Chapter 29

The driver Seth had called to pick up Melonie at the hospital was a retired lady named Paige who enjoyed driving the Amish around to help supplement her income.

Melonie reckoned she was nice enough, but the friendly chatter grated on her nerves. She was tired, and the visit to the hospital with her brother had taken a toll. Even though she hadn't been able to see Tabitha, just hearing about some of her injuries from Seth had been difficult. Melonie had heard stories about Leon's abuse, but now that she knew Tabitha better, this latest incident brought her to tears. Especially since Seth had looked crushed when he came out to walk her to the driver.

Melonie was coming to the conclusion that she'd never wanted to completely imagine what Tabitha had been going through.

Tabitha was so alone in the world, and Seth was the most important person to her—and he had been unforgiven as well. Everything about what was "right" and "wrong" was a mixed-up muddle in her head. She knew she'd be asking the Lord some hard questions when she said her prayers that night.

"Did you hear me, miss?" Paige said, bringing her back to the present.

Sitting in the back seat of the van, Melonie shook her head. "I'm sorry. I ... I think my mind drifted off. What did you say?"

"Do you have a beau? A pretty young girl like you probably has scads of boys calling on her, hmm?"

Thinking of Lott, she smiled. "I do have a beau."

"Well, tell me all about him. What's his name? What does he do? How did you meet?" She chuckled softly. "What does he look like? I can't wait to hear all the details. It's been ages since I've been in love."

Love? Was Melonie in love? "We ..." No. No, she wasn't going to do this. She wasn't going to talk about Lott to this nosy Englisher stranger, and she wasn't going to pretend that she didn't mind being asked something so personal. "I'm sorry, I'd rather not talk about him."

"Oh."

Even though she didn't owe the driver an excuse, she said, "It's, um, still new."

"Hmm." Paige drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "Well, we've got another ten or fifteen minutes at least. What would you like to chat about?"

"Nothing. I don't want to talk at all. Perhaps you could put on the radio?"

The driver inhaled sharply but did as Melonie asked. Seconds later, a country western station was on and a man was singing about beers and trucks. Paige peeked in the rearview mirror at Melonie, waiting for her reaction.

Melonie hid a smile. She was pretty sure that Paige thought she would be offended by the song, but it only amused her. After all, it wasn't like she didn't know a thing about beer or trucks.

Now that she had a moment to relax and quiet her mind, she was able to take a moment to pray for Tabitha's healing and ask the Lord to continue to look after her and Seth's relationship. And then, at long last, she concentrated on her and Lott.

Lott Hostetler was such a mess of contradictions! Now that he was calling on her, things between them seemed more solid. But instead of acting more at ease, he had become almost formal. He took care not to sit too close to her when he visited and didn't even try to kiss her cheek. Her mother was thrilled with his gentlemanly ways.

Melonie felt differently. It might have been bad, but she kind of missed the way he'd been when they were sneaking around together. That embarrassed her. Shouldn't she want him to be reserved and proper when they were alone? Why was she missing his heated looks and all the secrecy? Why had that made her feel so alive?

Maybe she was more like her brother than she'd realized, Melonie mused. Seth was filled with good intentions but hadn't always thought of the consequences or repercussions before he did things. His fighting Peter Miller was the obvious example. But so was looking after Tabitha Yoder for so long ... and now falling in love with her.

Was that what love was? Was it impetuous and vibrant? So much so that it filled one's heart with barely any room left for doubts and regrets? She kind of hoped so.

"You still doing okay back there?" Paige asked.

"Yes. Thank you."

"We're almost there."

"Yes. I'm glad."

Paige glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "I've never known an Amish girl to be so quiet."

Melonie looked up and gasped. "The buggy!"

"What?" Paige looked back at the road and swerved the vehicle to the left, narrowly missing the horse and buggy by just a few feet.

The horse reared and the buggy weaved as the driver tried to gain control.

Paige heaved a sigh of relief. "That was close."

Melonie turned to look out the back window. The driver had pulled off to the side and climbed out to calm the horse. "You almost hit them!"

"Don't get so excited. I didn't."

"The driver is having to calm down his horse! You caused that! The buggy could have overturned and killed him or the horse—or both."

"But they're both all right. Stop talking about what-ifs and almosts. Everything is just fine. Honey, sorry, but I don't need to hear any more complaints. I bet you've never driven a car. You have no idea what you're talking about."

Melonie didn't appreciate Paige's cavalier attitude or dismissal of her concerns. She was tempted to give her a piece of her mind but suspected it would do no good. And maybe the Lord had been giving Melonie another example of how two viewpoints could be drastically different.

It happened all the time. Sometimes there really was someone in the right and someone else in the wrong. But that didn't seem to matter. People believed what they believed and didn't want to be swayed no matter what evidence there was to the contrary.

"Is it this one?" Paige asked as the van neared the Zimmermans' drive.

Melonie looked out the window. "Yes."

Paige pulled into the drive, and both of Melonie's parents came out to greet her.

Relieved, Melonie exited. "Thank you for the ride," she said to Paige.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Nee. I know my brother paid you."

"What about my tip?"

"You almost hit a horse and buggy. You would've done so if I hadn't called out to you. As far as I'm concerned, you should be giving me a refund."

Paige scowled at her but didn't argue.

As the van backed out onto the road, Mamm said, "What was that all about?"

"The driver wasn't good. She almost hit a horse and buggy."

Daed shook his head. "People drive too fast on these roads, and that's the truth." Smiling softly, he gave her a hug. "I'm glad you're home. How is Seth?"

"Worried about Tabitha. I canna believe Leon hurt her so badly yet again. Seth told me that she'll likely be in the hospital overnight."

Her parents exchanged a look. "I wish Seth hadn't involved you, Melonie," Mamm said.

"What are you talking about? I'm not involved."

"I'd prefer it if you weren't even aware of what happened. You shouldn't have to worry about things like that."

"About real life?"

Her parents glanced at each other again. "You know what has happened to Tabitha Yoder is not what married life is usually like," Daed said. "I don't want you to worry about that."

"But I am worrying about her, Daed. And Seth, because he loves her."

"How can that be? They hardly know each other."

"That's where you're wrong. They know each other very well. I know Seth has fallen in love with her and believes their love is real. Besides, who are we to judge?"

Her parents exchanged looks again. "Let's go inside, dear," Mamm said. "You can help with supper."

That was the last thing she wanted to do, but Melonie knew better than to refuse to help. "All right."

Just as she was lamenting how everything was terrible, her father said, "Just because Lott Hostetler is joining us is no reason to get into a tizzy."

"Lott is coming over?"

Mamm smiled. "He certainly is. When I saw him at the market, I asked him over. He accepted immediately."

Her father chuckled. "He thinks the world of you, Melonie. I'm sure of it."

"I ... I hope so."

"Come now," her mother said. "Settle down. I thought having him over would make you happy."

"It does."

"Then I'm glad, child. We want you to be happy."

She smiled at her mother as they walked inside. After agreeing that she'd be in the kitchen to help in ten minutes, she went to her bedroom. Praised God and gave thanks for the many blessings she'd been given.

And then hurried to freshen up so she'd look her best.

She might have some new attitudes about how she wanted to treat people and how people should be treated ... but some things were still the same.

She was okay with that.