The Bishop's Daughter (41 page)

Jimmy’s thoughts went to Leona. She was the kind of woman he would like to marry, but she was out of his reach—unless he decided to join the Amish faith, and he didn’t know if he could do that.
Give me some sense of direction, Lord
, he prayed.
Show me what I should do about this, and when I talk to Dad, give me the right words
.

“Where’s your mamm today?” Naomi asked Leona as they entered Nancy Stauffer’s kitchen to prepare the noon meal.”

“She stayed home with Papa.”

“Is your daed sick?”

“He’s fine. Mom decided it wasn’t a good idea for him to come here today.”

“How come?”

“He’d have probably wanted to climb onto the roof with the others who are building your brother-in-law’s barn.” Leona shook her head. “The last thing we need is for Papa to fall again.”

“I should say so. And we must pray that none of the men gets hurt today.”

“That’s for sure.” Leona moved across the room to see where her help was needed, and Naomi did the same.

A short time later, Leona stood at the kitchen sink peeling carrots and watching the progress on the barn out the window. She spotted Jimmy among those on the ground handing pieces of wood up to the men on the roof. Since the day he’d driven her to the hospital to see John, he hadn’t spoken more than a few words to her.

It’s probably best that he’s kept his distance
, she thought with regret.
Every time we’ve been close, I’ve found myself wanting more than either of us can give
. She squeezed the carrot in her hand so hard she feared it might break, so she relaxed her grip.
It’s best that Mom decided not to come with me today. Since she’s so afraid Jimmy might lead me astray, she’d probably have watched my every move
.

Leona’s thoughts wandered back to a conversation she’d overheard a few weeks ago between her mamm and Arthur. She’d gone to the barn to feed her puppy and had spotted the two of them standing inside one of the horse’s stalls, speaking in hushed tones. . . .

“I tell you, son, that Englisher is getting too close to your sister,” Mom said. “I fear if something’s not done about it soon, Leona will get hurt. I think you should let Jimmy go.”

“You mean fire him?”

“Jah.”

“Aw, Mom, you can’t ask me to do that. Jimmy’s a good worker, and he has a lot of knowledge when it comes to painting. Besides, since Richard’s on vacation right now and a couple of the fellows are down with the flu, I need Jimmy more than ever.”

“What if he talks Leona into leaving the Amish faith?” Mom persisted. “Can’t you see what that would do to our family?”

“Leona’s strong in her beliefs. I’m sure she ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

“If she does up and leave, then you’ll be to blame.” Mom turned on her heel and rushed out of the barn. Arthur just stood there scratching his head
.

“Leona, did you hear what I said?”

Leona whirled around as her thoughts returned to the present. “Huh?”

“I wanted you to know that we’ve got everything ready, so when you’re done with the vegetable platter, you can bring it outside to the serving table,” Nancy said.

“Okay.”

Nancy moved to Leona’s side. “Are you all right? You seem kind of distracted today.”

“I’m fine. Just caught up in my thoughts.” Leona grabbed a cucumber and started peeling it real fast.

“All right. See you outside in a few minutes,” Nancy said before hurrying away.

When Leona stepped out the back door a short time later, she found herself scanning the yard, searching for Jimmy. She knew it was wrong to pine for something she couldn’t have, but even though the voice in her head said no, her heart said something different.

She gripped the vegetable platter a little tighter.
I have to do something to fight this attraction, and I need to do it soon before I lose my heart to him and do something that would hurt my family
.

Forcing her thoughts to the job at hand, Leona joined the other women who were serving the men their noon meal. There was plenty of food donated by the women in their community. While the men ate,
they engaged in conversation, and some even told a few jokes.

“Did you hear the one about the Englisher who wasn’t watching where he was going and ended up hitting the telephone pole?” Yost Zimmerman asked Matthew Fisher as he elbowed him in the ribs.

“Can’t say that I have.”

Leona smiled and picked up a pitcher of water. Moving down the line, she refilled each of the men’s glasses, and that’s when she noticed Jimmy sitting at a table to the left.

“Looks like things are going pretty well today,” Naomi said, stepping up to her. “The men have Mark’s barn nearly half done already.”

“It’s good the weather’s decided to cooperate.”

“And it’s nice to see so many of our English neighbors and friends here today.” Naomi nodded toward the table on their left. “Jimmy Scott’s a hard worker. I saw him hauling boards up to the roof earlier, and he seemed to be working every bit as hard as any of the Amish men.”

Leona’s only reply was a slow nod.

“It amazes me the way he seems to fit in with our people. He’s helped your daed in so many ways and has such a gentle spirit.” Naomi continued to stare at Jimmy. “In some ways, he reminds me of my brother Samuel.” She pointed to the table on their right. “See the way Samuel holds his head when he’s talking?”

Leona craned her neck to get a better look.

“Jimmy does it the same way. I’ll bet if he was dressed in Amish clothes and wore his hair like our men, he’d look like Amish. Don’t you think?”

Leona could only offer a shrug in response, for if she’d said what was on her heart, she would have told Naomi that she wished Jimmy was Amish and she wished God would give her some guarantees that Jimmy wouldn’t be taken from her the way Ezra had been.

“Guess I’ll see if the coffeepot needs refilling,” Naomi said as she moved away from the table.

Leona needed a few minutes alone, so she meandered around the side of the house and headed for the swing that hung from a huge maple tree. She seated herself and grasped the handles; then digging the toes of her sneakers into the ground, she pumped her legs to gain momentum. She’d only been swinging a few minutes when she spotted Jimmy coming around the house. He headed to the table where several
washbasins had been set out and seemed to be looking at something in the palm of his right hand.

Leona cringed when she saw him reach into his pocket and pull out a small knife. She hopped off the swing and hurried over to him. “Are you having a problem?”

He held out his hand. “This is what I get for not wearing gloves today.”

She grimaced when she saw the ugly splinter embedded in the palm of his hand. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll see about getting a needle and some tweezers so I can take out the sliver.”

He shook his head. “That’s okay. I’m sure I can get it with the tip of my pocketknife.”

Just thinking about what could happen if the knife slipped and cut into Jimmy’s flesh caused Leona to flinch.

“It’ll be all right. I’ve done this before.”

“If you’re determined to use the knife, then at least let me help you.”

He smiled and placed his hand in hers. “You’re an angel of mercy.”

When Jimmy’s skin came in contact with Leona’s, she shivered.

“Are you cold?”

“I’m fine. Just a little nervous.”

“I have complete faith in your surgical abilities,” he said with a chuckle.

Leona held the knife as steady as her trembling fingers would allow, and it took her several tries before she was able to pry the tip of the splinter loose. When she saw blood oozing from his hand and heard Jimmy groan, her knees nearly buckled.

“Easy now. You’ve almost got it.”

She exhaled a sigh of relief as she pulled the knife aside and saw the splinter attached to the end. “It’s out.”

“Danki.” Jimmy leaned so close that she could feel his warm breath tickle her nose.

“You’re welcome.”

“What’s goin’ on here?”

Leona jumped back.

Jimmy did the same.

Abraham Fisher planted his hands on his hips and stared at them.

“I—I was taking a splinter out of Jimmy’s hand,” Leona stammered.
She didn’t know why she felt so flustered. They’d done nothing wrong.

Abraham glared at Jimmy. “I think you and me need to have a little talk—in private.”

Leona didn’t understand why Abraham wanted to speak with Jimmy alone, but she decided it would be best if she left. She gave Jimmy what she hoped was a reassuring smile and hurried away.

Jimmy pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of his blue jeans and wrapped it around his throbbing hand. “What did you want to talk to me about, Abraham?”

The man grunted. “As if you don’t know.”

“If it’s about—”

“Lydia Weaver had a talk with me the other day,” Abraham said, cutting Jimmy off. “It seems that Leona informed her mamm that she’s in love with you.”

Jimmy’s mouth fell open. “She—she said that?”

Abraham gave a curt nod. “Lydia’s worried that her daughter might do something foolish, like run away with you, and then she’d be shunned.” He leveled Jimmy with a piercing gaze. “My daughter ran away from home once because she was influenced by a young English woman who didn’t give a hoot about anyone but herself. I won’t stand by now and watch the daughter of my good friend throw her life away on some English fellow who can’t keep his hands to himself.”

“Just a minute.” Jimmy’s voice raised a notch. “I’ve never touched Leona inappropriately. And you don’t have to worry about her running off with me or being shunned.”

Abraham opened his mouth as if to say more, but Jimmy sprinted off. “I’ll never find what I’m looking for here, and staying in Lancaster County so long was a big mistake!”