by Beth Shriver
She was about to set the tray on the wooden dresser when she heard him stir. Her boots tapping against the floor woke him, and he tried to sit up in bed. “Daed, let me help you.”
He grumbled then pushed down with his large hands on either side of him and pulled himself up. Elsie tried to help, but he had too much girth for her to be able to do much for him. “You don’t need to fuss over me.” He pivoted to the side and put his feet on the floor. “I’m fine.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Mamm appeared at the bedroom door and put her hands on her hips.
“I’m going into town to the farmer’s market like we always do, as a family.” He stood and seemed to be stable, but Mamm didn’t care how well he thought he was.
“We will do just fine without you. Stay here and mend.” She gently pushed him back on the bed. He eyed her and was about to protest when she chimed in again. “You need to get healthy so you can help plant the Lapps’ field.” Mamm always knew what to say to Daed when he was being stubborn. They both knew he wouldn’t be able to do much at the planting but would want to be there anyway. With that he slipped back into bed and sighed.
“I’ll bring you some lunch for later so you don’t have to walk downstairs, Daed.” Elsie offered as her two brothers came jumping into the room.
“We get to go to the mud sales today!” Adam shouted with excitement.
“They don’t call it that here. It’s called the market.” Aaron tugged on Mamm’s dress. “Can I take the horse I carved to sell?”
“Jah, Aaron. Now go eat your breakfast so we can get an early start.” Mamm gave Daed a kiss on the head and started for the door. “Don’t you do too much today.”
“Humph,” was his only reply.
“I’ll put one of Mamm’s sugar cookies in with your lunch,” Elsie whispered. That made him smile a little.
They hurried the boys through their meal and packed the buggy full of goods and food to sell. The Lapps offered to transport the Yoders’ livestock and furniture Daed made. They brought only samples due to the room each piece took in the wagons. In Virginia they made a pretty decent living selling their goods. The drive took two hours to the area where up to thirty markets in the vicinity sold a large range of goods. The idea was still in process here. The fewer Amish and the distance from the different communities in this large state made it difficult to have one big market, unless they joined in with the Texas farmers.
The boys chose Chester, a sturdy steed that could handle the distance. Elsie stared absently at his black behind as he clip-clopped down the highway. She averted her gaze to a field of blue-bonnets peeking through a pasture of wild grass and the green buds on the large trees by the road. By next month everything would be in full bloom. There was still a nip in the air that could be easily remedied with the black shawl Elsie brought.
Once they got into town, heads started turning. The English were still getting used to the Amish coming into town in droves once a month for the market. Many of them couldn’t wait for the weekends the Amish came and were regulars who bought their favorites each time. The positive thoughts made her feel better about coming into town. Even if those boys did show up, what could they do at a busy market full of people?
“They still stare at us like we’re strange.” Elsie stared back at them, searching for a face in the crowd that was an unwelcome reminder of those boys.
“It’s different than up north where the Amish were already settled. Here they are still getting used to us. But you know this.” Mamm glanced over at her then back to driving the buggy. “Why is it bothering you today?”
The weight of her secret was lifted after talking with Omar. She wanted that same relief by telling her mamm. But she feared telling her daed. Although he was a gentle man, he had little patience for dishonesty or betrayal—both of which his daughters had done, Elsie for not telling them about the English boys and Katie’s choice to leave with Jake.
“I am worried I might see the English boys who have been coming to our community.” Elsie looked straight ahead, but she could see her mother snap her head back over to her.
“Why would you worry about those boys?”
Elsie could hear the hesitation in Mamm’s question, as if she knew the answer would be something bad, one more thing for her to worry about. She felt the same guilt when she told Gideon, knowing the pain it caused people to hear about what had gone on without any idea it had been happening.
“Because I talked to them when they were in our community.” Elsie took a moment to choose her words. Mamm didn’t need to know the worst of it, only that there had been contact.
“What did they say to you?”
“They mocked me and told me we should go back to where we came.” She bravely stared into her mamm’s eyes. “They are the ones who did the vandalism, at least some of it if not all.”
Mamm’s mouth opened, but she didn’t speak for a moment, digesting the information. “Who knows about this?”
“Gideon, Omar, and Katie.”
Mamm jolted back a little and frowned. “Is that another reason she left?”
Elsie shook her head. “No, she wasn’t as scared of them like I am. She left to have more freedom and for Jake.”
“How long has this gone on?”
“A few days before Katie left.” Shame and guilt plagued her. How many times had she told herself that it would stop? That they would go away and not come back? Her denial had been risky; she could see that more clearly now.
They were silent as they rode through the small city, but Elsie knew the conversation wasn’t over. They had work to do, so this would have to wait.
The small sign with the name Beeville got the boys excited. They passed the opera house and post office then knew they were close. When they got to the edge of town, they went to the back of the parking lot that was filled with buggies then stopped by a corral that was set up for the horses. They carried in their goods and went inside a large building to set up. Elsie and her family brought tables, stands, and shelves to arrange their stand of quilts, baked goods, dolls, and tools. Elsie wished she and Rachel had finished that quilt now. The English paid hundreds of dollars for one they took a liking to, saying the quality couldn’t be compared to any others they saw in stores. Elsie planned to visit a store and see for herself.
The customers trickled in, and soon there were crowds. The pies were selling, and people seemed to like the variety. Pear and gooseneck were the first to go. Many of the townspeople said those were kinds they’d never tried. The others sold almost as quickly—rhubarb, cherry, peach, and huckleberry. The walnut, pecan, and pumpkin pies they would bring in the fall.
An older lady admired one of the quilts Mamm sewed and one Elsie made. She studied the stitching, nodding to herself. Her hair seemed to be a bluish color, but Elsie overlooked the strange hue and began to explain their names.
“Do you name the patterns?” She examined the quilt up and down.
“Jah, that one’s called Log Cabin. It’s more rustic.” The gray, white, and brown gave it a homey appeal.
“I like that one.” She pointed to one her mamm made. The woman gave her a considerable amount of money for the quilt. Mamm learned from others to start high and bargain down.
“Danke.” Elsie smiled.
“I looked up some Amish words so I’d know what to say. Wilkom.” She lifted her shoulders with excitement.
Elsie couldn’t help but smile at this eager, precious lady who was trying to connect with her. This was a good reminder of how hospitable the Texans were, not all like that group of young men with too much time on their hands. Other than those recent incidents, all the people down south had been helpful and friendly.
“Very gut.” Elsie grinned, and the lady turned to walk away. ‘Enjoy your quilt.”
Mamm came back from wandering around the market with the boys and noticed the one missing quilt. “It sold?”
“Jah, to a sweet older lady.” Elsie hoped hers would sell
too. It was encouraging when someone appreciated her work, and it made her want to spend more time doing it when she got a sale.
A young family stopped and looked at the dolls she’d made. The little Amish boys and girls dressed in their traditional clothing were usually big sellers. Elsie put different colors of shirts to make them individual as the English seemed to appreciate the different hues.
Elsie watched and waited for the common question. The mamm held a girl doll and asked, “Why don’t they have faces?”
“In the book of Exodus graven images are forsaken.” She smiled as she said it. People seemed to appreciate what she was saying better when she did.
The oldest child, about the twin’s age, said, “I don’t want a doll with a naked face.”
But the little girl held one and wouldn’t let go. “I do, and I’m going to name her your name.” She pointed at Elsie.
Elsie was a little flattered and folded her hands together. “My name is Elsie, and I’d be honored for your doll to have my name.”
“I’ll take two.” The mother pulled out her purse and reached for the boy Amish doll. “I don’t want Elsie to get lonely.”
“Danke for your purchase.” Elsie watched the mamm’s face as she figured out what she was saying. When she walked away, Elsie almost felt at home. It had been over a year now, and she needed to think of Texas that way. There were obstacles, but she would deal with them a lot better if she appreciated her new homeland.
Aaron looked back at their booth. Elsie glanced over with him. A boy was holding the wooden horse he’d carved. She nodded her head toward the boy, and Aaron approached him.
“Do you like it?” Aaron asked without hesitation. “I made it.”
The boy’s brows lifted. “You did?” Then he glanced up at his mamm. “Why can’t I make one?”
She shook her head. “You aren’t allowed to use knives. But I’ll buy that for you if you like.” The boy seemed to agree with the compromise and held the horse while his mamm paid.
“Danke.” Aaron turned and showed Mamm the money he’d earned. “Can I go get something with it?”
“Save a lot and spend a little.” She told him, and then in a quiet tone she added, “And get a little something for your brother.”
“I’ll take them, Mamm.” Elsie held Adam’s hand as Aaron looked at all the goods he could buy. She could see how money might become a problem for the English. There were so many temptations, and this was only one market. She knew there were huge malls that had so much more than this.
The food seemed to be most intriguing for the boys. There were cheese and meat stands, and something new to her was the rice cakes; there were also a deli, cakes, pretzels, and meatball sandwiches. The boys decided on the rice cakes and weren’t disappointed. Elsie took a bite and liked the taste. It was nice to eat something someone else made.
On their way back to their booth they passed the livestock arena where horses, goats, lambs, and horses were auctioned off. When they stepped outside, the boys spotted Gideon with his family selling their outdoor furniture, and Daed’s as well. The boys ran over and hugged on Gideon. The affection the boys gave him touched her, and for a brief moment she wished she could do the same, causing her cheeks to warm.
“Good turnout?” She asked to any of the Lapps who were around.
“Um, gut,” his brother Joseph answered.
Gideon’s daed was a quiet, gentle man and, unlike her own daed, a man of few words. His mamm was helping a customer, as were his brothers.
“Aaron sold his horse,” Elsie told Gideon with a smile as she sat in one of the porch swings they were selling.
Gideon sat next to her and smiled. “So that’s what the extra excitement is about.” He watched the boys go from a shed to the playhouse and then to one of the swings. “Gut for him. He’s an official entrepreneur.”
“Aaron treated us to rice cakes with some of his earnings.”
He frowned.
“Nee, they were gut. You should try one,” she urged him and walked with him to the stand.
Gideon’s daed knew how to handle boys and the twins took him seriously, but they also enjoyed being with Gideon’s brothers.
When they got to the stand, Elsie talked him into buying a rice cake, and when he took the first bite, his squinty eyes said it all. “I told you they were gut.”
When they started the walk back to the Lapps’ booth, Gideon stopped. Elsie stood next to him and followed his gaze to a young man. “Who is that? Do you know him?” She didn’t recognize the English teenager as one who had been on their property. He was smaller than those young men, maybe younger, but what caught Elsie’s attention was his gaunt, sad face and skinny frame.
“Jah, I do,” Gideon finally answered after a long stare. He stood and took a step toward the young man. As soon as the boy saw Gideon, his eyes seemed to click with recognition. As Gideon got closer, the boy’s eyes grew wider. He took off, making his way through the crowds with Gideon close behind him.
Elsie tried to follow but fell way behind. As she darted around the crowds of people, she wondered about Gideon’s strange behavior. His intensity surprised and worried her. Did the young man take something from their booth? Maybe he was one of the Englishers, and she didn’t recognize him. She tried to ignore them each time they came around, and she couldn’t always get a good look at all of them.
When she finally found him, Gideon had the boy cornered in a hallway by the bathrooms, obviously upset. The boy stared up at Gideon with wild eyes then turned to her and dropped his head. She looked away, not wanting her stare to intensify the embarrassment he seemed to feel. Gideon motioned for her to stay put, out of reach but close enough to hear the conversation.
“I’m not going to harm you.” Gideon’s face was flushed, and his gaze locked on this young man. “I want to help you.”
The boy moved the mop of dark, shaggy hair from his eyes and frowned. “Why?”
“I saw your face that day. The day you were with the others. You didn’t want to be there, did you?”
He scoffed, but his eyes stayed fixed on Gideon, almost as if he wanted him to go on but couldn’t show it. “How would you know?”
“I could see it in your eyes. You were scared.”
He tried to take a step forward, but Gideon blocked his way. “I was not afraid of an Amish guy and his girlfriend.”
Elsie blushed, wishing she could stop the crimson color creeping up her neck. She could see why some in the community might make the assumption, but for all this young man knew, she could be Gideon’s sister. That made her uncomfortable, and she began to rethink her actions. Gideon’s community was more flexible than Elsie’s was back in Virginia. But since moving here, that changed, and her group was becoming more relaxed with their rules, maybe too much so. Even more concerning was if their actions portrayed a commitment between them.
They were quiet during her thoughts. Gideon’s fists were dropped to his sides, opening and shutting as if to calm him after the boy’s last comment. “A young man should speak respectfully of a young woman.”
The boy shook his head. Elsie wondered why Gideon was trying so hard to reach someone who had no interest in what he was saying.
“Just like you treat your mother with respect.” Gideon waited for a response, but the boy didn’t seem like he was going to answer. So Gideon stood there and waited. He was at least four inches taller and had more muscle by far than the young man did. But Elsie still wasn’t sure why Gideon was so interested in this boy. He wasn’t the one who seemed to cause the problems.
He finally nodded, and Gideon let out a breath—as if they had reached an agreement that Elsie couldn’t identify. “I’m Gideon. What’s your name?”
The boy scoffed. “How about . . . James Dean.”
Gideon frowned. “Why were you with those other guys?”
“You aren’t gonna leave me alone, are ya?” The boy’s face flushed, and he bit his bottom lip. “It was an initiation they make
you do to hang out with them.”
“Picking on innocent people? How hard is that?” Gideon’s chin tightened. “Was it worth it?”
He shrugged. “There’s more. I’m the grunt now.”
Gideon dropped his guard. His shoulders lowered and his chest moved quickly. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, man. But if they see me talking to you, we’ll both pay for it.” He scanned the area and took a testing step away.
“Tell me your name. Mine is Gideon.” Gideon moved, as if giving him the room to go.
“Then will you leave me alone? It’s Nick.” As soon as he saw the opportunity, he took two steps and took off running again. Gideon watched him go and Elsie watched Gideon.
They walked back to the Lapps’ booth in silence. Gideon sat down on a porch swing he’d help make, and she sat next to him. She wasn’t sure what to make of the situation, so she waited for Gideon to explain.
“Do you remember seeing that boy?” Gideon pushed his feet forward, easing into the rhythm of the swing.
“Nee. When did you see him?” She looked sideways at him, but he kept his head down.
“He was in the back of the car that day the bench broke in the buggy.”
“Why did you follow him?”
“I wanted to talk with him. He looked so scared that time I saw him. I could tell he didn’t want to be there.” Gideon put his elbows on his knees and folded his hands.
“You probably scared him to death chasing him like that.”
“I just wanted to find out about him and hoped he would care that I was angry with him for the way they treated us that day.” Gideon nodded his head as if trying to convince himself. “I think he did, even though he didn’t show it.”
“I hope he doesn’t do any more of those awful things to others.” Elsie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why would people make someone do such a thing?”
“Sounds like we were one of many.”
“Why would anyone want to be in such a group?” Elsie folded her arms over her chest, angry at these hateful customs the English boys had.