Silas opened his mouth.
She held up a hand, still seething. “I don't want to hear a single word from you, Silas Troyer! Now all three of you go inside.”
They swiftly obeyed.
Her anger died as she turned to find Julia and Loretta standing where they had been attacked. Julia hugged her younger sister, who was crying on her shoulder. Tears sprung to her own eyes as she stepped toward them and held them both. “I'm so sorry,” she whispered.
“It's okay, Teacher. It wasn't your fault.” Julia seemed to be attempting nonchalance, though moisture glimmered in her eyes.
Rosanna couldn't help but pin the fault squarely on the shoulders of whom it belonged – Zachariah Zook.
<><><>
“How could he just leave them like that? Does he even have any idea of what he's doing to them?” Rosanna threw up her hands.
John frowned. “I can't believe those boys would be so cruel.”
“That's not what I'm talking about, John! It's not the boys’ fault. I mean, it is their fault for being unkind but they shouldn't have had the opportunity. This is all Zach's fault. When he left, it was like he put a big target on the backs of his family members and opened them up to heartache and vulnerability of the worst kind. How could he do that? I don't understand it. Did he not even consider the consequences?”
“Maybe he just felt he had to get away. Maybe he felt trapped and wanted to try something new, to do something different. I’m sure he didn't mean for all this to happen, Rosie. He couldn't have known his sisters would be bullied.”
His total lack of emotion astounded her. “How would they not be? And how are you so calm about this? I mean, even though you had warning and you already knew he was gonna jump the fence, you don't even seem...angry, hurt, confused, upset. I am, and I didn't even know Zach well. How can you be so calm about this? You almost seem like you...agree with him.”
John pulled the buggy off to the side of the road. “Listen, Rosie.” He sighed. “Zach…I guess I just...understand him. If I didn't have someone special, if I didn't have you, I could see why he would do something so drastic. Sometimes, you feel like your life is just stuck in place. It seems like nothing you do is of any importance and everything is just, I don't know, paused, maybe? Like you're stuck inside a clock that stopped working. And when you feel like that, you'll try anything to feel different, to feel significant again.”
“Wow. I never- Did you feel like that?”
He nodded. “But that was before I met you. Then everything changed.” He smiled and ran a finger down her nose.
She couldn't resist a small smile. “I still can’t understand. And I don't think what Zach did was right.”
“Let's not talk about Zach anymore. We should be having fun.” He turned to her. “I spoke with Gideon Miller and he said we can go explore their cave any time we want.”
“Really?”
“Mm-hm. So I'm thinking, you and me could go on Saturday and have a picnic?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “What do you say?”
“I'd love to go!”
“Good. Saturday, it is.” John grasped the reins and urged the horse back onto the road.
“And it's 'you and I'.” She playfully poked his ribs.
“What?”
“You said 'you and me could go on Saturday', but the correct term would be 'you and I.'”
John shook his head, grinning. “That's the problem with you school teachers. You can't ever have any fun.”
She shoved his shoulder. “That's not true. We just prefer to be correct while having fun.”
“Mm-hm.” He sent her a dubious expression and she laughed.
CHAPTER NINE
Never in a million years would Zach have imagined he’d be walking in a desert on the other side of the globe – toting a machine gun, no less. He could hardly believe this was his reality. His mind fought against itself daily as he battled the right and wrong in regard to war. He’d been taught all his life to turn the other cheek, to love your enemies, and that it was wrong to kill another human being, yet now he had to believe it was…okay?
What had he gotten himself into?
When he looked into the mirror, he barely recognized himself. He’d never had short hair before entering the military; it had never been allowed. He admitted that he did like his crew cut, though. But the church leaders would never approve of it.
He mentally rehearsed the orders his platoon had been given. Their job here was to secure the city, but in order to do that they’d need to befriend the local civilians and gain their confidence. They were not the enemy, they were there to protect the townsfolk from the insurgents. Radicals had come in and nearly demolished everything, taking what plunder they could. If the soldiers could derive information from the citizens, they’d be able to locate the insurgents and destroy them. Nobody liked war, but sometimes it was necessary to protect the innocent and to bring peace to a war-torn region.
Basic training hadn’t been as difficult as he believed it would be. He chalked that up to his Amish heritage. He’d already been used to getting up early in the morning to tend to the chores before breakfast. They were never allowed to use too much water for showers because their water supply had been limited to the rainfall that filled their cistern before Dat added the well, so showers were always short. He’d always made his bed growing up without being told to. He knew how to follow orders well and seldom protested when told to do something.
The most difficult for him had been enduring the filthy language and lifestyles of the others. They constantly referred to things he knew nothing about, so he often felt like an outsider. But by the sound of the things they described, he was glad he’d been sheltered from those things. It was the height of worldliness, no doubt, and if anyone from back home were there to witness it, he’d be ashamed for sure and certain. But he could put up with it for as long as he had to.
Home back on the farm never sounded so good.
<><><>
Today was the day! John had thought about it long and hard and decided that this would be the best day to ask her – to ask Rosie to marry him.
He flicked a rein over his horse's back and glanced at his girl sitting beside him.
“I'm so excited to finally see the cave! I'm sure it's beautiful!”
He glanced at her. “It is. But it's not as beautiful as you.”
She laughed and pushed his shoulder. “There you go charming again.”
“Is there something wrong with complimenting my girl?”
“I suppose not.”
“See? And besides, I'm not saying anything that isn't true.” He smiled and took her hand in his.
She returned his grin, then gasped. “Oh no! I forgot my flashlight!”
“Don't worry. We can share mine. It's right here.” He felt around under the buggy seat. “Shoot! I forgot mine too!”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
He grinned and shook his head, pulling his flashlight out from under the seat. “I'm joshin' ya.”
She gave him a mock glare before a laugh escaped her. “I thought we'd have to go back and get one.”
“Nah. Even if we didn't bring any, we could just borrow one from the Millers.”
“I don't know if I've really met any of the Millers, other than a few of the children. Elizabeth, Mark, and Reuben attend school.”
John nodded. “They're the youngest of eleven. Only five are still at home.”
“Woah. That's a lot of children.”
“Not really. My daed was one of sixteen.”
“Really? I didn't know that.”
“Would you not like to have a lot of children?”
Rosie shrugged. “I don't know. I haven't really thought about it much. It was just me and my two sisters so I'm not used to a full house.” She paused. “I suppose I would like a large family. Not too big though. I couldn't imagine having sixteen children.” She laughed.
“I'm sure having a lot of kinner can make things crazy, but
the more children you have, the more help you have. They're definitely a blessing.”
“I agree. How many kinner do you see yourself having?”
He shrugged. “As many as God allows. I won't mind if He gives me one or one hundred.”
She smiled. “Well, I doubt He'll be giving you a hundred.”
“Me too. Maybe a hundred grandchildren.”
“Don't put the cart before the horse now. Grandchildren are a long way off.”
“Well, time flies when you're having fun and I intend on having as much fun as I can. Grandchildren will come before we–I know it.” John looked to see if Rosie noticed his slip of the tongue. If she did, she didn't show it. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?
They reached the Millers' property before he could decide and pulled up to the hitching post. John helped Rosanna down from the buggy to meet Deacon Miller, who came out to greet them. They chatted for a few moments before John asked about the cave.
“Never seen a cave, have you? Ours is a fine one, if I do say so myself. Make sure you don't disturb the bats though. I'll have Mark take you.” Deacon Miller called for his son, who arrived in two shakes of a stick, with a flashlight in hand.
“Howdy, Teacher.” The boy smiled at Rosanna.
“Hello, Mark. Are you gonna take me to see your cave?”
“Sure am. Follow me.” The boy started off and John and Rosanna followed.
“Aaron and Gabe, two of my big brothers, once found some arrowheads in the cave. Probably from the Indians. Who knows how old they could’ve been. Wouldn’t it be neat to discover they were there before Columbus came? I've searched and searched to find more, but I ain't never-” Mark glanced back at Rosanna. “Haven't ever seen one.”
John grinned, noticing how the boy corrected his grammar for his teacher.
“Some Englischers even came once and tried to buy the cave, but daed wouldn't let them. They did take a bunch of pictures of it though. Don't know what for.” The boy continued on as the cave came into view. “Here we are. If you want, I can go in with you. I don’t have to, though. I’ve been in there hundreds of times.”
Rosanna opened her mouth to speak.
“No, thank you, Mark. We'll be fine.” John spoke up before she could say a word, just in case she had any ideas of letting the boy join them.
“Alright, then. Have fun. And watch out for the bats.” Mark turned and ran back to the house, taking his flashlight with him.
Rosie gave him a little shove, feigning exasperation. “Why'd you do that? You didn't let me speak.”
“Couldn't chance you inviting the boy along with us, could I?” He grinned. “Besides, what if I want to steal a kiss?”
“I was going to ask him for his flashlight before sending him home,” she said, arching a brow.
“Oh.” He frowned. “Well, I guess that would have been a good idea.”
Rosanna sighed dramatically. “Now I'll just have to share with you.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“Definitely.” Her face was a wall of seriousness and, for a second, he wondered if she really might be upset with him. Then she smirked and John knew he'd been had.
He shook his head. “Come on, troublemaker. Let's go explore.”
Rosanna glanced around, then stopped in her tracks. “What should I do with the picnic basket?”
“Well, it'll slow us down if we bring it with us. Why don't we–” John surveyed the area. “I know. Give it here.” He reached for the basket and placed it up in a nearby tree. “It should be fine there.”
“So long as we don't forget it. My mamm wouldn't like for us to lose her basket.”
“Oh, I won't forget. The food's inside.” He winked. “Now, let’s explore.”
John reached for her hand and walked to the cave's entrance. “Careful here. It goes down a little ways.”
Rosanna followed him as he lit the way with his flashlight. “Wow. It's really dark in here.”
“Yep. Just wait until we go a little further. Then all we'll have is the flashlight.” He measured his pace, so as not to move too fast for Rosie.
“It has plenty of battery left, right?”
“Yeah. It'll be fine.”
John picked his way down the incline and reached the bottom. Rosie bumped into him from behind.
“Sorry. I didn't see you.”
“I don't mind. You can hold on to me if you want.”
Her warm hands found his arm and clung to it. John decided a woman holding on to him was the best feeling he'd ever experienced. It gave him a sense of leadership and significance. He enjoyed being the strong one, the protector. Maybe they should explore dark places more often. Or, maybe not – at least not until they were married.
“There's just this one room but it's quite large.” He shined his flashlight throughout the cave as they wandered around.
“Oh, my!” She followed the beam of his flashlight. “It's beautiful! And look at the stalactite and stalagmite formations!”
“I always forget which one grows from the ground and which one's from the ceiling.”
“Just remember, stalactites, with a “c”, are on the ceiling, while stalagmites, with a “g”, are on the ground. Once I learned that, I never got them confused.”
“That's smart. I never thought of that.”
“Associations help stimulate the mind. Things tend to be easier to remember if you can relate them to something else.”
“Hmm…I see. Like the notes in music – Every Good Boy Does Fine and All Cows Eat Grass.”
“That’s right!”
“You enjoy teaching, don’t you?”
She nodded and smiled.
John directed the beam of light at an area of the ceiling where he knew there would be bats. “See those?”
“What are they?”
“Bats.”
“Oh. So many?” Her volume dropped. “Stop shining the light on them. They might wake up!” she whispered.
He laughed. “They aren't likely to wake up unless you throw something at them or are really loud. They're pretty sound sleepers.”
“They may sleep good, but there's nothing pretty about them. Quit shining the light on them.”
He kept it on the animals for another couple seconds just to frustrate her.
She shook her head. “Give me the flashlight.”
He obeyed and she stepped away, no longer touching him at all. John swallowed his disappointment.
“Look! There's a little tunnel in the wall over there.” She headed toward it and he followed. “Are you sure there's only one room?”
He nodded. “They explored the tunnel but it only goes a few dozen feet before it gets too small to fit through.”
She surveyed the outlet with the flashlight. “You can't tell by looking at it.”
“Do you want to crawl through and see for yourself?”
“No. I don't want to get my dress too dirty, or run into any creatures or anything.” She shivered. “You know, it's pretty cold in here.”
“That's just 'cuz you aren't holding on to me anymore,” he teased.
“You may be right.” She slipped her hand in his and smiled.
They wandered around, exploring nooks and crannies, stalactites and stalagmites, until Rosanna's curiosity was at last appeased. John did his best to act as he always did and hide his anticipation. He wanted to propose during or after their picnic lunch, so he was eager to get to it and hopefully put an end to his nervousness.
Rosie laid their picnic blanket out beside the cave entrance and settled onto it, basket in hand. John plopped down beside her. “What'd you bring?”
“I brought fried chicken, macaroni 'n cheese, and some watermelon.”
“Sounds delicious.” He watched her as she unpacked two paper plates.
“It probably isn't warm anymore, but hopefully it'll taste all right.”
“I'm sure it will.” He smiled.
She finished bringing out their meal and they bowed their
heads in silent prayer for a moment. They settled into a comfortable quiet.
“How have your students been? Have there been any more issues with Zach's sisters?”
She frowned. “Yes and no. There haven't been any more outbursts like the one before but I know there's definitely tension. Julia and Loretta are always by themselves. They don't play with the other children anymore and I don't think the kinner would let them even if they wanted to. I wish I could change it, but I can't make the other students accept them. It's worse for Loretta than Julia, I think. Julia will finish her school next year, but Loretta still has another two grades.”
Perhaps he shouldn't have brought it up. “You can't make them change. All you can do is be the best example that you can.”
She sighed. “I know. I just wish it was different.”
John wasn't sure of what to say, so he kept silent and ate his lunch. “This fried chicken is yummy.”
She smiled. “Not delicious?”
“It's both. It's yummilicious.”
Rosie burst into laughter.
“What? It's a good word. Makes perfect sense.” He grinned. “Does the teacher not approve of my made up word?”
“No.” She caught her breath. “The teacher loves your new word!”
“Well, that's good. I aim to please.” He took another piece of fried chicken and held it up, slowly taking a bite as though savoring each flavor. Rosanna's giggles informed him of his success. He’d much rather see her happy than distraught over her scholars. “Did you make it?”
“What? The chicken?”
He nodded, enjoying another piece.
She shook her head. “My mother. I haven't mastered the art of fried chicken yet. I did make the mac 'n cheese though.”
“Well, it is also yummilicious.” He winked.
She smiled. “You like making people laugh, don't you?”
A Secret Sacrifice (Amish Secrets--Book 5) Page 6