Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “Sit down here.” Katie motioned Ben toward the couch. They’d never had a formal date. Their relationship this far had always been conducted in buggy rides and meeting at the Mennonite youth gatherings. But that wouldn’t always be so. Eventually Ben would be able to bring her home after the hymn singing, proper like. They could sit on the couch on Sunday evening and eat pie. In fact, why not do so right now? Katie thought. It would be like a little sip of the delicious time ahead of them.

  “Aren’t you sitting?” Ben asked and motioned toward the empty seat on the couch beside him.

  “Yah,” Katie whispered, settling herself beside Ben. “I have something I should tell you.”

  “Okay.”

  Katie looked around. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go out on the porch.”

  Ben shrugged, but he got up and followed her out to the porch swing.

  “This is better.” Katie settled in again. “No listening ears, I hope. Carolyn’s busy in the kitchen, and I hope she has better sense then to eavesdrop anyway.”

  “You sounds serious.” Ben looked concerned.

  “Not really, so don’t get worried.” Katie held his arm. “I just want to keep you up on what’s been going on.”

  “So give it to me then.”

  “Well, at Mabel’s wedding Mahlon Bontrager took me to the table. He felt sorry for me, I think. And it was sweet of him to help out since I would have been left alone for the evening, my reputation being the way it is in the community right now.”

  “That’s okay.” Ben’s arm came around her shoulder and pulled Katie tight. “I’m not worried.”

  Katie leaned against his shoulder. Ben was so understanding. Most people would go by how things appeared at first glance, but not Ben.

  “How are things going with you?” Katie asked. “Did you make it over to Bishop Miller’s like you planned?”

  Ben’s face darkened. “I did. But Bishop Miller said things still are the way they are. He’d rather wait until the trial is over before anything changes. And now the prosecutor claims he can force me to testify. I don’t know how all this will turn out.”

  “That’s what Mahlon said—about them being able to make you testify.”

  “Then he’s a smarter man than I am.”

  “Nee, he’s not Ben.” Katie clutched his arm. “Stop beating yourself over the head. It won’t do any good.”

  Ben sighed. “The truth be told, I don’t know what else to do.”

  “Maybe Jesse knows the answer. You could ask him tonight.”

  “Jesse?”

  “Maybe that’s why we’re here tonight instead of in town?” Katie suggested.

  Ben still looked skeptical. “There’s not much anyone can do. I’d rather not talk about this stuff with your family.”

  “Then we won’t.” Katie took his hand. “Supper must be about ready. You look hungry.”

  Ben smiled. “Starved, in fact. I have to live on my own cooking, remember?”

  “Then we will stuff you full tonight!” Katie led the way to the kitchen.

  Mamm was just putting food on the table. “Sit down, Ben. The men will be in from the barn soon.”

  Ben sat down with a pleased look on his face. “Thanks, Emma, for inviting me.” The table was steaming with delicious food—mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, roast, and salad. On the counter several pies sat waiting. “This sure looks awfully gut.”

  “Ben’s starved for home cooking, Mamm,” Katie said. “Thanks for suggesting we eat here tonight.”

  “It’s always gut to eat at home,” Mamm said. “There’s no place better really.”

  “I can agree with that.” Ben’s smile faded. “I never thought I’d miss home like I do.”

  Mamm appeared troubled. “Well, hopefully this will all soon be passed.”

  “I hope so,” Ben said. “I hope you don’t think ill of me about what’s happening. I’m trying to do what’s right and best for Katie.”

  Katie touched his hand. “You don’t have to explain, Ben. Mamm understands.”

  The stair door burst open and Carolyn rushed in, leaping into her chair at the table.

  “You are an energetic young woman!” Ben said with a smile.

  Carolyn didn’t say anything, but she was obviously pleased by the attention.

  Jesse and the two boys soon came in, water still clinging to their hair from washing up.

  “Leroy said you were here,” Jesse said, offering his hand to Ben. “Good to have you.”

  Ben stood and shook Jesse’s hand.

  Leroy and Willis grinned as they slid into their places on the far side of the table.

  “Let’s pray.” Jesse bowed his head and led out in prayer. After the “amen,” Leroy wasted no time in passing the food around. He made sure Ben got first choice though, minding his manners for once.

  Katie leaned back in her chair. This was an evening she was going to treasure for a long time. Ben was eating at their table. This was surely a gut sign of what was yet to come.

  “Are you about healed up from your wounds?” Jesse asked. “I haven’t heard anything for awhile.”

  “Pretty much.” Ben paused from dishing out the gravy. “I still suffer some aftereffects from the staph infection, but the doctor thinks even that will go away with time.”

  “And the gunshot wound?” Carolyn asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

  Ben laughed. “It’s doing okay, Carolyn.”

  “How did it feel getting shot?” Carolyn pressed.

  “Don’t ask things like that,” Katie said, trying to shush her.

  Ben shook his head, smiling. “It’s okay, Katie. Well, I remember a big bang and then a burning in my chest. I don’t remember much after that.”

  “Did it feel like you were dying?” Carolyn asked.

  “Don’t be morbid,” Willis said.

  At least someone in the family besides her has some sense, Katie thought.

  Ben sobered. “I can’t say that I even thought about that.”

  “It’s best if we are prepared for dying at all times,” Jesse said. “Then we don’t have to think about it in times of danger, but we can safely leave such things in Da Hah’s hands. We’re glad you’re still with us, Ben. And that you’re doing well.”

  “Thanks.” Ben nodded.

  Katie found his hand under the table.

  “You will come for Thanksgiving dinner, won’t you?” Mamm asked after a quick glance toward Jesse for his approval.

  “I would be honored,” Ben said, his voice a whisper.

  Katie squeezed his hand as the chatter continued. Thankfully the topics were on much safer subject—the day’s events on the farm. Katie was almost beside herself with joy that Ben would be coming for Thanksgiving. Mamm must be softening her heart toward him. Oh, she was so blessed! And this after all they had gone through already. “Thank You, dear Hah,” Katie whispered, letting go of Ben’s hand to pass the pie plate around the table.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  It was Tuesday afternoon the week of Thanksgiving, but Katie wasn’t thinking about the holiday as she drove Sparky into the Kuntz’s driveway. Her hands were trembling so much that the lines shook. If there were any other option than being here, she’d be doing whatever it took right now. But she was the schoolteacher, and this was her problem to face and solve. She would not run from it.

  Joel had told her at the noon hour what he’d seen, and she had confronted Abram during the last recess. Abram had denied the charge of cheating, but he did admit that he’d been snooping through Noah’s tablet. Abram claimed he was checking whether Noah was cheating again—not copying answers as Joel reported seeing him do.

  Abram had done a lot of glaring at Joel, but Joel had stuck to his story. And a check of several answers in both Abram and Noah’s tablets had produced two wrong answers that matched, sure evidence that some cheating was going on. Abram agreed, but he claimed it was Noah who was cheating. Katie had questioned Noah after school for a few minutes,
having asked Abram to wait by her desk. Noah denied any knowledge of either copying answers or of having seen Abram near his tablet. She’d thanked Noah and dismissed him.

  Cheating was punishable by spanking. In the community, that was the only acceptable punishment. Any lesser response might be taken by the student and the parents as a serious neglect of her duties. She should have spanked Abram as soon as Noah was out of the schoolyard. But in the face of Abram’s continued, vigorous denials, her courage had failed. Yet she couldn’t ignore the problem. So here she was, on her way to talk to Enos about the situation. Perhaps he would be sympathetic, and her courage would return. Enos might even spank his son himself. If not, she would do the deed first thing in the morning at the schoolhouse. Katie groaned as she pulled to a stop beside the hitching post. She didn’t need this kafuffle right now. Thanksgiving was this week. Mamm and Carolyn were feeling overwhelmed at home with preparations for the big dinner. And that was work she should be helping with instead of chasing down problems caused by Abram Kuntz. At least one bright spot remained. Ben was still coming for Thanksgiving Day! And he hadn’t needed any persuasion from Mamm to accept the invitation. Ben had told her when they parted that he’d fully enjoyed the meal and getting to know the family better.

  Thankfully, Mamm wasn’t too up on the talk that continued to float around the community about Ben. It would die down after the trial, no doubt. Ben had told Bishop Miller that he wasn’t going to testify, and he meant it. It wasn’t Ben’s fault that the prosecutor had threatened to force him to appear in court.

  Mabel would have a fit on Thursday when she found Ben at the house, but she would have to deal with it. No one was asking for her opinion now that she was Norman’s frau. Mabel could fume and fuss as much as she’d like.

  Katie tied Sparky to the hitching post as she heard a door open behind her. She whirled around to see Enos shutting the barn door and approaching at a fast walk. Abram must have told his daett by now because it seemed that Enos had been expecting her.

  “Gut evening,” Enos said as he tipped his hat in her direction.

  “Gut evening. I guess you know why I’m here. Is that correct?”

  “Yah, I do.” Enos’s face was sober. “Abram told me. I’m sorry to hear of this trouble.”

  “So am I.” Words rushed out of Katie’s mouth. “Do you want to hear the full story? I believe the situation is rather serious.”

  “Obviously, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

  “I have strong reasons to believe Abram is cheating at school.”

  Enos cleared his throat. “I also understand from Abram that he reported Noah Stoll was cheating some time back. He told me you refused to deal with the problem.”

  “Nee, that’s not true. I did handle that situation.”

  Enos ignored her. “That is why Abram thought he needed to take matters into his own hands. He was checking up on Noah because you weren’t doing your duty. Remember, Katie, that every teacher we’ve ever had has always been quick to deal with cheating problems.”

  Katie tried again. “I dealt with that problem, Enos. Noah was not cheating. Abram was mistaken.”

  A slight smile of disbelief crept across Enos’s face. “That’s because you are too blinded by Ben Stoll’s charms to see clearly, Katie. It’s plain enough to see. The corruption from Ben is spreading to his brother. And that’s nothing more than what we would expect. Da Hah says He will visit “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’”

  Katie was stunned by the accusation but not surprised. She struggled to respond calmly. “Ben is not Noah’s father. And I was not biased when I looked into the cheating situation.”

  Enos regarded her with pity. “Ben is Noah’s brother, Katie. It’s close enough. The problem is that we have a schoolteacher who brings corruption straight into the schoolhouse. If she would be willing to admit and forsake the evil, that would be one thing. But now you insist on accusing the one person in your school who dares to stand up to the corruption you encourage. I’m very disappointed in you. I had such high hopes for you at the beginning of the school year.”

  Katie tried to keep breathing steadily. “I see. This has to do with Norman too. Is that what’s going on? I need to be proven wrong and be punished so that Norman’s actions are proven right?”

  Enos’s face darkened. “You will not accuse my eldest son for your own wrongs, Katie! He was right in cutting off his relationship with you. I would think your recent and continued contact with Ben Stoll proves all that needs proving about your judgment. You are the one refusing to see the truth.”

  “I’m sorry, Enos. I shouldn’t have brought Norman into this. I’m here because of what has happened at the school.”

  Enos nodded. “I can understand why you did. I suppose your heart was completely broken. That still doesn’t give you an excuse for renewing your relationship with Ben or for refusing to see what’s happening right in front of your eyes.”

  Thoughts raced through Katie’s mind, but none should be spoken out loud. Why was the Kuntz family filled with bitterness regarding her? Asking that would make the current situation worse. Enos had obviously made up his mind that Abram was telling the truth, but as the teacher, she needed to reason with him to get at the truth. That much was her duty. Katie kept her voice even. “Why not consider looking at the two tablets for comparison like I did? Then you will understand why I believe Abram is the one who has been cheating.”

  “I thought it was Joel who accused Abram?”

  “It was originally, but I looked into it, and I’m standing by my decision to bring this matter up with you.”

  “Did you tell Joel about the trouble with Noah? Maybe even tell your entire family around the supper table? Did you want to make sure you had someone on your side?”

  Katie’s heart raced at this fresh accusation of treachery. “I did nothing of the sort! And you are in the wrong to even suggest such a thing.”

  Enos raised his eyebrows. “I see you suddenly find principles to stand on—when it suits you, of course. I’ll tell you what we’ll do. I’ll call a school board meeting on Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving. School will be out that day so we’ll have plenty of time to look into this.”

  “I don’t think that is necessary,” Katie protested. “This is between you, as the parent, and the teacher.”

  Enos smiled. “I’m sure that’s what you hoped it would be. But it’s not, Katie. This is fast becoming a community matter. We now have our schoolteacher dating her old boyfriend again—a man who has been convicted of a crime and spent time in jail. A man who is planning to testify in a legal courtroom against a man accused of wounding him. A thing Da Hah forbids. And this is after you have made a commitment to Da Hah and His church. That’s what really needs dealing with, Katie. Your relationship and support of someone who has been asked to leave the community. If I give in to you on this matter, how many more of our children will suffer from your poor judgment?”

  Katie pressed her fist against her chest. “This is so wrong, Enos. Ben has nothing to do with this matter. Besides, he’s told the bishop that he is not going to testify even if the court attempts to force him. He is going to follow his faith—our faith—and not participate in the trial.”

  Enos appeared grim. “I see you know plenty about his business, but do you know anything about his character? Nee, I say you do not. Ben will be put in jail again. He’s already been there once, so he should be used to it.”

  Katie choked back a sob. “I don’t think it’s right that your family hates me like this. Norman got what he wanted—a better frau than I could have been for him. Why are you doing this?”

  Enos shook his head sadly. “No one hates you, Katie. It is gut that you have some humility in seeing that Norman is much better off without you. I thank Da Hah that Norman saw this in time—before he said the marriage vows with you. I was taken in by you once, but that won’t happen again. If you hope to keep your tea
ching job, it would be wise for you to retract your accusation of cheating against Abram.”

  “And if I do, would you drop the matter?”

  Enos thought for a moment. “I’m afraid I’d still have to call the school board meeting. They need to hear about this and decide what needs doing.”

  “I’ll be going then.” Katie turned and walked to her buggy as slowly as she could make herself.

  “We’ll be expecting you Friday morning at the schoolhouse. Ten o’clock!” Enos hollered after her.

  Katie untied Sparky and, blocked by Sparky’s body, wiped away her tears so she could see to climb into the buggy. Her vision was still a blur as she urged Sparky down the lane. He seemed to catch her urgency and raced down the blacktop.

  It was useless, running away like this, Katie told herself. But it was also useless staying and talking anymore with Enos Kuntz. The man had his mind made up, and nothing was going to change it. Her goose was cooked. That was the truth of the matter. Enos would have his story told to the other school board members long before she recounted hers on Friday morning. With her continued relationship with Ben hanging in the background, there was no way she would gain a sympathetic hearing.

  With a flurry of gravel, Katie turned into her driveway, bringing the sweating Sparky to a stop by the barn. She leaped out, and unhitched him. Mamm’s face appeared for a moment in the kitchen window and then vanished.

  Katie was long overdue from school, so she figured Mamm had probably been worried. And Mamm was already overwhelmed with work, without her adding more trouble to the load, Katie thought. Well, she just wouldn’t tell anyone. Only how was that possible with the tears pouring down her checks and the sobs she couldn’t control? Maybe if she stayed in the barn for a few minutes she’d gain more control.

  Leading Sparky to the barn, Katie pushed open the door and stepped inside the cool darkness. It was like being swallowed by another world. Even the dim cobwebs seen in the rafters seemed quiet and friendly, beckoning her home. She pulled the harness off Sparky and tied him up. She grabbed a towel and dried him off, talking to him the entire time about what a good horse he was and how much she appreciated him. Then she got out a curry comb and soft brush and gave him a thorough work over. Sparky nudged her gently as he enjoyed the attention. Then Katie turned him into his stall and measured some oats into the feedbox.