Saving Gideon (16 page)

She shifted and received a nudge from Louie in return. “Sorry, baby.” She scratched him behind his ears, and he settled into the crook of her knees. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn’t settle down. Events of the day kept replaying in her head.

The work frolic was an amazing sight, everyone pitching in to help a neighbor in need. Too bad the rest of the world didn’t work that way. If it did, civilization would be a much better place.

At first everyone had been a little standoffish, but by the time they broke to eat, Avery almost felt like she belonged. She watched the children play, and listened to the women talk about quilting and canning and what the deacon said at church last Sunday.

It was the best Saturday morning she had spent in a long time, filled with rest, work, and meaningful conversation.

Then came the afternoon. Not only was Katie Rose Fisher likeable and a good cook, she had the patience of a saint. She worked tirelessly, teaching Avery how to cook with Samuel sticking to her skirt like a half-eaten lollipop. Plus, their time together had given Avery something to think about besides Gideon and what almost happened between them. She had forced herself to let the cooking lesson take over and pushed the rest aside.

Avery punched down her pillow and sighed again. It was infinitely satisfying to eat a meal she had prepared—even if it came with a lot of help. Between the three of them—Avery, Lizzie, and Katie Rose—they made oven-fried chicken, creamed potatoes, green beans, and sourdough rolls.

Gideon had been so surprised to see what she had done. That is, when he finally returned from the barn. Avery couldn’t blame him. She had practically thrown herself at him in the buggy. She wanted to apologize for her behavior, but since the matter had been pushed aside, she didn’t want to bring it up again. He probably thought she was extremely forward. But it had seemed so natural to lean in closer to him, so right.

Still, whoever said her instincts were good? Her track record where men were concerned was proof of that.

So she had let her efforts in the kitchen serve as her redemption. And tomorrow she’d do it again. Katie Rose had written down detailed instructions on how to prepare a roast, mix biscuits from scratch, and fry bacon. Avery was excited to accept the challenge of preparing a meal all on her own. Maybe too excited.

She couldn’t say that was the only reason she was still awake. She shifted on the sofa, trying to find a comfortable spot while not disturbing Louie.

Avery growled in frustration, threw back the covers, and swung her feet to the floor, just too keyed up to sleep. Maybe if she read awhile. She turned on the gas-powered lamp at the end of the sofa and tried to remember where she had put the stack of books she’d found when she was cleaning. Maybe something in there would keep her interest.

In the china hutch. That’s where she’d put them—four in all. One on natural fertilizers, another on getting the most out of your vegetable garden, a book on basket weaving, and a soft-bound copy of the Bible. By far the best of the four.

She returned the others to the cabinet and curled up on the end of the sofa. She opened the Bible in the middle, planning on starting at whatever page it happened to be, but was surprised to find that it was written in German. Not that it was a problem. As a child, she had picked up a working knowledge of the language from their housekeeper. Then she had gone on to further study while in college. She wasn’t exactly fluent, but she could manage. It had been a long time since she had read anything in a foreign language. Maybe the challenge would keep her mind occupied enough to calm her thoughts. Half an hour tops, and she would be sleeping like a baby.

Two hours later, she was still reading, making a list of words she didn’t understand and marking passages she wanted to return to later: the amazing story of Noah and his ark, Daniel in the lions’ den, and the entire book of Psalms.

Louie whined. Avery stuck a scrap of paper in the Bible to hold her place, then scratched him under the chin. “All right, baby. We’ll go to bed now.”

She turned out the light and settled back down on the sofa, a peace settling over her. Tomorrow was going to be a wonderful day. She had a great breakfast planned for Gideon, and a great supper too. She would truly show her talent as a cook. She smiled to herself as she finally drifted off to sleep.

Sunday dawned beautiful and sunny. Gideon straightened up his bed in the barn and threw down fresh hay for the horses and Honey. For some reason he felt better than he had in months. It felt good to climb on a neighbor’s roof and repair damage done by the unpredictable Oklahoma weather. It felt fine to get out amongst his family and friends, something he hadn’t done in a long, long time. It felt good despite the stares and the whispers behind his back.

His only regret in shaving off his beard was how it affected his mother. She had seemed downright heartbroken as she pressed her palm to his smooth cheek. How could he explain to her that it was no more blasphemous to shave his beard than to wear it now that his family was gone?

He trimmed the hair from his upper lip, then put his razor away and walked the distance from the barn to the house with a smile on his face. His sister had spent the better part of the afternoon teaching Annie how to cook. It amazed him that she had reached her age without knowing even the basic principles, and that despite her wealth and privilege in the
Englisch
world she was willing to learn how to survive in his.

He wondered what treat she had in store for him this morning. Bacon? Eggs? Hotcakes?

As Gideon opened the door, Louie barked and jumped down from the couch. Annie rubbed her eyes and struggled to awaken.

“Good mornin’.”

She sat up, her voice groggy. “What time is it?”

“Mornin’.”

Her eyes popped open wide. She threw off the covers and jumped to her feet. “But I . . .” She ran a hand through her already rumpled hair. “Oh, no.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I wanted to make you breakfast.” She frowned. “I wanted to have it waiting for you when you came in. Biscuits and bacon and—”

“But you overslept.”

She nodded. “I couldn’t sleep last night so I started reading and the next thing I knew it was late and . . .”

Gideon looked to where she pointed. The Bible he’d received when he joined the church rested on the small table at the end of the couch. “You were readin’ that?”

She gave another small nod.

“But it’s in German.”

“It took awhile, but I got most of it.”

He tried not to shake his head at the wonder of it all. Annie, of the
Englisch
world, could understand German. Why was he so surprised?

“I made some notes.” She reached for a pad of paper. “I was hoping that Monday . . . maybe you could take me to town. I’d like to stop by the bookstore, look for a couple of things. I mean, it’s not like it’s a secret that I’m here, right?”

“I s’pose not.”

“And I wanted to get some flowers. For the front flower bed. Lizzie said it should be filled with bright colors.”

He gave a quick nod. “I’ll take you, but on one condition. Tomorrow you make me that breakfast you just talked about.”

“It’s a deal.” She smiled.

And Gideon felt like he’d been kicked by a horse. The large shirt she wore covered her from neck to knees, but clung to her curves. He cleared his throat. “You can go change now.”

She glanced down at herself, her cheeks reddening. “Right.”

And she hurried off.

After Annie was dressed, they ate a quick breakfast of granola and milk, along with slices of fresh peaches he’d bought at the store. He sure hoped that last snow hadn’t killed off all the Green Country fruit trees. Local peaches were so much better than the ones grown states away.

“It’s Sunday,” she said, an entirely too innocent expression on her face.

“
Jah
.”

“I heard your mother talking about going to a different church district today.”

“
Jah
.”

She dipped her chin and cut those big gumdrop eyes toward him. “It sounded pretty special.”

Just what did she mean?

“Your mom would be really happy if you went with them today.”

“Did she tell you that?”

Annie shook her head, her dark hair brushing against her neck. “She didn’t have to.”

Gideon laid his spoon in his bowl and took them both to the sink, glad he had finished his meal. His appetite was sure gone now. “Leave it be, Annie.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“Try.”

He heard the scrape of her chair legs, and then she was beside him at the sink. “I like your family.”

He grunted.

“They’re worried about you.”

He took her bowl from her and turned on the faucet, plunging his hands into the sink without heating any water to mix with the cold.

“Want to tell me about it?”

“No.”

“Sometimes it helps if you talk about it.”

“You wanna tell me why you were out on the worst night of the year with no coat and no luggage?”

Her eyes darkened and narrowed, and for a second he thought she might start yelling. Then she took a deep breath and expelled it. “I was only trying to help.”

He paused. “I’ll make a deal with you. You quit tryin’ to help, and I’ll let you stay as long as you want.” He didn’t know why he said that. To get her to stop?

Or to get her to stay?

She stuck out her hand to shake his. “Deal.”

He looked down at it, and then took it into his own.

She smiled, perhaps remembering yesterday when he took her hand and led her across the yard toward his family and friends.

Or maybe to her, this was just a victory won?

He turned her loose. “I’ll be in the barn if you need me.”

Avery couldn’t stop smiling. She could stay as long as she wanted. Now if she could just figure out a way to get out of going home for the Dunstan Pro-Am. Maybe if she got someone to take her place . . .

She stopped peeling potatoes and stared off into space. She had several friends—female friends—who would jump at the chance to take her place at the tournament and possibly meet a handsome, single pro golfer. Right after she got carrots sliced and the roast in the oven, she’d dig out her phone and make some calls.

She wasn’t fooling herself—she’d have to go home eventually. But right now the peace and solitude were worth more than trying to figure out when. Most of her life had been planned out for her from start to finish. It felt good to just let it roll and not worry. When the time came for her to go home, she would, but until then . . .

She had a flower bed to weed. And supper to fix.

She washed and dried her hands then slid the large pan containing their dinner into the oven. Katie Rose had said to cook it long and slow, and it would be as “tender as a mother’s love.” After the disaster with the pot pie, she’d settle for edible.

Then again, as long as she was eating with Gideon, it would be a great meal.

She smiled to herself and went in search of her phone.

“What are you doin’?”

Annie jumped.

Gideon didn’t mean to scare her, but could tell he had taken her by surprise.