The Loyal One Read online

  Every morning and afternoon, back when she was in seventh and eighth grade, she would take a peek at it. His farm was so big and pretty, everyone said it looked like it should be on the cover of one of those magazines at the checkout counter of the grocery store. Or on one of those remodeling shows on cable. She’d always thought the same thing.

  But then she would go one step further and would daydream about the family who lived there. She used to imagine that they were happy and comfortable. And rich, of course. So rich that they didn’t eat tons of leftovers or only bought meat when it was on sale.

  She couldn’t believe it when she’d learned that Kyle lived there.

  Where she lived, on the other hand, was in the middle of a row of six duplexes, each in need of paint and maybe a good scrubbing, too. Each building was also surrounded by a yard that couldn’t seem to hold on to a single blade of grass. It was the complete opposite of his home.

  Kyle looked down at his feet. “To tell you the truth, I wasn’t actually all that close to here. I was working, but I really just came over here to see you.”

  “Oh.” It was a struggle to even think about what to say next, so many thoughts were running through her head.

  He winced. “Yeah. Can you come out and talk?”

  She looked at the two chairs her mother had placed out on the porch six months ago, saying that they would brighten up the place. They might have, too, if sitting on the front porch were relaxing.

  It was not.

  “How about you come inside instead?” Even though her mother was going to have a fit if she ever found out Gabby had brought a boy inside, Gabby knew it was the only real option. There were some scary boys in the next building over and they usually hung out on the street, watching everyone and everything nearby. Though they didn’t really bother her, she didn’t want to give them the opportunity. Plus, Lane would be home soon.

  “Um, well, all right.” Looking as awkward and ill at ease as she felt, he stepped across the threshold and into the small living room.

  She locked and bolted the door behind him.

  He turned to face her. “Do you always do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Turn the dead bolt as soon as you walk in the door?”

  “Yeah. This street—well, it’s not the safest place.”

  “Do all the locks keep you safe?” He looked skeptical.

  She was safe enough. So was her younger brother, Lane, and that was what really mattered.

  But did she really want to talk about that with him? Ah, no she did not.

  Hoping to make a joke of it, she raised her eyebrows. “Am I safe with you? Gosh, I hope so.” Gesturing to the pair of worn beige love seats, she said, “Want to sit down?”

  He sat. But his eyes were darting around the room. At their TV that worked great but wasn’t anything fancy. At the stack of library books on the coffee table. At the shelves filled with books and picture frames.

  “I guess it all looks pretty weird to you, huh?” Still feeling awkward, she fired off another question. “Have you ever been in a regular house before?”

  One brown eyebrow rose. “Regular, like English?”

  She shrugged. “Well, yeah.”

  “I’ve been in English houses before, Gabby,” he said, sounding offended.

  “I’m sorry. Was that rude to ask?”

  After a couple of seconds, his expression lifted and he shook his head. “Nah. It’s just—well, I’m around so many of my older brothers’ Englisch friends that I forget not all Englischers aren’t used to being around the Amish. Your question surprised me.” His lips curved up a bit. “I don’t think you could be rude if you tried, Gabby.”

  That was one of the things she really liked about Kyle Lambright. He was completely different from any other guy she knew. He always answered her honestly and never tried to make her feel dumb.

  Gabby was pretty sure she could be rude to a lot of people. Growing up the way she had—with a single mom who meant well but didn’t always put her and Lane first—had taught her to keep her guard up.

  Except with Kyle.

  That was why she hated that she might have offended him. “I guess I have a lot to learn about the Amish. If we’re going to continue to hang out, I might need to ask you a ton of questions.”

  Instead of looking amused, Kyle looked pleased. “I don’t mind that none. Nothing wrong with needing to learn something.”

  She smiled weakly.

  He looked around. “So, is your mother home?”

  “No, she’s still at work. Or, she might be running some errands after, I’m not sure. Why, do you need your hair cut?” Her mother was a hairdresser.

  “Nee. I just realized that we were alone.” His hands were braced on either side of him now, like he was ready to push off the couch and put even more distance between them.

  “Yeah. I . . . well, I’m usually alone this time of day. Unless I have something else to do.” And . . . that sounded even more stupid. Chewing on her bottom lip, Gabby told herself to stay quiet. If she did, he would be able to finally get a word in edgewise and then she’d know what he’d come over for.

  He folded his hands in his lap and gazed at her. But stayed quiet. Each second felt like an hour. And each “hour” that passed made her revisit every stupid comment she’d made since he’d knocked on her door. Boy, she’d give a lot to be able to start all over again.

  After another half a minute passed, she felt like she was on pins and needles. It was all becoming awkward. Really awkward. “Kyle—”

  But, of course, he’d started talking at the same time. “Gabby—”

  “Oh! You go first.”

  “Thanks.” Looking like he was gathering himself together, he said, “Listen, the reason I stopped over was because I’d like to see more of you.”

  She looked down at her shirt, wondering how he could want that when she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed and was acting so stinkin’ stupid. “You do?”

  His eyes widened. “I don’t mean more of your skin. I mean more of you, like visits.”

  As soon as she realized what he said, she started laughing. After a pause, he chuckled, too.

  “Boy, I really put my foot in my mouth there, huh?”

  She smiled at him. “I’m just glad you don’t need me to take my clothes off. Then, I would have really wished my mother would have been here.”

  He closed his eyes and tilted his chin up. “Do me a favor and never remind me about this conversation again.”

  “Kyle, did you mean that? About wanting us to see each other more?”

  “I did.” He looked at her warily. “Are you appalled? Do I sound like a boy of thirteen instead of all the guys you are used to seeing?”

  All the guys? “I don’t know who you think I usually see . . . I haven’t dated a lot.”

  “Really?”

  He sounded so incredulous, she stood up. “Look, I know I don’t live in a great place and my, um, reputation isn’t great. But that doesn’t mean I’m easy.” Was that why he’d come over?

  Kyle got to his feet, too, and stuck his hat back on his head. “Gabby, I think I’m going to go. I’ve really messed this up.”

  Just as she was about to agree, the door opened and her mother rushed in with a rustle of paper sacks. “Gabby, come help me with these bags!”

  Gabby ran over and grabbed a bag that looked like it was seconds away from sliding to the ground. “I’ve got this one.”

  “I’ll get it, Gabby. The others, too,” Kyle offered as he lifted another tote from her mother’s arm.

  Her mother let him, but she stared at Kyle like he was a new creature that she’d never encountered before. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Kyle Lambright.”

  After blatantly looking him over, her mom turned to her. “What is he doing here, Gabby?”

  “Kyle and I are friends,” she replied as she led the way into their small kitchen. “He only came over to say hi.”


  “Is that right?” Her mother kept staring at him like he carried a disease. “How did you meet?”

  “We first met at the fall fest, and then saw each other every now and then. This is the first time he’s come by.”

  “I just happened to be nearby,” Kyle said. “I knocked on the door to say hello.”

  “And you invited him in, Gabby.” Her voice was flat, and she was still talking to Gabby like Kyle wasn’t in the room.

  Oh, this was bad.

  After another second or two, Kyle cleared his throat. “Mrs. Ferrara, it was nice to meet you.”

  “It’s not Mrs.”

  Looking even more wary, Kyle took a step backward. “I’m going to leave now, Gabby,” he said quietly. “Could you walk me out?”

  She nodded and walked him to the door and then practically shoved him out to the stoop. The minute the door shut behind her, she said, “I’m really sorry about my mother. I bet you don’t even know what to think.”

  “I think that coming over here without notice was a bad idea. I’m sure your mother thinks I have no manners.”

  As far as Gabby was concerned, it was her mother who didn’t have any manners. “I don’t think my mom’s upset with you.”

  No, her mother was definitely upset with her. The moment Gabby walked in the door, her mom was going to have a lot to say about her actions.

  “Gabby, what is keeping you?”

  Her mother’s voice sounded harsh even through the door. “I’d better go in.”

  “Wait, Gabby.”

  “Yes?”

  “Um, would you like to stop by my haus one day soon? Like maybe on Sunday afternoon around two o’clock?”

  She couldn’t believe that he wanted to see her again. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure. You could join us for a meal, or just come over for a spell.” He smiled suddenly. “You could meet the goats.”

  Instead of telling him no, she blurted, “You have goats?”

  He grinned. “Oh, jah. They’re small, too. And black and white. And not mean. They’ll follow you around like puppies if you have carrots.”

  “They sound so cute.”

  “They are. My sister Beth is right fond of them. Do you like goats?”

  “I think I do, but I don’t know. I’ve never gotten too close to one.”

  He grinned. “Well, it’s time you did then. Come over to meet the goats.”

  It sounded so nice. And she could finally see the farm she’d been longing to visit for what seemed like forever. “Are you sure your parents won’t mind?”

  “Nah.” He rocked back on his heels. “I’m one of five kids. We always have big gatherings. I promise, one more in the mix won’t make a difference.”

  “Even if I’m English?”

  “I have lots of English friends, Gabby. It will be fine.” He paused. “So, will you?”

  “Well, all right. I mean, I will. Thank you.”

  “Gut.” He looked pleased. “Do you know where I live? It’s the white house with the black metal roof up on the hill near—”

  “I know which one it is,” she interrupted.

  “Okay. Two o’clock?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Thank you, Gabby. I promise, I’ll be better.” He stared at her for a long moment, then turned away and started walking.

  She watched him for a moment, half afraid that the kids on the corner would give him a hard time, but beyond looking at him for a minute, they didn’t say a thing.

  She wondered why.

  Walking inside, her mother was almost done putting away the groceries. “Want to tell me what is going on with you and that Amish boy?”

  “Not especially. There’s nothing to say.”

  “You two were alone in here. The lights weren’t even on.”

  “Mom, I’m eighteen. Don’t start acting like I’m about to get caught making out on the couch. And you know why we were inside. We can’t hang out on the stoop.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” She nibbled her bottom lip.

  “And as far as the lights go, I didn’t think about it. Kyle’s used to dark houses, you know?”

  “No. I don’t know about what the Amish are used to. But I’m interested in finding out how you know so much.”

  “I’ll make dinner and tell you what I know.”

  Immediately her mother brightened. “You’ll cook tonight? That sounds great. I was on my feet for eight hours today. I’ll go shower.”

  Once her mother left the room, Gabby opened the refrigerator and cabinets and took stock, then decided to make plain old macaroni and cheese. It was easy, they had all the ingredients, and she’d be able to do some thinking while she put everything together.

  She was going to need to figure out what to tell her mother about Kyle, and figure out why she’d told him that she’d go over to his house on Sunday when everything inside her was telling her to stay away.

  The door opened again. “Gabby? Mom?”

  “I’m in here, Lane,” she called back, thinking that somehow, over the years, she had become the person whom her brother looked for first when he got home.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Mom’s in the shower and I’m getting ready to start cooking dinner.”

  Tossing his gym bag on the ground, he walked to the sink. “Awesome. What are we having?”

  “Mac and cheese and hamburger patties. Sound okay?”

  “Yeah. Sounds great,” he said as he opened the refrigerator door and grabbed a pair of apples.

  Watching him, Gabby wondered again when she and her mother had switched places. She was the one who made sure he got up, had clean laundry, and cooked dinner nine times out of ten.

  She was the one who tried to help him with his homework, listened to him gripe about his teachers and his coach, and helped him make a sign when he’d asked Janice somebody to the homecoming dance his freshman year.

  Their mom? Well, she’d been around, but not completely. It had always been like she had one foot with them and the other foot with all the other places she’d rather be.

  Feeling guilty, Gabby reminded herself that their mother worked hard and always had. She always paid their bills and even tried to give them a little extra spending money from time to time. That counted for a lot.

  After Lane tossed two apple cores in the trash, he watched her form hamburger patties and place them on a plate. “Do you want some help?”

  “I’ve got it. You might as well start your homework.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe later.”

  “Don’t you have a government test tomorrow?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then pull out the study guide and we’ll work on it together.”

  He grinned at her. “You never give up, Gabby. You never take a break.”

  “Sure I do.” But even to her own ears, her protest sounded pretty weak. “I mean, I’m going to start taking more breaks soon,” she added, thinking that was yet another reason why she’d said yes to Kyle.

  Sure, she wanted to spend time with him. Why wouldn’t she? He was really cute and really nice. And then there was his house and the goats. She wanted to see them. Absolutely.

  But she also wanted, no needed, something for herself. Something that didn’t have anything to do with their house, their neighbors, her mother’s absence, or her brother’s needs. She wanted to be just Gabby for a couple of hours.

  Maybe on Sunday afternoon, when she drove up to that big, glistening farm, ate a meal that someone else cooked, and walked around inside a barn filled with black-and-white friendly goats, she could have a little vacation from her life.

  If that happened?

  Well, it would be amazing.

  TEN

  “Andy told me that the old farmer would never actually use that thing,” Logan said. “Unfortunately, he was wrong.”

  Dear Katie,

  I hope this letter finds you well. I’ve gotten settled in Caleb’s house and have been tr
ying to be as useful as I can. Vanessa has said she appreciates my help with the babies and the laundry. I’m hoping that is really the case and not just words. Sometimes I catch her looking at Caleb like they’d rather be alone.

  Maybe he agrees? I don’t know.

  How goes your plans for the bed-and-breakfast? I received a letter from my friend Esther. She said you have hired Harley Lambright to work on the house. That ain’t a surprise. You two always were close.

  The letter continued, meandering about Kentucky, the heat, the babies, and her feelings of confusion about living with Caleb and Vanessa.

  Katie had only been able to read it in sections. Otherwise, she felt herself get too muddled up. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do with her mother’s information.

  Or how to respond.

  Should she remind her mother that Caleb always had worked behind the scenes best? He wasn’t a confrontational sort. Far from it! Even back when they were little, he’d be the one whispering the plans in June’s ear and encouraging her to share them with their parents. Oh, but that used to drive June up the wall.

  But yet, even though they’d never gotten along all that well, she’d still done what he’d asked.

  Now Katie had a feeling that he was doing the same thing with Vanessa. Here it seemed that their mother was yet again playing along, like she didn’t know who was the instigator.

  For some reason that really bugged Katie. Wasn’t it time for everyone to finally be honest with each other?

  She supposed she wasn’t one to judge. Here she was, doing the same thing she’d always done. Pretend to herself that nothing was all that different from how it used to be.

  But so much was.

  Especially the way she and Harley weren’t getting along. Again.

  This was her fault, however. While she’d been talking with Kyle about his feelings for Gabby, Harley had dragged out more debris from her house. Then he’d called for his brother, and they’d left. All without a word to her.

  She’d been stunned. Then hurt. Then angry. Then accepting. Because he’d been right to leave without another word to her. She’d blamed him for things that weren’t his fault and then had pouted in the room they’d been working in, forcing him to work in another section of the house. Then she’d talked with Kyle for way too long. Even though she felt the conversation was important, Kyle was there to work, not converse with her.