[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “I’ll have to look for it when I get home this afternoon.”

  But even if I find it, Titus thought, I’m not sure I’ll be willing to give up my cell phone.

  “Looks like my driver’s here,” Suzanne’s mother said, peering out the kitchen window. “I won’t be back in time to fix lunch or take it out to the menfolk, because after my dental appointment I have some shopping to do in Hopkinsville, so you’ll have to do it.”

  Suzanne nodded. Since there wasn’t much to making sandwiches, she figured she couldn’t mess it up too badly. After all, she’d made sandwiches before.

  “I’ll see you later this afternoon.” Mom grabbed her shawl and black outer bonnet, then hurried out the door.

  Soon after Mom left, Suzanne went out to the garden to check the bedding plants she’d be taking to the Fairview Produce Auction next week. She noticed Titus talking to Grandpa, and then the two of them headed for the shop. She wondered if it was hard for Grandpa to go there every day and not be able to do the carpentry work he used to do. Since his fingers didn’t have enough strength to hold a piece of wood very long, whenever there was no paperwork to be done, he sat and visited with Nelson and Titus while they worked.

  Sure wish they’d, let me help out, Suzanne fumed. If they’d give me a chance, they’d realize that I can do a good job at woodworking, too.

  When Suzanne finished checking the plants, she went out to the barn and fed the cats. As she sat on a bale of straw, watching them eat, her thoughts went to Titus and his dislike of cats. Maybe if Callie stayed at his place long enough, he’d form an attachment to her—or at least build up some toleration.

  Suzanne continued to sit, even after the cats had finished their meal and scurried back to whatever place they’d come from. She enjoyed being in the barn, where she could pet the cats, listen to the pigeons coo, and smell the pleasant aroma from the bales of stacked hay.

  Her stomach growled noisily, reminding her that it was time for lunch and she needed to go back to the house and make some sandwiches.

  When Suzanne entered the kitchen, she found her little sister, Effie, sitting at the table, drawing a picture. “I’m hungerich,” the girl said, blinking her eyes at Suzanne. “When’s Mom comin’ home to fix us somethin’ to eat?”

  “Not for a while, but I’ll fix your lunch.”

  Effie shook her head. “Think I’d better wait for Mom.”

  “Sandwiches are easy to make,” Suzanne said, taking a loaf of bread from the breadbox. “In fact, you can help.”

  “Can I make peanut butter and jelly?”

  “You can make yours that way if you like, but I’m fixing tuna fish for everyone else.”

  Effie wrinkled her freckled nose. “Eww … I don’t like tuna. It stinks like fish.”

  Suzanne chuckled. “That’s because tuna is fish.”

  “Think I’ll stick to peanut butter and jelly.”

  “That’s fine.” Suzanne set the jars of peanut butter and jelly on the table beside Effie, along with two slices of bread and a knife. “Here you go. Have fun.”

  While Effie made her sandwich, Suzanne stood at the counter, mixing the can of tuna fish with mayonnaise and relish, which was the way she’d always liked to eat it. When that was done, she slathered mayonnaise on the pieces of bread, then added the tuna and a hunk of lettuce to each one. Next, she put the sandwiches in plastic wrap, placed them in the lunch basket, and added some of Mom’s ginger cookies. Then she grabbed a jug of iced tea and turned toward the door. “I’ll be back soon, but if you want to eat while I’m gone, that’s fine,” she called to Effie over her shoulder. “Oh, and don’t forget to pray before you eat.”

  When Suzanne entered the woodshop, Nelson greeted her with a smile. “What’d Mom make for our lunch today?”

  “Mom’s in Hopkinsville, so I made tuna fish sandwiches.”

  “There’s no vinegar in them I hope,” Titus said with a snicker.

  She frowned. “Of course not. But I hope you like mayonnaise and relish.”

  “Sorry about the vinegar remark,” Titus said. “I’m sure the sandwiches will be fine.”

  Suzanne set the lunch basket on Grandpa’s desk. “Where’s Grandpa? I saw him come to the shop earlier and figured he’d still be here.”

  Nelson shook his head. “He was tired and went to the Daadihaus to take a nap. Didn’t you see him come up?”

  “No, but then I’ve been busy, so he might have gone into his side of the house without me knowing it.”

  “Grandpa’s been really tired lately,” Nelson said. “I’m worried about him.”

  “Is he having more pain than usual?” she asked.

  Nelson shrugged. “I don’t know, but then he’s never been one to complain.”

  The door to the shop opened just then, and one of their English neighbors stepped in. While Nelson spoke to the man about a storage shed he wanted, Suzanne poured some iced tea into the men’s cups and set them beside the sandwiches.

  “That was a nice party you had for Esther,” Titus said, moving to stand beside Suzanne. “She seemed real surprised, didn’t she?”

  Suzanne nodded. “I think everyone had a good time.”

  “I know I did. Plan on having a good time tomorrow morning, too.”

  “What’s happening tomorrow?”

  “Esther and I are going with Allen and his friend to see the Jefferson Davis Monument.”

  “Oh, I didn’t realize that.”

  “Figured maybe Esther had told you.”

  “I haven’t seen Esther since Thursday night.” Suzanne moved toward the door. “I hope you and Esther will have a good time,” she called over her shoulder.

  “I’m sure we will.”

  As Suzanne headed for the house, her insides felt like a twisted rubber band. She was happy for Esther, since she knew this was what Esther wanted. But she couldn’t help feeling a bit envious, wishing someone special would take an interest in her.

  When Titus got home that evening, he put Lightning away and then went into the house for a drink of water. He’d just taken a glass down from the cupboard when he heard a familiar meow.

  “Oh no! Not this again!” He hurried into his bedroom. Sure enough, Callie was curled up at the foot of his bed, with all four of her kittens.

  “That’s it!” Titus snapped his fingers. “I’m going to find out once and for all how that determined cat’s been getting in.”

  Titus spent the next hour searching every nook and cranny for a hole that led to the outside. He was about to give up when he discovered a small hole in his bedroom closet. He ran out to the barn, found some wood to cover the hole, and hauled Callie and her brood back to the barn. When that was done, he decided to look for the phone shanty Isaac had mentioned earlier today.

  Sure enough, it was there … several feet behind the barn, hidden under some overgrown vines and thick brush.

  Titus figured he ought to wait until morning to clear the growth away from the shanty. Right now, he needed to get inside, because from the looks of the darkening sky, they were in for a good rain.

  CHAPTER 19

  When Titus woke up on Saturday morning, he was glad to see that the sun was shining. He hurried to get dressed, then went to the kitchen and fixed himself a bowl of cereal. When he finished with breakfast, he went out to the barn to give Callie some food and was relieved when he found the cat nursing her kittens inside the wooden box. Apparently he’d taken care of the problem of her getting into the house.

  He studied the kittens a few minutes. Two were orange, white, and black like their mother, and two were white with black patches. They were kind of cute, but though they might look innocent and sweet right now, they’d soon grow up and would scratch and bite.

  Titus left the barn and went around back to take a look at the inside of the phone shanty he’d discovered the evening before. He quickly cleared away the one vine that was still hanging across the front door of the shed. When he opened the door and stepped inside, it
was dark and smelled musty. He brushed away several cobwebs that hung from the ceiling.

  He left the door open to give more light and to help air out the shanty. Then he picked up the phone sitting on a rickety-looking folding table. There was no dial tone, of course.

  Guess I should probably get the phone service connected, Titus thought, but I’m already paying for my cell phone, so why pay for both?

  A horn honked, and Titus stepped out of the shanty in time to see Allen’s truck pull up in front of the barn.

  “I’d like you to meet my friend, Connie Myers,” Allen said when Titus opened the truck door and climbed into the backseat of the extended cab.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Titus leaned over the seat and shook Connie’s hand. “I’m Titus Fisher.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I know. Allen’s told me about you.” Connie’s dark hair was cut short in a curly bob, and her eyes were also dark, like well-brewed coffee. She was pretty but wore too much makeup as far as Titus was concerned. Of course, he was used to Amish women, who wore no makeup at all … unless, like Phoebe, they liked to experiment with makeup and jewelry during their running-around years.

  As Allen headed down the driveway toward the road, Titus tapped him on the shoulder. “Remember when you said I could invite someone to join us?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, I invited Esther Beiler, so we’ll need to stop by her folks’ store to pick her up, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure, no problem. I know where their store is, and it’s on our way to the monument.”

  Titus relaxed against the seat and listened to Allen and Connie’s conversation. Actually, it was more Connie doing the talking. Titus wondered if there was anything serious going on between them.

  When they arrived at the Beilers’ store, Titus hopped out of the truck and went inside. He found Esther behind the counter, waiting on a customer.

  “I’ll just be a minute,” she said, smiling at Titus. “My mamm’s in the storage room right now, but when she comes back, she’ll take my place at the counter, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

  “That’s fine.” Titus stood off to one side and waited as Esther rang up the English woman’s purchases.

  Soon, Esther’s mother came out of the storage room. “Your daed’s going to stock some shelves for a while,” she said to Esther. “So I’m ready to take over for you here.” Her blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at Titus. “It was nice of you to invite Esther to go with you today. I hope you’ll both have a good time.”

  Titus nodded. “Allen’s been to the Jefferson Davis Monument before, and he said it’s pretty interesting.”

  A horn honked from outside, and Titus glanced out the window. “I think Allen’s anxious to go,” he said to Esther.

  “I’m ready.” Esther said good-bye to her mother and followed Titus out the door.

  Paradise, Pennsylvania

  A knock sounded on the back door, and Timothy went to see who it was. He was surprised to find Samuel and his wife, Elsie, on the porch.

  “What’d you knock for? Why didn’t you just come in like you normally do?” he asked.

  “We didn’t know if Hannah would be up to company,” Samuel said. “So we didn’t want to barge right in.”

  Timothy stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind him. “I’m really worried about Hannah. She still won’t say much to me, and she doesn’t want to go anywhere or do anything but sit and hold Mindy.” He slowly shook his head. “I’m beginning to wonder if she’ll ever be the same.”

  “Would you like me to talk to her?” Elsie asked. “I had a miscarriage once, so I know how sad she must feel about losing the boppli.”

  Samuel nodded. “That’s right, but God gave us four more kinner after that.” He smiled at Elsie. “We’re hoping for even more, if it be His will.”

  When they went inside, they found Hannah sitting in the living room on the sofa, staring at a book she hadn’t even opened. The men stood off to one side, while Elsie took a seat beside Hannah. “I know you’re sad about losing the boppli,” she said, “because I lost one a few years ago, too. But you need to realize that Timothy and Mindy are still here, and they both need you.” She touched Hannah’s arm. “God knows what He’s doing, and if your boppli had lived, he or she might have had some kind of physical problem.”

  “I … I suppose you could be right.” Hannah nearly choked on the words.

  “The boppli’s in heaven now, and that should offer you some comfort,” Elsie continued. “Remember, too, that the hardships we experience and the trials we face here on earth will teach us to trust more in God. For the weaker we feel, the harder we’ll lean on Him.”

  Tears welled in Hannah’s eyes. “I … I know you’re right, Elsie, but it’s hard not to think about the boppli I lost.”

  Elsie shook her head. “I understand that, and I’m not at all suggesting you forget about the baby. I just think you need to begin focusing on the family you still have, because they really do need you, Hannah.”

  “I … I suppose so.”

  Timothy moved over to stand behind Hannah and placed his hands on her shoulders. “We all want to see you getting back to normal.”

  “I want to get on with life, too.” Hannah looked at Elsie and sniffed. “Danki, for coming by and for what you said. I know it’s what I needed to hear.”

  “You’re welcome.” Elsie took Hannah’s hand. “Remember now, I’m here for you, so if you need to talk about this some more, please let me know.”

  Fairview, Kentucky

  Titus tipped his head back and whistled. “Wow, that building’s even taller than I thought!”

  “It’s 351 feet high, to be exact. The site marks Jefferson Davis’s birthplace, and it rests on a foundation of solid Kentucky limestone,” Allen said as they left his truck and approached the monument. “Another interesting fact is that Jefferson Davis was born here on June 3, 1808, and just eight months later, not more than one hundred miles away, Abraham Lincoln was born.” He grinned at Connie. “I’ve become quite interested in history since I moved here.”

  “Can we go inside?” she asked. “I’ll bet there’s an awesome view from the top.”

  “You’re right. There is.” Allen pointed across the way. “There’s the visitor’s center, where we can buy tickets to take the elevator to the top of the monument.”

  “That sounds like fun.” Titus’s enthusiasm mounted. Just thinking about going inside the monument had him excited. “Don’t think I’ve ever been in a building so high.”

  Esther’s brows furrowed, and she nibbled nervously on her lip. “I … uh … think I’d rather wait for you down here.”

  “And miss all the fun?” Titus could hardly believe she wouldn’t want to go up with them. “You’ve got to go up there and have a look around.”

  she shook her head. “I … I can’t.”

  “Why not?’

  “I’m afraid of heights.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Titus said, hoping to offer her some encouragement. “You can hang on to my arm if you’re scared.”

  Her face paled, and she continued to shake her head. “I’m not going up there, Titus. I’ll sit on a bench down here or wait for you in the gift shop.”

  Titus hesitated a minute, wondering if he should stay with her, but he didn’t see why he should miss out on the fun because she was afraid of heights. “Okay, whatever,” he finally mumbled. What was the point in Esther agreeing to come along if she didn’t want to go up in the monument?

  “You look umgerennt,” Esther said. “Are you upset because I don’t want to go up?”

  “No, it’s okay. Wouldn’t want you to go if you’re scared.” Titus felt like a heel. He didn’t want to hurt Esther’s feelings or try to force her to do something she was afraid of, but at the same time, he was disappointed.

  “Let’s head over to the gift shop and see about getting our tickets,” Allen said. “We can also look around and see w
hat they might have for sale.”

  When they entered the gift shop, Allen paid for his and Connie’s tickets, and Titus paid for his. Then he turned to Esther and said, “Would you like me to buy something for you to eat or drink while we’re up in the monument?”

  She glanced at the small chest freezer across the room. “Maybe an ice-cream bar.”

  “Sure, go ahead and pick out the kind you like.”

  When they left the gift shop, Esther took a seat on one of the park benches, and the rest of them followed their guide into the elevator that would take them up the monument. Once at the top, Titus looked down. He was amazed. He could see for miles around—rooftops of houses and barns, treetops, and the highway spread out below. What had looked so big on the ground looked very small.