A Season of Love

by Amy Clipston

  A horn blasted and a dark-colored pickup truck slammed onto the sidewalk less than a foot from where Katie stood, struggling to get away from the groping men.

  “Get away from her!” a voice hollered. “Go now! I’m calling the police!”

  Katie’s heart swelled with relief as Jake approached with a fierce expression and a two-by-four in his hands.

  Glowering, Jake held the board like a baseball bat. “I mean it!” he bellowed. “Let the girl go now!”

  The men scattered, and Jake tossed the piece of wood into the bed of his truck. Katie launched herself toward Jake, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder while she sobbed.

  “Katie,” he said, running his hand over her hair. “Are you okay?”

  She swallowed deep breaths and tried to regain her composure. “Jake,” she finally said, holding onto him for comfort. “I was so scared. I didn’t know what they were going to do to me. I’m so glad you came along when you did.”

  “I know,” he said softly, holding her close. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them.” Putting his fingers under her chin, he tilted her face so that she looked right into his deep blue eyes. “I’m so glad I had to get supplies this morning, and I’m thankful there was a back-up at the store. If I hadn’t arrived when I did, I don’t know what would’ve happened to you, Katie.” He shook his head, his expression serious. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

  “Katie Kauffman!” a voice bellowed behind her.

  Katie looked behind her and spotted Bishop Chupp sitting in his buggy by the side of the road. “Bishop Chupp,” she said, pulling away from Jake and stepping back. “I was —”

  “Get in the buggy, child,” the bishop said. “I need to take you heemet right this minute.”

  Katie looked at Jake, and he nodded.

  “Go,” Jake said. “I’ll go tell Elizabeth and Eli what happened.”

  “Danki,” Katie whispered. “Go,” Jake repeated. “Now.”

  Katie climbed into the buggy next to the bishop and hugged her arms to her trembling body. Reaching up, she realized her prayer covering was gone. She wondered if her cloak and prayer covering were lying on the sidewalk near where she’d been accosted. Her body shuddered as she thought of the three men who’d groped her. What would’ve happened if Jake Miller hadn’t come along? The thought caused her to feel queasy.

  “Bishop,” she began. “Jake Miller had just saved me from three men who —”

  “There’s no need to explain yourself, Katie,” the bishop said, keeping his eye on the road as he guided the horse. “I know what I saw.”

  “I’m telling you the truth,” Katie began. “Three men had surrounded me.” She pulled at her ripped dress and her tears began anew. She sniffed and swiped her hand over her face, but the bishop kept staring straight ahead as if she were invisible. Why didn’t he believe her?

  They drove in silence the rest of the way to her house. When the buggy came to a stop, Katie walked slowly behind the bishop as they entered the house, where her parents and her younger siblings sat at the table eating lunch.

  “Katie,” her mother said with a gasp. “What happened to your dress? Where’s your covering?”

  “Bishop Chupp?” her father asked. “What’s going on? Katie, why aren’t you at work?”

  The bishop gestured toward the family room. “May I speak to you alone, Robert?”

  Katie touched her mother’s hand. “I was attacked by three men,” she whispered, hoping not to scare Janie. “Jake Miller saved me.”

  Her mother looked confused. “What? I don’t understand.”

  “Go get changed,” her father said before following the bishop into the family room.

  “Go,” her mother said. “Get changed. We’ll talk later.”

  Her mother trailed behind her father, and Katie stared after her in disbelief. Didn’t her mother care Katie had just been hurt by three men?

  Katie hurried up the stairs to her room. Staring at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, she dissolved in sobs.

  13

  Jake watched Katie drive off in the bishop’s buggy, and his body shuddered with a mixture of anger and regret. He wished he’d arrived at the scene earlier. His stomach soured at the thought of those three disgusting men touching Katie. Why hadn’t he left the wood supply sooner? He was just glad he was able to stop the incident before it had become even more grim.

  Glancing around, Jake found Katie’s prayer covering and cloak on the ground. He retrieved them and then climbed into this truck. He had to get to the bakery and tell Elizabeth and Eli what had happened. Speeding toward the bakery, he thought of Katie and the fear he’d seen in her gorgeous blue eyes when he’d driven up. Holding her in his arms and comforting her was the greatest feeling he’d ever experienced. He knew one thing for certain — he’d wanted to comfort her and take away her pain. More than anything, he wanted to be with her. If he could only find a way …

  Jake steered into the parking lot, pulled into a spot near the front entrance to the bakery, and slammed the truck into park. Grabbing his keys, he raced up the front steps and into the bakery.

  “Jake!” Eli called with a smile. “Did you get the supplies?” The older man’s smile faded. “What’s wrong, son?”

  “I need to speak to you and Elizabeth alone right away.” Jake started for the kitchen.

  “Oh, dear,” Eli said. “This sounds serious.”

  “It is.” Jake stepped into the kitchen and nodded at the curious stares the bakers aimed at him and Eli.

  “She must be in her office,” Eli said, walking beside him. “I think today is her paperwork day.”

  Jake followed Eli into the office, where Elizabeth sat at her desk writing in her ledger. She looked up as Jake closed the door behind him.

  “Eli. Jake,” Elizabeth said. “What’s going on?”

  “I need to speak to you both,” Jake said. “It’s very important.”

  “Have a seat.” She pointed toward two chairs in front of her desk.

  Jake sat on the chair beside Eli and took a deep breath, hoping to calm his still-frayed nerves. “I stopped to get supplies this morning,” he began, “and as I was driving in, I saw Katie in distress by the side of the road.”

  “What?” Elizabeth asked. “What do you mean? She left here to go to the fabric store about thirty minutes ago.”

  “How was she in distress?” Eli asked.

  “Three men accosted her about a block from here,” Jake said. “I was able to scare them off.”

  “What?” Elizabeth stood, her eyes filling with tears. “They hurt my Katie?”

  “She’s okay,” Jake said, motioning for her to sit down. “I stopped them before they could do more than take her covering and rip her dress.”

  “Oh no,” Elizabeth said. “Poor Katie.”

  “Where is she?” Eli asked.

  “Abner Chupp came along as I was comforting her, and he drove her home.” Jake stood. “I have her prayer covering and cloak in my truck. I was going to take them to her house for her.”

  “Would you take us to her?” Elizabeth asked. “I want to go see her and make sure she’s okay.”

  “Of course.” Jake stood. “I rushed here as soon as she left with Abner.”

  “Danki,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll go tell everyone we have to run an errand, and we can go to Robert’s right away. We shouldn’t tell anyone what’s happened to Katie. I’m certain she’s very upset about it, and she won’t want people asking questions or spreading the news about it.”

  “I agree,” Eli said while Jake nodded.

  As Jake walked through the bakery toward his truck, he prayed Katie was okay.

  Katie changed into a clean dress before fixing her hair and putting on another prayer covering. She heard the clip-clop of hooves and glanced out the window as Abner’s horse and buggy disappeared from her driveway. Her stomach tightened as she wondered what Abner had told her father
about seeing her with Jake. She prayed her father would allow her to explain what had happened on the street corner. Surely, her father would thank Jake for saving her instead of chastising him for hugging her.

  After rinsing off her tear-streaked face with the water from the washbasin in her room, Katie headed down the stairs and into the kitchen, where her parents stood talking.

  “Where are the kinner?” Katie asked.

  “I sent them outside so we could talk to you about your behavior,” her father said, frowning. “I can’t believe that less than a week after I punished you for seeing Jake Miller, you disobeyed me again.”

  “I didn’t disobey you,” Katie began. “I was walking to the store to get some fabric to make a dress for Janie for her birthday, when three—”

  Robert held up his hand. “I’m tired of your excuses, Katie. I don’t know what else to do aside from sending you away. It seems you can’t stay away from this bu. I need to do something to prevent you from seeing him at all.”

  The back door opened, and her grandparents stepped in.

  “Katie!” Her grandmother rushed over and hugged her. “Are you okay? Jake told us what happened.”

  Katie nodded, her eyes filling with fresh tears. “I’m okay.”

  “Here,” Elizabeth said, handing Katie her cloak and prayer covering. “Jake found these for you.”

  “Danki,” Katie said, placing the cloak and covering on a kitchen chair. Her body quaked as she thought of the evil men again.

  “I want that Mennonite bu fired!” Robert bellowed. “I’m tired of him tempting my Katie Joy.”

  “No,” Katie said, moving her hands over her cheeks. “Don’t fire him. I’ll stop working at the bakery. Maybe I’ll help Aenti Rebecca, and Lindsay can go back to the bakery.”

  “But you love the bakery,” her mother said with a frown. “Why would you quit the bakery for that bu, Katie?”

  “You can’t fire him,” Katie said, looking at her grandfather. “Remove me from the bakery instead.”

  “You still defend that bu, Katie Joy?” Robert said, scowling. “What will it take to make you forget him?”

  “He saved me, Dat,” Katie said, nearly spitting the words at him. “Why won’t you listen to me? I was in grave danger, and he saved me from it.”

  Her father shook his head. “He’s Mennonite, Katie. Abner Chupp said you could be shunned from what he saw on the corner.” He looked at Eli. “I want the bu fired, Dat. This has gone on long enough.”

  “How can I fire him?” Eli asked. “His grossdaddi is part owner in the furniture store. That’s a preposterous notion.”

  “No one will be fired, Robert,” Elizabeth said, her expression stern. “This is ridiculous.” She turned to Eli. “I will make certain Katie and Jake don’t interact at the bakery at all. I can keep my bakers busy if need be. Besides, the project is coming along quickly, ya?”

  Eli nodded. “Ya. We should be done soon.”

  “Fine,” Robert said. “I don’t want any contact between them. If there’s contact, then there will be more punishment, Katie. As of right now, you’re only to leave the haus for work and church. Indefinitely.”

  Katie’s heart ached as she studied her father’s angry expression. Why didn’t he see she was telling the truth? Why didn’t he care about her feelings?

  “Go to your room, Katie Joy,” her father said. “I don’t want to see you the rest of the day.”

  With tears in her eyes, Katie turned toward Elizabeth. “Danki,” she whispered.

  “Go,” Elizabeth said, handing her the prayer covering. “I’ll hang up your cloak for you. I’ll tell everyone at the bakery you’re not feeling well. No one has to know what happened.”

  “Danki, Mammi.” Katie slowly climbed the stairs and wiped her tears from her cheeks. She wished she could start the day over and ask Amanda and Ruthie to go with her to the store. Or perhaps she never should’ve ventured to the store at all. Katie hung her covering on the peg by her bedroom door and crossed to her window, where she spotted Jake’s truck idling in her driveway. Her heart warmed at the sight of him. Jake had brought her grandparents over to see her!

  Placing her hand on the cool window glass, she wished she could go thank Jake again for saving her. Despite all of the emotional turmoil she’d suffered today, she knew one thing for certain — she was falling in love with Jake Miller.

  “How’s Katie?” Jake asked as Elizabeth and Eli climbed into his truck as it sat in Robert’s driveway.

  Elizabeth frowned, and Jake’s heart wrenched in his chest. She’s hurt worse than I imagined!

  “Robert wants you fired so you don’t interact with Katie anymore,” Eli said. “Katie insisted I don’t fire you, and she offered to quit her job at the bakery in order to save your job.”

  “She did?” Jake asked with surprise. “But she loves her job.”

  “I know,” Elizabeth said. “I convinced my stubborn son to allow you both to work there, promising to be certain you’re kept apart.”

  “I see.” Jake nodded, hoping they couldn’t tell his heart was breaking.

  Elizabeth’s expression was sympathetic. “I know you care about my granddaughter, but I need you to keep your distance. I’m thankful you were able to save her today before she was severely hurt, but I hope you realize how you can get her into trouble with the church.”

  “I know.” Jake sighed. “I would never do anything to hurt her.”

  “I know you wouldn’t intentionally hurt her.” Elizabeth smiled. “You’re a special young man, and she’s a lovely young woman. However, you’re from different worlds.”

  “But we’re very thankful for you, Jake,” Eli said. “You came along at the perfect time. God made certain you were there to save our little Katie Joy.”

  “How is she?” Jake asked again. “Is she okay?”

  Elizabeth frowned again. “She’s okay physically, but I could tell she was shaken up.”

  “And Robert made it worse.” Eli looked disgusted. “Elizabeth and I tried to talk some sense into him after Katie went up to her room. But Robert is upset Abner Chupp brought her home and said she could be shunned for hugging you in public. Robert convinced Abner not to shun her and promised to talk to her. Robert told her she’s not allowed to leave the house, and he wanted you fired because the bishop came to see him about her behavior.”

  Jake’s mouth gaped with shock. “Robert and the bishop don’t care that Katie was attacked?” he asked.

  Elizabeth and Eli shook their heads in unison.

  “They don’t believe she was attacked,” Eli said. “All they know is she was hugging you in public.”

  “You’re saying they’re more worried about her hugging me in public than the fact that three men accosted her in public?” Jake asked.

  “Ya,” Eli said.

  Jake ran his hands through his hair while contemplating the ridiculous actions of Robert Kauffman and Abner Chupp. “I can’t believe it. Katie could’ve been in grave danger if I hadn’t come along. It doesn’t make sense to me that Robert would react like that to the news that his daughter had been attacked.”

  “I know,” Elizabeth said. “However, he’s her father, and there’s nothing we can do other than abide by his rules.”

  “We’d better get back to work,” Eli said.

  Jake put the truck in gear and backed down the driveway, all the while wondering what he could do to find a way to be with Katie so he could protect her.

  Katie sat on the grass Sunday afternoon and smoothed her hands over her apron. The sky was peppered with gray clouds, which seemed to mirror her dull mood. A slight chill in the air caused her to rub her hands over the long sleeves of her dark blue frock.

  She’d struggled to concentrate on the service earlier this morning, but her thoughts were still on her failed relationship with Jake and the nightmarish memories of the men who’d accosted her Friday. The flashbacks had kept her up every night since the incident. The only person who had listened to
her about the ordeal and who had offered comfort was Nancy. Katie was so thankful for her younger sister.

  Her father avoided all contact with her at the house, and he wouldn’t answer her when she’d tried to talk to him last night. Her mother’s reaction to her was also frosty as she offered one-word answers to Katie’s questions. It seemed no matter how hard Katie tried, her parents were reluctant to listen to her explanation about what had happened Friday, and the whole situation caused her stomach to ache and her shoulders to tense.

  Lindsay and Lizzie Anne continued their conversation about the evening’s plans while sitting across from Katie.

  “The gathering will be at Mary Elizabeth Zook’s haus tonight,” Lizzie Anne said, breaking an oatmeal cookie in half. “I’m so excited! Samuel is going to pick me up and take me. Is Matthew taking you?”

  Lindsay nodded as she chewed a peanut butter cookie. “Ya. He said he’s going to pick me up and take me heemet. I’m so glad we can ride together now. I enjoy having time to talk in the buggy.”

  Katie picked at a blade of grass and wondered if her friends realized they were ignoring her. Perhaps they were as insensitive as her parents.

  “Katie?” Lindsay asked. “Was iss letz?”

  Katie looked at her friends and debated what to share. “Nothing,” she finally said. “Everything is fine.”

  Lindsay and Lizzie Anne glanced at each other.

  “I’m sorry,” Lizzie Anne said. “We didn’t mean to leave you out of the conversation by talking about our boyfriends.”

  “No,” Lindsay chimed in, shaking her head for emphasis. “We didn’t at all, Katie. Please don’t be upset.”

  “I’m not upset,” Katie said, forcing a smile. “Why would I be upset?”

  Lizzie Anne looked concerned. “You can ride with Samuel and me tonight to the youth gathering. I didn’t mean to exclude you.”

  “Danki, but I can’t go tonight.” Katie yanked more blades of grass out and tossed them toward the toe of her black sneakers.

  “What do you mean?” Lindsay asked, looking confused. “Why wouldn’t you be able to go?”

  “I’m not allowed to leave the haus except for church and work.” Katie watched her best friends’ eyes widen with shock.