“Isaac.” Father’s smile faded. There was soup dribbled onto his chin, and he plucked a paper napkin from the simple wooden holder Isaac had carved for Mother last Christmas. Father wiped his mouth and dabbed at his beard. “Are you not happy?”
“No, no. I am!” Isaac smiled. “Really. It’s just a change. Takes some getting used to.”
Mother frowned. “Are you feeling well? I’ll make you some sage tea before bed.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“We know you were hesitant about working with David,” Mother said. “Are there problems?”
“No. I promise everything’s fine. He’s very kind and patient.” Isaac felt such a glow when he thought of David. “He really is a remarkable carpenter. I can learn so much. He’s teaching me about the different kinds of wood, and which ones work best, depending on what you’re making. I’ve always just used whatever wood was around.”
“And you’ve always been able to do so much with it.” Mother beamed. “The spoon you made me when you were a boy is still the best one.” She pointed to the pot of soup on the stove, the worn handle of the spoon sticking out. “You have a gift, my Isaac.”
He shrugged, secretly pleased. “I still have a lot to learn. But now I can devote the time to it. And Father, David’s giving me my pay every Saturday.”
Father took a bite of bread. “That will be fine. Leave the envelope in the top drawer of the desk. We’ll put a portion aside for you each week.”
Blinking, Isaac glanced between his parents. “Really? But until I’m twenty-one you’re supposed to get everything.”
“Yes, and when you’re twenty-one you’ll keep your whole salary and start paying for your room and board,” Mother replied. “But you’ll be getting married soon after that, and if we set aside a little bit every week, you’ll have some savings to get you started.”
“We know it’s not normally how it’s done, but our young couples in Zebulon are struggling to get on their feet.” Father took a sip of water. “You should already have your own buggy. We will pray to the Lord for a bountiful harvest this year, and that our cows will stay healthy and their milk plentiful. We can’t give you as much as we’d like, but we want the best start in life for you, Isaac. For all of you,” he added.
Isaac took this in. “I don’t know what to say.” His mother’s words echoed. “You’ll be getting married soon after that…”
“Thank you would probably work,” Nathan suggested.
As everyone laughed, including Father, Isaac joined in, pushing his thoughts aside. “Of course. Thank you.”
Mother and Father nodded.
Isaac was afraid he might well up right there at the dinner table. “Thank you,” he repeated. “And…how are things here?” He realized with a flush that he hadn’t even thought about it, let alone asked. His mind had been consumed with thoughts of David Lantz all week. He supposed it made sense since it was the biggest change in his life in the five years since he’d finished school.
“Just fine, Isaac.” Father nodded. “Ephraim’s working very hard.”
Ephraim shrugged, but a smile tugged at his lips. “Maybe it turns out Isaac just never did much,” he teased.
Isaac reached behind Nathan to poke Ephraim’s hip. “I taught you everything you know.”
“Did you now? And who taught you?” Father chuckled.
Laughing, Isaac stirred his soup. “Aaron.” He inhaled sharply a moment later. Did I just say that out loud? Judging by the wide eyes staring his way, he had. He swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean…I’m sorry.” He dared a glance at Father.
Sorrow weighted Father’s face, a heaviness that seemed to pull all his features down toward his beard. Silently, he broke off a piece of bread and chewed it.
Anger would have been preferable. Isaac knew he should likely just stop talking, but the words tumbled out. “I didn’t mean it. You know it’s you who’ve taught us everything. He…” Isaac didn’t say Aaron’s name again. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. Why had he said it at all? Why was he thinking of Aaron so much lately? Isaac felt as though his brain had been unbalanced in the days he’d been working with David—that everything had been sent off-kilter.
Mother held her spoon so tightly it looked as though it might snap. “Of course your father has taught you well.”
“Who’s Aaron?” little Joseph asked, brow furrowed.
It was like a physical blow to Isaac’s gut, the realization that of course Joseph didn’t even know of Aaron’s existence. Katie watched them all with big eyes brimming with tears. She’d only been a baby. Had Isaac and Ephraim really never talked about Aaron with them? He wasn’t even sure if Nathan knew his name, but judging by the tension in his frame, Isaac thought he did.
“No one,” Father answered.
And that was that.
He was almost at the Lantz house the next morning when Silver stumbled. Isaac’s heart was in his throat as he hopped down from the old buggy. “You okay, girl?” He stroked her neck, squinting at her hooves. “Damn,” he muttered. He tossed his straw hat onto the buggy seat before bending over.
Running his hand down her front left leg, Isaac crouched and lifted Silver’s hoof. The shoe was clean off, and she grunted as he inspected the hoof wall. “Shh. I know. I’m sorry.” He glanced back at the deep muddy puddle he should have steered around.
“Isaac!” A little voice called out.
He glanced up to find David’s youngest sister, Sarah, running out of the house, her long dark dress swirling around her bare feet. She was seven, he thought, and had David’s dark hair and blue eyes. She wasn’t wearing her cap yet.
She skidded to a stop. “I saw you from the window, and I wanted to say hi.” Her smile faded. “Is something wrong with Silver?”
Nodding, Isaac quickly unhitched Silver from the buggy. “She threw a shoe on her front leg. Got caught up in the mud and probably stepped on it with her back foot.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Is that bad?”
Isaac scratched Silver’s muzzle. “Usually not, but her hoof is damaged.”
In an instant, tears welled in Sarah’s eyes. “Are you going to shoot her?”
“What?” Isaac blinked. “No, of course not.”
“Really?” Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Hey, hey.” Isaac dropped to his knees and held her arms. “She’s going to be just fine.” He squeezed her gently. “I promise.”
Sarah threw her arms around him, her face buried in his neck as she cried. Even for a girl her age she was tiny. Isaac hugged her, not sure what else to do. He hadn’t been held since he was very small, but it had always made him feel so much better. She mumbled something he couldn’t make out.
“Hmm? What is it? You can tell me.”
She inched back and raised her reddened face. “Wayne Hershberger told me if a horse gets hurt they shoot it because horses can’t be fixed.”
“That’s only if a horse breaks a leg, or it’s really, really sick. Silver just needs to see Mr. Schrock to get fixed right up.”
Sarah bit her lip. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
He smiled and tapped her nose. “No. I promised, remember?”
“And you’re like David, right? Once you make a promise you always keep it?” She wiped her nose with her sleeve. “Mother thinks Mr. Otto next door should give back the land he hasn’t paid for yet, but David said he gave his word.” She recited the sentence like lines from a book she’d memorized.
Isaac raised an eyebrow. “I have a feeling you weren’t supposed to be listening to that conversation.”
She bit her lip again. “Probably not. But you promise, right? Silver’s all right?”
“I promise.”
Sarah nodded. “Okay.”
He gently nudged her. “You’d better finish your breakfast.”
“Bye!” She flew back to the house. “Hi, David!” she shouted as she went.
Isaac got to his feet and found David sta
nding nearby with a strange expression on his face, half in shadow under the straw brim of his hat as the sun rose.
“Sorry. She was upset. Am I late? The thing is—”
“You’re not late.” David smiled softly. “Thanks for doing that. Calming her down. You’re good with her. Sometimes children just need a hug.” He kicked at a rock. “Mother doesn’t really do that, especially after we settled in Zebulon.”
“Same with my parents. Not that they were ever ones for hugging much. They don’t coddle. Too much affirmation leads to vanity, as the bishop says. But sometimes with little ones, it’s what they need. Just…reassurance, I guess.”
“I think so too.” David stared intently.
Isaac shifted from foot to foot, not sure what else to say.
“Your knees are muddy.”
“Oh.” Isaac wiped at his pants and only succeeded in getting his hands dirty. “I didn’t notice. I’m sorry, I can—”
“Don’t be sorry.”
Isaac turned to Silver, scratching her head. “I have to walk her over to Farrier Samuel’s.”
When he glanced back, David was still watching him with a gentle expression that sent warmth flowing through Isaac. He cleared his throat. “You know, Samuel Schrock.”
David blinked. “Yes. Of course.” As if he’d woken up suddenly, he approached Silver and crouched down. “She threw a shoe?”
“The wall of her hoof is cut too, but it doesn’t look too bad. Still, I don’t want to wait. It’s my fault—I wasn’t paying attention.”
“No, I should have fixed that hole in the spring.” David shook his head and patted Silver. “Sorry, girl. You get extra sugar later.”
As if she understood him, Silver nuzzled David, and Isaac laughed. “Good thing you’re a man of your word, because Silver will collect on that promise.”
David chuckled. “What exactly was Sarah saying to you?”
“Just singing your praises.” Isaac waved his hand.
“She was listening when I talked to Mother about the land, wasn’t she?”
Isaac ran his fingers across his lips, sealing his mouth shut.
David smiled. “All right, we’d better get Silver fixed up. I’ve got a new rasp handle for Samuel. I’ll walk over with you.”
“Are you sure? I can take it.” Although the idea of a morning walk with David did make him oddly happy. “I don’t want to set us back.”
“It’s fine. Besides, it was my fault Silver lost the shoe in the first place. I’ll get the handle.” He hurried toward the barn.
As Isaac hauled the buggy off the driveway, he waved to Sarah and her sisters as they went off to school. Mary gave him a wide smile on her way to the washhouse, and familiar guilt washed through him. When David returned, Isaac grabbed his hat, and they ambled down the lane with Silver.
“I can stay late tonight to make up the time,” Isaac said.
“Am I such a taskmaster? Isaac, you work hard every day. Stop worrying so much. You’re the best apprentice I could have asked for.”
Isaac looped Silver’s reins over his wrist, trying not to smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re always on time, you learn fast, and you have the knack for it. Plus, you have another very important quality.”
Isaac smiled self-consciously. “What’s that?”
“You keep little girls’ secrets.”
He laughed. “Always.”
“But seriously, Isaac.” David clasped his shoulder. “It’s great working with you.”
It was as though he could feel the heat of David’s touch through his shirt. Must have been the sun arcing higher in the sky. “I…you too. Thank you for taking me on. I’m learning so much.”
As David lowered his hand, his fingers brushed Isaac’s arm. “It’s nice to have a friend around too.” He huffed out a laugh. “Anna’s right that I don’t have many these days. Anna’s right about most things, just so you know.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed. Does she always say exactly what she’s thinking?”
David smirked. “Yep. Nine times out of ten.”
“At least you always know where you stand.” Isaac gave Silver a scratch. “I guess you don’t have much time for friends with all the work you have to do. I can’t imagine being the only man at home.”
“You get used to it, I guess. Like anything.” David looked off at the horizon. “At first you think you’ll never be able to go on. That just getting out of bed every morning is impossible. But you do, and after a while it just becomes your life.”
“That’s what it must be like following church and getting married,” Isaac blurted.
David stopped in his tracks, staring at Isaac. His lips parted as if to say something, but then he snapped his jaw shut.
“Not that I don’t want to!” Isaac’s heart hammered. “It’s only that it seems so different from my life now. I can’t really imagine what it’ll be like. But I’ll get used to it. It’ll be good. It’ll be great.” He laughed sharply. “I’m just talking nonsense.” He strode forward, leading Silver.
“It’s not nonsense.”
Isaac stopped and looked back. David gave him a smile.
“It makes perfect sense.”
“Oh.” Isaac tried to think of something else to say.
David started walking again, and they continued on, taking a dirt road that was a shortcut over to the Schrock farm. They were silent for a few minutes.
“Do you think it’s stupid?” David asked.
Isaac’s pulse still hummed. “What?”
“Not to take back some of the land from Josiah Otto.” David scooped up a stone from the road and tossed it ahead of him. “He paid for half of it up front, but he’s been late on the other payments. Mother thinks we should take it back and try to farm it ourselves, or hire some boys to do it. But I gave him my word that the land was his.”
Isaac pondered it. “But he hasn’t held up part of the arrangement. No one would blame you for being at the end of your patience.”
“But I know how hard he’s been working--I see him out there every day. He’ll pay what he owes as soon as he can. If I go back on our deal now, what would he do? He has a new baby, and four others already. I made a commitment, and I should honor it. Give him some more time, at least. He insisted on paying interest. We wrote it out on a piece of paper.”
“Sounds fair enough. We’re supposed to help each other, after all.”
“And it’s not that Mother doesn’t want to help them,” David added hastily. “It’s just that money’s tight, and she’s worried.” He blew out a long breath. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t bother you with this.”
“It’s not a bother.”
“You’re a good listener.”
Isaac felt oddly pleased. “Well, we’re friends, right?” He brushed a fly off his cheek. “That’s what friends do.”
“Right.” David gave him a little smile. “There’s—“ He pointed. “Dirt.”
Isaac swiped at his face. “Did I get it?”
Laughing, David stopped. “Here.” His tongue darted out to lick his thumb, and he drew it down Isaac’s cheek.
Isaac held his breath. David was standing close now, his eyes on Isaac’s face. He brushed the corner of Isaac’s mouth with his thumb, and Isaac felt like there were hummingbirds inside him.
Their eyes met, and David jerked away as if he’d been burned. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Got it.”
“Thanks.” Isaac’s voice cracked, and he cleared his throat as they walked on. After a minute, he said, “David?”
“Uh-huh.” David stared straight ahead.
Isaac found himself smiling as he rubbed Silver’s neck. “I don’t think it’s stupid. To help Josiah Otto. Not even a little.”
The dimple appeared in David’s cheek, his teeth flashing. “Thanks, Isaac.” He scooped up another rock from the ground, tossing it to the horizon, his arms swinging.
“But how do they get up and walk away?”
Mervin r
olled his eyes. “It’s pretend.”
“Yes, but if we crashed a buggy we’d end up dead or in an English hospital, let alone if we crashed one of those going that fast.” Isaac stared at the screen, unable to take his eyes away as another car flipped over in a screech of rubber and metal that made him wince.
Mervin nudged him. “Shh.”
They were shoulder to shoulder under an Ironwood tree that was starting to drop its yellowing leaves as October settled in. Mervin had one of the white knobs in his left ear, and Isaac the other in his right. They’d taken off their heavy black hats so they could keep their heads close together as they peered down avidly at the Touch’s screen. Isaac glanced around, making sure they were still alone. His knife and the chunk of wood he’d intended on carving sat abandoned on his lap.
As another car exploded with flames that licked the sky, Isaac shivered. He drew his black coat around him tighter, although he knew it wasn’t the cool breeze to blame. “A lot of people die in this movie.”
“That’s how it is out in the world, I guess.”
The sun was hidden behind gray clouds, but Isaac could tell the afternoon was waning. “We should get back. It’ll be dark soon, and it won’t be long before the singing.”
“It’s almost over.”
As Isaac opened his mouth to remind Mervin that Sadie Stoltzfus awaited, there was a noise behind them. He twisted around to find David standing there in his hat and coat with a strange expression—not anger, but not happiness either. Isaac jumped to his feet, the white knob yanking out of his ear. He was aware of Mervin’s frantic motions to hide the Touch, but of course it was far too late.
Mervin’s words tripped out. “We weren’t—it’s just—don’t tell. Please.”
Isaac shook his head. “He won’t.” After only two weeks of really getting to know David, he wasn’t sure why he was so certain, but he was.
For a moment, David watched him, but then his lips twitched into a tiny smile. “No. I won’t tell.”
Mervin exhaled loudly. “Thank you.” His pale face was bright red. “We didn’t mean any harm. We just wanted to see.”
“I understand. I have my own curiosity.”
A Forbidden Rumspringa Page 6