“I didn’t get you that tonic. I’m sorry; I completely forgot.”
“That’s okay. Amy ended up getting it for me. I can’t say it’s working.”
“You’ll have to give it a little time. They don’t work immediately.”
“I know.”
Martha moved to the kettle and poured herself a cup of tea and sat down next to her mother.
Mamm took a sip of tea and then placed the cup back into the saucer. “I was at the market yesterday and overheard Mrs. Glick say that Michael has his eye on a girl. That’ll be you, Martha.”
Martha pushed out her lips. “It could be Gabbie, or maybe someone else entirely.”
Mrs. Yoder scoffed. “He wouldn’t be interested in a girl like Gabbie. She’s far too forward. I don’t know why her parents didn’t teach her that she needs to be quiet sometimes to allow others to speak.”
“She’s different in front of her parents, Amy says. Gabbie’s very nice sometimes, but it’s awful now that we both like the same boy.”
“Don’t you be worried. If he’s not for you, Gott will bring someone else. I’d reckon he is the one for you, I can feel it. Don’t you let Gabbie get in the way.”
Martha didn’t know how she’d go about stopping that, and she was confused by her mother’s conflicting comments.
Mamm added, “You might find out which one of you he likes when you’re both at the Glicks’ for dinner tonight.”
Martha pulled a face. “I don’t see how. He can’t invite me anywhere in front of Gabbie. Every time he speaks to me, Gabbie jumps in between us. He must know she likes him.”
“Sometimes men don’t like a woman who’s too forward. They don’t respect anything they don’t get from doing some hard work. They think, if it’s too easy they don’t want it.”
Martha frowned and whispered, “Mamm, that sounds like game-playing.”
Both women went quiet when they heard footsteps. Gabbie walked into the room rubbing her eyes. “Morning, all. Can I do anything to help, Mrs. Yoder?”
“Morning, Gabbie. I’m back to bed as soon as I drink this. I know it’s morning, but I have to catch naps where I can. You can help Martha with the breakfast when the girls wake.”
Gabbie yawned and then nodded. “Did Martha tell you we’ve been invited to the Glicks’ for dinner?”
“Jah, Martha told me last night,” Mrs. Yoder said.
“Let’s make pies to take, okay Martha?”
“What a good idea,” Martha agreed.
“After breakfast is over, you can.” Mrs. Yoder rose to her feet and then tipped the rest of her tea down the sink. “I’ll see you girls later.”
That evening, Michael called for Martha and Gabbie to take them back to the Glicks’ house for dinner.
“You weren’t at the volleyball game,” Gabbie said as soon as she climbed into the front seat of the buggy, leaving the back seat for Martha.
“Jah, I’m sorry. I got there after you left. I found out about a dinner invitation I’d forgotten about. After that, I went to the fields and they were packing up. Did you both go?”
Gabbie said, “Jah, both of us went. Martha got bored, and we had to go very early.”
Martha’s jaw dropped. Gabbie had been the one who wanted to go early. “That wasn’t what happened at all.”
Gabbie turned around and glared at Martha.
“I know Martha doesn’t have much interest in volleyball, she told me that,” Michael said.
Martha’s heart raced; she knew she should’ve defended herself better against Gabbie’s words, but didn’t want to appear as though she was angry in front of Michael. “I said that I wasn’t good at it, but I don’t mind watching it.”
When they arrived at the Glicks’ home, Anna came out to greet them. “I’m so glad you two could come to dinner. Come through to the kitchen. Mamm’s got the dinner nearly ready.”
Martha walked up the front steps and turned to see where Gabbie was. She was waiting by the buggy.
Anna looked for Gabbie as well. “Don’t wait for him,” Anna called to Gabbie.
Gabbie walked toward them looking down at the ground.
“I’ll see to the horse, and then I’ll be along in a minute,” Michael said.
The girls walked through to the kitchen after saying hello to Mr. Glick, who was sitting on the couch with a red and black checkered blanket over his legs, reading a paper.
“Can I help you with anything, Mrs. Glick?” Martha asked.
“Nee, it’s all done. We’re waiting on Michael.” Mrs. Glick arranged food on a tray and handed it to her daughter to take out to her father.
“He still can’t move around very well?” Gabbie asked.
“He’s getting better, but he won’t be able to do the farm work for a while yet. Michael’s offered to stay here with us as long as we need him,” Mrs. Glick said.
Martha noticed a smile on Gabbie’s face on hearing the news.
* * *
Talk of Anna’s wedding, the sewing of the dresses and the suits, dominated the dinner conversation. After the meal was over, they stayed and talked in the living room.
When it was time to go, Michael said, “The girls said they’d show me around this Saturday. Is that okay with you, Onkel Peter?”
Peter Glick laughed. “You’re not captive here, Michael. Of course, go.”
* * *
On the way back to Martha’s house, Gabbie made sure she was the one to sit next to Michael in the buggy. When the buggy stopped outside the Yoders’ house, Gabbie said, “Are you coming in to say hello, Michael?”
“Jah, I will.”
Martha got out of the buggy first and headed to the front door. She heard a scream and turned around to see Gabbie on the ground holding her ankle.
Martha rushed to her. “Gabbie, what’s wrong?”
Gabbie sat on the ground holding her leg. “My leg, I’ve hurt it badly.”
“Can you stand?” Martha asked.
Michael stood behind Gabbie. “What’s happened?”
“I’ve hurt my leg.” Gabbie sobbed with the pain.
“I’ll help you inside,” Michael offered.
“Denke.”
He did his best to help her to her feet and on the other side, Martha was helping.
Gabbie squealed again. “Nee, I can’t walk on it. Can you carry me, Michael?”
Michael lifted her with one arm around her back and another under her legs. Martha frowned, seeing the way Gabbie placed her arms around his neck and put her head against his chest. She was enjoying it, and that led Martha to wonder whether she was injured at all.
Martha pushed the door open. “Put her on the couch please, Michael.”
Michael walked up the porch steps, through the door and placed Gabbie on the couch.
Martha turned to her father who was running down the stairs. “Gabbie’s hurt her leg.”
Mr. Yoder rushed to Gabbie's side and, by that time, she’d taken off her lace-up shoe and was clutching her stockinged foot.
“It’s not swollen,” he said after he’d examined it.
Gabbie held it and moaned. “It hurts so much.”
“Can you wait until morning, Gabbie, or shall we take you to the hospital tonight?” Mr. Yoder asked.
“I can wait, I think.”
“She’ll need ice on it,” Michael said.
Mr. Yoder said, “We’ve got some ice. Martha, go fetch it.”
Martha hurried to the kitchen and opened the gas-powered freezer and took out a large piece of ice. Placing it on the wooden block near the stove, she smashed it into pieces. Martha took several small pieces and wrapped them in a clean dishtowel and hurried back to Gabbie. She didn’t like doubting Gabbie and wanted to believe her.
“Oh, that hurt,” Gabbie said when Martha placed the cold pack on her foot.
Mr. Yoder glared at his daughter. “Be careful, Martha.”
“Sorry, Gabbie, I put it on as gently as I could.”
“That�
�s okay, you can’t help it if you’re heavy-handed,” Gabbie said between sobs. “You’ve got large hands, like a man's.”
Martha frowned. Gabbie and her father were making her look uncaring and clumsy. Martha looked down at her hands. Were they that big?
“Can I get anyone tea?” Mrs. Yoder asked.
Martha turned to see her mother at the bottom of the staircase. “Gabbie’s hurt her leg.”
Martha’s mother rushed to Gabbie and made a fuss over her.
“I’ll be okay.” Gabbie sniffed, as she held the ice-pack to her foot.
“What about a hot cup of tea, Gabbie?” Mrs. Yoder asked.
Gabbie nodded. “That would be nice, and maybe a couple of chocolate cookies.”
Mrs. Yoder looked at Michael. “How about you, Michael?”
“I’ll have to go now. I’ve got an early morning planned tomorrow.” Michael took a step to the door.
“As have we all, Michael.” Mr. Yoder walked him out.
It seemed to Martha that even her father was conspiring against her. With Gabbie on the couch, she could’ve been the one to see Michael out, and it would’ve been just the two of them.
Mr. Yoder came back a couple of minutes later. “Any better with the ice on it, Gabbie?”
“I think it’s a little better.”
“Can you make it up the stairs, or would you prefer to sleep on the couch for the night?” he asked.
“I think my leg is too bad to make it up the stairs, Mr. Yoder.”
“I’ll have Martha bring you a quilt and pillows. Where is that girl? Martha?”
“I’m right here, Dat.” Martha pressed her lips together. Was she invisible to all men? She’d been there the whole time, sitting on the chair when he’d walked back into the room.
Mr. Yoder turned around. “What are you waiting for then? Fetch some things to make Gabbie comfortable.”
“Right away, Dat.” There was no use arguing. She couldn’t accuse Gabbie of pretending the injury so she could lean against Michael’s chest and be held in his arms.
Gabbie was pleased her act had worked. Michael was so strong; she had found that out when he’d swept her up and held her close. His chest was hard and muscled, and she had pressed her cheek against it. One day soon they’d be together. Nothing could stand in her way of winning his heart. God had arranged for her to be sent to Lancaster County at the very time he’d come from Ohio. It was too much of a coincidence to be anything other than God’s will and His planning. Gabbie knew love could be helped along, and that was just what she planned to do.
* * *
After making her visitor comfortable, Martha needed some big-sister sympathy. She knocked quietly on Amy’s door, so she wouldn’t wake Micah who’d be asleep.
“Come in.”
As soon as Martha opened the door, Amy asked her what all the fuss downstairs was about. Amy was in bed with her bedside lamp on, reading, and she closed her book just as Martha sank onto the bed to sit next to her. Martha told her everything, and then asked, “Do you think she’s faking it?”
“Only time will tell.”
Frustration welled within Martha. “What can I do? Everything seems hopeless. He can’t see me because Gabbie’s always jumping in front, talking over the top of me or making me look a fool. Tonight, she even said I have men's hands.” She held up her hands. “Do I?”
Amy giggled. “Nee, they’re perfectly beautiful women’s hands.”
“I don’t see why you think it’s funny.”
“I don’t. Not really.”
“What should I do?”
Amy shook her head. “You’re asking me? I’m no expert. Or maybe I should give you advice and then you do the exact opposite of what I say.”
Martha felt more sorry for Amy than she did for herself. “Oh, Amy... why don’t you write to him again? Or call him at the mill where he works?”
“I don’t know.” Amy sighed. “It’s all just awkward now. Too much time has gone by.”
“How do you know he isn’t thinking the same thing?”
“Now you’re sounding like Olive.”
“Oh, she said a similar thing?”
Amy nodded. “Practically the same.”
Martha stayed longer to talk with her sister and found she was the one comforting Amy instead of the other way around.
Chapter 21
The next morning, there was a miracle in the Yoder household. Gabbie’s leg had healed. She made her way into the kitchen and sat down with Martha, and Martha’s parents, who were eating breakfast. “I’m better now, Mr. Yoder.”
“All the same, I’ll take you to the doctor,” he said.
Gabbie shook her head. “Nee, I’m sure there’s no need. Look, I can put all my weight on it. It healed overnight.”
“Is there a swelling or mark on your ankle?” Mrs. Yoder asked.
“Nee, it’s as if there was never anything wrong.”
“Must have been the night’s sleep on the couch that cured you,” Martha said.
“The body heals itself.” Gabbie grinned. “That’s how Gott designed it.”
“That’s very true. I’m glad you’re better.” Mrs. Yoder turned to her husband. “If her leg’s better there’s no reason to see a doctor.”
“Okay. You’d know best.”
* * *
Later that day the girls were fixing lunch when they saw Michael’s buggy heading toward the house.
“He’s coming to see if I’m better,” Gabbie squealed.
Mrs. Yoder glanced out the window at the buggy, and then said, “Girls, I need you both to fetch me some coriander and dill from the garden,”
“Can we talk to Michael first?” Gabbie asked.
“Nee, do as I ask, and you can see him soon. If you get stuck talking to him, I’ll never get my herbs.”
The girls walked into the herb garden, both unhappy about not being able to see Michael right away. They were silent until they reached the garden.
“What do you think was wrong with your leg?” Martha asked as she plucked dill and placed it in her wicker basket.
“Most likely, I twisted my ankle. It was very painful.”
They walked back to the house, and when they were through the back door, they saw Mrs. Yoder sitting with Michael at the kitchen table, and Amy was there feeding Micah his cereal.
“There you are,” Mrs. Yoder said, as she turned to look at them. “Michael and I have had quite a talk.”
“It must have been a quick one because we were only gone for five minutes,” Gabbie said.
Mrs. Yoder ignored her cheeky comment, rose to her feet, and took the wicker basket from Martha. “Ah, my garnishes. Denke, girls. Do you have time to stay for a cup of kaffe, Michael?”
“Jah, I do.”
Both girls sat opposite him.
“My leg’s better,” Gabbie told him.
“That’s good, I was going to ask about your leg. You’ve made a marvelous recovery. I thought you might’ve broken it or at least sprained it.”
“I’m very tough.” Gabbie laughed.
“I didn’t know your leg would be better, Gabbie. I’ve come here to ask you, Martha, if you’d come to the charity auction with me on Friday.”
“Jah, I’d like that,” Martha said.
“Good. I know you’re interested in charitable works. My onkel’s volunteering me to take lots of things to the auction and I thought you might help?”
Gabbie pushed out her bottom lip and glared at Martha. Martha knew Gabbie hoped she’d refuse his offer. “I’d really like that, Michael. Denke for thinking of me. I’d love to help.”
Michael’s face beamed, and Martha realized she might yet have a chance with him. Maybe he liked her and not Gabbie.
Mrs. Yoder carried the coffee cups to the table and placed them down just as Micah began crying. “He’s been fussy. I think it’s his back teeth.”
“Two year molars?” Amy asked.
Mamm nodded and then leaned forward and pi
cked him up out of his highchair. “And I’d say he needs a diaper change.”
“I’ll do it,” Amy said.
“You can come and distract him for me.”
Martha wasn’t happy her mother and sister left the room leaving her to deal with Gabbie. “I’ll get us some cookies,” Martha said.
While Martha went to the pantry to get the cookies, she heard Michael ask, “How long will you be staying here, Gabbie?”
“I’m not sure. I might have to leave soon.”
“That’s too bad.”
Martha came back and placed the cookies in the middle of the table and sat back down next to Gabbie.
After Michael bit into a cookie, he moved uncomfortably in the chair.
“Weren’t you going to do some gardening, Martha?” Gabbie asked.
“Jah, but I’m visiting with our guest now. I’ll do the gardening later,” Martha fixed a smile on her face.
Gabbie raised her eyebrows. “You sure? It’ll be time to help prepare dinner soon.”
Michael took a huge gulp of coffee. “Well, I’ll be heading off soon and then you’ll be able to garden.”
“Already? You haven’t even finished your cookie.” Gabbie’s eyes fixed on the half-eaten cookie on his plate.
He picked it up and stood. “Thank your mudder for me, Martha. Tell her I’m sorry I had to leave so quickly.” He popped the rest of the cookie into his mouth.
Martha nodded and both girls followed him to the door. They stood and watched as his buggy moved away from the house.
“I don’t know why he asked you, Martha. It’s me he likes.”
“I’m sorry, Gabbie, but he thought your leg would still have been hurting you.”
“That’s okay. It’s good that he’s getting to know my friends. I’m sure that’s what he’s doing.”
“You think so?”
Gabbie nodded. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“You don’t think that he can like me as a potential fraa?”
Gabbie put her hand over her mouth to stifle giggles. “I’m sorry, Martha, I don’t mean to laugh. You’re just so funny sometimes. Don’t worry. You’ll find someone. Michael is so kind and considerate, don’t you think?”
The Amish Deacon's Daughter Page 12