“How soon can you start?” he asked.
“Bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“Goot. I have customers who have been waiting on me to cut their trees. I’ll let them know that I can start right away. Danki.”
Amos and Lily came out of the house. They each held a thick slice of banana bread in their hands. Ethan called them. “Come get in the wagon.”
Lily stopped beside Clara and leaned against her leg. “But I don’t want to go home.”
Clara stooped to her level and lifted the child’s chin to face her. “You must do as your onkel says without making a fuss, for God values a quiet spirit.”
Lily whispered, “Will you come home with me?”
“Not today, but I will see you tomorrow. You and I will have lots of time to spend together. Now be a goot girl, and do as your onkel bids.”
“Okay.” Lily ran to Ethan. He helped her into the wagon and climbed up after her. The boys climbed in the back unaided. Ethan tipped his hat to Clara and turned his team around. With a click of his tongue, he sent the big horses trotting smartly down the lane.
Her grandfather came and stood behind her. Her sisters crowded around. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Greta asked.
Clara nodded. “I don’t see the harm in it.”
Betsy shot her a skeptical look. “You don’t? The children may get too attached to you. They’re very young.”
“I will make sure that they understand it’s only for a short while. Are we ready to go to town? I am anxious to meet Naomi’s new grandbaby.”
“As am I,” their grandfather declared. “It’s been a long time since I’ve held a bobli. I’m afraid I’m out of practice.”
Betsy giggled. “How can you say that? You care for and bottle-feed tiny lambs every spring. I think you’ve had more practice with babies than most men.”
“I don’t think lambs count. Come, girls, and get a move on. If I know Naomi, she will have a fine meal waiting for us.”
They all rushed back into the house to get ready, but Clara stayed on the porch watching Ethan’s wagon as it disappeared down the lane. Had she done the right thing? She would be seeing him on a daily basis. Why did the idea excite her?
* * *
Ethan kept his horses at a steady trot. The empty wagon was easy for them to pull, and they hadn’t had much exercise the past few weeks. That was all going to change now. A huge weight had been lifted from him by Clara’s decision. He couldn’t believe she had accepted his offer. He was even more surprised that her family had agreed to let her work for a bachelor. He would take care to see that her reputation was protected, but in truth, his three children would be adequate chaperones.
Lily, who had been crying for two days, sat beside him quietly with her hands folded in her lap. He looked down at her. “Are you happy that Clara will be taking care of you?”
“I’m very happy,” she said softly.
“You’re being awfully quiet about it.”
“That’s because Clara told me that God loves a quiet spirit. Clara has a quiet spirit. I think that God loves her.”
“God loves all of His children, Lily.”
She glanced over her shoulder and leaned closer to him. “Even Micah?”
He nodded solemnly. “Ja, even Micah.”
“But I don’t think he has a quiet spirit.”
“He will have one when he is older.”
“When he is old like you? Do you have a quiet spirit, Onkel Ethan?”
Did he? The child’s question caught him by surprise. It had been a long time since he had examined his relationship with God. He said his prayers, he attended church as an Amish man was required to do, but he no longer trusted that God would take care of him.
“I reckon its quiet enough,” he said, but it wasn’t the whole truth. His spirit had become more resentful than quiet. The events of his life, the betrayal by people he loved, had made him doubt God’s goodness, made him feel that God had turned away from him, too. Why didn’t he deserve the love others found so easily?
There was no point dwelling on a question with no answer. He’d come to Hope Springs intending to start a new life. He looked down at the little girl beside him. This was a new life all right, but not one he expected.
Lily wrapped her arms around his arm and hugged him tight. “I miss Mamm and Daed, but I’m glad that you came to take care of us.”
“I’m glad that I did, too.”
He was glad to have the children in his life. He prayed it was God’s plan for them to remain with him for good. He prayed, too, that he would grow to love them as every child deserved to be loved. Unconditionally.
* * *
The eastern sky was glowing bright gold beyond the trees at the top of the ridge, but the sun wasn’t yet up when Ethan returned to the house after doing his morning chores and checking his logging equipment. He stopped at the woodpile to gather an armload for the kitchen stove and glanced down the lane. When would Clara arrive? He wanted to start as soon as possible and get most of his work done before the heat of the afternoon. There was no sign of her so he walked into the house and stopped short.
She was already busy at the stove. The smell of frying bacon filled the air. The children sat at the kitchen table looking at her like starving puppies. Puppies with freshly scrubbed faces and neatly combed hair.
“Good morning,” she said softly but kept her back to him.
He dropped the load of wood into the box by the stove. “Good morning. When you said bright and early you meant it. I didn’t see your buggy outside. Did someone bring you?”
“I walked. I like walking. I knew you would want to get started early. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“You don’t need to fix anything for me. I’ll be working over at Elam Sutter’s place. Do you know it?”
She turned away from the stove and wiped her hands on her apron. “I do. My sister Betsy works in his basket-weaving shop.”
“Goot. You can find me there if you should need me. I’ll be home about six o’clock.” He took his hat from a peg by the door and put it on.
“Don’t you want some breakfast?” She carried a plate piled high with biscuits to the table.
“Nee, the coffee I had earlier is enough for me.”
“What about lunch? Shall I make you something now, or should I bring it by later?”
“Elam’s wife is feeding me, so you don’t need to worry about that. Just look after the children. That’s all I need.”
She glanced around the kitchen. “Is it all right if I clean up?”
He looked around and didn’t see anything wrong. “Clean up what?”
“The floor could use a scrubbing.” She returned to the stove and loaded a plate with bacon.
He glanced down at his floor. “I swept it yesterday.”
“Yes, but when was the last time you washed it?”
“I haven’t seen him wash it since I’ve been here,” Amos said, reaching for the bacon.
Leave it to the kinder to make him look bad.
Clara moved the bacon beyond the boy’s reach. “We don’t eat until after we give thanks, Amos.”
“Sorry. I forgot. It sure smells good. Onkel Ethan burns the bacon when he cooks it.” Amos folded his hands and tried to look virtuous.
“Clean as you see fit, but I don’t expect you to keep house for us.” The bacon did smell good. Ethan’s stomach rumbled loud enough for Clara to hear. A grin twitched at the corner of her lips.
“Are you sure you don’t want a little something to eat? Work is twice as hard on an empty stomach.”
“Maybe just a little bacon and a biscuit.” He hung his hat back on the peg and took a seat at the head of the table.
“I can scramble you a few eggs. It won�
��t take any time at all.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to make more work for you.”
“Nothing is easier than scrambling eggs. Go ahead and start with what’s on the table.”
“Will you join us?”
“I ate before I came this morning.”
“All right.” He bowed his head and silently prayed the blessing before meals and the Lord’s Prayer. When he was finished, he cleared his throat to signal the children that he was done. Taking some bacon, he forked some onto Lily’s plate and then handed it to Micah. Micah all but emptied the plate and then handed it to Amos. There was only one strip of bacon left.
“Hey, I need more than this. Give me some of yours, Micah.”
Micah popped a piece into his mouth. “I’m older than you. I get more.”
“That doesn’t matter.” Amos scowled at his brother.
“You can have some of mine,” Lily said. She pushed her plate toward him.
Ethan was listening to the children with only half an ear. His attention was on Clara. Her movements were graceful and deliberate without any waste of energy. Her presence, which he thought would make him uncomfortable, was having the opposite effect. There was something calming about her.
She turned around, came to the table and took Micah’s plate from him.
He frowned. “Hey, what are you doing? I wasn’t finished.”
“I am older than you are so I get more.”
“But you said you weren’t going to eat.” Micah’s frown turned to an angry pout. They both looked at Ethan.
He could tell by the look on Clara’s face that he was supposed to deal with this. He should’ve skipped breakfast. He could be happily harnessing his horses right this minute.
“Micah, share with your brother.” He took a bite of biscuit.
Clara didn’t move. She still held Micah’s plate, but her gaze was fixed on Ethan. He swallowed what he had in his mouth, returned his partially eaten biscuit to his plate and folded his hands. Apparently, he needed to expound on the issue. “No one deserves more because they are older or because they are bigger, Micah. We are all equal in the sight of God. We must share what we have with those who have less.”
Clara smiled and Ethan took a relieved breath. She said, “In this way, Micah, we please God and we take care of each other.”
“I don’t care if I please God. I’m not hungry, anyway.” Micah jumped up from the table and ran upstairs.
Ethan sighed deeply. “What did I say that was wrong?”
* * *
Clara was surprised that Ethan didn’t put the blame on her. Surprised, but pleased at how willing he was to accept responsibility and advice. Advice she didn’t have at present. She put Micah’s plate back on the table and gave two pieces of his bacon to Amos. “I don’t think we said anything wrong. Micah can’t always get his way. He must learn that his choices have consequences. He will come down when he is hungry.”
“I’m sorry he acted this way on your first day with us. I will go talk to him if you think I should.”
“Nee, you have work to do. I will deal with the children.”
“Are you sure?”
“Ja.”
Relief brightened his eyes. He rose to his feet, tucked a biscuit in his pocket and took his hat from the peg. “Clara is in charge while I am gone. You will obey her.”
“But I am being good,” Lily said, her eyes wide.
“Me, too,” Amos chimed in.
Ethan’s smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. Clara was struck by what a nice smile he had. “You are being good. See that you stay that way.”
She said, “Finish your breakfast, children. Might I have a word with you outside, Ethan?”
He frowned slightly but nodded. He held open the door and she walked out onto the porch with him. “Before you go, I wanted to ask what chores the children have. What are their responsibilities?”
His frown deepened. “To stay out of trouble and out from underfoot. If you think of something that you want them to do, just tell them. Do what you think is best.”
That was odd. They were all old enough to have simple chores. “What type of discipline would you expect me to carry out?” she asked.
“Do what you think is best,” he said again in irritation.
“Very well. I thought it was important that we discuss these things.”
“And we have. I’ve got to get going. Is there anything else?”
She thought of a dozen things to ask but kept silent, reluctant to upset him. She fastened her gaze to the porch floor. “Have a good day.”
He didn’t leave. He stood where he was until she looked up. “I’m sorry if I sounded short with you. I appreciate your help with the children, Clara. I trust that you can handle anything that comes up. If you think they need chores to do, we’ll discuss it when I get back this evening.”
Inordinately pleased by his confidence, she nodded mutely. He turned and strode toward the barn. She went back in the house and started to clean up. The window over the sink was open to catch the morning breeze. A few minutes later, Ethan and his team went thundering past as they headed up the drive.
Clara couldn’t suppress a shudder at the sound of their powerful hooves striking the ground. It reminded her of the blows she had suffered at the hands of her uncle and the man he tried to force her to marry. Her hands grew cold as she clenched them together. She squeezed her eyes shut.
“I wanna help wash the dishes. Can I?”
Clara opened her eyes and saw Lily gazing at her. The past was over and done with. While it haunted her, it could no longer hurt her. She must live in the present. Her uncle had robbed her and her sisters of ten long years, forcing them to live in drudgery and fear. He couldn’t have one more minute of her life.
Drawing a deep breath, Clara smiled at the girl. “Of course you may. Why don’t you get a chair so you can stand beside me. I will wash and you can rinse. How does that sound?”
“Like fun!” Lily hopped up and down and dashed to the table.
“What can I do?” Amos asked, looking uncertain.
“Do you have any chores?”
“Micah and I have to pick up our room and make our beds when Onkel Ethan tells us.”
“That’s goot, but we will not wait for him to tell us. We will do it every day and surprise him.”
“Okay.”
“For now, why don’t you take a broom and sweep the front porch and steps.”
“Why?”
“So they are clean and neat.”
“Why?” he asked again.
“Because when God has given us a fine place to live, we must take care of it. We must be good stewards of the land and all we own.”
“Is it woman’s work? Micah says we boys don’t do woman’s work.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Is that what Micah says?”
“Yup,” Amos and Lily answered together. Clara helped the little girl climb onto the chair beside her at the sink.
“Is it woman’s work to cook?” she asked.
“Sure.” Amos nodded once.
“Who has done the cooking since you came here?”
“Onkel Ethan,” Lily said.
“Is laundry woman’s work?” Clara asked Amos.
“I think so,” he said slowly.
“Who has been doing your laundry?”
“Onkel Ethan.”
She thought he was beginning to see her point. “Is planting the crops and taking care of them men’s work?”
“Ja! That’s men’s work.” He looked pleased that he knew this answer.
“And have you ever seen women working in the fields?”
“Sometimes.” His expression grew puzzled.
“Th
at’s right. A woman must know how to drive a team and till the soil when needed. Just as a man must know how to cook and clean clothes when there is no one else to do it for him. Do you understand?”
“I guess. It means I have to sweep the porch. I know where the broom is.” He collected it from a closet beside the refrigerator, pulled his straw hat off one of the lower pegs by the front door and went out.
Lily, waiting quietly on the chair beside Clara, asked, “Can I drive Onkel Ethan’s team? I love his horses.”
“Oh, no!” Clara said quickly. Lily’s eyes widened.
Clara realized her mistake immediately. She didn’t want to pass on her fear of draft horses to the child. “I mean, maybe when you are older, but you must not go near them unless you are with your onkel. They can hurt you very badly.”
“Onkel says I must talk or sing when I am near them and never run behind them so they don’t get scared.”
The animals were as big as houses. What did they have to be afraid of? “You must always do as he says. Promise?”
“Okay. Are you going to wash those dishes?”
“Ja, and then we will scrub the floors.” Clara glanced out the window to see where Amos was and then set to work. She would prove to Ethan that his faith in her wasn’t misplaced.
Three hours later, with the kitchen spotless and the younger children playing with a puzzle in the living room, she pulled two fresh loaves of bread from the oven. She had used the last of the day-old bread to make bread pudding and meat loaf for supper. It would soon be too hot to cook in the kitchen. She glanced up the stairs in concern. Micah still hadn’t come down. He had to be hungry by now.
“That sure smells goot.” Amos came into the room with a hopeful expression.
“Would you like a slice of hot bread?”
His eyes brightened. “With church spread on it? That’s how Mamm used to fix it.”
She dumped the loaves on the counter and wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve. “Yum. Peanut butter and marshmallow crème all melted and gooey on fresh hot bread. That sounds perfect. Why don’t you go tell Micah to come down and we’ll all have some.”
Amos darted for the stairs. “Micah! We’re having church spread on hot bread!”
The Amish Nanny Page 6