The Shepherd's Bride

by Patricia Davids

  “Pennsylvania.” He didn’t share more details. “Lizzie mentioned you are looking for a spinner to work with you, Faith.”

  Faith smiled. “Lizzie has a sister who might be interested in the job.”

  “My oldest sister, Clara. She used to spin with our mother, but that was many years ago.”

  “Did she like it?” Adrian asked.

  “She loved doing it, but our uncle sold the spinning wheel after our mother died.”

  Adrian pushed his straw hat back a little and regarded her intently. “Is she staying with Joe, too?”

  “Nee. Clara is at home in Indiana, but I know she would come if she knew she had a job.”

  Adrian gave Faith a speaking glance and then said, “I would rather meet your sister first and see her skill level before we offer her a job. Faith’s work has gained a good reputation among the shops that purchase her yarns. We don’t want to start selling an inferior product.”

  Lizzie nodded. “I understand. It’s just that it’s very important that Clara have a job soon.”

  “And why is that?” Adrian asked.

  Lizzie looked to Carl. He was pleased that she valued his opinion. He nodded. “Tell them.”

  She drew a deep breath. “My uncle is making Clara marry a cruel man. Rufus Khuns is our landlord. We live and work on his dairy farm. Clara doesn’t want to marry him, but Onkel Morris is afraid Rufus will turn us out if she doesn’t. He told Clara that he’ll make our youngest sister wed Rufus if Clara won’t. Betsy is barely seventeen.”

  “That’s terrible. Oh, Adrian, we have to help them,” Faith cried.

  Adrian took his wife’s hand in his and patted it. “Calm yourself. Remember, the midwife said getting upset isn’t good for your blood pressure.”

  “I know. And sitting for a long time at the wheel makes my feet swell, so I shouldn’t do that, either. I will be glad when this babe makes an appearance.”

  Adrian turned to Lizzie. “Tell your sister she has a job here for as long as she needs one.”

  “But what about your other sisters?” Faith asked. “They can’t stay and be abused in your uncle’s home.”

  “I have a job interview tomorrow at Elam Sutter’s home. Once Clara and I both have jobs, we’ll be able to take care of our little sisters. I don’t care what it takes. I won’t leave them behind.”

  Faith reached over and squeezed Lizzie’s hand. “Of course you can’t. I will pray for the success of your mission every day.”

  * * *

  Lizzie felt as if she had finally found people who understood what she faced. It was a deeply comforting feeling.

  She and Faith carried the quilt and lunch items back to the house as the men returned to shear the final four alpacas. After the dishes were washed, Faith said, “Come see my spinning room. You will want to tell your sister about where she’ll be working.”

  She led the way to a bright room that had been built off the kitchen on the east side of the house. In it were three spinning wheels of various sizes and dozens of skeins of yarn. The windows overlooked a small orchard where the shorn alpacas were gathering beneath the trees.

  Lizzie admired the largest spinning wheel. “This is the kind that my mother had. What a lovely place you have to work.”

  “Adrian built it for me when I first moved here. He knew how much I liked to watch my animals.”

  “He seems like a caring husband.”

  Faith cupped her hands over her pregnant belly. “He is a wonderful man. I never thought I would find someone like him. My first husband was a very demanding and hard man. Life was not...easy with him. It wasn’t all his fault. He had a very tragic childhood. Then we had two little daughters who were stillborn early in our marriage, and he was never the same after that.”

  “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Danki. I know they are with God in Heaven and I will see them again someday. You must tell your sister not to give up hope and not to marry without love. God brings special people into our lives exactly when we need them. If it is His will, your sister will find a man like my Adrian, and she will know the joy of being a true wife.”

  “I will tell her. Thank you for giving her a job. I can’t believe how fortunate I’ve been since coming to Hope Springs.”

  “I felt the same way when I first arrived. So many people came to give me a hand getting my house and my farm in order. My husband and I had moved around a lot, so I’d never known the sense of community that exists here. You and your sisters will see. You’ll be welcome by all.”

  “I hope so.”

  “You have not mentioned how Joe feels about your sisters coming here. Is he glad? I have only known him as the recluse who shuns the company of all others except for Carl.”

  “Grandfather doesn’t want us here.”

  “How sad for you.”

  “Honestly, I think it is sad for him.”

  “You’re right. We can’t change how people feel. We can only do what we know to be right, and bringing your sisters here sounds right to me.”

  “Bless you for understanding.”

  “I do. Now, we must get back to the shearing or I’ll find black thirds mixed in with my white firsts.” She chuckled. “I have good men, but they still need supervision.”

  It didn’t take long to finish shearing the rest of the animals. Faith led the last one back to their enclosure while Adrian pulled a wallet from his pocket.

  He counted out the amount and held it toward Carl. “My wife is very satisfied with your work. I hope I can count on you for next year.”

  “If I’m still in the area. Give the money to Lizzie while I go wash up. They might be prized for their fleece, but it makes me itch.” Carl walked to a nearby stock tank and began to rinse his arms.

  Adrian seemed a bit surprised, but offered the payment to Lizzie. She accepted it and put it in her pocket.

  Later, back at her grandfather’s farm, she left the bills on the table and went down to the cellar for a jar of vegetables. When she came up, the money was gone. Carl had been as good as his word. Everything had been done carefully so as not to have Adrian or Faith unknowingly break their church’s Ordnung.

  Once again, Lizzie was puzzled by Carl’s behavior. Adrian and Faith had no idea that Carl was a shunned person. He could have gone about his business as an Englischer and no one would’ve been the wiser. Why did he take such great care to protect the people when he was no longer a member of their faith? If he cared so much, why didn’t he ask forgiveness for his sin, whatever it was, and be welcomed into the church again?

  It didn’t make sense. Nothing about Carl made sense. And yet she spent a great deal of time thinking about him and wishing she could find a way to help.

  When her grandfather came in for supper that evening, he hung his hat on the peg by the door as usual. “Carl won’t be joining us.”

  “Why not?” She set a platter of noodles on the table.

  “Said he wasn’t hungry. How did the alpaca shearing go?”

  “Fine. Is Carl unwell?”

  “Not that I could see.”

  “Is it unusual for him to miss a meal?”

  “He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t want to eat, he doesn’t want to eat. Could be he’s tired of your cooking.”

  She snatched the dish off the table. “There’s nothing wrong with my cooking. If you don’t want it, I’ll feed yours to the dog.”

  “I never said I didn’t want it,” he admitted grudgingly.

  She glared at him. “I’m a good cook.”

  “I said that before, didn’t I?”

  “Then you shouldn’t suggest otherwise. It’s hurtful.”

  It took him a few seconds, but finally, he said, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Now can I eat?”

 
It was as close to an apology as she was likely to get. She set the platter on the table again and turned away to hide a smile. Her grandfather needed someone to stand up to his cantankerous ways. Carl was right about that.

  She went to the window and looked out, but she couldn’t see his hut beyond the barn. “Carl was quiet on the ride home from the Lapp farm. I didn’t give it much thought. I assumed he was tired, but perhaps he was ill.”

  “I hope not. We need to get started on our beasts first thing in the morning. The lambs are due to start arriving in two to three weeks.”

  “I hope I can be here to see it.” She turned around and went back to the table. “I remember watching the new lambs when I was little. They jumped, ran and played with each other, and it looked like they were having so much fun. Mother said they were leaping with joy.”

  “Did she?”

  “She said the lambing season was the hardest work of the year, but it was all worth it.”

  A sad, faraway look came into his eyes. “Ja, my girl was right about that.”

  He bowed his head to pray and didn’t speak again during the meal. He went to his room directly afterward, leaving Lizzie alone. Perhaps she had been wrong to mention her mother in front of him. It seemed to bring him pain.

  She went to bed that night and lay under the quilt her mother had made. Outside her open window, a chilly breeze blew by and carried the sounds of the night with it. An owl hooted nearby. In the distance, a sheep bleated and another answered. A dog barked somewhere.

  This was her last night in the house where her mother had grown up. Tomorrow, if she got the job with Elam Sutter, she would stay with his family and work to bring her sisters to Hope Springs. If she wasn’t hired, she would be forced to go home, back to Indiana. At least she’d found a job for Clara, but she wasn’t sure her sister would take it if it meant leaving the rest of them.

  She slipped out of bed and got to her knees. “Please, Lord, I’m begging You. Give me the strength and wisdom to find a place for all of us.”

  Knowing that she could do nothing more and that it was all in God’s hands, she climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.

  * * *

  Lizzie finished her chores the next morning and hurried outside. She was surprised to see Carl waiting with the pony already hitched to the cart. “Danki, Carl, but you should not do this for me.”

  “It’s not a favor, Lizzie. It’s part of the work I do here. Do you know how to get where you’re going?”

  “I have a general idea.”

  “I drew a map. It’s on the seat if you need it.”

  “That was very thoughtful of you.”

  “Good luck. I hope you get the job.”

  “I shall know soon enough.” She stood beside the cart knowing that she should hurry, but she was reluctant to actually get under way.

  What if it didn’t work out? What if she was back here in two hours to pack and board the bus this afternoon? The thought was depressing.

  Carl stepped close to her. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

  “I thought I took that first step when I walked out of my uncle’s house last week.”

  “Then you are well on your way to where you want to be. This next step cannot be as difficult as that one.”

  She smiled softly. “You are right about that. You are right about a lot of things, Carl King.”

  “And I will be right if I tell you to hurry up and go or you won’t get back in time to make us lunch.”

  She laughed. “I declare, you men think with your stomachs.”

  “I’m going to miss your cooking, Lizzie Barkman.”

  “I’m going to miss cooking for you.”

  “You will have Sundays off if Sutter gives you the job. Feel free to come out here and cook to your heart’s content.”

  “That is only if I get the job.”

  “I don’t know Elam Sutter, but he is a fool if he doesn’t hire someone as hardworking as you are. Now, get going. Joe and I need to get our sheep sheared.”

  Lizzie climbed into the cart and picked up the reins. “At least you know they won’t spit on you. See you soon.”

  She slapped the reins against the pony and left Carl standing in the yard watching her. When she reached the end of the lane, she looked back. She lifted a hand and waved. Carl saw her gesture and waved back.

  Lizzie drove toward town with a light heart that had nothing to do with a job prospect. Her happy mood was because Carl cared about her comfort and because he said he would miss her if she left.

  * * *

  Lizzie arrived at the Sutter farm and was immediately welcomed by a little girl about four years old, followed by a puppy that reminded Lizzie of Duncan.

  “Guder mariye,” the little girl called out. She turned and shouted toward the house, “Mamm, we have company.”

  Lizzie stepped down from the cart. “Thank you. You must be Rachel.”

  “Ja, I am. Who are you?”

  “My name is Lizzie Barkman, and I’m here to see your father about a job.”

  “Papa is in his workshop. Shall I get him?”

  “That would be nice, danki.”

  The little girl turned to her puppy and patted her leg. “Come on, Peanut Butter. Let’s go find Papa.”

  Together they ran toward the barn. Lizzie heard the door of the house open and saw Katie come out with Jeremiah balanced on her hip. “Lizzie, I’m so glad you are here. Come in the house. My husband should be in shortly.”

  “Rachel just went to tell him that I’m here.”

  “Oh, goot. She is quite the little helper. She makes me wish for another girl. She is much less trouble than my boys have been.”

  “What has Jeremiah tried to swallow today?”

  “My sewing bobbin. I can’t take my eyes off him for a minute. Thankfully, the baby isn’t much trouble yet, but I’m sure he’ll be just like his brother when he is old enough to get into mischief.”

  Lizzie held out her arms for Jeremiah and was delighted when he grinned and reached for her in return. She propped him on her hip and followed Katie into the house. They were settled at the kitchen table when Elam came in. He hung his hat on a peg by the door.

  Jeremiah, who until that moment had been quiet seated on Lizzie’s lap, started whining to get down. Elam plucked him away from Lizzie.

  “Charming the girls already, are you?” Elam took a seat at the table and allowed the little boy to sit on his lap.

  “Indeed, he has been,” Lizzie replied.

  “My wife tells me you are interested in working for us. Have you any experience at basket weaving?”

  “None, but I would be interested to learn. I can help with the children, of that I’m certain.”

  “Well, then, come down to the shop and let me show you what you will need to know. You may decide the work isn’t for you. It can be tedious.”

  He handed his son to his wife, and Lizzie followed him outside and into his shop. It was part of the barn, but had been walled off to separate it from the rest of the structure. The moment Lizzie stepped inside the room, the aromatic scent of cedar and wood shavings enveloped her. The walls had been painted a bright white. Tools hung from the pegs neatly arranged on one wall. A long table sat in the middle of the workshop, and a small stove in one corner held a simmering vat of something reddish-brown. Around the table sat three women, each with partially completed baskets in front of them.

  Elam said, “This is Mary, Ruby and Sally. They all work for me part-time.”

  Sally put down the basket she was working on. “Lizzie, how nice to see you again.”

  Lizzie met the other women, who, as it turned out, were Elam’s sister and sister-in-law. After seeing how they turned the thin strips of poplar wood into beautiful
baskets, Lizzie realized this was something she would like to learn. She thanked the women for their demonstrations, asked a few questions and then followed Elam back to the house.

  Katie was setting out mugs of coffee. Everyone took a seat at the kitchen table. “Well, what did you think?” Katie asked.

  “I think I have a lot to learn, but it looks like something I would enjoy.”

  “How soon would you be able to start?” Elam asked.

  “Today,” Lizzie said quickly.

  Elam and Katie exchanged amused glances.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have a room ready for you yet,” Katie said.

  “Why don’t you start tomorrow? If you think you’ll like the work, let’s give it a two-week trial,” Elam suggested.

  Lizzie grinned as excitement bubbled up inside her. She took a sip of coffee. “Tomorrow will be fine.”

  * * *

  Carl secured the last panel into place with a length of wire and glanced out the barn door to see Lizzie returning. Even from across the yard, he could see the grin on her face. She caught sight of him and jumped down from the cart. “I got the job,” she yelled.

  He couldn’t believe how relieved he was. She wouldn’t be going back to Indiana. She had a job and a place to stay in the neighborhood. He would see her again. Even if only from a distance.

  Joe came up to stand beside him. “What did she say?”

  “She said she got the job.”

  Joe gave a disgusted humph and walked away, but Carl wasn’t fooled. Joe might not admit it, but he didn’t want her to leave, either.

  A few minutes later, Lizzie came out of the house and raced down the lane with something in her hand. Intrigued, Carl watched until she slipped whatever she was carrying into the mailbox and raised the flag to let the mail carrier know there was mail to pick up. Was it a letter to her sisters? Probably.

  Carl hoped everything would work out for them, but he knew what people desired was not always what God had planned for them. His poor little sister’s short life was proof of that.

  Turning back to his work, Carl began getting ready to shear. He had three days of hard work ahead of him. He wouldn’t get much done if he couldn’t stop thinking about Lizzie. He didn’t need the constant distraction of having her near, but...oh, how he desired it.