A Legacy of Love Read online

  Leon frowned. Why had he told Ben anything?

  Ben lightly punched his arm. “You do! Leon, you need to let that go if she’s getting married. Besides, you two broke up . . . what? Four years ago? Why would you even consider—”

  “Leon!” Dat had appeared in the doorway, and Leon blew out a sigh of relief.

  “I didn’t even know you were back. You must’ve slipped in the back door. How was the funeral?”

  “It was really bedauerlich.” As Leon recounted some details about the funeral, he was thankful his father had interrupted Ben’s interrogation. He didn’t want to discuss his confusing feelings about Susie with his brother.

  But he had to admit the truth to himself. He was looking forward to seeing her again.

  CHAPTER 2

  Susie Bontrager stared up at the Lancaster Furniture Sales and Repair sign. It seemed like only yesterday she was visiting Leon in his father’s store after shopping at the market. They’d been dating then.

  Betty, her younger sister, tapped her shoulder. “Suze? Are you going to get out of the truck? Or are you going to stare at that sign all afternoon?”

  “Oh, right.” Susie pushed open the passenger door of her driver’s four-door pickup truck and climbed down as her sister exited from the backseat. “I’ll go see if Leon and Ben will carry the chairs inside for us.”

  “I can take one of them.”

  Susie spun and then swallowed a gasp. Leon stood grinning at her from the sidewalk in front of the store. “You startled me.” Had he been standing at the window, watching her stare at the store’s sign like a dope?

  “I’m sorry. I thought you saw me come out. I was working the front of the store when I saw the truck pull up.” Leon stepped off the sidewalk and moved to the bed of the truck where Grayson, her driver, stood waiting. “I’ve been watching for you.”

  “You have?” Susie blinked.

  “Ya.” Leon’s smile seemed . . . sheepish. “Is that bad?”

  “No.” Susie shook her head. But it’s surprising.

  Grayson dropped the tailgate and picked up Mammi’s chair. Leon grabbed Daadi’s.

  “I’ll get the door.” Susie jogged over and pulled it open.

  Leon and Grayson carried the rocking chairs through the showroom and toward the workroom as Susie and Betty entered the store.

  “Susie! Betty!” Leon’s father came around the front counter and shook Susie’s hand. “Wie geht’s?”

  “Hi, Menno. We’re well. How are you?” Susie always found herself marveling at how similar Leon’s eyes were to his father’s and brother’s. They reminded her of melted chocolate.

  Betty sidled up to Susie and extended her hand as well. “It’s nice to see you, Menno.”

  “Leon told me you were going to bring your grandparents’ rocking chairs in for repair.” He leaned back against the counter. “He’s excited to work on them.”

  “He is?” Susie asked.

  “Ya, he is.” Menno touched his graying brown beard. “How are your parents doing?”

  “They’re well,” Betty chimed in. “The farm keeps us all busy. Dat hired a couple of buwe from my youth group to help him. Susie and I are still helping Mamm with all the household chores and quilting.”

  “I haven’t seen your dat in a while. Tell him to stop in the store sometime. Or I suppose I can go to see him.”

  “Susie.”

  Susie turned toward the doorway that led to the workroom. Leon was beckoning her.

  “Could you come here for a moment?” he asked.

  “Ya.” Susie looked at his father. “Excuse me.” As she approached Leon, she took in his face. She’d forgotten how handsome he was with his intelligent dark eyes, dark-brown hair, strong jaw, broad shoulders, and wide chest. He was muscular too, as though he spent hours every day working on a farm, not making and repairing furniture.

  She bit back another gasp. How dare she contemplate how attractive she found her ex-boyfriend? She was engaged! Josh would be hurt if he could read her mind.

  Leon raised his eyebrows as she came closer, and she shook off her inappropriate thoughts. The sweet scents of wood and stain filled her senses as she stepped into the workroom.

  “What do you need?” She hoped her cheeks didn’t radiate embarrassment as she went to stand beside him.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt you.” Leon gestured toward the rocking chairs sitting in the middle of the workshop as Grayson and Ben inspected them. “Ben asked me how old the chairs are, and I don’t know. Do you?”

  “Mei daadi made them for mei mammi as a wedding gift. They have to be at least sixty years old.”

  “Really?” Ben’s face lit up. “I can’t get over the intricate carvings.” He ran his fingers over the top of one chair. “I suppose this one with the carved flowers was for your mammi?”

  “Ya.” Susie walked over to the other chair. “The one with flowers was for Mammi and the one with the more masculine-looking carvings was for Daadi.”

  “They’re stunning. And I love that your daadi used hickory,” Grayson said. “You must cherish these.”

  “I do.” Susie’s chest swelled with gratitude mixed with bereavement as she thought of her grandparents. “I’m so thankful mei mammi gave them to me.”

  “And you’re going to let mei bruder work on them?” Ben said, clearly teasing. “Maybe you should take them to a professional.”

  Susie clicked her tongue and looked at Leon. “That’s not nice, and it’s not true.”

  “He’s got a point.” Leon flinched and then jammed his thumb toward the doorway. “You might want to ask mei dat to work on them. In fact, let me go get him. He can look at them right now.”

  “No.” Susie shook her head. “I want you to rebuild them. I’ve seen your work. I still have the nightstand you gave me for Christmas.”

  “You do?” Something unreadable flashed across his face. Was it shock? Or maybe appreciation?

  “Of course I do.” She looked at Ben. “I’m sure Leon will do a great job on the chairs for me.”

  “All right.” Ben shrugged as a smile curved his lips. “They’re your chairs.” He looked over at Grayson. “Do you still want to look at our buffets? We have one or two in oak.”

  “Yes, that would be great.” Grayson turned to Susie. “I’m going to go look at some furniture. I want to surprise my wife with something nice for our anniversary. I won’t be long.”

  “Take your time,” Susie said.

  After Grayson and Ben left the workroom, Susie fingered her apron as she looked at Leon. “I know Ben was teasing you, but you’ll do a great job with the chairs. When mei dat suggested I have them repaired, I immediately thought of you.”

  The strange expression that had flickered over his face earlier returned for a fraction of a second, and then it disappeared. “You thought of me?”

  “Ya.” She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I? I know how talented you are.”

  He crossed the room and came to stand beside her. “I’ll take gut care of the chairs.”

  She looked up at him and silently marveled at how he towered over her by several inches. She’d forgotten how tall he was. He stood just over six feet, a couple of inches taller than Josh.

  He touched the spindles on Daadi’s chair. “I always marveled at your daadi’s talent when I sat in this chair.” Then he nodded toward his work area. “I have to finish staining that bureau this afternoon, but I can get started on these on Saturday.”

  “Are you volunteering tomorrow?”

  “Ya, I am.” He pointed toward the refrigerator at the back of the shop. “Would you like a bottle of water? I think Grayson is going to be awhile looking at our buffets.”

  She hesitated, but then she nodded as the thought of getting caught up with Leon warmed her heart. And since Betty hadn’t appeared, she suspected she was content talking with Menno out in the showroom. “Ya. Danki.”

  He took out two bottles of water and handed one to her. “Have a seat.” He gestured t
o the stool in Ben’s work area, and then he sat down across from her on the stool in his. She hopped onto the stool, opened the bottle of water, and took a drink.

  “How is Charlie’s family doing?” Leon asked.

  “We visited with his parents last night, and they’re having a tough time.” She took a deep breath as tears stung her eyes. “Minerva is absolutely broken. I can’t imagine losing my fiancé like that. Charlie was supposed to visit her that night, and when he didn’t show up, she assumed he’d been called to the firehouse. But then his bruder arrived with the news.” She took another deep breath in hopes of keeping her tears at bay.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that. When Simeon Dienner died last year while on a fire call, he left a fraa. And she was expecting a boppli. Loss is difficult.”

  “It is, but we must put our faith and trust in the Lord. He’ll get us through it.”

  “That’s right.” He took a long draw from his bottle.

  She fingered the label of her bottle as she studied him. “How are you doing?”

  He shrugged. “I’m fine. I’m just busy with work here and at the firehouse.”

  “Are you seeing anyone?” The question surprised her. She hadn’t planned on getting too personal, but curiosity overtook her shyness. She wanted to know who had Leon’s heart.

  “No.” He shook his head and then took another drink.

  “You’re not?” She’d responded with yet another gasp and then longed to take back her reaction.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Why is that so unbelievable?”

  “I just assumed you would be. You’re twenty-five, and you’re, well, um . . .” Hot humiliation crawled up her neck to her cheeks. How could she tell him she’d thought he might even be married by now because he was handsome? That she’d been surprised to see him clean-shaven at the funeral, without a beard to signal he was a married man? Not only was it shallow to base her assumption on his looks, but it was also an inappropriate thing to tell her ex-boyfriend.

  “I’m what?” He pinned her with a curious stare.

  She quickly drank more than half her water, desperately trying to come up with an answer. Fortunately, she thought of one.

  “Well, you’re outgoing, and you have a lot of freinden in the community. I thought you might be getting married this fall too.” When his smile returned, she swallowed a sigh of relief.

  He shrugged. “I guess I just haven’t found the right maedel.”

  “I’m sure you will soon.” She searched her mind for something safe to discuss. “How’s your mamm doing?”

  “She’s fine.” He rested his bottle on his knee as the conversation turned to mutual friends in the community.

  “Susie?” Betty stood in the doorway. She gave Leon a smile and then turned back to Susie. “Grayson and Ben are loading up the buffet Grayson purchased for his fraa. We need to get going to the grocery store and then home to start supper. Josh is supposed to be out at our haus at five, and it’s almost three.”

  “Oh my goodness! I didn’t realize how long we’d been talking.” Susie hopped down from the stool. “Danki for the water, Leon.” She took a last sip and then tossed the empty bottle in a nearby trash can.

  “Gern gschehne.” Leon followed them into the showroom. “I’ll write up a ticket for the chairs.”

  “Let me know what I owe you,” she said as they stopped at the counter.

  He waved off the comment. “Don’t worry about that now.”

  “Okay. Be careful tomorrow while you’re on duty.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I will.”

  “I think I’ll come back and check on my chairs in a few days when I’m in town.”

  “You do that. You can make sure I haven’t ruined them.” He grinned and then looked past her. “Take care, Betty.”

  “’Bye, Leon!” Betty replied, and then she grabbed her sister’s arm. “We need to go. You want to have supper ready when Josh arrives.”

  “It was gut seeing you,” Susie told him before allowing Betty to steer her out of the store.

  After saying good-bye to Ben and Menno, she climbed into the truck. As they drove toward the market, she realized she was glad she’d see Leon again soon.

  She wasn’t quite sure what to do with that.

  “Supper was appeditlich,” Josh said later that evening as he sat beside Susie on her back porch. He stretched his arm out on the back of the swing, brushing it against her shoulders. “Danki for inviting me over tonight.”

  “Gern gschehne.” She smiled up at him, taking in his ice-blue eyes and warm smile. “I’m froh you could come.”

  “Well, it’s not like it’s a very long walk.” He pointed toward the pasture fence that separated their two farms.

  She laughed. “That’s true.”

  “The sheetrock is almost all up in our haus. I should be painting early next week.” He rubbed her shoulder, as if to emphasize the good news.

  “That’s wunderbaar.” She looked toward the house that stood at the back of his father’s property and smiled. She couldn’t wait to live there, and it was within walking distance. She could visit her parents’ home as often as she wanted.

  “I’m hoping to have the interior finished by the middle of October. Once that’s done, I’ll start moving in.”

  “Oh, that reminds me.” She angled herself to face him. “I took my rocking chairs to Leon’s store today. He’s going to refurbish them for me.”

  “Oh.” His smile dissolved. “Leon King?”

  “Ya.” She nodded.

  “Your ex-boyfriend.”

  “Right. You know he’s a carpenter, like his dat and bruder.” She studied the lines that popped up in his forehead. “Are you upset?”

  “No, I’m not upset. I’m just a little surprised.”

  “Leon and I are still freinden. Our breakup was sort of a mutual thing. There’s no animosity between us.”

  “I know.” Josh looked toward her father’s pasture.

  “Josh, please look at me.” Sudden worry had twisted her stomach into a knot.

  “Ya?” He turned toward her.

  “I’m marrying you, but Leon is still mei freind. You have nothing to worry about. Okay?”

  Leon nodded, but his expression told her he wasn’t convinced. “It’s getting late.” He removed his arm from her shoulders and stood. “I should get back home. I need to be up by five to start my chores.”

  “Okay.” She stood as well and looked up at him. Josh was attractive, but in an ordinary sort of way, with his light-brown hair and kind face.

  Why was she thinking about that now?

  “Tell your parents I said hello, Josh.”

  “I will.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips over her cheek.

  She closed her eyes, but her body didn’t react to his touch. Had she imagined the butterflies in her stomach when Leon used to kiss her cheek and hold her hand? She swallowed a groan. She had to stop these random musings about Leon.

  “Susie?” Josh’s eyes searched hers.

  “Ya?” She froze, hoping she hadn’t said her thoughts aloud.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing, really.”

  “Oh. Okay.” Josh looked out toward the pasture again.

  A long silence followed their exchange, and Susie wished it wasn’t always up to her to start a conversation.

  She cleared her throat while racking her brain for something to say. “Josh, I was wondering if I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you think you’ll have time?”

  “Oh.” His expression relaxed. “I can come by around lunchtime.”

  “Perfect. I’ll make you something special to eat.” She squeezed his hand. “Sleep well tonight.”

  “You too.” He touched her cheek. “Gut nacht.”

  “Gut nacht.” She leaned against a porch post as Josh headed down the steps and strode toward the path that led to his father’s farm. As she watched him, she wondered if someday they would easily chat back an
d forth about their day the way her parents did. Surely all married couples fell into that comfortable relationship eventually.

  Didn’t they?

  CHAPTER 3

  Thunder from the earlier storm still rumbled in the distance as Leon pulled off his helmet and set it on the bumper of the fire engine. He pushed his hand through his thick, sweaty hair. The air around him was heavy with a combination of smoke and humidity.

  He turned to Jamie beside him and blew out a deep sigh. “It’s a gut thing we got that brush fire out before it reached the barn. As dry as it’s been, that barn could’ve gone up in smoke.”

  “That’s the truth.” Jamie lowered himself onto the bumper.

  Leon’s eyes moved to the two-story, white farmhouse across the street from the pasture where the brush fire had started. His chest constricted as his gaze focused on the second-story window on the right side of the house. That was Susie’s window, and light was coming from there as well as from downstairs. Surely she and her family had been asleep when they arrived about an hour ago. The sirens and rattle of the diesel engine would have wakened them, but now it was probably close to midnight and they’d be going back to bed soon.

  “Want some water?”

  Leon turned to Noah Zook, who held up a bottle dripping with condensation.

  “Danki. That would be great.” Leon grabbed the bottle and opened it before taking a long drink. The cool liquid soothed his parched throat.

  “We should be loading soon. Brody is finishing up.” Noah nodded toward where their chief stood talking with the homeowner and the chief from the fire station in Ronks. That unit had also responded to the call.

  Leon nodded and then took another long draw.

  “Isn’t that Susie’s haus?” Jamie pointed his empty bottle toward the house across the street.

  Leon choked. Taking deep gulps of air, he tried to stop the coughing fit that overtook him. He placed the bottle of water on the bumper and bent at the waist. When the coughing subsided, he looked up at Jamie, who raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t mean to get you all choked up about it.” Jamie grinned.

  Leon glowered as he picked up the half-empty bottle. He was in trouble now. The teasing and jabbing would begin, and most likely last throughout the rest of the night.