by Nancy Mehl
Roger shrugged. “I think keeping this town safe is a little more important than worrying about a business.”
“It’s not like that at all,” Lizzie said sharply. “A lot of people are counting on Aaron, and he’s got agreements set up with different distributors that can’t be changed.”
Roger noticed her tone and backed off. “Okay. I understand.”
I held my hand up. “Could I ask a question?”
Mary smiled at me. “You don’t have to raise your hand, Hope. This isn’t Mrs. Gaskin’s class.”
Her mention of a particular teacher at Washington Elementary made me laugh. I put my hand down. “Does the sheriff have this same information?”
Roger nodded. “He should. We didn’t have any trouble finding people who wanted to talk to us.”
“Then I’m confused. If he’s looking for the people behind these attacks, why are you doing the same thing?”
“I know it might seem redundant, but we don’t trust him enough to leave the entire investigation in his hands. We want to make sure he doesn’t miss something important.”
Mary smiled and patted his leg. “Roger has always wanted to be a policeman. This gives him the chance to try out his investigative skills.”
Roger colored with embarrassment, but he didn’t disagree with his wife.
“Sheriff Ford threatened us when he came here after Avery was killed,” Jonathon said. “He told us that if we made a big deal out of it, the media would be all over our town and that would open us up for more trouble than we had now.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Mary said loudly. “That man really makes me mad. How in the world did he ever get elected in the first place?”
“Well, we sure didn’t vote for him,” Noah said with a deadpan expression.
Everyone burst out laughing, aware that the Kingdom community shunned involvement with the government or politics.
“Okay, you got me,” Mary said, grinning, “but seriously, what can we do? How do we catch these guys, and how do we protect Kingdom?”
No one said anything for a moment. Finally Noah spoke up. “First of all, let me make one thing clear. I won’t carry a gun or any other kind of weapon. I don’t mind patrolling our borders . . . or doing anything else that might help, but my views are much closer to Ebbie’s. I may have cracked a chair over a guy’s head once who was trying to hurt Lizzie, but that’s as violent as I’m ever going to get.” He cleared his throat. “I hope.” He gazed around the room. “So what are we signing on for here? I don’t think you want me driving around with a chair in my truck just in case I happen upon one of these men.”
Roger chuckled. “No. I think you can leave the chairs in the restaurant. Look, I’ve never been Mennonite, and Mary may be a fallen Mennonite”—he grinned at his wife—“but we’re not into violence either.”
Listening to Roger helped me to realize that Ebbie was wrong. No one here was promoting aggression. They were just trying to find a way to help our people in the most peaceful way possible.
I noticed that Sophie was scowling at Roger. No one appeared to be paying any attention to her. When she wasn’t glaring at the rest of us, she was looking at Jonathon as if she were a dog and he a piece of meat. He didn’t seem to notice.
“So all we’re going to do is patrol?” Jonathon asked. “What happens if we see someone we don’t know? How are we going to stop these troublemakers from coming into town?”
Noah stared at him blankly.
After clearing his throat, Roger spoke up. “Look, I understand how you all feel about this nonresistance thing—”
“It’s not really nonresistance,” Noah said. “We just don’t believe in resisting evil with violence.”
“The Bible says we’re supposed to resist the devil, and he’s evil,” Sophie spat out. “So how are we gonna do that? Maybe Lizzie could make him a pie. That oughta do it.” She shot daggers at Noah, anger distorting her features. “Do you have one single idea about how we can stand up to these people?”
“That Scripture you referenced also says we should submit ourselves to God first,” Noah said gently. “Which is what we’re trying to do.” He shook his head. “And you’re right. Our resistance should be against the devil. Not human beings.”
Sophie snorted. “What in the world does that mean? You sound like my father. Saying things that don’t make sense just so you can control everyone.”
Noah frowned at her. “I’m simply saying we need to figure out how to protect ourselves in a way that won’t betray our faith.”
“Ebbie says we should just pray and let God protect us.” The words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Everyone’s eyes turned to me.
“I know,” Jonathon said, “and I’m trying to respect him for his faith, but God uses people, Hope. And again, we’re not advocating violence. We’re just trying to find a way to . . . I don’t know . . . a way to keep these people away from Kingdom. If we can do that, we’ll be fulfilling the intent of Christ’s teaching without giving them free rein over us.”
“Look,” Roger said, “I’m going to suggest something I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like.”
Noah nodded toward him. “Go ahead.”
“Everyone here has a gun, right?”
“Well, rifles for hunting,” Noah said.
“What if we set up different times to patrol the road into Kingdom, and we carry our hunting rifles? We’re not going to use them, but no one needs to know that.”
“Yeah, but everyone knows Mennonites aren’t going to shoot anyone,” Lizzie said. “How would that help?”
“Most people don’t have a clue what Mennonites believe,” Mary said. “Since leaving Kingdom, I’ve found that our . . . I mean, your community is a mystery to other folks. They think all you do is drive around in buggies, wear weird clothes, and shun electricity. To be honest, what the church believes isn’t that interesting to them.”
“So you’re suggesting that we look like we’re willing to shoot intruders even though we’re not?” Noah shook his head. “I don’t know. . . .”
I started to raise my hand again but stopped myself at the last second. “Isn’t that dishonest?”
Lizzie nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. Besides, if they weren’t planning to shoot us in the first place, waving a rifle at them could start something we don’t want.”
Jonathon stood to his feet. “I understand what you’re saying, but these guys are playing for keeps.” He directed his attention toward Noah. “If that had been Lizzie in that buggy—”
“I know. I know,” Noah said harshly. “But this is different. This isn’t a spur of the moment reaction. It’s a prearranged strategy that could lead to someone getting hurt. Or worse.”
“What if you carried a rifle that isn’t loaded?” Roger asked. “Would that make you feel better?”
“That might do it,” Jonathan agreed. “We wouldn’t be in a position to really shoot anyone, but they wouldn’t know that.”
“We’re splitting spiritual hairs here,” Noah said. He looked back and forth between Lizzie and Jonathon. Finally he held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’m an elder in the church. I appreciate what you’re saying and how you feel, but I just can’t do that. Carrying a rifle as a weapon, whether it’s loaded or not, feels wrong to me. I’ll do anything else I can to help, but I won’t do that. You’ll have to patrol without me.”
Roger got up from his seat and walked over to where Noah sat on the couch. He put his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “I respect that, Noah, and I think you’re doing the right thing. Can I ask you to keep our plans to yourself though? I’m afraid if word gets out, it might make our efforts more difficult.”
Noah chuckled. “You’ve never lived in Kingdom, Roger. You can ask Mary about it, but secrets are hard to keep here. I won’t tell anyone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole town knows about it before long.”
Roger patted Noah’s shoulder once more, wal
ked over to the window, and looked down on the street below. “All we can do is hope people understand.”
“I believe they will,” Jonathon said. “A lot of changes have already come to Kingdom. People are open to new ideas and have more freedom to make decisions on their own.”
“No one is forced to do anything they don’t want to,” Noah said quietly. Even though his tone was light, he was obviously rebuking Jonathon. “The tenets of our faith are in place to protect us. To help us. Not to control us.”
“You’ve got to admit it hasn’t always been that way,” Lizzie said. “I remember what it was like when my father was an elder.”
“I do too,” Mary said. “It’s one of the reasons I left.”
“I understand,” Noah said, frowning, “but as you said, Jonathon, we’re undergoing transformation. I guess I’m just trying to say that not everything we believe needs to change. Nonviolence is our way of following the teachings of Christ.”
“But not everyone follows Jesus, Noah,” Jonathon said. Noah started to say something else, but Jonathon held his hand up. “Look, we could go around and around about this, but what good would it do? We’ll take unloaded rifles with us. There’s no way we can hurt anyone with an empty weapon. Everyone here is trying to follow their faith the best they can. In my opinion, this is the perfect solution.”
Silence followed his statement. Noah shrugged but didn’t say anything. Jonathon and Roger got up and went downstairs to set up a schedule for patrols. Sophie and Mary followed behind them. Noah, Lizzie, and I were left upstairs staring at one another.
“I don’t know how to feel about this,” I told them. “Jonathon may have saved my life. If he hadn’t come along when he did, I might not be here right now.”
Noah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “That’s why I’m not trying to stop them. I don’t have all the answers. I know what I believe, but when it came down to it, I used violence to stop the man who was trying to hurt Lizzie and Charity.” Lizzie got up and came over to the couch, plopping down next to him and grabbing his hand. He kissed her fingers. “And if I had to do it again, I would.” He shook his head. “You’ll have to find your own way here, Hope. But I can’t carry a rifle, even if it’s unloaded. Maybe if I wasn’t an elder in the church, I could find a way to justify it. But for now I’ll have to stand with the other elders and with our pastor. And I know they wouldn’t approve of this plan.”
I stood up. “Thank you both for being so candid—and for trying to do what’s right. I’ve always believed in peace, but when I close my eyes at night I can still see that red truck coming toward me. I also think about Avery. I know that revenge belongs to God, but I must also be honest and tell you that there is anger in my heart against the person who killed him. I can’t stand by and let another one of our friends die because I did nothing.” I could feel tears on my cheeks. The emotion that had been building inside me since Avery’s death seemed to be coming out on its own. Lizzie got up and came over to me, putting her arms around me. She held me while I sobbed.
“It’s all right,” she said softly, patting me on the back. “Everything will be okay.”
I cried for a while, but when I was finally ready to stop, I looked up to see Noah standing next to us.
“I’m sorry, Hope,” he said. “I should have realized how hard this was on you. Would you like to stay awhile and discuss how you’re feeling?”
I shook my head and wiped my face. “Thank you, Noah. Maybe later. Papa should be home soon, and I don’t want him to know I’ve been talking to anyone about these plans to protect Kingdom. He wouldn’t be pleased.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Noah said, frowning. “But I don’t like the idea of hiding something from him.”
“I have no plans to share my concerns with my father,” Lizzie said. “He may have softened some in the past several months, but he still has very strong opinions. I’m certainly not opening that can of worms.”
“Well, maybe it’s wise to keep our conversation to ourselves for now,” Noah said, “but I’ve found that almost every time I have to be secretive about something, it turns out to be a mistake.”
“Not this time,” Lizzie insisted, her dark eyes fastened on her husband. “We can’t let another person die. And anyone in this town who doesn’t agree is just . . . wrong.”
Noah put his arms around his wife and held her. “I understand how you feel, Lizzie. I really do.” He let her go and smiled. “I think Charity will be home soon. Don’t you need to get tonight’s specials started?”
“Oh my goodness,” she said, her eyes wide. “It’s Friday. I’ve been so distracted by everything, I almost forgot.”
“Can I help you, Lizzie?”
“Thanks, Hope, but I think everything is under control. Callie’s been such a wonderful assistant. With school almost out, soon she’ll also be able to help with the cooking. I can hardly wait.”
“And I’m sure you’ll be happy to have more time with Charity,” I said.
“Yes . . . well, I guess so.”
Noah shook his head. “Charity’s been . . . I don’t know . . . going through something. We can’t quite figure out what’s wrong. She won’t talk to us.”
“I’ve noticed it too,” I said. “I keep hoping she’ll open up to me.”
Lizzie smiled. “She loves you so much, Hope. You remind me of Ruth Fisher. She was my confidante when I was a little girl.”
I laughed. “Well, I love Ruth, but I must admit that I hope I don’t look like her.” Ruth was well into her eighties.
“Well, you have been looking a little tired lately,” she said, grinning.
“Okay, that’s it for me,” Noah said. “You two are getting into a dangerous area that no man can tread safely through.”
We both giggled.
“I’ve got to run to Washington for a few more supplies,” Noah said to Lizzie. “I won’t be gone long.”
An idea suddenly popped into my head. “Noah, could I possibly go with you? I accidentally left something at the fabric shop in Washington, and I’d really like to get it.”
Noah and Lizzie exchanged a quick look.
“If it’s any trouble . . .”
“I’m happy to take you,” Noah said slowly, “but you know that under normal circumstances men and women who aren’t married are discouraged from being alone together.”
Lizzie snorted. “Another silly rule. You and Hope are like brother and sister.” She smiled at her husband. “I give you permission to take Hope with you. Does that help?”
“I guess it’s okay,” he said. “What about your father, Hope?”
I laughed. “Don’t worry about him. Papa loves you like a son. Let’s throw caution to the wind and not worry about the rules this once. Okay?”
“Maybe you can keep your head down as you leave town,” Lizzie said. “No one will know you’re in the truck.”
“If Hope comes with me, we won’t hide,” Noah said sharply.
Lizzie nodded at him. “You’re right. Sorry.”
I looked over at the clock on a nearby table. “We should be back in plenty of time for dinner, and Lizzie can tell Papa where I am if he comes back before we return.”
“Are you ready to go now?” Noah asked.
“I certainly am.” I was excited about getting the fabric so I could finish Noah and Lizzie’s quilt. I dismissed any concerns about what other people would think. Frankly, I was a little tired of worrying about the opinions of others. Trying to live up to everyone else’s standards was tiring, to say the least.
“You two get going and be careful,” Lizzie said. “I’ve got to get to the kitchen right this minute or I’ll have some very unhappy customers tonight.” She kissed Noah on the cheek. “I’ll see you both when you get back.” She took my hand in hers. “Why don’t you and Samuel come to dinner tonight? My treat.”
I shook my head. “Papa said he won’t take any more free meals from you. He says if you don’t quit giving away fre
e food, you’ll go broke.”
She laughed. “Your father shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. It might bite him.”
“He worries about you, Lizzie. You’re like his other daughter.”
“I know that, and I love him to pieces for it. But try to get him to come. Friday nights are fun around here.”
I had to chuckle at her comment. Most families spent the weekends at home, so Friday was the last chance for them to eat out and visit with their neighbors. It was so nice to see a business that was once frowned upon turn out to be such a blessing. Even Pastor Mendenhall and his wife liked to come on Friday nights.
“I’ll do my best.” I squeezed her hand. “Maybe I’ll see you later.”
Noah and I started for the stairs, but before I could get to the door, Lizzie grabbed my arm. “I’m so grateful to God that you’re okay,” she said, her breath catching. “I love you, Hope. Promise me you’ll stay safe. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
“I love you too, my friend, but you know we’re not supposed to make promises.”
“I know. Just tell me you’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be careful. Feel better?”
“A little.”
I gave her a quick hug before Noah and I headed down the stairs. When we reached the dining room I found Jonathon, Roger, Mary, and Sophie hunched over a table, talking. Noah told me he needed to make a quick run to the bathroom before we left, so I started toward the front door. Before I could get there, Jonathon jumped up and intercepted me.
“I’d really like a few minutes with you, Hope,” he said softly. “We need to talk.”
“I think we do too, but I’ve got an important errand to run right now. Papa and I are going over to Avery’s in the morning for the viewing. Then Papa will bring me back to town. He and some of the other men are going to Noah and Lizzie’s house tomorrow after lunch to work, so I’ll be alone. Why don’t you come by in the afternoon?”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
I could tell by the look on his face that he wanted to kiss me again, but I knew he would never do that in front of anyone else. I said good-bye and hurried out the door. I waited only a couple of minutes before Noah came out, and we got into his truck. When we reached the main road that led to town, I could see Noah and Lizzie’s house. The old Strauss home was only about a quarter of a mile from the intersection of the main road and the road to Kingdom. Even though I came this way once a month, I hadn’t really looked closely at it for quite some time. It was really coming along.