As she closed the front door quietly behind her, Katie could hear her aenti in the kitchen humming, and the haus smelled wunderbaar. Something was amiss. She didn’t know her aenti very well, but humming and cooking anything that wasn’t simple seemed out of character for her. The ornery woman didn’t hum, and she had already made it clear to Katie that she hated to cook. So why the sudden change? Was it possible that this was Katie’s last meal with her, and she’d cooked it as a means of breaking the news to her that she’d be kicking her out?
Katie’s heart raced as she went to the kitchen to get their unavoidable talk over with before she lost her nerve. She rounded the corner toward the kitchen and noticed three place settings on the table. It wasn’t the regular plastic plates she’d been eating off since she’d arrived. This was pretty china plates like her mamm used for special occasions. She stood at the doorway panic-stricken.
Aenti must have invited Jessup over here for dinner, and the two of them are going to ambush me! She’s humming because she’s going to be rid of me, and she will probably get her teaching job back.
Nettie looked up from the stove, where she was happily preparing a light gravy to go with the steaming mashed potatoes that sat on the table in a glass, covered bowl. A loaf of bread nestled in a basket sat at the center of the table, while a large platter of lemon-pepper chicken crowded the setting.
It was too late for Katie to make a run for it.
She’d been spotted.
She could hear someone whistling an unfamiliar tune in the small bathroom off to the side of the kitchen, and knew it had to be Jessup. Only menner whistled while they were in the bathroom. There was no way out of this dinner. This would be pay-back for making Aenti Nettie endure a dinner with Hiram Miller the night before. Now she would have to endure an uncomfortable dinner with Jessup. She supposed she deserved it after what she’d done. She just hadn’t expected her punishment to fit the crime.
“Katie, I’m so glad you’re home. I wasn’t sure if you would make it time. Sit. We’re about to eat.”
Katie did as she was told. Tension built in her as her aenti bustled happily about the kitchen bringing things to the already crowded table. Her eyes ran over the table settings once again. All three of them. The back door was so close to her, she was tempted to bolt. But she was not a boppli. She was a grown woman, and it was time she faced her inevitable future with Jessup. There would be no tolerance of a confession about loving Caleb. There would only be a demand for her immediate hand in marriage, and she would consent.
It was the grownup thing to do.
A new wave of panic hit Katie as she heard the squeak of the bathroom door. This was it, whether she was ready for it or not. Her future was sealed. There was no turning back. No getting out of it. Her love for Caleb would have to be pushed down. She was about to marry her betrothed and become a mamm to his kinner. It no longer mattered what she wanted. She would succumb to the demands of her familye. In time she would be able to get over Caleb…wouldn’t she?
Her heart pounded with each footfall, as they seemed to move in slow motion toward the kitchen. Her eyes drifted upward as she spotted a male figure rounding the corner.
She looked up into the face of…Hiram Miller?
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CHAPTER 21
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What was Hiram Miller doing at her aenti’s haus—for dinner, no less? Katie watched him sit down at the table across from her like he had been coming to dinner for years. There was something different about him and her aenti. They were acting like they were in lieb—with each other. Was it possible that they’d talked after she’d left the Yoder’s dinner last night, and they’d made amends? Or was this some sort of intervention trick, and Jessup would come from somewhere else in the haus to ambush her? She stared at the place settings again—still only three, which meant that Hiram Miller was their only dinner guest.
He was all smiles, and he hadn’t even noticed her. He only had eyes for Aenti Nettie, and she for him. Then it dawned on her. Her hand clamped over her mouth to avoid saying it out loud.
They ARE in lieb.
Nettie put the last of the fixings on the table and sat down next to Katie.
“Stop looking like a spooked horse, Katie, and welcome our guest.”
Katie couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Jessup wasn’t here to take her back to Nappanee and force her into a loveless marriage. Her aenti no longer seemed upset with her, and she and Hiram Miller had made amends. Maybe there was hope for her and Caleb after all.
Katie smiled at their guest. “Welcome, Elder Miller.”
She was truly happy to see him. Not just because it meant she was off the hook with her aenti, but because she could see how happy her aenti was for the first time since she’d known her.
Nettie smiled at her niece. “You’re going to have to get used to calling him Onkel Hiram. We are to be married next Thursday after I get this cast off my leg.”
Katie squealed with delight. But then her expression turned serious. “Why so soon?”
Hiram took Nettie’s hand and smiled into her eyes. “At our age, Katie, we don’t have any reason to wait. We’ve waited long enough already.”
Katie stood up and hugged her aenti. “I’m so happy for you. Can I help with the wedding plans?”
Nettie was surprised at Katie’s willingness to help. “It’s only going to be familye, but that’s quite a few. Your mamm and daed will probably be here. But we aren’t announcing it until Sunday after services. You’re the only one who knows so far, so keep quiet until we make our announcement.”
Katie simply nodded. She couldn’t promise such a thing because she couldn’t wait to tell Rachel and Caleb. Hiram bowed his head for the silent prayer and then they started eating the feast fit for such a special occasion.
“I want to talk to you about a few things, Katie.”
Now she was nervous.
Nettie set down her fork and perched her elbows on the table—a very big offense back home. Katie and Rose had often gotten a fork poked in their elbow by their daed for displaying such terrible manners. But here was her aenti casting her cares to the wind. It was nice to see this relaxed side to her aenti. It almost made her seem like a different woman.
“After the wedding, I will be moving into Hiram’s haus. I haven’t decided what to do with my haus yet, but I want you to know you can stay here until the school year is over and you have to go back home.”
Katie didn’t want to think about having to go back home. She had never had an entire haus to herself before. She didn’t have her own room back home, so this was going to be a very freeing experience.
“Danki, Aenti. Das gut and generous of you to offer to let me stay in your haus when you aren’t living here.”
Nettie clutched Katie’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “Your parents might not agree, but you’re a grown woman. I will talk to your daed about it. I know how strict he can be. But I lived alone in this haus when I was your age. I don’t see why you can’t live here. You have shown me that you’re a responsible person with a gut head on your shoulders.”
“Danki.”
Katie didn’t know what else to say. She liked this new aenti, right down to the fact that she would let her stay in her haus alone. Maybe Gott was beginning to answer her prayers after all. She didn’t need to bow down to Jessup’s demands. She was on her way to being independent just like her schweschder, Rose.
Glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall, Katie realized she’d missed dinner with Jessup. What a liberating feeling it was to let go of that obligation. Her aenti had just given her hope for a better future, and she wasn’t going to waste a single moment of it worrying about disappointing Jessup King—or her daed.
After dinner, Katie offered to wash the dishes for her aenti. It was the least she could do after her generosity. She whispered a quick prayer asking for forgiveness for referring to her aenti as ornery.
*
***
Since it was too cold to take a buggy ride, Nettie and Hiram settled into the sitting room by the fire where they could talk and make plans for their future.
Hiram kissed Nettie on the cheek. “You make me feel like a young buwe again.”
Nettie chuckled. “I’m not sure I would go that far. Maybe closer to ten or fifteen years younger. But definitely younger. I wish mei mamm was still around to see this. She’d be happy that I’m finally getting married.”
Hiram looked at her seriously. “Are you happy that you’re finally getting married?”
“Jah. I’ve spent too many years rattling around this haus alone. I’m a little worried the same fate might befall Katie.”
Hiram tugged on his gray beard. “I thought she was betrothed?”
Nettie slighted her smile. “I have a feeling that’s about to change.”
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CHAPTER 22
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As much as Katie tried, she just couldn’t make it to school on time. She didn’t like being tardy, but it seemed that no matter how early of a start she got, something always got in her way of making it on time. This morning it was the deep snowfall that had covered everything in a thick blanket of white. She was beginning to wonder if spring was ever going to arrive, or if it was going to snow indefinitely.
By the time she reached the school, Caleb was already hard at work, while her students worked quietly on assignments. She’d wanted to share the news about her aenti and his grossdaddi, but it would have to wait until they broke for lunch.
Though the morning seemed to drag on, Katie managed to catch Caleb sneaking a glance at her more than once. He’d even flashed her a quick smile a few times, causing her heart to flutter. She couldn’t wait for the break when she could talk to him. She had so much more to say to him than the news of their relatives getting married in just over a week. Katie wasn’t sure if she would have the nerve to tell Caleb how she felt about him, but she was willing to try.
When she finished the reading lesson, which she masterfully geared toward Caleb, she was tempted to call the lunch break early. She knew if she did that, the students would have a tough time getting through the long afternoon, and truthfully, so would she. Instead, she called on them to give suggestions for the spring festival. Some of them voiced discouragement over the recent snowfall, while others gave some odd suggestions.
When they’d all settled down, she cleared her throat and gave her opinion on the subject. “I thought we could set up booths with games like at the county fair. We could raise money for new books for the school’s library, and maybe a new chalkboard. This one here has so many cracks in it that it’s tough to write on.”
She figured it was a long-shot, but the students seemed to be receptive to the games. By the time they finished their discussion, they had several game suggestions ranging from drop the clothespin in the milk bottle, to setting up a fish pond using a horse trough. For the most part, the games wouldn’t cost much if anything to put together as long as Katie could count on donations from the community, but she didn’t think that would be a problem.
Feeling satisfied with her morning, she finally broke for lunch, watching the kinner scatter to the back room for their much-needed break. Caleb eventually made his way over to her desk and perched on the edge. He watched over her shoulder as she marked off the assignments in her grading book. She decided not to grade this particular assignment, but merely to give them credit for having done it. She would read the essays later at home and give them extra credit accordingly. For now, all she cared about was whether or not the assignment had been done.
Caleb watched Katie writing things in her grade book, and amazingly, was able to catch some of the words on the pages that the students had written. Her lessons were paying off for him whether she realized it or not. Before long, he would be able to read important instructions on products that he used every day in his business. He had learned most of it by asking for advice at the hardware store in town, but now he would have the knowledge to read them for himself instead of depending on others for help. He felt empowered with his new knowledge, and that was important to him.
He admired Katie’s intelligence, and her ability to teach her students—and him—with ease and confidence. He hoped one day he would be that confident when it came to reading. She had given him a precious gift, even if she wasn’t aware of it. He would have to think of a way to thank her when the school year was over. For now, he would continue to admire her work and her beauty.
She finished what she was doing and pushed the papers aside, and then stood up to retrieve her lunch from the back room.
“I have some news to tell you. Do you plan to stick around for lunch?”
Caleb stood up from his spot on the corner of her desk. “I don’t want to hear it unless it’s gut news.”
Katie smiled. “It’s very gut news, but I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”
Caleb raised his eyebrows over his blue eyes. “Now you have to tell me. It irritates me when people say they have to tell you something, but they can’t tell you. My schweschders do that to me all the time.”
Katie giggled. “I made certain I didn’t promise, but I wish Rachel was here so I could tell her too.”
Caleb sighed. “Do I have to wait until after school so you can tell us both at the same time?”
Did all girls act like this, or was it only the ones he cared about? Did he really care that much about Katie even after he’d seen her betrothed with his own eyes? Maybe he cared more for her after seeing the way he treated her.
Katie couldn’t wait any longer. “Your grossdaddi and my aenti Nettie are getting married next week on Thursday!”
Caleb’s brow scrunched together. “What? How do you know?”
Katie couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. “I had dinner with them last night at my aenti’s haus.”
Caleb scooped her into his arms as he let out a whoop. He twirled her around as she giggled with delight. When he set her down, neither of them moved to break apart. The electrical energy passing between them was enough to light up an entire town.
“Katie Graber.”
Was Jessup’s voice only in her head, or had she really heard it? Caleb pulled away from her, and she stood there, stunned at Jessup’s presence.
Caleb held up his hands in defense. “I’m sorry Mr. King, this isn’t what it looks like.”
Katie moved back to Caleb’s side and hooked her arm in his. “No, Mr. King. This is exactly what it looks like. I’m in lieb with Caleb!”
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CHAPTER 23
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Caleb stole a glance at Katie. Had he heard what he thought he’d heard come out of her mouth? A quick glance at Jessup King let him know he had heard exactly what he thought he’d heard. But why had she said it? Was she using him as a human shield to get out of marrying Jessup? The thought of it angered him. He would not be used by her for any reason. He cared about her, and he thought she felt the same. But he also didn’t need a fight with her betrothed over this misunderstanding.
Still in shock, Caleb moved away from Katie. “I’m going to go. I think the two of you need to talk. I’ll talk to you later, Katie.”
Jessup sized him up. “I think it would be a gut idea if you left us alone, but I want you to stay away from my Katie.”
Katie stood in front of Caleb, blocking him from leaving. “I don’t have anything else to say to you, Jessup. I believe I’ve just said it all. And I’m not yours. I belong to Caleb now.”
Caleb wasn’t going to stand there any longer and let Katie use him to make Jessup jealous. It was humiliating enough that she was making a fool out of herself. He wasn’t going to stand by and let her do the same to him. He did not like confrontation, and that’s exactly what this was. He moved aside, intending to bolt, when he caught the look on Katie’s face. Maybe she had a gut reason for what she was doing. Was it poss
ible?
Jessup’s brow formed a deep crease, making him look old and angry. “If you refuse to listen to reason, perhaps you will listen to the Bishop.”
Katie pushed her chin up defiantly. “I won’t go back to Nappanee with you.”
“Then I will speak to the Bishop here. And I will put a call out to your daed’s barn first thing in the morning. Doesn’t he go out for milking around six o’clock?”
Katie laughed heartily. “You can talk to my daed all you want to. I live here now with my aenti, and I’m not going back.”
Jessup narrowed his eyes. “Then you leave me no choice but to marry your schweschder, Rose.”
Katie laughed even harder, slapping her hand on her knee. “Rose wouldn’t marry you if you were the last mann on earth.”
Caleb couldn’t believe the sudden change in Katie. She was being disrespectful and downright mean to this mann. Granted, he was dishing it out too, but Caleb couldn’t understand the reasoning behind Katie’s actions. He hoped she had a gut reason for engaging in a public confrontation with Jessup. But the kinner didn’t need to hear any of this.
“Mr. King, I think you and I should leave, and let Katie finish her day of teaching her students. This is not the time or the place for such a conversation.”
Jessup moved to kiss Katie, and she turned her back to him. “Gut daag, Mr. King,” she said over her shoulder.
She didn’t say a word to Caleb.
****
Standing outside in the snow, Caleb thought about the past few days. He stood beneath the mulberry trees remembering his near-kiss with Katie. Had she mistaken his actions as an unspoken commitment between them? He certainly hadn’t done anything since he’d met her to discourage her thinking they were involved on some level beyond friendship.
Amish Winter of Promises: Book Four Page 7