by Beth Wiseman
“Should we leave?” Lydia glanced at the two babies before she looked back at Samuel.
As the door of the truck creaked open, a thick leg pounded against the ground of the small parking lot with a bare foot that was dirty—and large. The horses whinnied, and both babies began to cry.
“Ya, we need to leave.”
Lydia’s stomach clenched as fear knotted inside her.
Chapter 7
Beverly was wrapped in a cocoon of euphoria as she sat in the grass with Joseph. So far, he appeared to be everything she wanted in a spouse. It was too soon to be having those thoughts, but she was excited about the possibility of finding true love again.
They’d been chatting for only a few minutes when their conversation was interrupted by crying babies, horse whinnies, and lots of movement at their picnic area.
Joseph hurried to his feet. “We need to go.” He didn’t wait for Beverly to stand before he started walking, looking back only once to make sure she was following him.
Sensing his urgency, Beverly jogged to catch up with him. “What’s wrong?” In the distance, Lydia scurried to gather their belongings while Samuel held both babies. Even farther away was an old blue truck in the parking lot of the small school. Beverly didn’t remember seeing the vehicle when they arrived, and that caused her to pick up her pace, putting her ahead of Joseph.
They were both breathless by the time they reached Samuel, Lydia, and the children. Beverly reached for Susan and held her close as she moved closer to Lydia. “What’s happening?”
Everyone was looking at a large woman who was using the school’s water pump to wash her hands. She wasn’t fat but big-boned and tall. Gray hair spilled past her waist in knotted masses. Her bare feet looked like two hams beneath discolored calves. She wore a blue dress similar in style to what Beverly and Lydia were wearing but no prayer covering.
“She’s homeless.” Lydia held Mattie close, the same way Beverly protectively pressed Susan against her.
Beverly had assumed that much. “Is that a tomato plant growing out of the back of her truck?” Her eyes widened as she studied the contents in the truck’s bed—lots of black plastic bags, a rocking chair that was tilted almost upside down, a mattress from a baby crib, a rusted barbecue pit, and a host of other unsightly items stuffed together.
“Follow us to our haus,” Samuel said as he ushered Lydia and Mattie to his buggy.
Joseph followed suit and grabbed Beverly by the arm as she clung to Susan.
As both buggies pulled out of the parking lot, the old woman turned around and watched them leaving. Beverly didn’t want to be rude and gawk, but she couldn’t help it. The woman stared at them with coal-black eyes unlike anything Beverly had ever seen. Then she smiled, revealing her yellowed teeth that appeared to have never seen a toothbrush. Beverly was taught to never judge a person by their looks, but when the woman’s eyes met hers, Beverly shuddered.
“Some folks say she’s a witch,” Joseph said as he put the horse in a steady trot behind Samuel’s buggy. “And others say she used to practice powwowing.”
Beverly was from a different district, so she’d never seen the woman. But she’d heard of powwowing, a type of Amish folk magic she didn’t know existed anymore. “She’s Amish?”
Joseph shrugged. “I don’t know. She doesn’t wear a kapp, but some say she used to be Amish.”
“How often do you see her?” Beverly held Susan and gently rubbed her back as the baby yawned, resting her head on Beverly’s shoulder.
“Well, I’ve only been here a couple of months, but that was mei second time.” He glanced at Beverly and Susan before he turned his eyes back to the road. “The first time I saw her, she was parked outside the Bargain Center, but three women came outside and yelled at her to leave.”
“If she’s homeless, she obviously lives out of that truck.” Beverly sighed. “That’s so sad.”
“Samuel said she’s been around for as long as he can remember, but folks avoid her.” He turned to her and pushed up the brim of his hat, his eyes widening again. “Samuel also said she used to have two dogs with her. Fierce animals. They’d bark if anyone got near them. But one day they were gone, and supposedly she keeps their carcasses in the truck, just skeletons now.” He shook his head. “But Samuel said buzzards followed her around for two weeks after the dogs went missing.”
Beverly squeezed her eyes closed and held Susan tighter. “Ach, that’s horrible.”
“I’m real sorry our picnic got cut short, but we can visit for a while with Samuel and Lydia at their haus, then I can take you to Gasthof Village whenever you’re ready.” Joseph smiled, and Beverly nodded, but her mind was still on the woman they’d seen.
“Has anyone tried to help her?” Beverly gently rocked Susan, who was sleeping now.
Joseph shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone even knows her name. But I’m sure Samuel and Lydia know a lot more about her than I do.”
* * *
Samuel was glad to be home. He had no idea if the stories he’d heard about the old woman were true, but he wasn’t going to take any chances when Lydia and Mattie were with him. He’d called his parents on the way home. They’d answered the phone and insisted they were fine, so he decided to wait until the following day to visit them.
“Until today, I hadn’t seen the old woman in months.” Lydia sliced the buttermilk pie they hadn’t had time to eat. “Someone said they thought she’d finally moved on.”
Samuel took four plates from a cabinet and placed them on the kitchen table. “People always say she’s moved on when she goes unseen for months at a time. But then she shows up again. I’d forgotten Joseph said he saw her once not long after he moved here.”
He walked into the living room just in time to push open the screen door to let Beverly inside. She was tiptoeing as she held a sleeping Susan against her shoulder. Samuel pointed to their bedroom, then whispered, “You can lay her on our bed. Mattie fell asleep, too, and she’s in her crib.”
A few minutes later, they were all settled around the kitchen table having pie and coffee.
“I just think it’s sad and horrible.” Beverly blew out a puff of air, shuddered, then shook her head. “And no one even knows her name. Very sad.”
“Her name is Margaret,” Lydia said before taking a sip of coffee.
Samuel’s jaw dropped. They’d both lived here all their lives, and he’d never heard a name attached to the old woman. “I didn’t know you knew her name.”
Grinning, his wife winked at him. “You never asked.”
Samuel smiled back at her before putting a bite of pie in his mouth. He wanted to tell her she looked beautiful and that her spunky attitude was cute, but he didn’t want to embarrass her.
“Do you know her last name?” Beverly’s voice rose with anticipation.
“Nee.” Lydia looked down, grimacing. “People call her all kinds of things.” She raised her head. “They call her the old woman, the truck lady, the witch . . .” She cringed. “And some people call her the dog killer.”
“I wonder how she survives.” Joseph reached for a second slice of pie. “I mean, no one can live on tomatoes and dogs alone.”
“Joseph!” Beverly slapped him lightly on the arm. “That’s terrible.”
Samuel stifled a grin. It was an awful thing to say, but Joseph’s delivery and the expression on his face made it comical. Samuel could have sworn his ears wiggled in unison. He had to agree with Lydia. Joseph was a goofy fellow, but he was as good-hearted as a guy could be. Samuel was glad Beverly seemed to like him.
Joseph straightened. “You’re right. It was a horrible thing to say.”
Samuel waited for a follow-up, expecting Joseph to add to his statement, but he didn’t.
“It always makes me sad to see a homeless person.” Beverly seemed to be the most affected by their sighting. “I always wonder how someone gets that way.” She dabbed her mouth with her napkin as she squinted her eyes. “I mean,
where is her family? If she doesn’t have anyone, don’t the Englisch run places where she could live?”
“The community seems divided,” Lydia said. “Some people have tried to help her, but she won’t accept help. Others have banned her from their businesses. When I was a little girl, I saw her at the Bargain Center sometimes, but they apparently ran her off the property after she stole a few things.” Lydia shrugged. “At least, that’s what I heard.”
“Joseph said he saw her run off from the Bargain Center recently. She was probably just hungry.” Beverly ran a finger around the rim of her coffee cup as she frowned, seemingly lost in thought about the woman Samuel and Lydia had grown up around.
A baby cried in the distance, and both Lydia and Beverly sat taller, each with an ear cocked.
“It’s Susan.” Beverly eased her chair back, stood, and left to retrieve her niece. When she came back with her, she told Joseph it was probably time for them to go. After the three of them left, Samuel helped Lydia clear the table, then they both sat down to finish their coffee.
* * *
Lydia hadn’t given much thought to Margaret in a long time. She’d just always been a fixture in Montgomery. Lydia hadn’t felt as threatened by her in the past, but Mattie’s birth had also given life to an emotion Lydia hadn’t known before—a driving force to protect the one person in the world she loved more than herself or anyone else. But back in her own home, she felt safe, and that was largely because of Samuel. He was also fiercely protective of Mattie.
Beverly had been visibly bothered about the old woman’s situation and homelessness.
“Do you think seeing Margaret today was a sign from Gott?” Lydia glanced around her kitchen, eyeing all that she had. She and Samuel lived simply, but compared to Margaret, they lived a life of luxury.
Samuel grinned a little. “I still can’t believe you know her name.”
They’d had a playful attitude between them today, almost like flirting. She smiled, but something in her gut gnawed at her. “Maybe we should try to do something for her.”
Her husband stiffened. “Stay away from her.”
Lydia blinked her eyes a few times as she stared at him. She resented his harsh tone.
“I’m sorry.” Samuel lowered his gaze, then sighed and looked back at her. “We don’t know how much is true about her, but I think she’s dangerous.”
“We don’t know that.” Lydia left the table, refreshed her coffee, and sat down again. “I’ve heard so many rumors over the years. I remember asking mei mamm about her when I was little. She told me the same thing, to just stay away from her. But as Christians, shouldn’t we be trying to help her?”
Samuel shook his head. “She won’t accept help, and you can’t force that on a person.”
Lydia couldn’t shake the questions tumbling around in her mind. Beverly had seemed so interested in Margaret’s story. Most people weren’t. The old woman blended into the scenery like black fog that never lifted.
“I want to find out more about Margaret.”
Samuel scowled as he ran a hand through his beard.
“I won’t go near her, but I want to know her history, how she became the way she is.” Lydia wasn’t sure if the little voice in her head was God, her conscience, or plain old curiosity. “Do you think anyone at the furniture store would know her last name?”
“Maybe.” Samuel yawned. “I’m going to take a nap.” He stood and headed toward the bedroom, but then he turned around. “Do you, uh . . . want to take a nap too?”
Lydia wasn’t sure if he was asking her to lie beside him and sleep—or something else. Either way, she and Samuel seemed to be pushing through a wall they had laid brick by brick. She was about to say yes even though her husband’s intent wasn’t clear, but a tiny voice in the background broke through her scattered thoughts.
“Mattie is awake,” she said as she stood. Another moment lost. At least they were having moments.
* * *
Joseph hadn’t had such a good day in a long time, despite the interruption from Margaret. He gave his horse a gentle flick of the reins.
“Uh, I want to apologize again about the dog comment.” He turned to Beverly briefly. She had her cheek pressed against Susan’s, then gave her niece a quick kiss.
“It’s okay.” She repositioned the baby in her lap.
“I mean, who eats dogs, right?” Joseph cringed, wishing he’d learn when to shut up. “No one, of course.”
Beverly smiled, but it didn’t last long. Joseph was blowing it.
“I wish we knew more about Margaret,” she said. “It bothers me that someone lives like that. I wish I could do something to help her.”
Joseph turned to her. “You can’t save the world.”
She smiled. “But sometimes you can save one person.”
Beverly had no idea the one person who needed saving was him. He would die if this woman didn’t fall madly in love with him and become his wife.
When they pulled into the parking lot at Gasthof Village, Joseph reached behind them for Susan’s diaper bag, then he held Susan while Beverly got out of the buggy. He kissed the baby on the cheek before he handed her back to her aunt.
“Today was a gut day.” He reminded himself not to say anything dumb. “I enjoyed spending time with you and Susan. I hope we can do it again soon.”
Joseph thought he saw a gleam of interest in Beverly’s eyes as she smiled. Or did he imagine it?
“Well, as you said, our picnic was cut short.” She shifted the baby to her other hip. “Um, maybe we should do it again?” Biting her bottom lip, she lifted an eyebrow.
Joseph would need to do triple duty during devotions this evening. The Lord was blessing him far more than he deserved. “Next Saturday?”
She nodded. “I always have Saturday afternoons off from the bakery. Meet here again?”
He started to object and say he’d pick her up at her house, but then he decided not to. Beverly had lived in her home with her husband. She would invite him to her house on her time frame, when she felt comfortable enough.
“I best let mei schweschder know we’re back.”
Joseph ran a finger along the baby’s cheek. “It was gut to meet you, Susan.” Then, as if by reflex, his hand found Beverly’s cheek. He cupped it gently before he leaned over and kissed the spot where his hand had been. He half expected her to take off running, but she didn’t move. Instead, she smiled.
“See you Saturday,” she said as she walked away, looking back over her shoulder twice before she entered the gift shop.
Joseph put a hand to his chest, looked toward heaven, and said, “Danki, Gott. I won’t let you—or Beverly—down.”
He wondered if it was possible to be in love with a woman after spending time with her only twice. He decided it was.
Chapter 8
Sunday morning, Samuel eyed his parents’ yard as he and Lydia pulled into the driveway. It needed mowing, and the flower beds could use some attention. He made a mental note to take care of that soon.
He and Lydia had left church right after the worship service, opting not to stay for the meal. Instead, they picked up fish sandwiches from Stop N Sea. Samuel’s father loved that place, but he hadn’t been getting out much lately. And when his mother went with him, someone always had to help them now. His father couldn’t get her in and out of the wheelchair by himself anymore.
Samuel knocked twice on the door as Lydia stood beside him holding Mattie. When his father hollered for them to come in, Samuel pushed the door open and slowly entered. It was uncomfortably dark, and it took his eyes a few seconds to adjust.
“We brought fish sandwiches.” He held up the two bags he’d carried in as he blinked his eyes a few times. “Why is it so dark in here?”
His parents looked at each other and shrugged. “It doesn’t seem dark to us,” his father said.
Samuel drew up the blinds that faced the front yard, letting in a stream of sunshine, and then he opened the window. He di
d the same thing with the window across the room, which brought through a nice cross breeze. But a breeze wasn’t all that blew into the room as a cloud of dust met with the sunrays, traveling the length of the room.
Lydia walked straight to his mother and handed her Mattie.
“Come here mei little bundle of joy.”
Mattie opened her mouth as her eyes widened. She looked like she might scream as she stared at Samuel’s mother.
“I promise I won’t bite, Mattie.” She spoke softly to the baby. “I look a mess, but your mammi loves you very much.”
“Does it hurt?” Lydia squatted next to the wheelchair and leaned closer, taking in her black eye and swollen cheek.
“Nee.” She kissed Mattie, then turned her around and sat her on her lap. Mattie reached for her mother right away. “It’s okay, dear. You can take her. I know I don’t look like myself right now.” When Lydia had the baby again, his mother folded her hands in her lap and smiled. “I’m just so happy to see you all. It seems either you’re here with Mattie or Samuel is here alone. It’s nice to have you all here at the same time.”
Samuel glanced at Lydia, who looked up at him too.
After he and Lydia had cleared the coffee table of magazines, coffee cups, and other odds and ends, they all bowed their heads in prayer. Lydia held Mattie and spread out the food while Samuel brought out plates, then glasses of tea.
After they’d all had a good chuckle over his father’s two new jokes, Samuel filled them in about Margaret.
“I didn’t even know that woman was still around,” his father said. “She’s got to be getting up in age.” He lifted the remainder of his sandwich from the plate on his lap. “And I doubt she’s in gut health. Living out of that old truck can’t be good for her.”
“I think her situation is sad.” Lydia glanced at Samuel before turning to his father. “Samuel seems to think she’s dangerous.”
His father lifted one shoulder, then dropped it slowly as he finished chewing a bite. “I don’t think she lets anyone get close enough to her to know if she’s dangerous.”