by Jan Drexler
“I suppose that’s better than trying to divide the Amish church with their change-minded ways,” Jonas said. “And it’s a good way to bring peace to this whole issue.”
“Except that they aren’t Mennonites.” Ben’s face was growing red. “They’re Amish, and should stay Amish. Forget their change-minded ways and settle down.”
“You go ahead and try to tell Lemuel that.” Caleb laughed as he said it and the others joined in.
Levi smiled. This conversation finally got his mind off the whole kerfuffle with Rosie.
“Before it’s time to start for home, you should show us your house, Jonas,” Caleb said. “Hans told me you have the foundation started.”
Why did a headache suddenly start up between Levi’s eyebrows?
Jonas nodded. “I’ll start building once the boards are seasoned. Let’s walk over there. There’s a path leading that way behind the chicken coop.”
The boards were stacked in two piles, six feet high. Each board was placed so that air could reach as much surface area as possible. Evidence of Jonas’s work showed wherever Levi looked around the clearing. The spot was pleasant, even on a hot summer’s day, with the trees shading most of the clearing. Even the bridge over the creek had been built with care, and across the road he could see the roof of the Stuckeys’ house.
Katie probably loved this place.
A tight spot appeared in the middle of his back and he rolled his shoulders to loosen it. Was this tension he was feeling because of Katie, rather than Rosie?
The group crossed the bridge and started walking back to the Weavers’ farm on the road. Levi lagged, glancing again at the outline of the foundation Jonas had laid out. That would be Katie’s house. He looked up into the treetops. He didn’t want to be jealous of his friend, but he was. No matter how many times he told himself to forget about Katie, he couldn’t.
He could fall in love with her so easily if Jonas hadn’t already claimed her.
AUGUST 12
As the hot summer weeks passed, Katie made progress on sewing the things she would need to set up housekeeping, in spite of the demands of the garden. This August afternoon was sultry. Sweat trickled down her back as she sat with yards of linen covering her lap. The needle was slippery in her fingers as she sewed the long seam that would bind the two pieces of cloth together into a large sheet for the bed Jonas had not yet built.
She stopped, wiping her fingers dry on her skirt, then picked up the needle again. Katie had measured and cut the fabric with Mama’s help and started the long, tedious job of sewing the pieces together in a flat seam to make them wide enough to cover the mattress of their marriage bed. Katie shivered a little at that thought. Jonas would want to do more than give her a sweet kiss after the wedding.
It would be all right. Not like Teacher Robinson. She ignored the pounding of her heart and took a deep breath. When she and Jonas were husband and wife, it would be right. What happened to Teacher would never happen to Jonas.
Katie took a few more stitches and shifted the heavy material on her lap. Her heartbeat returned to normal as she realigned the edges of the seam and stuck her needle in once more. When the sheets were done, then she would sew the huge ticking for the mattress. After that, she would go through the scraps of fabric and find some that would work for a quilt top. The garden produce was coming on, so the work putting all that food up for the winter still had to be done too.
As Mama came in from the garden, carrying an apronload of beans, Katie couldn’t keep from groaning.
“Doesn’t the work ever get done?”
Mama dumped the beans on the table and reached for a dishpan. “What do you mean?”
“This seam goes on forever, and when I finish it, I have another one to do. And we worked to plant those beans, and now, every day, there are more to harvest and dry. Then there is the cleaning and cooking, and everything else. Just when we finish one task, there’s another one waiting.”
Mama frowned at her. “That’s the way life is, Katie. You must have learned that by now. Work doesn’t end until we die.”
Katie slouched in her chair. “It isn’t fair.”
“Just wait until you have a house full of children. Then you’ll look back on these days with longing.”
“I’ll make my children do some of the work.” Katie stuck her needle through the seam and jabbed her finger. She stuck it in her mouth with a scowl at the taste of blood. “At least then I might get some rest.”
“Have you ever seen me rest? Or one of the girls?”
Katie inspected her stuck finger. The bleeding had stopped. Mama had always called her daughters-in-law and daughters “the girls.” After her wedding, would Katie be part of that group in Mama’s eyes?
“It seems like Lena enjoys her life more than the others,” she said. “I often see her sitting down to rest.”
The dishpan pinged as Mama snapped off the bean stems, dropping the cleaned vegetables into it. “Lena has her own way of doing things.” Her voice sounded like Lena’s way of doing things wasn’t up to her standards.
“She’s happy, though. And so are the children.”
“Maybe so, but—” Mama stopped herself with a shake of her head. “I decided long ago that I would never criticize Lena or any of the girls for the way they kept house. I had enough of that with my mother-in-law.” She snapped a few more beans. “But I hope you’ll remember how I have taught you to keep house and run your own household in the same way.”
Katie bent her head over her stitching. She liked Lena, and always felt at home when she went to visit, but she could agree with Mama. Lena’s way of raising her children and keeping house were more relaxed than Mama’s, and the house often reminded her of a crow’s nest. Once Katie went to Lena’s in the middle of the morning, and the breakfast dishes had still covered the table, crusty with dried food, while Lena had been out in the yard, playing a game with the children. Katie couldn’t imagine taking time to play while there was work waiting to be done.
Steps on the porch and a rap on the door made Katie look up from her sewing. Jonas stood in the open doorway, grinning at her.
“Can you spare a few minutes? I need to ask you something.”
Katie glanced at Mama, who nodded her permission. “For sure, I can. Just let me put my sewing away.”
By the time Katie had folded the linen and put it away in her bedroom, Jonas was waiting for her in the lane. He grasped her hand and pulled her to his side as he started walking.
“What did you want to ask me? I thought we had everything planned already.”
“It isn’t very important, but I wanted to see you.”
“You could have just stopped by after supper. The evenings are long now, and we would have plenty of time to spend together.”
“I can’t tonight. The moon is full, and Datt wants to do the fieldwork tonight instead of in the heat this afternoon, so I have a few hours to spend on the house.” He squeezed her hand. “I also want you to tell me where you want the windows.”
“I’ve already told you that. One in the kitchen, and two in the main room. And one in the bedroom.”
“Ja, ja, ja. But what about the loft? And which wall of the bedroom? We could have two in there.”
Katie was thinking of how nice it would be to have two windows in the bedroom when Jonas stopped.
“What is Reuben doing here?”
Reuben Kaufman stood at the side of the road, peering across the creek at the clearing, but turned to greet them as they drew near.
“Jonas.” He nodded at Katie. “I heard you were building a place in the woods.”
Reuben spoke German most of the time, but today he slipped English words among the German ones. Katie let Jonas step ahead of her. She had never had much to do with Reuben. He was tall, strong, and good-looking with his straight blond hair and blue eyes, but his gruff manner reminded her of a bear, snuffling among the berry bushes.
“For sure. I’m nearly of age, and it’s time
to prepare for my future.”
“Better than a log cabin, building with boards and all.” Reuben spit toward the grassy bank of the creek. “I’d build with boards, but the old log cabin seems to do all right.”
Katie shuddered as she thought of the Kaufmans’ cabin. It had been built by the original settlers on Reuben’s land more than fifty years ago, and it showed its age. The roof hung down over the low walls, and it had no windows. Elizabeth propped the one door open, even in the winter, to let air and light into the place. It was more like a cave than a home.
“You’ve heard the news?” Reuben’s voice held a note of excitement.
“What news?”
“There were seven days of battles near Richmond last week. The Confederates beat the Yankees in a rout. Sent them heading for cover all the way back down the peninsula. I should like to have been there to see that.”
Katie covered her mouth with her fingers. She had never heard anyone speak like Reuben. War was something to be grieved over, not joyful about.
Jonas straightened his shoulders. “You’re happy the Federals lost the battle?”
“Of course. They have no right to come into Virginia and tell them what to do. Virginia is a sovereign state and part of the Confederate States of America. The Federals aren’t welcome there.”
“You sound like Ned Hamlin.”
Reuben grinned. “We’re talking of joining up together.” He stepped closer to Jonas while Katie moved to keep out of his sight. “You ought to come along, little brother. You’re young and strong, and the South can use every fighting man it can get.”
“I’m not a fighting man.” Jonas’s voice was low, but Katie could hear the anger rising in it. “And I’m only your brother by marriage.”
Reuben stepped back. Katie peered around Jonas. The man’s face grew hard at Jonas’s words. “I’m still not good enough for you, am I? Even after eight years of being married to your sister.”
“It isn’t a question of being good enough, Reuben, you know that. We’re different, you and I.”
“Because I’m not Amish, and never will be.”
“We see things differently. If I was going to fight in this war, I would join in the Union army.”
Reuben took a step back, his eyes narrowed. “Then I’m glad you aren’t going to volunteer. I’d hate to see your face in my rifle sights someday.”
“And I’d hate to see yours.” Jonas’s voice was weary.
Without another word, Reuben headed down the road, going east toward the crossroads beyond Katie’s home.
“Do you think he really will join the army?” Katie asked, watching Reuben’s jaunty step.
Jonas stared after Reuben too. “The way he was talking, he probably will.”
“But he has a farm and a wife to care for.”
“I’m not sure he’s thinking about that right now. Some men have a lust for fighting and war.”
Katie slipped her hand into Jonas’s arm. “I’m glad that’s not you. I’d much rather have you here, building our house.”
Jonas laid his hand over hers, pulling her close to his side. “Me too.”
He glanced down the road at Reuben’s retreating back with a thoughtful expression that sent a shiver through Katie. The way he had spoken of joining the army showed that he had thought about it, perhaps more than once. Even though he had denied it, did he hold a desire to follow Reuben to the war? He couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t let him.
Jonas watched Reuben disappear as the road curved. He didn’t understand men like his brother-in-law or Ned Hamlin. They had never owned slaves, had never had any reason to complain about the Federal government. And yet they supported the South in the war, and without any reason they could say except that they supported the rights of states to govern themselves.
Katie tugged at his arm, pulling his attention back to the clearing. “Where were you thinking of putting those windows?”
“Perhaps that was only an excuse to talk to you for a little while.” He led her across the bridge to the clearing. “Summer is a busy time, and we don’t get to spend the evenings together.”
“I’m glad we came. It’s cooler here, under the trees.”
“What were you working on?”
Her cheeks turned red. “Something for our new house.”
“What are you making?” He pressed her for an answer, stepping close.
“Something.” Her entire face was red, and she dropped her voice to a whisper. “It’s a sheet for our bed.”
Jonas let go of Katie’s hand as they sat on the bench in the cool shade. Knowing Katie was preparing for their lives together, and in such an intimate way, made him long for the months to pass quickly.
“What if I don’t finish the house in time for the wedding?”
“Then we’ll set up a tent and live in that.”
“The mosquitoes will be terrible in August.”
She grinned. “Then it looks like you’ll need to finish that house.”
Jonas looked at the stacks of lumber. “The planks aren’t seasoned yet. I can’t start building until September, at least.”
“Then we’ll have to ask our families to help.”
“I don’t want any more help than necessary.” He glanced at her. She was beautiful with the sunlight filtering through the leaves, dappling her with shadows, and she was his. “I want to make this house for you, Katie. It’s my gift to you.”
She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder.
After a few minutes, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Sitting up, she smoothed her apron. “It was sad. Are you sure you want to hear?”
“I want to hear everything that you think about.”
Katie smiled at that, then her smile disappeared as she looked at the stacks of lumber. “I was thinking about Elizabeth. If Reuben goes off to join the army, what will happen to her? And what if—” She bit her lip, as if saying the words would make them come true.
“What if he never comes home?”
She nodded.
“She has family here, and we’ll take care of her.”
“Ja, ja, ja. But that isn’t the same as having her husband here. Do you think she’ll miss him if he goes?”
Jonas didn’t say what he was thinking, that it would be better for Elizabeth if her husband left and never returned, for whatever reason. Maybe then the haunted, sad look would finally disappear from her eyes.
“Of course, she’ll miss him. But she’ll get used to not having him around.”
Katie laid her hand on his knee. “I would never, ever, get used to not having you around.”
He looked into her eyes, deep brown and welling with tears. “I don’t intend to give you the opportunity. I’ll be around so much that you’ll get sick of me.”
“I’m serious. When you were gone to Smithville for those days, I nearly died.”
“Now you’re exaggerating.”
“All right. Maybe I didn’t come close to dying, but it felt like it by the end. I don’t want to live without you, Jonas.”
“You won’t have to.” He grinned at her and pointed at the piles of lumber. “Now tell me, just how many rooms do you want in this house?”
“Enough for our family.” Her mood had lightened with his question, as he hoped it would. “We need a bedroom for us, one for the girls, and one for the boys.”
“I thought we’d have our bedroom downstairs, and then put a partition in the loft for the children.”
She turned toward him. “How many children do you think we’re going to have?”
“We’ll start with three boys, and then go from there.”
Katie shook her head. “We need girls first. I need help with the housework if you’re going to have boys.”
“Hallo!” The call came from the road. “Jonas! Are you there?”
Jonas stood. Levi Beiler was at the bridge. “Ja, Levi. Come into the shade.”
Levi stopped at the creek to spl
ash water over his bright red face, then came toward them, looking all around at the clearing and the piles of lumber. “I stopped by the house, and your mother said you were here. When will you start building?”
“In September, I hope.”
“That’s a lot of work,” Levi said. He grabbed a handkerchief and wiped his face, dripping with water and sweat. “It sure is hot today, isn’t it?” He didn’t wait for an answer, but waved a hand in Katie’s direction. “Hello, Katie. What are you doing here?”
“Just visiting with Jonas.”
Levi grinned. “You’re not helping him build his house, are you?”
Katie didn’t laugh at the suggestion. “We were just talking.”
“What brings you by?” Jonas said, pulling Levi’s attention away from Katie.
“I have news from Millersburg, and Father thought everyone in the community should know.”
“What news?”
“There is going to be a military draft soon. Ohio needs to send seventeen more regiments to the army, so they’re going to conscript soldiers. Father thought the men of our church should meet to discuss how we should respond.”
A military draft. Jonas sighed. He wasn’t surprised it had come to this. “I know how the church will respond. We won’t fight.”
“But we will be breaking the law if we don’t. And I don’t want to go to war.”
“You won’t have to. I heard that we’ll be allowed to pay a fee instead.”
“That’s only a rumor.” Fear crept into Levi’s voice. “What will we do if it isn’t true? Or if it’s only for church members?” He wiped at his brow. “Now I’m glad I joined the church last year instead of waiting.”
“We’ll figure out something.” Jonas didn’t know what they would do, but the church had faced times like this in the past and had survived. “When did your father think we should have this meeting?”
“He suggested this Sunday, after church.”
“That’s a good idea. The entire congregation will be together then.”
Levi’s pale eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead. “What about you, Jonas? What if they force you to join the army? What will you do?”