by Sarah Price
Chapter Thirteen
The day after their trip to Emanuel and Steve’s, Rachel had sat quietly in church, her eyes straight ahead but knowing that he was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her back and, on two occasions, she managed to look over her shoulder, her eyes meeting his from where he stood near the entrance to the barn. Most of the single young men stood by the back door, mostly because it was cooler but also to occasionally escape from the eyes of the elders to grab a cool drink or sneak a piece of pie from the tables laden with food that were nearby in the shade of the barn’s shadow.
When Daniel saw her peeking at him, he didn’t bother to avert his eyes. Instead, he raised his eyebrows and glanced at the bishop who was preaching as though telling her to pay attention. But his eyes sparkled and a hint of a smile touched his lips. The color flooded to her cheeks and she quickly turned back, even if only pretending to pay attention to the long sermon on such a hot day.
Lillian sat next to Rachel, holding Abram in her lap while Linda tried to not fuss on her mother’s other side. The other two children were sitting near Katie, a welcomed break for Lillian. At one point, Rachel nudged Lillian and offered to take Linda outside, even if just for a few minutes. Despite almost being eight years old, the church service was just too long in such hot weather to keep her attention.
Outside, the air was slightly cooler than inside the barn. Linda tossed a grateful smile at Rachel before she ran toward the house, taking advantage of her freedom to stretch her legs and to visit the neighbor’s bathroom. Rachel lingered near the front steps, waiting for Linda to come back outside.
She didn’t want to admit it but she had needed a break, too. Unlike in Ohio, the sermons in Lancaster, Pennsylvania were more serious in nature and seemed to drag in duration. The bishop and elders in her community back home had incorporated real life stories and discussion into their sermons whereas the Lancaster preachers focused strictly on scripture. While she liked the scripture focused sermons, she wasn’t used to such serious church services and, combined with the heat, she felt as antsy as Linda.
The fresh air and chance to stretch her legs was a welcome break. Rachel looked across the fields behind the house. The fields were beautiful and green, despite the days of sun and heat. They were due for some rain to help the crops grow and cool the air a bit.
“Hot in there, ja?”
She turned around, startled by Daniel’s presence. “You scared me!” she gasped but she couldn’t help smiling.
He reached out and tugged gently at her sleeve in a gesture of intimacy. His fingers brushed against her wrist and he let them linger on her hand. “Didn’t mean to, Rachel.”
She laughed quietly. “For sure and certain, Daniel. But my mind was wandering far away and I didn’t expect you behind me.” Her eyes sparkled at him. “Caught me off-guard when I was deep in thought.”
He didn’t waste any time to get to what was on his mind. “Mayhaps not the best timing, being church service and all, but I was wondering if you planned to go to the singing tonight,” he said, his voice low so that it didn’t carry to the barn.
Rachel took a deep breath. “No,” she said quickly. In truth, she didn’t really fancy the singings. It was wonderful to get out among her peers, to meet other young women in the community, but she didn’t want to spend the time singing in a stuffy, hot barn during the summer months. Not tonight, anyway.
“Oh,” Daniel said, averting his eyes. Her answer startled him. What was the meaning of her saying no, he wondered. Clearly, he had hoped to ask her to ride to the singing with him. The disappointment was evident in his expression but, like a true gentleman, he tried to hide it.
She could hear Linda’s footsteps from inside the house. She glanced at the door, making certain that Linda wasn’t there yet when she leaned toward Daniel and whispered, “But it sure looks like it might be a nice night for a ride in an open-top buggy.”
There wasn’t a chance for Daniel to respond for, at that moment, the door opened and little Linda bounded outside, hopping on one foot as she crossed through the doorway. Rachel laughed at her and held her arms out so that Linda could jump from the top step. Catching her in midair, Rachel gave her a loving kiss on top of her head.
“Shall we go back to the service?” Rachel asked.
Linda made a face, clearly preferring to be outside and away from the hard benches and long sermons. But, just as quickly, when she glanced at Daniel and saw that he had noticed her reaction, the little girl lowered her eyes. “Sorry.”
Daniel chuckled and reached out to gently squeeze her shoulder. “I remember all too well, Linda, that I felt much the same when I was your age,” he reassured her.
Together, the three of them walked back to the barn and, without disturbing anyone, stood by the open doorway instead of returning to their seats. Daniel stood behind Rachel and Linda leaned against Rachel’s legs. More than once, Daniel was close enough to Rachel to breath in her fresh scent of lavender soap. He let his hand brush against her back, making no apologies for having done so. She smiled to herself but said nothing, enjoying his attention and the fact that she knew she’d spend time alone with him later that evening.
Truth was that she was feeling stronger since their talk from the previous day. She had thought about their conversation all night as she struggled to fall asleep. But her mind had kept her awake. After so much disappointment and sorrow over the past two years, was it truly possible that she could regain her trust in people and faith in God? Could she lower the shield that she had erected and allow someone to actually take care of her once again? When Daniel had touched her cheek and promised that he would never hurt her, a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The relief that had come from that promise made her feel light and giddy with joy. Yes, she had realized just before sleep finally overtook her, she could regain trust and faith. She had nothing to lose, after all.
The fellowship meal was pleasant and seemed to pass quickly. Afterward, Rachel helped the younger women in the kitchen, washing whatever needed to be cleaned while the older women sat in the shade outside and the men moved the tables and benches that had been used for the meal. The youngest children played in the sunshine, a rainbow of colors that ran past the kitchen window…purple, green, blue, pink, and black. Every once in a while, Rachel would catch a glimpse of Linda, surrounded by her friends and cousins. The little girl was always laughing and in the middle of the action.
“They certainly are having fun, ja?”
Rachel glanced over her shoulder to see Sylvia approach with some more dishes that needed to be washed. “Doesn’t seem that long ago…” Rachel began but let the words linger in the air between them.
Sylvia smiled. “Suppose it really wasn’t that long ago, was it? Life has a funny way of moving quickly, once it gets in motion.” She reached for a dishtowel and began drying the dishes that Rachel had washed. “Jake and I will be taking our kneeling vow this fall,” she stated quietly. “I’ll be thankful when that day arrives.”
“Ja?”
Sylvia nodded. “Reckon you heard about his past being Englische. I’m thankful that he opened his heart to the Lord at last.” For a moment, she stared up at the cabinet in front of her, silent as she seemed to think about something far away. “It wasn’t easy marrying outside of the faith. But I wouldn’t change it, not one moment.” She shook her head, as if clearing the memory and smiled at Rachel. “Most likely you experienced similar feelings about having left Ohio. Mayhaps you’ll feel the same one day…that you wouldn’t have changed it.”
Rachel shrugged nonchalantly but she felt her cheeks turn warm. She only hoped that the color wasn’t rising too fast. “Mayhaps,” she replied and said no more.
Not being one to gossip or to pry, Sylvia did not pursue the conversation further. Instead, she quietly focused on the task at hand. With so many women helping, the kitchen was soon tidied and they were able to retreat to the outdoors. The sun was warm but there was a soft breeze in the s
hade. Rachel and Sylvia joined the older women and sat on the grass, listening to their stories about recent happenings among their families and upcoming events such as canning parties or singings.
By the time that Jonas Junior came to get Katie, Lillian and Rachel, it was almost two in the afternoon. David and Samuel had already left in their own buggy, not wanting to be beholden to the adults or crammed in the back of their parents’ buggy. Rachel sat in the back of Junior’s, holding one of the smaller children on her lap. She looked around for Daniel but didn’t see him. In fact, she realized, she hadn’t seen him since after the service. She had been busy, making certain that the serving plates and bowls remained full for the men and women, and had lost track of him. Now, he was nowhere in sight.
Back at the farm, there was time to relax before evening chores. For a long while, Rachel sat on the front porch, watching Linda play with her younger brother, Jacob and sister, Kate. They were chasing some of the new kittens that were creeping through the grass under the oak tree. The mother cat lounged nearby, watching the kittens with a casual eye. Rachel smiled, realizing that she had a lot in common with the mother cat. They were both watching the young ones play, making certain no one was hurt or in danger in the process.
The door opened and Rachel glanced at it to see Lillian, carrying two glasses of lemonade. After handing one to Rachel, Lillian sat down next to her. They didn’t speak for a long moment. Instead, they watched the children running and laughing at the antics of the little kittens in the tall grass. It was a wonderful moment, peaceful with the quiet broken only by the noise of joy.
“The laughter of children makes every day special,” Rachel said quietly.
“That it does,” Lillian agreed.
As they were watching the children, Daniel appeared from behind the barn on the driveway. His hands were in his pockets and his head was tipped down as if in deep thought. The rim of his black Sunday hat cast a shadow over his forehead so they couldn’t see his eyes. He disappeared behind the house. It was clear that he hadn’t spotted them sitting on the porch.
“I wonder where he is off to,” Rachel said aloud. Immediately, the color flooded to her cheeks. She should have kept the thoughts to herself rather than verbally express such interest in Daniel to Lillian.
Lillian raised an eyebrow and smiled to herself, noticing the pink color spreading on Rachel’s cheeks. “Since he’s just getting back from church, I don’t think he’s off to anywhere.”
“Just getting back?” Rachel set her glass down on the porch. She had wondered where he was after the service but hadn’t thought too much about it. “He walked?”
Lillian laughed. “It’s not that far. Just a few miles by the road.”
“I didn’t see him during fellowship,” Rachel said quietly. “I wondered that.”
“Ja vell,” Lillian sighed. “Men do that when they become ferhoodled.”
Rachel felt her pulse quickened. What on earth could have made Daniel walk home from service? It would have taken well over an hour and on such a warm day. The question that lingered on her mind suddenly slipped forth on her tongue. “What would Daniel have to be ferhoodled about?”
Lillian laughed again and reached out to gently pat Rachel’s hand. “Oh dear Rachel,” she said, a smile on her lips and happiness in her voice. “Do you really have to ask that question?” She didn’t wait for Rachel to respond. “That is sweet and appropriate, I suppose. It’s been a while since Junior began courting me but I do remember his behavior and the moment it changed from an idea to a future.”
“I don’t understand,” Rachel said, staring at Lillian. “What are you saying?”
With a soft shake of her head, Lillian stared back at the children for a moment before standing up. She reached for Rachel’s empty glass. “You enjoy the afternoon breeze, Rachel. I do believe I’m going to rest while the children play. I’ve been a bit tuckered out these past few days.” And she retreated back inside, not saying any more about Daniel and leaving Rachel to ponder the meaning of her words.
Chapter Fourteen
It was later in the evening when Daniel hitched his Morgan to the courting buggy. He took a damp cloth and quickly wiped down the outside of the buggy, ridding it of any lingering barn dust before he felt satisfied that it was clean enough for Rachel. He didn’t want her riding in a dusty buggy, that was for sure and certain.
When he went to his brother’s door to knock, he could see her seated inside the main door on a straight-back chair. Her hands were folded primly on her lap and her head was bowed down as though in deep prayer. But when he knocked, she looked up and smiled, getting to her feet and hurrying over to the door.
Outside, Daniel helped Rachel into the buggy, his hand holding hers for a moment longer than necessary as she settled into the courting buggy. He had made certain there was a clean blanket under the seat, just in case the night air became cool again. After she was seated, he hurried around to the other side of the buggy and, with an eager jump, stepped into the driver side and reached for the reins.
David and Samuel were walking from the barn toward the house and, to Daniel’s shame, started laughing. Samuel even went so far as to point and shout, “Don’t need no buggy to come-calling when your girl lives just next door, Daniel!”
Daniel tipped his head away from Rachel and toward Samuel. “Manners, Samuel. Else I’ll be certain to settle with you later,” he said low enough for his brother to hear.
Samuel frowned and shook his head, mumbling under his breath as he kept walking but Daniel could hear him laughing to his other brother. He clenched his teeth and made a mental note to have a private conversation with his youngest brother the next day behind the back of the dairy. He had never raised a hand to his brothers but he was going to give him a stern lecture when he had a chance.
Neither Daniel nor Rachel spoke while he drove the buggy away from the farm. When they turned onto the main road, Daniel spoke softly to the horse and clucked his tongue against his teeth while turning her toward the right. It was a long, narrow road and, at this time of the evening, there were few cars that passed by. The stars were bright in the sky and the cicadas sang in the fields. The battery-operated lights from the buggy illuminated the growing corn along the road, which rustled in the light summer night breeze.
“Sorry ‘bout brother Samuel,” Daniel finally said by way of an apology.
“Seems it is Samuel who should be making amends,” she replied softly. “Not you, Daniel.”
“He’s young,” Daniel stated, not certain what else to say to excuse his less than conservative youngest brother. But the excuse sounded weak. The truth was that Samuel was on the brink of manhood but acting far too rebellious and worldly for anyone’s liking. Samuel was almost sixteen and still acted like a boy. To make matters worse, he was approaching his rumspringa and that wasn’t helping his unruly and often ill-mannered behavior.
“He’ll find his way,” Rachel replied as though reading his thoughts.
“I reckon,” was all that Daniel could think to reply to her simple statement.
For a few minutes, they remained silent, neither quite knowing how to break through the awkwardness set forth by Samuel and his careless comment. Yet, in the silence, there was some comfort and, slowly, both of them began to relax. The air was warm but there was an increasing crispness to it. During the summer, even with hot days, the nights tended to be cooler except during heat waves in July and August.
“Sure is a nice evening.”
Daniel looked at her, surprised that she had broken the silence.
“Going to harvest the back acres for potatoes this week,” he finally said.
She played with the edge of her black apron, her finger caressing a loose thread. “Ja? Seems early? We don’t harvest until October in Ohio.”
Daniel shrugged. “September seems just as good a time, I reckon. They’ll be ready anyway. Sure is fun spending so much time in those backfields all day. Good weather and good fellowship. See
ms like we harvest more than potatoes.” He laughed then glanced at her, trying to discern her reaction. “Mayhaps you could help? If Lillian could spare you.”
Rachel hesitated. She turned slightly, her body facing his and she looked directly at him. She suspected that this was much more than just a request to help in the fields. After all, she knew that a good farm wife needed to help outside of the house, just as much as her hand was needed inside. “Daniel…” she began. “I can help in the fields and I know that Lillian can spare me. Might be easier on her to stay inside with the wee ones, especially since she’s been so tired lately.” With a timid hand, she reached over and gently touched his arm.
Daniel smiled, relieved that she had agreed. He had been afraid that she would say no. “Wunderbaar gut!”
“Will your brothers help, too?”
He nodded. “Ja. And Jake will be lending a hand as well.”
She frowned. “Samuel…?”