by Molly Jebber
“Liza, of course you’ll join us.”
She didn’t miss the twinkle in his eye at Esther’s invitation. What could she say? Esther hadn’t given her much choice, asking her in front of Jacob. There she went again. Liza was hoping her schweschder would invite her to supper. She’d never been drawn to a man quite this way. Paul had been handsome, but she hadn’t married him for love. It hadn’t taken long before she’d struggled to tolerate him. Jacob had turned her life upside down the moment she laid eyes on him. But she didn’t have time to sort this out now.
She leaned closer to Esther. “Do you want me to bring anything?”
“If the girls do a good job on the cookies, you could bring us some.”
“If they don’t, I’ll bring my special molasses cookies. I have some stowed in the back room.”
“Apple tarts are in a covered pan on the second shelf under the counter for tomorrow. I made plenty. We should have more than enough for patrons tomorrow.” Esther walked to the back door. “I’m going outside to fetch some water in the washbasin to clean the pans I left inside.” She disappeared through the other room to use the back door.
Jacob stood. “I should get going.”
“We will take Ellie with us, because you’ll be kumming to Esther and Abe’s.”
“I should tell her our plans have changed.”
“I’ll interrupt the girls and ask her to kumme speak with you.” She popped her head around the door. “Ellie, your daed would like to talk to you. Do you mind joining him in front?”
Ellie gave a disgusted sigh, washed her hands in the basin of clean water, and dried them. She joined her daed and stared at him.
He gave her a stern look. “Ellie, we’ve been invited to supper at Hannah’s haus. Liza has offered to take you with them, and I’ll arrive at around six. Respect Liza and behave.”
Without a word, she whipped around and disappeared into the back room.
Red-faced, he bit his bottom lip. Moments later, he put his hand on the door. “I’m sorry you had to witness her disrespectful behavior once again. Are you sure you want to take her home? I don’t want to subject you to her attitude.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry. We understand she may be difficult. Our goal is to befriend her in her own time.”
“You’re generous and kind to overlook her faults. I look forward to talking with you more this evening, Liza.” He blushed and hurried out the door.
The man was broken. He loved Ellie, but his dochder wasn’t giving him any glimmer of hope her attitude would improve. He looks forward to talking to me more. He didn’t hold back. He said what was on his mind. Another trait she found attractive about him. She walked to the back and stopped shy of the open doorway and listened to the girls’ conversation. She peeked in enough to watch them.
Ellie had removed her kapp and pins. She smoothed out her tresses. Golden locks cascaded down her back. “I get sick of wearing pins in my hair. They give me a headache. Why should we have to cover our hair with a kapp? It’s silly. I ripped off my kapp the minute I ran away.”
Liza stifled a gasp. Ellie’s unpinning of her hair was quite defiant. She really had no regard for Amish law.
Eva stopped rolling the dough into a ball in her hand. She paused, as if someone had slapped her. “I like honoring our Amish traditions. I can’t imagine leaving my family. Did you leave a note for your daed?”
“I wrote him a letter. I didn’t tell him where I was going so he wouldn’t find me.”
Putting a hand to her open mouth, Liza was shocked. Poor Jacob. What anguish he must’ve suffered, unaware of where Ellie had gone or what was happening to her.
Hannah cut a piece of twine from a roll on the shelf and went to Ellie. “I’m going to tie your hair back, wind it in a bun, and put your pins back in it. We don’t want hair in the cookies.”
Pained regret came over Ellie. “I’m sorry. I forgot about getting strands in the food. Danki.”
Interesting. Liza tapped a finger to her lips. Ellie hadn’t shrugged off Hannah’s insistence she tie her hair back. The frown of regret showed she cared what Hannah thought. Maybe her niece would have some influence on Ellie. She hid behind the doorframe and listened.
Leah diced peaches and added them to her cookie mixture. “Where did you stay and how long were you gone?”
Ellie beamed. “I met Jane and her bruder, Duke Patterson, in Indiana at the general store one day. Jane has a full head of golden curls and big, dark blue eyes. She was friendly and introduced herself and Duke to me. They lived close by in Sugarcreek. They agreed to meet me several times in Nappanee. I offered to go to town to buy supplies and Daed had no idea I was meeting them. I told Jane I was curious about Englisch life, and she invited me to stay with her and Duke. Their parents had died and Duke managed the farm and made furniture to sell in his friend’s furniture store.”
“Was Duke your beau?” Leah covered her open mouth.
Her tone matter of fact, Ellie said, “He was a friend, not a romantic interest.”
Eva scooped a spoonful of dough from Leah’s bowl and rolled it into a ball. “Did you tell your daed you’d left with them in your note?”
“I wrote I had met friends who would take good care of me and not to search for me. I told him I was curious about the world and I would write or return once I’d chosen the Amish or Englisch life. I told him my friends picked me up and provided transportation. I left it on the kitchen table when he was at a neighbor’s haus, helping them put on a roof.”
Biting her tongue, Liza crossed her arms. Ellie had left Nappanee with Englischers she’d barely known. She could’ve been abused or lost her life. This girl was fearless and foolish. She was too young and unaware of the dangers of the world. She’d been selfish to leave her daed wondering about her well-being.
“He must have been worried sick about you.” Leah spoke barely above a whisper.
Ellie cocked her head and shrugged. “I suppose he was, but I was fine.”
Hannah checked the molasses cookies baking in the wood-fired oven. “Were you hoping your friendship with Duke would grow into something more?”
Liza held her breath for a moment. She wasn’t sure she wanted to learn the answer to that question. How intimate had Ellie gotten with this man?
“No, but I was comfortable around him. Jane and I became good friends. She showed me how to fix my hair in stylish pins and braids. She had button-down cotton blouses, tight-fitting belted dresses, and loose-fitting, everyday cotton dresses in red, blue, green, and yellow prints. She gave me some of her clothes. I enjoyed wearing them while I was there.”
“Did you have your own room?” Leah squinted.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Liza bent her head and listened to Ellie. She could barely stand to peek now and then. This girl’s nonchalant attitude in telling the others her story was maddening. She hoped Ellie’s stories wouldn’t negatively influence these naïve Amish girls.
“No, Jane and I shared a room. She had ribbons, bows, and fancy shoes. We dressed up a lot. We went dancing in town a few times. She taught me how to dance, and I caught on to the steps in no time. I loved the music and the way the full red skirt I wore swirled when I twirled on the dance floor.”
“How long did you stay?” Eva leaned on the working counter.
Ellie poured flour and sugar according to the recipe into a mixing bowl to make her batch of peach cookies. “About a month.”
Eva set her ball of dough onto the metal cookie sheet. “Why didn’t you stay with Jane and Duke if you enjoyed the Englisch life?”
Head bowed, Ellie said, “Duke came home from the saloon one night and grabbed my arm. He pulled me to him, but Jane yelled at him and told him to stop. He did and stumbled to his room. I was petrified. She said he’d promised to quit drinking and he had for a while. She said he must’ve started drinking again. She was afraid of what he might do if she weren’t there in the room with me to stop him. She offered to take me home the next day and sh
e did.”
Hannah gasped. “I’m glad Jane intervened. She was a true friend to keep you safe by bringing you home. Your daed must’ve been thrilled to lay eyes on you.”
“We hugged and wept. I’d been homesick and I’d missed him. I’m still confused about living the Amish or the Englisch life, but for now, I’ll stay in Charm.”
For now. Liza put a fist to her mouth. Ellie might leave Jacob again. He’d been through a boatload of heartache with the passing of his fraa and having his dochder leave once. She would do all she could to encourage Ellie to stay and seek God in her life.
Hannah washed her hands and circled an arm around Ellie’s waist. “I’m glad you’re here with us. We’d like to include you when we have gatherings like this one. Hopefully, we’ll sway you into never wanting to leave your Amish life behind.” She gave Ellie a merry grin.
Ellie bit her lip. “Your mamm may not want you to befriend me. The Amish in Nappanee found out about my running away. They spread gossip about me and thought the worst. The trouble I caused Daed is the reason we moved here.”
Liza entered the room. She was shocked at what she’d overheard but didn’t want to show it. Ellie was in danger of going down the wrong path again. Thankful Hannah had insisted on showing Ellie the Amish way was the better choice, she needed to join forces with her niece. They had to draw in this frustrated girl and give her confidence she could find happiness again in her Amish life. Hannah had used the right words to show Ellie she cared.
“You’re wrong, Ellie. My schweschder, Esther, is a forgiving and loving woman. I hope you’ll give my family and each of these girls a chance to become your friends. You came to Charm for a new start. Let us help you.” Liza moved her hand toward Ellie’s arm then pulled it back. She wasn’t sure how Ellie would react. Better not to kumme on too strong with her.
Ellie remained quiet.
Liza would let it go for now. They hadn’t known each other long. She didn’t want to push her to respond until she’d gotten to know Ellie better.
*
Whistling, Jacob strolled to the hardware store. As he unhooked a small knife, a man bumped into him. He whipped his head to look at the man. Eyes wide, he smiled. “Ezra, what a nice surprise!”
“Jacob, nice to run into you. I brought Annabelle to town to do a little shopping. Thought I’d stop in the hardware store and shop around to pass the time. Is your dochder with you?”
“Liza invited Ellie to a baking social this afternoon. I dropped her off, and Liza is taking her to Esther’s for supper after her workday ends. I’m joining them at six.”
“Sounds like you’ve made a good impression on Liza and her schweschder. I’m glad.”
Ezra pointed to a worn pine bench outside the store. “Annabelle is picking up some material to make dresses for some of her elderly friends. Would you like to join me on the bench outside?”
“Sure.” He followed Ezra to the bench, but they paused in front of it.
“Is Ellie adjusting to moving to Charm?” Ezra swatted at a fly that had landed on his sleeve.
“She’s battling to overcome her grief over her mamm’s passing. She’s changed from a sweet and obedient child to a rebellious young woman. I’m hoping moving to Charm will give her a fresh start. She ran away from home in Nappanee, and that damaged her reputation in the Amish community. I’m afraid she’ll do it again.”
Ezra removed his straw hat and scratched his head. “I have a dochder. Her name is Martha. She met and married an Englischer. They live in Texas. Annabelle and I were heartbroken over her decision to leave the Amish life. She writes to us, but it’s not the same as having her here. She’ll never be wilkomed back in the community, and we wouldn’t be comfortable making such a long trip. We’re not supposed to speak about our loved ones who have left the community, but I thought it best you knew we understand your dilemma with Ellie. I hope Ellie will stay in Charm for her sake and yours.” He swiped a tear from his cheek.
Jacob’s heart hurt for his new friend. He would be lost without Ellie if she chose the outside world as her permanent home. Ezra’s story was sad, but he was comforted that he could identify with what he was experiencing. Not many Amish would understand or be willing to discuss a child who had left the community. “I’m sorry, Ezra. Danki for telling me. It helps to talk to someone who understands my problem. Liza’s been receptive to discussing Ellie with me too. I’m blessed to have met kind friends in the short amount of time I’ve been here.” He sat.
Ezra started to sit.
A burly man with a thick mustache knocked into Ezra. “Watch where you’re going, old man!”
Jacob reached out and grabbed Ezra to steady him. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I should’ve been more careful.” He glanced at the Englischer. “I’m sorry, Mr. Phillips.”
“You should be.” The bully harrumphed and walked away.
Jacob stared at the back of the arrogant man. His friend could’ve been hurt, and it hadn’t been Ezra’s fault. “That man was in the wrong, Ezra. He should’ve apologized to you.”
“I don’t want trouble. Chuck Phillips is an angry and dangerous man. I witnessed him hitting another man hard with his fist outside the hardware store a couple of weeks back. The man fought back in self-defense, and Mr. Phillips jumped on top of him and nearly beat him to death before a handful of men pulled him off.”
“Did the sheriff arrest him?”
“No. The injured man ran away and didn’t report him. I doubt anyone wants to cross Chuck Phillips.”
Jacob frowned. Mr. Phillips’s muscular, tall, and large size and menacing face would put off anyone. He hoped they wouldn’t run into each other again.
A woman approached them, carrying an armload of packages. “Ezra dear, would you mind carrying these for me?”
Ezra took them from her and gestured to Jacob. “I’d be happy to. Annabelle, meet our neighbor, Jacob.”
Jacob stood and tipped his hat. Her wide grin, big dimples, and round, rosy cheeks brought a smile to Jacob’s face. She was the same height as Ezra but would make two of him with her round middle. She had the same sparkle in her eyes and cheerful voice.
He was relieved she hadn’t noticed Mr. Phillips being rude to Ezra on her way to them. “It’s a pleasure. Danki for the delicious food you sent over with Ezra the other day. Ellie, my dochder, and I really enjoyed it.”
The three of them sat. Annabelle folded her hands on her lap. “You are wilkom.” She elbowed Ezra’s arm. “We should head back. So nice to meet you, Jacob. You and Ellie should stop over and visit us sometime.”
“Danki for the invitation. Our door is always open to you both anytime too. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Glad we had another chance to talk, Jacob. It’s been good to learn more about you.”
Jacob bid them farewell, retrieved his wagon, and headed home. He needed Ellie surrounded by kind and understanding Amish friends to encourage her to stay true to her faith in God and the Amish life. She was strong-willed and secretive. Would she give living in Charm, their kind neighbors, and making new friends a chance?
He arrived home, left food and water for his horse, and headed inside. Just enough time to get ready and go to Esther’s. Ellie better have behaved this afternoon. Liza’s friendship was important to him, and she and her family had gone out of their way to wilkom them. He didn’t want Ellie or anything else to ruin it. He shrugged out of his clothes and boots, put on a clean shirt and pants, and snapped his suspenders in place. Getting out of sweaty, dusty clothes and changing into clean ones felt much better. He wiggled his toes and grinned. Time for shoes and socks. He sat and pulled them on.
He unhooked his hat from the peg on the wall, retrieved his horse and buggy, and went to Esther’s. He couldn’t wait to have supper with Liza at her schweschder’s haus. Would they have time for a walk? He’d be grateful for any time alone with her. He sighed. Ellie might’ve ruined supper, depending on how she’d treated the girls a
t the social. He arrived and rapped on the door.
Liza surprised him. “You’re right on time.”
He stepped inside the haus. Her radiant smile resembled bright sunshine. “I’m punctual when it kummes to an invitation for a good meal.” He grinned.
Abe stood and extended his arm. “I’m Abe Lapp. Call me Abe. We go by first names.”
“A pleasure to meet you. Danki for inviting me into your home.”
“I’ve met Ellie.” He smiled. “She’s lovely. She and Hannah are inside. They have been inseparable since they arrived.”
Inseparable. This was encouraging news! Ellie must’ve been on her best behavior at the social. Hope sprang inside him.
Liza gestured to a chair across from Abe. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll help Esther in the kitchen. You and Abe relax and get acquainted.”
He nodded and she disappeared. “Your family has been very gracious to Ellie and me.”
Abe chuckled. “Esther, Liza, and Hannah are the kindest and most generous women in the community. I may be prejudiced, but in time I think you’ll agree. They have big hearts and are more understanding of awkward situations than most women.”
“Ellie has been a challenge for me since her mamm died. She’s finding her way, but it’s been hard on me. She doesn’t listen to reason and she’s curious about the outside world. She’s run away once and I worry she’ll do it again.”
“I’m sorry for your troubles. If I or my family can help you, please ask. I’d be a mess without Esther. Hannah and I would manage, but my dochder defers to her mamm about most things. Hannah hasn’t questioned living the Amish life. I shudder to think what it would be like if she had. I don’t envy you.”
“I don’t know if I’m too lenient or too strict. I’ve tried both. I’m praying and searching the scriptures for answers, but I’m not always clear about what to do.”
“You’re already doing it. You love her and you’re listening to her. Give her advice and instruction whether she wants it or not. At least you have the assurance you’ve said what you need to.”