A Cousin's Challenge Read online

  He read the verse but gave no response.

  If Jolene’s willing to give up her time to teach you, don’t you think you ought to quit feeling sorry for yourself because life’s handed you a harsh blow and learn from her?

  His face blanched then quickly turned pink. “I guess both Jolene and I share a great loss.”

  Ella nodded.

  “My miserable situation isn’t her fault, and I guess she only wants to help me.”

  Does that mean you’ll come back for more lessons? Ella wrote.

  “I guess so.”

  That’s great. I’ll see you at the schoolhouse tomorrow afternoon.

  ***

  For the last fifteen minutes, Jake had been sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee and visiting with his mother while she prepared supper.

  He enjoyed this quiet time, watching her slice carrots and potatoes into the pot of vegetable soup. While he was living in Montana and sleeping in the bunkhouse, he’d missed times like this. There’d always been such an easy camaraderie between him and Mom.

  Not like me and Dad, Jake thought ruefully. We’ve never seen eye to eye on much of anything. Jake still hadn’t gotten over Dad hollering at him for trying to discipline Kyle.

  Stretching his arms over his head, Jake yawned.

  “If you’re tired, why don’t you go lie down?” Mom suggested. “I’ll call you when supper’s ready.”

  Before Jake could reply, Dad wheeled into the kitchen. “Thought I heard voices in here.” He looked over at Jake. “How come you’re not outside doin’ the afternoon chores?”

  “They’re done already.”

  “Oh.” Dad maneuvered his wheelchair up to the table and reached for the coffeepot. “So, Jake, how’s business been going this week?” he asked as he poured coffee into the cup Mom handed him. “Are you managing to keep up?”

  “I’m doing fine.”

  “Are you making sure to get the horses’ hooves cleaned and trimmed real good before you put on their shoes?”

  Irritation welled in Jake’s chest. “I know how to shoe a horse, Dad.”

  “Jah, well, you haven’t been helping me for some time.”

  “I did plenty of shoeing at the ranch in Montana, along with lots of other things that involved horses.”

  “Humph!” Dad folded his arms and glared at Jake. “All you ever seem to talk about is Montana.”

  A muscle in Jake’s jaw quivered. Wouldn’t Dad ever let up?

  “If you had a lick of sense, you’d forget about Montana, stay here, and join the church.”

  Jake didn’t like the way this conversation was going, and he was afraid if he stayed much longer, he and Dad would end up in a full-blown argument. He pushed his chair away from the table, dumped his coffee into the sink, and strode across the room.

  “Where are you going?” Mom called.

  “I’ve got a few more chores to do in the barn.”

  “I thought you said you’d done all the chores,” Dad said.

  Jake just hurried out the door.

  Once outside, he leaned against the porch railing and watched the horses grazing in the pasture. He probably had enough money saved up to put a down payment on a place of his own if he had a mind to, but he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to settle in Indiana or Montana. If he stayed here, there might be more conflict with Dad than there already was. If he went back to Montana, Mom would be hurt.

  At one time, Jake had thought he was ready to join the Amish church, but now he wasn’t sure it would be the right thing for him to do. He didn’t want to make a lifelong commitment to something just because it’s what his folks wanted. The decision to be Amish or not was between him and God, not him and Dad.

  A spark of anger and a flare of determination settled over Jake. He’d made up his mind a long time ago that he would make his own decisions. Dad would just have to deal with whatever he decided. Jake knew he couldn’t do anything until Dad’s legs healed sufficiently. In the meantime, he would keep out of Dad’s way as much as possible and try to stay busy.

  CHAPTER 18

  The following day, Ella finished her work in Dad’s shop early and headed to the schoolhouse for another signing lesson. The scholars were just leaving when she arrived, and she greeted Fern, who stood on the porch. “Is Jolene in her classroom? I came for my signing lesson.”

  “She’s still here. She gave the children in my class another lesson today, too.”

  “I didn’t realize they were learning to sign. Was that your idea or Jolene’s?” Ella asked.

  “Both. We thought it would help Irvin and Sylvia if they could communicate with the other children.” Fern motioned to Kyle Beechy, who was about to climb onto his bike. “He’s given Irvin a hard time about not being able to hear, so I think learning to speak with his hands will be a good thing for him. It’ll give him a better idea of what it’s like for people who are deaf.”

  “I hope it helps.” Ella moved toward the stairs. “Guess I’d better get up there before Jolene thinks I’m not coming.” When she reached the first step, she turned back around. “Will you be at the young people’s volleyball game on Friday night at the 850 Center?”

  “I don’t know,” Fern replied. “I hadn’t really thought about going. I’m really not much of a volleyball player.”

  “You should go. I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun, even if you just sit and watch.”

  Fern smiled. “If I do go, then I’ll go by myself. Freeman and Katie will probably go, and I’m sure they’d like some time alone as they travel to and from the game. It’ll be difficult enough for them after they’re married and living in the same house with me.”

  “They do want you to continue living there, right?”

  “I believe so, but even though Grandma left the house to both Freeman and me, I offered to move out so he and Katie can have the house to themselves after they’re married.” A stiff breeze blew under the eaves of the porch, and Fern pulled the collar of her jacket tighter. “Freeman insists that the house is half mine and says he wants me to stay on.”

  “What does Katie say about it?”

  “She agrees with Freeman—even said she enjoyed my company.”

  “Then I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you later,” Fern added as she stepped out the doorway. “I need to get home and start supper before Freeman closes his bike shop. He’s usually hungry as a mule by the end of the day.”

  Ella chuckled as she hurried up the stairs. When she entered Jolene’s classroom and saw no sign of Lonnie, she was disappointed.

  She stepped up to Jolene’s desk. “I’m sorry to see that Lonnie’s not here. I stopped by to see him yesterday, and he said he’d be coming today.”

  “Did he say why he missed the last lesson?” Jolene asked.

  Ella was on the verge of telling Jolene that Lonnie’s girlfriend had broken up with him, when the door swung open and Lonnie stepped into the room.

  “I’m sorry for missing yesterday’s lesson,” he said.

  Jolene wrote a message for him on the blackboard: You’re here now; that’s all that matters. Since you and Ella want to learn how to sign, I think it would be good if you both come here a few days a week for signing, and then since Lonnie will also need to learn lip reading, maybe he can come on a different day just for that.

  “That’s fine,” Lonnie said.

  Ella agreed, too. She was glad Lonnie had come, but his somber expression told her that it would be awhile before he got over being jilted by Carolyn.

  Jolene erased the board and had just written the first five letters of the alphabet, when the door opened and Jake stepped in.

  He walked up to Jolene and said, “I heard you were giving a lesson on signing here today, and I wondered if I could join you.”

  She smiled. “You’re more than welcome to join us.”

  “Oh, great,” Ella muttered.

  Jolene glanced over at Ella, and she must have notice
d the scowl on her face, for she quickly added, “Of course, if you’d rather come by my house for lessons on the evenings I’ll be teaching my family how to sign, you’re welcome to do that.”

  “I just might,” Jake said, “but I’m here now, so I may as well get in on this lesson.”

  ***

  Ella felt relieved when the lesson was over and Lonnie and Jake had gone. It was hard for her to be in the same room with Jake. Watching the way he’d kept flirting with Jolene made her sick to her stomach. At least it had seemed like flirting.

  “What’s wrong with you today?” Jolene asked. “For someone who said they wanted to learn how to sign, you didn’t show much interest. Every time I looked your way, you were scowling.”

  “Jake isn’t to be trusted.”

  Jolene’s brows puckered. “What’s Jake got to do with it?”

  “Nothing. I mean, it irritated me that he was here, and I had trouble concentrating.”

  “Why would you feel irritated because Jake wants to learn how to sign?”

  “I don’t care whether he learns to sign or not. What riles me is the way he always manages to worm his way into people’s lives. Then he jerks the rug out from under them as soon as they start to have feelings for him.”

  “Are you referring to the fact that Jake hurt Loraine when he took off for Montana and didn’t keep in touch with her, or do you have feelings for Jake?”

  Ella’s face heated. “Of course not! The only feelings I have for Jake are feelings of irritation.”

  “Did you ever think that maybe Jake going to Montana and leaving Loraine in the lurch was a blessing?”

  “How could it be a blessing?”

  “Loraine and Wayne wouldn’t be happily married right now if Jake hadn’t left.”

  Ella grunted. “No, Loraine and Jake would be happily married.”

  “You don’t know that. They might not have gotten married even if Jake had stayed in Indiana. And if they had gotten married, it doesn’t mean they would have been as happy together as Loraine and Wayne seem to be.”

  “You could be right.” Ella pursed her lips. “But since Jake left Indiana twice, then I’m sure he’s bound to leave again.”

  “Maybe he will go back to Montana when his daed’s doing better, but That’s Jake’s decision. It’s no reason for you to sit here with a long face and ignore everything I was trying to teach today.”

  “You’re right. I shouldn’t have let my feelings about Jake affect my desire to learn signing.” Ella touched Jolene’s arm. “Can I offer you a bit of advice?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t let Jake get too close to you, and don’t listen to any promises he makes.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Couldn’t you see the way he was flirting with you this afternoon?” Ella asked. “If you’re not careful, he’ll break your heart, the way he did Loraine’s.”

  Jolene’s mouth hung slightly open. “Did you just say what I thought you said—that Jake was flirting with me today, and that he might break my heart?”

  Ella nodded. “That’s exactly what I said.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, I’m not. The whole time you were showing us what finger positions to use for certain letters and words, Jake sat there grinning like a lovesick hund. He even winked at you.”

  Jolene shook her head. “I think he was just being friendly. And hopefully he enjoyed the lesson.”

  “People don’t wink at the teacher because they’re enjoying the lesson. You didn’t see Lonnie winking, did you?”

  “Well, no, but—”

  “You’d do well to heed my advice and stay as far away from Jake as possible.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” Jolene’s cheeks had turned a deep rosy pink, matching the color of her dress.

  “I am serious. You need to watch out for Jake and keep hold of your heart so he doesn’t break it.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  “I mean it, Jolene. Jake’s not to be trusted.”

  “I’m glad Lonnie came back today,” Jolene said, abruptly changing the subject. “I was worried that I’d said something to upset him the other day.”

  “It wasn’t you that kept Lonnie from coming yesterday; it was his girlfriend, Carolyn.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I stopped by his place yesterday, I found out that he’d gotten a letter from Carolyn saying she’d found someone else and was breaking up with Lonnie.”

  Deep wrinkles formed across Jolene’s forehead. “No wonder he seemed so sullen today. I’m surprised he came here at all.”

  “He wasn’t going to, but I gave him a little pep talk and shared a verse of scripture with him.”

  “I’m sorry to hear he was jilted like that, but maybe in the long run it’ll work out for the best.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Maybe God has someone else in mind for Lonnie—someone who’ll make him happier and be a better wife than Carolyn.”

  “That could be, I suppose.”

  “Maybe that someone will be you.”

  Ella’s eyes widened. “I have no more interest in Lonnie than I do Jake. Besides, it’s too soon for Lonnie to show an interest in anyone.” She twirled the ends of her head-covering ties around her fingers. “If and when Lonnie does take an interest in someone, I’m sure it won’t be me.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because we have nothing in common.”

  “Jah, you do. You both like wind chimes, and you and Lonnie used to work together in your daed’s shop.”

  “That’s true, but Lonnie can’t work there anymore, and the fact that we both like wind chimes isn’t reason enough for him to be interested in me.”

  “One never knows how things will go.”

  “Changing the subject,” Ella quickly said, “are you planning to go to the volleyball game on Friday evening?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “It’ll be like old times.”

  Jolene nibbled on her lower lip. “I wouldn’t be comfortable there.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’d feel out of place, like I didn’t fit in.”

  “You can sit on the sidelines with me, and we’ll be out of place together. How will that be?”

  “Well, maybe I’ll go if Andrew does.” Jolene rose from her chair. “In the meantime, I need to get home and help Mom start supper. Our lesson went longer than I’d planned.”

  “Then I took up more of your time by talking about Jake and Lonnie.”

  Jolene glanced at the clock. “It’s okay. I’ll still be home in plenty of time to help with supper.”

  ***

  Andrew had just pulled his horse and buggy up to their hitching rail when he saw Jolene’s buggy pull in behind him.

  “How come you’re so late?” he asked when she stepped down from her buggy.

  “I had another lesson to teach; only this time Ella wasn’t the only one there. Lonnie and Jake came, too.”

  “It makes sense that Lonnie would come, but why was Jake there?”

  “He thinks if he learns to sign, his brother Kyle might take more of an interest in what I’m trying to teach Fern’s class.”

  “Guess that makes sense.”

  “Do you really think Jake will go back to Montana once his daed’s doing better?”

  Andrew shrugged. “With Jake, who knows?”

  “Ella doesn’t trust Jake. She thinks he’ll break someone’s heart and then leave for Montana again.”

  “Who’s heart does she think he’ll break?”

  “Mine.”

  Andrew’s eyebrows lifted high. “How’s he gonna break your heart? You’re not in love with him, are you?”

  “Of course not! I haven’t been back from Pennsylvania very long, so when would I have had the chance to fall in love with anyone?”

  “Good point.”

  Jolene clutched the folds in her dress. “Ella
seems to think that Jake was flirting with me today. After the lesson she warned me about him and said I shouldn’t be alone with him.”

  Andrew unhitched Jolene’s horse then turned to face her. “I think Ella’s right about Jake leaving again, but I doubt he’ll be around long enough to make a move on you or anyone else. But I do think it would be best if you don’t have any of your lessons alone with him.”

  “Surely you don’t think I have anything to worry about where Jake’s concerned.”

  “Probably not, but I’d feel better if you didn’t put yourself in a compromising position.”

  “I won’t. He’ll either have his lessons with Lonnie and Ella, or he’ll come over here and learn with our family.” She smiled. “I invited him to join us some evening.”

  “I guess that’d be okay. At least that way I can keep an eye on him.”

  She nudged his arm. “Changing the subject, I was wondering if you’re planning to attend the volleyball game on Friday night.”

  “Definitely. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Jolene quirked an eyebrow. “I’ve never seen you so excited about a social before. What’s up?”

  “Nothing. I’ve been working hard lately, and it’ll be nice to let down and have some fun.”

  “There wouldn’t be someone special you’re looking forward to seeing, would there?”

  Andrew was relieved when Jake pulled up in his buggy just then. He wasn’t ready to talk about his interest in Eunice. Besides, some things about Eunice bothered him, and unless she changed, he wouldn’t begin a serious relationship with her.

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said at the schoolhouse,” Jake said to Jolene when he joined them.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  “About coming over here for lessons.” Jake shook his head. “I don’t think I ought to go to the schoolhouse for lessons if Ella’s going to be there.”