Feeling the need for comfort, Naomi hugged the baby. “I’m sorry, Papa.”
He cleared his throat but said nothing in return. For a minute, Naomi thought she saw a look of tenderness cross her father’s face, but it disappeared as fast as it had come.
Oh, please, Papa. Can’t you just say, “I love you, Naomi, and I appreciate all you do?”
“You got the boppli ready to go?”
She nodded.
“Then let’s be off.”
***
Caleb paced back and forth along the side of Beechy’s barn, where twenty buggies were already parked. He’d seen Mathew, Norman, and Jake Fisher arrive awhile ago, so he figured Naomi and the rest of the family wouldn’t be far behind.
Caleb hadn’t seen Naomi since he stopped by Fisher’s General Store on Monday, so he’d had nearly a week to come up with a plan. He hoped to speak with Naomi about it today. If he could get her alone for a few minutes, that is.
“Hey, Caleb, how’s it going?”
At the sound of Aaron Landis’s deep voice, Caleb turned around. Aaron tipped his head and grinned.
“It’s goin’ okay. How ’bout with you?”
“Things are great with me and Katie.” Aaron slapped Caleb on the back. “We just found out she’s gonna have a baby in late November.”
Caleb clasped his friend’s hand. “Congratulations. I know you’ll make a gut daed.”
Aaron’s smile widened, and his dark eyes twinkled in the sunlight. “Sure hope so. Katie and me want a whole houseful of kinner.”
Caleb only nodded in reply.
“Well, I should go see how Katie’s feelin’ before we go inside for church. She’s had the morning sickness real bad.”
“Tell her I’m happy to hear your news,” Caleb said, forcing a smile.
“Sure will.” Aaron ambled off in the direction of the women gathered on the Beechys’ front porch. No doubt about it—Aaron was one happy man.
I wonder if I’ll ever have a wife or a boppli.
***
Naomi took a seat on a backless bench near the kitchen door. She wanted to be close to an exit in case Zach started to fuss. At the moment, the child was sitting quietly on her lap, but Naomi had a box of baby crackers tucked inside a wicker basket in case he got hungry. The basket also contained a stack of diapers, a change of clothes for the baby, and a bag of dried fruit for Nancy or Mary Ann if they became restless. Naomi knew the worship service would last a good three hours, and it was hard for the younger ones to sit so long.
She glanced across the room and noticed Caleb sitting on the men’s side between his younger brothers, Andy and Marvin. He smiled, but she looked away. No use giving him hope she might care for him. If they couldn’t court, Caleb should find someone else. Naomi didn’t expect him to wait until she was free of her responsibilities to the family. Matthew was Caleb’s age, so if he ever got over his shyness around women, he might find a suitable wife soon. Norman was nineteen and not far behind; but Jake, Nancy, Samuel, and Mary Ann still had several years before they could marry.
Naomi jerked her hand when Zach bit down on her thumb. And then there’s the boppli, who won’t be ready for marriage for another eighteen years or so.
Tears stung the backs of her eyes. By then I’ll be so old nobody will want to marry me.
She reached into the basket and withdrew a cracker. At least Zach wouldn’t be chomping on her thumb anymore.
Such a week this has been, she mused. First, her sisters had gotten sick and she’d stayed home from the store to care for them. Next, that horrible encounter with the bees. Then, Mary Ann and Nancy’s egg and flour mess, followed by the brothers coming into the kitchen, dripping wet. I don’t know how Mama managed so well.
Naomi’s thoughts went to Papa. Why must he always compare me to Mama? I try my hardest to please him, but nothin’ ever seems to be good enough.
A familiar lump lodged in her throat, and she swallowed against the constriction.
“ ‘I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,’” Bishop Swartley quoted from the book of Philippians. Crippled with arthritis and in his eighties, the man could still preach and lead the people, even if he did often repeat the same verse of scripture.
Naomi closed her eyes. Help me, Lord, for I’m still havin’ trouble learning to be content.
***
When church was over, Naomi stepped outside. As she stood on the front porch, Zach clung to her neck while he wrapped his legs around her waist. Naomi held him tightly and inhaled. The trees and grass were such a deep green, and everything smelled clean and new after the rain they’d had a few days ago. A group of children gathered to play in the yard, including her three younger siblings.
Naomi had only a few minutes to savor the peaceful scene, for it was time to help with the meal. She sighed and turned toward the door.
“Why don’t you let me hold the little one awhile?” Anna Beechy spoke up from her rocking chair on the front porch.
With a grateful heart, Naomi handed Zach to the elderly woman. Anna smiled as she snuggled the boy. She had a special way with the kinner . After all, she’d raised ten of her own and now had twenty-five grandchildren. Naomi knew she was leaving her baby brother in capable hands, so she headed into the house and busied herself with pouring coffee and serving bowls of bean soup to the menfolk.
When the meal was over, the men meandered into the yard, breaking into groups so they could visit, play horseshoes, or relax under the shady maple trees.
Naomi shook her head when she noticed her dad already nodding off. He’d been doing that a lot since Mama’s passing, and it worried her some. Was Papa dealing with his depression by napping so much, or was he simply tired from not sleeping well at night?
Directing her focus back to the meal, she ushered her sisters to a table and took a seat on the bench between them. She’d just finished her bowl of soup when she looked out the window and noticed Emma Lapp across the yard, standing near one of the open buggies.
Naomi squinted. Was that Caleb Hoffmeir Emma was talking to? She squeezed her napkin into a tight ball and clenched her teeth. Was Caleb asking Emma to tonight’s singing? Would he be taking her home in his courting buggy? A pang of jealousy stabbed Naomi’s heart as she imagined the couple beginning to court.
Caleb’s only doing what I told him to do, she reminded herself. I really can’t fault him for that.
“Naomi, did ya hear what I said?”
“Huh?” Naomi forced her gaze away from Caleb and Emma, turning her attention to Mary Ann.
“I’m full now. Can I go play?” The child pointed to her empty plate.
Naomi nodded. “Jah, you ate well. Run along, but don’t be gettin’ into any trouble, ya hear?”
“I won’t.” Mary Ann scrambled off the bench and hurried outside.
Naomi glanced at Nancy. “You about done, too?”
Nancy crammed another piece of bread in her mouth and mumbled, “Am now.”
“Okay, you can go.”
Nancy bounded away, and Naomi scanned the yard once more. Caleb and Emma were gone.
Probably snuck off somewhere to be alone. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she wouldn’t give in to the threatening tears.
When Naomi felt someone touch her shoulder, her eyes snapped open. Emma smiled and dropped to the bench beside her. “I’ve got a message for you. It’s from Caleb,” she whispered.
Naomi’s mouth went dry, and she quickly reached for her glass of water.
Emma leaned closer. “He wants you to meet him at the pond behind the house.”
“Is that what the two of you were talkin’ about out there by Caleb’s buggy?”
Emma’s pale eyebrows furrowed. “Of course. What’d ya think we were talkin’ about?”
“I—uh—never mind.”
Emma adjusted her wire-rimmed glasses and stared at Naomi. “You didn’t actually think—” She giggled. “I’m not romantically interested in Caleb
, if that’s what you were thinkin’.”
“Well...”
“Go to him, Naomi.”
Naomi shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve got to keep an eye on Mary Ann, Nancy, and Samuel, not to mention little Zach.”
“The last time I saw your baby brother, he was asleep on the Beechys’ couch.” Emma nodded toward the yard. “As far as the other kinner are concerned, I’ll watch out for them while you’re gone.”
“You mean it?”
“Of course. Now be off with you.”
***
Caleb hunkered near the edge of the water, watching a pair of mallard ducks float past. Will Naomi show up? Did Emma deliver my message?
A twig snapped, and Caleb turned his head. “You came.”
Naomi smiled and he stood. “I can’t stay long,” she said breathlessly. “My daed might come lookin’ for me if I’m gone too long.”
Caleb motioned to a grassy spot beneath a white birch tree. “Should we have a seat?”
She shook her head. “The grass is still damp from that awful storm we had on Friday.”
He shrugged. “Guess we’ll have to stand then.”
“What’d you want to talk to me about?”
“I’d sure like to court you, Naomi.”
“You said that the other day, but you know it’s not possible.”
“Because your daed says no, or because you have too much work to do at home?”
“Both.”
Caleb’s stomach clenched, and he lifted Naomi’s chin with his thumb. Her brown eyes were still as large and inviting as he remembered. A man could lose himself in them. “If Abraham had his way, you’d never have any fun. Probably never get married, either.”
Naomi’s eyes filled with tears, and her chin quivered. “That may be true, but I made a promise to Mama before she died, and I aim to keep it.”
“I understand that, but I think we can still be together.” He smiled. “I’ve come up with a plan, and I hope you’ll give some consideration to it.”
“What kind of plan?”
“You can still take care of your family while we see each other in secret.”
“I can’t. Papa might find out, and he’d be furious.”
Caleb shrugged. “I’m not worried about that. We can meet at night, after your family has gone to bed.”
Naomi shook her head. “I’m needed at home, Caleb. I thought I made that clear the other day.”
“You won’t even think about meetin’ me in secret?”
Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks, and she swiped them away. “I can’t.”
“But you would if your daed said it was all right?”
Her eyes widened. “Papa would never allow it. And even if he did, I’d still be too busy.”
“Is that your final word?”
“It has to be.”
He grunted. “Fine then. Don’t blame me if you end up an old maid.”
CHAPTER 5
The next few weeks seemed to drag by, even though Naomi had been plenty busy. Maybe that was the problem. There were too many chores to do. Last Friday had been the kinner’s last day of school, which meant she would be taking the three youngest ones with her to the store until the end of August, when they returned to the one-room schoolhouse. Matthew said he’d be in charge of Samuel, who would be put to work in the fields. It was hard for a boy of eight to labor in the fields all day, but Naomi knew he would work well under Matthew’s supervision.
As Naomi bent to grab another towel from the basket by her feet, she made a mental note to be sure and pack plenty of cookies to give her brothers in case Samuel or the others got hungry between breakfast and lunch. She planned to take some cookies to the store as well so the girls and Zach could have a snack. Even though having Nancy and Mary Ann along meant two more children Naomi had to watch, it was nice to know when the baby got fussy or needed to be fed, Nancy could help out. Also, both girls would have jobs to do at the store, like dusting, stocking lower shelves, and sweeping the floor.
Naomi’s thoughts drifted to Caleb and the discussion they’d had when they met at Beechy’s pond. Oh, how she wished they could court. She wouldn’t blame Caleb if he found someone else and married straight away. “I sure can’t expect him to wait for me,” she mumbled.
“Help! Help!”
Naomi whirled around. Mary Ann clutched a basket of eggs as she circled the yard with Hildy the goose in hot pursuit.
“She’s after the eggs!” the child shouted. “Get her away from me, please!”
“Calm down and stop running. She’ll only keep chasin’ if you don’t.”
Mary Ann’s eyes were wide, and several strands of blond hair had come loose from the back of her head. Naomi could see her sister was struggling with the need to keep running, but the child screeched to a halt in front of Naomi’s basket of clean clothes.
“Hand me the basket,” Naomi instructed. “Then get behind my back and stand very still.”
Mary Ann complied, crouching low and whimpering as she clung to the edge of Naomi’s long dress.
Naomi bent down. She grabbed a wet towel, snapped it open, and smacked Hildy on the head. The goose let out a blaring squawk, spun around, and honked her way to the barn.
“That was close!” Mary Ann exclaimed. “I thought that old bird was gonna peck me to death.”
Naomi knelt in front of her sister. “She didn’t draw blood, did she?”
“I don’t think so. Just scared me silly—that’s all.”
Naomi hugged Mary Ann and stood. “I’m going to ask Matthew or Norman to put that nasty critter down.”
Mary Ann’s eyes filled with tears. “You mean to kill Hildy?”
“That’s the only way to keep her from chasin’ folks, and it’s become an everyday occurrence here of late.”
“Please don’t let her be killed. She don’t mean to be bad.”
“I know. We’ll see what Papa has to say.” Naomi handed her sister the basket of eggs. “Now hurry into the house and tell Nancy she needs to have Zach fed and diapered by the time I come inside.”
Mary Ann grabbed the basket of eggs and scampered off.
At least one problem has been solved. Naomi hung the last towel on the line and turned when she heard a horse trot out of the barn. Norman led the gelding into the yard and proceeded to hitch him to the waiting buggy.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she called.
“What’s it look like? Papa asked me to hitch up a horse so he could leave for the store, and that’s what I’m doin’.”
She frowned. “You’d better think about choosing a different horse. This one’s barely green broke.”
Norman waved his hand. “Aw, Midnight will be fine. All he needs is the chance to prove himself.”
Naomi shook her head, wondering if it was the horse that needed to prove himself or her nineteen-year-old brother. She gathered the empty laundry basket and started across the yard. Without warning, the horse whinnied, reared up, and kicked his back hooves against the front of the buggy.
“I refuse to ride to the store with that horse!” she shouted.
“Whoa there! Steady, boy.” Norman stepped in front of the gelding and reached for his harness.
“Look out! You might be the next thing he kicks.”
“He’ll settle down soon.” Norman’s face was cherry red, yet he continued to struggle with the boisterous animal. Midnight alternated between rearing up and kicking out his back feet. The buggy rocked back and forth.
Naomi covered her mouth to keep from screaming, which would rile the horse more. Things were getting out of control, and if Norman didn’t do something soon, she feared the buggy would overturn.
“Let that horse loose!” Papa’s voice shattered the air like a gunshot, and Norman quickly did as he was told.
He led the panicked horse back to the barn and returned a few minutes later with one of their gentle mares. “Guess Midnig
ht wasn’t quite ready yet,” he mumbled.
“You think?” Papa shook his finger. “If you were a few years younger, I’d take you to the woodshed for a sound bletsching.”
Norman hung his head. “Sorry, Papa. I didn’t expect Midnight to act that way.”
“Jah, well, use your brain next time.” Papa turned to face Naomi. “You and the kinner ’bout ready to go?”
She nodded. “I’ll run inside and see if Nancy’s got Zach ready.” She figured now probably wasn’t the best time to tell Papa about Hildy.
***
Jim Scott heard his cell phone ringing in the distance, and he glanced around to see where it was. He usually kept it clipped to his belt, but he’d been on a ten-foot ladder and didn’t want to take the chance of the phone coming loose and falling to the ground. That had happened several months ago, and since he hadn’t been smart enough to buy insurance on the phone, it had cost him plenty to buy a new one. Today, he’d put the phone in a safe place. He just couldn’t remember where.
“Your phone’s on the lid of that paint bucket, and it’s ringing like crazy,” Ed called from across the yard. “Want me to get it for you?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind.”
Jim climbed down the ladder, and his feet had just touched the ground when his employee handed him the phone. “The guy says he’s your lawyer.”
“Thanks.”
When Ed kept standing there with his hands in the pockets of his painter’s overalls, Jim nodded and said, “You can finish up with the trim on those windows now.”
“Oh, sure. Right.” Ed sauntered off, and Jim turned his attention to the phone.
“Hello, Max. How are you?”
“I’m fine, and I have some news that I think will make your day.”
“Really? What’s up?”
“My friend, Carl Stevens, is a lawyer in Bel Air, Maryland. He called this morning and said a young woman came to his office the other day. She’s a single mother and can no longer care for her one-year-old boy, so she’s decided to put him up for adoption.”
Jim’s heart skipped a beat. Did he dare believe this baby might be theirs? Should he risk telling Linda and getting her hopes up, too?
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