A Sister's Test

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “Before you go, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”

  “What is it?”

  “Could you stay here with Daniel while I walk down to the mailbox? Cleon’s expecting a beekeeping catalog he ordered a few weeks ago.”

  “I don’t mind staying with Daniel,” Martha said, “but I’d be happy to go to the mailbox for you.”

  Grace shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but if the catalog is there, I’ll want to stop at the woodworking shop and give it to Cleon.”

  “I could do that, too.”

  “I know you could, but I had something I wanted to say to Cleon at breakfast, and he rushed out the door before I got it said. This will give me a chance to do that, as well.”

  Martha sat down again. “Sure, no problem. Take your time.”

  “If Daniel wakes before I get back, he’ll probably need his windle changed. Can you handle that for me?”

  “Jah, sure.” Martha wrinkled her nose. “I’ll just sit here and enjoy another piece of bread and pray he wakes up clean and dry.”

  Grace chuckled and headed out the back door. A blast of warm air greeted her, but it felt good on her face. Summer was almost here, and she preferred the hot days to the bitter cold of winter.

  As Grace approached the two mailboxes at the end of her folks’ driveway, her throat constricted, and her heart pounded so hard she heard it thundering in her ears. Both metal boxes had been smashed in, and a note was attached to the side of her and Cleon’s mailbox. It read I’M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET.

  With a strangled sob, Grace tore the note off the box and rushed to the woodworking shop.

  “I’m going to be busy cleaning house the rest of the morning,” Judith said as Roman took a seat at his desk to do some paperwork. “That’s why I brought your lunch out a bit early.”

  “No problem.” Roman took the lunch box and placed it on one end of the desk. “Have a nice day.”

  Her forehead wrinkled as her eyebrows drew together. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “ ’Course not. Since you’ve got housecleaning to do, I figured you’d want to be on your way.”

  Her face relaxed, and she gave his shoulder a squeeze. “From the looks of this stack of papers on your desk, I’d say you do, too.”

  Judith was almost to the door when Cleon called out, “If you see Grace, would you tell her I’ll be home for lunch around twelve thirty?”

  “Jah, sure.”

  At that moment, Grace rushed into the shop waving a piece of paper. “He’s done it again!” Her eyes were wide, her face pale.

  “Who’s done what?” Judith asked, taking hold of Grace’s arm.

  “I—I went to get our mail, and—and this is what I found tacked to the side of our smashed-in mailbox.” She thrust the piece of paper into her mother’s hands.

  Judith pushed her glasses to the bridge of her nose. “It says ‘I’m not done with you yet.’”

  Roman jumped to his feet and hurried across the room. “Let me have a look at that.” He snatched the paper from Judith, and his eyelids twitched as he studied the note.

  “Was it our mailbox or your folks’ that got bashed in?” Cleon asked, coming to stand beside Grace.

  “Both mailboxes.” Her chin quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. “He’s come back, Cleon. Martha told me the other day that Gary Walker is back in Holmes County. He’s taken a job at the newspaper in Millersburg and plans to move here permanently.” She gulped in a quick breath. “I’m sure he’s the one who wrote the note and smashed our mailboxes.”

  “How can you be certain? There’s no way you could recognize his handwriting, because whoever put this note together didn’t write it by hand. It was typed in bold letters.” Judith clutched Roman’s arm. “Will these attacks ever stop? Will we spend the rest of our days living in fear and wondering what’s coming next?”

  He groaned. “I hope not—we can’t stop living.”

  “So much for Sheriff Osborn keeping an eye on our place,” Judith said bitterly. “Makes me wonder if he even cares what’s happening to us.”

  “I’m sure he cares,” Cleon put in. “But he and his deputies can’t be everywhere at once.”

  “Donna Larson came by the other day.” Judith looked at Roman. “She said if we decided to move, she and Ray would still be interested in buying our place.”

  Roman shook his head. “I am not selling out because someone smashed in our mailboxes.”

  “It’s not like this is the first attack.” Grace’s voice sounded unsteady, and her eyes were wide with fear. “They stop and start. Just when we begin to think the attacks are over, another one happens again.”

  “She’s right, Roman.” Judith sniffed. “There must be something we can do about this.”

  Roman patted Judith’s back, hoping to offer her comfort. “ ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,’ ” he said, quoting Psalm 46:1. “We must continue to trust Him.”

  “It’s fine to trust God and believe He will help us, but we need to do something to put an end to these attacks.” Grace’s voice sounded stronger, and the look of determination Roman saw on her face let him know that she meant what she said.

  “What do you think we need to do?” Judith asked.

  “It’s me Gary is trying to punish. I’m going to find him and demand that he stop harassing us.”

  “No, you’re not.” Cleon shook his head vigorously. “I’m your husband. It’s my job to look out for you. If anyone’s going to talk to Gary, it will be me.”

  As Ruth moved over to the sink, she spotted Abe’s empty lunch box sitting on the counter. She couldn’t remember whether Abe had said he would be coming up to the house for lunch today or if he’d asked her to make his lunch and bring it out to the harness shop. Things had been so hectic during breakfast this morning, she’d barely had time to make lunches for the children and send them off to school, much less remember anything Abe might have said. Molly had poured her glass of apple juice on the floor and followed that by splattering oatmeal down the front of her clean dress. Owen had whined throughout much of breakfast because he couldn’t go to school with his older brothers. Gideon and Josh had gotten into an argument about whose turn it was to muck out the horses’ stalls. And Willis had accidentally poked Esta in the eye with his elbow when he reached for a piece of toast.

  Ruth took a sip of water and let the cool liquid trickle down her parched throat. Maybe I’m not up to this job. Abe might be better off if he found someone else to care for his kinner and take charge of his house. She sighed deeply. But I enjoy spending time with the children. It gives me something meaningful to do—a reason to get up every morning.

  She set the glass in the sink and reached for the metal lunch box, deciding to make Abe’s lunch and take it out to him. It was a balmy, bright day, and the walk to the shop would be good for Molly and Owen—and for Ruth, as well.

  A short time later, with Abe’s lunch box in her hand, she and the children headed to the harness shop.

  When they stepped inside, Molly squealed when she saw her father, and Owen zipped across the room and grabbed Abe’s leg. Ruth glanced to the left, and the sight of Cleon’s brother standing in front of the riveting machine, wearing the same leather apron Martin used to wear, caused her to flinch.

  The knowledge that Ivan was working in her husband’s place and that Martin would never work in Abe’s shop again was almost unbearable. Even the pungent odor of leather and neat’s-foot oil reminded Ruth of Martin.

  “Are you all right?” Abe asked, nudging Owen aside and stepping up to Ruth. “You look pale and kind of shaky.”

  “I’m fine; just a bit tired, is all.” She lifted the lunch box. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted to eat at the house or planned to have your lunch here, so I fixed you something and brought it out to you.”

  “Danki.” Abe bent to pick up Molly, and then he looked back at Ruth. “Are you working too hard? Do you need a day off?”
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br />   She shook her head. “I like to keep busy. Besides, Sunday’s coming, and since there won’t be church this week, I can rest all day.”

  “I’ve got an idea,” Abe said, nuzzling his daughter’s rosy cheek.

  “What’s that?”

  “I’ve been promising to take my brood on a picnic, so maybe it would be good to take this Saturday off and make good on that promise. Why don’t you join me and the kinner at the pond?”

  “Oh, I don’t know—”

  “It would help if you came along. Handling my six alone can be quite a job.”

  Ruth’s gaze came to rest on Owen, who stared up at his father with an expectant expression. Then she looked at little Molly resting her head against Abe’s broad shoulders, and her resolve weakened. It would be nice to spend the day soaking up the sun, playing with Abe’s children, and watching the ducks floating on his pond. “All right,” she said with a nod. “I’ll pack a picnic lunch and go with you and the kinner on Saturday.”

  “You don’t have to make the lunch,” Abe was quick to say. “I’ll fix some sandwiches and bring along some of those good-tasting cookies you made earlier in the week. That ought to be plenty.”

  “How about if I fix a jug of iced tea for us and bring some cream soda for the kinner?”

  Abe nodded. “That’d be nice.” He kissed Molly’s cheek and handed her over to Ruth, then bent down and ruffled Owen’s hair. “You be good for Ruth, ya hear?”

  The boy nodded soberly and followed Ruth out the door. As she led the way to the house, a feeling she hadn’t felt in many months settled over her like a welcoming breeze on a hot summer day: the feeling of anticipation.

  As Ruth reclined on the quilt Abe had spread on the ground near the pond, she lifted her head and stared at the cloudless sky. It was a beautiful summer day, and the sun felt good as it bathed her face with its warm, soothing rays.

  Squeals of laughter from Abe’s children blended with the call of a dove. It was the first time in a long while that Ruth had felt relaxed.

  “Do you like being here at the pond?” Abe asked, taking a seat on the quilt beside her.

  “Very much. It’s peaceful here, and I feel calmer than I have in many weeks.”

  “Can you see the quiet?”

  She smiled. “Jah. Almost.”

  Abe shifted on the quilt. “Are you hungry? I could get the ice chest and bring out the sandwiches I made this morning.”

  “I’m not quite ready to eat, but if you’re hungry or you think the kinner need to eat, then please go ahead.”

  He shook his head. “I think they’d like to play awhile longer.”

  Ruth shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun and watched as Gideon, Josh, and Willis splashed around in their inner tubes. She smiled at Esta, who held Molly and Owen’s hands, walking barefoot in part of the pond that was shallow.

  “It’s good to see you smile,” Abe said. “You have nice dimples in your cheeks.”

  A flush of heat climbed up the back of Ruth’s neck and covered her face. “Danki.”

  As though sensing her embarrassment, Abe quickly changed the subject. “My kinner can’t swim,” he said, “so I aim to keep a close watch on them. Sure don’t want to take the chance of anyone drowning.”

  Ruth thought about the day Martin had saved Abe’s and Gideon’s lives after their boat had capsized. Little had she realized that Martin would be dead less than two months later. How quickly things could change in one’s life. If only there was a way to be more prepared for unexpected tragedies.

  “Ach, now you’re frowning.” Abe nudged Ruth’s arm with his elbow. “You’ve put those dimples into hiding again.”

  She released a sigh. “I was thinking about Martin and the day he saved you and Gideon from drowning.”

  Now it was Abe’s turn to frown. “I’ll always be grateful he was such a strong swimmer and cared enough to risk his life for a friend.”

  Ruth nodded. “Martin was a kind, caring man, and. . .” Her voice faltered, and she swallowed a couple of times.

  “I know you miss him, Ruth,” Abe said in a near whisper. “I miss Alma, too. Fact is, hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about something she said or did. Especially with Esta looking so much like her mamm and often saying something the way Alma would have said it.” His sigh lifted the hair off his forehead. “But life goes on, and I take comfort in knowing Alma’s resting peacefully in the arms of our heavenly Father. Martin’s there, too; I’m sure of it.”

  “I have that assurance, but it doesn’t take away the pain of knowing he was killed by that narrisch man who kept ramming our buggy.”

  Abe’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned. “I agree that the person had to be crazy if they did it on purpose, but seeing the look of anger on your face lets me know you haven’t forgiven the one responsible.”

  Ruth swallowed against the burning in her throat. Abe was right; despite Aunt Rosemary’s encouragement, she hadn’t been able to forgive Martin’s killer. Would it help if she knew who the man was, or would that only intensify her anger?

  “Let’s not talk about this anymore,” she said. “I’d like to spend my time here listening to the birds singing, soaking up the sun’s warming rays, and watching your kinner frolic in the water.”

  “You’re right. We shouldn’t talk about anything negative today.”

  “Have you heard from your sister lately?” Ruth asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I got a letter from her this morning.”

  “How’s your mamm doing?”

  “Much better. Sue says she’s healing nicely.”

  “Will Sue return to Holmes County?”

  Abe shook his head. “She’s become betrothed to Melvin, so she wants to stay and prepare for their wedding, which will take place this fall.”

  “That makes sense.” Ruth moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Will you want me to continue caring for the kinner, then?”

  He nodded. “As long as you’re willing.”

  “I’m more than willing.” Ruth wouldn’t have admitted it to Abe, but she was glad Sue wouldn’t be returning to care for his children. She had come to care a great deal for them. The thought of staying home every day with nothing to look forward to wasn’t a pleasant prospect. Now that Ruth worked for Abe, she felt needed and appreciated—something she hadn’t felt since Martin died.

  Abe rose to his feet. “Think I’ll move closer to the pond so I can keep a better eye on things. Would you like to join me?”

  “No thanks. I’m comfortable right here.”

  After Abe walked away, Ruth stretched out on the quilt, placing her hands behind her head and gazing at the lazy clouds overhead. I wonder what it would be like to be the mother of Abe’s kinner. Of course, it would mean I’d have to be married to Abe, and that idea is too ridiculous to even think about.

  Abe glanced over his shoulder. Ruth lay on the quilt looking up at the sky as though she didn’t have a care in the world. Today was the first time he’d seen her looking so relaxed since Martin’s death. Truth was, Abe found himself being drawn to Ruth more every day, and that fact scared him. He couldn’t allow himself the luxury of falling in love with her. Ruth was too young for him. Besides, she was newly widowed, and he was sure she wasn’t ready for another man in her life. He was equally sure Ruth would never be romantically inclined toward him.

  “Well, would ya look at this?”

  Abe jerked his attention back to the pond. Esta held a plump little frog in her hands, and Molly and Owen stood on tiptoes trying to get a look at the critter.

  “Can we take him home, Papa?” Owen asked, tipping his head in Abe’s direction.

  “Where would you keep him?” Abe asked the boy.

  Owen shrugged. “Don’t know.”

  “Could we put him in a jar?” Esta questioned. “I’ll bet there’s one in our picnic basket.”

  “I brought along some pickled beets. I suppose we could dump them onto a paper plate, and then y
ou can wash the jar out in the pond and take the frog home that way.” Abe squatted down on his haunches beside the children. “The frog can’t live that way for long. You’ll have to let it go soon or it’ll die.”

  “Like Mama did?” Owen stared up at Abe with wide eyes.

  Abe nodded as a lump formed in his throat. Why was it that they could be having a good time one minute, and the next minute something was said or done that reminded him of Alma?

  Owen tugged on Abe’s shirtsleeve. “Papa, can me and Molly go swimmin’ in tubes, like the brieder are doin’?”

  Abe shook his head. “You’re not big enough for that, son.”

  “Guess I’m not, either,” Esta said.

  “Not yet. When you learn to swim.”

  “But the brothers can’t swim,” she said, jutting her chin out.

  “That’s true, but they’re staying near the shore, so if they have a problem I can wade out and grab ’em.” Abe thought about the day Martin had saved him and Gideon from drowning. Martin had said he’d be happy to teach Abe and his kinner to swim, but that hadn’t happened because Martin had been killed in a senseless buggy accident. No wonder Ruth hadn’t come to grips with her husband’s death. At least Alma hadn’t been taken from Abe in such a violent way. Though her death had been hard to accept, the fact that it had been caused by an act of nature made it a bit easier to deal with.

  “Papa, I’m hungry,” Owen said, tugging on Abe’s shirt again.

  “Jah, okay. We can empty that jar of pickled beets, put your frog in the jar, and then we’ll eat lunch.” Abe cupped his hands around his mouth. “Come out of the water now,” he called to his three older sons.

  The boys paddled their way to shore, slipped the inner tubes over their heads, and trudged onto the grassy bank. Abe bent down, grabbed some towels, and handed them to the boys. Maybe by now Ruth would be hungry, too.

  What am I doing here? Rosemary asked herself as she left her car and headed for Roman’s woodworking shop. She’d been here to see him several times already, and each time he’d given her the cold shoulder. Would it be any different today?