“She acted kind of cool toward me, too, but I think she’s just concerned about Titus and probably thought visiting might make him tired.”
“Maybe so.” Suzanne pushed the garbage can into the center of the room and started picking up the rest of the broken dishes as fast as she could.
Shortly after Esther and Suzanne left, Mom turned to Titus and said, “No wonder you like it here and don’t want to leave.” “What do you mean?” Titus asked.
“That young woman with auburn hair reminds you of Phoebe, doesn’t she?”
Titus nodded. “She did at first, but since I’ve gotten to know her—”
“You’re staying in Kentucky because of her, not the other young woman, am I right?”
“ ‘Course not. Suzanne and I aren’t even courting. It’s Esther I’ve gone out with a couple of times, but I’m not really serious about her, either.”
“Then why don’t you come home?” Mom asked.
“Because I want to start a new life here. I like it in Kentucky, and there’s nothing for me in Pennsylvania anymore.”
“Your family’s there.”
“I realize that, and as much as I miss everyone, I need to make it on my own without anyone in the family telling me what to do or how to do it.”
“Titus is right,” Dad put in. “He needs to make his own way, just like I did when I was his age.”
Mom sat with her arms folded, staring straight ahead. After several minutes, she turned to Titus and said, “I have no objections to you making it on your own, but I think you could do that just as well if you were at home.”
Titus’s jaw clenched. He was too tired to argue, but before Mom and Dad left for home, he’d try to make Mom understand that he wasn’t going back to Pennsylvania, and that no matter what she said, he planned to make Kentucky his permanent home.
CHAPTER 34
You two can have my bed tonight, and I’ll sleep on the sofa in the living room,” Titus told his folks after they’d finished eating a late lunch.
“This place is much too small for even one person to be living in,” Mom said. “After looking around, I’ve discovered a lot of things you need.”
“Like what?”
She picked up a piece of paper and a pen she’d found in a kitchen drawer. “I’m going to make a list for you. Let’s see now … pie pans, a spice rack, rolling pin, mixing bowls, and—”
Titus held up his hand. “I’m not planning to do any baking, Mom, so you don’t need to get carried away with that list you’re making.”
Her forehead creased. “I just thought—”
“In fact, there’s really no need for you to make a list at all, because I’m getting along fine with the things I have now.”
Mom opened her mouth like she might argue the point, but the rumble of a truck pulling into the yard interrupted their conversation.
“Looks like Allen’s here,” Titus said, going to the window to look out.
When Allen entered the trailer moments later, they all took seats in the living room.
“I came by to see how you’re feeling.” Allen clasped Titus’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
“Other than my head still hurting, I’m doing okay,” Titus replied. “Just glad to be out of the hospital and back here again.”
Allen smiled. “I also wanted to let you know what I learned today from the sheriff about the money you found.”
Titus’s interest was piqued. “I’m anxious for you to fill me in.”
“We’d like to hear it, too,” Dad said.
Allen leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “About a month before Titus came to Kentucky, two men broke into an elderly couple’s home in Tennessee and stole their money.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “What in the world would an elderly couple be doing with that much money in their house?”
“I don’t know, but I guess one of the men—Harry’s his name—used to do yard work for the couple. When he found out they had a large sum of cash in the house, he and his buddy, Marvin, tied the old folks up and took their money. The two men were on the run, looking for a remote area to hide out, when they saw a sheriff’s car and got scared. Then, finding what appeared to be an abandoned trailer, they hid the money in the phone shanty here, and took off, planning to come back to get it when they felt it was safe.
“While Titus was in Pennsylvania, the men returned to the phone shanty to get the money. When it wasn’t there, they broke into the trailer and searched for it. Of course they didn’t find it there, but they soon realized that someone was now living in the trailer, so they came back shortly after Titus arrived home from Pennsylvania. Of course, we all know what happened after that.”
“The money will have to be returned to the couple,” Titus was quick to say.
Allen nodded. “That’s right, but there’s a reward of a thousand dollars for finding the money, so that will be yours.”
Titus shook his head. “Now that I know what happened, I can’t take that old couple’s money. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I think it would hurt their feelings if you don’t accept it. They’re very grateful and want you to have the reward.”
“Oh, all right,” Titus finally agreed.
Mom looked over at Allen and frowned. “I can’t believe you’d expect Titus to rent this place from you. It’s in horrible shape and hardly fit for a person to live in.”
“I feel bad about that,” Allen said, “but when I bought the place, I didn’t realize it was as run-down as it was. Just bought it for the property as an investment.”
“You should have seen it before some of the folks in our community came and helped me clean and do some repairs,” Titus said. “It looks much better now. Or at least it did before those men broke in.”
Mom wrinkled her nose. “I can’t imagine it looking much worse than it does now.”
“Well it did, believe me.” Titus motioned to the sofa. “All the furniture was worn out, but some of the women covered it with slipcovers.”
“Tell her about the hole in the roof and how you fell through, trying to put a patch on it so it wouldn’t leak,” Allen said.
Deep wrinkles formed in Mom’s forehead. “Were you hurt, Titus?”
“Just scratched up my legs a bit. Nothing serious.” Sure wish Allen hadn’t brought that up.
“But you could have been seriously hurt, and I think—”
Allen rose to his feet. “I need to get going. Please let me know if you need anything.”
Titus smiled. “I will.”
“I’ll be by again soon to check on you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
Allen told Titus’s folks good-bye, and headed out the door.
Soon after he left, Titus heard a desperate-sounding meow on the porch. “That must be Callie. She has four kittens to feed, so she’s probably hungry and waiting to be fed.”
“Tell me where you keep the cat food, and I’ll feed her,” Mom said.
“Her food’s in the barn on a shelf near the box where she has her babies.”
“I’m sure I can find it.” Mom hurried out the door.
Titus was glad for a few minutes alone to talk to Dad. It seemed like Dad hadn’t been able to get in more than a few words with Mom talking so much.
“I wish Mom wouldn’t hover over me all the time,” Titus complained. “She treats me like I’m still a little boy. Doesn’t she realize I’m a grown man now, and I want to live my own life without being told what to do?”
“Don’t let your mamm upset you,” Dad said. “As I’m sure you know, she’s had a hard enough time dealing with you moving from home. Finding out that this place had been broken into and that you’d been hurt didn’t help things any.”
“Sure hope the whole time you’re here she won’t hover over me and try to convince me to move back home.”
“If she does, I’ll put a stop to it,” Dad said. He gave Titus’s arm a light tap. “I think the fact that you and T
imothy are our youngest kinner, coupled with her having had you in midlife, has caused her to worry more about both of you.”
“Worrying won’t change anything. She needs to give me a chance to prove myself.”
Dad gave a nod. “I agree. Be patient, and give her a little more time to adjust to the idea that you’re out on your own.”
“So what do you think of the little bit of Kentucky you’ve seen so far?” Titus asked.
“It’s nice. Not nearly so congested with people and cars as what we have in Lancaster County.”
“That’s one of the things I like about it here,” Titus said. “That, and the fact that there are lots of places to hunt, fish, and ride my horse. There’s also good, fertile land that can be bought for much less than what you’d pay back home.”
“Are you thinkin’ of buying some land?”
Titus nodded. “Think I might buy this place from Allen. The trailer isn’t much, but there’s some acreage with it that could be farmed—if I ever decide to do any farming, that is.”
“I’m guessin’ Timothy would be interested in farming here, but knowing how close Hannah is to her mamm, I doubt he’d ever move.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Do you have it in your mind to stay in Kentucky, even if all your family remains in Pennsylvania?” Dad asked.
“That’s my plan now, but I guess it could change if things don’t work out for me here.”
“You mean with your job?”
“That, and whether I’m able to buy this place or not.”
“Do you need a loan? Because if you do, I’d be happy to—”
“I appreciate the offer, Dad, but I really want to do this on my own. I’m making pretty good money working for Isaac Yoder, and Allen’s offered to let me lease this place with the option to buy.”
“That’s great.” Dad gave Titus’s arm another light tap. “Remember now, if you change your mind or need anything, just let me know.”
When Suzanne entered the woodshop that afternoon, she found Nelson on his knees, sanding some cabinet doors. She stood several seconds, breathing deeply of the aromas in the shop. Most people would have turned up their nose at wood being sanded and cut, but not her. She loved everything about being here, and her fingers itched to create something beautiful from the pieces of wood stacked in one corner of the room.
“Did you need something?” Nelson asked, looking up at her with a curious expression.
“Just came out to see if you needed some help. I’m sure with Titus not being able to work right now you must be getting behind on things.”
“You’re right, I am. I was going to ask Russell to sand these while I cut some wood, but he’s busy mowing the lawn.”
“I can do the sanding for you,” she said.
He quirked an eyebrow. “You sure about that? It can get awful dusty, and it’ll wear your fingernails down.”
“I don’t care about that. My nails are already worn down from all the gardening I do.” She held her hands out to him. “I’d really like to help.”
“All right then; here you go.” He handed her a piece of sandpaper. “Now make sure you sand with the grain of the wood and not across the grain.”
She frowned. “I know how to sand, Nelson. I’ve watched you and Grandpa do it many times. And don’t forget about the birdfeeders I’ve made.”
“A birdfeeder doesn’t have to be perfect, but cabinets do.” Nelson motioned to the row of cabinets sitting across the room. “Those are being done for a lawyer who lives in Hopkinsville. His wife’s real picky, so every cabinet door needs to be done very well.”
Irritation welled in Suzanne. Nelson obviously doubted her ability to do a good job. Well, she’d show him how well she could sand! If she did a good enough job, maybe he’d let her do something more than sand a few doors.
CHAPTER 35
On Saturday morning, Titus’s folks got ready to head for home. Mom turned tearful eyes on Titus and said, “Please, come for a visit whenever you can.”
“I’ll try, but with me being off work for the past week I’m sure Nelson’s behind on things, and I probably won’t be able to get away for some time.”
“Maybe you can come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas,” Dad said.
Mom bobbed her head. “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“I’ll have to wait and see how it goes.” Titus peered out the living room window. “Looks like your driver’s here.”
Mom gave Titus a hug. “Take care of yourself, and call as often as you can so we’ll know how you’re doing.”
“I will.” Titus hugged Dad, too. “Have a safe trip, and tell the rest of the family I said hello.”
Mom gave Titus one final hug; then she and Dad went out the door.
Titus stood on the porch as he watched his folks get into their driver’s van. When the vehicle disappeared, he went inside and stretched out on the sofa with a sigh of relief. He appreciated them staying until he felt better, and he knew he’d miss Mom’s good cooking. What he wouldn’t miss was her hovering and constant badgering him about moving home.
He closed his eyes and rested awhile, then finally decided he ought to go over to the Beilers’ store and talk to Esther. When Titus entered the store, he found Esther standing on a ladder, dusting some empty shelves.
“It’s good to see you. How are you feeling?” Esther asked after she climbed down.
“The back of my head’s still a little tender, but otherwise, I’m doing okay. I plan to go back to work on Monday.”
“Are you sure you’re up to that?” she asked with a look of concern.
“Jah. I’ve sat around letting my mamm wait on me long enough.”
“How much longer will your folks be staying?”
“They left this morning.”
“Oh, I see.”
Titus leaned on the edge of the counter. “I heard there’s going to be another singing tomorrow evening. I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”
Esther’s face flushed, and she quickly averted his gaze. “I … uh … don’t think I’ll be going to the singing.”
“How come?”
“I’d rather not go this time, that’s all.”
Titus stroked his chin. What’s going on? It seems strange that Esther’s acting so disinterested, when not long ago she was practically flirting with me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
“I’m positive.”
Titus figured it was best not to press the issue, so he said good-bye to Esther and left the store.
Think I’ll ride over to the produce auction and see what’s going on there, he decided. I’m not in a hurry to go home and sit by myself for the rest of the day, anyway.
Fairview, Kentucky
Suzanne had just sold four hanging baskets to one of her English neighbors when she spotted Titus heading her way. Her heart skipped a beat. She wished there was something she could do to make him notice her without being obvious. Maybe if she learned to cook as well as Esther did, Titus would see her in a different light.
“Are you feeling better?” Suzanne asked when he joined her by the flowers.
He nodded. “My folks left today, and I plan to be back at work on Monday morning.”
“I’m sure Nelson will be glad to hear that.” Suzanne figured that, with Titus returning to work and Grandpa taking over most of the bookwork again, Nelson probably wouldn’t want her hanging around the shop anymore. She’d have to sneak out there after dark and work on some project of her own, the way she’d done several times in the past.
Titus motioned to the few hanging baskets she had left. “Looks like business is going well for you today.”
“It has. In fact, I’ve been so busy since I got here that I haven’t had a chance to buy myself any lunch.”
“Would you like me to go inside and get something for you?” Titus offered.
Suzanne smiled. “I’d appreciate that.”
“What wou
ld you like?”
“A hot dog, a bottle of water, and a bag of chips would be fine.” She moved toward her cash box. “Let me give you some money.”
Titus shook his head. “That’s okay. I’ll get it. Think I’ll buy myself a hot dog, too.”
[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey Page 22