Amish Trust and Betrayal

by Rachel Stoltzfus

  Amos sighed in exasperation. “Whatever you like.” He drove in silence until they reached the Miller’s yard and, following the drive, he stopped in front of the door. Jumping down, he helped Katie down and walked her to the front door.

  “So that’s it then,” Katie said.

  “For a time. I just need to know the person I’m courting with is honest.”

  Each word was like a knife in her chest. First, a rush of energy, her body’s defense. Then pain. So much pain. Katie couldn’t speak.

  Hurrying, Amos ran down the porch steps and clambered into his buggy. Slapping the reins, he told the horses to get them home.

  Fighting tears back, Katie went inside. Her parents sat in the living room. Without acknowledging them, she raced upstairs and into her room and shut the door. She gave in to the need to cry.

  A few minutes later, her mam knocked at the door. “Katie, why did you slam the door? You know better!”

  Katie pulled her door open. Allowing her mam to see her tear-streaked face, she answered. “Because Amos just ended things with me, that’s why.” She couldn’t meet her mam’s gaze. Instead, she looked toward her bedroom window. Seeing the near-dark conditions outside, she let out a long, loud sniff.

  “Why?” her mam asked. Katie could hear the blame in her mam’s voice. It was always Katie’s fault. Why did it even matter if she tried to do better? Eventually, and always, she would fail.

  Katie said, “He said that it just wasn’t working out with us. He’s been feeling this way for a few weeks now, apparently.”

  “Well, I don’t know what happened. I won’t ask. But I will tell you that if he found out about your history in Goshen, he may have decided to break up with you because of that.”

  Katie clenched both hands so tightly shut that they cramped. She doesn’t know how close she is to the truth. And I won’t tell her. “Mam. I just need to be alone right now. Please?”

  “Okay. Just think about what I said. There are consequences for everything.”

  Always consequences. Couldn’t her mam just believe her for once? Even if Katie’s lies had again gotten her to the worst place, was it so much to want a little sympathy? Especially from her own mam?

  Obviously, it was too much.

  “Just think about it,” Mary said. She left, closing the door quietly behind her.

  Katie thought about it long into the night. The pressure inside of her was growing and growing. Getting out of bed, she stood in front of the window and absently twiddled with the end of her long braid.

  Maybe she could improve things. If she could somehow deflect the suspicion from herself, then Amos would want her back. All she needed to do was try again, more carefully. And keep her mouth shut about it afterward. Be a model young lady.

  Ideas rushed through her mind. I could spread the rumor and make it even more urgent. Maybe another painted sign. Or a letter this time. She was about to race downstairs when she saw the wall clock in her room. Midnight! I need to be up by four-thirty!

  Katie slipped quickly into bed. The tears came again, and she cried silently until exhaustion overtook her.

  IN HIS OWN BEDROOM, Amos paced back and forth, barefoot. Finally, aware that he might be keeping his brother and parents awake, he flopped onto his bed. What if I made a mistake? What if she had nothing to do with it, like she said? What kind of man does that make me? And if she didn’t do it...

  Will she have me back after this?

  Amos hoped Katie was innocent. In spite of everything, he still loved Katie. He loved her smile, her bright spirit, and even the stupid way she played with her ear when she was nervous. But if she had started this rumor, making everyone afraid, then how could he love her? A relationship was based on honesty and trust? How could he trust her?

  Eli, blissfully unaware of what had happened between Amos and Katie, heard his brother pacing for a long time before the footsteps finally halted. Gut. Maybe he’s gone to sleep now. How do I find out more about Katie? First, I need to know what community she and her parents left. I heard tell they came from Indiana. I’ll check with the bishop. With that decision made, and now that the house was silent, Eli felt waves of sleepiness overtaking him. Rolling to his side, he fell asleep.

  The next morning, Eli and his parents looked at each other as they saw Amos’s moody face. John, their dat, was the only one who could prod without the possibility that Amos would explode at them. “Son, what is it? You look like your best friend just left here.”

  Swallowing a mouthful of coffee that was too hot, Amos grimaced in pain. After he could operate his tongue again, he spoke. “I just told Katie last night that I need a break from dating her.”

  John suppressed the sigh of relief he felt wanting to escape his mouth. Taking a few seconds to respond, he stuck to questions and mild reassurances. “What prompted this?”

  Amos fished around for a reason his dat would think was reasonable. “I’m getting so busy with carpentry orders. And she wanted to spend more time with me than I had. It was either disappoint clients or hurt her.”

  Amos was lying. As relieved as Eli was to see Amos distancing himself from Katie, he didn’t like how easily his brother told them all a falsehood.

  Feeling his dat’s gaze on him, Eli saw the hint of relief in his dat’s eyes. He shrugged, signaling that they would talk later on.

  “Son, I’m sorry. You know what you need to do. But I have one piece of advice for you. Please do not allow your private life or your decisions to intrude on our home life or your interactions with your customers. You’ll lose customers that way.”

  “Let’s eat breakfast. Amos, you eat, too. You need your strength, or you’ll get sick. I’m very sorry that it didn’t work out for you.” Emma Smits, Amos’s and Eli’s mam, said.

  Emma was a loving, but a no-nonsense woman. Like Eli, she and John had experienced the same reactions to Katie. They had a sense in their guts that Katie was hiding something dangerous, even though she presented herself as a gut Amish woman. Now, she was struggling with her feelings of relief that Amos had realized he couldn’t continue to see her. Not for the first time, she wished their code allowed families to be more open about the relationships that their young people developed as they began dating. After the men had gone to the carpentry shop, she said a silent prayer of thanksgiving as she washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen.

  In the shop, Amos silently worked and did his utmost to keep away from Eli and his dat. He was in no mood for communication, informal or otherwise. Instead, he maintained a businesslike mood and worked steadily on his current project, which was a set of cradles for twins due to be born to an English couple.

  Chapter 5

  “Amos, Eli and I are going into town to buy more supplies. Do you need anything?” John’s voice was mild as he spoke to Amos.

  “Ja, actually, there is. I need enough cherry wood to make a desk and hutch for an English businessman. Clear stain. Here, let me make a list, and I’ll give you the money.”

  “Just the list, son. You can settle up with me when we both know how much it costs.”

  “Denki, Dat. I’m sorry I’m in such a foul mood.”

  “Love doesn’t always run a smooth course. If you work things out with Miss Miller, I pray you work the issues out that are getting in the way. ALL the issues.” After writing down the items Amos needed, he left knowing he’d said all he could.

  ON THEIR WAY TO THE hardware store in town, John and Eli talked about Amos’s situation. “Son, please tell me what’s going on. That boy is as tetchy as a hibernating bear!”

  Eli chuckled. “Ja, he is! He and Katie have dated for over a year, maybe a year and a half.” Eli became serious. “Dat, I suspect that Katie is behind the ‘English person’ who supposedly ‘wants all of us to leave Big Valley.’ Amos has been stubborn about continuing to see her, even though I have told him what I suspect. Annie, my own girlfriend, is also suspicious.”

  “Hmmm, both of my sons are courting. I hope things are goin
g better for you than they are for Amos.”

  Eli smiled and shrugged. He would keep his own counsel.

  “So, what makes you think Katie is behind this sorry mess?” John wanted to hear Eli’s take on the situation before he made up his mind.

  Eli let out a long, gusty sigh. “They—Katie and her parents, David and Mary Miller—moved here from an Amish community in Indiana. That’s all we know. Annie and several other girls, along with a few of my friends, all noticed that before this rumor started, Katie never went anywhere without her parents. Shopping, services, frolics, and socials—she was with her mam or with both parents. She never went to singings or frolics on her own. As far as rumspringa, forget it! She wasn’t allowed to go. At all. Why? Did she do something before that made her parents believe they had to keep a near-constant eye on her? And, if she did, what was it? How bad was it?”

  John nodded. “So, you got the same sense that I did. That she was trouble. I think I am going to go and have a cup of coffee and some conversation with Eppie or with Bishop Lapp. Maybe run this past them and get their guidance. What does your girlfriend, Annie, think?”

  “She doesn’t like Katie. Something about that girl makes her feel like she has to keep her guard up. Uh, Annie has been following Katie around.”

  John’s eyes rounded as his head whipped around to look at Eli. “What? What are you telling me? Is that girl mupsich, or what?”

  Eli grimaced. He knew his dat would react this way. “Don’t worry, Dat! She is very careful. She doesn’t let Katie know she’s behind her and she hides from her. She just wants to get an idea of where Katie goes, what she does and who she’s talking with. She’s trying to find out if it is Katie who started what we believe is a rumor.”

  John disregarded all of Eli’s calming words. “Is she a fool? If Miss Miller is dangerous, then what if Annie is discovered? We don’t know what Miss Miller is capable of! And if she is innocent, how can Annie justify her behavior? We don’t spy on each other! The next time you see Annie, you tell her to stop this foolishness. Do you understand me?”

  Eli sighed. A small part of him felt relieved. He could take his dat’s response now to Annie to make her stop following Katie. “Ja, Dat, I will.”

  “Let’s finish this errand, get everything into the shop, and you get back to work. I just finished that big order, so I am going to go and see Eppie. I believe he is also between orders. If anyone sees us together, we are discussing our workloads, do you get that?”

  Now, it was Eli’s turn to give his dat an incredulous look. “Dat, you don’t need a cover! You’re chatting with a friend, okay?”

  “A friend who happens to be the deacon of the Big Valley Amish community. And he is going to help us figure out what we can do to stop this nonsense once and...hush! That’s Katie, coming out of the store, ja?”

  Eli looked where his dat pointed. “Ja. Say no more until we finish our shopping.” As their wagon passed by Katie, Eli covered his mouth, letting out a noisy yawn.

  In response, John looked at Eli. “Can you be more obvious? What time did you get to sleep last night?”

  Eli grinned. “Let’s get to the carpentry store.” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “That was just for show.”

  John let out a snort. In the store, he ordered what Amos needed, along with what he had to get to start his newest order. Eli split from John, getting the tools, lumber, and nails he needed. “Did you get the stain you needed?”

  “Uh, ja.” Eli went through his list. “Ja, that’s everything. What about your stuff and Amos’s stuff?”

  “It looks like I have everything.”

  The two men wheeled their carts to the register and paid. Loading everything into the wagon, they made sure Katie was nowhere nearby. “She’s coming out of the bakery. Doesn’t look too happy, either.” Eli was gazing at Katie through half-closed eyes.

  John elbowed Eli in the ribs hard. “Just no more loud noises, son.”

  Eli grunted as John’s elbow made contact with his side. “Okay!”

  Finally, once they were on the two-lane highway back to their shop, John felt free to talk. “She’s not behind us, is she?”

  Eli scanned around and looked behind the wagon. “Nee. We’re the only Amish vehicle on the road.”

  John, hearing a diesel truck approaching them, pulled over to the shoulder so the truck could pass. Waving at the driver, he pulled back onto the road. “Say nothing to your brother, Eli. After dropping everything into the shop, I’m going to Eppie’s. I want to find out what he knows and what he suspects. I also want to talk to Annie and give her a piece of my mind!”

  Eli knew better than to object. Putting his hand protectively over his ribs, he nodded. “I tried to tell her so, Dat, but she is as stubborn as...well, Mam.”

  John was about to object, but he nodded instead. “Ja, she is a stubborn woman. But I still want to make an impression on that young lady that what she is doing is dangerous.”

  Eli couldn’t object. He knew his dat was right. He nodded and agreed silently. “I hope she’ll listen to you.”

  “Ja, let the elders keep a watch on Miss Miller! They are supposed to know about this kind of thing anyway.”

  After unloading everything from the wagon, Eli began working on his current order.

  Finding Amos, John let him know he’d be gone for the rest of the afternoon. “Son, I’ll be discussing one of my customers with another carpenter here. I won’t be back until close to suppertime.”

  “Denki. I’ll be okay. I’m done cutting all the parts for both cradles out. Now it’s just assembly, sanding and staining.”

  “You okay?”

  “Eh, as okay as I’ll be for the time being.”

  “Just keep your gut head about you. That’s all I ask you.” John strode off before he said anything more. He had almost slipped and told Amos the real purpose of his visit with “one of the other carpenters.”

  IN HER SHOP, KATIE stitched the batting and backing onto a new quilt. As she did so, she absently mulled over whether she should ramp up the danger of the anonymous English person who wanted them gone. I am going to town later this week anyway. I can write the letter this evening, before going to bed. Dat and Mam know that Amos broke things off with me, so I have that as an excuse. Then, when I go shopping, I can “find” the letter on my way into town. If I have physical proof, that might take suspicion off me. Amos might come back to me.

  Katie’s loneliness yawned wide inside her psyche, almost as a physical ache. She also didn’t know that at least two adults in their community now viewed her with suspicion and that one of those adults had a way of checking into her actions back in Goshen. Nodding her head decisively as she clipped the thread tethering the quilt to her sewing machine, she jumped slightly as she heard her mam.

  “What were you shaking your head about?”

  Katie floundered momentarily for a response. “Oh! You startled me. I’m done with this quilt! Now, I can get it ready for delivery to my customer. Then, I can start the birthday quilts for the kinder who will be having their birthdays! I can’t wait to start that one.” Katie nearly forgot about the ache in her heart.

  “Are they the one-year-old and three-year-old?”

  “Ja. I think I’m going to visit that Mennonite shop more often. I like the fabrics she has in stock.”

  “Mmmm. Just as long as you behave yourself. You know exactly what I’m talking about, daughter. Also, don’t get too friendly with the Mennonites.”

  Katie stifled a sigh. “Mam, I know. I made a terrible mistake and nearly ruined somebody’s life.”

  “Ja, that is for sure and for certain.”

  AS KATIE WAS TRYING to deflect her mother’s words, Sabine Hoffstetter was putting the pieces in place. She had wondered for days why her new customer, Katie Miller, had sounded so familiar. Dropping her large scissors as she cut the ends off the new bolts of fabric, she gasped. If she’s from Goshen, she’s the girl who nearly destroyed Michael’s reputati
on and life! I’ll call him tonight. After supper. As she swept up the cut-off ends, her hands shook. Big Mike was her brother-in-law, and she held him in high regard. He had always loved his wife and their children. After supper had been cleaned up that night, Sabine told her husband, Joseph, that she would be in her office, working.

  “That’s fine. I’ll be in the barn, anyway. I need to get caught up on some work. I’ll be in before bedtime.”

  “Okay.” Sabine smiled at Joseph, grateful that he believed that she could own and run her own business. In her little office, Sabine placed the call to Michael’s house. “Michael, are you alone right now? I know you’re in the barn. I have some questions for you...about that girl who tried to accuse you of rape.”

  “What? I want to forget her!”

  “I know. But I had a new customer come into my store a couple weeks ago. A young woman named Katie Miller. She’s petite, slender, has blonde hair and green eyes. She quilts. Does that sound like the girl who accused you?”

  Michael was silent for a few minutes. “Katie Miller! I don’t know about the eye color, but everything else does sound like her. She was in your store? Don’t let her back in, Sabine. I don’t want her accusing Joseph of anything.”

  “Nee, Michael, I won’t. If she does come back in, I’ll see if I can get any more information, like whether she’s lived here in Big Valley all her life. If not, where she’s from.”

  Michael sighed. “Just be careful. There’s something...kind of off about her. I thought she was fragile at first, and a bit sad, but then...I was wrong. Please be careful, Sabine.”

  Sabine promised again that she would be careful. “I’ll do something like making a special appointment to show her new fabrics or something. Then, when she comes in, I’ll make sure Joseph or one of the boys is here as protection. Then, I’ll see if she ever lived there in Goshen. If she did, then I’ll tell her she’ll have to shop elsewhere, because you’re my brother-in-law.”