Before stepping inside, Rebecca put Mamma’s scripture book inside the hope chest. William took the box from her and placed it in the middle of the backseat. Rebecca brought very little with her. Just one small suitcase that her father placed in the trunk.
With great hesitation, she waved good-bye. She forced a confident smile, but her entire body shook. She sat very still as Daniel’s second cousin, Ethan, backed the car out of the drive. Gravel crunched under the tires. This wasn’t Rebecca’s first ride in an automobile. Car rides were not uncommon in the Amish community.
Trying to convince herself she was doing the right thing, she gently pushed the down arrow by her door handle, and the window opened. Rebecca turned in her seat and waved until the sad faces of her family, their plain-looking wooden-framed house built by her great-grandfather, and Old Sam, disappeared.
William turned to her. A worry crease crept across his forehead. The cleft in his chin became more pronounced. “Rebecca, your dad’s right. I should have made you stay. The last thing I want to do is create tension between you two.”
“It wasn’t your choice. As far as my father’s concerned. . .” She gave a frustrated shake of her head. “I don’t like displeasing him either. On the other hand, it’s not right for me to stay here and send you off to save Daniel’s shop all by yourself.” She shrugged.
In silence, she thought about what she’d just said. She nervously ran her hand over the smooth black leather seat.
“You can adjust the air vents,” Ethan announced, turning briefly to make eye contact with her.
She was thankful she didn’t have to travel to the Indiana countryside by horse and buggy. She rather enjoyed the soft, barely audible purring of the engine.
Next to her, she eyed the cardboard and pulled out the mini hope chest, setting the box on the floor. She smiled a little.
“Old Sam is something else.” William’s voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Jah. I can’t wait to tell him about our trip.” Rebecca giggled. “I’ll miss listening to him grumble while he works in the barn. I enjoy watching him make those elaborate chests that he sells to the stores in town.”
William gave a small nod. “He loves you three girls.”
“Thank goodness that Annie and Rachel will be around to keep him company.”
The three friends had loved Esther. Now they took care of Old Sam. He was like an uncle to them. But Rebecca was leaving the world she knew. Would she fit in with the English?
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