by Molly Jebber
“Ellie, you and I believe this, but most of the Amish do not. I’d keep it to yourself as not to stir up any trouble.” Daed walked beside her.
“I won’t mention it.”
Joel patted the package. “She was kind to give you the present. What will you do with the coverlet? Keep it?”
“I’m not sure.” She would stow it in her room. Maybe she’d give it to him someday. “You two took longer than I thought. I was glad, as it gave me more time with Becca.”
“We went in the hardware store on our way to the quilt shop. I found the saw blades I needed and a perfect shovel for my daed.”
Ellie put her hand over her eyes to block out the sun. “Clara Bee’s Boarding House is across the road and down about three buildings.”
Joel skirted past a huckster shouting out his toys for sale.
Ellie walked between her daed and Joel to the boarding haus. The outside was painted white with a red sign featuring a yellow bumble bee next to the name.
Joel knocked on the door.
A petite and thin woman with rosy cheeks swung open the door. “How may I help you?”
Joel tipped his hat. “I’m Maryann Harding’s bruder. I’d like to speak to her.”
The woman’s eyes squinted. “A Maryann Harding is not here.”
Joel took the letter he had tucked in the waist of his pants. “Here’s a letter I received from her.” He held out his hand and gestured to Ellie and Daed. “These are my friends, Jacob Graber and his dochder, Ellie. They’re here to assist Maryann and me.”
The petite woman accepted the note and read it. Her cheeks dimpled. “I must be careful who I tell Maryann is here. The poor girl’s been through a rough time. I’m protective of her, since her husband got mixed up with some bad men. I’m not sorry her husband is dead and gone. I’m glad you’re here to help.” She checked the wall clock. “She’s getting off work. Let me tell her you’re here. Please come in.” She gestured for them to follow her. “Have a seat in our sitting room. I’ll be right back.”
Joel nodded. He folded and refolded the note and paced the room.
Ellie fought reaching out to him. She wanted to comfort him and tell him she loved him, but this was neither the time nor the place.
Daed remained calm and took a seat in the corner.
The woman returned. “I’m Sharon Walter. Maryann’s boss and friend. Will you need a place to stay for the night?”
Daed took his money clip out of the hidden pocket in his shirt. “Do you have three rooms available?”
“Yes, and because you’re family of Maryann’s, I’ll not charge you the full price.”
Ellie stepped closer to the open doorway to the kitchen. She sniffed in the aroma of beans and cornbread.
A short and slender young woman standing over the stove smiled at her. The woman was pretty with her dark blond curls, and the sides of her hair were pulled back in a white bow to match her apron. She had blue eyes like Joel’s. She smiled at Ellie and joined them. “Joel, you came!”
“Maryann!” He hugged her then stepped back. “Meet Ellie and her daed, Jacob Graber. They’re my friends from Charm.”
“Pleased to meet you.” She turned to Joel. “You moved to Charm, Ohio, from Lancaster? How did you get my letter? Here I thought you were going to ignore my request to kumme after a month had passed. I’d given up.”
“I left our forwarding address with the Lancaster post office. The letter reached me yesterday.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She diverted her attention to Jacob and Ellie. “Danki for kumming with Joel, Mr. Graber and Ellie.”
“Call me Jacob.”
“Only if you call me Maryann.”
Jacob nodded.
Ellie hugged herself. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“I’m glad you came with Joel. Did you get rooms yet?” Maryann folded her hands behind her back.
“Jacob took care of it.” Joel passed Daed money. “Let me pay for it. It’s the least I can do under the circumstances.”
Daed pushed away his hand. “Danki, but I insist. We’re happy to accompany you on this trip.”
Maryann hooked her arm through Ellie’s. “You and I will share my room. All right with you?”
“Jah. It will give us a chance to get better acquainted.” Ellie beamed.
Sharon poked her head out of the kitchen’s open doorway. She reached in her apron pocket and handed Jacob coins. “Here’s money back for one of the rooms. I overheard Maryann say she was sharing hers with Ellie.”
“Danki.” Jacob smiled.
Sharon returned to the kitchen.
Maryann said, “Ellie, I’ll put your package in my room. I need to go upstairs. I’ll take it with me.” She took the package from Ellie. “I have someone you should all meet, and then I’ve got a lot of information to share with you.” She held up her forefinger. “I’ll be right back. Please wait here.”
Ellie raised her brows at Joel. “Who could it be?”
“I hope it’s not a new husband.” He rolled his eyes.
Jacob shrugged. “Don’t ask me.”
Maryann came down the stairs with a boppli in her arms. “Meet Betsy. She’s six weeks old.” She cradled the infant. “Ellie, would you like to take her?”
Ellie accepted and cradled Betsy. “She looks like you with blue eyes and dark blond hair. She’s beautiful.”
* * *
Joel stood next to Ellie and put his finger in the boppli’s tiny fingers. “You’re a pretty one.” He was elated to reunite with Maryann and Betsy. He tensed. The need to protect them became stronger. What financial state had her husband left her in? Had he angered men over gambling debts, who would kumme after them? He needed answers and soon. “Maryann, can you sit with us? We’ve got questions.”
Jacob reached for Betsy. “Mind if I take a turn? It’s been a long time since I got to hold an infant.” He traced the boppli’s cheek with his work-hardened finger. “You’re a sweetheart.”
Maryann sat next to Joel and across from Ellie and Daed. “Yes, I’ll be happy to answer them.”
The room was simple, with white walls and a small window with the same frilly curtain as the other windows. Ellie sat in the maple chair with a cushion tied to the seat, and Jacob’s matched hers. The settee was hardwood with a long cushion on the seat and pillows on the back.
Joel had his elbows on his knees and hands folded. “What trouble did your late husband get into?”
Maryann blushed. “He started to gamble a year after we were married. He’d win, and we’d have enough to pay bills, and then he’d lose, and we were broke. He had a furniture store but lost it in a card game. He was murdered. The sheriff caught the man who took Gerald’s life. The murderer claimed Gerald refused to pay a debt he owed. The argument turned into a fistfight, and the man pulled his pistol and shot Gerald. My husband was unarmed. Two men who were there when it happened wrestled the murderer to the ground, and a third man alerted the sheriff.”
Joel stole a glance at Ellie. . She’d not interrupted, and let him ask the questions. Jacob was enthralled with the infant, but he knew Ellie’s daed didn’t miss a word Maryann said. He remained calm and let Joel speak to his schweschder.
“Maryann, has anyone approached you about your husband and his debts?”
Maryann gripped fistfuls of her skirt. “The house where we lived was ransacked a couple of times, when I worked here in the kitchen before renting a room. I suspect they were looking for money. I didn’t have the money to pay our rent, and the landlord asked me to leave. The house came furnished. I told Sharon about my situation, and she offered me a room here. She has been very good to me. I told Sharon and Minnie about the break-ins, and they agreed to keep my living here quiet if anyone asked. No one has kumme here asking for the money yet.”
“Has the sheriff got any hints as to who is responsible for breaking into your haus?” Joel raised his brows.
“He and his men don’t have a cl
ue who is responsible.” She shuddered.
Joel narrowed his eyes. “Maryann,do you have the money? Tell me the truth. This is a matter of your life and Betsy’s.”
Her mouth flew open. “I do not have the money! Please, Joel. You have to believe me. I can’t wait to get away from Massillon. I highly doubt Gerald had any money. He was a spendthrift.”
“Calm down. I had to ask. I do believe you.” Joel covered her hand with his.
Jacob piped up. “We should take Maryann and Betsy to Charm as soon as possible. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”
Ellie settled back in her chair. “Maryann, I’m so sorry you’ve had to endure all this.”
“Gerald wasn’t always a bad man. I fell for his smooth-talking ways and thick black hair. He stood tall next to me, and he turned the heads of many women with his perfect smile and confident stature. He was good to me until he started gambling. He couldn’t stop, and when he lost money, he’d be angry and miserable. He changed from the kind man I married to a man I hardly knew. He took his worry about gambling debts out on me by being demanding and rude. I kept thinking he’d see the error of his ways and change back to the man I’d married. I was foolish to think so. His love for gambling only grew worse.”
“I’m glad he’s out of your life and Betsy’s.” Ellie leaned forward.
Joel heaved a heavy sigh. “Does anyone know you were Amish?”
Maryann shrugged. “I wore Amish clothes when I arrived. Gerald took me to a shop and bought me a dress right away. I doubt anyone would remember.”
“All right. Good.”
Jacob tightened the blanket around Betsy. “Joel, we should talk to the sheriff and ask him if he’s learned anything new about the break-ins.”
Joel nodded. “Good idea.”
“I’m so relieved you all are with me. God answered my prayer bringing my brother and new friends to me. I’m worried there are more men looking for money Gerald owed them. I’ll rest easier when we’re on our way to Charm.”
Joel stood. “Jacob and I will go to the sheriff’s office. We’ll be back soon.”
Jacob handed Betsy to Maryann. “Pack your things before bed tonight. We will leave at five in the morning. We don’t have much room, so you’ll have to limit it to one bag.”
“Gerald did buy a cradle for Betsy before she was born. I had hoped to take it with me.”
Joel circled his arm around Maryann. “Mamm kept our cradle. She can use it.”
Ellie stood. “Between our family and yours, we can supply anything you need.”
“You’re so kind, Ellie. Danki.”
“I can’t wait until your parents lay eyes on you. It will be a moment to remember.”
Maryann squeezed her elbows to her sides. “I hope it’s a happy moment. Mamm can be unpredictable.”
Chapter Twelve
Ellie followed Maryann up the stairs and into her room. The room had a double bed with a yellow and white circle-pattern quilt. A simple wooden cradle with a knitted blanket inside was in the corner. A weathered side table with a pitcher and bowl sat in another corner. “This is a nice cozy room.”
Maryann pulled a clean nappy off a small shelf. “Welcome to my humble abode. You can sleep with me, or I can make you a bed out of blankets on the floor. The outhouse is outside in the back. There’s a tub in the washroom. We can heat water on the kitchen stove if you desire a bath. There’s a pump for water not far from the back door. We dine together in the kitchen for meals.”
“I don’t mind sleeping with you.” She ran her hand over the quilt.
“You must consider me foolish to marry an Englischer and leave the Amish life. You’re right if you do. I was scared, but I was so in love with Gerald. He promised to love, protect, and honor me all the days of my life on earth. He did until he took up gambling.”
“Why didn’t you write to Joel sooner?” Ellie didn’t understand how she could stay with a man who had been so mean and endangered her.
“I kept waiting for Gerald to give up gambling and turn his life around. I’m ready to put this life behind me and go to Charm, where I can have a fresh start. I’m thankful Joel brought you and your daed and all of you are willing to take me with you. I wasn’t sure if Joel would kumme. It’s been three years since I left.”
“He loves you.” Ellie gave her a reassuring smile.
“Are you and Joel serious about each other?” Maryann threw a blanket over her shoulder and fed Betsy.
Ellie stretched her stiff and tired arms. “We have something to work out before we can marry. But we can talk about Joel and me later. Let’s concentrate on you and Betsy for now.”
“I hope whatever it is works out soon for you and Joel. I like you already.”
Ellie grinned. “Danki.”
“I hope I haven’t shocked you too much with my bad decisions. I could really use a good friend right now.”
Ellie lowered her head then raised her eyes to meet Maryann’s. “I ran away twice with Englischers to explore the outside world. I was cruel to leave Daed wondering where I’d gone. I returned the second time and asked God, Daed, and my friends to forgive me. I’m happiest living the Amish life.”
“Did you leave with men you loved?”
“Nah. I didn’t leave with romantic notions about anyone. Mamm had passed, and I was lost without her. My grief brought out the worst in me. We were close, and everything at home reminded me of her. I had to get away. God taught me loving lessons and brought me back to Him and the Amish life.”
“I go to church here and worship God. I’m anxious to follow in your footsteps, to ask forgiveness of all those I need to and live the Amish life in Charm. It won’t be easy, but I’d like to try.”
Ellie hugged her. “God, friends, and family make it all worth it. There’s only a few gossips who test you now and then. But don’t worry, I’ll defend you. I’m glad you’re going home with us. You need to get out of this town and leave all these bad memories behind you.”
“I’ve regretted leaving the Amish life, except for having Betsy.” She shifted her body to Ellie. “I’m anxious and nervous to go home.”
“I wouldn’t worry. It’s the perfect place for you and Betsy.”
“I’m getting hungry. It’s time for me to make supper. Maybe Sharon and Minnie will join us. The three other renters moved out last week.”
Ellie went out of the room and into the hallway and bumped into a tall, gray-haired woman with crow’s-feet around her eyes and wrinkles showing her years. “Pardon me. I should watch where I’m going. I’m Ellie.”
“I’m Minnie. I watch this darling little girl every chance I can get.” Minnie grinned at Maryann and caressed Betsy’s cheek. “Where are you headed? Would you like me to take care of Betsy for you?”
Maryann put Betsy against her shoulder. “Minnie, you’re so kind. I’m off to cook supper. Want to join us?”
“No. Sharon made us a big dinner. Let me care for Betsy while you enjoy your brother and friends.” She reached for Betsy.
“Thank you, Minnie. She’s full and dry.” Maryann put Betsy in Minnie’s arms.
Betsy cooed and waved her arms and legs.
“Take your time.” Minnie took the little one to her room.
Ellie and Maryann warmed some leftover turkey and noodles, and then went downstairs to the kitchen and served it to the men and filled their own plates. They sat and chatted with Joel and Jacob while they ate.
Sharon stepped to their table about a half hour later. “I’m not going to join you. I fixed a big dinner for Minnie and me, so we’re full. I might grab a cookie later.” She hugged Maryann. “I’m blessed to have met this woman.”
“You’ve been a good friend to me, Sharon. I’ll be leaving in the morning with my brother and friends. Thank you for everything.” Maryann dabbed a tear trailing down her cheek.
Sharon bent to hug Maryann. “Be careful going home if I don’t see you in the morning. You’ll be heading out early, I would guess. Nice me
eting all of you. Take good care of them for me.” She kissed Maryann’s forehead. “I’ll miss you.”
Maryann stood and held Sharon’s hands. “I’ll miss you too.”
Sharon’s eyes had tears pooling in them as she walked away.
Maryann dabbed her eyes with her cloth napkin. “Looks like everyone has finished their meals. Who would like blueberry pie?”
They all nodded.
Ellie popped up to serve their dessert.
Maryann lifted a forkful of the pie. “I wish I had time to take you to some of the shops.”
“I went to the quilt shop. It’s full of beautiful quilts. The keepsake pocket idea is impressive. I met Becca Carrington. We had a pleasant conversation. I really like her. She gave me a quilt! I was shocked. That’s what is in the package I brought with me. I also have fabric your mamm requested.”
“Gerald didn’t let me get acquainted with many people. I do know her and her sister, Ruth, were both Amish before coming to Massillon. They’re from Berlin, Ohio. They both married upstanding gentlemen. Becca’s husband is the doctor in town, and Ruth’s is a farmer and furniture maker. Becca fills in at the quilt shop and for her husband as a midwife and nurse. She helped me birth Betsy. We talked when she came back to check on me and the baby. She’s a kind soul.”
“She is someone I’d like to befriend if I lived here. You’ll make a lot of friends in Charm. It’s a nice place to live.”
“Is there room for Betsy and me?” Maryann sucked in her bottom lip.
“Mamm reserved a room for you and arranged it the same as your one in Lancaster. She’s been making you things and setting a place for you at the table ever since you left.”
“Didn’t friends question why? The Amish wouldn’t approve of her doing such things.”
“Daed shut the door to your room when we had company. He asked her not to mention you to others. She obliged.”
“I’m sorry for what I’ve put them through, and you.”