The note wasn’t signed, but he could only think of one person who could have written it.
Jayce lay back, more confused than ever. God, what do You want me to do? Am I defining Your thoughts and words in my head the way I want to?
“What should I do?” he whispered aloud.
Then there was a loud boom. A blowout.
After they’d slid to a safe stop, Jayce just smiled.
* * *
Evelyn forced herself to go back out to the chicken coop. If Jayce ever did come back, she wanted him to see that she’d gottenover her phobia of birds. It wasn’t going to happen overnight, but as she stood with her hands on her hips and faced off withthe most aggressive rooster in the bunch, she said, “I’m going to win this battle.”
She needed a distraction, and when she was around the chickens and roosters, she was on high alert.
Movement far down the road caught her attention. A man walking.
She dropped the feed pail she was holding, which sent the hostile rooster shuffling and squawking in her direction, followed by several hens. The blue T-shirt had her full attention. As Jayce’s long dark hair blew in the wind, Evelyn’s feet began to move toward him.
Had something happened? Was something wrong? Did she dare hope he might stay?
They walked toward each other down the middle of the gravel road, and with each step Evelyn increased her pace until she wasstanding right in front of him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as her heart pounded.
He shrugged. “The motor home had a blowout.”
Her heart sank. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Jayce grinned. “Really? Because I kind of took it as a sign from God that I should stay.”
Evelyn didn’t say anything. Was he joking?
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, over and over again. When he eased her away, he held on to her arms. “I knowwhat I want. And I know the logistics of all of this are complicated. So we can analyze it to death or just roll with it.I want to live on a farm. I know there are farms in most states, and I could go anywhere. But anywhere doesn’t have you.”
Evelyn’s jaw dropped.
“We don’t know each other well yet, and I’m not Amish. I realize that, but I know how I feel.” He grinned. “I’ve never had this sick feeling in my stomach, or this pain in my chest. I guess I didn’t know love could be so painful. And of all people, my father was the one who said something that made the most sense. He said there is no guarantee of tomorrow. I wonder where he got that from.” He playfully rolled his eyes before his expression turned serious. “Will you date me if I stay? I can’t give you any guarantee that I have what it takes to convert to the Amish ways any more than I can guarantee tomorrow, but I’d like to try.”
Evelyn’s heart swelled as a smile spread across her face. “Then let’s accept the guarantee of this moment and take it oneday at a time.”
Jayce kissed her again. “I know I’ve made the right decision,” he whispered.
* * *
Esther and Lizzie sat in the rocking chairs in the living room. It was eerily quiet. Rose had gone to town for groceries.All the movie people were gone, and Esther found herself surprised that she missed having other folks around. Maybe not asmany as they’d had for the past two and a half weeks, but a few. When Rose returned it would be like having three or fourpeople in the house. The girl could carry on enough conversations at one time to wear a person out. Esther decided to takeadvantage of the quiet.
Then there was a knock at the door, and Esther saw Gus on the other side of the screen. She cut her eyes at Lizzie, warningher sister to be nice. For once, Lizzie didn’t respond by rolling her eyes or scowling. She just sat with a somber expression.
“What is it, Gus? Do you need something to eat or a slice of pie?” Yesterday had been a hard day for him. Esther opened thedoor to let him inside.
Gus’s nostrils flared as he paced the room. “That cat had a dozen kittens!”
Lizzie covered her face and shook her head. “I knew it. I’m cursed.”
“Oh, quit fussing,” Gus said to Lizzie before he turned to Esther. “They all seem to be fighting for room to nurse.” He scratchedhis head. “Am I supposed to do something?”
Esther pinched her lips together in her effort not to smile. “Everything should be all right, Gus. Whiskers will know whatto do.”
“What am I gonna do with thirteen cats?” Gus raised his palms. “Tell me, Esther. I can’t have all those cats running in andout of the house.”
Lizzie stiffened, her eyes suddenly wide. “Are they all black?”
At first Gus wouldn’t look at her, but Esther gave him the same warning look she’d given her sister earlier. “Lizzie askedyou a question, Gus.”
He took a deep breath, kept his eyes on Esther, and said, “Four of the little things are black like the mama. The rest areblack and white.”
Lizzie shook her head. “We might as well be a coven of witches with all those black cats nearby.”
They all turned at the sound of another knock at the door. Gus was closest so he pushed the screen open. “What are you doinghere, kid?”
Jayce stepped over the threshold, and Esther smiled when she noticed two suitcases on the porch.
“Can I stay here awhile until I find a place of my own? I’ve
