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  Mom stood directly behind her, and she smiled into the mirror, as well. “You look exquisite. I’m glad you decided to buy this beautiful silk gown. That shade of green brings out the color of your eyes so well.”

  Laura merely shrugged in response. She knew she looked nice, but her heart wasn’t in going to the party tonight or in spending the evening with Dean.

  “I’m sure your date will be impressed,” her mother continued. “Dean seems like such a nice young man.”

  “I suppose—just not my type.”

  “Not your type?” Mom’s eyebrows furrowed. “How can you say that, Laura? Why, Dean is nice looking, has plenty of money, and—”

  Laura turned away from the mirror. “Do you think my hair looks all right this way, or should I have worn it down?”

  “Your hair looks lovely in a French roll,” her mother responded. She gave Laura’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I’m sure Dean will think so, too.”

  ***

  The New Year’s Eve party was already in full swing by the time Dean and Laura arrived a little after nine o’clock. He’d been nearly an hour late picking her up, which had put her in a sour mood right from the beginning.

  They had no sooner checked their coats, than Dean pulled Laura into a possessive embrace. “You look gorgeous tonight. I’m glad you decided to come.”

  Laura wished she could reciprocate with a similar remark, but the truth was she wasn’t glad to be here. In fact, she felt a headache coming on, and if it didn’t let up soon, she knew she would have a good excuse to leave the party.

  “Would you like something to drink before we check out the buffet?” Dean asked, pulling her toward the bar.

  She merely shrugged in response.

  “What can I get for you?”

  “Nothing, unless they have some diet cola.”

  “You’re not driving,” Dean reminded. “And if you’re concerned about me drinking and driving, you shouldn’t worry your pretty little head. I won’t have more than a few drinks, and I can handle those with no problem at all.”

  Laura gnawed on her bottom lip until it almost bled. If Dean was planning to have a few drinks, she could only imagine how the evening might end. She had to do something to get away from him now. “There’s my friend Shannon,” she said, motioning across the room. “I’m going over to say hello.”

  “Okay, I’ll get our drinks. I’ll meet you at the buffet table in a few minutes.” He sauntered off toward the bar like he owned the place.

  Laura saw Shannon carrying her plate to one of the tables, and she hurried over to her. “I’m glad to see you here.” She pulled out a chair and took a seat beside her friend.

  “Why wouldn’t I be? Need I remind you that my boyfriend works for your dad?” Shannon glanced at the buffet table and smiled. “Clark’s still loading up on food, but he’ll be joining me soon.”

  Laura shrugged. If Shannon’s comment was meant to chase her away, it wasn’t going to work. “Listen, can you do me a favor?”

  “Sure, if I can.”

  “If you see my folks, would you tell them I came down with a headache so I called a cab and went home?”

  Shannon’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead. “What about your date?”

  “When Dean comes looking for me, which I’m sure he will, would you tell him the same thing?”

  “You can tell him yourself. He’s heading this way right now.” Shannon pointed across the room, and Laura groaned.

  “What’s wrong? Did you two have a disagreement?”

  “Something like that.” Laura decided it would be pointless to tell her friend the real reason she wanted to get away from Dean. She wasn’t just worried about his drinking. She didn’t like the gleam she’d seen in his eyes when he picked her up tonight. She was sure he wanted more than she was willing to give, and her best line of defense was to leave now—alone.

  “Here’s your diet cola.” Dean handed Laura the cold drink and nodded at Shannon. “How’s it going?”

  Shannon smiled. “Fine. How’s everything with you?”

  Laura set her glass on the table and tuned them both out as they engaged in small talk. Her thoughts turned to Eli, and she couldn’t help wondering how he was spending his New Year’s Eve. Did the Amish celebrate with a party, or would tonight be just like any other night for Eli and his family?

  Laura cringed when Dean pulled her to his side and whispered, “Tonight’s going to be a great evening.” When he stroked the back of her neck with his thumb, she stood up so quickly, she knocked her soft drink over, spilling some of it down the front of her new dress. “I—I’m not feeling well, Dean. I’m going to call a cab and go home.”

  Obvious surprise registered on Dean’s face, and his eyebrows furrowed. “You can’t be serious. We just got here, and I haven’t had a chance to eat yet, much less show you off to my friends.”

  I don’t want to be shown off, and I don’t want to be with you. Laura thrust out her chin and stared up at him. “I’m going home.”

  Dean set his drink on the table and steered her toward the coat closet. “Sure, no problem. I’ll get my car.”

  “I’m calling a cab. There’s no point in both of us missing the party. You stay and have a good time.”

  His eyes clouded over. “If you’re dead set on going, then I may as well collect that stroke-of-midnight kiss.” Before Laura could say anything, Dean bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss that would have left most women reeling with pleasure.

  Laura drew back and slapped his face.

  “What was that for?” He grimaced as he touched the red mark she had left on his cheek. “I thought you wanted that kiss as much as I did. Always did before.”

  Laura’s face was so hot she felt as though she were the one who had been slapped. She wasn’t in control of her emotions tonight, and that really bothered her.

  “I’m sorry, Dean,” she apologized. “Your kiss took me by surprise.”

  Dean’s eyelids fluttered, and he backed up a few steps. “I don’t know what’s come over you, Laura, but you haven’t been the same since you returned to Minneapolis after attending that stupid school in Pennsylvania for a few months. If I were your father, I would never have allowed you to go there, and I would have insisted that you finish your design courses right here in town.”

  Laura’s hands trembled as she held them at her sides. If Dean kept goading her, she was liable to let him have it on the other cheek. “Good night, Dean,” she said through her clenched jaw. “Don’t bother walking me out.”

  ***

  The day after New Year’s, Laura said good-bye to her parents at the airport. She was more than anxious to be on her way. It wasn’t that she hadn’t enjoyed being with them, but she wanted to get back to her studies ... and she hoped to see Eli again.

  Mom and Dad had no idea she’d fallen in love with an Amish man, only that she’d gone out with him a few times. She had no intention of informing them, either. At least not today.

  Laura hugged her parents and thanked them for the beautiful leather coat they’d given her for Christmas. Then, without so much as a backward glance, she boarded the plane, welcoming the butterflies doing a tap dance in her stomach.

  Her time on the plane was spent thinking about Eli. She couldn’t decide if she should be straightforward and tell him that she’d come to realize how much she loved him or if she should try to draw a declaration of love from him first.

  By the time the plane landed in Harrisburg, Laura was a ball of nerves. As soon as she picked up the car she had leased, she headed for the main road, knowing the drive to Lancaster would be slow since snow still covered the ground.

  When she got back to the school, it would be dark and too late to try and find Eli’s house. But come tomorrow, she hoped to see him and bare her soul.

  CHAPTER 12

  Laura awoke in her dorm room the following morning with a pounding headache. A warm shower and a cup of tea helped some, but when she knocked on Darla’
s door to see if her friend would like to ride with her to Eli’s farm, Laura’s headache worsened.

  “I have other plans today,” Darla said with a scowl. “Besides, I wouldn’t consider being a party to you ruining your life.”

  “How can seeing Eli again ruin my life?” Laura had hoped Darla would be willing to go with her. She needed the added courage.

  Darla opened the door wider and motioned Laura inside. “Have a seat, and I’ll see if I can explain things a little more clearly.”

  Laura pulled out the desk chair, and Darla sat on the edge of her bed.

  “I know you’ve got a thing for this guy, but the more you see him, the further your relationship will develop.” Darla pursed her lips. “One of you is bound to get hurt, and I’m guessing that you’re going to be the one.”

  “What makes you think I’ll get hurt?”

  “We’ve been through this before. You and Eli are from completely different worlds, and even if one of you were willing to try the other’s way of life, it most likely wouldn’t work.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Trust me on this,” Darla asserted. “You’re living in a dream world if you think you can get Eli to leave his faith.”

  “Why is that so impossible? People change religions all the time.”

  “Has Eli joined the Amish church yet? Because if he has and he decides to leave the faith, he’ll be shunned. Do you understand what that means, Laura?”

  She nodded. “Eli’s told me quite a bit about the Amish way of life, but this isn’t a problem because he hasn’t joined the church yet.”

  Darla’s eyebrows drew together. “Even so, if he were to leave, it would be a difficult adjustment for him.”

  “I’ll help him adjust.”

  Darla shrugged. “Whatever. But think about this: Maybe he doesn’t want to leave. Then what?”

  “I—I don’t know. I suppose I’ll have to convince him that he does want to leave.” Laura stood. “So are you going to help me find the Yoder place or not?”

  Darla shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ll have to do this on your own.”

  “Fine. I will.”

  ***

  Laura spent the next couple of hours driving around the back roads near Paradise, searching for Eli’s house. Since she’d only been there once before and hadn’t paid close attention to where Eli was going, she wasn’t sure she was heading in the right direction.

  Suddenly, she spotted a one-room schoolhouse. It was the same one Eli had pointed out on one of their rides. I’ve got to be getting close to his house.

  Laura continued up the road another mile or so until she spotted a mailbox with the name Yoder on it. She drove up the driveway, and the minute she saw the house, she knew it was Eli’s. She stopped the car, turned off the engine, and stepped out.

  Walking carefully up the slippery path, she headed for the Yoders’ front porch. She was almost to the door when a sense of panic gripped her like a vise. What if Eli wasn’t home? What if he was home but wasn’t happy to see her?

  She thought about turning around and heading back to Lancaster, but the desire to see Eli won out, so she lifted her hand and knocked on the door.

  A few moments later, Eli’s mother answered. She held a rolling pin in one hand, and with the other hand, she swiped at a wisp of hair that had fallen loose from her bun. Laura couldn’t read Mary Ellen’s stoic expression, but the woman’s silence was enough to remind her that she was on enemy territory.

  “Is ... uh ... Eli at home?”

  Mary Ellen stood quietly a few minutes before she finally answered. “He’s out in the barn in his woodworking shop.”

  Laura nodded and forced her lips to form a smile. “Thanks.” She stepped quickly off the porch before Eli’s mother had a chance to say anything more. If the older woman’s sour expression was meant to dissuade her, it hadn’t worked. She was here now and even more determined than ever to speak with Eli.

  ***

  Eli was bent over his workbench, hammering a nail into the roof of a small birdhouse, when he heard the barn door open. He didn’t think much of it, knowing his brothers were still busy with chores, but when a familiar female voice called out to him, he was so surprised, he smashed his thumb with the hammer.

  “Laura! How’d you get here?”

  She moved slowly across the room until she stood directly in front of him. “I drove.”

  “When did you get back from Minnesota?”

  “Last night.”

  Eli wished she would quit staring at him. It was hard to think. Hard to breathe. He swallowed a couple of times. “How ... how was your holiday?”

  “It was okay. How was yours?”

  “Good.” Though it would have been better if you’d been here. Eli shook his head, trying to get himself thinking straight again.

  “I’ve missed you,” Laura said, leaning toward him. “Did you miss me?”

  A warning bell went off in Eli’s head, but it was too late. Laura touched his arm, as she gazed into his eyes in a way that made his heart slam into his chest. How could he tell this beautiful woman that it wasn’t right for her to be here?

  Eli couldn’t voice any of his thoughts. He couldn’t even think straight with her standing so close and smelling so nice. He took a step back and bumped into his workbench, knocking a hunk of wood to the floor. He bent to retrieve it, feeling more frustrated by the minute.

  “So this is where you make your birdhouses, huh?”

  He nodded. “And many other wooden items, as well.”

  She glanced around the small room, as if she were scrutinizing it. “How can you do this kind of work without the aid of electricity?”

  “Some time ago, my daed installed a diesel engine that not only provides power for some of my saws and planers but also powers the compressed air pump that brings water to our house.” Eli pointed to a small drill lying beside a handsaw. “Of course I do many things by hand, too.”

  “I see.” Laura took a step closer to him. “Have you been back to the lake lately?”

  “The lake’s completely frozen over now.” He tipped his head as an uncensored thought popped into his mind. “Say, would you like to go ice-skating?”

  She pointed to her boots. “Ice-skating? Eli, in case you haven’t noticed, I have no skates.”

  “I think my sister, Martha Rose, left her skates here in the barn when she married Amon Zook, and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you wore them.”

  “If your sister’s skates fit, I’d be happy to go ice-skating with you.”

  Eli nodded and smiled. So much for his resolve to keep Laura at a distance.

  ***

  “Always trouble somewhere,” Mary Ellen muttered as she returned to the kitchen, where Johnny sat at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands.

  “What’s the problem? Who was at the front door?”

  “That English woman.”

  “Which English woman? There are several living nearby, you know.”