Jude’s mouth fell open. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever—”
“Jah, but the women just gaped and gawked, thinking that maybe the girls had it right,” Leah protested. “I was so stunned—so tongue-tied—that I surely must’ve looked guilty to them. So I ran,” she continued in a whisper. “I had to get out of there, Jude. I-I’m sorry—”
“No!” he insisted, gently grasping her arms. “You have nothing to apologize for, Leah. But when I get home to those girls—”
Jude turned from her, so angry that it took him several moments to regain his composure. He exhaled fiercely and then held his head in his hands. “I can’t begin to imagine how humiliated you must’ve felt, Leah,” he said in a voice she could barely hear. “My first impulse is to rush home and have the girls apologize to you and to your guests—”
“If they’re still at the house,” Leah said glumly. While she craved the opportunity for Jude to set things straight before Mama’s quilting friends went home, a part of her cringed at the thought of facing them all again.
Jude shook his head, still upset about his daughters’ accusations. He pulled Leah close for another hug, rubbing her briskly to get her warm. “But my first concern is you—getting you home and into dry clothes,” he said. He exhaled as though trying to rid himself of anger so he could think clearly. “And you know what, Leah? Even if what the twins said were true—even if you had hidden Betsy from me while we were courting—it wouldn’t change my love for you one bit.”
Leah blinked. Jude surely couldn’t be serious, after the way Frieda had deceived him by keeping the same sort of secret—twice. What man would want to know that his second wife had betrayed him as well?
“And besides,” he continued, easing away to gaze at her, “I’ve known you for too many years to believe you’d pull such a stunt—and your mother’s not the sort of woman to go along with such a hoax, either. I’m grateful to God, however, that Betsy has come to us, and I intend to adopt her and make her a permanent part of our family.”
Leah’s throat tightened with such love that she couldn’t speak for a moment. “Oh, Jude, I love you so much for—for believing in me,” she whispered. “And for wanting to be Betsy’s dat. I want us to adopt her, too.”
When she sneezed suddenly, Jude gave her his damp bandanna so she could blow her nose. He glanced around the barn. “Are you up to riding Mose back home? Or shall I go back and fetch a rig so you’ll be out of the weather—”
“What’s a little more snow?” Leah asked as she held up the sides of her soaked skirt. “I can’t really get any wetter than I already am.”
Jude kissed her lovingly. “You and I are going home to rectify this situation with the girls,” he stated, “and then we’re going to make plans to get away for a few days. You know that B and B that’s on the road to Cedar Creek? The one the Kanagy fellows’ wives run?”
Leah nodded, a spark of expectation warming her. “The double house beside the auction barn?”
“Yup. We’re getting a room there,” Jude said, gripping her hand. “You deserve some time off for gut behavior, Mrs. Shetler—and I don’t get to spend nearly enough time alone with you.”
Leah threw her arms around him. How had she ever managed to marry such a loving, thoughtful man? “That doesn’t sound like something an Amish husband would do for his wife,” she admitted softly. “I don’t know of anyone who’s stayed there.”
“Then it’s time we show Amish husbands that romancing their wives with a little time away is gut for both parties involved,” Jude insisted with a gleam in his eye. “The Bible tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church, so how could anyone say I’m being too extravagant? Let’s get you home, sweetheart,” he added gently. “You’ve had a rough time of it today.”
Chapter 17
When Lenore heard the back door open, she rose quickly from her seat at the quilting frame. “Leah, is that you, honey?” she called out as she headed for the kitchen.
The other ladies kept stitching, as they’d agreed to do, but Stevie jumped up from the table where he’d been playing a game of Uncle Wiggily with Gracie, the Miller sisters, and the Flaud girls. “Did ya find her, Dat?” he cried, racing past Lenore. “You’ve been gone a long time!”
Lenore smiled fondly and let the boy have a moment with his parents. The sound of Jude’s low voice and Leah’s greeting relieved the knot of worry that had settled in her chest—not that her daughter’s return solved the larger problem they needed to address. When she peered into the kitchen, however, she set aside her chagrin concerning the twins’ behavior.
“Leah, let’s get you out of those soaked clothes—and you too, Jude,” she said as she rushed over to the pair, who were removing barn jackets that dripped on the floor. “You’re both courting pneumonia, being out in the cold and the snow for so long.”
“I’m thinking a hot shower and some hot tea will go a long way toward curing what ails us,” Jude remarked, glancing toward the front room. “Have the neighbor ladies left?”
“I—I’m sorry I spoiled your party, Mama,” Leah said with a sigh.
“Nonsense! After I demanded that Alice and Adeline apologize and tell our guests the truth, Margaret sent them upstairs,” Lenore said, shaking her head. “I have no idea where they came up with such a wild tale—or why—but I felt they should be humiliated in front of their friends, the same way they humiliated you, dear. I’m going to suggest to your brother the bishop that they confess on their knees the next Sunday we meet for church.”
Stevie gripped his suspenders, his brow furrowed in thought.
