Noah walked up to Fannie’s side and cupped his hand to his ear. “What was that, Fannie? Did you say you were right, Noah?”
She tried to hide a smile. “It pains me, but you were correct this time.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Any other suggestions?”
He tapped his lips with one finger. “Not at the moment, but I’m sure something will occur to me.”
“Don’t you have ball practice or something else you need to do?”
“Nope.”
“Are you on call? Isn’t there a fire somewhere?” She was struggling not to laugh.
“Nope.”
“Can you just go away and leave us in peace?”
“You want me to go?”
“Ja, Noah.”
“See how much better your communication skills have become, Fannie?”
“Are you going or not? Because I have work to do.”
“Okay. I leave you and your group in Timothy’s capable hands. Only there is one more thing.”
Fannie rolled her eyes. “Tell me now before I die of curiosity.”
“You want to showcase the horses’ skills, don’t you?”
“That is our entire plan in a nutshell.”
“I saw you take some pretty impressive jumps on Trinket and on the gelding you were riding the other day. Why not add some jumps to your routine? Haflingers make fine show jumpers. You said so yourself.”
Fannie opened her mouth and closed it again.
Noah turned to his brother. “I love it when I can leave her speechless.”
* * *
Fannie was torn between feeling foolish that she hadn’t thought of it and wanting to hug Noah for the suggestion. “You are right.”
Noah cupped his hand to his ear. “What was that, Fannie? Did you just say I was right again? Twice in one day!”
“Yes, birdbrain, I said you were right again. Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. However, I must admit it is an excellent idea,” she added before he took exception to her quaint saying. He gave her a wounded look but kept quiet. She turned to Connie. “What do you think?”
“If we set them up in the center, you can use it as part of your entry. Say, four jumps of slightly increasing height?”
“We’ll have to leave enough room for our pinwheel in the middle.”
“Then that won’t work.”
“Set them around the perimeter, far enough away from your pattern area that they won’t interfere,” Noah suggested. “I assume the arena at the Horse Expo is larger than this one?”
Connie nodded. “Much larger. We don’t want to detract from the flow of the ride. You girls can swing wide at some point and go over them. Perhaps at the end of the program.”
“Will we be allowed to add jumps?” Susan asked. “Don’t we have to follow the rules of the competition?”
“That’s the beauty of it,” Connie said. “We won’t be competing in the drill team event at the Horse Expo. I’ve pulled in all the favors I could manage and even pressured some members of the Haflinger Association who were friends of my father to give us the breed spotlight. Our mission is to show the crowd and the country what awesome horses Haflingers are.”
“What do you mean when you say ‘show the country’?” Fannie asked.
Connie grinned. “The Expo is a televised event. You knew that, didn’t you?”
No one spoke. She looked around the group and her smile faded. “Will that be a problem?”
Chapter Eleven
“It’s going to be televised? Are you sure?” Lillian asked, looking from her husband to Fannie.
Seated with Noah and Timothy in Lillian’s kitchen, Fannie blew out a deep breath. “That is what Connie told us. Do you think it will make a difference to the bishop? You don’t think he’ll put a stop to us again, do you?”
Timothy shook his head. “I’m not sure how he will feel about it, but we have to let him know.”
“Sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness than permission,” Noah said.
Timothy frowned at him. “This is not one of those times, little bruder.”
“I thought I would offer it as a suggestion.” Noah folded his arms over his chest.
“It isn’t a bad one.” Fannie could see the merit in it.
“They may be right,” Lillian said, drumming her fingers on the tabletop.
“How so?” Timothy asked.
“Nothing has changed. The bishop has said these girls are not baptized and the rules of our church do not yet apply to them. People were taking pictures of you at the fair when the bishop was watching, weren’t they, Fannie?”
“A lot of them were, but most people took pictures from a distance or from the side, so our faces weren’t in them.”
Lillian laced her fingers together and leaned forward. “Then Connie will have to insist that the television people do the same. No close-ups of the girls’ faces. No mention of names. She must ask them to respect our religious beliefs. If they agree, I say there is no need to worry the bishop over this one small detail.”
“And if they don’t agree?” Timothy asked.
“Then we place the decision in Bishop Beachy’s hands.” Lillian sat back with a smile.
Timothy stared at Lillian in amazement. “I had no idea my wife was so devious.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Husband, how can you say that?”
“I say it with great unease.”
Lillian chuckled and leaned forward to pat his hand. “Have no fear. I will never deceive you, my love.”
“You say that now, but what if Gott ordains that I am chosen to be a minister and then a bishop someday? Will you seek to keep other small details from my view?”
She shrugged. “I shall cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Timothy looked to Noah. “Be cautious when you choose to wed, Noah. It can’t be undone.”
Lillian giggled. “As if you would undo our vows. I know you better than that. Fannie, are you coming to the frolic on Friday?”
“I am. My parents, too.”
“It will be wonderful to finally have enough room for all our students,” Timothy said.
Noah stood. “I hope we have plenty of willing hands to share the work.”
Timothy rose, too. “I don’t think we need to worry about that. All the children are excited about helping.”
Lillian pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. “I had a note from my friend Debra Merrick. She is planning on coming. She’s eager to begin teaching health and well-baby classes in the new wing and wants to do her part in getting it ready.”
Debra was the local public health nurse. With Lillian’s help, she had become well-known and well liked in the community after she and her brother helped raise money for the families affected by the arson fires. She held a well-baby clinic once a month and taught classes on food safety and other topics afterward. She took great pains to be respectful of their Amish beliefs. Fannie had met her several times and liked her.
“Are you ready to go, Fannie?” Noah settled his ball cap on his head.
“I am.” She had ridden with him to Timothy’s home to discuss what they should do about the Horse Expo being televised. She had been too upset to enjoy the buggy ride out, but she was looking forward to being alone with him on the ride home.
Outside, he helped her into the two-wheeled cart he had chosen to drive that day. It was the same type of cart she and her mother drove for short trips around the community when the weather was nice.
As they started up the hill, he glanced her way. “Feeling better about this now?”
“I am. If Connie can get the Expo to agree to our requests, I don’t see a problem.”
“Have faith that it w
ill work out.”
“I hope so. I truly do. We are so close to pulling it all together.” She was almost afraid to believe it would happen.
“I was thinking.”
“Not again, Noah. You know that strains your birdbrain.” She tried not to giggle, but she couldn’t help herself.
“Ha-ha! Why did I ever tell you that story?”
“Just to make me happy. What were you thinking?”
“Forget it.”
“I want to know.”
“I was thinking that your Haflingers have one more skill we could add to the program.”
She tipped her head. “What skill would that be?”
“What are we doing right now?”
“They are wonderful horses, Noah, but they can’t carry on a conversation.”
“Be serious. What am I doing?”
“Annoying me?”
“Fannie! I’m trying to help. I’m driving a horse in harness.”
Her mind began whirling with the possibilities. “A second act.”
“Exactly.”
“A driven drill team consisting of Haflingers.”
“The same horses, driven by the same riders.”
“Versatility is the mark of a horse trained at Stroud Stables.”
“There you go. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate program. Basically repeat the patterns you’ve already taught the girls, only in carts instead of on horseback. Are all the horses broke to harness?”
“They are. Connie insists on it because her Amish customers want horses to pull their buggies and carts. They aren’t looking for riding stock, while her Englisch customers most often want ponies for their children to ride. The girls have been driving carts since they were five or six. They shouldn’t have any problem.”
“And you had the nerve to call me a birdbrain.”
Fannie linked her arm through his. “I’m sorry. This is a fine idea. I can’t wait to tell Connie and see what she says about it.”
“I have my cell phone. Do you want to call her?”
Fannie was tempted but she shook her head. “Nee, it can wait. Good news is best shared in person.”
“Spoken like a true Amish woman.”
“Danki.” Fannie kept her arm linked through his all the way to Connie’s farm.
* * *
Two days later, Fannie and her group practiced unsaddling their mounts and getting them into harnesses as quickly as possible. With two girls working together on each horse and the adults helping the youngest members, they soon had the time cut down to an acceptable amount.
Connie raised her hands. “The crowd will simply have to listen to music for a few minutes.”
“Or you can be giving a short lecture on the breed history and characteristics,” Fannie said. She knew people would find it interesting.
“Not me.” Connie shook her head. “I can’t speak in front of people. I get horrible stage fright, but I will give something to the announcer to read.”
“You can stand on the back of a galloping horse in front of hundreds of people, but you can’t speak in public?”
Connie gave her a sour look. “Everyone has some kind of phobia.”
“Have you heard from the Expo people about our television restrictions?”
“I haven’t, but I should hear something soon. I know some folks think I’m exploiting these young women to improve my financial standing, but I draw the line at asking them to go against their fundamental religious teachings on national television.”
Fannie looked at her riders. “Are we ready to try this?”
They all agreed. The Amish Girls went through their main routine with ease while Timothy, Noah and Connie looked on. After the last pattern was complete, they swung out to take their mounts over the hurdles set up along the walls and then went out the open barn doors. Outside, the girls unsaddled their mounts and then harnessed them. It was time-consuming and before all eight horses were hitched to their prospective carts the girls were sweating and flustered. Once they entered the ring again, they were able to settle down and drive with precision.
Connie applauded loudly when they were done. “You make it look so easy.”
Fannie stood in her cart. “Practice the same time next Tuesday. Remember, we are giving a show on Wednesday at the Mount Hope Horse Auction. Everyone should be here by nine o’clock. Connie will have a van to take us and a hauler to take our carts, so please drive your carts that morning. She will be taking the horses in her horse trailer. If the show goes well, we can skip practice on Thursday and plan on having one on Saturday at noon. I’m very proud of all you girls have accomplished. I couldn’t be riding with a better group if I tried.”
After the practice was over, Noah drove Willy home while Fannie rode beside his buggy.
“What did you think of it?” she asked.
“It was a little ragged at the end, but it’s nothing that can’t be smoothed over with a little more practice. I think the crowd at the Expo will be mightily impressed with the breed and with Connie’s ability to train them.”
“That’s all I can ask,” Fannie said with a satisfied smile.
When they reached her lane, she pulled to a stop beside him. “You’re still planning on coming to the frolic, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Will I see you there?”
She smiled and nodded. “I’ll be there.”
He touched the brim of his hat. “Until then.”
Fannie trotted Trinket toward home, eager for tomorrow to arrive.
* * *
Noah was helping his brothers unload the lumber they would need at the school and keeping one eye out for Fannie and her family. Where were they?
“What’s wrong with you?” Samuel asked.
“Nothing, why?”
“Then watch what you’re doing. Two-by-fours go over there.” He gestured toward a stack of lumber beside the school building.
“Right.” Noah picked up the boards he’d added to the pile of siding and carried them to their proper place.
Two women came out of the school building. One was his sister-in-law Lillian. The other was an English woman, the county health nurse, Debra Merrick. A young woman in her midtwenties, Debra was dressed in a simple black skirt and a white blouse. Her low-heeled black shoes were sensible and sturdy. Debra’s blond hair was cut short with curls clustered around her face. She was a pretty woman, but he liked Fannie’s wild red curls better.
“Why do you call it a frolic?” Debra asked.
“The name just means a social and work event that takes place in our Amish communities,” Lillian explained. “It can be anything from a quilting bee to a barn raising. Whatever needs doing, we ask for volunteers and they show up. Today, the men and boys get together to do a few hours work in putting up the new school wing, and we feed them. That’s a frolic.”
“Your good food is one wonderful thing I’ve discovered about Amish country. I’ve had to go up a dress size already, and I’ve been here less than a year.”
Debra stared at the slab of concrete waiting to be covered. “Can you really get a building up today?”
“Noah, what do you think?” Lillian asked.
“The frame will be up by noon and the rest will be done by five if we get enough help.”
“I’m willing to do my part. Where are the tools? I’ve always wanted to use a saw.” Debra looked around.
Lillian steered her away from the lumber. “Let’s make sure we have enough to feed everyone, and then we can help the men later.”
The frolic was set to start at eight o’clock. Men trickled in until there was a crew of about fifteen. Fannie and her family finally arrived and Noah felt a surge of happiness at the sight of her. She wore a dark blue dress with a white apron, and for onc
e she didn’t have jeans and boots underneath. There was nothing to mark her as different from the other women gathered to work. All of them went inside the school building.
Some of the younger boys were playing with tools and trying not to cause mischief. Timothy took charge of them and put them to work. Paul came up to Noah carrying a case hung over his shoulder by a thick strap.
“What have you there?” Noah asked.
Paul opened the case and pulled out a microphone. “It just came today. It’s my sound system. It operates on batteries as well as electricity. With this I can run an auction anywhere.”
He switched it on. “Brothers and sisters, welcome to the Rider Hill School frolic.” His voice boomed out clear and sharp, causing everyone to stop and look at him. The younger children came running up, begging him to say something else. He gave them turns speaking into it, to their delight.
Fannie’s father stepped into the supervisor’s role, walking around and keeping track of the progress, offering suggestions or instructions, sometimes cracking jokes to the crew. He made everyone feel that they had an important job, from the youngest boy swinging a hammer to the oldest man carrying siding.
At midmorning, he called for a break. Noah and his brothers gladly sat down to steaming black coffee, fresh-picked grapes, raisin bars, assorted cookies and tart lemonade. It was beginning to get hot. Noah lifted his wide-brimmed straw hat and wiped the sweat from his brow.
At noon, Fannie began setting out ham and bread for sandwiches. She looked his way and smiled sweetly. He narrowly missed smashing his thumb because he was watching her instead of what he was doing.
As he’d known they would, his mother and sisters-in-law produced a mountain of food in plastic bowls and jars. Along with paper plates and utensils, they placed everything down the center of the folding tables brought out of the school. There were fried chicken, German potato salad, pickles, pickled beets, stacks of brownies, whoopie pies, a jugs of fresh lemonade and a jug of iced tea.
The bishop led the workers in a brief prayer of thanksgiving. Noah’s mother made sure everyone had a heaping plate of food on his or her lap before she sat down with a plate of her own. She gazed out over the families gathered together. “It does my heart good to see so many people willing to help.”
Their Pretend Amish Courtship Page 13