Her Amish Holiday Suitor. Carrie Lighte

      Lucy didn’t know what to make of Nick’s behavior, but there was definitely something fishy about it. It reminded her of his tomfoolery when they’d attended school together. As he shifted from foot to foot she sensed he was there to deliver a joke, and she wanted him to get it over with so she could return to her embroidery. The lighting was terrible and she’d already had to undo her stitching several times, but she didn’t want to turn the lamp up, lest she be discovered by dauntless Frederick or his pushy mother, Mary.

      “Okay, what’s the favor?”

      “It’s going to sound...it’s going to sound lecherich. But I wondered if you’d consider allowing me to court you. I mean, I don’t really want to court you, I just don’t know who else to ask. You see—”

      “You’re right, that does sound lecherich,” she interrupted, appalled he’d point out how ridiculous it was for him to consider courting her and then have the gall to admit he was only asking her because he’d run out of other prospects. “And I don’t want to be courted by you, either.”

      She dipped her head and squinted at her stitching, hoping he’d scram. Did he think she’d be so enamored of him she’d gleefully accept his half-hearted offer, the way so many other women in Willow Creek had? They all knew he’d never be serious about sustaining a romantic relationship, but that didn’t stop them from saying yes.

      Even Lucy’s favorite cousin, Bridget, had fallen for him—and then he’d broken her heart by striking up a relationship with someone else before his courtship with Bridget was over. Lucy was smarter than that. She didn’t care how charismatic or impishly handsome anyone considered him to be, she didn’t need the affections of Nick Burkholder to make her feel special.

      “Lucy, please listen,” he pleaded.

      She glared in his direction and snapped, “What?”

      Nick delved into a story about his Englisch friends, the Nelson family, whose vacation cabin was damaged by a small fire while Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were away for the Thanksgiving holiday. The family was anticipating celebrating Christmas together there one last time with their dying grandfather, but the parents didn’t know the interior was a wreck. Nick’s friend didn’t want to add to their distress by telling them about the damage since they were already distraught about the grandfather’s health. The goal was to complete the repairs before Mrs. Nelson began decorating the cabin for their party.

      “I’m pretty confident I can get it all spruced up in time for their celebration, but I need a gut excuse to go out in the evenings to work on it. That’s where a courtship with you figures in.”

      Lucy was skeptical. The whole story was probably a fabrication, and she wouldn’t be surprised if Nick’s friends were listening at the door to hear if she’d fall for it. “Why don’t you just tell your eldre the real reason you need to go out? They’re warmhearted people. They’d want you to help.”

      Nick rambled, “Like I said, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson don’t even know about the fire, so I’ve got to keep it a secret that I’m renovating the walls. And, I, uh, I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but my daed’s health has suffered and he’s been under quite a bit of financial strain ever since Harper’s Hardware came to town. In order to compete with them, we have to keep our store open late until Grischtdaag. Even though my brother absolutely can handle the customers without me, since the Nelsons are Englischers, well, my daed would probably say our family’s business takes top priority.” Nick wiped his palms against his trousers, casting his gaze toward the floor as he admitted, “If I were courting someone, that would be a different story, because my eldre are sort of eager to see me...to see me settle down, as you might imagine.”

      Lucy could imagine. Two Sundays ago after church, Mildred had babbled about how she’d overheard Nick’s mother complaining to Doris Plank that she was worried Nick would never join the church and get married. Hearing that, Katura had sulked all the way home because Nick had never asked to be her suitor.

      “Please, Lucy?” Nick entreated, and she suddenly understood why her peers said yes to walking out with him. There was something irresistible about his earnest manner, his big blue eyes, and the way his nose and cheeks were speckled with freckles. “My friend’s groossdaadi might not live long enough to return to Willow Creek, but if he does, he’ll be devastated to find his boyhood cabin in tatters.”

      Lucy’s resolve was beginning to waver. She wanted the Nelsons and their grandfather to have a merry Christmas, especially if it was going to be their last celebration together.

      “Please?” he repeated.

      At that moment Frederick walked in. “Aha, I found you! There’s something I want to ask you, Lucy.”

      Clearly Lucy wasn’t going to get anything done tonight. She stashed her embroidery hoop in the canvas tote at her side. Allowing Nick’s question to hang in the air unanswered, she turned her attention to Frederick. “Go ahead and ask.”

      “It’s, uh, it’s sort of private. So, um, I can wait until you and Nick are done talking.”

      Lucy had a feeling she knew what Frederick was going to ask and she wished he’d leave her alone. She wished everyone would leave her alone and stop forcing their social agendas on her. Then it occurred to her if Frederick thought she was walking out with Nick, he wouldn’t ask her to walk out with him. Furthermore, if her stepsisters and stepmother thought she was walking out with someone, they wouldn’t pester her to join their pre-Christmas social events or the caroling rehearsals, either. She’d finally have time to finish her project.

      She stood up and rummaged through the coats, simultaneously saying, “Well, Nick and I were about to head out together, so you might as well ask me now. Nick, would you mind giving Frederick and me a quick moment alone to chat?”

      A look of utter surprise crossed Nick’s face before it brightened with elation. “Sure,” he said. “I’ll wait for you in my buggy.”

      “Denki,” she replied in a syrupy voice, tilting her chin upward for added effect. After Nick left, she asked Frederick, “What is it you want to ask me?”

      He stammered, “Oh, er, I was wondering if you’ll be caroling this year? In a few minutes we’re going to start the meeting to plan our rehearsal schedule and I thought you’d want to make suggestions about meeting times since I know you volunteer during the week.”

      “Denki for the heads-up, Frederick. But as much as I might enjoy caroling, I have...I have other social engagements that will be taking up my time.”

      Frederick looked forlorn, but he nodded and said he understood. She almost felt sorry for him, but then his mother entered the room, turned up the lamp and uttered, “Oh gut, I see Frederick tracked you down, Lucy! We didn’t know where you’d escaped to. I set a mug of cocoa for each of you near the love seat.”

      A mix of embarrassment and empathy washed over Lucy as she noticed Frederick cringing. She nearly told him she’d stay after all, but Frederick said, “Lucy’s going home now. Nick Burkholder is taking her.”

      “Nick Burkholder?” Frederick’s mother was obviously incredulous. There’d be no stopping the rumors from spreading now.

      Lucy excused herself quickly, saying, “Jah, and he’s waiting for me in his buggy, so I’d better get going. Denki for your hospitality,