Friends to the End Read online

  When Logan continued to study her, almost as if he was trying to come up with the right thing to say, she held out a hand. “I’d better call Andy now.”

  “Jah. Sure.” Without another word, he handed the phone to her. Then, instead of moving to the side to at least pretend to give her privacy, Logan stayed right next to her while she called.

  Unlike Elizabeth, Andy answered right away. “It’s about time you called.”

  Tricia inwardly groaned. This was so like him, always so certain of everything. Always so ready to make sure she never forgot that he was her big brother. “I’ve been a little busy, Andy.”

  “Whatever. I was starting to worry.” On its heels, he continued, his voice a little more tentative. “Everything’s okay, right? The ride home with Logan went well?”

  “Uh, no.”

  “What happened?”

  “Actually, there’s a problem.”

  “What?” he asked again, his voice turning more panicked. “I know it can be hard traveling in that buggy, but—”

  “It wasn’t the buggy, Andy.”

  “What happened?” Again, before she had a moment to even attempt to answer him, he fired off another question. “Did you guys get stuck in the snow? Or wait—did Logan not get there?”

  “Logan got here just fine.” Practically feeling Logan’s gaze resting on her, she tried to sound more carefree than she felt. “He’s, um, standing right next to me.”

  “Where are you?”

  Andy’s voice sounded so strained, she could almost see the confusion on his face. Darting a glance at Logan, she said, “We’re still at the cabin, Andy.”

  “Still?”

  “Settle down and let me speak. And, for once, listen. Okay?”

  “I’m listening. What happened?”

  “Well, first of all, it took a while for Logan to get here. The weather isn’t just bad, it’s really bad. Then we had to let the horses rest. But now the storm’s gotten worse.” Glancing at Logan again, she said, “We’re not going to be able to leave tonight.” There was no way she was going to warn him that it might be even longer.

  Her brother mumbled something under his breath before speaking. “Trish, come on. How bad can the storm be?”

  “It can be pretty darn bad, Andy,” she retorted, using the last of her patience. “I didn’t call you to ask for permission, by the way. I called to let you know what was going on. We’re going to stay here tonight and leave in the morning if the weather has cleared.”

  “Hey, besides Logan, who else is there?”

  She was getting more than a little annoyed with these questions. “Uh, the horses.”

  “Tricia, besides the horses.”

  “There’s no one here besides Logan, me, and the horses.” Raising her voice, she said, “Honestly, Andy, what did you expect? For Logan to bring the rest of the Eight here? And why? So we could have a chaperone? You know I’m twenty, right? That I’m in college and there are actually boys wandering around Bowling Green that I talk to on occasion?”

  Logan held out his hand. “Let me talk to him.”

  Tricia knew Andy would probably appreciate talking to Logan, but even the idea of handing over the phone like a child didn’t sit with her well. She shook her head. “I’ve got this,” she hissed.

  “What have you got?” Andy asked.

  Oh, brother. “Nothing.” Staring at Logan, she said, “Everything is fine here.” Well, besides being stuck in the cabin with her childhood crush.

  “Are you sure? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked one of the guys to come get you. Maybe I should have called the sheriff or something.”

  Now he was just being ridiculous. “I don’t think Logan and I are going to fall into bed together just because we’re all alone, Andy.”

  Beside her, she heard Logan suck in a mouthful of air. He reached for the cell phone. “Tricia, I canna believe you said that,” he blurted, his voice as hard as she’d ever heard it. “Hand me the—”

  She covered the bottom of her cell. “No.” Lowering her hand, she murmured, “Andy, trust me, okay?”

  “Of course I trust you. I just worry.” He sighed. “I wish you had come down to Naples. If you had, you wouldn’t be in this situation, you know.”

  “I know, but I needed a break. Now, I really appreciate you calling Logan to come help me. I also know you’re worried. But you need to relax. If you don’t, Mom and Dad are going to wonder what’s got you so spun up.”

  He sighed. “About that. I think I should let them know what’s going on.”

  “You’d better not.”

  “Tricia—”

  “I’ve kept your secrets, Andy,” she interrupted. “Mom and Dad still don’t know you got that warning your freshman year of college. I’m the one who confiscated that note and forged their signatures. And don’t even get me started about prom.”

  “Why do you always bring up prom?” he asked, his voice matching hers.

  “Because I have to remind you now and again that I’ve always been there for you. I might be a wreck right now, but you aren’t perfect, either. Don’t betray me.”

  After a pause, he said, “If you aren’t home safe in twenty-four hours, I’m going to have to let them know.”

  “No, if I’m not back home within forty-eight hours, I’ll give them a call myself.”

  He laughed. “Boy, you grew up, didn’t you?”

  Feeling kind of proud of herself, she smiled. “I did.”

  “I don’t know when that happened.”

  “I’m starting to think it happened a while ago, Andy. It was just that nobody ever wanted to believe it.” Maybe not even herself. “Now, I love you, but I’ve gotta go.”

  “Okay, bye. Be careful.”

  “I will. Bye, now.”

  When at last she clicked off, she turned to Logan with a smile.

  He, however, was definitely not smiling back at her. His face looked irritated, and his arms were folded across his chest. “You don’t think we’ll be going to bed together? What the devil does that mean?”

  Oops. It looked like she’d just ticked off the one person who could make her life easier.

  FIVE

  To make matters worse, the whole time we were walking over to the Clarks’, Andy gave me warnings about what I shouldn’t say or do when I got to their house. By the time we entered their front yard, I was a nervous wreck.

  Andy stared at the screen of his cell phone for almost five minutes after Tricia disconnected. He hadn’t been kidding; his little sister really had grown up on him. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He was proud of her, but felt a little at a loss, too. He hadn’t realized it, but it seemed he’d liked being needed.

  Then there was Logan Clark. Logan was obviously one of his best friends. And, of course, he was a good guy. Hardworking, loyal, kind. He was Amish, too.

  But . . . that didn’t mean he wasn’t a man alone with his little sister. And, well, Tricia really was kind of pretty.

  His mind spun. Then there was the fact that if he was realizing Trish wasn’t a kid anymore, Logan was realizing that, too.

  What if the blizzard continued? What if they were alone there for another day? And night? Hating the direction of his thoughts, he tried to shrug it off.

  But again and again, the idea of the two of them getting far too close teased him.

  Maybe he ought to try to do something more about it.

  “Andy?” his mom called out. “What are you doing? I thought you were going to head down to the beach with us.”

  “I am. Go ahead and I’ll meet you.”

  “What’s keeping you?” Walking down the hall to where he was standing on the back patio, she frowned. “I know you have a life back in Walnut Creek, but I thought you were going to take some time off work.”

  “I am. This is personal. And I’m almost done.”

  Concern melted into interest. “Does it involve Kalie?”

  He’d been dating Kalie off and on for the last four mont
hs. At the moment, they were firmly in the “off” category. Though he didn’t like to share too much with his parents, Mom actually knew Kalie and loved her. She hadn’t been shy about hinting that he and Kalie would make a great couple for the long term.

  But since he was trying hard not to give away Tricia’s secrets, he was almost thankful for his mother’s Kalie obsession. “Sorry, Mom, but no. But, um, I was thinking that I should call her.”

  Her eyes lit up. “I think that’s a fine idea. I’m sure she’s been missing you.”

  He hoped his smile didn’t look as strained as it felt. “I’ll meet you and Dad in fifteen minutes.”

  “All right. All right,” she said as she waved a hand. “I understand. No boy wants to talk to his girl with his mother lurking around. But tell her I said hello, okay?”

  This was getting worse and worse. “Okay.”

  When he was alone again, Andy thumbed through his contacts, debating his options. He could trust Logan and Trish. He could remind himself how they were adults and any decision they made wasn’t his business anyway.

  Or . . . he could do what he’d always done and try to take care of her. And because some habits die hard, the decision was made.

  Not all of the Eight had access to cell phones or landlines, of course. But even among the Amish, things were different than they used to be. Remembering that Harley had his own construction business and that the bishop had given him permission to use the phone for work, Logan decided he would call it.

  Yes, he was completely taking advantage of the situation, but he couldn’t help himself. One day he might not be able to help Trish as much as he could now. Until then, he was going to do what he could to make sure his little sister was as safe as possible.

  Refusing to debate the pros and cons another moment, he pressed Send.

  Two rings later, he picked up. “Harley here.”

  “Harley, it’s Andy.”

  “Andy? Now, this is a surprise. I thought you were in Florida.”

  “I am. Look, I’m sorry to call you. I know your phone is just for business, but I think I need your help.”

  “What do you need?”

  Briefly he filled him in about Tricia and Logan getting snowed in at the cabin. “So, you see why I’m concerned.”

  Harley started laughing. “Nee, I see why Tricia practically hung up on you. You are worrying too much, friend. And maybe thinking about things you shouldn’t.”

  He felt his cheeks flush. “I know. But I can’t help it. What do you think I should do?”

  “Well, I think you should go swimming in the ocean and be thankful that you ain’t stuck in the shnay like the rest of us are.”

  “That’s it?” Be glad he wasn’t stuck in the snow?

  Harley chuckled again. “I’m just joshing ya. If I were you, I’d be doing the same thing. Worrying and fretting.”

  For some strange reason, that made him feel better. “Really?”

  “Jah. To be sure. Logan is a good man, but the two of them alone for days? That ain’t gut.”

  Recalling Tricia’s comment about beds, he groaned. “Any ideas about what I should do?”

  Harley paused for a moment. “Nothing that you can do, Englisch, but I have an idea.”

  “And that is what?”

  “I’ll stop by and talk to Marie, John B., and Elizabeth Ann. Maybe the four of us can go out there to join them.”

  “How? Tricia said the weather’s terrible.”

  “Jah, it is. It’s a fair to bad shtoahm, and that’s a fact,” Harley agreed in his typical good humor. “But our Marie has a fancy new SUV. Maybe she’ll like the idea of driving some of her Amish friends out to your cabin.”

  Just as Andy was nodding at that option, he said, “Do you think Logan’s going to get mad when he finds out that I called you, too?”

  “Of course not,” Harley said so quickly that Andy knew he was lying. “But it don’t matter anyhow. He’ll get over it. Besides, we’ve all known each other far too long to get too upset about this. We’ve been through far worse. Ain’t so?”

  Harley was right. Ever since they’d all met at the Kurts’ house, the eight of them had weathered lots of storms together. Some had been pretty intense, such as when John B.’s baby sister passed away. Others had just been normal problems, like when Katie had gotten stung by a swarm of angry hornets. “You’re right. Thanks.”

  “Go out and enjoy yourself, Andy. I’ll reach out to Marie and whoever else I can find, and then we’ll all go out and help take care of your shveshtah. It’s a promise.”

  If Harley promised, then it would be done. “Thanks again,” Andy replied, finally breathing easier. “Call me if you have a problem, though, okay?”

  “To be sure. Bye, now.”

  After stuffing his phone in the pocket of his shorts, Andy slipped his sunglasses back over his eyes, hoping the shade would help to fade the headache that he couldn’t seem to shake.

  Then he started walking down the pier to meet his parents and enjoy the beach. He was glad he’d called Harley. The guy was the most practical of the Eight. So steadfast, too.

  And he’d been exactly right. Over the years, the eight of them had been through so much, and he feared they were destined to go through so much more.

  SIX

  Four of the Clark kids were out in the front yard playing volleyball. The moment Andy and I came into view, Logan waved us over with a hand. “Andy, get over here! We need ya.”

  “My sister Tricia is here, too.”

  “I see her.” Logan smiled more broadly. “Come join us, Tricia. Pick a side and don’t hold back.”

  Because I didn’t really have a choice, I started forward, but the whole time I was wishing I was anywhere else.

  Tricia had been quiet ever since she’d spoken to Andy. Logan would even describe it as quieter than usual. She’d seemed especially shy and nervous the whole time he’d been here. At first, he’d thought it was because she was afraid, but he was beginning to think it had more to do with him than the situation.

  He’d bided his time since she hung up. He’d made himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and sat at the small table while he ate it. He watched her walk around the cabin. Stare out of the window at the snow. Sip water.

  And avoid meeting his eyes.

  He was used to taking care of other people. That was what happened when one was born into a large family with lots of younger siblings. It was second nature to try to help someone in need, especially someone who was younger. But he wasn’t sure if that was the best course of action. Andy was already bossy. She had her parents, who everyone knew never shied away from speaking their minds. She didn’t need another guardian.

  After another five minutes passed, he knew it was time to clear the air. All his silence was doing was making Tricia even more distant.

  “Tricia, how about a sandwich, too?”

  She paused. “Hmm? Oh, no thanks, Logan. I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? I haven’t seen you eat anything since I’ve been here.”

  She ran her hands down her thighs. “Obviously I don’t miss too many meals. I’ll be fine.”

  Just as he felt himself watch those hands run down her legs, too, he snapped his head back up. “Why do you do that?”

  She paused. “Do what?”

  “Look for some kind of perceived flaw about yourself.”

  “It’s not perceived, Logan. I’m not the skinniest girl in the world.”

  “You ain’t the biggest maydel, either.” When she looked a little shocked by his words—just as he was—he continued. “You must know you have a pleasing figure.”

  She walked closer. “Pleasing?”

  Now he was absolutely wishing he had never said anything at all. As compliments went, it was sorely lacking. But since he’d hopped on this track, he nodded. “Jah.”

  Actually, Tricia’s figure was far more than pleasing. By his estimation, she was all sweet curves and soft skin. She wasn’t very tall,
that was true. But he, for one, liked her figure. He knew a man didn’t like worrying aboout if the woman he was with was too delicate. He didn’t want to have to worry about hurting or bruising her if he held her too close or too tight.

  Or, he supposed, if they were doing something far more intimate. Not that he should ever think about such things in regard to her.

  Heat had bloomed in her cheeks. She pressed her palms to them. “I can’t believe I’m blushing.”

  “I fear I’m blushing, too.” Of course, his flush was unfortunately from thoughts that weren’t vague at all. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to say how I think you look. I mean, this ain’t my usual type of conversation, Tricia.”

  She giggled. “It’s not mine, either.”

  “You know, I didn’t ask. Did this man, this Emerson, did he hurt you?”

  “Do you mean like did he hurt me beyond my feelings?”

  “Jah.”

  “No. I mean, his words upset me, but he wasn’t abusive or anything. They just made me self-conscious and cautious.”

  “So hurtful your grades fell.”

  She nodded slowly. “And since my grades have been pretty much the best thing I’ve had going for me lately, it’s been really difficult.”

  “I’ve never cared about your grades, you know.”

  “You might just be the only one.” Blowing out a burst of air, she shrugged. “Logan, now that I’ve calmed down a little, I’ve thought about my relationship with him. It’s made me do a lot of thinking about the type of men I’ve been dating. So even though I’ve managed to get myself into another mess, I’m glad I stayed behind.”

  Logan leaned back in his chair. “What kind of men have you been dating?” he asked lightly, hoping she couldn’t hear the jealousy in his voice.

  “Men that are destined to become frogs.”

  “Frogs?”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Do you know that term? It has to do with a fairy tale. Something about a girl kissing a lot of frogs but then one of them turns into her own Prince Charming.”