Maryann's Hope

by Molly Jebber

  “I’m Toby’s mamm, Eleanor Schlabach. Please call me Eleanor. I recognize you from Sunday services, but we’ve not been introduced.”

  “A pleasure to meet you. I’m a friend of Maryann Harding’s. She works with your dochder, Rachael, at the bakery. Maryann and your dochder recommended Toby for the job I have open to oversee my property. They praised him and thought he’d be a good hire.”

  Toby blushed and stayed silent.

  “I would agree. Please sit and make yourself comfortable. Would you like coffee?” Mrs. Schlabach’s smile broadened.

  Andrew shook his head. “No, danki.”

  “I’ll leave you men to talk.” Eleanor left the room.

  Andrew sat across from Toby. “I’m surprised we haven’t met before today.”

  “I stay home with my daed, Vernon, to allow Rachael and Mamm to attend the services and outings. He’s sick, and he has good and bad days. He’s asleep in his bedroom. The doctor suspects it’s his heart. He’s not sure. Daed refuses to go to the hospital. He’s a selfless man who doesn’t want to cost his family money, no matter how much we tell him we care and want the best for him. He insists God will heal him or take him home, and he’s content with whatever the outcome. I also take care of our small property and do repair and farm work for friends during the week and Saturdays.” Toby settled back in the chair.

  “I’m sorry your daed is in bad health. If there’s anything I can do for you or your family, I’d be happy to.” Andrew liked Toby on sight. The man had compassion and love for his family. He didn’t indicate in any way that he was resentful or wished things were different.

  “Maybe you can. I’m interested in the job you mentioned. Please tell me more about what the work would entail.”

  “I need a man to manage my livestock and farm. I like to build furniture and sell my pieces in stores more than I like to farm. I plan to buy a store when I have the proper funds saved. Do you have experience managing a farm and livestock?”

  Toby nodded. “We had an eighty-acre place before moving to Charm and before Daed’s health went downhill. Daed and I had no problem keeping up with the farm and livestock. Mamm and Rachael did their part, but not much was needed from them outside the home. I’m handy with tools and can fix about anything. I’d be thankful for a permanent job rather than depending on odd jobs like I’ve been doing.”

  Andrew discussed salary, job duties, and the schedule with Toby. “Is all of this agreeable to you? Do you have any questions?”

  Toby hadn’t moved a muscle, and he’d not stopped smiling. “Your offer is generous, and no, I don’t have any questions. You’ve covered about everything.”

  Andrew held out his hand. “You’re hired.”

  Toby sat on the edge of his chair and shook Andrew’s hand. “Danki. I won’t let you down, Mr. Wittmer.” Toby’s eyes creased, as he grinned.

  “Call me Andrew. Don’t bring your dinner. Treat my kitchen as yours. You’re wilkom to what I have in the cupboards or on the counter. There are always fresh eggs, and you can make them scrambled, fried, or the way you’d like on the cookstove if I’m short on groceries.”

  “No, I don’t want to take advantage of you. I’ll have breakfast before I leave and pack a dinner.” Toby stared at his worn black shoes.

  “I insist.” He sensed from the small haus and property size, the family struggled to make ends meet. He was sure the family depended on the monies Rachael and Toby made to keep them afloat. He’d do what he could to make their lives easier and provide meals for Toby and cut down on the groceries needed for them. He hoped he and Toby would grow a close friendship. He liked Toby’s quiet demeanor, but he wanted to lighten his new friend’s mood and make his life better. He stood. “I won’t keep you any longer. Please give your parents my regards.”

  “I’ll be at your place at five thirty in the morning. And danki again.” Toby opened the door for him.

  “Remember, don’t bring food. I’ve got plenty, and I wouldn’t mind the company at the table.” He gave him a curt nod. “And, Toby, you’re doing me a favor.” Andrew tipped his hat and headed home. He pulled close to the barn, unharnessed his horse, and led him into the barn to the stall. He tromped across the snow to his haus and went inside to start a fire in the fireplace. Stomach growling, he took off his coat, opened a container of leftover stew he’d kept in the icebox, and poured it in an iron kettle he hung on the hook over the small fire.

  Andrew plopped into his favorite chair, grabbed the patchwork quilt Mamm had made him years ago, and covered himself as he waited for the stew to heat. He hoped he and Maryann didn’t encounter any differences they couldn’t mend. He could foresee her having a problem with moving from Charm. She’d reunited with her family and friends, and Betsy was a big part of her parents’ lives. Would she contemplate ending their courtship if he asked her to leave Charm to open a store in the future?

  Chapter Two

  Maryann peered out the window of the bakery at the wintry mix of sleet and snow flurries. She loved the white fluff nestled on branches and untouched by boot prints out in the fields as she drove to work this cold Wednesday morning. A contrast to the dirty slush on the road and walkways in town. Buster, her horse, plowed through the cold weather on the way to the bakery without hesitation.

  She couldn’t be happier in Charm with her family and her courtship with Andrew. She prayed he’d open a store in Charm when the time was right. His excitement showed on his face when he talked about it. She was sure he would, for her and Betsy’s sakes, if they were meant to marry in the future.

  Rachael came up behind her. “What are you daydreaming about? Andrew? I am rooting for the two of you.” She beamed. “I no sooner had my coat off when Toby burst in the living room and jabbered about Andrew’s job offer and the details. It did my heart good to have him so enthusiastic about working for Andrew. He’s devoted to us, and he never complains. I’m happy for him. Toby wore a big smile early this morning, gulped down his breakfast, and flew out the door with a lilt in his step. He won’t take time to do anything with friends, but maybe he and Andrew will form a friendship.”

  “I’m pleased it worked out for Andrew and Toby. And yes, I did have my mind on Andrew. He walked into my life when I least expected it, and he’s handsome, attentive, and responsible. I’m like a silly schoolgirl and giddy about him. He’s made a big impression on me. I’m already praying we have a future together. He’s everything I want in a man. He accepts Betsy and my past. He doesn’t dwell on negative things about me or anyone. It’s refreshing.” She frowned. “I’ve overheard gossips whisper they can’t understand why any Amish man would consider me a proper fraa.” She blew out a breath. “I’m glad they don’t dissuade him.”

  Magdelena joined them. “Those women are a nuisance when they wag their tongues saying upsetting things about us or our friends. They need to listen closer to Bishop Fisher’s messages on how we are not to gossip and we are to love each other. Ignore them. I admire Andrew for his forgiving nature and kind heart. I’m thrilled for Toby. It’s like God is blessing Toby by bringing Andrew into his life and offering him this opportunity.”

  “Toby doesn’t ask for anything. He gives without taking. I’m thrilled for him.”

  Maryann wrinkled her forehead. “How is your daed?”

  Rachael frowned. “He’s keeping a small amount of food in his stomach, which is a plus, but he’s weak and his persistent cough isn’t any better. Sores are on his arms and legs, and his skin is paper thin. The sores heal, and then new ones form. He has days where they are better and less in number than others. He doesn’t complain, but I’ve caught him wincing in pain when we dress him or bandage them. Dr. Harrison said the best thing we can do is to keep him as comfortable as possible.” She stopped and put a finger to her lips. “The back door slammed.”

  Maryann narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “No one but us kummes through the back door. Who could it be?”

  Rachael and Magdelena went with her to
the back.

  Maryann threw open the door to the storage room and the door leading out to the back. She rushed outside and ran after the chubby Englisch boy with light red hair. He had on a nice heavy gray wool coat, a hat, and new boots. Why would he need to steal? “You kumme back right now!”

  “Maryann, kumme back,” Magdelena called. “We’ll alert the sheriff. Let the lawman find and talk to the boy.”

  The boy ran out of the alley and onto the main road.

  Maryann chased after him.

  Andrew halted his buggy as the boy passed him. “Maryann, what’s happening?” He jumped out, sprinted to the boy, and caught the boy’s arm. “Why are you running from Maryann?”

  The boy scowled and fidgeted, but Andrew’s grasp held him tight.

  Maryann reached them, stopped, bent over, and caught her breath. “You came along at the right time. The girls and I were in the front room and the back door slammed. We went to find out who came in and found this boy escaping with a sack I suspect contains things he stole from us.” She rubbed her arms and her teeth chattered.

  “Let’s go inside the bakery. Maryann, you’re going to get a cold if we don’t warm you up. You shouldn’t be out without a coat.” He stared at the boy. “Stop fighting to get away from me, or I’ll take you to the sheriff.” He gripped the boy’s arm tighter and dragged the young Englischer inside the shop, walking alongside Maryann.

  Magdelena and Rachael stood with the back door open. They stepped aside for Maryann, Andrew, and the culprit to enter.

  Rachael glared at the boy as Andrew held his grip on him. “You scared us, you naughty boy. Your clothes and boots look new. You don’t appear to need to steal. Why did you?” She shook her head and crossed her arms.

  Magdelena said, “Andrew, your timing couldn’t have been better. Maryann wouldn’t listen to us. She was determined to catch him.”

  “We should get the sheriff. He’s not remorseful. He’s upset he got caught. Maybe he needs to learn a lesson.” Rachael stared at the young robber. “What’s your name?”

  The young boy stuck his hands in his pockets and snarled. “Wally.”

  Andrew stared down at him. “Wally what?”

  “Ferguson.” His angry eyes fell on Maryann. “The sheriff isn’t going to punish me. I’m a kid! I’m only eleven.”

  Andrew shook his head. “You’re wrong. You stole from a store. It’s a crime.”

  The boy’s face softened. His mouth gaped open. He held out the bag. “Please, don’t tell the sheriff. Here’s everything I took.” He held the bag out to her.

  Maryann grabbed it from him and looked inside. “Why did you take a hammer, nails, and a screwdriver? How did you know we had these things in our backroom? Why didn’t you borrow them from your daed or a friend?”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets again. “Mom brought me here, and when you and she weren’t paying attention, I snuck back there to nose around. I didn’t want to borrow tools. I wanted my own. Girls don’t need tools.” He puffed out his chest. “Men do repairs, not women. I figured you wouldn’t miss what I took.”

  “Do you want to alert the sheriff, Maryann?” Andrew shrugged. “Or I don’t mind taking the boy home and having a talk with his daed.”

  “Don’t tell my father. He’ll tan my hide. He says I’m too young to build things. He won’t let me near his tools.” The boy jerked his head to Andrew. “Please don’t tell him.”

  Maryann was relieved Andrew had arrived when he did. She didn’t want to deal with this small Englischer. She wasn’t sure what to do, and she was happy to hand the lad over to him. “I’d appreciate you taking the boy to his parents. He’s young. I don’t want to get the sheriff involved. I hope he’s learned his lesson. Have you, Wally? I don’t want to learn of you breaking into our shop or any other store again, or I will alert the sheriff. Understood?”

  Wally bobbed his head and gazed at Maryann with worried eyes. “Thank you. I won’t steal again. I promise.”

  Four ladies entered the bakery and sat at one of the tables in the café area of the bakery in front of the display case. Rachael and Magdelena greeted them.

  Andrew whispered, “Maryann, I came to ask you to supper tonight. May I pick you up at six this evening at your haus?”

  “I’ll look forward to it.” She blushed. “Danki for taking care of how to handle Wally and his bad behavior.”

  “I’m glad I could help.” He grinned. He walked with her to the front of the store.

  Rachael waved to Andrew. “Danki for hiring Toby.”

  “We had a good conversation about his schedule for the day this morning. I’m sure the arrangement will work out well for both of us.” He didn’t let go of Wally’s arm. “Let’s go have a conversation with your daed.”

  “I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you.” Wally met Maryann’s gaze.

  “I hope you’ve learned your lesson.” Maybe he would appreciate her generosity, and the scare of being caught would change his mind about attempting to steal again.

  Andrew tipped his hat and dragged Wally outside to his buggy.

  Maryann watched Andrew and Wally get in the buggy. She pressed a hand to her heart. He’d make a good daed. Maybe to their kinner in the future. He respected her, asked her opinion, and communicated with her. She hadn’t had that with Gerald.

  She couldn’t explain how it had happened so fast. She just knew it was true. She had fallen in love with him, and he was the right man for her and Betsy.

  * * *

  Andrew covered Wally’s legs with a wool blanket. “Are you warm enough?”

  Wally nodded his head.

  “Where do you live?”

  Wally gave Andrew directions and stared straight ahead.

  Andrew was glad he’d been there to relieve Maryann from having to contend with this child’s bad behavior. He’d do anything for her. He also wanted to give this boy another chance to learn a valuable lesson before he got older and made decisions that could ruin his life. “Is it this haus or the next one?”

  Wally pointed to a two-story white haus with a large red barn off to the side. The land had to stretch out over about 180 acres. The property was beautiful, with big trees and a large frozen pond. “My father will be real mad at me. Please drop me off and leave. I’ll tell him you offered me a ride and I accepted.”

  “No. Your actions have consequences. It’s important you understand how wrong this is at your age, so you don’t do this again. Stealing is a serious offense. If you were an adult, you would’ve been thrown in jail with scary men who had committed worse crimes. Do you realize this?”

  Wally kept his chin to his chest. “No.” He sighed. “I should warn you. My father doesn’t like the Amish.”

  “Why?” Andrew stiffened. He hadn’t considered the Fergusons’ prejudice. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea.

  “My father thinks you’re strange. You wear odd clothes, talk funny, and don’t go to school past the eighth grade.”

  Confrontation wasn’t the Amish way to handle differences with Englischers. He had assumed Mr. Ferguson would be grateful he’d brought his son home without reporting him to the lawman. He hadn’t encountered prejudice for being Amish for a while. “Do you have the same opinion?” Andrew glanced at him.

  Wally shrugged. “You don’t seem any different from me or my family.”

  Andrew halted his mare a couple of feet from where Mr. Ferguson stood in front of the haus. He got out and offered his hand to the man. He didn’t want any trouble. “I’m Andrew Wittmer.”

  “What are you doing with my boy in your buggy?” The man jutted his square chin and ignored Andrew’s offer of a handshake. He wore a fancy brown hat matching his wool overcoat and stood tall, with broad shoulders.

  Andrew dropped his hand to his side. The man wasn’t going to make this introduction easy. He opened his mouth to answer.

  Mr. Ferguson balled fists, tightened his jaw, and interrupted him. “I asked you a question.”

 
He braced himself for a punch to the face. “Wally, please tell your daed what happened at the bakery.”

  Wally stood a yard away from his daed. “Mr. Wittmer offered me a ride. Said it was cold outside. I accepted.”

  He gave Wally a hard gaze. “Wally, tell your daed the truth.”

  “Are you calling my boy a liar?” Mr. Ferguson took a step closer to Andrew.

  Andrew stepped back. This may have been the worst idea he’d had in a long time. “Wally dashed into the bakery’s storage room and stole tools. I came upon him and the bakery’s manager, Maryann. She told me what happened, and Wally had the tools in hand. I offered to bring him home and inform you instead of taking your boy to the sheriff.”

  “Is this true, Wally?”

  Wally nodded and hung his head.

  The man pointed to the haus. “Get inside and go to your bedroom. I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

  Wally dragged his feet inside the impressive haus.

  Hands on hips, Mr. Ferguson squinted. “Thank you for not reporting my son to the sheriff.”

  “You’re wilkom.” Andrew relaxed, nodded, and hurried to his buggy. He didn’t want to leave room in the conversation for an argument or the Englischer’s reasons for not being fond of the Amish. He’d end things on a decent note. He hoped Mr. Ferguson would be better accepting of the Amish after their encounter.

  From Mr. Ferguson’s strong reaction to the news, Andrew was sure he would talk to Wally and help him understand the error of his ways.

  He looked forward to having kinner, and he couldn’t wait to become a daed someday.

  His face cold against the slight wind, Andrew arrived home. He unharnessed his horse and walked the animal inside the barn. “Toby, you’ve whipped this barn into great shape. I’ve been meaning to put the tools, ropes, pails, and metal bins in a better order, and I never got around to it. This is great. Danki.”