Guardian, the

by Beverly Lewis

  Jodi skipped the makeup after her shower to feel better suited for her visit. And before heading out, she jotted down some grammar tips for Toby, including some easy jingles she’d made up for her students last year.

  She jumped when her cell phone rang. It was her father.

  I’ll just listen for a change, she thought, feeling bad about ignoring him and Mom all last evening.

  “Hi, Dad,” she answered. “Nice to hear your voice . . .”

  “Yours too, honey,” he said. “I’ve been thinking.”

  She held her breath as he forged ahead, saying he’d heard from Trent about her job being cut. Like any loving father might, he apologized profusely. But then, not realizing it was putting her in a tight spot, he offered her the job Trent had mentioned.

  “Dad, that’s really nice of you.”

  “Well then, say yes.”

  This was hard—Jodi didn’t want to be in the position of saying no to her own father, yet she also couldn’t accept only to please him. “I really need to think about it.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you a week to come up with the right answer. How’s that?”

  There was such optimism in his voice.

  “Sure, that’s fair,” she said, wishing there was a way out that wouldn’t disappoint him.

  For the life of her, Maryanna could not get Sarah to move away from the front room window. She’d sat there on the wide windowsill for a solid half hour already. “Why don’t ya go over and see Mammi Emmie.”

  “I’m waiting for my angel,” her daughter replied.

  “You might have to sit there all morning, then.”

  Sarah said she didn’t mind. And Maryanna shrugged, still stumped at her evident fascination.

  “Have ya done your chores yet?” she asked.

  “Jah,” Sarah replied.

  “So gschwind?—So quickly?”

  Sarah nodded, her gaze still fixed on the road.

  Maryanna kissed the top of her little head, her heart swelling with happiness yet again. “Sure ya don’t want to help make some ice cream for the noon meal?”

  Sarah turned and nodded her head, eyes sparkling. But she made it clear she wanted to help turn the crank while sitting at the table. “So I can watch for my Jodi angel,” Sarah replied.

  “You really think she’s heaven-sent?” Maryanna managed to say.

  “Don’t you, Mamma?”

  “The Lord watches over His children, for sure,” Maryanna replied. “He uses many ways to do so.”

  Sarah’s smile was priceless.

  “Did ya have a nice visit with your grandparents yesterday?”

  “Dawdi Zeke read me a Bible story and put honey on my toast.” Sarah beamed. “Did you tell him to do that, Mamma?”

  Maryanna nodded. Such a bright little thing.

  “Does Jodi like honey toast with cinnamon, too?”

  “Why don’t ya ask her when she comes?”

  Sarah’s head bobbed up and down. “I can’t wait to see her again, Mamma.”

  “I know, dear one,” replied Maryanna. “I know.”

  It crossed Joshua’s mind that Ida Fisher might have been encouraged to walk past his house around the time of mail delivery. After all, Preacher Yoder’s youngest sister was a close friend of Ida’s, and the preacher had gone so far yesterday as to single Ida out. So Joshua was quite certain the encounter on the road a bit ago was not a coincidence.

  He was heading out to the barn to feed, water, and groom his livestock when he saw the same blue car pulling into Maryanna Esh’s driveway. This, too, could not be a mere coincidence.

  He wasn’t sure of the make of the vehicle, but the car looked identical to the one parked over there yesterday for hours. Was the Englischer smitten with Amish farm life? Or had Maryanna unwisely invited her back to visit?

  He feared the latter considering Preacher Yoder’s advice—it was about time to think of marrying again.

  Mighty interesting of Ida to stop by. But it was the thought of Maryanna that tugged on his heart. Still, if Maryanna Esh rejected him, maybe he ought to think about Ida Fisher instead.

  Can I give Ida my whole heart, if she’ll even have me? Joshua shoved open the barn door. He drew a sigh as he stood there, able to see a dark-haired English woman being greeted by Tobias and little Sarah.

  Well, what do ya know? Joshua shook his head, not sure what to think.

  Chapter 22

  Little Sarah and her brother Toby were walking back from the barn when Jodi arrived at the Esh farmhouse that Saturday morning. She reached across to the passenger seat for her list of lighthearted grammar tips and took it with her as she got out. She heard Sarah’s happy calls first—“Jodi . . . Jodi!”—then was welcomed enthusiastically by both children, who ran across the yard to her. Jodi had a hard time concealing her surprise when Toby stuck his hand out for her to shake.

  “We meet again,” she said, smiling. “Hi, Toby and Sarah.”

  “Guder Mariye, Engel,” Sarah said, grinning up at her and looking as lovable as she had yesterday.

  “She’s told everyone you’re her angel,” Toby said.

  Jodi chuckled. “Well, I’ve been called lots of things, but never that.”

  “What’s in your hand?” Toby asked.

  “Ever hear the song ‘The Farmer in the Dell’?” Jodi asked him.

  He shook his head no.

  “Well, it’s real easy. Here, I’ll teach you.” She leaned against the car door and sang it on the syllable lah. After that, she hummed it a second time and was tickled when Toby and Sarah tried to chime in. By the third time, they had the melody down pat. “Now, even though Sarah won’t understand the English words I made up for this tune, you will, Toby.”

  He rubbed his hands together fast, eyes alert. “Jah, teach it to me.”

  “Okay, remember what we just hummed?”

  He nodded eagerly.

  “All right. I’ll add words to the tune we just learned.” And she began. “Person, place, or thing. Person, place, or thing. These are nouns for us to sing: person, place, or thing.”

  The children’s eyes twinkled, and Toby’s head dipped and swayed to the song.

  “There’s more,” she said. “Listen.” And she continued on to the second stanza of her made-up ditty. “Sarah, house, and nose; Toby, garden, rose. These are nouns for us to sing. See how knowledge grows!”

  Toby’s smile spread across his face. “I like it. Sing it again.”

  So she did, and he immediately joined in.

  Sarah tried to sing along, especially at the part where her name came in.

  “See?” Jodi said. “Learning grammar is fun.”

  Toby stepped closer. “I’m awful sorry I said I hate it yesterday.” His face reddened. “Mamma said I should apologize . . . and I wanted to, anyways,” he admitted. “Will ya sing the song again?” he asked as he motioned them toward the house. “I want Mamma to hear it.”

  If only Dad could see me now! Jodi thought. He’d always said, “Once a teacher, always a teacher.”

  Jodi folded her notes and stuffed them into the pocket of Paige’s pale blue skirt. She wished Sarah spoke English. Despite that, Jodi seemed able to convey some of her meaning a good part of the time.

  “Come inside,” Toby said. “Mamma’s waitin’ for ya.”

  Sarah babbled something to Toby and pulled on his arm.

  “My sister wants me to tell ya she’s getting a new doll today,” Toby said. “Mamma’s makin’ it to replace the one she lost.”

  Sarah added something, and Toby again translated for Jodi. “She’s naming her doll Engel, after you.”

  Jodi smiled, pleased. “Tell her that’s sweet.”

  He frowned, clearly confused. “Like sugar?”

  “No, like very nice.”

  “Oh,” he said and told little Sarah, who reached for Jodi’s hand as they entered the kitchen filled with the yeasty, wonderful aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

  “You’re just in tim
e for warm sticky buns,” Maryanna Esh declared when she saw Jodi there with the children. She wore a green dress with a black full apron, and her golden hair was neatly tucked in a bun beneath the white net cap, just it had been yesterday.

  “A mornin’ snack, jah?” Toby said, rushing to the counter, where a whole sheet of rolls was cooling.

  “Wash your hands first,” Maryanna urged. “Those Pattie have been out in the barn and all.”

  Toby made a detour to the washing basin, and Sarah followed behind, pulling up a stepstool and climbing on.

  Maryanna invited Jodi to sit at the table. “We’re glad you could drop by,” she said, sounding a bit more reserved than yesterday.

  “Thank you.” Jodi watched the two children jabbering at the sink and wondered what was being said. Then they surprised her and burst out with the tune, Sarah humming as Toby sang, “Person, place, or thing . . .”

  “For goodness’ sake, where’d they learn that?” Maryanna asked, looking back at Jodi.

  “Sarah’s angel made it up,” Toby told his mother, drying his hands on his pants as he came over to the table.

  “Facts set to music are a quick way for children to learn,” Jodi explained.

  “Why, sure . . . you’re a teacher.” Maryanna didn’t seem to know what to make of her children singing and showing off. “I nearly forgot.”

  “Well, I was,” Jodi said, then wished she hadn’t.

  “You ain’t now?” Toby asked.

  “She isn’t,” Maryanna corrected.

  “Aren’t,” said Toby, grinning.

  “It’s a long story,” Jodi replied as she finally took a seat at the table.

  “Well, all of us enjoy a story, that’s for sure,” Maryanna urged.

  Jodi nodded, watching Sarah and Toby take turns getting their cinnamon rolls. “I lost my teaching position recently.”

  “Oh?” Maryanna took a bite of her cinnamon roll.

  “Budget cuts in the school district—not enough children enrolled to justify having as many teachers.”

  “You look sad ’bout it.”

  “Do I?” Jodi nodded. “Well, my principal notified me just yesterday, so the news is still sinking in. But I’m going to try for another school.”

  “Des gut. Teachers are important, jah?”

  Jodi agreed. “My whole family’s involved in education.”

  Maryanna reached for her cup of coffee. Then, after taking a sip, she nearly gasped. “Ach, I’m ever so sorry! Would ya like coffee or something hot with your roll?”

  “Water’s fine, thanks.”

  Instantly, Maryanna rose from the bench. “I hope you find a gut school come fall,” she said at the sink.

  Jodi nodded. “So do I.”

  “If you were Amish, you might step in and take Rosaleen’s place, just maybe. Since she’s newly engaged.”

  Toby’s eyes lit up, and he leaped up from his chair. “Oh, can she, Mamma?”

  “Mind your manners and take your seat,” Maryanna said, snapping her fingers.

  “Sorry, Mamma.” He sat quickly.

  Maryanna set a tumbler of tap water on the table before Jodi, and Sarah came around to her. She whispered something to her mother.

  “She’d like ya to see her new dolly, but I’m not quite done with it,” Maryanna explained.

  “That’s all right.”

  “It was goin’ to be faceless like most of her dolls,” Maryanna told Jodi, “but Sarah wants her to look like you.”

  Jodi smiled.

  “She even wants her dolly to wear a tiny gold bracelet.” Maryanna pointed to Jodi’s right arm. “Sarah said you wore it even when you helped her in the bath.”

  Jodi tensed. She wasn’t ready to talk about her deceased sister. “It’s a special piece of jewelry” was all she cared to say. But knowing that Sarah had been so observant endeared the little Amish girl to her all the more.

  “Mamma,” said Toby, looking at his mother, “is it okay for me to say something ’bout the last teacher we had?” His tone was meek.

  “Gut manners are very important.” Maryanna put more sugar in her coffee after she again took her place at the table. “It might be best if ya wait, since we have a guest now, son.”

  “Jah, but all the other pupils would say it, too.”

  Maryanna’s brow rose—she looked frazzled. “What is it, Tobias?”

  “Rosaleen’s beau sometimes visited her during lunch recess—just the two of ’em in the schoolhouse.”

  Maryanna shook her head. “Ach! Such a breach of principle.”

  “Benny told her beau he’d get her fired if he didn’t quit stoppin’ by.”

  “And did the young man return?” asked Maryanna, her neck reddening.

  “The very next day, jah.”

  “Well, then, it’s a gut thing Rosaleen won’t be teachin’ this school year.”

  Toby bit into his cinnamon roll and nodded. Then he reached for his glass of milk and washed down his mouthful.

  “These courting couples,” Maryanna muttered almost under her breath.

  Jodi assumed she should stay out of this conversation. It certainly seemed as though Maryanna had forgotten she had an outsider sitting at the table.

  Toby began to sing Jodi’s song quietly. “Person, place, or thing. Person, place, or thing. These are nouns for us to sing: person, place, or thing.”

  Little Sarah burst into giggles next to him.

  As tense as the atmosphere had been, Jodi eased into a smile, too. Toby knows what a noun is now . . . and both children can sing on pitch!

  Chapter 23

  Maryanna didn’t have the heart to tell Tobias and Sarah in front of the Englischer that she wasn’t too keen on their singing worldly songs, even for the purpose of learning grammar. She was still mum on the subject when she set about clearing the table later with the help of Leda, as well as Jodi, of all people.

  Then, when the dishes were in the soapy water, she finally went upstairs and brought down Sarah’s unfinished doll to show Jodi. “I marked where her features will go.” She pointed to the doll’s right wrist. “And the bracelet.”

  Jodi glanced at her own wrist. “What will you use?”

  “Tiny gold rickrack ought to work,” said Maryanna. “If I can find some at the Hickory Hollow General Store, that is.”

  “Well, if you don’t, I’ll be glad to drive you to look elsewhere,” Jodi suggested.

  “It’s very nice of you to offer,” Maryanna said to Jodi. “We’ll see what Preacher Yoder has on hand at his store.”

  “Your minister works there?” Jodi seemed puzzled.

  “We don’t have paid ministers,” Maryanna explained. “If a man is chosen by lot—by divine appointment—to become a deacon or a preacher, then he continues what he’s been doing for his livelihood.”

  Jodi nodded as if she understood, but her greenish eyes studied Maryanna as if still taking in what she’d said.

  “I’m sure it’s real different with your minister.”

  Jodi looked slightly embarrassed. “Actually, I don’t attend church anymore.”

  Maryanna was stunned. “Sorry to hear it.” She couldn’t imagine not going to Preaching, so central to the life of her family and community. She shooed the children out of the kitchen—outdoors—and held up the doll, looking it over. Then she handed it to Jodi. “What do ya think? Does she look like you?”

  The Englischer scrutinized the doll closely, her eyebrows rising. “Sure . . . other than her Amish clothes.”

  “Well, Sarah wants her to resemble you, but she also wants her to look Amish.”

  “And what Sarah wants, she gets?” Jodi surprised her by saying.

  “Ain’t that the truth!” Maryanna glanced out the window to see her sister Mollie and more of her family with her today. “Looks like Mollie’s here for her African violets. Come, you can meet the rest of her children.”

  Jodi handed the doll back to her.

  “Mollie’s gonna wonder ’bout this dol
l, let me tell ya,” Maryanna said, placing it on the hutch across from the table.

  Smiling, Jodi followed her outside. And as they hurried to greet Mollie—all four of her girls had squeezed into the carriage this time—Maryanna could feel in her bones that the brunette woman had been sent their way for a reason.

  Joshua Peachey had never seen anything like it, and he told his neighbors so when Paul Hostetler and Nate Kurtz dropped by to help him get things ready for church tomorrow. Hot as it had been, it was a better idea to set up the church benches in the barn than the house.

  “Just look over there,” Joshua said as he pointed to Maryanna Esh’s place, where the Englischer was sitting in the gazebo with a whole bunch of children, mostly girls.

  “Who is the brunette woman, and what’s she doin’?” asked Paul, moseying over nosy-like toward the horse fence separating Joshua’s driveway from the paddock.

  “’Tis the young woman who found Sarah and brought her home to us,” Joshua said. “Er . . . to her mother.” He felt his face flush red, but neither of the men caught it while gawking at the sight across the pasture.

  “Looks like she’s teaching them something,” Paul said.

  Nate mumbled something indistinct.

  “Wonder where Maryanna and her parents are,” Paul added.

  Joshua wasn’t about to say he’d seen Maryanna at her folks’ place not long ago, while he was out pulling weeds along the side of his house. Things there were getting out of hand, and his wilting flowers looked pitiful.

  “Doubt Zeke and Emmie know,” Nate said.

  Joshua smiled. “Oh, but they must,” he insisted. “Mollie drove in with her girls just a few minutes ago.”

  Now Paul turned to cast a searching look at him before leaning on the fence again, seeming lost in thought. Nate, however, still faced the Esh farm.

  “Are either of you planning to run in the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon?” asked Joshua, suddenly feeling a need to direct the subject away from his neighbor.