In another area, workers shocked corn by using a horse-drawn binder that cut down the stalks to the ground. Men followed behind, gathering and then standing them on end, with their tops leaning together in tepee-like fashion. Still other community men worked with a corn picker that was pulled by horses. Cornstalks were pulled into the chain-driven machine, which mechanically removed the ears from the shoots and husks. The ears were tossed through a passageway into a wagon pulled behind the picker. Only a few knew how to work the equipment, which could jam and be dangerous, especially its chains, which gathered the crop.
Jacob preferred husking the corn by hand. It might seem time-consuming, but each ear that was tossed into the back was ready to be dried before it was stored. He had shocked corn, as well, and he felt satisfaction in seeing the tents of stalks, in rows along the fields.
“We should get this acreage done before the midday meal,” Eli commented as he bent to the work.
“Ja, but there is still the hay to bring in.” Jacob inspected the corn he’d just shocked and, satisfied, threw it in with the others before he reached for another. “Although we’ll have plenty of help.”
“Ja. It won’t take long, not with everyone pitching in.” Eli hand-husked from another stalk and tossed the clean ears in the back of the wagon.
They worked for a time, then decided to break for lunch. Jacob accompanied his twin brother back to the house and the food waiting there. Isaac stayed with the team and waited for them to return with food for him.
“How are things with Annie?” Eli asked.
“I barely see her,” Jacob replied, taking off his hat and wiping his brow with his shirtsleeve.
“Is staying away your doing or hers?”
Jacob shrugged. “I’ve been busy. Why would I seek her out?”
“Because you like her,” Eli said with quiet understanding.
“I’m keeping my distance and getting the job done. That’s all I need to do until I’m finished at the smithy.”
“That could be a long time, Jake.” Eli gestured toward Annie, who was arranging baked goods on the dessert table.
“I’ll manage,” he said. Somehow he would work hard, keep his distance from Joe’s daughter and, in so doing, protect his heart. Not a chance that he’d be disappointed again by Anna Marie Zook.
“If you say so, Jake,” his brother said, but he sounded unconvinced.
* * *
Annie stood by the dessert table, ready to slice a piece of cake or pie for a worker when she saw Jedidiah Lapp chatting with his wife, Sarah. She watched them a moment—she couldn’t help herself. She’d been heartbroken when Jed had broken up with her years before, and she’d hurt from the loss when last year he’d courted and married Sarah Mast, William Mast’s cousin from Delaware.
Watching the affection between them, the way he placed a hand on her arm, the soft smiles they exchanged, Annie felt pain. Seeing the two of them together was a reminder of what she didn’t have. She wasn’t jealous. She understood now that Sarah and Jed’s marriage was God ordained.
Annie wanted a husband—and a family. As Mam had pointed out, she wasn’t getting any younger. But how could she marry when no one showed an interest in her? She blinked back tears. She’d work hard to be a wife whom a husband would appreciate. She wanted children, to hold a baby in her arms, a child to nurture and love.
She sniffed, looked down and straightened the plates. The drinks were on one end—pitchers and jugs of iced tea and lemonade, and there were bottles of birch beer and cola.
“May I have some lemonade?” a deep, familiar voice said.
Annie felt a jolt and looked up. “Jacob.” His expression was serious as he eyed her. She glanced down and noticed the fine dusting of corn residue on his dark jacket. “Lemonade?” she echoed self-consciously.
“Ja. Lemonade,” he said with amusement.
She nodded and quickly reached for the pitcher. She kept her eyes on the task as she poured his drink into a plastic cup, only chancing a glance at him when she handed it to him.
“How is the work going?” she asked conversationally.
“We are nearly finished with the corn. We’ll be cutting hay next.” He lifted the cup to his lips and took a swallow.
Warmth pooled in her stomach as she watched the movement of his throat. “How’s Dat?” she asked. She had seen him chatting with her father earlier.
With a small smile, Jacob glanced toward her dat. “He says he’s not tired. He claims he’s enjoying the view too much.” His smile dissipated. “He’ll be exhausted later.”
Annie agreed. “I’ll check on him in a while.” She hesitated. “Are you hungry? I can fix you a plate—”
His striking golden eyes met hers for several heartbeats. “Nay, I’ll fix one myself.” He finished his drink and held out his cup to her. “May I?”
Heart pumping hard, she hurried to refill it. With a crooked smile and a nod of thanks, Jacob accepted the refreshment and left. The warm flutter in her stomach became a painful burning as she watched him walk away, stopping briefly to chat with Noah and Rachel, his brother and sister-in-law, at another table.
She thought about their conversation. He seemed different, but then she hadn’t seen much of him since that first day. She had stayed away from the shop. She didn’t want to interrupt him when he was hard at work. Her sister Barbara had been the one to offer him meals lately, and Barbara had informed them that he’d accepted a snack, but that he’d been bringing a packed lunch from home.
Annie followed his progress as he headed toward the food table, grabbed a plate and talked with Josie Mast, who stood behind the table and served up his supper.
“Annie.” Rachel smiled at her as she approached. “You look thoughtful.”
Annie nodded. “Rachel, have you ever felt like you’ve done something wrong and don’t know how to make it right?”
“Ja, years ago when I was hospitalized after Abraham Beiler’s courting buggy slipped off an icy road, and I was thrown into a ditch.”
Annie had heard about the accident not long after Rachel, the new schoolteacher, had arrived in Happiness. “Why did you feel as if you’d done something wrong?”
“After the accident, Abraham never came to visit me in the hospital—not once, even though we were sweethearts. I wondered what I had done to ruin his affection for me. And I mistakenly felt as if I was being punished.”
Annie felt sympathy for what Rachel had suffered. “That must have been awful.”
Rachel nodded. “But then God brought me Noah. Things happen to us that we can’t control,” she continued. “I believe that the Lord has a plan for us. He watches over us and gives us strength when we most need it. I know now that Abraham and I were not meant to be together. It is Noah who God chose for me, and I am grateful to the Lord for giving him to me.”
“Ja, you and Noah are meant to be,” Annie said with a smile. “As Sarah and Jed are.”
Rachel grinned. “As there is someone God has chosen for you. You just don’t know who yet.”
Annie glanced toward the food table, where several men were having plates of meat, vegetables and sides dished up for them. “I pray the Lord finds me someone soon,” she confessed softly. She felt Rachel’s sympathetic touch on her arm.
“I believe it will happen.” Rachel looked back to see the line of workers. “I’d better help out Josie.”
“You’re a kind person, Rachel.” Annie smiled at the young woman with genuine warmth.
“So are you, Annie. You’re a gut daughter and sister, and you’re always willing to help anyone.”
As she watched Rachel join Josie on the other side of the room, Annie thought of her behavior toward Jacob. She caught sight of him with his brother Eli. The contrast of Jacob’s dark hair and Eli’s light locks struck her, making her think of
their differences and similarities as they disappeared into the barn. They came out a few minutes later, Eli carrying tools, Jacob leading Nosey, one of her father’s workhorses.
As if he sensed her regard, Jacob glanced in her direction. She started to lift a hand to wave, but the somber look in his expression stopped her.
* * *
The workers completed the fall harvest at their farm. Annie watched as her fellow church members packed up their belongings and left with their families. William Mast waved as he drove his shock wagon with its team of mules away from the fields, past the house.
His wife, Josie, exited behind her. “We finished wrapping the leftovers.”
“I’ll help carry them out to your buggy,” Annie offered.
“Nay, you’ll be keeping them.”
“But everyone will be at your farm next.” She straightened her head covering.
Josie smiled. “Ja, and everyone has been cooking and baking to prepare for tomorrow, as well.”
Annie nodded. It was true. She, Mam and Barbara had made several cakes and pies for the week’s harvesting, as well as potato salad, dried-corn casserole and sweet-and-vinegar green beans.
“We appreciate the help,” Annie said softly. She fondly regarded her father, who still sat in his wheelchair in the yard. All day he had refused to come inside to rest.
“How is he feeling?” Josie asked, her voice quiet.
Annie frowned. “He believes he is mending too slowly. He thinks he should be walking again.”
“He is rushing his recovery. It bothers him to see others do his work.”
“Ja. I wish I could help him. Mam has loving patience, but it has been difficult. Dat is a gut man, but this has been hard for him.”
Josie’s touch on her arm comforted her. “Things will get better.”
Annie agreed. With God’s help, everything was possible.
“We’ll be heading home. Ellen!” Josie called into the house for her daughter.
Within seconds, Josie and William’s twelve-year-old daughter, Ellen, exited the residence. “Mam, Miriam insisted we take this cake for Dat.”
Annie smiled. “It’s William’s favorite.”
Josie hesitated and then grinned. “If Miriam insists.” She called for her two sons, who had been playing ball with Abram Peachy’s boys. “Will! Elam! Time to go!”
Annie watched with a smile as the Mast boys climbed into their family buggy, followed by their mother and sister. She waved as they left and followed the buggy’s progress as it headed along the long dirt drive toward the main road.
Soon, other families followed suit, gathering their children before going home. It had been a wonderful day, Annie realized. She enjoyed her church community, the way everyone was there to help when someone needed it.
Annie entered the kitchen to find her mother and Katie Lapp seated at the table, sharing a pot of tea. Millie lay curled up in the corner.
“Annie,” Katie said with a smile, “will you join us?”
“Ja.” Annie pulled out a chair. “Where is Barbara?” Her sister had been out of sight for most of the day.
Mam poured her a cup of tea. “She’s upstairs gathering the boys’ clothes for washing.”
Annie rose to her feet. “I’ll help her.”
Her mother placed a hand on her arm. “Nay, Annie. Sit. There is no hurry to do the wash. This is Barbara’s doing.”
Annie felt concern. “Mam, what’s bothering her? She’s been quiet and doesn’t talk with me like she used to.” Barbara had seemed distant ever since her return last week from their great-aunt’s house in New Wilmington. Her sister and she had always been close, but something had changed. Annie knew she’d been spending a lot of time with her father. Did Barbara feel slighted?
“Your sister spent time with a boy in New Wilmington,” Mam said.
Annie widened her eyes. “She didn’t tell me. She used to tell me everything.” She reached for the sugar bowl, moved it closer to her cup.
“She got her feelings hurt. David chose another girl to be his sweetheart, someone from his local church community.”
“I didn’t know. Why didn’t she tell me?” Annie repeated as she stirred a spoonful of sugar into her tea.
“Embarrassed maybe,” Katie suggested. “You’re her older sister. She may have thought you’d think her foolish.”
“She didn’t know the boy long,” Mam said.
“But long enough to lose her heart and have it broken,” Annie said with a new realization of why Barbara had been acting strangely. She would have to talk with her sister in private. Tell her that she understood how Barbara felt.
Barbara entered the room as she rearranged the garments she carried over one arm. “Mam, I found Peter’s clothes on the bedroom floor. He’s in the shower—” She looked up and stopped when she saw Mam, Katie Lapp and Annie seated at the table.
“Want a cup of tea?” Annie invited with a smile.
“The clothes—” Her sister appeared anxious.
“Put them in the washer, Barbara,” Mam said. “We can take care of them later.”
Barbara crossed toward the back room, where the propane freezer and washing machine were kept. Annie heard the clink of the lid lifted, and the thump seconds later after her sister had dropped it closed.
Annie smiled encouragingly at her sister as Barbara reentered the kitchen. She pulled out a chair for her and then rose to take another teacup from the cabinet. “Anyone want a cookie?” she asked.
“Not me,” Mam said.
“I’ll have one,” Katie replied, and Barbara agreed that she’d have one, too.
“Where’s Dat?” Barbara asked as she accepted the tea that Annie poured for her.
“He’s still out in the yard.” Annie stood. “I should check on him.”
“No need,” a deep voice said, making Annie jerk.
She turned to see Jacob Lapp behind her father’s wheelchair. Heart thumping hard, she focused on her father. “Dat.” Unable to help herself, she felt drawn to the younger man. “Jacob. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Joe.” Her mother rose and hurried to his side. “You must be tired.”
“I’m fine, Miriam.” Her father smiled and Annie was pleased to see him happy. “Jacob has asked me to help out in the shop next week.”
Annie frowned. “Are you sure that’s a gut idea?”
“I told him only for an hour.” Jacob held her glance briefly before he looked away. Annie felt a sniggle of disappointment.
Mam examined Dat’s face and nodded. “That would be gut.” Annie saw her smile gratefully at Jacob.
Josiah entered the kitchen. “I’ve brought in the mail.” He flipped through the envelopes and then frowned as he drew out one in particular. He handed it to Dat. “From the hospital.”
Annie watched her father as he opened the envelope. He turned pale as he read the bill. She saw how he fought to compose himself as he refolded the paper and stuffed it back in.
“Joe,” Katie said as she stood with her teacup in hand, “whatever it is, you know our church community will pay the expense.”
“This is too much, even for our community,” Dat said wearily.
“Then we’ll hold fund-raisers. As many as it will take to pay your bill.” Katie took her cup to the sink and washed it.
Samuel, Jacob’s father and Jacob’s twin brother, Eli, entered the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” his dat asked as if sensing the tension in the room.
“Joe received his hospital bill in today’s mail,” Katie said as she returned to her seat, and Annie saw her flash a concerned glance toward Mam.
Samuel placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Don’t ya worry, Joe. We’ll find a way. The burden isn’t yours alone.”
Joe n
odded but remained silent. Annie saw the look on her father’s face; any happiness he’d had at joining Jacob in the shop next week had disappeared under the weight of debt.
“Don’t worry, Joe. We’re all here for you,” Jacob said, and Annie looked at him with gratitude. When he favored her with a warm smile, she felt her stomach flip-flop.
Annie looked away, her heart racing as the Lapps got ready to leave a few minutes later. They would gather at the Masts the next day and then move on to Abram Peachy’s place after bringing in the harvest there.
It would be a busy week, but she would be seeing Jacob every day. She felt a wash of pleasure that turned to fear as she recognized a subtle shift in her feelings toward him.
Jacob stood by the buggy, grabbed hold to lift himself in. But then he paused to glance in her direction, and she experienced the startling impact of his golden regard. Heart hammering hard, she raised a hand to wave. She inhaled sharply when he grinned, touched the edge of his hat brim as he acknowledged her with a dip of his head.
“Tomorrow,” he mouthed.
Her spine tingled as she moved her lips, “Tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
Annie’s Dat was sleeping late; yesterday’s church service and this past week’s busy harvest had tired him. Mam thought he would easily stay abed until nine o’clock, a late hour for someone who usually got up at five in the morning before his accident. Mam and Barbara were busy at Grossmudder’s house, leaving Annie at home in the kitchen, baking fresh cinnamon rolls. Peter had gone to the Masts to help William paint the rear side of his barn. Josiah, having finished his morning chores, had gone to visit his sweetheart Nancy King.
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