Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Katie pushed open the barn door to the sound of Jesse and his boys busy with the chores. She paused a moment to blink in the bright light of the lanterns.

  “It’s Katie!” Leroy hollered from the back of the barn. He came toward her at a fast walk, followed by Jesse and Willis, both of whom left their milk buckets sitting in the middle of the aisle.

  “Is Ben still alive?” Leroy asked as they gathered around Katie.

  Katie nodded and smiled. She was suddenly so tired she could fall asleep right here. But there was still the whole day of school in front of her.

  “Did Leon request that you visit the hospital?” Jesse’s voice rumbled in the morning stillness of the barn. “Or did you offer?”

  Katie’s eyes jerked open and she stepped back. “He asked, of course. He came to the schoolhouse right after we’d let out. He said Ben had taken a turn for the worse, and they hoped Ben would respond to my voice.”

  Jesse’s face broke into a smile. “Gut. Emma told me that’s what you’d told her, but Mabel thought you probably had called at Ben’s house first and sort of invited yourself to the hospital.”

  “Why would Mabel say something like that?” The words flew out of Katie’s mouth, as anger rose inside her. Mabel must be up to her old ways again!

  Jesse shrugged. “That’s Mabel. Well, I’m sure glad about Ben. The boy’s made a mistake, but I didn’t want to see him pass on so young. Now, boys, let’s get busy.”

  They scurried off, and Katie made her way over to Sparky’s stall. She reached through the slats to rub his nose that he’d extended toward her. Sparky nudged her hand, and Katie smiled. “Thanks for the fast ride last night. You did real gut, and I hope someone gave you extra oats when you got home.”

  After a nicker from Sparky, Katie left, heading out of the barn and across the lawn. Her thoughts turned to Mabel and the probable confrontation ahead. That girl needed a gut chewing out and then some. Sticking her nose in where it had no business being.

  Mamm met her at the door and wrapped Katie in her arms. “It’s so gut to see you again. We were so worried. Is everything okay? Is Ben still alive?”

  “He made it through the night,” Katie shared. “Lavina didn’t think I needed to stay any longer.”

  “Then Ben will be okay?”

  “The doctors think so.” Katie glanced around Mamm for any sign of Mabel. Faint clinking noises came from the kitchen, but Mabel hadn’t appeared. The girl was thoroughly embarrassed, no doubt.

  “Have you had breakfast?” Mamm asked.

  “Nee, and I’m pretty hungry.”

  Mamm nodded. “Then go get cleaned up. You must feel like a cruddy mess after sitting in that hospital all night. We’ll have breakfast ready in no time.”

  “I need to speak with Mabel first.” Katie marched around Mamm without waiting for an answer. Mamm might try to calm her down, but she didn’t want that right now. The furor inside was rising again, and she decided she might as well have it out with Mabel now.

  Mabel looked up with a sweet smile when Katie rushed into the kitchen. “Gut morning, Katie. How is the little sweetheart?”

  Behind Katie, Mamm stopped suddenly and gasped, but she didn’t say anything further.

  Katie stood a few steps away from Mabel. “I want you to hear me gut, Mabel. I’ve had enough of your interfering in my life. This spreading of rumors has to stop. And no more insinuations in an attempt to make me look bad! You have to stop, Mabel!”

  “Rumors? Like what? Did I say something that wasn’t true?” Mabel kept her smile pasted on. “You did go to the hospital that first time. And from the looks of you now, you spent the night with Ben at the hospital. What more is there to say?”

  Katie couldn’t keep the words in her mouth. “And it was all quite innocent and aboveboard—and you’ve made it sound like something’s going on that isn’t. You’re spreading lies by the sin of deliberate omission, Mabel. You have a wicked mind, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I don’t want you to go around to Norman again to get him all upset and rushing over to the schoolhouse thinking I’m forsaking him.”

  “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.” Mabel put on a pout now. “And you are forsaking him. I heard you say so myself not that long ago. Your heart is still going pitty-pat, pitty-pat for Ben Stoll. And now you’ve spent the night in Ben’s hospital room. If I were Norman, I’d drop you like the hot potato you are. Why should he wreck his life with a frau like you?”

  Katie glared. Her temper was still boiling, but she obviously was getting nowhere with Mabel. Just like the Scriptures said, the wrath of man didn’t work the righteousness of God. How often had she heard those words from the preachers on Sunday? But right now she couldn’t help herself. “So what are you offering Norman? You? You hope to be his frau?”

  Mabel smirked. “The thought has crossed my mind. I know I’d make a better frau for him than you ever could.”

  Katie could hardly think. Her head was throbbing and she was so hungry she thought she might faint in a moment. And Mabel was totally, completely impossible. “I’m not giving you a chance to steal Norman,” Katie whispered. “Put that in your kapp and pin it fast.”

  Mamm moved between them, and Katie stepped back and sat on a kitchen chair.

  “I want both of you to apologize right now.” Mamm’s voice was firm. “Your daett will not tolerate this kind of disharmony in his house. You two girls will—and I mean it—you will get along. And Mabel, you will stop saying things that aren’t true.”

  Katie groaned inside. Mamm was trying to be neutral, but Katie knew she’d done nothing wrong. She did get angry, though, so perhaps she should apologize for that.

  Mabel spoke up first. “Sorry. I’ll try to get along more. And I’ll try to watch my words.”

  “And you, Katie?” Mamm turned toward her.

  “I’m sorry I got angry.”

  “There!” Mamm bustled around the kitchen finishing up breakfast.

  Mabel glanced at Katie with a broad smile on her face.

  Obviously Mabel didn’t feel defeated in the least, Katie thought. Nor did Mabel plan to cease her scheming.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The following Sunday evening after the hymn singing was over, Katie pulled herself into Norman’s buggy. Norman slapped the reins before Katie was seated, so she was thrown against the seat back. Katie hung on and glanced at Norman. What was wrong with him tonight? The action had obviously been deliberate. Come to think of it, Norman hadn’t appeared too happy during the entire hymn singing tonight. Only once had his gaze drifted her way, and even then he’d quickly looked away. She had at first written it off to his usual shyness, but, nee, it was more than that. Katie ventured to speak. “Is something wrong, Norman?”

  He grunted but didn’t say anything as he gripped the reins. Perhaps she was reading something into his actions that didn’t belong. Yet Norman hadn’t said nothing was wrong.

  Katie tried again. “Maybe you’d better tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Nothing’s wrong. Everything is just peachy keen.”

  Katie stared off into the darkness as the shadowy forms of trees whizzed past. What was this—a guessing game? Clearly Norman was upset. But about what? She hadn’t done anything wrong. Everyone knew about her night spent at the hospital with the Stolls. Both Leon and Lavina had been profuse with their praise after the Sunday service this morning. They even credited her with being the inspiration for Ben’s recovery. They’d made it clear to everyone that they’d asked her to visit Ben, and that Katie had been circumspect in her attitude and behavior. Lavina even pointed out that Katie had spent most of the night in the waiting room. Ben’s parents had been a little overboard with their praise, Katie thought, so maybe that was the problem. Norman must think her proud. But that wasn’t reason enough for this kind of coldness and treatment.

  “You might as well tell me, Norman.” Katie hung on to the buggy door. “I won’t stop asking until you do.”

 
Norman gave her a brief glare. “I said there was nothing wrong.”

  Katie sighed and settled back into the buggy seat. Norman was acting worse than Mabel, and that was saying a lot.

  They drove in silence until Norman pulled into Katie’s driveway and parked in front of the hitching post. The lights from the house spread out onto the lawn. As usual, they were the last ones home. Norman always took his good old time in leaving the hymn singing. That was his right, and Katie wasn’t about to try to change him. A gut frau didn’t do that.

  Katie cleared her throat. “I’m not leaving this buggy until you tell me what’s upsetting you, Norman. If you don’t talk, you can drive me on home to your parents’ place and explain to them why I’m still sitting in your buggy.”

  Norman gave her a full stare now, his eyes fierce in the soft lantern light. He looked ready to throw her out of his buggy by force! He wouldn’t though. For one thing, Norman had a thing about touching girls. She’d figured that out by now. “Well, are you going to tell me or not?” she persisted.

  Norman exploded. “I’ll tell you this, little Miss Goody Two–shoes! You’ve been hanging around that rotten Ben Stoll again. You even dared spend the night with him at the hospital. All so holy, of course, and full of sympathy and compassion. You even fooled Ben’s parents, but you’re not fooling me. Now I see what Mabel warned me about. And I thank Da Hah in heaven that I’ve seen the light before I asked you to say the wedding vows with me. You are a disgrace to any man’s love, and a shame and blight on anyone who ever weds you. And I hope it is Ben Stoll. You two deserve each other.”

  Norman stopped to catch his breath.

  Katie clutched her pounding chest. From somewhere the words found their way to her lips. “None of that is true, Norman. I did go, yes, but I was only doing my Christian duty. I wouldn’t have gone to the hospital if Leon hadn’t come and asked me himself. He said Ben was calling for me, and that he might not live through the night. They wanted to do anything they could to help Ben survive.”

  Norman launched into his tirade again. “And why do you think Ben was calling for you? What reason would he have for that? What did you tell him the time you visited his hospital room before? Something obviously that stirred his passion. Did you kiss him like you used to? And don’t tell me that’s not true. I can see how you can’t keep your hands off boys. You’ve been wanting me to kiss you ever since you first climbed into my buggy. What decent girl has those kinds of feelings, Katie? None! None, I say!”

  Katie forced herself to keep breathing normally. “You don’t really mean this, Norman. Have you listened to yourself? You’re not making sense, and you’re totally out of line.”

  Norman grabbed her arm hard. “I mean every word I said. How dare you act like you’re so holy when you have such impure thoughts about me? Go find yourself a boyfriend who’s like you. It certainly isn’t going to be me.” Norman let go of her arm. “Now, does that make you feel better? I touched you. Get out of my buggy. We’re through.”

  Katie didn’t move. “You can’t really mean this, Norman. I’ve tried to love you. You know I’ve tried. You make it so hard…”

  “And you’re also a liar, Katie. You promised at the schoolhouse never to speak with Ben Stoll again. I’m not having a frau like you. Go now!”

  “I didn’t promise, Norman. I didn’t.” Katie groped for the handle of the buggy door, tears streaming down her face. There was no reason his words should hurt so deeply because they weren’t true, yet they cut like the edge of a hot knife. She glanced up at Norman’s face, but he was staring straight off into the night. Katie jumped down and fled toward the house. Behind her, Norman’s buggy whirled out of the driveway, Bonnie’s hooves churning in the night air almost as if she were flying.

  Mabel was standing inside the front door when Katie burst in. A smile spread over the teenager’s face as she took in Katie’s tears and demeanor.

  “Well, well,” Mabel said, relishing the moment.

  Through her tears, Katie managed to say, “You’re a schemer, Mabel. This will come back to haunt you. How do you expect to benefit from this anyway?”

  Mabel’s smile broadened. “Don’t you worry about that, Katie. Just stay out of my way.”

  “I wouldn’t get in your way in a thousand years. You’re welcome to him. He’s an immature boy.”

  “Boy?” Mabel smirked. “He’s quite a man, if you ask me.”

  Katie took a deep breath. She felt great anger toward Mabel, but it wouldn’t be right not to give her some warning. “Norman’s someone you don’t want to mess with, Mabel. He’s got a dark side. You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

  Mabel tilted her head. “That’s just sour grapes talking. Norman’s just dumped you, if I don’t miss my guess. You’re bound to point the finger of blame at anyone except yourself.”

  “Okay then. Have it your way.” Katie brushed past Mabel and headed up the stairs. “But don’t say you weren’t warned.”

  In her room, Katie collapsed on her bed. She muffled her sobs with a pillow. After a few minutes, she tried to pull herself together. Why was she crying? She really didn’t love Norman, if it came right down to that question. And after his performance tonight, she was well rid of him. What if she’d agreed to marry him before knowing what he was really like? She shuddered. Still, the tears welled up again. She had so hoped this was the answer for a new start. A man who fit in with what she’d already accomplished—joining the church, teaching school, becoming more accepted in the community. But now the man she’d thought was sent from Da Hah had spoken words that stung her like fire. And the words were all false…so completely false and yet Norman chose to believe them.

  Didn’t the preachers say on Sundays that no one’s word was to be totally discounted? That was how the community lived with each other, by looking for the truth within people’s words and actions. Katie sobbed into the pillow some more. But what Norman accused her of couldn’t be true, could it? That she was high and mighty? That she acted like a holy person? Nee, she was only trying to do what was right. And now here she was torn and bleeding, and she had no one she could turn to. Even Mamm wouldn’t understand. And Mabel certainly wouldn’t be supportive. Apparently she had plans to move in on Norman. How the girl would manage that was beyond Katie’s comprehension, but Mabel had certainly shown herself quite resourceful.

  Right now Katie needed someone to speak with or her heart was going to bleed all night. And tomorrow was another school day. She couldn’t arrive all bleary-eyed and tear-stained. She owed the students and the community a decent day’s work. The only one she could talk to was Mamm. Katie would have to try to talk to her even if she didn’t understand. After what Norman had said, even words of rebuke Mamm might say would be like drops of honey on her wounded heart.

  Katie crept downstairs and peered into the living room first and then the kitchen. No sign of Mabel. Creeping up to Jesse and Mamm’s bedroom door, Katie tapped. A floorboard creaked, and moments later the door opened and Mamm appeared.

  “May I speak with you?” Katie whispered.

  Mamm opened the door and followed Katie out to the living room. A bathrobe was wrapped over her nightgown.

  “What is it, Katie?” Mamm found a seat beside Katie on the couch.

  “Norman just told me he didn’t want to go out with me anymore.” Katie looked away. “I need someone to pray with me…or something because my heart hurts.”

  “Oh, Katie…” Mamm scooted closer and wrapped Katie in her arms. “Is it permanent…or just a spat?”

  Katie grimaced. “Quite permanent.”

  “Did Mabel have a hand in this?”

  “Yes, but not directly this time. Norman’s upset that I spent the night at the hospital with Ben and his parents.”

  Mamm was puzzled. “But Leon and Lavina both approved, Katie. They said so at church today. They said someone was with you the entire time, and that they’d asked you to come. And Jesse thought it was okay too.”


  “I know, but Norman doesn’t care about that.”

  “Did he say things that…hurt you?”

  Katie choked back a sob. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to tell me?”

  “I’d better not. Norman looks at things differently than I do. And I’m probably not what I should be, either.”

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. According to Lavina, you helped Ben pull through. That counts for a lot.”

  Katie managed a thin smile. “It really doesn’t make much difference now. I’m not sure why I’m so upset about Norman. I know I didn’t love him yet. Talking to you has helped in the past. I didn’t want to lie awake most of the night crying so I knew I needed something.”

  “Then let’s pray.” Mamm got down on her knees and reached over to hold Katie’s hand as she followed suit. “Da Hah knows what needs doing now.”

  Katie nodded. For once Mamm didn’t have any lectures to give. Katie continued to weep, letting go of Mamm’s hand to cover her face. This must really be a serious problem for Mamm to have no ready answer.

  Mamm’s soft voice began. “Dear Hah in heaven, hear us tonight, we pray, in this moment of our sorrow. You know what Katie just went through. You heard the words that Norman spoke to her. And You know if they were right or wrong. Let Katie now take them to You for healing or repentance if she has done anything she shouldn’t have. And forgive us all our sins even as we forgive all others tonight, including Norman and what he has done.”

  Katie sobbed even harder, pressing her face into the couch. Mamm’s words were cutting deep, but they were also providing a healing balm. She would accept all of them—and whatever else Da Hah chose to send her way in the days ahead. Yah, even if it meant living single the rest of her life. No young man would ask her home anytime soon with this blight on her record. Norman would see to that, and Mabel would be only too glad to help him.