Rebecca took her bucket with its measly supply of water and ran out the other door.

He was hot on her heels, and before she reached the outside hose, he lifted his bucket and doused her.

She squealed as the cold water soaked her hair and splashed down her face. After a hot day in the sun, it was quite a shock.

He dropped his bucket and stood with his hands on his hips, laughing. "Your kapp is all crooked, kid."

She put her hand to her head and straightened the kapp as best she could. "Not fair. I didn't even get your hair wet. You're too tall."

"Here," he said. He pointed to her bucket and leaned over so she could reach the top of his head.

She emptied her inch of water onto his hair.

"Feel better?" he said.

"Not yet." She turned on the hose and filled her bucket. She motioned for him to kneel down then emptied it over him.

He closed his eyes as the water hit him, and he shook his head back and forth like a dog. She protested as water flew everywhere.

"Hey, you started it," he said as he stood up and smoothed his hair back.

"And I finished it," she said. "I should tell you right now, I never surrender."

"Then I surrender to you," he said gallantly. Rebecca never grew tired of that boyish grin.

She stood staring at him and wondered what it would feel like if he kissed her. For a fleeting moment, she wished she knew.

Levi suddenly straightened and fixed his eyes behind her.

"Rebecca."

Rebecca knew who belonged to that voice before she even turned around. "Marvin," she said with a guilty smile, although she wasn't sure what she felt guilty about. Even Marvin couldn't think a water fight was wicked, could he?

Marvin worked very hard to keep his gaze off Levi as sweat beaded on his upper lip. "I came to see if you would like a ride to the gathering tonight."

"Oh, well..." Rebecca smoothed her unruly hair and adjusted her kapp for a second time. "Denki very kindly for the invitation, Marvin, but I had not planned on attending the gathering. The floors need mopping."

Marvin gave a slight nod and kept his eyes on Rebecca. She would have to make the introduction. There was nothing else to be done.

"Marvin, this is Levi. We have been painting the barn today."

Marvin finally looked at Levi straight on, and his frown deepened. "Your fater has refused my help several times," he said. "Or I would have come to paint for you."

Rebecca didn't know what to say. She couldn't very well explain the circumstances to Marvin. She would simply have to let him draw his own conclusions.

Levi stood stone-faced and made no attempt to smooth over the awkward situation. Rebecca had the insane urge to run into the house screaming. Instead she held her ground and tried to dismiss Marvin as gently as possible.

"Thank you for coming over, Marvin. You are very thoughtful. I will come to a singing another time, Lord willing."

Marvin took two steps back then hesitated. "I will see you at gmay then, on Sunday?"

"Jah, to be sure."

He took one last look at Levi before leaving. He reached the lane in a few long strides. She watched him climb into his buggy before turning to Levi. He stood like a statue staring at the spot where Marvin had been.

She grinned mischievously. "That is Marvin Yutzy. He is interested."

Levi didn't even smile. "Oh, yeah. He's very interested." He looked at the bucket in his hand as if he had no idea how it got there. "I've got to go."

He dropped the bucket and walked away from her.

She couldn't have been more surprised if he had picked up a rock and thrown it at her kitchen window. She followed him.

"Levi, I'm sorry. Are you mad at me?"

He stopped dead in his tracks. "Mad at you? Why would I be mad at you?"

"Then are you afraid Fater will get angry?"

"About what?" Levi said, frowning and looking at the ground.

"You and me, playing in the water."

"Why would he be mad about that?"

Rebecca stomped her foot in frustration. "Quit answering my questions with more questions."

"I'm sorry, kid. I could never be mad at you." His lips twitched into an awkward, glum half-smile. "Except when you insist on riding roller coasters." He faked cheerfulness with a wider smile. "I have to go, that's all."

She stepped in his path of retreat. "No, it is not. Do not lie to me, you big baby."

Levi laughed in spite of himself. "Big baby? That's the cruelest nickname I ever heard."

She raised her eyebrows in disbelief as the truth stunned her. "You are jealous of Marvin."

"Jealous? Of course I'm jealous."

"Why? I do not like him."

"I'm jealous because he's part of your world. And I'm not." He ran his fingers through his hair and stared into the distance. "I don't belong, Rebecca, and every time I step onto this farm, I am reminded of how out of place I am."

Emptiness filled Rebecca's stomach. This little game she and Levi played-and it was a game-could only end with two losers. At some point, they would be forced to face reality. He would return to his world, his life, his girlfriends, and she would end up marrying not handsome Levi, but a boy like Marvin Yutzy. Boring, steady, dependable, and Amish. The pit in her stomach expanded to fill her soul.

"We are from two impossibly different places, Levi," she said, keeping the emotion from her voice. "It is no use pretending that things are not really as they are. We cannot let what we want cloud the wisdom of what must be."

"I know, but I wish you didn't have to be so practical about it." He frowned then softened his expression. "So, you want to be with me."

"I never said that."

"We cannot let what we want cloud what must be. I heard it. What we want."

"That is the point, Levi. It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," he said. "More than you'll ever know." He tapped his hand against his leg and stared vacantly at the barn. "So, even though our relationship defies wisdom, can I see you on Friday night? We've still got that skiing date." A grin tugged at his lips.

Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to avoid reality as much as she did. "Jah, you bet."

"Gute. Wisdom is so overrated."

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Levi opened the car door for Rebecca, and she slipped into the front seat. He smiled to himself as he walked around to the other side of the car. He liked the dates where he didn't have to peel Rebecca off the sidewalk or half carry her to the car or hold her head while she threw up all over the parking lot. Maybe after a day like this, he could convince her to abandon the skiing scheme once and for all.

Rebecca carefully held her newly purchased hosta, making sure it didn't sway with the movements of the car as Levi pulled out of the parking lot. Out of the corners of his eyes, Levi watched Rebecca softly stroke each leaf of the small plant.

"Someday, I'm going to have a whole patch of hostas under that maple tree in our backyard," she said. She looked at him, her eyes shining. "Thank you for buying it for me. I hope you know I don't expect gifts."

"I don't mind bribing you to go out with me."

"Oh, no. I have never thought that-"

Levi reached over and stroked her hand. "How could I not buy it for you? I haven't seen you so excited since the first time I brought you a rose."

Rebecca shook her head and grinned. "You know too many of my secrets."

"What? Like the fact that you love plants and dirt and you have a green thumb? That's no secret."

"To everyone else it is."

Levi felt that familiar stab of indignation on Rebecca's behalf. Her own family depended on her, took advantage of her, and they didn't even know her. "I'm glad you trust me with at least some of your secrets."

She studied his face. "I do. I trust you, mostly."

"Mostly? That's better than sometimes, anyway."

"I would love to see the gardens in the spring. I am sure they are beautiful with the flowering trees," Rebecca said, her eyes back on her hosta. "But the turning trees are so brilliant at the end of the season... like they are on fire."

"I'm glad you liked it," he said.

"Did you like it?"

"It was the best," he said. "I spent a whole three hours watching you smile. Much better than watching the blood drain from your face with that half-crazed look in your eyes."

Rebecca pinned him with a stern eye. "Do not believe for one minute that I don't know what you're up to. Since the roller coasters, we have not done one even slightly terrifying thing."

"That's your opinion, kid. Petunias scare the living daylights out of me."

"In the last three weeks, you have taken me to two greenhouses, an arboretum, and a city park," she said.

"That dog almost bit me at the park. Rabies could be scary."

"Dottie Mae would have been bored stiff."

"So, what besides skiing is left on that psycho list of yours?"

"Driving," Rebecca said.

"I can teach you to drive a golf ball," Levi said. "It's safe. Unless you hit me in the head and kill me."

"Could you teach me to drive your car?"

Levi shook his head. "Lucky for me, it's illegal without a license."

"You said your dad used to take you on the back roads before you got your license. I don't need to drive to Milwaukee. I just want to try it out."

Levi took a deep breath. He knew her well enough to understand that she wouldn't give up until he relented. How hard could it be on the old haul road behind the DeGroots' pasture? A straight, wide dirt road that no one ever used was the perfect place for a driving lesson.

"Okay," he said, "but I pick the place and the speed and the distance. Once we're done, you can't tell me it wasn't good enough."

"Agreed," she said, smiling in satisfaction.

After the hour's drive back to Patton, Levi slowly made his way down the main road, lecturing Rebecca on the finer points of vehicle operation. By the time they got to DeGroots' pasture, he hoped he had her scared to death. A car careening out of control was a bit different than an errant skateboard.

He turned off the car and let Rebecca sit in the driver's seat. He showed her how to start the car then ran around to the passenger seat. "Ease off the brake slowly and let the car roll forward."

As the car moved, Rebecca caught her breath and pressed hard on the brake. They both lurched forward.

"Sorry," she squeaked.

She slowly took her foot from the brake and slammed on it again when the car rolled forward.

"Breathe, kid," Levi said. "We'll crash if you pass out."

For the third time, Rebecca let the car roll forward and abruptly applied the brake.

Levi exhaled. "Okay, you've driven a car. I think that's good enough."

"No, I have the feel of it now."

"One more time, kid."