Chapter 1

Chapter 1

L ucas Myer tugged at his barn jacket and stared out over the choppy waters of Lake Erie. He should be up at the big inn where he and most of his family would be staying for the whole week, but he'd always shied away from big gatherings. And an Amish reunion of more than twenty family members was what he considered a big gathering. Thankfully, they wouldn't all be staying here at the Shadow Lake Inn. His grandparents and his parents were all settled in nice rooms here, but the others would show up and stay in various places nearby for the big feast on Saturday, two days before Christmas.

He'd see some cousins and other relatives near his age, but he'd be expected to hang out with them a lot when he only wanted to go somewhere peaceful to contemplate life.

He wished he could find a quiet place to just think. His mamm said he was an overthinker, but Lucas liked to find his way through his thoughts before he made any decisions. Now that he was past Rumspringa, he wanted to get on with his life. Only he couldn't decide how to make that happen.

The lakeshore seemed like the perfect spot to think things through and come to a decision his folks might support. He was alone out here in the cold at this early hour of the morning.

Then he heard a feminine voice humming a familiar hymn. An Englisch hymn? "We Gather Together"! Of Dutch origin, if memory served him. But he'd heard German versions, too.

The sweet humming made him see the lyrics in his head, both in Englisch and in Pennsylvania Dutch, which was actually High German. So beautiful and soothing, the tune lifted his spirits and made him want to sit and listen more.

Lucas glanced around and spotted the source of the soft music. Then his heart did its own little hum.

A young Amish woman stood staring out over the choppy lake, her head tilted to the morning sun, her gloved hands held together against her heart. She had golden-brown hair, a few strands sparkling underneath her dark winter bonnet, which had slipped away from her pretty, heart-shaped face.

"Uh, gute mariye ," he said so he wouldn't startle her.

She gasped and whirled around, her cheeks red from the cold. "Oh, I didn't see you there. Gut morning to you."

Lucas noticed her bright green eyes and wide smile. "I liked your tune."

She blushed and tugged her dark cape closer as the wind picked up. "I like to hum to myself when I'm trying to figure something out."

He moved closer. "What are you trying to figure out?"

She gave him a solemn stare. "Why my younger sister is getting married before me," she said, her tone firm and unabashed.

Lucas chuckled. "It wonders me how you have not married," he said. "You are for certain sure pretty and you seem rather nice."

She grinned at him, then frowned. "And you are rather bold. So who are you, anyway?"

Direct. He liked that. "I'm Lucas. Who are you?"

"I'm Kayla. And I came out here to be alone."

"So did I."

"Then we have a problem."

"We could be alone together," he replied. "I don't find that a problem at all." He shrugged. "I'm not much of a talker."

She moved closer. "I won't hum if it bothers you."

"It was actually quite nice," he admitted.

They stood quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Would you like to sit on that bench over there?"

She turned to see him pointing at a curved wooden bench near a tree. " Ja , since it's in the sun and I am freezing."

Lucas guided her over to the bench. "It's warm to the touch."

Kayla bobbed her head. "I know it's silly, coming down here when the weather is so chilly, but I needed some fresh air."

They had that in common. "Same with me."

She gave him a direct stare, which made him want to talk.

"So your sister is getting married soon?"

" Ja , here at the inn, on Saturday."

Lucas perked up. "So you'll be here all week, just like me?"

She turned to stare at him again. "I suppose so. Why are you here?"

"A family reunion, also on Saturday. I don't like crowds, however. Not even people I'm related to."

"I don't either," she said. "I love weddings and such, but sometimes I have to sneak away so I can think straight. And try not to think about being the last unmarried woman in my family."

Lucas thought she'd be married one day. She just had to find the right man. She was pretty and apparently opinionated but also a loner like him. That gave him an idea.

"We can be alone together all week."

Kayla's brown eyebrows did a high lift. "That sounds a bit naughty, and I'm well past my Rumspringa."

"We are adults, right?"

"We are," she replied. "My sister is eighteen and I'm twenty. I suppose I can have a friend while I'm fretting about her beating me to the altar."

"I can be that friend if you'd like. I'm not married and my mamm is forever regretting that."

Kayla gave him an appraising stare. "We are certainly in a pickle here."

"I don't like pickles, but I think we'll be just fine," Lucas said. "Meeting you has been the highlight of my day."

Kayla's smile outdid the sun shining on their faces. "Mine, too. Although the day is young yet."

Lucas grinned. "Wanna get some hot chocolate? The innkeepers have a big pot of it under the pavilion. And there's a firepit going there."

"You've checked the place out already?"

"I read the history of Shadow Lake Inn. It's owned by an Amish family that inherited it from an Englisch couple who had no children."

"Yes, the King sisters run it now." Her eyes brightened. "They are famous around here. They make quilts about their lives—their love lives—from what I've heard. The quilts are on display in the library."

"I haven't seen the library yet, but that's probably where I'll be hiding most days."

"I had thought the same," she said, her tone a bit hesitant. "I don't think you'll be a problem."

"Oh, you mean you won't get tired of me shadowing you at the Shadow Lake Inn?"

She laughed and then shook her head. "You have a streak of humor underneath that stern persona."

Lucas grinned. "I have to admit, you seem to make me smile."

She smiled back. "I think we're going to be gut friends, Lucas."

Then she looked at the sun. "Oh, I have to get back. Wedding stuff."

"I'll walk with you. I have to find my family for breakfast in the inn's café."

They hurried back up the pebbled path and approached the long front porch lined with rocking chairs and decorated with fresh greenery and red ribbons.

"We're eating there, too," she said when they paused near the steps to catch their breath. "Who is your family?"

"The Myers," he replied, glad they would see each other again.

Kayla stopped in her tracks before they made it up the steps. "Myer?"

He nodded. "What's your last name?"

"Hollinger," she said, her tone weak, her gaze darting around him.

"It can't be." He looked at her and then he stared up at the inn.

Kayla lowered her voice and held her head high. "If you're the Myers from Spartansburg, we have a big problem."

"Because you're with the Hollingers from there?" he asked, his heart sinking like a wrecked ship.

"The very same. My grossdaddi is Claude Hollinger."

"And my grandparents are Tobias and Berneta Myer," he said, seeing her through disappointed eyes now.

"Sworn enemies despite the tenets of the Ordnung."

"Despite everything," she replied. "What are we to do?"