Loving Isaac

The remaining distance to the Samuel Lapp farm wasn’t far. Ellen saw the Lapp farmhouse ahead as Isaac steered the horse onto the long dirt lane that ended in the barnyard near the house. He drew on the reins carefully, easing the carriage to a halt as if he worried about hurting her. He parked the buggy near the house, then jumped down from the bench and ran to assist before she had a chance to climb out on her own. She shifted too quickly in her seat and gasped with the searing pain. Her head hurt and her right shoulder, which had slammed against the buggy wall, was throbbing. She was furious at how weak she felt. She didn’t want Isaac to be right. She didn’t want Isaac to be the one she had to rely on, even if just for a little while.

Isaac appeared by her side and gently clasped her arm. “Easy, now, Ellen,” he murmured. “Slowly.”

She winced as she swung her legs toward the door opening. She made a move to step down until, with a sympathetic murmur, Isaac released her arm to encircle her waist with his hands. He lifted her as if she weighed no more than a young child. Ellen was conscious of his nearness, his male scent and the warmth of his touch at her midsection as he held her a brief moment before he set her down. Tears filled her eyes. Her injuries hurt but so did her aching heart.

“Danki.” She didn’t look at him as she stood there, feeling weak. Reaction set in. The horror of what those boys could have done to her caused her body to shake. She drew deep calming breaths, hoping he didn’t notice.

“Ice. You need an ice pack,” he announced as he bent to retrieve her bag from the buggy floor. He tucked it under his arm, then reached for her with the other. Fortunately, Ellen had regained control. “Come. Let’s get you into the house.” He slipped his right arm about her waist and helped her toward the house. Ellen wanted to pull away. She felt her heart thundering in her chest and grew worried that she’d lose control of her emotions again.

Chapter Two (#ulink_b3786f9e-e47d-5ddf-afe6-df582dbc7dbd)

“Ellen?” Isaac’s mother had stepped out onto the front porch of the farmhouse. She frowned as she saw Isaac leading Ellen with his arm about her waist. “What happened?”

Ellen felt the sudden tension in Isaac’s shoulders. “Some Englishers forced her off the road. The buggy came to a stop in a ditch.”

“Ach, nay. Poor dear.” Katie eyed her with concern. “Isaac, help her into the kitchen.”

Ellen wanted to insist on walking on her own, but she wasn’t about to protest in front of his mother. She still wasn’t feeling the best and was grateful for the assistance. Her head hurt and she felt woozy.

“Here.” Katie gestured toward a chair. “Sit her here.”

Isaac saw her comfortably seated, then promptly disappeared into the back room.

His mother bent to closely examine her injuries. “You hurt your cheek.” She narrowed her gaze as she studied her. “And your forehead.”

Ellen nodded. Her cheek throbbed and she had a headache. She reached up to feel the sore bump on her forehead.

Isaac returned and handed his mother an ice pack.

Katie smiled at him approvingly, then pressed it gently against Ellen’s forehead. “Hold it here for a few minutes and then shift it to your cheek.”

“Danki.” She tried to smile until the simple movement of her lips hurt. Isaac stood by the kitchen worktable, watching silently.

“The driver was reckless,” Katie said.

“Ja. ’Twas Brad Smith,” Isaac said darkly.

His mother shot him a glance. “You know him?”

“Ja.” Isaac’s scowl revealed that he wasn’t pleased. “He’s Nancy’s bruder.”

Katie frowned.

“Thank the Lord that Isaac came when he did,” Ellen admitted. The memory of the boys getting out of their car made her shudder.

“I’m glad I was there to help,” he murmured, his expression softening.

Ellen didn’t say anything as she looked away.

“You did gut, Soohn.” Katie regarded her son warmly.

Something flickered in Isaac’s expression. “Any one of us would have helped.” He smiled. “You taught us well.”

Katie nodded. “I’ll put on the teakettle.” She turned toward the stove. “You need a cup to revive you.”

As she held ice to her cheek, Ellen encountered Isaac’s gaze. She shifted the bag to her forehead. Isaac frowned, left the room and returned with another ice bag. She gave a jolt when he sat down close beside her and pressed it gently against her cheek. “Danki,” she murmured.

He leaned forward as he kept hold of the ice. “You’re willkomm.”

“Here we are.” Katie set three cups of hot steaming tea on the table. She returned to get a coffee cake from the counter. “How about a nice slice of cinnamon cake? I made it fresh this morning.”

Ellen had smelled it as soon as she’d entered the kitchen earlier. She felt her stomach rumble as if urging her to eat. Embarrassed, she nodded.

She lowered the ice pack and set it on the table. The ice was soothing to her injuries, but after a while, the cold felt too intense. Taking her cue, Isaac removed the other bag. She was aware that he watched her every moment as if he half expected her to faint or fall over...or something worse. She tried to smile reassuringly but the simple movement caused pain to radiate along the right side of her face. Without asking, Isaac quickly picked up an ice bag and held it to the painful area. Ellen welcomed the cold again, as it helped to alleviate the soreness. Disturbed by his nearness, she reached up to take control of the bag. Her fingers accidentally brushed against his; she froze as she locked gazes with him.

“I’ve got it,” she assured him. She hated that he had the power to make her feel something besides anger, that he could still make her wish for things that she no longer wanted.

Isaac leaned back in his chair without a word as his mother sliced the coffee cake, then set the pieces within reach in the middle of the table. Katie then sat across from her and Isaac. In the ensuing silence, Ellen remained overly aware of Isaac beside her as she sipped from her teacup.

“Where’s Hannah?” Isaac asked conversationally.

“At Abram’s.” Katie took a sip of tea. “She loves playing with Mae Anne.”

Their deacon, Abram Peachy, a widower, had married Charlotte King of the Amos Kings, who lived across the road from the Lapps. When she’d married Abram, Charlotte had become mother to Abram’s five children. Then a year and a half ago, Charlotte had given birth to a daughter, Mae Anne, and she had six children to mother and love. Mae Anne, a toddler, was as cute as she was bright, and her older siblings adored her. Isaac’s sister, Hannah, now eight, had been drawn to the baby immediately. The youngest Lapp sibling loved spending time with babies and children younger than her, including her own nieces and nephews.

“She’s gut with kinner. She’ll make a fine mudder one day.” Ellen dug her fork into the coffee cake and brought a piece to her mouth. She felt Isaac’s gaze on her, met his glance and quickly looked away. She felt her heart rate accelerate, her stomach flutter as if filled with butterflies.

* * *

Isaac gazed at the girl seated at his family’s kitchen table and felt his stomach tighten as he thought of the accident. When he’d learned that it was Brad and his friends in the car, he’d felt his hackles rise. These English boys were rude and nearly always up for trouble, and trouble was the last thing he needed. He’d already found it once with them, and he wasn’t looking to get involved with them again. Except he’d never have known Nancy’s true colors if not for them. He’d been happy when he’d met Nancy Smith, pleased when she’d wanted to meet his family. He’d found her fascinating, and after he’d spent some time with her, his fascination had grown. Dressed all in black, she’d worn heavy eye makeup and bright red lipstick. Her appearance stood out in a crowd, which wasn’t the Amish way, but she’d been sweet and he’d realized after talking with her for hours that they shared a lot in common. Until he’d learned that she’d pretended to like him simply because she’d been curious about the Amish way of life.

The pain of learning the truth about her still lingered. His foolishness in getting involved with her and her unkind circle of friends bothered him. He’d given his parents cause to worry, and for that he was sincerely sorry.

As Ellen and his mother chatted, Isaac studied the young woman seated next to him. He had a clear up-close view of her features. Tendrils of blond hair had escaped from under her kapp during the accident. The bruise on her cheek stood out starkly against her smooth complexion. She turned, saw him staring and raised her eyebrows questioningly. He continued to watch her, unable to look away. Her cheeks turned bright pink and she averted her gaze.

It seemed impossible that they’d known each other forever, but they had. He had to admit it had been a long time since they’d spent any time together like they used to. His fault, he knew, but he couldn’t undo the past. He’d chosen Nancy over Ellen.

Isaac experienced a strange tingle of awareness of Ellen that he’d never felt before. “How is your head?”

Ellen gingerly touched her forehead. “Not too painful.”

He frowned, because he didn’t believe her. He stood. “I’ll get more ice.”

“Nay, I’m fine.” She waved at him to sit down.

He reluctantly resumed his seat. “When you’re ready to go, I’ll take you home.”

“There’s no need—”