by Sarah Price
"Oh, they're coming to visit alright," she said. "They'll be here in August." Just two weeks after the baby is due, she didn't say. She didn't cherish the idea of facing her new challenge of motherhood while fighting the ideals of her own parents when she told them that she had decided to become a baptized member of the Amish church.
Emanuel lifted his hat and placed it on his head. "I guess we should get started fixing the downstairs guest room for them, then." He stood up and reached down for her hand. Helping her to her feet, he smiled. "We have a lot of work to do, ja?"
They rode into town that afternoon to pick up some paint and food. The air was dry and the buggy hot. Shana leaned back in the seat, shutting her eyes. Her arms and neck felt damp with sweat and she longed for a breeze. But, the gentle sound of the horse's hooves against the pavement lulled her into a soft sleep, interrupted only by a passing car's honking horn.
Bolting upright, she looked around. Then, seeing the car, an old roadster speeding up the road, she settled back. Teenagers, she thought. She had heard stories of teenagers throwing rocks at buggies, running them off the road, and even trying to hit the horses with their cars. While she couldn't understand the resentment the local people had toward the Amish, the knowledge that it existed frightened her.
Tourist season had started, a fact made obvious by the crowded aisles in the store and abundance of cars on the roads. Ahead of them was the market, a particularly notorious Amish general store that had been in a popular movie back in the 1980s. It was a must-see tourist attraction for all visitors to Lancaster, a place to stop for a quick walk through the aisles and pause on the front porch for a quick photograph. Shana had learned that the Amish tried to avoid using that store, especially during the peak of tourist season. But it was convenient for quick purchases when other stores were either closed or too far away.
Shana remembered the year before, almost a year to the day, when they had visited the store. She thought of the tourist who had tried to take Emanuel's photo and how she had reacted. Yet, as they were both the center of attention as they climbed out of the buggy, Shana felt startled and confused by the stares and pointed fingers.
She reached for Emanuel's arm and lowered her eyes from the curious gazes. To the outsider, they couldn't tell that she had once been one of them, curious about the Amish way. She wondered what they would think if she stopped to tell them how she had fallen in-love with her Amish man and, in just a couple of months, they would both accepted their baptism and join the church.
"Good day, Shana," an elderly woman leaving the store said.
Shana looked up in time to see Anna Zook passing her. "How are you, Anna? We haven't seen you since we visited Katie and Jonas' church this past winter."
Anna stood aside as two children raced down the aisle. "I understand you'll be taking the baptism this fall."
"So we plan," Shana replied, her eyes glancing around the store for Emanuel's hat. She spotted him by the household section and knew he was looking for an appropriate color to paint the downstairs guest room.
"Did you hear about Katie's brother's farm?"
Shana frowned. "Which brother?"
"Samuel, I believe. Outside of Intercourse?" When Shana nodded, Anna continued. "The barn burned to the ground just early yesterday morn."
Knowing what that meant, Shana heard herself gasp. "What happened?"
"Well, there isn't any solid evidence but..."
Shana felt her heart skip a beat. "Arson."
Anna shrugged her shoulders. "Some of the cattle and mules got caught inside but, otherwise, no one was hurt."
"Well, I'm certain Emanuel will be appreciative for the news, although it certainly isn't good news at that. Say hello to Jacob." They bade good-bye and Shana hurried over to Emanuel's side.
He was standing in front of a row of paint containers, holding out two color patches, one a pale green and the other a light blue. "Which one, Shana?"
"The green," she said quickly, barely looking at the two color swatches. "Emanuel, I think we should stop by your parents’ farm on the way back."
Sensing the urgency in her voice, Emanuel frowned. "What's happened?"
"Your uncle Samuel's barn burned."
His first reaction was a thickening of his brow and tensing of his lips. He glanced down at the floor and shook his head. Then, returning her gaze, he sighed heavily. "There's been so many recently, it was bound to happen."
"So many what?"
"Burnings." He glanced down the aisle and managed to smile at a passing elderly couple. "Some locals have been burning down Amish barns for over two weeks now. It happens every summer. I never thought to mention it, not wanting to alarm you," he explained quietly. Then, wasting no time, he grabbed two buckets of paint and headed toward the register. Shana followed, more concerned about the local prejudice toward the Amish than the unfinished guest room for her parents.
There were several buggies parked near the Lapp family's barn. Shana glanced at Emanuel but he stared straight ahead as they pulled in behind the other buggies. He helped her out but did not wait for her as he hurried inside. By the time Shana caught up with him, he was already seated around the kitchen table with the men.
Lillian caught sight of Shana as she stood in the shadows of the summer kitchen doorway. Smiling, she walked over to greet her, young Jacob asleep in her arms and Linda at her side, clutching to her skirt. "Isn't it just awful?"
"Who would do such a thing?" Shana asked.
Lillian shrugged. "Some of the local youth must have nothing better to do with their time."
"They know who did it then?"
"Two pick-up trucks were spotted with some Englische boys but nothing otherwise. It doesn't matter anyway. Punishing the boys does not bring back the barn or the animals. It's best to get on with it, ja?" She rubbed Jacob's back as she turned her attention back to the kitchen table where Jonas, Jonas Jr. and Emanuel sat in deep discussion with three other men that Shana recognized but whose names she couldn't remember.
"What will they do?" Shana whispered curiously.
Lillian glanced back at her and smiled. "Why, we'll build Samuel a new barn," she said matter-of-factly. Then, motioning that she wanted to put Jacob to bed, she disappeared through the open partition between the kitchen and the living room that lead to the door that opened to her house.
The men talked for another fifteen minutes before Emanuel stood and clapped his father on the back. "We'll see you at eight o'clock on Saturday, then," he said as he headed to the doorway where Shana stood. He walked past her and waited at the outside door, holding it open for her.
The air had grown thick and heavy, the humidity clinging to her skin. Even though the sun had begun its descent in the sky, it felt hot and clammy. Shana reached for Emanuel's arm and leaned against him as they walked back to the buggy.
"You all right?" he asked as he slid the buggy door open.
She nodded. "It's so hot and I'm getting sleepy," she complained. "And the baby keeps jumping around."
"We'll be home shortly," he replied, a concerned look on his face. But he said nothing else, merely helped her into the buggy and climbed in beside her. He slid the door shut and turned Lucky Monday around. "We'll be going to Samuel's on Saturday morning, then. A busy day before us, building a barn."
Rather than asking, Shana shut her eyes and leaned her head back. A shallow breeze cooled her face but she couldn't get comfortable in the stuffy buggy. Her excess weight and tight clothing added to the frustration she was feeling. And, with each kick from the baby, she began anticipating its birth. She couldn't wait to rid herself of the extra fifteen pounds she had gained.
"Uncomfortable?"
"Um huh," she mumbled.
"The baby's moving a lot?"
She opened her eyes. "Kicking and fussing a bit, yes." She looked over at him and noticed his concern. It touched her. "The doctor said that I still have three weeks, so don't worry."
"Three weeks?"
"Mor
e or less, yes."
Nothing more was said on the long trip home. The sun sank lower in the sky but the air grew heavier rather than cooler. By the time they drove up their lane, Shana could barely force herself awake. Feeling slightly feverish, she was thankful when Emanuel suggested that she cool off with a shower and go right to bed. She smiled her appreciation at being allowed to skip the evening chores and disappeared into the house to follow her husband's orders.
Chapter Nineteen
As they rode up the driveway, the massive burnt skeleton of a barn loomed beyond the house, peeling paint trickling down the sides as though a silent warning of the dangers beyond the lane. Yet, as Emanuel steered the buggy around the side of the house, Shana saw that, surrounding the skeleton, was the busy life of community love. Hundreds of Amish men and women scurried around the yard, each with a specific task to perform in their tight-knit organization. Everyone seemed joyous and happy. There were no signs of sorrow or fear.
Several wagons loaded with wood were circled around a bare patch of land near the burnt out shell of the old barn. The men, most with tool belts around their waists, clambered around the timber while the women, aprons covering their dresses, lingered near the front yard of the porch, some peeling fresh corn, others getting ready to serve cold refreshments to the working men.
Emanuel stopped the buggy on the outskirts of the active areas. He took Shana's hand and helped her out of the buggy. She stumbled as she crept out but, with a tender hand, he steadied her, sparing her an encouraging smile before releasing his grasp and hurried toward the crowds of Amish men. Uncertain of her place, Shana lingered by the buggy and watched as several different men slapped Emanuel on the back, some of them laughing gaily and others pointing toward the spot where, within the next eight hours, a new barn would be raised.
"Shana," someone called out.
Tearing her gaze from the men's area, Shana gazed toward the farmhouse. Katie and Lillian stood side-by-side on the porch, each waving for her to join them. Her happy face covering her fear, Shana left the familiarity of the buggy and approached the dozens of women, most of whom she did not recognize. Immediately, they welcomed her and set her to work peeling potatoes as she sat on the front step next to Lillian and Sylvia. With over two hundred potatoes to peel, the three women spent an hour visiting while they worked.
During the morning hours, the married women served the men cool drinks as they worked while the older women prepared the midday supper. Some of the younger women, those without children or husbands, helped the men by retrieving tools and fetching lighter pieces of lumber. The children helped as well, picking up bent nails and sawed off pieces of wood. When the potatoes were finished, Shana sat with Lillian in the shade, watching as the bare space beside the burnt rubble began to transform into a new, fresh barn.
Shana watched as the men, using only their weight and thick ropes, began pulling the new walls, just outlined by two-by-fours, up into place. Lillian finished feeding Jacob, her own eyes gazing out as she tried to locate Jonas Jr.
"Quite a sight, isn't it?"
Shana glanced at her, her eyes glowing and her face flushed. "Like poetry," she said breathlessly.
Lillian smiled. "I imagine so."
But words couldn't describe how Shana felt. She watched the men, each doing their own tasks yet each task contributed to the building of the new barn. No one gave orders, but each man knew what to do. She saw Emanuel, atop the highest beams, pounding nails into the structure. He stopped for a minute as the men below him passed up a glass of cool water. Pushing his hat back off his forehead, he pressed the cool glass to his skin.
"Shana!"
Snapping her gaze away from the new barn, she turned around and saw Katie approaching her. The smile on her face was genuine and warm, reflecting the newfound respect she had for her daughter-in-law. "You done with the potatoes, ja?"
Shana motioned to the last bucket and nodded. "All peeled and ready to go."
As Katie picked up the bucket, she noticed Shana press her hand against her side. "The child is restless?"
"Very," Shana replied, trying to smile through the slight tremor of pain.
"I think it will be an early birth. The child moves too much," she said. She hesitated, her eyes darting over the heads of the women. "When you leave today, Sylvia should go with you." Katie met Shana's eyes, a concerned look on her face. "So close to your time, you should not be alone during the day."
Lillian smiled at Shana when Katie left. "You want to hold Jacob for a while? You could use the practice, ja?"
Shana took the baby from her sister-in-law. She stared into his tiny face and felt the emotion swell into her throat. "It's just so amazing, isn't it? In less than three weeks, the baby in my arms will be my own." She looked up at Lillian and returned her sister-in-law's smile.
Shortly before noon, the men crawled down from the top of the barn. The frame was finished, the new wood standing like a friendly skeleton against the horizon. Shana helped the women serve the men by pouring water in their glasses. After a morning of hard work, everyone was thirsty and she found herself busy just trying to keep their glasses full. She moved slower than the other women and found herself stopping to catch her breath every so often. It was too hot and beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she filled the men's glasses. On her third trip from refilling the pitcher, she paused by Emanuel's place and, when he spared her an approving glance, she felt her heart warm. Then, to her surprise, he took the pitcher from her and poured his own water.
"You should sit down, Shana," he said softly, concern in his eyes. "You look tired and one of the other women can tend to the men."
She nodded, reaching to take the pitcher back. But Emanuel’s expression changed, a frown clouding his usually good-natured expression. He stood up, touched her arm gently, and led her away from the table. "We'll leave early, Shana. I should have insisted you stay at the farm." He handed the pitcher to a young woman, one that Shana did not know. The woman, smiling her understanding as her eyes fell to Shana's large stomach, walked back to the table.
"I think we should stay until the barn is finished," Shana replied softly. "Your help is needed, Emanuel."
He squeezed her hand affectionately, a look of approval at her generosity crossing his face. "Go rest inside where it is cool. I'll come for you when we're done."
She headed into the house, thankful to escape the hot sun. Sitting down on the sofa in the kitchen, she leaned her head back and shut her eyes. The day seemed endless and she was beginning to feel her patience almost at its end. She tried to relax, taking a deep breath. But she felt herself close to tears. The extra weight, her uncomfortable size, the baby's demanding movement stole any relaxation she might have been allowed.
"Shana?" Lillian sat next to her, baby Jacob in her arms. She leaned back into the sofa and pushed aside the front of her blouse to let the infant nurse. "You are not well?"
"Just ready, that's all."
"But you've still some time, ja?"
"You heard Mother Katie earlier. She thinks the child will come early." Shana managed a smile. "She's had more children than I have, so I think I will listen to her."
"It's not unusual to be early. I was with Linda."
"I wish it were tomorrow," Shana replied. "I'm tired, now. Tired of being pregnant, of back pains, of stomachaches. I could complain forever."
Lillian laughed. "Imagine how Katie felt. She gave birth to twelve children."
"Twelve? But..."
Lillian's smile faded. "They buried two as children."
"I hadn't known."
"But now, she already has eight grandchildren, soon to be nine. By the time her children are all married, she'll be certain to have many more, maybe even sixty."
Shana forced a breathless laugh. "Sixty grandchildren?"
"Why, I have over eighty cousins. Some of them I've never even met."
"No wonder," Shana answered but her breath came quick as her unborn child kicked again. "I thin
k this baby will take more after me than Emanuel. It seems very anxious."
Lillian shifted Jacob in her arms. "Are you? What about, Shana?"
Having said too much, Shana quickly tried to smile away her comment. "Labor, mostly. I suppose my baby and I are thinking the same thing."
"Thinking of the joy your baby will bring to your life should ease your fear, Shana."
"I suppose it shall."
To Shana's relief, Lillian changed the subject. "Everyone is quite pleased about Emanuel and you taking the fall baptism." Her large brown eyes studied Shana's face. "The instructionals are over?"