A Cousin's Promise

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Even so, I think it would be good if you—”

  “I’ll be fine! Would you just stop mothering me?”

  If Wayne thought the direct approach would put an end to his mother’s nagging, he was sorely mistaken. “I’m your mudder, and I care about your welfare—even if you don’t!” She pointed her bony finger at him. “I insist that you take your wheelchair!”

  Despite the chilly fall morning, Wayne’s face heated up. If he and Mom kept going on this way, they’d both be so upset that neither of them would want to go to the auction. Since Wayne was one of the benefactors of the money that would be taken in, he figured he ought to at least put in an appearance. He also knew that he should try to be in a halfway decent mood when he spoke to his friends who would be there.

  Forcing a smile he didn’t really feel, Wayne looked at his mother and said, “I’ll ask Pop to put my wheelchair in the back of the buggy, but I won’t use it unless I have to.”

  She smiled in return and gave a quick nod. “Danki. That’s a wise decision.”

  I hope the rest of the day goes better than this, Wayne thought as he made his way to the buggy. And I hope I can keep my emotions in check when I see Loraine, because I’m sure she’ll be there.

  ***

  “I figured I’d find you here,” Loraine said when she entered the room inside the auction barn where baked goods were being sold and found Ella behind one of the tables.

  Ella motioned to the tray of pumpkin bars in front of her. “You know how much I like to bake, so where else would I be but in a room full of baked goods?”

  Loraine smiled, despite the misgivings she felt about being at the auction today. She dreaded seeing Wayne yet looked forward to it at the same time. “Are you working in here?” she asked Ella. “Or did you come in to buy something sweet to eat and get roped into working?”

  “I came here to work—at least for the first half of the day, which I’m sure will be the busiest time.”

  Loraine moved closer to the table. “I’d be happy to help if you need me.”

  “We can always use another pair of hands,” Ella’s fourteen-year-old sister, Charlene, spoke up.

  Ella bumped her sister’s arm. “Why don’t you work at that table over there?” She pointed across the room. “Then Loraine can take your place and be here with me.”

  Charlene wrinkled her nose and glared at Ella a few seconds before she finally moved away. It was obvious that she didn’t like being told what to do by her older sister.

  “I’d better go to the restroom and wash my hands before I start helping,” Loraine said.

  Ella nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

  Loraine scurried off toward the women’s restrooms. Halfway there, she spotted Wayne sitting in the big room where the auction had already begun. His parents sat on either side of him.

  Loraine was tempted to go over there and say hello, but after the things Wayne had said to her the other day, she decided against it.

  Just then, Wayne turned his head and looked in her direction. Their gazes locked for a few seconds, and then he quickly looked away.

  A sense of hopelessness welled in Loraine’s soul, causing her shoulders to droop. She bit her bottom lip in an effort to keep from crying. She ought to be a married woman by now, not a frustrated maedel forced to avoid the man she had promised to marry. She ought to be sitting beside Wayne right now, not standing on the sidelines, watching Ada fuss over her son.

  ***

  “Looks like there’s quite a crowd here today,” Jake said as he and his family entered the auction barn.

  Dad nodded. “Not only is there a good crowd from our Amish community, but many of our English neighbors have come out as well.”

  The air rang with the sound of the auctioneer’s booming voice mingled with the murmur of the crowd sitting or milling about. Mom motioned to the items at the front of the room—dressers, chairs, tables, quilts, and a whole lot of miscellaneous. “If most everything goes, there should be plenty of money brought in today, and that will help with everyone’s hospital and doctor bills.”

  Jake nodded as he caught sight of Wayne and his folks across the room, sitting behind Bishop Hershberger and his wife, Sadie. He knew Wayne probably had a lot of medical bills and would likely have a lot more bills mounting up in the days ahead.

  Jake shifted his gaze to the other side of the room and scanned the crowd. When he turned his head to the right, he saw Loraine walking toward the area where the baked goods were sold.

  Mom nudged Dad’s arm. “Should we have a seat or walk around and look at some of the things that’ll soon be up for bid?”

  “Let’s walk around a bit,” he replied. “If I sit too long, my back might cramp up on me.”

  “Can we get somethin’ cold to drink?” Jake’s brother Kyle asked, tugging on Mom’s hand.

  “Jah, sure we can.” Mom looked over at Jake. “Are you coming with us, son?”

  “Not right now. Think I’ll get myself a doughnut or something else to eat. You and the rest of the family go ahead. I’ll catch up to you later on.”

  “When we decide we’re ready to bid on something, should we save you a seat?” she asked.

  “No, that’s okay. After I get my doughnut, I might wander around outside and see what kind of farm machinery’s being auctioned off.”

  Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would you need any farm machinery?”

  Jake shrugged. “I don’t. Just thought I’d nose around. Besides, it’s already hot and crowded in here. I don’t like being stuck in a stuffy building with a bunch of noisy people.”

  Jake’s brother Elmer poked Jake’s arm with his stubby finger. “You never minded noise when you lived with us before you went to Montana.”

  “That was then; this is now,” Jake mumbled.

  “Maybe you just don’t wanna be with us. Maybe—”

  “Never mind, son.” Dad gathered the other children together and hurried them in the direction of where the cold drinks were being sold. Mom shuffled behind them, unable to keep up with Dad’s long strides.

  Jake headed for the baked goods. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Loraine behind one of the tables. Her cousin Ella stood beside her, making change for an elderly English woman who’d bought two loaves of bread.

  “How’s it going?” Jake asked, stepping up to Loraine.

  “It’s going okay. How are things with you?”

  “Can’t complain, I guess.” He smiled. “Being at this benefit auction is a reminder for me that I have a lot to be thankful for. A day like this is a reminder that, but for the grace of God, it could be any of us in need of financial assistance.”

  She nodded. “I think we all tend to take life for granted at times.”

  Jake leaned against the table as he studied Loraine. She really was beautiful—inside and out.

  She must have realized that he was staring at her, for her cheeks turned pink and she quickly averted his gaze. “Did you want to buy something?” she asked in a near whisper.

  “Uh—jah. I’ll take a couple of doughnuts.”

  “What kind would you like—sugar doughnuts, lemon-filled doughnuts, powdered sugar doughnuts, or doughnuts covered with chocolate icing and sprinkles?”

  “I’ll take a lemon-filled and one dipped in powdered sugar.” Jake held up two fingers. “Better make that two powdered sugar doughnuts. I might save one for later.”

  Loraine snickered. “I guess some things never change. You always did have a sweet tooth, Jake Beechy.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. “You know me so well. Or at least, you used to.”

  Loraine’s face flamed, and when she picked up a powdered sugar doughnut, she gripped it so hard that it broke right in two. “Sorry about that. I’ll pick out another one for you.”

  Jake dug around in his pocket for the money while she gathered up his doughnuts and put them on a paper plate.

  “Here you go.” He handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill.


  “Oh, I’m not sure I have enough change for a bill that size.”

  “No problem; keep the change. You can call it my donation to the benefit auction, ’cause I probably won’t bid on anything here today.”

  She smiled. “That’s so nice of you, Jake. Danki.”

  “It’s the least I can do to help out my friends.” Jake turned and started to walk away; then, gathering up his courage, he turned back around. “I thought I might go outside and walk around for a bit. Would you like to walk with me?”

  “She’s busy helping me,” Ella cut in.

  The color in Loraine’s cheeks deepened. “I did say I’d help sell the baked goods.”

  Jake bumped her arm with his elbow. “We won’t be gone very long.”

  “We need her help here.” Ella shot Jake a look that could have stopped a runaway horse.

  Loraine’s cousin doesn’t like me anymore, Jake thought. Come to think of it, maybe she never did. Even before I left for Montana, she was never all that friendly toward me. I wonder if I’ve done something to offend her.

  “How long do you need to help out here?” Jake asked, directing his question to Loraine.

  “For as long as we need her.” Ella motioned to a group of English people who had just entered the room. “Looks like we’re going to be busy for quite a while yet.”

  Jake looked back at Loraine, and when she said nothing, he decided it was probably time to head outside. “See you later, Loraine.”

  He made his way quickly through the crowd and was almost to the door when he heard a shrill voice.

  “Wait a minute, Jake!”

  He spun around with a feeling of dread. “What do you want, Ella?”

  “I want to talk to you about Loraine.”

  “What about her?”

  “I hope you have no ideas about you and Loraine getting back together.”

  “Well, I—”

  “She’s still in love with Wayne, and once he realizes they can work things out, they’ll get married, just like they’d planned.”

  “You need to get right in your thinking,” Jake said through clenched teeth. “Wayne broke up with Loraine, so he has no plans to marry her now.”

  “That doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind.” Ella’s forehead puckered. “If you start seeing Loraine again, everything will get all messed up. Loraine thinks—”

  “Fire! Fire! Someone—put out the fire!”

  Jake whirled around. He spotted several of the women who’d been selling baked goods running out of that room. With heart pounding and sweat rolling down his face, he tore across the building.

  CHAPTER 24

  By the time Jake arrived at the baked good’s room, all the women were gone. Some of the men were leading the women and children from the main part of the auction barn outside, where they would be safe should the fire start to spread.

  As sparks and shooting flames exploded from the light fixture hanging above one of the tables, Jake jumped into action.

  “What’s going on?” Andrew Yoder asked as he dashed into the room.

  Jake pointed upwards. “Looks to me like it’s an electrical problem. We need to get the fire out as quickly as possible!”

  By this time, the sparks had ignited a pile of cardboard boxes that had now begun to burn. Jake feared if they didn’t get the fire out soon, it would become uncontrollable. He looked frantically around the room. “Andrew, do you know where there might be a fire extinguisher?”

  “Maybe there’s one in the kitchen!” Andrew shouted. “I’ll hurry and check!” He rushed out of the room.

  “I’d better call 911!” Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

  By the time he’d finished making the call, Andrew was back with a fire extinguisher. Several other men had arrived on the scene, as well.

  Once the fire was out and the power had been turned off, Jake breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had been evacuated from the building, which meant the auction would have to be put on hold until the fire department had arrived and made sure it was safe to resume.

  “Maybe we should check the conduit pipe in other parts of the building to be sure that there aren’t any hotspots,” Jake said to Loraine’s father, who’d come into the room to see if his help was needed.

  Amos nodded. “It’s a dangerous thing when a fire starts like this.”

  “I’m just glad no one was hurt and that we didn’t lose the building,” Jake said.

  “My daughter was in here selling baked goods, so I appreciate what you did in getting the fire out so quickly.” Deep wrinkles formed across Amos’s forehead. “Last year during the Mennonite Relief Sale in Goshen, there was a fire. Two of the buildings at the fairgrounds went up in smoke because it wasn’t caught in time.”

  “I didn’t know about that,” Jake said.

  “Guess you wouldn’t, since you weren’t living here at the time and didn’t keep in touch with anyone.”

  Jake winced at the remark. He wondered if Loraine’s dad thought he was a terrible person because he’d taken off to Montana and had quit writing to Loraine.

  Just then, a group of firemen swarmed into the building. Jake quickly explained what had happened and suggested they check for possible hotspots in other parts of the building.

  “We appreciate the information, and we’ll take it from here,” one of the firemen said with a nod.

  Jake, Amos, and the other Amish men joined the crowd waiting outside. A light rain had begun to fall, and many of the people hovered under umbrellas or one of the tents that had been set up to house some of the farming equipment.

  Jake scanned the area until he spotted Loraine. She was talking to Ella and her mother. As much as Jake wanted to speak with Loraine, after the encounter he’d had with Ella awhile ago, he figured he’d better not engage Loraine in conversation in front of her take-charge cousin.

  He glanced in another direction and noticed Wayne sitting in his wheelchair across the way. I think I’ll go talk to him, he decided.

  ***

  “I wonder if they’ll let us back in the auction barn soon,” Wayne’s mother said as she pushed his wheelchair under one of the tents.

  “I don’t know, but I’m glad I took your advice and brought my wheelchair along. I wouldn’t want to have to stand out here all this time while we wait to find out.”

  She nodded soberly. “All the chairs are inside, too. Guess we should have thought to bring some out with us.”

  “There was no time for that,” Wayne said. “It wasn’t safe to stay in the building.”

  Mom glanced over her shoulder. “I see your daed’s talking to some of the men in charge. Maybe he has some news to report. I think I’ll go find out.” She opened her umbrella and scurried away.

  Wayne was about to follow when he saw Jake heading his way, so he decided to stay put.

  “I hear you’re the one who put out the fire,” Wayne said when Jake approached.

  Jake nodded. “Andrew Yoder helped by getting the fire extinguisher, and then we turned off the power.” He motioned to the fire trucks lined up in the parking lot. “Now the firemen are checking things over in other parts of the building, looking for hotspots.”

  “Guess that makes good sense.”

  “I saw you walking earlier, but I see that you’re in your wheelchair now,” Jake said. “Does that mean you haven’t adjusted to your new leg yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. It’s a struggle to get my balance, but I’m forcing myself to wear it several hours every day.” Wayne frowned deeply. “If I could hobble around on one leg as well as my lamb does on three, I’d have no need for a prosthesis.”

  “I guess not.”

  “Have you talked to Loraine today?” Wayne asked, taking their conversation in a different direction.

  “I spoke with her for a few minutes when I went into the room where she was selling baked goods. Why do you ask?”

  “I was wondering if you’ve given some thought to what I said
the other day about asking her out.”

  “I didn’t talk to her long enough for that.” Blotches of red erupted on Jake’s cheeks. “Besides, I’m still a little concerned that things aren’t really over between you two.”

  “I told you before, Loraine and I are—”

  “I just spoke with some of the firemen,” Wayne’s father said, stepping between them. “It looks like the auction is over for the day. They want to call in an electrician to check things out and make sure everything in the barn is up to code.” He tapped Wayne’s shoulder. “It’s probably for the best, son. You look really tired, and I’ve come down with a sore throat, so I think we ought to head for home.”

  Wayne nodded. “Where’s Mom? Does she know we’re leaving?”

  “I spoke with her a few minutes ago. She’s saying good-bye to some of her friends and will meet us out by the buggy.” Pop swallowed a couple of times and grimaced. “I can’t remember the last time my throat hurt this bad. Sure hope I’m feeling better by Monday, because I’ve got a lot of work to be done in my shop, and this is no time for me to be getting sick.”

  “I’m sorry to hear your throat hurts, Pop.” Wayne motioned to Jake. “As soon as Jake and I have finished our conversation, I’ll meet you and Mom at the buggy.”

  “Oh, okay.” Pop hurried off, and Wayne turned to face Jake again.

  “As I was saying before my daed showed up—Loraine I are not getting married, so you have free rein to ask her out whenever you choose.”

  Jake hesitated a moment, but then, what Wayne could only classify as a look of relief spread over his face. “All right, I just might ask her out.”

  “Since that’s all settled, I’d better get going. Don’t want to keep my folks waiting any longer.” Wayne forced a smile and turned his wheelchair toward the opening of the tent. He had to get out of here quick, before Jake saw the look of regret that no doubt showed on his face.

  Wayne was almost to the area where the horses had been tied, when Ella rushed up to him, waving her umbrella.

  “Hold up a minute, would you, Wayne? I need to talk to you about something!”