Starting from Scratch

by Kate Lloyd

  I hurried to get dressed, shrugged on a black sweater, and trotted across the road. A flatbed truck carrying newly milled timber rolled into the Schmuckers’ driveway and parked near two others. The lumber’s fragrance replaced the smoky stench like a promise of rebirth. A new start.

  I shivered in the chilly morning air, even with my sweater and the sunshine. I should have worn a coat, but there was no time to get one now, not when I needed to hustle to the café soon. I had a job to do too.

  Hannah came bustling over to tell me that, after much consulting and planning last night, several older men with experience in barn raisings had ordered the wood. They’d prayed, conferred, and chosen the team captains.

  By the house, the tables were still set up. A woman I’d met yesterday scrubbed the vinyl tablecloths as several others set out cups, paper plates, and napkins. Both Amish and Englisch women appeared with boxes of donuts and muffins.

  A steady stream of buggies, cars, and vans arrived like a river of plenty. Amish men, including Dat and my brother, Reuben, and boys wearing straw hats; Englisch men dressed in T-shirts and sporting baseball caps; men of every size and shape. Most wore tool belts, ready for the task and grinning with expectation. They swarmed to unload the oak timbers and sheets of metal from the flatbed trucks.

  The air was soon buzzing as saws cut into the sturdiest logs to be used for beams.

  Men heaved the six-by-six beams and posts into place. The first wall was assembled on the ground. With heavy ropes fastened to either side, men surged together, pulled it up, and attached it to the foundation, securing the first wall with massive bolts and nails, hammers banging.

  Other walls were soon constructed and put in place. More women arrived with food for the forenoon break at nine.

  I spotted Jake, wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. The world came to a halt. All noises melded together, and the backs of my knees grew weak. I stood gawking like a pitiful teenager, admiring his agility as he climbed the tallest ladder and then pounded nails with sculpted biceps.

  “Evie?” Stephen stood at my side. He wore denim overalls, a plaid shirt, and a tool belt. “You coming to work today at the café?” he asked, and chuckled.

  “Oh, dear. What time is it?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Only seven. Still early enough to start the soup. Most customers will come over here to watch the barn raising. But they may want coffee and a snack or lunch after a bit.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Like a moth to a flame, my gaze returned to Jake. Below him I recognized Bishop Harvey, working alongside a man half his age whose wife might be among the women and praying for his safety.

  I watched Jake move with ease and wondered if he adored danger and the thrill of uncertainty. Would he always be drawn to the perilous? And dream of escape? No wonder Harvey wanted us to wait.

  And yet here stood Stephen, a stable man of integrity who had already faced his demons. He was humble and put others’ needs before himself. I peered at his ruggedly handsome face. My, he was tall and his shoulders wide. In the morning sunlight, I noticed flecks of bronze in his hazel-brown eyes. And this man had professed he loved me.

  What was I doing musing over two men at once? Ach, Stephen was a Mennonite. An Englischer. Suddenly, I hated the word.

  I imagined a tranquil life with Stephen. Living with all the modern conveniences I’d been taught were wrong because they dispersed the Amish community. Leaving the Ordnung behind and following only the teachings of the Bible. I wondered what attending Stephen’s church would be like and if I should visit it some Sunday.

  When he noticed I was gazing up at him, the corners of his mouth lifted. He shot me an intense look. “Evie, I apologize if I came on too strong, but everything I told you is true. I’d like to pursue a relationship with you. A permanent relationship. Will you give it some thought?”

  “Yah.” How could I not? Had he just proposed marriage, or had I misinterpreted his words?

  Two Englisch men dressed for a day of labor strode past us.

  “I’d better get to work.” Stephen’s glance followed them. “See you later.”

  “Okay.” I stared at his departing form as he joined the builders. Much as I wanted to continue watching the barn raising, I forced myself to stride to the café and unlock the front door.

  As I entered the café, last night’s living nightmare came to mind. The officer said Ralph would spend the night in jail. Did I want to press charges and bear witness against him in court? No. It was not the Amish way. Yet did I want to follow those stringent rules anymore?

  On the kitchen counter sat a large can of cannellini beans—I’d never heard of them before—serving as a paperweight for a recipe for Tuscan vegetable soup written in Beatrice’s bold hand. The chicken broth is in the refrigerator, she’d scrawled at the bottom. It’s facile. Which I hoped meant “easy.”

  She came in an hour later and helped prepare for opening. “I needed to walk the dogs.” She winked. “And watch the spectacle across the street.” She made coffee as Sadie and Annie filled the food cases.

  A few hours later, the café swelled with hungry customers, all talking about the skilled and brave men constructing the new barn. I figured the workers were resting and enjoying their noontime meal. Mark stopped by and reported the project was going well.

  “Any injuries?” I couldn’t help asking.

  “Only one young fellow missed the nail and smacked his thumb.” Mark’s voice was upbeat and friendly. “Poor guy, with so many spectators.”

  I set aside our differences and offered him a pumpkin whoopie pie, which he savored. “The best I’ve ever tasted. Who cooked this?”

  “Meet our new chef.” I hurried over to Sadie, linked arms with her, and took her in tow. Her cheeks turning pink, she lagged behind me until we’d reached Mark.

  “You cooked these?” he asked.

  “Yah.” She poured him a mug of coffee.

  “Are all your baked goods this delicious?” he asked her.

  She gazed up at him through her eyelashes. “You’ll have to try them and tell me.”

  It was as if Mark had noticed her existence for the first time. They fell into conversation, and I backstepped. Minutes later, he asked Sadie if she wanted to accompany him to watch the barn raising. She asked me for permission, and I assured her we would be fine, what with Annie’s abilities working the cash register. Next week, when Beatrice went back to work for the Yoders, keeping their house and babysitting full-time, I’d be all set.

  Mark and Sadie were gone for more than an hour. Sadie returned glowing. I was happy for her and prayed Mark would ask her to a singing, even though my cousin Emma would no doubt be disappointed.

  “Evie, dear.” Mamm waited at the end of the line to place an order. With so many in the café, I’d missed her entrance. Plus Marta’s. My sister-in-law wore an olive-green dress that echoed her eyes. Her perfectly pressed kapp was tied under her chin.

  “Is it always this busy?” Marta canvassed the café, especially the glass case filled with baked goods.

  “Nee, this is unusual because of the barn raising. But we do a gut business all in all.”

  “Do you have time to sit with us?” Mamm motioned to an empty table.

  “Yah, unless more people come in.”

  “Hello,” Beatrice said to Mamm, and then she placed her hand on my shoulder. “People are hurrying through their meals to return to the barn raising. You have time for a break, Eva. I’ll let you know if we get in trouble.”

  I sat facing the door, just in case we were barraged again. Or in case Jake came in, although I knew he wouldn’t. In fact, I didn’t want him to, especially in front of Mamm and Marta.

  Mamm tasted her soup as soon as Sadie delivered their orders. “This is delicious, Evie. Nothing like we make at home, though. Different spices.”

  “Beatrice gave me the recipe and a can of beans. She’s been a blessing to me.” I never thought I’d sing her praises.

 
“Wunderbaar.” Marta sat tall. “This place won’t miss you when you come and work for Reuben and me at our new business.”

  Mamm nibbled her blueberry muffin and kept her attention on the koi pond.

  “I have a job, Marta. Right here.”

  “But Reuben and I have decided to open a wholesale bakery. Plus have a roadside stand when the weather warms. Maybe sell touristy gifts too.”

  I doubted Reuben had anything to do with the idea. “Who would do the baking?” I asked.

  “You, your mamm, and I will.” Marta slathered a muffin with butter. “And hire a young woman the way you have once we get busy. My dochders will help after school and on the weekends, after they do their chores and their homework.” She sent Mamm a furtive glance. “Your mamm offered to help out.”

  “You did?” Mamm had mentioned she looked forward to quilting more, her lifelong passion she’d mostly set aside until Dat retired.

  Mamm refolded her napkin. “Yah, I said I’d help them, but I never said you’d be quitting this job, dochder.”

  “Evie wouldn’t choose to work for strangers over her own family, would she?” Marta contorted her mouth.

  For all I knew, the Yoders would fire me when they got home. I might need a job. But not working for Marta. Ach.

  “How will Evie meet her future special man working at our home?” Mamm asked.

  “At our roadside stand or delivering baked goods to restaurants.” Marta scanned the thinning crowd. “This place is too far away from home for delivery unless we hired a driver. And too many Englischers.” She wrinkled her nose.

  Harvey wandered in with Stephen. He raised a hand in greeting and then sat at a nearby table while Sadie brought the two men coffee.

  “Isn’t that Bishop Harvey?” Mamm asked. “Such a fine man. I don’t suppose you’ll join his church district?”

  “We’ve discussed it.”

  “Yah? ” Mamm’s grin stretched from ear to ear, her smile lines deepening. “Maybe I should go over there and speak to him.”

  “Nee! ” I blurted out. “Another time would be better when he’s not so tired. He’s worked on the new barn since sunup. I’m glad to see him resting.”

  “He appears a kindly sort.” Marta watched Harvey shake an Amish man’s hand. “I’ve never met him.”

  I was horrified by what she might say to him. As she stood, so did Harvey and Stephen. They exited the café before she could pounce on them.

  “Perhaps you’ll meet him later this afternoon,” Mamm said. “Before we give Dat and Reuben a ride home.”

  “I bet they’ll both be fatigued, but they’ll still have chores to do.” Marta settled in her seat and finished her sandwich. “I can’t say I’m crazy about this soup.” She puckered her lips. “I hope I haven’t offended you, Eva.”

  “Not in the slightest.” I smoothed my hand over the table’s cracked surface.

  Wayne came into the café and made a beeline toward me. I introduced him to Mamm and Marta.

  “Evie, can we speak later?” Wayne looked imposing in his uniform, wearing a firearm. “I’d like to get your take on something.”

  “Of course.” I sent him what I hoped was an angelic, innocent smile. “I’ll be here or maybe watching the barn raising.”

  “What’s this about, Officer?” Marta asked.

  “Sorry, ma’am. Police business I can’t discuss. Nothing urgent.” I was thankful he didn’t divulge any further information about my involvement with the fire or mention my encounter with Ralph the night before. I’d never appreciated Wayne more. Not everything about the Englisch world was bad. What would we Amish do without them? I had many questions for Harvey.

  Sadie cleared away Mamm’s and Marta’s dishes, including Marta’s uneaten soup, while Beatrice brought them coffee.

  “Ach, this kaffi is too strong.” Marta seemed to have a complaint for everything, but I knew she’d led a sheltered life. If anything, I was too worldly. I offered her hot water to dilute the coffee, along with cream and sugar, but she declined.

  “Ruth appreciates your visits, Evie,” Mamm told me.

  “Everyone in the county’s talking about how Amos keeps repeating your name,” Marta said.

  I wanted to plug my ears. “He’s in a half-dream state and doesn’t know what he’s saying.”

  “Even so, don’t you think it’s strange he’s so fixated on you and not that Englisch girl who moved in? She must be Jake’s doing.”

  “How about some dessert?” I wanted to change the subject.

  Mamm smiled, but Marta said, “Nee, we’ll find something across the road.” She stood and spoke to Mamm. “Come on. Let’s go see what our husbands are doing. We should be giving the other women a break.”

  As I helped Mamm to her feet, Beatrice spoke in my ear. “If you wish to escort them across the road, go ahead. My best guess is we’ll be slow the rest of the afternoon. And I have two young ladies to do the cleanup.”

  Marta frowned. “Aren’t you her boss?” she said to me when Beatrice was out of earshot. “You should be telling her what to do.”

  “First I want to see your cabin,” Mamm said. “The inside this time.”

  “Yah, I wish to see it too.” I figured Marta wanted to see if I’d made my bed. I wondered if I had.

  On the way out, I paused to ask Beatrice, “Do you want me to let the dogs out?”

  “No, thanks. Stephen said he would.”

  I led Mamm and Marta to my cabin, unlocked the door, and was pleased to see I’d remembered to make the bed and wipe the counters clean.

  “Why, this is very nice.” Mamm circumnavigated the room.

  “No electricity?” Marta inspected the lamps.

  “The woman who lived here before me was Amish. All appliances were installed according to the Ordnung.”

  “No telephone either?”

  “Nee.” I heard annoyance in my voice.

  “Still, it looks fancy.”

  “Not to me.” Mamm came to my rescue. “Evie’s quilt complements this room perfectly. I’m so glad. I’m happy for you, dearest dochder.”

  On our way out of the cabin, the three dogs barked and yipped from inside the main house.

  “Ach, I don’t know how you can tolerate that racket.” Marta cringed with drama for my sake, I supposed.

  “They’re guarding the house in the owners’ absence.”

  Marta’s hands clamped on her hips. “Apparently, you’re not afraid of anything. Going off on your own. Living in this cabin all by yourself.”

  If she only knew the fears I still harbored. But I was overcoming them one by one. Besides, she didn’t mind my leaving until she decided I should help with a new business.

  We left the cabin. Hearing the banging of hammers and saw blades gripping into lumber, I steered them toward the barn raising, and we crossed the road.

  “They’ve come a long way so quickly.” Mamm scanned the industrious men, installing siding while others roofed. “Where’s your dat, Evie? I hope not atop a ladder or on the roof.”

  I made a conscious effort not to look for Jake or Stephen among the laborers so Marta wouldn’t catch me gawking at them. And so they wouldn’t see me and wave.

  “There he is.” Mamm finally located Dat—not on a roof or ladder, praise the Lord.

  “We should have been helping the women instead of sitting in the café being waited on,” Marta said.

  “Nee, I enjoyed the café.” Mamm linked her arm in mine. “And I’m delighted with Eva’s accomplishments.”

  Minutes later, she and Marta traipsed off to assist the other women clean up and prepare more coffee. Was I turning paranoid, or did all the women’s heads rotate my way? Most likely Mamm had mentioned me.

  “Eva?” I cringed when I recognized Wayne’s voice. The women’s attention still was directed at me, as well as half of the men’s.

  I composed my features and turned to Wayne. “Is this a good time to talk?” he asked.

  “Ach, with everyone w
atching?”

  “It’s here or down at the station.”

  A flock of cackling starlings landed in a nearby tree. I hoped they’d distracted the women, but I noticed they were still watching me. Their heads tipped together as they spoke.

  “Is there a problem?” I asked Wayne.

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Ralph woke up ornery and ready for a fight. He claims you lured him into the café, which I find hard to believe. And yet he has his rights. Did you have a witness?”

  “No, other than a dog.”

  “On top of that, he wants to sue you and Jake for slander. He said he was nowhere near this barn the night it burned.”

  “But his brother’s wife said he wasn’t home.”

  “Well, we’re not sure they’re legally married, and Bill changed his story too. He says Ralph told him he was going to a friend’s to play poker that night. Those games can be all-nighters.”

  “But none of that is true.”

  “At this point, it’s your word against theirs, unless the arson investigator found any traces of Ralph’s tobacco or whiskey bottle. We won’t have his report for a few days yet. To make matters worse, Bill called animal control and launched a complaint against the Yoders’ dog.”

  “But Heath was protecting us.”

  “Still, we can’t have vicious dogs running loose.”

  “He’s not vicious.”

  “Bill said the dog bit him on the arm last week. Apparently, Stephen witnessed that attack. I doubt he’d lie under oath. Plus, Bill said he tackled him.”

  “Bill Hastings pointed a shotgun at Stephen and threatened to use it.”

  “Hey, you don’t have to convince me. Stephen has an excellent reputation. Can’t say the same for Jake. Bill says he’s planning to sue Jake if he continues to accuse Ralph of starting the fire. Those Hastings brothers stick together.”

  “I was there…” No use talking about it now with an audience. “I’d best head back to work.”

  “Hey, Evie.” Jake strolled over to us. I felt a pull so deep I had to remind myself Stephen and a multitude were watching us, sizing up our relationship. More fodder for gossip.