“If you’d like, we can include meals for an extra hundred a month. But it’ll only be breakfast and supper – nothing fancy.”
“That would be wonderful, ma’am.”
“Okay, then. Dinner will be served around six o’clock.” She moved to the door. “I’ll just leave you to get settled.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Just as she was about to close the door, Zach spoke up. “Uh, I hate to ask this, but do you think you can drive me to the hospital next week? I don’t have a car and I’m scheduled for surgery.”
She eyed him with compassion. “Of course, son. But, are you certain you don’t want to contact your family? I know that if Tommy were to be having surgery, I’d want to know.”
“Jah, I’m sure. See, my folks don’t approve of war or of me being a soldier. It’s best if they don’t know I’m back home for now. I do plan to visit them later.”
“Okay, then. If you’re sure.”
“I am. Denki. Uh, thank you.”
Zachariah sighed when Betty closed the door, happy to get off his aching leg. The officer was right, it was going to be a tough road.
<><><>
Rosanna glanced down at her hand in John’s and smiled. How blessed she was to have found an honorable man. She’d been counting down the days till their wedding. Lately, though, John had seemed a little melancholy. His usual teasing self was still there, but there had been an underlying despondency that had her concerned about her beau.
“You’ve been quiet. What’s wrong?”
“Just thinking about Zach, is all. I wonder how he’s doing.”
Rosanna figured that’s what it was, but honestly, she didn’t have any encouraging words for him.
“I wonder if he’s all right. I wonder what kinds of things he’s seeing. I miss him.”
“He’ll be back eventually, right?”
“Jah. Our wedding is in a month. I just never thought I’d be getting married without my best friend by my side. I always pictured Zachariah as one of my newehockers.”
“Do you know when he’s scheduled to come back?”
“Nee. Even so, he wouldn’t be allowed to be in our wedding. You know the rules.”
“Well, he made the choice to leave and get himself shunned. We all just have to live with it now.”
He sighed. “I reckon. He’ll probably be under the watchful eye of the leaders for months after he returns. Who knows how long it would be before they lift the Bann.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
John picked up the can of spray paint he’d been eyeing, then glanced to the next aisle. The guy reminded him a lot of Zach, but he wore a baseball cap and had short hair. His jeans and black t-shirt bearing an eagle with an American flag told John he was clearly an Englischer. How he missed his good friend. He couldn’t help but wish he was here.
He glanced at the guy again and did a double take. No way!
“Zach? Zachariah Zook, is that you?” He rushed over to his friend and engulfed him in a bear hug. “I almost didn’t recognize you with the short hair and Englisch clothes.”
“Yep, it’s me.”
“You look so…so Englisch.” He laughed and clasped Zach’s shoulder. “How are you, my good friend?”
“I’m still alive.”
“What happened? Why are you here?”
He pointed to a pair of crutches in the shopping cart. “Bum leg. They sent me back early.”
“Oh, no. You were injured?” John ran a hand through his hair. “Why haven’t you come home? Why didn’t you get a hold of me?”
“I don’t want to ruin your life.”
“Ruin my life? Are you kidding?” He looked at Zach’s cart again. Beer? “Hey, what’s that all about? You here shopping with someone else?”
“Nope. It’s all mine.” He grimaced.
“Two cases?”
“Aren’t I lucky?”
“Zach, you’re drinking now?”
“Looks like it. Wanna join me?”
“Uh, no. Rosie, would–”
“Ah, the illustrious Rosanna Keim.”
Illustrious? “Soon to be Christner. We’re getting married this month.”
“Already, huh?” Zach’s eyes widened. “Congratulations, man. So you got her to say yes?”
“Yeah, I had to twist her arm a bit but she eventually agreed.”
His brow shot up.
“Joke.” John grinned.
“Yeah.”
Why was this conversation so awkward? Zach seemed so different. What had happened to the Zachariah he knew? “Hey, why don’t you come over for supper one of these nights?”
“With your folks?”
“Sure.”
He shook his head. “No. I’m not going back.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s there for me, John? Ridicule? Condemnation? In case you haven’t noticed, I have enough to deal with right now.”
“You know your folks love you.”
“My folks have to do what they have to do, love or no. You know I won’t be welcomed.”
He put a hand on Zach’s arm. “I’m sorry, for everything.”
“What are friends for?” He glanced back at his cart. “Hey, you got any plans? Want to come hang out?”
John wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to spend time with Zach. “Sure. Where?”
“My place. Well, not my place exactly. I’m renting a studio apartment.”
“Great.”
Zach’s face lit up for the first time. “You’ll have to leave your buggy here and ride with me. It’s a little ways.”
“I came with a driver. Old Ernie. I’ll just let him know I already have a ride home.”
“Okay.”
<><><>
Rosanna watched the clock on the wall. Where could he be? John said he’d be there to pick her up from school today. Perhaps he’d forgotten. Not a problem, she could walk home if she had to. Unfortunately, the walk home was longer now than when her family resided with the Zooks.
She sighed in disappointment. John had never broken his word.
Hopefully, nothing was wrong. She sent up a silent prayer on his behalf.
<><><>
“You said you needed to be home at what time?”
John didn’t miss the slur in Zach’s words as he spoke. He’d tried to get Zach to stop at two beers, to no avail. He wondered just how many his friend drank on a normal basis.
He looked up at the clock and grimaced. “Two hours ago.”
Zach set his bottle down on the table beside him, stood up and jingled his keys. “Let’s go.”
“No. You’re not going anywhere tonight, buddy.”
“Ah.” He swatted the air in front of him. “I can drive.”
“Yep. Right into a tree. Then where would we be?”
“You chust gonna crash here then?”
“Looks like it. It’s preferable to a telephone pole.” He looked around. There wasn’t much room in the tiny apartment but it was plenty sufficient for one occupant. “I’ll sleep on your chair. Got an extra blanket?”
“On the couch.”
“Thanks, friend.” He took the blanket and made himself as comfortable as possible as he reclined on the chair. He turned out the lamp on the table next to him. “Hey, Zach. Do me a favor and don’t drink any alcohol tomorrow morning. I need to get home.”
His friend put his hand to his brow and offered a halfhearted salute. “Yes, sir.”
John sighed as he thought about the state of his best friend. He was glad they’d had an opportunity to talk before Zach became intoxicated. The war had been tough, although John knew there was much more to it than what Zach had shared with him. He couldn’t believe his friend had lost his leg in battle. The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached for him. Zach needed help and support, and he was determined to give it to him.
The Brookses had, no doubt, been a Godsend to Zach. The way Zach talked about them sounded as if they were his folks. They’d visited
him in the hospital, helped him to purchase a car, assisted him with his physical therapy, provided meals, and the list went on.
John bowed his head in silent prayer and thanked God for keeping his best friend alive and sending people to help him along the way. He prayed that God would show him how he could best help his friend in the days, weeks, and months ahead. And he asked God to let Zach find peace.
<><><>
Rosanna glanced out the schoolhouse window. Had she heard the rumble of a vehicle outside?
She bent down and whispered into her most responsible student’s ear. “I’ll be right back, Fannie. Keep an eye on everyone. Make sure nobody gets up from their desk.” Fortunately, they were all busy with a reading assignment.
At the girl’s nod, Rosanna stepped outside.
She took a step toward the vehicle as John stepped out of the passenger’s side door. It sure was good to see him.
She smiled, finally able to dismiss her fears from earlier. “John? Where have you been?”
The driver’s door opened, drawing her attention, and a young Englisch man stepped out.
John smiled at Rosanna and took her hand. “Surprise!” He looked to the driver.
She stared at the driver a little closer. Did she know him? It wasn’t until he removed his baseball cap and moved his sunglasses to his head that she realized who it was.
“Zachariah Zook?” Her jaw dropped.
“I found him in town yesterday. Can you believe it?”
“Hey, Rosanna.” Zach nodded.
Rosanna swallowed the bile that threatened to rise in her throat. How could John just show up out of the blue with Zachariah of all people? Didn’t he realize Zach’s sisters were inside the schoolhouse? The same sisters who’d taken abuse from the other scholars because of their older brother’s foolish choices?
“I – I have to go back inside.”
John frowned and lightly grasped her wrist. “Rosie? Aren’t you happy to see Zach?”
“Jah. Just thrilled.” She turned and marched back to the schoolhouse. At the steps, she turned to face them again, pinning John with a look that could cause a sinkhole in the ground. “It would probably be best if the two of you left now.”
<><><>
Ouch. John grimaced.
“That’s the reaction I expected.” Zachariah slipped back into his car with as much finesse one could have with an injured leg.
John frowned as he sat back into the passenger’s seat. How could Rosanna be so rude to Zach? “Not exactly the warm welcome you hoped for, huh?” He attempted to make light of the situation.
“Who can blame her?” He turned the engine over and they headed in the direction of John’s house.
“She’s never acted that way before. I guess you really bring out the best in people.” He hoped that a joke would lighten the mood a little.
“Okay.” Zach through his hands up in surrender. “I have a confession to make. There’s another reason she doesn’t like me.”
John’s brow lifted. “What? Did you run her cat over with your buggy?”
Zach chuckled. “Close.”
“Um…let’s see. You threw her prayer kapp out in the rain and ruined it?”
Zach shook his head. “Worse. Maybe I should have you agree to not clobbering me before I tell you this.”
“Too late. Speak.”
“I kissed her.”
John’s gaze turned serious.
He held up a hand. “Let me reword that. I attempted to kiss her.”
“I think I should clobber you.”
“Let me explain a little better. Before she met you and the Keims were living at our, or I should say, my folks’ place, I sort of made a pass at her.”
“Oh. It was before?” He shrugged. “Well, I guess I can’t say that I blame you. She is beautiful.” He tossed a look of warning. “And she is mine now.”
“I totally get it. That was one of the reasons I readily joined the military. I didn’t want to get in the way.”
John felt his brow sprout up. “So, she didn’t kiss you back?”
Zach laughed. It was good to see him more like his old self. “Are you kidding me? I think she wanted to knock the daylights out of me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Her father did too.”
“So you just gave up?”
“Truthfully, when you came along and showed an interest in her, I kinda let you have her – not that it was all my choice. But I did stop pursuing her.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, remember how you always talked about leaving the Amish?”
He nodded.
“I thought Rosanna would be a good reason for you to stay. I didn’t want to lose my best friend.” He chuckled. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? I’m the one who’s Englisch now.”
“You don’t have to be, you know?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know if I’ll make a good Amish man now. I can’t farm with this leg. What would I do?”
John shrugged. “I’m sure there’s probably something you can do.” He thought for a moment, but his mind came up blank. Zach was right. What could an Amish man with an injured leg do? It’s not like he could just secure an office job and utilize a computer all day.
John squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “You know, you really are the best friend a guy could ever buy…er, uh, have.” He chuckled at his joke.
Zach laughed out loud.
“But, seriously, Zach. I mean it.”
Zach’s brow arched. “Really?”
“Well, yeah. I wouldn’t have said it otherwise.”
Zachariah put his hand on John’s shoulder. “Thanks, man, it means a lot.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“John?”
John turned at his father’s voice. “Jah, Dat?”
“Where have you been?”
“Just spent the night with a friend in town, is all.”
His father’s shot up. “Not with Rosanna Keim, I hope.”
Heat rose up John’s neck at his father’s insinuation. “Nee. We are not married yet.”
His father blew out a relieved breath and pointed down the road where Zach’s car had been a few moments ago. “An Englischer?”
“Jah.”
“Was it Zachariah Zook?”
John frowned. Zach didn’t want anyone to know he was back in town, but how could he possibly dodge his father’s direct question? “Jah.”
“He is in the Bann. It is not wise to spend time with him.” His father stroked his beard. “You do not want to add any problems that will prevent your wedding to Rosanna Keim.”
“I know.”
“Will he make a kneeling confession?”
“I don’t know, Dat.”
“Best you stay away from that Zook boy.”
John nodded and paused to see if his father had anything else to say. When he remained silent, John continued to his bedroom. It appeared Zach’s return wasn’t going to be easy on anybody.
<><><>
A pothole in the road startled John out of his musings. He shook his head and refocused on the path ahead of him – the road that led to the one-room schoolhouse he’d grown up in.
What would Rosie say when he picked her up today? If her earlier tone was any indication, he was in for a tongue lashing. He hoped it wouldn’t be so, but at the same time he was excited to talk to Rosie about Zach. His friend had returned!
He slowly pulled up to the schoolhouse. Like other days, he would wait until Rosie came out to meet him. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be too long today. He’d only been gone a day, but it seemed much longer. Why was it that when you were away from the one you loved, the days seemed to go on forever? And then, by contrast, the time you had with them never lasted long enough.
His countenance brightened when she dawned the steps.
She silently walked to his buggy and sat in the passenger’s seat. She kept her gaze on the driving mare. Would she say nothing the entire ride home?<
br />
He’d have to start the conversation today. The tension in the air made him uneasy and he guessed the same was true with Rosie, so he’d do his best to minimize it. “How was school?”
“Fine.”
“Have I ever told you that you look cute when you’re upset?”
“If you’re attempting to get me to laugh, it’s not working. No one looks gut when they’re mad.”
“Not laugh. I just want you to open up to me.” He lightly touched her hand. “I’m guessing you’re upset about Zach’s return?”
“Return? So he’s back for gut?”
John frowned. “Not exactly.”
“So, he’s staying Englisch then?”
“I think he’s still in the military. He’s just not on active duty. He was injured over in Afghanistan. You probably didn’t notice, but his leg is messed up pretty bad. The doctors attempted to fix it with surgery, but there was too much damage. They said he was lucky to still have it. He will most likely never be able to walk like he used to and will probably endure back problems as a result.”
Rosanna nodded. “If he’s not coming back, why did you bring him here?”
“He gave me a ride.” He shook his head. “Look, Rosie, Zachariah Zook is my best friend. I want to do what I can to help him.”
“Help him?”
John sighed. Was it really a good idea to tell Rosie about Zach’s drinking? No, that can wait for another time. “I want to be his friend.”
“You know we are not to have fellowship with fence jumpers.” She frowned. “Is that why you didn’t pick me up last night?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh…jah. We hung out at his place.” Hopefully, she wouldn’t ask any more questions. He wouldn’t tell her why he couldn’t come home the prior evening. They’d jump over one bale of hay at a time.
“And you returned this morning?”
A Secret Sacrifice (Amish Secrets--Book 5) Page 8