Rebecca Kertz - A Secret Amish Love

Maggie’s eyes filled with sadness. “I didn’t mind. I was too young to care, but James was thirteen and he had a hard time with the move. He loved and admired Dad, and he’d wanted to be a veterinarian like him since he was ten. James used to accompany Dad when he visited farmers to treat their animals. He was devastated by Dad’s death, and he became more determined to follow in Dad’s footsteps.”

Nell felt her heart break for James, who must have suffered greatly after his father’s death. “You chose the Amish life, but James chose a different path.”

“And he’s doing well,” Maggie said. “My family is thrilled that he set up his practice in Happiness, because he wanted to be closer to us.”

“He missed you,” Nell said quietly.

The young woman grinned. “I guess he did. I certainly missed him. I’m glad to have my big bruder back.”

Nell couldn’t get what she’d learned about James and the Troyers out of her mind. It didn’t help her churned-up emotions when, later that afternoon, James arrived to spend time with his family.

She recognized his silver car immediately as he drove into the barnyard and parked. Nell watched as he got out of his vehicle, straightened and closed the door. James stood a moment, his gaze searching, no doubt looking for family members. She couldn’t move as he crossed the yard to where William Mast and others had set up tables and bench seats. They had enjoyed the midday meal, but there was still a table filled with delicious homemade desserts, including the schnitz pies that she and Leah had baked yesterday morning.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away as James headed to the gathering of young people, including his sisters Maggie and Abigail as well as their stepsiblings, Rosie and Matthew.

Nell found it heartwarming to see that all of his siblings regarded him with the same depth of love and affection. She watched as James spoke briefly to Maggie, who grinned as Abigail, Rosie and Matthew approached him, clearly delighted that he’d handled his emergency then decided to come. She heard the siblings teasing and the ensuing laughter. Maggie said something to James as she gestured in Nell’s direction.

James turned and saw her, and Nell froze. Her heart started to beat hard when he broke away from the group to approach her.

* * *

“Nell!” Warmed by the sight of her, James smiled as he reached her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Her lips curved. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”

“So you know my family.” He didn’t know why the knowledge startled him. Not that he was upset. In fact, it was nice to know that before they’d even met, he and Nell had shared an undiscovered connection.

“I’ve known them a long time. I had no idea that your family is the Troyers.” She shifted her gaze to his sister Maggie. “Then I recognized the resemblance between you and Maggie.” She smiled. “I’ve always liked your sister. She’s a gut friend, and I like her sweetheart, Joshua Fisher, too.”

“Joshua is here?” James attempted to pick him out of the gathering.

“Nay. He couldn’t come today. His grossmudder is ill, and he thought it best to spend time with her and his family.”

He was pleased to hear that Nell thought well of the man his sister loved. “He’s a good man,” he murmured, his gaze on his sister’s smiling face.

“Ja, and he’ll make Maggie a gut husband.”

James settled his gaze on Nell’s pretty, expressive features. “I’m glad you think so. I haven’t met him yet, but I trust your judgment.”

Nell appeared startled. She blushed as if embarrassed by his praise. “I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”

They stood silently for several seconds. James felt comfortable with Nell, and she seemed to have relaxed around him, too.

“Nell.”

She met his gaze.

“I was going to stop by your house. I received a phone call from Michelle today. Her stomach virus has spread to her husband and children, and she won’t be back for days. Perhaps even a week. Janie isn’t due back from vacation for another week. Would you consider working at the clinic next week? I’ll pay you a good wage.”

She seemed suddenly flustered, but he could tell that she liked the idea. “I’ll have to ask my dat,” she said.

“May I talk with him? I may be able to help ease his mind.”

“I don’t know...” She glanced toward an area under a shade tree where a group of older Amish men were conversing.

“Are you afraid that he won’t like me?”

“Nay!” she gasped, her eyes flashing toward his. She softened her tone. “Nay. It’s not that.”

“Then let me speak with him.” He frowned. “Unless you don’t want the job.”

“I wouldn’t mind working at the clinic again.”

James grinned as he sensed the exact moment when Nell gave him permission to talk with her father.

He immediately knew who her father was when a man looked sharply at Nell and then him. “I’ll be right back,” James told her as he made his way to the man who’d left the group to approach.

“Sir,” James greeted him. “I’m James Pierce. Your daughter helped me last Thursday at my veterinary clinic.”

“Arlin Stoltzfus,” the man said as he narrowed his gaze to take stock of James, “and I wonder how you know that Nell is my dochter.”

“A gut guess?” James said, slipping into Pennsylvania Deitsch and noting the man’s surprise, which was quickly masked by a frown.

“What do you want, James Pierce?”

“A favor,” James said. He softened his expression.

“What kind of favor?” The man eyed him with doubt.

“First, would you feel better knowing that I’ve come to visit my family—the Troyers—and not Nell?”

Something flickered in the man’s expression. “You’re Adam and Ruth’s eldest son.”

“Ja, I have the gut fortune to have their love.”

The concern eased from Arlin’s expression. “I’m sure you are a gut man, James Pierce.”

“James,” James invited, and Arlin smiled. “But now that I’ve seen Nell here today, I’d like to ask your permission for Nell to work in the clinic next week.”

The man lowered his eyebrows. “Why?”

“I have no staff next week. My receptionist is taking care of her sick family as well as recuperating from illness herself. My assistant is away with her husband and not expected back until a week from tomorrow. I would need her to fill in for one week only.”

Arlin glanced toward Nell, who was talking with two young women. “Have you mentioned this to her?”

James shifted uncomfortably. “Ja, I wished to know if she was interested before I came to you.”

“And she is interested,” the man murmured, “which is no surprise, considering how much she loves caring for animals.”

Nell glanced in their direction, then quickly looked away, but not before James recognized longing in her expression. She wanted the opportunity to work in the clinic if only for a short time.

Nell’s father sighed heavily as he studied his daughter. His expression was light, and there was amusement in his brown eyes as he met James’s gaze. “She can work with you. She’ll be disappointed if I refuse permission.”

James smiled. “And above everything, you want your dochter’s happiness.” He watched with stunned surprise as Arlin waved at his daughter to join them. Nell approached, looking fearful as she glimpsed her father’s stern expression.

“You want to work for him?” he asked sharply.

“Ja, Dat, but only if you give permission.”

Arlin’s expression softened. “He belongs to the Troyers. I give permission,” he said, surprising James.

James grinned. “Monday morning, eight o’clock sharp. Can you be there?”