The Stranger

by Linda Maran

  “Did I hear you say you want to take Kristen to town for pizza?” He looked directly at John, with Daniel standing behind him, looking anxious to get past him.

  “Jah. Figured she’d like to see the town and taste the pizza here. Said herself that she loves pies. Ain’t so, Kristen?”

  “Yes, I do love pie, especially pizza. At home we have our favorite place for pizza too.” Mack and Mango’s on the boardwalk. She’d be there soon enough.

  Uncle Jonas took his seat at the head of the table while Daniel scooted around him to his seat. He pulled on his beard thoughtfully, keeping his gaze on John. “I s’pose it’ll be all right. Give Kristen a chance to ride in the buggy, too.”

  “I’ve never been in a buggy before. Sounds like fun.”

  “Buggies are not for fun around here,” Uncle Jonas said. “It’s our transportation. If you stay on, you’ll be driving one soon enough. Old Faithful is a reliable, calm horse. Rusty can be a bit excitable, but she is coming along better now. We use them both together with the family buggy and separately for the two smaller buggies.”

  “How will I get to the library to use the computer if the bishop says it’s all right?” Kristen didn’t know why she even asked. She’d be long gone before they knew it.

  “Daniel and Mary can take you on their way to work. You’ll squeeze in fine in the small buggy. Just need to be leaving a little earlier, is all.”

  “Jah, ’tis no trouble at all,” Mary said, bringing one of the pies to the table. When she sliced it, a fragrant steam escaped that smelled exactly like oatmeal cookies.

  “But you’ll have to wait at the diner where I work for the library to open. Think it opens at ten.”

  “How did you get to the library and school where you used to live?” Anna looked into Kristen’s face with her usual gaze of anticipation.

  “At first I went with my friend, Cindy, and her mom in their car. Then Cindy got her driver’s license. She’s a year older than me. She drove us both to school and back home.”

  “What about your mamm?”

  “She needed to sleep most mornings from working late at the hotel. And Ross left for work very early. He was also away a lot on business or with his lady friend, Mattie, on vacations.”

  “Your mamm went to work? Who’s Ross?”

  “Ach, I’m thinking that Kristen has to eat herself some breakfast, Anna,” Aunt Elizabeth interrupted with a scolding frown. “How about you let her answer your questions later on? For now, let’s eat, jah?”

  After a short silent bow of heads, scrambled eggs, bacon, and pie were soon passed around with the conversation focused on a woman named Betsy who was holding the quilting bee the next day.

  “Rachel Miller will be at the bee, too,” Mary commented, her words directed at her younger brother, Daniel, causing him to blush.

  “And I s’pose there’ll be a whole crowd of men folk there just mulling about, jah?”

  Mary rolled her eyes at his comment. “Nee, Daniel. But maybe you can drop me and Mamma off and then come pick us up. That-a-way you could say a quick hi to Rachel.”

  “No sense talking in circles, dochter. Let them get around to one another their own way and in the gut Lord’s time.” Uncle Jonas gave Aunt Elizabeth a small smile.

  Kristen liked the quiet exchanges between them.

  When breakfast was over, things took on a much brisker pace. Aunt Elizabeth gave Anna garden gloves and not more than a minute later, she was out the door. Daniel left the kitchen faster than Kristen could watch him go. Then Uncle Jonas and John each took a wrapped piece of leftover strawberry pie, shoved it into their pockets, and scooted past her. Mary cleared the table in record time, took two brown bags from the counter, and with a smile and a nod, dashed out.

  Kristen heard a horse and buggy draw close to the house, some talking in the foreign language they used, and then John strode back inside.

  “What is it, John?” Aunt Elizabeth looked at him with surprise.

  His face took on a red tinge. He looked at Kristen for a moment, and then focused his gaze on his mother.

  “We all headed out of here so quick, and being that it’s Kristen’s first morgen here, vell, I thought it would be fitting to wish her a gut day.”

  “Ach, you’re right, John. Everyone rushed out without a word to Kristen. Morgens are always a rushed time around here, no matter how early we rise. Didn’t mean to make you feel unvelcome on your first morgen here.”

  “That’s OK. I never gave it a thought. I was just surprised to see how quick everyone left the house.”

  “All the same, I wish you a gut first day here, Kristen Esh.”

  “Thanks, John.”

  Kristen appreciated his kindness but was too anxious about no sign of Derick to show it. A smile just wouldn’t come.

  “And you have a gut day too, Mamm,” John added, and then scooted back out the door in the same school boy manner he’d exited the kitchen the day before.

  ~*~

  As if on an automatic setting, Aunt Elizabeth had no trouble assigning work to Kristen. “We’ll tend to the dishes first. I’ll wash and you dry. After that, we’ll sweep the floors, shake out the rugs, dust, and air the beds.”

  “I thought we were going to bake cherry pies.”

  “We’ll be doing that, too, nearer to supper time. That-a-way we can have one for dessert. Chores come first. Anna will be eager to help with pie baking, that’s for sure and for certain.”

  “What chores does Anna do?”

  “Vell, this morgen she’s out weeding our two vegetable gardens. She’s our kaffe girl at breakfast time now, but before that she feeds the chickens. She gathers the eggs, cleans them, and keeps the pen tidy. Lately, she’s taken to naming the hens. Not much sense in that.”

  “What about the chicken we ate last night? It was from here? It had a name?”

  “Ach. Of course it was from here. We have laying ones and eating ones. Anna takes care of the hens we use for laying. Daniel the eating ones. She doesn’t fuss with those.”

  “So, the eggs we ate came from your chickens, too?”

  “Jah, they did. Most of the Amish around here keep them for eggs. You’ll get to see all that we have over the weekend.”

  No, she wouldn’t. She’d be long gone. “I’m supposed to go into town with John.”

  “Jah…with John.” Worry laced Aunt Elizabeth’s voice.

  “Do you mind me going with him?”

  “Nee, he’s like a cousin, after all. But just so you know, I have an inkling that he is courting a young lady named Sadie Krantz. Best not to confuse folks, even though we keep these things quiet. Going out for pizza together, vell…”

  “Don’t worry, Aunt Elizabeth. I already have a boyfriend back in New Jersey.” And he’ll be coming to take me back there…today. Please let it be today. “Guys and girls go out for pizza together all the time. It doesn’t mean they’re a couple. At least not where I come from.”

  “Jah, that’s the difference, Kristen.”

  4

  The following morning, after another hearty breakfast and a lesson on making biscuits, Kristen headed outside with Anna to see the chickens. She tried her best not to show her disappointment about Derick not showing up. She needed to get her phone charged to find out what his plan was. She knew he had one.

  “Do you know him?” Anna looked to the far left from where they stood, toward the road.

  “Who?”

  “That man sitting in the car over there. The one in the passenger seat. He’s looking at you like he knows you.”

  Kristen’s heart raced. Derick! She squinted her eyes against the new morning sun rising above the cornfields beyond the car. Once her eyes settled on the old car, she knew it wasn’t Derick. He had a new Honda Fit. Her heart sank.

  The car sped off, leaving a trail of dust behind. That was strange. Her stomach churned and her breakfast no longer sat very well.

  “You feeling grank, Kristen?”

  “Gran
k? What’s that?” She stared at the lingering dust settling to the ground.

  “Sick. Are you feeling sick? You look funny. Is it ’cause of that man who stopped to look at you?”

  “No, no. I’m fine. And don’t you worry about that man. Probably just a tourist who lost his way. That must happen here a lot, right?”

  “Jah, sometimes. But that man was sure staring at you.”

  “Well, maybe that’s because I look pretty today.” Kristen batted her eyelashes, making light of the incident even though it set her on edge.

  Anna giggled.

  “OK, take me to see the chickens. Your mamma told me you gave them names.”

  “Just my favorites.” Anna led the way to a fenced-in area of chicken wire.

  “This is the hen haus, where they do the egg laying. That other pen and chicken coop behind these is for the chickens we eat. Daniel takes care of those.”

  Kristen was glad she didn’t have to see the ones they slaughtered if she was to eat them. She followed Anna into the henhouse. The ruckus from her presence as she walked in startled her. A few chickens were seated on perches, and the others were in their nest boxes like dedicated little mothers. Good thing she wore sneakers instead of sandals. Wood shavings covered the floor and coated her Nikes. It was way warmer than she thought comfortable. Then again, it was definitely too warm for her liking in the house, too.

  “This here is Susie. She lays the most eggs and doesn’t fuss when I take ’em from her. That one over there at the end is Missy because she thinks she’s extra special, squawking and carrying on each time I tend to any of the other hens. And the one next to Susie is Sunny because she likes to go out only when it’s sunny outside. I’m still thinking of names for the other five. Would you like to name one?”

  “Well, sure. Let me take a better look at them.”

  “Jah, OK. While you’re doing that, I’ll name one of ’em after you. How about Kristie?”

  “Oh, I like that. Which one?”

  “That-a-one over at the end on the perch. She’s a pretty one, like you, cousin.”

  “You’re sweet, Anna. Now, tell me, which other one do you think is pretty?”

  “The one at the other end.”

  “Well then, how about we name that one Annabelle, for you?”

  Her young cousin beamed.

  ~*~

  Kristen stepped out of the henhouse with Anna.

  Uncle Jonas came toward them wearing a stern expression.

  “Were you both in the henhaus all this time?” he asked, with a crinkled forehead and urgency in his voice.

  “Yes,” Kristen answered. “Anna showed me the chickens, and we…”

  “Best you both head to the haus now.”

  “Is something wrong, Uncle Jonas?”

  “Nee. Just don’t go off alone ’til I say so. For the next few days, John will be going with you to feed the chickens, Anna. Kristen, you’ll tend to the chores in the haus.”

  Kristen couldn’t understand what exactly was happening or why. Then she thought of the men in the car.

  “Is it something to do with the car that stopped by earlier?”

  “What car are you talking about, Kristen?” Her uncle’s eyes grew wide as discs.

  “A car stopped by here when we were going to the henhouse.”

  “Did the driver get out? Did he walk on our property?”

  “No. There were two of them…both men. I barely got a glimpse. When I tried, the car took off. Maybe they were lost.”

  “Would think they’d ask for directions then.”

  Kristen didn’t answer, although her uncle’s comment made good sense.

  “The one staring at Kristen had a beard just like yours, Daed. He didn’t look Amish though ’cause he wore a cap.”

  Uncle Jonas darted a quick gaze down the lane then nodded at Anna’s comment.

  “I’ll be with John when I go into town while Aunt Elizabeth and Mary are at the quilting bee. Is that all right?”

  He turned his deep brown eyes to her and said, “Just stay close to him and don’t go rushing off anywhere on your own.”

  ~*~

  John noted Kristen’s somber expression when she stepped into the buggy. He wasn’t sure if she’d been told about the note left under their door. Should he mention it? He didn’t want to worry her if she didn’t know.

  “Your dad was very upset this morning, as if something had happened to cause him to worry about my safety. When Anna and I told him about the men who stopped in a car by the road near the henhouse, that just made matters worse. Do you know why he’s so worried?”

  Relief washed over him when she solved his dilemma by speaking about it first.

  “I wasn’t going to talk about it if you didn’t know. I don’t want to cause you stress. But, jah, I do know the reason for my daed’s concern.”

  “So, are you going to tell me? How bad can it be?”

  “Kristen, someone left a note under our door saying that it would be better all around if you left Stone Arabia. It was unsigned.”

  “Oh. That’s kind of creepy. Why would anyone want me to leave here? Is it because I’m not Amish?”

  “Nee, it is not. We have never snubbed Englischers and many of them are our friends and neighbors. Besides, your mamm was Amish.”

  “OK, so I’m half Amish. Whatever…it only goes to show that I don’t belong where my mother thought I did.”

  “Jah, you do. I know you’ll learn to like this place and our ways once your hurt and grief settle down.” John clicked his tongue and the horse began to trot.

  “You think I’ll live the Amish life? Not happening, John. I have Derick and good friends waiting for me. There are other places I want to see. Besides, I was supposed to go to college after I finished high school and earn a degree in accounting.”

  “You have a great interest in this?”

  “Yes, I do. Ross was a CPA in his own firm and taught me a lot. I was always good with numbers. It pays a good salary. During tax time Ross prepared tax returns. Didn’t have a minute to spare. Some clients were pretty famous, and he traveled to their homes. He did very well.”

  “Ach, Kristen, working isn’t always about the money.”

  “I know that. But I like doing anything that involves numbers and seeing people happy and calm after their taxes are done. Many of Ross’s clients were confused by the changes each year. He made it easy for them.”

  “Vell then, I think you’ll make a fine accountant.”

  Kristen nodded with a weak smile then looked straight ahead onto the road.

  John steered the buggy to the side to allow several cars to pass. One of the drivers took a photo, and the other two just drove on by. He wished they’d all do as the last two cars had done. He looked over at Kristen again. She seemed a thousand miles away in thought. He wondered if it had been wise to tell her about the note.

  When they arrived in town, John hitched Rusty to the hitch rail by Sol’s General Store and helped Kristen out of the buggy.

  “I promised Anna I would get her a pretzel. They sell gut ones here.” He held the door open for her as they walked inside.

  “Would you like one?” John turned to her from the counter before giving his order.

  “Not if we’re having pizza. Too many carbs. Although they look so good.”

  “OK, next time we’ll come just for pretzels.” This meant he would take her to town again. A second time might not look proper. But when Kristen smiled and the gloom that had taken over her face lifted, John’s worries about it lifted as well.

  Then, as if she could read his mind she said, “You should have invited Sadie to come along. I’d like to meet her.”

  “Jah, that’s a gut idea. How did you come to learn about Sadie?”

  “Your mother said you’re probably courting her. I think she’s worried that I had some kind of romantic ideas about us. I told her that Derick is back home waiting for me.”

  John wasn’t accustomed to such ope
n talk regarding courting. It was generally kept secret in his world ’til published shortly before a wedding date. He found it refreshing and even a bit humorous.

  “Is there anywhere I can charge my cell phone?”

  “Sure, right here at the general store. The owner is not Amish, and there is electricity. Sol Yoder, who rents out the space, accommodates many Amish who require cell phones for business with battery charging. Let me have it, and I’ll leave it with him. It should be charged by the time we get back from having our pizza.”

  Kristen handed the phone to John.

  Minutes later John led the way into Gabrielle’s Pizza shop, just a short walk from the general store. When they stepped inside, the wonderful aroma of freshly baked pizza tantalized his taste buds.

  Kristen closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

  “Aw, the heck with the carbs. I think I’m going to have two slices. Is that OK?” She turned to him with a huge smile.

  “I’d like nothing better. I usually have three.” John motioned for Kristen to sit at one of the small tables and then went to place their order.

  “When we’re done, we can walk around town and after go back and get your cell phone.” He set two sodas on the table.

  “Thanks, John. I can hardly wait to hear my messages.”

  A waitress carried their pizza over on a tray. John liked the fact that Kristen paused for a silent prayer. Just as she was about to take a bite of her thick cheesy slice, he saw an Amish woman in a blue dress approach from the corner of his eye. He looked up and smiled.

  “Hullo, Sadie. This is my mamm’s niece, Kristen. She was just saying how nice it would be if you could join us, and here you are.”

  Sadie eyed Kristen with her light blue eyes then gave a friendly smile.

  John pulled out the chair next to him, and she sat.

  “So, you and John are cousins, then?”

  “Not really. Because John’s mom was Jonas’s first wife. So no real blood relation,” Kristen clarified.

  John wasn’t sure Sadie needed to know the details.

  “Vell, I came to get my brudders some candy at the general store. Then I got a hankering for pizza. It’s so nice to meet you, Kristen. I hope John is showing you a pleasant time. Many Amish sell from their homes, but on Saturdays an Englisch woman who runs a store called Country Commons lets Amish women set up bake stands in the parking lot. My sister brings her candles there to sell as vell. There are pretty Amish-made quilts in the store that you might like to see, too, although I’m not sure they hold interest for any of our men folk.” She gave John a shy smile.