“Nee! I was fine until a few minutes ago.” Katie waited until she was sure nothing else would come up. Washing her hands and rinsing her mouth, she opened the bathroom door.
Mary pressed her hand to Katie’s forehead. “Hmmm. You’re sweaty, but not feverish. I’ll get you a glass of water, and you sip on that, so you don’t get sick again.” In a few minutes, she was back, placing the water next to Katie’s bed. “You may need to delay your trip tomorrow.”
“Ooooh, nee, Mam! I’ve already made plans with Libby! I’m already feeling better. Maybe it was just stress. Who knows?”
“We’ll see. If you’re okay in the morning, you can go. Otherwise...”
Katie leaned back against her pillow, giving a long sigh. Stupid! I didn’t know that mud would turn so nasty! Once her mam had left her room, she rolled to her side, closed her eyes and prayed that her stomach would behave. She knew no more until she stretched, alerted by the gentle, growing light in her bedroom.
Opening her eyes, Katie remembered the night before. Reaching down, she found the water glass, still standing there full. She took several fast sips and waited. Nothing happened. Throwing the sheet and quilt back, she sat up. Again, nothing happened. Getting dressed, she continued to feel no return of the awful nausea. In the kitchen, she inhaled the smoky smell of bacon frying on the stove. Nothing. Gut. “Mam, it looks like I’m okay. I’m going to eat breakfast and wait for Libby. We should be back sometime this afternoon. And I’ll let you know what kind of people operate that store.”
“Well...okay.” Mary’s voice was doubtful. “Just take water and the thermos of iced-tea with you. It’s still warm out, even though fall is coming.”
Katie took several bottled drinks and made sure she had sufficient money for lunch, as well as her planned purchases. After eating breakfast, she answered the door when Libby knocked. “I’m ready! I brought extra water and a thermos full of iced-tea so we can stay cool, just in case it gets hot!”
“Gut idea! Did you hear?” Libby kept her eyes on Katie’s face as she got ready to give her the news she had.
“Did I hear about what? Nee, what happened?”
“Someone put mud all over the Yoder’s barn last night. Deacon Yoder saw it when he went to go take care of their livestock.” Again, Libby kept her wide-eyed gaze on Katie’s face, looking for any changes.
Katie was still for just a millisecond too long. Then, her lower jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. “Nee! Does he know who?”
Libby couldn’t respond for a few seconds. “No! This happened last night! When we were all in bed, sleeping. When I heard, I wondered if they were okay.”
Katie realized that she had asked the wrong question. “Oh! Well, ja, I was thinking of that, too. But, unless it was Caleb playing some kind of crazy joke on his dat...”
“Katie, you could write a book! Your imagination is wild!” Their departure was delayed when Libby had to explain to the Millers what had been discovered at the Yoder’s home. “Ja, they’re okay, just angry.”
“I wonder...” Katie’s brow was wrinkled as she thought, wondering if it was okay to say.
“What?” David looked closely at Katie.
“Well, you remember that sign that was painted on the wall a few months ago? Is this connected to that?”
David paled. “I hope not! I’m praying that it was just kids having a prank.”
“But, David, we all know, even the kinder, that to be out that late and playing jokes is dangerous and just wrong.” Mary had crossed her arms around her spare middle as she thought. “I hope we find whoever is responsible so they can be punished but gut.”
A small cut among a thousand small cuts. Eventually, the bleeding would become too much. But for now, Katie wanted to pretend to be normal. Innocent. She said, “Uh, Libby, we should go. The earlier we’re back, the better.”
“Ja, I agree. Let’s put the cooler in the back of my buggy. You brought money for lunch, right?”
“Ja. I’d like to have some pizza! Or pasta.”
As the girls traveled to New Wilmington, they made sure to keep their conversation on “safe” topics.
“Did you and Amos get back together?”
“Ja, we did! Only, we can’t see each other as much as we used to. He’s getting so many carpentry orders. So, it’s only on weekends. And I refuse to go to sings.”
“Still? That should be over by now. I haven’t heard anything bad about you!”
“Mmmm. Maybe. But the last time I went, nobody wanted to sit with me.”
“I’m sorry.” Libby reached out her free hand and caressed Katie’s arm. “But I like you. And you still have friends!” As she was reassuring Katie, she felt just as if she was coddling a fragile personality. Before her reassurances became over the top, she stopped speaking and allowed her gaze to roam over the trees. “I love the scenery today. Late summer is always the prettiest season.”
“Ja, it is.” Katie had liked the reassurances that Libby was giving her. She followed Libby’s lead and commented on the colors of the leaves. “Isn’t it a bit early to see the leaves changing color?”
“Late August? Almost September? Nee. Now, if we were in southern New Mexico, like my Mennonite cousins, they won’t see the leaves changing until, oh, October at the earliest.” Libby’s voice was airy as she spoke. She knew she would surprise Katie with that.
“What? Nee! By then, we’ve almost always had at least one snowfall.”
“Seriously! They live south of a city called Albuquerque. It’s hot for about nine months of the year out there. The last time I was there, in August, it was still in the nineties. I was so grateful that they are allowed to have air conditioning!”
Their trip to New Wilmington continued in this way the entire ten miles down. After they found the fabric store, they made their purchases. Both girls reveled in the fact that they were anonymous Amish girls from another community.
“We haven’t seen you two here before. Where do you hail from?”
“Big Valley.”
“Oh? Why’d you want to come so far out of your way?”
Katie looked at Libby. “Well, we just wanted to try a new place. I’m getting more and more orders from the English, and they like patterned fabrics and lace. Not all the Amish shops in our area carry those items. Plus, I love your selection of threads!”
“Well, denki. Any time you want to come back here, just do so. We try to make sure we stock solid colored and patterned fabrics so our quilters can meet the desires of their customers.”
Katie grinned. “Ja, I’ll be sure to be back.”
Libby nodded, feeling grateful that Katie hadn’t brought up the English person’s threats and orders. “Are you ready for lunch? I’m starving!”
As the girls ate, they noticed that they were getting glances from other Amish who were also in the small diner. Libby poked Katie’s arm. “Look. We’re getting stares.”
“I noticed. Let’s just ignore them.”
Libby was stunned at this response. “Katie! Normally, you like attention! What’s changed?”
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe all that’s happening back home?”
A young Amishman with a beard approached them. “Ladies, you’re new here. We don’t recognize you. Could you be from the Kish valley?”
Katie stopped chewing her lunch, which had just taken on the consistency of wet sawdust. With difficulty, she swallowed. Her glance met Libby’s.
“Ja, we are. Why?” Libby’s smooth brow was crinkled in confusion.
“We’ve heard tell of that English person who’s supposedly threatening your community.” He placed just a little more stress on “supposedly.”
Katie decided to speak. “Ja. We still don’t know who it is. Even the mayor has gotten involved. She’s working with our elders so they can figure out who it is and so we can get back to normal lives.”
The man knelt by their table. “Well, see, that’s where I get confused. Ja, we stay separate from th
e English, and for gut reason. I worked among them before I was baptized. I never found them to be hateful to us. It seems to me that you may have encountered one and had a misunderstanding with them. Have your elders thought of attending a meeting of their leaders so they can get to the bottom of this mess?”
Libby and Katie looked at each other. Libby’s eyes were wide in shock. “Uh, nee, I don’t think so. When we get back, I’ll ask my dat to suggest that to the bishop.”
“That’s gut. Unless...”
Katie choked on her lemonade. Drawing in a labored breath, she asked, “Unless what?”
“Unless someone made up an ugly lie. That’s always possible. You might also want to ask the elders about that possibility.”
Katie coughed again, partially because she still felt the need and partially so she could gain a few seconds to think. “Well, that’s also been discussed. We know we are sick and tired of not being able to go around freely, shop in English stores or even spend the evenings as we used to do.”
Libby nodded in agreement. “Ja. Denki for your thoughts and suggestions. We need to get back home, so we need to finish our dinners.”
“I hope and pray that you’ll figure out what’s happening.” The Amishman returned to his table, joining his friends.
Katie was quiet until they got back into Libby’s buggy. She looked back to ensure that all of their bags were still there.
“That was strange.” Libby’s hands were shaking as she took the reins.
“Ja, it was. Do you want me to drive?”
“Nee, I’m okay. What did you think of what he said?”
Katie was ready to let loose. “I can see where he thought we should check with the elders about what else can be done about our situation. But he was completely out of line when he said...”
“What? When he...?” Libby was confused.
“Shhh! He’s right over there!”
“We can speak freely. Finish your thought.” Libby wasn’t afraid of Katie’s forceful personality anymore. She just wanted an end to the whole sorry mess.
“Okay, then. When he said that he thought what we’re experiencing was a lie, he was out of line.”
“Maybe so. But I do like the idea of talking to the elders to see if they have asked the mayor about talking to other leaders.”
“Ja, that could help.” Katie lapsed into silence. She wondered why nobody had mentioned the letter. Maybe it had been lost. If so, maybe she had another chance to make all of this disappear.
“Katie? What do you think about what happened to the Yoders?”
Katie had to think back so she could remember. “Oh! You mean how their house was smeared with mud?”
Libby looked carefully at Katie through her side vision. That’s odd. How did she know the mud was smeared? Yet, she said it was the house when it was the barn. “Well, ja. Only, it was the barn, not the house.”
“Oh! They must be scared.”
“Ja, they must. I can only imagine what went on in their kitchen this morning. I hope they let Bishop Lapp know.”
“Ja, me, too. This is getting too...I don’t know, close?”
“Ja. It is.” Now, it was Libby who was silent.
Katie felt the silence stretching like a bungee cord about to snap. But she couldn’t think of anything to say. Finally, just as they turned the corner toward her parents’ house, she sighed. “Denki, for today.”
Libby looked up. “Denki? I mean, denki back I guess.”
“I’m just glad to have you as a friend,” Katie said. She swiped her palms over her lap. “No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”
“You’ve gotten really serious all of a sudden.”
Katie smiled, but the expression was fragile. “Nee. Just thinking.”
“Did something happen to you in Goshen?”
Katie tensed up. “Like what?”
“I don’t know. You just seem sad sometimes. And you make up those stories. They’re...frightening...”
“I’m finished with that.”
“Telling stories?” Libby was relieved.
But then Katie said, “Being sad.”
Libby stopped the horses in front of Katie’s house. “Why are you sad?”
“My mam and dat don’t trust me, and maybe they shouldn’t.” Katie sighed.
Libby was shocked. They all suspected Katie of lying and starting the rumors, but this sounded less like the gleeful crowing of someone who had pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes and more a confession. And a sad one.
“It doesn’t matter.” Katie jumped down. “I’ll get my bags.”
Libby followed. “Maybe we should ask our dats to talk to the elders about getting the city’s English leaders to speak to the community—their community?”
Katie nodded. “Ja, I will talk to my dat tonight. Will I see you this weekend?”
“I don’t know. We’ll see.” After helping Katie take her bags into the quilting room, she stood with Katie. “Is that your new quilt?” she asked, pointing at a pile of partially sewn quilt squares on the table.
“Ja,” Katie said. “I’m really enjoying this project. I hope I have enough time to finish it.”
“Are you far behind schedule?” Libby asked sympathetically.
“Something like that.”
A pair of fabric sheers lay on top of the neatly folded fabric stack. “Shouldn’t you put those away?” Libby asked. Her mam lost her mind if she left things like that lying around.
Katie said, “I thought I might need them. Don’t you have to be getting home?”
“Ja, I said I’d be home mid-afternoon.” Libby was torn between wanting to stay with Katie and the discomfort she felt in the other girl’s presence. Something was tearing Katie up. Maybe it was her own guilt, and if so, Libby shouldn’t feel bad about it. But if there was something wrong with her, mentally, it was getting worse.
Katie said, “Go ahead. I know you have work to do.”
Libby hurried outside and drove the horses quickly to her house. She was caught between fear and concern. The mixed feelings churned through her as she finished unhitching the horses, watering them, and sending them to run in the pasture.
When Libby got to the house, her mam was peeling potatoes in the kitchen. She looked up as Libby walked in. Noting her daughter’s troubled expression, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chapter 5
“Mam, I think something is going on with Katie.”
Deb’s brows furrowed. She handed a cup of iced-tea to Libby, who accepted it eagerly, and then asked, “Did she do something to threaten you?”
“Nee. I’m not scared of her. I’m worried about her. I know what we think she’s done, but...I think she really does need help.”
“Do you have anything you can report to the elders?”
“Maybe. After we bought what we needed at the Amish fabric place, we stopped at an Amish diner on our way back home. While we were eating, a man came to our table. He’s married. He recognized us as being visitors to their community, and he asked us why we went so far away from here to shop. We said nothing about the English troubles. Then, he asked us if we were from the Kish valley. He brought up the troubles we’re having when we said we were. He did offer one gut suggestion. He said that maybe our elders should ask the English mayor if she could talk to their other community leaders about finding an end to what’s been going on.”
“Ask your dat to talk to the deacon. Oh, and did you tell Katie about what happened to the Yoders?”
“Ja. It was really strange. She said it was their house that got smeared with mud. I said nothing of what was done with the mud. And it was their barn, ja?”
“Ja, it was. Daughter, I know you want to see the best in her, but I must ask you to be more cautious. It looks like Katie is responsible for everything.”
“I know. She practically confessed in the buggy.”
“What did she say?”
“Just that her parents didn’t trust her and maybe the
y shouldn’t.”
“Brazen, isn’t she?” Deb said sharply.
“She wasn’t showing off. She seemed sad more than anything.”
“Well...that is strange. It may simply be a part of the show she is putting on for us. Either way, we are going to need you to spend more time in her company.” Deb’s voice was soft but firm.
“I know. I’m just scared. Of her. For her. I don’t know. It’s all just hard. Maybe it would be better if I left her alone.”
Deb dropped into the chair right next to Libby. Running her hand over Libby’s head covering and neat bun, she soothed her. “I know, Libby. But...if she does need help, maybe we can do something for her.”
“We need to bring this to an end. She’s going to realize soon that she’s being isolated.”
“Ja, you, Amos and one or two other young women will be the only ones spending any time with her.”
“Have the other girls been told to do so?”
“Yes, they have. Maybe all of you could meet here in private, so you can discuss things and how you feel.”
“I’ll ask them. It’s a good idea. What’s for supper?”
“We weren’t sure what time you’d be home because of the distance between Big Valley and New Wilmington. So, we are going to the Amish restaurant for supper. As soon as Dat gets in.”
“Family time. I will be ready!” At a knock on the front door, Libby sighed.
“Let me. Go into your studio.” Deb waited until she heard the door close. “Ja? Oh, Amos, Eli! Come in!” Deb hurried them into the house.
“Has Libby made it home yet? We need to speak with her.”
“Let me get her.” Deb knocked on Libby’s studio door. “You have company, daughter. It’s not Katie!”
Sitting around the table, the three friends compared notes. Eli’s gaze narrowed as he spoke. “So, she knew the mud was ‘smeared,’ not thrown. Okay. But she said it was the house, not the barn.” He wrote quickly.
“Libby, it seems that Amishman sure knows a lot about what’s happening here. Did he give you his name?”
“Nee, and I wouldn’t have asked. I know he thought he was trying to help. I just wonder if he’s been through here.”
Amish Love and Healing Page 4