It was an easy fix. He knew exactly what to do. All he had to do was climb a ladder to the roof.
He would, as soon as his hands stopped shaking.
Chapter Twenty
Empty box in hand, Emma sighed as she walked home. In spite of all that had happened, she refused to go back into the darkness where she had lived for so long. Life held hardship and disappointment, but it held joy, too.
Like the joy of finding out the vet’s daughter was eager to take over the care of the kittens, and the sick one needed only a dose of antibiotics to make him better. Knowing they would be well taken care of lightened Emma’s heart. Yes, from now on she would look each day for the unexpected joys God granted everyone.
It would be hard, because she had believed Adam was one of those joys.
After putting her box in the barn, she walked toward the gate. When she pulled it open the first thing she saw was Adam high on a ladder against the side of the inn. He leaned out to lay something near the downspout and the ladder slipped.
Emma’s heart jumped into her throat as he clawed at the frozen shingles. Terrified that he would plummet to the ground and be killed, she raced toward him screaming, “Hang on, Adam!”
Grasping the heavy ladder, she stabilized it and leaned against it to hold it still. “I’ve got you. Come down.”
Breathless, he descended the rungs. “Danki. You saved me from a nasty fall.”
Her racing heartbeat slowed from its wild gallop. He was safe. “You need someone out here to keep you from breaking your neck.”
When his boots touched the snow-covered grass, he let out a sigh and smiled at her in spite of her scolding. “God put you here to keep me from harm.”
“This time. What about next time?”
“That is up to God. Are you busy? I could use your help for another fifty or sixty years.”
She gaped at him.
Stepping closer, he pulled off his gloves and cupped her face in his hands. “I wanted to take it slow, make you see how much you mean to me, but I can’t. I must tell you now that I’ve fallen in love with you, Emma Wadler.”
“Why would you settle for a woman like me?”
“You mean someone who is smart, someone with compassion and a deep faith who has beautiful eyes? A woman who is full of grace and can cook better than my grandmother? I don’t know, Emma, why would I settle for someone like that?”
“Because it will help you mend things with your father.” She waited to see his reaction.
He gave her a puzzled look. “My father and I have already mended things between us. That has nothing to do with why I love you. I want to marry you, Emma, but I will settle for courting until we know each other better. May I court you?”
Her heart tumbled over and poured out the love she had been hoarding for years. She smiled broadly at him. “Yes, Adam Troyer, you may court me.”
Before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. It was a kiss full of warmth, hope and the promise of many joys to come. As his arms encircled her, she knew it was a kiss that would mend her broken heart at last.
* * * * *
Originally Published for Harlequin.com
A cowboy finds shelter on an Amish farm at Christmas.
Read on for a sneak preview of
A Haven for Christmas by Patricia Davids
“Did Rosie have her bobbli last night?”
Becca Beachy pinned her daughter’s white kapp to her thick red hair then tweaked the seven-year-old’s nose. “Nee, she did not. Do you think I would keep it a secret if your new calf had arrived?”
Annabeth couldn’t hide her disappointment. “Daadi thought she might, and he knows everything about cows.”
Becca glanced over her daughter’s head to where her father-in-law sat at the kitchen table enjoying his first cup of coffee. She met his eyes and arched her brow. “Your grandpa Gideon may think he knows everything about cows, but he doesn’t know everything about Rosie. She will have her calf when she is ready. Not before. Sit down and eat your breakfast.”
Annabeth’s lower lip stuck out. “But I wanted to tell everyone at school about my new calf.”
Becca gave her a small push toward the table. “When you have a new calf, you may share the story with your friends. Your impatience won’t hurry the event.”
Gideon coughed and put down his cup. “It might be that your calf will be here when you get home from school today.”
“Then I will have to wait until Monday to tell everyone.” Annabeth plunked herself in her chair at the table with a pout on her face. She pulled her lower lip in when she caught her mother’s frown and folded her hands waiting for grace to be said.
Becca dished up the scrambled eggs, sausage links and pancakes onto a plate and sat at the foot of the table. Gideon bowed his head and began the silent blessing. Becca added a plea for his improved health to her prayer of thankfulness for God’s blessings. She needed his help to run the dairy. She couldn’t do it alone. The last thing she wanted to face was failing at this new endeavor and having to uproot her daughter yet again. Her husband had never found the place where he wanted to put down roots. They had moved every year of their marriage, even after Annabeth was born, but Becca knew home wasn’t a place to be found. It was a place
