Plain and Fancy Read online

  ***

  That evening, Laura lay on her bed, replaying the events of the day. As strange as it might seem, she was glad she and Eli had experienced the little disagreement about her weight. Despite the dissension it had caused, for the remainder of the day, Eli had been quite compromising.

  A knock on the door stirred Laura from her musings. “Who is it?”

  “Darla.”

  Laura crawled off the bed and opened the door. “If you’ve come to give me another lecture, you can save your breath.”

  Darla shook her head. “I wanted to apologize and see how your day went.”

  Laura motioned her inside. “Actually, it went well. Eli and I drove to the farmers’ market in Bird-in-Hand, and I got a few more decorating ideas while we were there.”

  Darla flopped onto the bed. “The Amish don’t believe in fancy decorations or adornments in their homes, Laura.”

  “That’s what makes it so unique.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  Laura dropped down next to Darla, and her fingers trailed across the edge of the quilt covering her bed. “Take this, for example. It’s plain, yet strikingly beautiful. A quilt such as this is in high demand, which is why it was so costly.”

  Darla shrugged. “To be perfectly honest, Amish decor doesn’t do much for me. Neither do Amish men.”

  Laura clenched her jaw. She had a feeling this conversation might lead to another argument, and she wasn’t in the mood for one. “It’s been a long day, and I’m tired. Besides, I think it’s time to end this little discussion.”

  “Sure, okay.” Darla stood and started for the door. “Oh, I almost forgot—you had a phone call while you were out exploring Amish land.”

  “Who was it?”

  “Mrs. Evans took the call, and she just told me it was some guy asking for you.”

  “Hmm ... maybe it was Dad. But then why wouldn’t he have called on my cell phone?”

  “I really couldn’t say, but I think Mrs. Evans left a note in your mailbox.”

  “I’ll go check.” As soon as Darla disappeared into her own room, Laura ran down the steps and found the note in her mailbox. It read:

  A man named Dean Carlson called around two o’clock.

  He said he had tried to call your cell phone several times and only got your voice mail. He wants you to call him as soon as possible.

  Laura sucked in her breath. Is Dean really missing me, or is he just checking up on me? Should I call him first thing in the morning or make him wait a few days?

  ***

  “You ought to keep your cell phone charged and check your voice mail once in a while, Laura. I tried for two days to get you and finally had to call your school and leave a message.”

  Laura held the cell phone away from her ear and grimaced. She knew she had made a mistake calling Dean so early in the morning. She should have remembered he was a bear before his third cup of coffee. “Well, you’ve got me on the phone now, so you don’t have to make such a big deal of it.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “What did you want, Dean?” she asked, tapping her foot impatiently.

  “I thought that I’d come to Lancaster to see you next weekend.”

  “What?” Laura’s mouth went dry. “Coming here is not a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m busy, that’s why.”

  “But I miss you, Laura, and I—”

  Laura lifted her gaze to the ceiling. She and Dean had only begun dating a few months before she’d left Minneapolis to come here, but he acted like they were practically engaged. “It’s not that I don’t want you to come. It’s just that—well, I’ll be coming home for Christmas soon, and—”

  “Christmas? That’s three months away!”

  Laura could almost see Dean’s furrowed brows and the defiant lift of his chin. He was a handsome man with jet black hair that curled around his ears, and eyes as blue as a summer sky, but he was way too possessive. “It would be nice to see you, Dean, but I always have a lot of homework to do on the weekends.”

  “Were you studying when I phoned yesterday?”

  Laura knew she couldn’t tell Dean about her Saturday date with Eli Yoder, but she didn’t want to lie to him, either. “I went to the farmers’ market.”

  “What’s that got to do with homework?”

  “I was researching the Amish culture.”

  “Sounds real interesting.” Dean’s tone was sarcastic, and it irritated her.

  “Actually, it’s very interesting. I’ve been studying their quilts and getting some ideas for my next design project.” I’ve been studying a fascinating Amish man, too.

  Dean cleared his throat. “How about next weekend? Can I come or not?”

  Laura chewed on her lower lip. She liked Dean ... or at least she had when they were seeing each other socially. So why was she giving him the runaround now? It took only a few seconds for her to realize the answer. She was infatuated with Eli and wanted to spend her free time with him. Dean would only be a distraction, and if Eli found out about her English boyfriend, it might spoil her chances with him.

  “Laura, are you still there?”

  Dean’s deep voice drew Laura back to their conversation, and she sighed. “Yes, I’m here.”

  “What’s it going to be?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t come.”

  “Is that your final word?”

  “Yes, but as I said before, I’ll be home for Christmas, so I’m sure we’ll see each other then.”

  Dean grunted and hung up the phone without even saying good-bye. Laura breathed a sigh of relief.

  CHAPTER 7

  Over the next several weeks, Eli saw Laura as often as possible. In fact, he could hardly get her out of his thoughts. The vision of her beautiful face, smooth as peaches and cream, inched its way into his mind on more than one occasion. When he’d told his folks he was still seeing Laura, the news hadn’t gone over so well, especially with Mom.

  “She’ll try to change you,” she admonished one Saturday as Eli hitched the buggy for another trip to meet Laura. “Why, the first thing you know, that woman will be asking you to leave the faith.”

  “ Ach, Mom, you worry too much. No one could ever talk me into something I don’t want to do.”

  His mother pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Love does strange things to people.”

  Eli’s eyebrows shot up. “Love? Who said anything about love? Laura and I are just friends.”

  Mom gave him a knowing look. “I’ve seen the face of love before. Every time you come home after being with that fancy woman, I can see the look of love written all over your face, and it scares me, son.”

  Eli’s face heated up. He would never admit it, especially not to Mom, but he was beginning to wonder if his fascination with Laura might be more than curiosity or friendship. What if he were actually falling in love with her? If she felt the same way about him, would she expect him to leave the faith? Since he hadn’t yet been baptized or joined the church, the decision to stay or leave was still his to make. However, there were too many things about his way of life that he would miss if he left home and became English. Besides, there were too many things in the modern world that he didn’t particularly care for.

  “You have no call to be worried or scared,” he said, giving her arm a quick pat. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

  “I hope so.”

  Eli climbed into the buggy and gathered up the reins. “See you later, Mom.”

  “Say, Eli ... I was wondering if you could do me a favor.” “What’s that?”

  “Selma Hostetler has been laid up with a bad back for the last couple of days.”

  “Sorry to hear that. Nobody likes back pain.”

  Mom nodded. “I baked some zucchini-banana bread yesterday, and I thought maybe you could drop a loaf by to her. It might help cheer her some.”

  “Can’t Lewis or Jonas do it? I don’t want to be late meeting Laura.”


  Mom’s eyebrows drew together. “They’re both out in the fields with your daed, which is where you really ought to be, don’t you think?”

  Eli shook his head. “This is my day off from work, and even though I sometimes help Pop on my day off, he said he didn’t need me this morning.”

  “I see. Well, can you drop off the bread to Selma then?”

  “Jah, I suppose, but—”

  “I’ll go get it now.” Mom rushed off before Eli had a chance to say anything more.

  A few minutes later, she was back wearing a smile that stretched ear to ear. She handed him the bread, which she had enclosed in some plastic wrap. “Danki, son.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  As Eli clucked to the horse, his mother waved and called, “Don’t be too late for supper tonight. And remember that I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  ***

  When Pauline heard a horse and buggy pull into the yard, she hurried to the back door, not wanting her mother to be disturbed. Mom had taken some aspirin for the pain in her back and had returned to her bed soon after breakfast was over.

  When Pauline saw Eli step down from one of their closed-in buggies, her heart skipped a beat. Had he come to see her—maybe invite her to go someplace with him today? She waited on the porch with sweaty palms and shaky legs as he headed to the house. When he reached the porch, he stopped and held out a loaf of bread.

  “Mom asked me to deliver this to your mamm. I hear her back’s been acting up.”

  Pauline nodded as a sense of disappointment flooded her soul. She took the bread and mumbled, “Danki. That was thoughtful of your mamm.”

  Eli shuffled his feet a few times as he stared at the ground. “Well, I—”

  “Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?” She motioned to the door. “I just made a fresh pot, and it might help take the chill out of your bones on this frosty morning.”

  “I ... uh ... appreciate the offer, but I can’t stay.”

  “Are you working today?”

  “No, it’s my day off.”

  “Then surely you have time for a quick cup of coffee.”

  He shook his head. “I’m meeting a friend in Paradise, and I’m already late, so I’d better go.”

  Pauline clenched her teeth. I’ll bet it’s that fancy English woman Eli’s meeting. Should I come right out and ask? She was about to, when Eli turned toward his buggy and started walking away.

  “See you at church tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder. “Jah, see you then,” she muttered as she went back into the house. Will I ever get through to Eli? Will he ever see me as anything more than a friend?

  ***

  “I’m sorry I was late picking you up,” Eli said as he helped Laura into his buggy. “I had to make a delivery for my mamm.”

  “That’s okay. You’re here now, and that’s all that counts.” Laura drew in a deep breath. “It feels and smells like winter is coming, doesn’t it?”

  Eli nodded. “It’s a lot warmer inside my daed’s closed-in carriage, but I sure do miss my courting buggy.”

  “Don’t you use it in the winter months at all?”

  He shrugged. “Sometimes on the milder days, but it’s much nicer inside this buggy today, don’t you think?”

  “Jah.” She giggled and flipped the end of her ponytail.

  Eli grinned. “You look real schee today.”

  “Nice. You said I look nice today, right?”

  He nodded. “You’re catching on fast to the Deitsch.”

  Laura’s heart fluttered. “Thanks for the compliment.”

  Eli only nodded again and made the horse go a bit faster.

  “Where are you taking me today?” Laura asked.

  “I thought you might like to see one of our schoolhouses.” “Schoolhouses? You have school on Saturdays?”

  He chuckled. “No, but Saturday’s the best day for a tour of the schoolhouse. There won’t be any kinner about, and no teacher wearing a stern look or carrying a hickory switch.”

  “Eli Yoder, you’re such a tease.” Laura reached across the short span between them and touched his arm. “Maybe that’s why I like you so well.”

  “Because I like to kid around?”

  “Yes. I find your humor and wholesome view on life rather refreshing. It’s like a breeze on a sweltering summer day.”

  Eli scrunched up his nose. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been compared to a breeze before.”

  She withdrew her hand and leaned back. “I’ve learned a lot from you.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  “It’s good, of course.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I could teach you a lot about English ways, if you’d let me. We could take in a movie sometime, or—”

  Eli held up his hand. “No, thanks. I think I know more than enough about the fancy life.”

  “How can you say that? Have you ever given yourself a chance to find out what the modern world really has to offer?”

  “I’m not blind, Laura,” he muttered. “I see what’s out there in the world, and even though I haven’t felt ready to join the church, I’m not all that interested in electrical gadgets, fancy clothes, or thinkin’ I don’t need God.”

  Laura’s mouth dropped open. “Who said anything about not needing God?”

  “I’m sure lots of English folks do love God,” Eli said. “But I’ve seen many people who seem too self-centered to give Him anything more than a few thoughts, and then it’s only when they’re in need of something.”

  “Where did you hear that?” she asked, her voice edged with irritation. Was this going to turn into a full-fledged disagreement? If so, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea to give her opinion. After all, she was trying to appease, not aggravate, Eli.

  He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter where I got the notion. The important thing is, I’m happy to be a child of God, and I don’t need any worldly things to make me complete.”

  “My father says religion is a crutch for weak men, and I’m inclined to believe him.” The words were out before Laura had time to think, and she could have bitten her tongue when she saw the look of irritation on Eli’s face.

  Eli pulled sharply on the reins and eased the horse and buggy to the shoulder of the road. “Are you saying I’m a weak man, Laura?”

  She turned to face him. “No, of course not. I just meant—”

  “Maybe we’ve come too far,” Eli said, his forehead wrinkling.

  “Too far? You mean we missed the schoolhouse?”

  He shook his head. “Too far with this friendship we probably shouldn’t be trying to build.”