“Sure.”
Suzanne felt a nip in the air as she stepped onto the porch and rang the bell so those who were outside doing their chores would know breakfast was ready. When she stepped back inside, she cupped her hands around her mouth, and called for Effie to come downstairs to eat.
A short time later, everyone gathered around the kitchen table. After the silent prayer, Mom passed the platters of bacon and pancakes.
Grandpa sniffed deeply. “Ah, I do love the smell of maplecured bacon.” He forked a couple of pancakes onto his plate and poured syrup over the top. “Who made these?” he asked after he’d taken his first bite.
“Suzanne did, while I cooked the bacon,” Mom replied.
Grandpa looked over at Suzanne and smiled. “Good job! For a young woman who’s always disliked being in the kitchen, you’re turnin’ into a pretty fine cook.” He winked at her. “I’ve got a hunch it won’t be long until you find yourself a husband.”
The heat of a blush warmed Suzanne’s cheeks. She was pleased that Grandpa liked the pancakes but worried that he might suspect she was interested in Titus. She certainly didn’t want him to know that she’d asked Esther to give her cooking lessons in the hope of gaining Titus’s approval.
“Say, Grandpa,” Nelson said after he’d taken a drink of milk, “do you know anything about the table inside the storage closet in the woodshop?”
Grandpa shook his head. “I saw it there, too. Thought maybe you’d made it.”
“Nope, it wasn’t me.”
“Must have been Titus, then. I’ll ask him about it when he shows up at the woodshop this morning.”
Feeling a sense of panic, Suzanne balled her napkin tightly into her hands and blurted out, “There’s no need for you to ask Titus because I’m the one who made the table.”
Everyone turned to look at her, eyes wide and mouths hanging open.
CHAPTER 41
Suzanne held her breath as she waited for the family’s response to her confession. What if she wasn’t allowed to go in the woodshop anymore? She didn’t think she could deal with that—didn’t think she could ever stop making wooden things. And it would be unfair if she was asked to give it up.
Grandpa was the first to speak. “I’m not really surprised by this, Suzanne. We all know you’ve made a few birdfeeders, and I’ve known for some time that you’d rather be out in the woodshop than doing anything in the house.”
“That’s true,” Suzanne said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“How would you like to help out in the shop during our busier times?” Grandpa asked. “With Christmas sneaking up on us, I’m sure we’ll be getting a lot more orders.”
“I’d like that very much.” Tears welled in Suzanne’s eyes. She could hardly believe he’d actually invited her to work in the shop—and it would be doing more than bookwork or sweeping the floor. This was too good to be true.
Nelson looked at Grandpa with a grim expression. “You can’t be serious. Suzanne will only be in the way, and I thought you agreed with me that her place is in the house, doing womanly things.”
Suzanne slapped her hand on the table, jostling her silverware. “That’s lecherich, and it’s old-fashioned thinking! Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can’t do some things a man’s capable of doing.”
“I agree with Suzanne,” Mom put in. “When your daed was alive and had the dairy farm, I used to help him a lot.”
“That was different. Milking cows isn’t anything like woodworking, and it’s not nearly as dangerous,” Nelson said.
“It can be dangerous,” Russell spoke up. “I remember the time Dad got kicked by one of the cows and it broke his leg.”
“That’s still not as dangerous as working with wood.” Nelson pointed to Suzanne. “You could cut your hand, smash your finger, or any number of things.”
“I’ll be careful,” Suzanne asserted. “Accidents can happen in the kitchen or even out in the garden.”
Nelson gave a nod. “That may be true, but only if you’re not careful, and you were obviously not careful when you cut your hand on the piece of glass the other day.”
“I was careful. I just—”
Grandpa clapped his hands. “That’s enough! Since the shop is still mine, it’s up to me to do the hiring and firing. I say Suzanne can help out whenever it’s needed.” He reached for another pancake. “Now let’s finish our breakfast so we can get to work.”
Titus had just finished eating breakfast when he heard a vehicle pull into the yard. He glanced out the kitchen window and saw Allen getting out of his truck.
“It’s good to see you,” Titus said after he’d invited Allen into the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Guess I could have one, but I can’t stay long. Just came to give you some good news.” He pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Titus. “It’s the reward money you have coming.”
“I’d almost forgotten about that.” Titus smiled. “I’ll put the money in the bank the next time I go to town. May as well let it draw some interest.”
“I have some other good news as well.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve been given the opportunity to buy a used, but very nice, double-wide manufactured home. I’d like to move the old trailer out of here and have the new home brought in.” Allen took a sip of coffee from the cup Titus had just handed him.
“A newer place would be nice,” Titus said, “but I guess that would mean I’d owe you more money every month for rent.”
Allen shook his head. “I’ll charge you the same as you’re paying now, and then if you’re still interested in buying the place, you can start making your payments count toward the purchase price.”
Titus sat for a few minutes, mulling things over. Finally, he gave a slow nod. “That’s what I’d like to do.”
“Great. I’ll get the papers drawn up and bring them over to you sometime later this week. Within the next couple of weeks, you ought to have a new place to call home.”
Titus grinned. “I can’t wait for that.”
Allen drank the last of his coffee and stood. “I’d better get going. A man who lives in Cadiz wants me to give him a bid on remodeling part of his house.”
After Allen left, Titus glanced at the clock. He still had half an hour before he needed to leave for work, so he decided to go out to the phone shanty and call Zach. “Hey, Zach, it’s me,” Titus said after he’d made the call.
“It’s good hearing from you, Titus. How are things?”
“Other than me stepping into a manure pit last night, everything’s fine and dandy.”
“How’d that happen?”
Titus related the story.
Zach chuckled. “Guess it could have been worse.”
“I’ suppose.”
“You didn’t have your cell phone in your pocket when you fell in, I hope.”
Titus grimaced. “No, but I won’t be using it anymore.”
“How come?”
Titus explained about giving up the cell phone, and finished by saying, “After the bishop confronted me, I knew it wouldn’t be right to keep using the phone.”
“I think you’ve made the right decision,” Zach said. “If you had your own business and were away from home a lot, you’d probably need a cell phone. Under the circumstances, I’m sure you can get by using the one in your phone shanty.”
“I’ guess.”
A fly buzzed overhead, and Titus swatted at it. He’d be glad when the weather turned colder and there weren’t so many bugs to contend with. If Samuel were here, he’d probably have caught the pesky fly in his hand. He’d always been real good at bug catching.
“Say, I heard some good news this morning when Samuel came to work.”
“What’s that?”
“Elsie’s expecting another boppli, and Samuel’s sure excited about it.”
“That’s great. Tell him I said congratulations.”
“I wil
l. I’d let you tell him yourself, but he’s up on a ladder, painting the trim on a house we need to get finished before colder weather sets in.”
“That’s okay. You can give him my message. Oh, and I have some good news of my own to share.”
“What is it?”
“Allen was here awhile ago, and he’s getting me a better place to live—a used manufactured home—to replace the old trailer I’m living in now.”
“That should give you more room.”
“It will, but the best part is I’m going to apply the rent I’m paying him toward the purchase of the double-wide, as well as the property here.”
“That must mean you’re definitely planning to stay in Kentucky.”
“Jah. I like it here, and I enjoy working in the Yoders’ woodshop.”
The fly landed on the table beside the phone, and Titus smacked it with the palm of his hand. One less buzzing insect to irritate him.
“Think you’ll ever settle down and get married?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Esther and I aren’t seeing each other anymore, but I’ve begun to care for Suzanne. So if things work out between us, I might eventually think about marriage.”
“Sounds like you’re making some mature decisions. Mom and Dad will be pleased.”
“They may be pleased that I’m finally growing up, but probably not so pleased about me buying this place and staying here. I know Mom’s still hoping I’ll move back home.”
“From what Leona’s heard from Abby, Mom’s doing better with all that. I think she’s finally come to realize that you have to make a life of your own, even if it means being away from the family.”
Titus smiled. “Guess I won’t really understand the way Mom feels until I get married and have some kinner of my own.”
“That’s true enough. Since Leona and I had Lucy, James, and Jean, I see things differently than I did before they were born.”
“Say, Zach, before we hang up, I’ve been wondering about something.”
“What’s that?”
“Do you still keep in touch with the man who kidnapped you and let you think he was your father?”
“Sure. We call each other every few weeks. In fact, Jim and his wife, Holly, are planning to come here for a visit sometime next year.”
“So you don’t hold a grudge against him for what he did?”
“Not anymore. I forgave Jim a long time ago.” There was a pause. “Why do you ask?”
Titus ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been thinking about Phoebe lately.”
“What about her?”
“I’ve been nursing a grudge against her long enough. Fact is, if I had Phoebe’s address, I’d write her a letter so she’d know I’ve forgiven her for hurting me like she did.”
“You could always ask Mom to get Phoebe’s address. From what I understand, Mom and Arie are still friends, so I’m sure Arie would give Mom the address for you.”
Titus gnawed on his lower lip. “I’m not so sure about that. Mom and Dad disapproved of my relationship with Phoebe. If I ask Mom to get Phoebe’s address, she might think I want to get back with Phoebe.”
“Just tell her you don’t want it for that reason. Tell her what you told me—that you only want to let Phoebe know you’ve forgiven her.”
“I’ll give it some thought, but please don’t say anything to Mom about this. If I decide to ask for Phoebe’s address, the request should come from me.”
“No problem, I won’t say a word.”
“Thanks.” Titus pulled out his pocket watch. “I’d better go, or I’ll be late for work. Tell the family I said hello, and don’t forget to let everyone know not to call my cell phone number anymore.”
“I’ll do that. Take care, Titus.”
Titus hung up the phone and sprinted for the barn. He needed to feed Callie and her kittens, get Lightning saddled, and head to work. When he got there, he hoped he’d have the chance to speak to Suzanne, because he needed to apologize for not taking her home from the young people’s gathering.
CHAPTER 42
When Titus entered the Yoders’ yard, he was disappointed not to see Suzanne outside. She was often in the garden or hanging clothes on the line, but not today. He was tempted to go up to the house and ask to speak to her, but he was already late and didn’t think he should take the time to stop. Maybe he’d see her at lunchtime or after work. He hoped so.
Titus put Lightning in the corral and hurried toward the shop. When he opened the door, he found Nelson and Isaac in what appeared to be a heated discussion. They stopped talking as soon as they saw him, and he wondered what could be going on. He’d never heard the two of them say an unkind word to each other. Maybe Nelson had been getting after Isaac for trying to do too much.
“Sorry I’m late,” Titus said. “Allen stopped by this morning, and then I made a quick phone call before I left home, and I’m afraid it set me behind.”
Isaac flapped his hand. “It’s fine. You’re here now; that’s all that matters.”
“This wasn’t a good day to be late,” Nelson mumbled. “We’ve got a lot of work that needs to be done, and since Grandpa and I have an errand to run at noon, that’ll leave you in the shop alone.”
“No problem,” Titus said. “I’m sure I can work on whatever needs to be done and wait on any customers who might come in.”
“If things get real busy and you need some help, just run up to the house and get Suzanne,” Isaac said.
“Sure, and while she’s here, maybe she can make a table or two.” The sarcasm in Nelson’s voice was unmistakable. Apparently he knew about the table Suzanne had hidden in the storage room. Maybe she’d felt guilty about it and had told him the truth.
It’s not my place to say anything, Titus decided. If Suzanne told Nelson about the table she made, she might not have said anything to Isaac. Even if she did, it’s best if I don’t let on that I know. It might not set well with Nelson or Isaac if they learn that I was the first person Suzanne told.
“Would you like me to take lunch out to the men now?” Suzanne asked her mother after they finished making some tuna fish sandwiches with zucchini relish.
“I’d appreciate that,” Mom said. “I still need to wash another load of clothes.”
“No problem. I think I’ll put some of my banana bread in the lunch basket, too. They can have that for dessert.”
“That’s fine. Oh, and don’t forget the jug of apple cider in the refrigerator. I’m glad we were able to use the Beilers’ cider press to make more, because I opened the only jar left from last season.”
Suzanne put everything together and headed out the door. When she entered the woodshop, she discovered that Nelson and Grandpa weren’t there and Titus was working alone.
“I brought lunch out for the three of you,” she said to Titus, “but it appears that you’re the only one here right now.”
He looked up from staining a door and nodded. “Nelson and your grandpa had an errand to run and left me in charge of the shop until they get back.”
Suzanne frowned. I wonder why they didn’t call me out to help. Maybe Grandpa didn’t think they were busy enough for my help today. Or maybe Nelson talked him out of letting me work in the shop.
Titus motioned to the basket she’d placed on Grandpa’s desk. “If you made enough food for three of us, why don’t you stay and join me for lunch? I sure can’t eat it all by myself.”
“Thanks, I think I will.” Suzanne took everything out of the basket. Then after Titus washed up at the sink, they took seats on either side of the desk and said their silent prayers.
“I made tuna fish mixed with relish again,” she said, handing him a sandwich.
He grinned at her. “That sounds good.”
They ate their sandwiches in silence; then Titus leaned forward and looked intently at Suzanne.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Have I got tuna fish on my face?”
He shook his head. “I was just thinking what pretty
eyes you have. They’re darker and bluer than I thought.”
She felt the heat of a blush spread across her cheeks. “Danki.”
“I hope you weren’t upset with me for not taking you home last night. With the way I smelled, I didn’t think you’d want to sit in the closed-in buggy, holding your nose all the way home.”
She chuckled. “You did smell pretty bad.”
[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey Page 26