“I feel...so...so...stupid!” Violet sobbed.
“Stupid? Never,” Delia said, and pulled back, looking into Violet’s blotchy, teary face. “Do you hear me? You are not stupid. You are now wiser. There is a difference.”
The boys stared at her in uncomfortable silence, and Delia turned her attention back to Violet.
“What happened?” she asked gently.
“He said he’d take me for a drive,” she hiccuped. “And then he stopped by the creek, and I knew why he’d done it then. I’d wanted to get a burger, but he said this was better. And I said I only wanted to talk, and he said that was okay, but I didn’t like being out there in the dark alone, and I knew I’d messed up then—”
A sound close to a growl came out of Elias’s throat, and Delia cast him an annoyed look. Now was not the time!
“And then?” she asked softly.
“Then we talked, and he told me about his school and all that, and it didn’t sound as free and fun as I thought it would be, and it sounded kind of scary, actually. And he had cigarettes and he wanted me to try one, and I didn’t like the smell...”
The story tumbled out of her—a tale as old as time. A more experienced boy and a naive girl. Liam hadn’t crossed any lines, but he’d tried to impress her with his Englisher life and his bad habits. He’d tried to look mature and tough, and all he’d succeeded in doing was scaring the poor girl.
“And then Ezekiel and Aaron and Thomas and Moses showed up,” she said, her voice wavering. “And they said my daet was so mad, and I’d better get into the buggy so I could go home.”
“What did Liam do?” Delia asked.
“He said I could stay with him if I wanted,” she said. “And I said I’d better go home, so he said okay. But I was so glad to see them come to fetch me! I’ve never been so glad to see a pack of stupid boys in my life!”
“Stupid boys?” Moses said. “We’re not stupid! We rescued you!”
Violet cast the boy an apologetic look. “Yah, you did. Thanks, Moses.”
Moses straightened his shoulders, and if he could have grown two inches right there, he would have. Ezekiel and Thomas came inside then, kicking off their boots and tossing their hats onto the pegs on the wall.
“You know, I didn’t like the idea of having four brothers when I thought our parents were courting,” Violet said, “but I can see how you all would come in handy.”
The boys rolled their eyes, but Delia could tell that Violet’s comment had pleased them.
“We always kinda wanted a sister,” Aaron said in a soft voice.
And Delia had always wanted a daughter to add to her family, but Gott hadn’t given her that little girl she’d longed for. Sometimes they had to trust Gott to know better.
“So long as that sister didn’t get us into all kind of trouble,” Thomas added with a laugh.
Delia gave Violet a squeeze. The boys were only teasing, and she didn’t want Violet’s feelings to get hurt.
“Sweetie, I think you learned something tonight,” Delia said. “You aren’t quite as grown-up as you thought, are you?”
“I don’t think I am,” Violet said, and her lips trembled.
“That Liam kid is some piece of work,” Thomas said as he came into the kitchen. “Someone’s got to talk to his grandparents. Taking off with a girl three years younger! Who does that? He scared her pretty badly, too!”
“I’ll talk to them,” Ezekiel muttered.
“You will not!” Delia said, raising her voice. “There are two adults in this room, and Violet’s father to boot! If Elias doesn’t have the time to talk to them and wants me to, then I will do it. But you are kinner in this home, and you will remember that. It is up to Elias to deal with things as he sees fit!”
Ezekiel cast his mother a rueful look, but she refused to back down. Her boys were not going to try to fix this one.
“Violet,” Delia whispered. “I knew you’d make the right choice.”
“Yah?” Violet wiped her eyes. “What made you so sure?”
“You have a good heart,” she replied. “I saw it before, and I see it now. I know this was a scary night, and a lot happened, but I want you to remember that you made the right choice. Okay? And you came back.”
Violet nodded. “Danke, Delia.”
Delia looked over at Elias, who stood to the side, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He looked filled to the brim with emotion with nowhere to vent it.
“Right now, your daet needs one thing from you,” Delia said.
“What?” Violet looked over at him, and Delia could see the nervousness in the girl. She knew she’d caused trouble, and she’d get a lengthy lecture later on.
“He needs a hug,” Delia said.
Violet walked over to where her father stood and she looked up at him, her arms limp at her sides.
“I’m sorry, Daet—” she whispered, and her chin trembled.
Elias reached out, wrapped his arms around his daughter and crushed her against his chest. Tears shone in his eyes. No, Violet was not half so grown-up as she’d thought. Delia was just glad she was back safely.
Elias released his daughter, and Violet heaved a sigh. Her tears seemed to be spent now, and she and Delia exchanged a tender look. How would he have dealt with this alone? If it weren’t for Delia, he would have driven out there himself, demanded his daughter get into his buggy, and he’d have torn a strip off that Liam kid that he’d never forget. He would have reacted in anger, and he would likely have affected his relationship with his daughter for the rest of his life.
But he hadn’t. Thanks to Delia...
