“Eva,” Harvey said, “I’ll take you later.”
“And leave your family and company?” I couldn’t bring myself to look into his face.
“But you haven’t met my son and his family. Later, I’ll rent a van, and several of us can escort you.”
I knew my parents would be horrified, but I said, “Denki for your kind offer, but Ruth and Amos need me now.”
“You’d drive all the way to the hospital in Jake’s buggy? Or in his car?”
Jake stood tall and faced Harvey. “You are welcome to accompany us in the car if you’d like to see my dat. But then I’m leaving town to return the car.”
Harvey tugged on his beard as he fixed his gaze upon him. “I’ll come with you since you so kindly asked. And to make sure that car goes back to its Englisch owner.”
One woman covered her mouth with her hand as if in shock over his response.
“You’re leaving us?” his mamm asked.
“Yah, Mamm. Would you step in for me and be the hostess? What’s mine is yours.”
The lines on her creased face deepened. “I wish my dochder were still alive to see this.” Her statement hinted she was his former wife’s mother.
Harvey cracked a forlorn smile. “Being married to a bishop was a hardship for her, that’s for sure. I should have thought to visit Amos and Ruth myself, first thing this morning.”
FIFTY
Several women said goodbye to me as I ducked my head and followed Harvey and Jake outside. I felt a splat of rain on my forehead.
“Grab one of those coats in the utility room,” Harvey told me.
“Denki.” I went back inside and took hold of a black hooded raincoat.
To say riding back to Jake’s parents’ farm in their buggy was awkward was an understatement. Several teenage boys had already unharnessed Harvey’s horse and led it into his barn soon after we’d arrived, as well as most of the other horses. Only Jake’s buggy stood close to the house, the horse tethered to a nearby post as if Jake had not meant to spend much time there anyway. I wondered if his showing up at Harvey’s at all would be considered a rude, brash, in-your-face move. He was braver than I was.
I could only imagine the conversations about us in Harvey’s house now, but I felt sure I should visit Amos and comfort Ruth. Or maybe her daughters and friends had finally come to support her. Either way, I found myself hunched in the backseat of the buggy. Before I’d slipped inside behind Jake, I’d seen how Harvey’s face wore a serious mask. But as the rainfall accelerated, my guess was he’d soon be happy to ride in an automobile.
“As I said before, my accepting this ride in no way means I approve of Jake driving cars.” Harvey glanced over his shoulder to include me.
“If you’d rather I drove this buggy all that way, I can,” Jake said. “But a storm is brewing.”
“Nee, your horse is obviously fatigued and needs to be watered and fed. Have you forgotten how to take care of your animals?”
“Actually, I have feed in the back and will be in no short supply of water this afternoon.”
“Never mind. Let’s get to your parents’ home, make the switch, and get on with it.”
By the time we reached the Millers’ farm, the rain was sheeting down. Jake hopped out of the buggy, unhitched the horse, and escorted the animal into the barn. Several minutes later, he returned, unlocked the car, and we all dove in, with me in the backseat.
“I’m tempted to ask you to drive me home,” Harvey said.
“As you like.” Jake started the engine.
“Nee. We’ve come this far.” Harvey buckled his seat belt. “I might as well accept your hospitality, such as it is.”
“Harvey, I don’t mind driving you back home. It will take but a few minutes.”
“Just go. My family is used to my erratic hours. When people like your parents need comfort, I should help them even if they are in a different district. Their bishop is in no condition to do so.”
Jake switched on the windshield wipers as the storm increased. Although it was only early afternoon, the sky turned elephant gray. Streams were forming on the sides of the road. Vehicles approaching from the other direction splashed blinding arcs of moisture on the windshield.
We passed several buggies. My heart went out to the drenched horses and the buggies’ occupants. I started to tell Jake that Olivia’s parents told Harvey they might let her come help his parents, but then I decided to let Harvey bring it up.
Jake slowed the car and spoke to Harvey. “My guess is you’re fixing to marry Eva. Am I right?”
“That’s a presumptuous question.”
“Well, then, I’ll discuss it for the both of us. You want to marry Eva, and I don’t blame you.” Jake’s eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror. “My opinion is she should marry you and put her past behind her. I’ll never live up to her expectations.”
I leaned forward and saw Harvey crossing his legs at the ankles and then uncrossing them. “As you well know, a couple must decide these private matters between themselves.”
Jake slowed behind a semi, thus avoiding a spray of water. “You are a fine man, and I truly respect you, Harvey. But if you don’t snap up this opportunity, you’re acting the fool.”
“Hey, don’t I have any say in this?” My hands gripped Jake’s seatback in front of me. “For one thing, Harvey hasn’t asked me to marry him.”
“And if he did?” Jake shot back.
“I’d tell him another man owned my heart.” There, I’d said it.
“Rubbish.” Harvey bulleted his words at me. “You’ve been reading too many Englisch romance novels, haven’t you?”
“How do you know?”
“Beatrice said she lent you one.” Harvey tugged his beard.
“How and why did that subject matter come up?”
“She was going on and on about her beloved Italy. How much she missed it. Then she let slip you
