The Proposal at Siesta Key Part 2

She relaxed. That was probably correct. She'd known the Kaufmann family for years. Frank Kaufmann had supervised much of the inn's renovations when she'd taken over the place. Just a few months ago, she'd become better acquainted with everyone in the family when one of her guests had fallen in love with their youngest son, Zack. "I bet it was the Kaufmanns. They're New Order Amish, so they have a phone. I'll give them a call and ask someone to let your parents know you're having some problems."

"Please don't."

"I think it would be best."

"It isn't. My brother said he wasn't going to stay there too long. Besides, there's nothing they can do except listen to me whine about the pain I'm experiencing."

"What is hurting you?"

"My knee." Running a hand over his face, he mumbled, "where it was amputated."

"I've never heard you complain about that before," she said slowly. "Is this pain something new?"

He hesitated before nodding. "Jah."

"What can I do? Do you need a pain reliever? Ice?"

Hazel eyes met hers, full of grat.i.tude and relief. "Yes to both."

After ascertaining whether he wanted some Advil or some medicine of his own, she trotted off to the kitchen. "I'll be right back."

"I'll be here." He gave her a halfhearted smile.

By the time she returned with a Ziploc bag filled with ice and two tablets, he had taken off his prosthesis, placed his leg on the couch, and rolled up his pant leg.

She'd never seen an amputated limb before. When she saw the mottled, scarred skin that the surgeons had carefully reworked around his knee, she gasped. Not from the scars, but from the red lines extending from the area. At the very least, he had a bad infection and needed antibiotics.

"I know," he said around a grimace. "This leg of mine-what's left of it-it's not a pretty sight. Ain't so?"

"Actually, I was thinking that it looks very painful."

He shrugged. "Tonight it is."

"Here, then." She handed him a gla.s.s of water and two pills. After he'd swallowed them, she handed him the bag of ice. "How about a kitchen towel or something to put on your skin?"

"That would be gut. Danke."

Ten minutes later, her guest was lying back against one of the armrests with his eyes closed. She walked to the kitchen in order to give him some privacy, but after a few minutes, she knew that was the wrong place to be. She was too antsy to sit in the back of the house.

All she could think was that his family was going to be concerned-and that was putting it mildly. Usually she tried not to interfere with her guests' wishes, even when they were sick or injured. But this time she knew she was going to have to make an exception. Michael needed medical attention, and it was becoming obvious that he had not been letting on just how badly he was hurting. She was going to have to tell his family everything she'd observed. In order not to disturb him in the front room, she walked out the back door and circled around the house to the front, planning to sit on the steps and wait for their return.

As minutes pa.s.sed, she watched her porch lights and the solar-powered landscaping lanterns slowly illuminate like the fireflies she'd chased when she'd been a young Amish girl in Ohio. Several years ago, after a failed engagement, she'd decided not to join her order. Instead, she joined the local Mennonite church in Pinecraft and adopted their ways. Now, as she sat in the darkness and waited for the Knoxx Family to return, she closed her eyes and prayed for guidance. The air was fragrant with the scent of orange blossoms and lilacs. Lavender and roses. The scent was heavenly.

As she heard the laughter of children in the distance and the sound of the traffic on Beneva Rd., she found herself looking to the right, at another inn.

Where Eric Wagler stayed when he was in town.

Three months ago, she'd run into Eric by chance at the library and soon discovered that he'd come to Sarasota to claim owners.h.i.+p of her bed-and-breakfast. How it came to be his was a complicated story and they'd left things unresolved. All she knew was that she'd agreed to run the Orange Blossom Inn for another couple of months while he decided what he wanted to do.

Her girlfriends thought it was foolish to be so agreeable, and she supposed she didn't blame them. Part of her ached to rage at Eric, to cry and whine and remind him that she'd put her heart and soul into the bed-and-breakfast while he'd been occupied with his own life. But time had also taught her that crying and whining didn't solve anything. Most of the time, it was better to simply try to see the other person's point of view.

This was hard, because at the moment, Eric held all the cards. She was reduced to relying on his good nature. However, she kept hoping and praying that something would work out between them. But he was supposed to return to Pinecraft by the end of the week, and this time he was planning to take a room at her inn.

And she was going to have to let him.

Happy chatter interrupted her thoughts, and when she saw the Knoxx foursome approaching, she got to her feet. "h.e.l.lo!" she called out.

They grinned and returned her greeting, but as they got closer, it was obvious that they saw her worry. Mrs. Knoxx's smile vanished. "Beverly, is there anything wrong?"

She descended the last three steps to greet them. "I'm not sure, but I'm afraid there might be. Michael is resting on the couch just off the entryway."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to alarm you, but he seems to be in a lot of pain. His, uh, knee is giving him trouble. Well, the part that attaches to his prosthesis. We put some ice on it, and I gave him two pain relievers from my kitchen cabinet."

His parents exchanged worried looks.

"Thank you for looking after him, Beverly," Mrs. Knoxx said.

"It was no trouble and I wasn't waiting out here for thanks. Instead, I was hoping to give you some warning about how badly he was feeling."

"Danke," Mrs. Knoxx said. "Even when he was young Michael never did like to ask for help. It seems that some things never change." Looking determined, she strode inside, Evan and Molly on her heels.

When only she and Mr. Knoxx remained, he looked at Beverly with solemn eyes. "There's a chance we're going to have to get him to the hospital tonight. Would you help us arrange transportation?"

"Of course. One of my neighbors drives for the Amish. I'm sure he wouldn't mind taking you if that's what you decide you need to do."

"I hope I am wrong, but unfortunately his doctors have told me that he might need surgery again. That time might have come."

When the door opened and Mrs. Knoxx peeked her head out, Beverly realized that he was probably right. The expression on Mrs. Knoxx's face told Beverly everything she needed to know.

To the rest of the world, Michael Knoxx might be a symbol of invincibility, capable of withstanding pain and all kinds of human frailties. Beverly now knew better, however. He put on a good face, but at the moment, he was just as susceptible to aches and pains as anyone. And actually, what he really needed now was someone who didn't see him as anything but a man in great need of a friendly, helping hand.

Thank the good Lord that she still had two good ones.

CHAPTER 4.

Twelve hours later, Penny was still feeling the sting of Michael Knoxx's cool brush-off.

Oh, she hadn't expected him to want to chat with her for hours. Or even be especially excited to learn that he had a new fan in Sarasota.

Actually, if she was being completely honest, she'd never imagined that a man like him would feel like paying much attention to her anyway. After all, he was Michael Knoxx, the most famous member of the Knoxx Family, a mighty renowned group.

She, on the other hand? Well, she was Penny Troyer. A girl who was a bit mousey, a whole lot of an introvert, and until very recently, practically a prisoner in her own home.

But even taking all that into consideration, she had a.s.sumed he would have recognized her sincere attempt to help him, accepting that even girls in small towns like Pinecraft were capable of offering a helping hand.

At the very least, she'd thought he would be kind.

He definitely had not been.

Instead of thanking her for her stopping to ask about him, he'd hardly looked her in the eye. Instead of thanking her for her praises about his speech, he'd looked irritated. His tone of voice had been clipped and cool, nothing at all like the smooth, almost melodic words she'd heard floating down from the loudspeaker in the pavilion.

In short, meeting him had been a disappointment. And it would have been even if it hadn't been obvious that he'd thought she was some kind of creepy, adoring fan.

And while she had been a fan-and okay, for a few minutes, she'd been rather close to adoring him-she had never been creepy. Besides, pretty much every girl there had been gazing at him the same way she had.

Surely there was nothing wrong with admiring a man who was fit and healthy and sported dark blond hair and striking hazel eyes with golden flecks?

No doubt even the Lord himself would have admired His handiwork in Michael Knoxx.

Still, she had not stopped for him because she'd thought he was special. Instead, she'd been worried about him. He had looked like he was in pain. She'd stopped for him the way she would have for anyone, whether they'd recently been on a stage sharing their incredible story of survival or merely sitting in the audience.

She was still stewing over their brief conversation the next morning after she finished her ch.o.r.es and went into the kitchen to have breakfast with her parents.

As usual, her mother had made a platter of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon accompanied by a big bowl of sliced fruit. It was always delicious and always too much for the three of them. Her mother just couldn't seem to prepare anything for less than four people, and her father still couldn't bear to invite anyone over. Neither seemed able to admit that they'd been a family of three for a long time now.

After they said grace silently, Penny dug in. Once again, her mother's pancakes were light and fluffy and the tropical syrup she made from scratch was the perfect combination of sweet citrus and tang.

"Mamm, everything is wunderbaar," she said, thinking once again that it really was a shame no one else ever got to try her mother's wonderful-gut pancakes.

"Danke. It is gut to see you eating. I'm glad you joined us."

Holding a forkful of sliced oranges, Penny paused. "What do you mean by that? I always enjoy your Sat.u.r.day breakfasts." She was also always home.

Well, except for last night.

"We thought maybe you were going to change your mind about eating breakfast here."

"Why?"

"Because you seem so intent on getting away from us."

If she had been alone, Penny would have closed her eyes and groaned in frustration. Her mother's ability to heap on the guilt was alive and well. "Just because I went to the gathering with friends last night doesn't mean I've changed."

"Did you enjoy yourself?" her father asked with a pointed glare. "Did you like being out among so many strangers?"

Irritation rode up her spine. The way her daed was eyeing her was making her more than a little uneasy. "I did have a good time."

"And how was the Knoxx Family's latest performance? Did you get your fill of staring at the ill.u.s.trious Michael Knoxx?"

Though her cheeks were no doubt turning red, she protested his description. "Daed, it wasn't a performance. You know the Knoxx Family would never describe their testimony like that."

"They sing."

"The daughter does. She sang 'Amazing Grace,' which many people in the audience sang along with. But mainly it was the men talking about their walk with the Lord. And Michael Knoxx told his tale about being stuck alone in a ravine for days."

Her father rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure he told all about his adventure. In detail."

"It was hardly an adventure, Daed. Michael lost part of a leg."

"Jah. I know how he lost his leg. A person would have to be deaf not to hear about it." With a grunt, her father put down his fork. "They use one event that happened to them years ago for their own personal glory."

Penny hated how her father was reducing Michael's story to a mere publicity-seeking stunt. "Did you go to see them last night, too?"

"You know I did not."

"Have you heard them speak before?"

"Of course not. But I have heard accounts about the Knoxx Family and the way they promote themselves."

"If you had heard Michael Knoxx speak for yourself, I think you would feel differently about his message, Daed. At least I certainly hope you would!"

Her mother gasped at her raised voice, just as if Penny had stood up and yelled at them. "Penny, you will show your father respect."

Knowing that protesting would do no good, Penny simply cut another bite of pancake.

"Since we're discussing your behavior, I think I should mention that you came home later than expected," her father continued.

She was now completely miffed. "Nee, I came home earlier than I had thought I would," she corrected. "A lot of people were going to each other's houses to play cards or talk but I decided to come home instead."

Her parents exchanged looks. "Thank goodness you showed that little bit of sense at least," her mother said before taking a fortifying breath. "So, today I thought we would get a head start on some Christmas projects."

"Mamm, it is April."

"Jah, but with so many of your cousins having bopplis, we've got a lot of baby quilts to make."

The unintentional reminder of how the other girls in their extended family were living their lives dissolved the last of Penny's appet.i.te.

And just like that, she knew she was going to have to keep pressing for more freedom and independence. It was becoming obvious that her parents intended to treat her evening out as a one-time thing. Since she'd not even had her rumspringa, Penny knew it was past time.

She was going to need to push a little harder for independence, and do it immediately.

Pus.h.i.+ng her plate away, she said, "Mamm, I enjoy quilting with you, and I want to help you make Christmas presents. But I have other plans for today."

"What is that?" her father asked.

Penny took a breath, prayed for courage, and then blurted, "I'm going to go find a job."

"What?" Her mother gasped for at least the third time that morning. "Why in the world do you need a job? We give you everything you need."