Lige, speaking softly.
Hush now. Its all right. Onkel Sam just wants to tell Joshua something.
Leah seemed to get a grip on herself first. Yah, he wants to tell Joshua to take Lige out with him and let him help. Aint so, Sam?
For sure, Sam said.