Chapter 9

Chapter 9

K ayla had been busy helping Colette, and listening to all the gossip, when they heard footsteps outside the open lounge door. People moved through the big kitchen section in the back of the house all day long, but they both glanced up, curious to see if anyone would stop and chat with them.

Lucas stood at the door, his smile wide, his dimples showing, a dusting of snow on his brown barn jacket. " Gut daag. "

" Gut daag to you," Kayla replied with glee. "I was wondering if I'd see you today."

He stepped into the room, the scents of woodsmoke and evergreen surrounding him. "I was wondering the same about you until a little birdie named Eliza told me where you were," he said. "I've been helping Levi set up the trees around the pavilion. For the wedding."

"My sister's wedding?" Kayla asked, thinking she was being redundant.

" Ja , unless you know of another wedding taking place here," he replied, a teasing note in his tone and in his eyes.

Kayla frowned and then she laughed. "Of course, Becky is the one getting married. The only one so far."

Colette's amused gaze moved back and forth between them. "That was kind of you to help, Lucas." Then she pushed back her chair. "I'm going to find us something warm to drink. Lucas, will you help Kayla finish folding these napkins? And what would you two like to drink?"

Lucas grinned and sat down. "I'll have kaffe , black."

Kayla gave Colette an appreciative nod. "I'd love some of that Christmas tea."

"I'll be back after I check on a few things," Colette replied. Then she hurried away, leaving the door open for propriety.

"Could she tell I wanted to have you all to myself?" Lucas asked, his cheeks rosy from the cold. "And how do I fold a napkin?"

Kayla laughed and showed him. "It's not that hard." She took the long cotton napkin and pressed it against the table. "This one is rectangular so you want all the edges to meet." She folded it once and then twice. "Then you just roll it up and put a white ribbon on it to hold it."

"Just so people can unroll it and wipe their hands and mouths?"

" Ja , because that is what napkins are for, ain't so?"

"You are brilliant," he said. "And kind to help, since I'm sure some of these will be used at our reunion supper."

"Just as you are kind to help put trees around the pavilion where my sister is to be married—out in the cold at that."

"So we are the best, aren't we?"

"We are," she said with a giggle, basking in his compliments and his kind nature.

Then he asked, "And why does your sister want to be married out in the cold?"

Kayla could explain that easily enough. " Ach vell , she read a book once about a Christmas wedding with snow and holly berries and real snow-dusted trees, so that became her goal. She'll be all bundled in a mint-green wool dress, with heavy tights underneath and a dark green cape and matching bonnet. An Amish wedding but with a Christmas theme and colors. Becky has always known what she wants."

"And you haven't?"

" Neh . Well, not until recently."

He looked up and into her eyes. "Am I on that list now?"

"Top line," she blurted before she could think about it. "I mean, you are my new best friend."

"But you're not sure about anything else yet?"

She had to be honest. "We live so far away from each other, and we only have two days left here before we have to leave on Monday morning."

"A lot can happen in two days, Kayla. Trust me, please. And trust Gott, remember."

"I'm trying," she replied. She was about to say more, but Colette returned with a tray. "Edith sent finger sandwiches along with the cookies. Chicken salad and ham and cheese."

"We have a feast," Lucas said, getting up to help with the big tray. "Will you join us, Colette?"

Colette shook her head. "Mattie and I are sharing a meal at our home. He's on his way up the front drive to walk with me up there. He's been clearing the entryway for the arrival of our guests during the weekend."

"Mostly our combined families," Lucas said as Kayla served their snacks. "They have filled most of the other available hotels and inns around here."

" Ja , because we have no more room for anyone else here," Colette replied. Then she held up a finger, "And yet, each year we take in anyone who needs shelter."

Just then, Matthew Mueller came in and smiled at his wife. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.

Colette blushed and glanced at Kayla. "Our family knows but keep this quiet for now. I'm . . . we're . . . going to have a bobbeli come late spring."

"Oh, how exciting," Kayla said, her eyes misting. "That's so special."

"Very special," Matthew said. "We can't wait."

Lucas nodded and nibbled his food. "A bobbeli . I can't even imagine."

But when he glanced at Kayla, his eyes held that longing again. The same one she'd felt ever since she'd met him. The same one that always caused her to blush.

"We should go," Colette said. "I still have a lot to do today."

"Don't overdo," Kayla said, smiling at her.

"I won't. No one around here will let me," Colette assured her.

After the happy couple left, Lucas glanced at Kayla again. "Do you want kinner ?"

She almost spit out her tea. "I haven't thought about it, but ja . Doesn't that happen with marriage?"

He started laughing. "I believe it does, but I'm not rushing things, I promise."

She relaxed. " Denke , Lucas, for understanding."

"I understand a lot more than you realize," he replied. Then he grabbed a sandwich and smiled at her. "This is nice."

"It is," she had to agree. "I like having a friend to share a meal with me."

"That's the best part."

She could certainly agree with him on that, but now she had thoughts of marriage and a family in her head. And she liked them a lot.

* * *

Lucas went back out to help with marking places for buggies to park near the stables. Most of their relatives would take the local bus or hire a cab to get to the celebration tomorrow, but those who had buggies would need help with the horses. So he worked with Jonah and Levi to make sure all the stalls were clean and the small corral near the back was ready. Unhitching a wagon took time, but he was willing to help as needed tomorrow, too. Staying busy would take his mind off the way he felt each time he was with Kayla.

Or he could remember those times with her while he worked. He liked that idea better. If he kept his mind on Kayla and how amazing she was, he wouldn't have to deal with the feud that could end things between them before they even had time to figure out their feelings.

" Denke for helping, Lucas," Levi said after they'd finished up. "I think we've got it all as ready as it can get. The pavilion is set up with firepits on each side and blankets on every bench. We have a nursery for the younger kinner in one of the first-floor rooms and we have enough food cooked, and more arriving, to feed the whole town, I believe."

"How do you get it all done?" Lucas asked. "I help my daed on the farm and that's hard work, but here you are always surrounded by strangers coming and going."

"We have lots of part-time help when we host big events like this weekend," Levi explained. "We close for Christmas, but we open up again for Second Christmas so friends can come visiting. Then we take several days off, and things settle back down with a few guests here and there. It's a routine I've become accustomed to." After putting away the shovels and rakes they used in the stalls, he turned back to Lucas. "And a lot of our guests are return customers. So we do know them. You should consider yourself one of those now, Lucas. You're welcome here anytime."

Lucas listened quietly and absorbed the majesty of Shadow Lake Inn. Right now, the snow made it look like a postcard, but he had seen what went on behind the fa?ade. Snow was a problem with big crowds trying to get here, and yet the King family stayed on task and planned ahead. This was a true working business.

"Was it hard for you to fit in at first?" he asked Levi.

Levi let out a chuckle. "Oh, ja . Eliza hated me."

"Your wife once hated you? No one would ever believe that now."

"She did, indeed. I'd done her wrong when we were young and she did not want me anywhere near her stables."

"Her stables?" Lucas glanced around at the huge alleyway. "I heard she loves horses."

"That she does," Levi said, moving toward their prized Percheron, Samson. "She considers these stables and the barn as her territory. Woe be it to anyone who messes with it." He pointed a finger toward Samson. "This one is her big baby."

Samson gave Levi a side glance and lifted his head to toss his mane while he waited for his afternoon carrot.

Lucas rubbed Samson's nose. "He is a beautiful animal with this grayish coat."

"And loyal to Eliza. Mainly because she spoils him."

"So you obviously won her over."

"It took time and a lot of prayers. We had to let go of the past and get beyond the secrets between us."

Lucas studied Levi, watching the expressions on his face. Levi obviously loved his family. It showed in the way he smiled and each time his eyes lit up. "I'm glad it worked out for you."

"Me, too," Levi said as they closed up his farrier shop at the back of the stables. "Trust, Lucas. We had to learn trust."

"I'm working on that," Lucas admitted. "I like Kayla a lot but she's afraid of all the things that could tear us apart."

"You mean things like feuding families?"

"So you noticed," he replied in a teasing tone. "That's a big hurdle, and the distance between our homes, of course. But I'm willing to work around all of those things."

"So she should be able to do that, too, you think?"

"I want her to do what is right and comfortable for her."

Levi's eyebrows lifted high. "Sometimes we have to do the uncomfortable things to find the truth, Lucas."

Lucas nodded as they walked toward the front of the big barn; the landscape before them was like a painted Christmas card. "I can do that. Now I just have to make sure Kayla can, too."

Levi adjusted the collar of his jacket and looked toward his house on the hill. "Eliza and I overcame some big hurdles to find our way back to each other. I pray the same happens for you and Kayla as you try to find each other. Gott will guide you."

"That's what I believe. We both believe."

After he and Levi parted ways, Lucas wondered if Kayla's doubts would keep holding her back. Could she trust him enough to follow through on their feelings for each other, or was she using these obstacles to hide her fear of falling in love? Could they find their way to each other? Or maybe she was just being kind to him until she could be on her way.

That had certainly happened before with other girls. But Kayla wasn't like other girls. She'd told him she liked him and wanted to get to know him better, and he had to believe she was being sincere. He'd keep hoping, for now.