The Hearts of Middlefield Collection

by Kathleen Fuller

  “It’s not a Yankee party. It’s at the Schrocks’.”

  “I guarantee there’ll be more Yanks than Amish there.”

  “So?” Elisabeth was starting to see why Deborah thought her snobby. Aaron was coming across the same way. “You act like being around Yankees will give me a disease or something.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. That’s not what I mean. You know what goes on at those parties.”

  Elisabeth crossed her arms over her chest. She wore a navy blue sweater over her dress, but it did little to ward off the early spring chill in the air. “Since I’ve never been to one, I don’t.” She didn’t mention that she’d heard what happened at some of those parties, especially about the drinking. “And since when do you have the right to act like my big bruder? Or worse, my daed ?”

  “In this case I have every right.”

  “Nee, you don’t.” She brushed past him and went back inside the shop, straight to her office. When she tried to shut the door, he grabbed it, stopping her. “Will you just let it geh?”

  He stepped inside the office and closed the door behind him. “Nee. I won’t. Not until you tell me you aren’t going to the Schrocks’.”

  “I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about this.” She went to her desk and sat down, then picked up the accounts ledger. Maybe if she ignored him he would go away.

  “Because unlike you, I’ve been to these types of parties. And I know what goes on there.” When she didn’t respond, he went and stood beside her, not speaking.

  She finally looked up at him. “Deborah’s my friend, Aaron. She wouldn’t invite me if there was going to be trouble. And you haven’t attended every party in Middlefield. I’m sure this one will be fine.”

  “And what if it isn’t? What if there’s drinking? People using drugs? Girls and guys pairing off to go into cars or up in the hayloft? Because that’s what these kids do, Elisabeth. They get drunk and high. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what else they’re doing.”

  Her face heated, and she turned away. “I wouldn’t do something like that.”

  “When you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs—or both—you’re capable of anything.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of, and I’ve paid for them. With jail time, remember?”

  She turned and looked up at him, fully expecting to see his hardened expression. Instead, she saw regret.

  “You don’t want to get caught up in that, Elisabeth. Because I know how tempting all of that freedom is. All of the things we’ve been told not to do. Then once drugs and drink get ahold of you, it’s almost impossible to break free.”

  “You did it.”

  “Ya, and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. I went to rehab while I was in jail. And when I got out I had to fight the temptation to go back to my former life. To start drinking and using again. I’m still paying the consequences of those choices.”

  Under any other circumstances she would have appreciated that he had finally revealed something so important, but she couldn’t help but feel talked down to. “That’s you. I don’t drink, and I’ve never even seen a drug. And I can’t believe you think I’d go off with some guy and . . . and . . .” Anger took the words from her mouth. She gripped the ledger book until the sides bent. “I have work to do.”

  “Promise me you won’t geh to that party, Elisabeth.”

  The lowness of his voice, along with the intensity and a touch of pleading in his words, almost made her look at him again. But she held her ground and thrust open the account book, tapping random numbers on the calculator as if she were deeply involved in balancing the books. Only when she heard him leave, loudly shutting the door behind him, did she look up. Through the small window on the office door, she saw him storm off toward the forge.

  Hurt coursed through her. She couldn’t believe how little he thought of her. After all this time of working together, he thought she had so little character . . . so little common sense. Even when she had explained and defended herself, he still didn’t trust her enough to let the subject drop.

  And since when did he actually care what she did? He’d never expressed any interest in what she did outside of work, and he had done nothing but refuse the gestures of friendship she’d extended his way, their miniscule conversation at Carol and Christian’s wedding the one exception. What right did he have to tell her what to do?

  Well, she’d prove him wrong. She’d go to the party with Deborah tomorrow night, she’d have a good time, and she’d stay out of trouble. She’d show him she wasn’t as weak and stupid as he thought she was.

  “This is useless, Aaron.” Gabe picked up a warped horseshoe, the second of a pair of shoes Aaron had made a little over an hour ago, just after he had talked to Elisabeth. He had a feeling everything he said went right through her ears without sinking into that stubborn brain of hers.

  “Sorry.” He grabbed the shoe and its ruined match and tossed them into a pile of scrap. He’d recycle the shoes later, but he hated doing poor work. He had always taken pride in producing quality work for Gabe and his father. He never wanted to let them down.

  Gabe looked at him, his expression concerned. “You seem to have something on your mind. Anything you want to talk about?”

  Aaron shook his head. He didn’t want to worry Gabe about Elisabeth, and he held on to a thin reed of hope that what he’d said to her would make her change her mind. “I don’t want to get behind on that order for that farm down in Ravenna.”

  “All right.” Gabe touched Aaron’s shoulder. “But if you need anything, let me know. The work’s important, but not as important as familye.”

  He nodded, touched by Gabe’s words. “Danki.”

  Gabe patted him on the arm and walked away.

  For the rest of the day, Aaron tried not to think about Elisabeth going to the Schrocks’, but it took every ounce of his concentration to put her out of his mind. He’d never been so relieved when quitting time drew near.

  A few minutes after five o’clock, he saw Elisabeth walk out of the back office and exit the shop. Shoving his work gloves in his pockets, he went out after her. She might fight with him again, or even ignore him, but he had to give it one last shot. “Elisabeth. Wait.”

  She didn’t turn around, so he continued to go after her. When she finally stopped at the bottom of the Millers’ driveway, he moved to stand in front of her. The only way she could avoid him now was to turn her back on him and walk away. Fortunately she didn’t. “We need to finish our talk. I wanted—”

  “There’s nothing else to say.”

  Dusk had descended, and the sky was clear, turning the day’s brisk air downright cold. Not that the temperature would have an effect on certain social plans. For some of the kids, it was never too cold, too hot, or too much of anything to have a party. “I disagree. Let me take you home and we can discuss it.”

  “Stephen’s on his way to pick me up, so I already have a ride. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “Elisabeth, listen to me. I’m asking you—”

  “If you say ‘don’t geh to the party’ one more time, I’ll scream.” She glared at him. “It’s not up to you what I do.”

  “Nee, it’s not.”

  “Finally we agree on something.”

  “But in this case, I’m right.”

  “You only think you’re right.”

  Her words, laced with derision, bruised his ego, but he continued. “I don’t know what I can say to convince you—”

  “There’s nothing you can say. I’m not like you, Aaron Detweiler. I’m nothing like you. And on Monday morning I’ll be more than happy to tell you what a gut time I had at the party.” Elisabeth turned her head in the direction of the Bylers’ buggy as it pulled into the driveway. “There’s Stephen.”

  Aaron squinted, watching her dark figure disappear as she walked toward her brother. He had half a mind to go after her again, but he knew it would be
a lost cause. He could repeat himself until his voice gave out, but she’d made up her mind.

  As Stephen and Elisabeth drove away, he suddenly realized that his insistent stance had probably spurred her to attend. A couple of years ago, if someone had badgered him the same way, he would have thumbed his nose too.

  Chapter 8

  Deborah was right. Chase did have a “sweet” car. Elisabeth didn’t know very much about automobiles, but she liked the cherry color of Chase’s vehicle, including all the silvery chrome on the wheels and the front of the hood. Yet despite her appreciation for the car’s looks, she felt awkward climbing into the backseat.

  Deborah turned around in the front seat. “Chase,” she said, pointing to the driver. “This is my friend, Elisabeth. Elisabeth, meet Chase.”

  Chase glanced over his shoulder and grinned, revealing perfectly straight and impossibly white teeth.

  “Nice to meetcha,” he said.

  The overhead light in the car dimmed after Deborah shut the door, but in her quick assessment of him, she saw that his hair was cut short over his ears, with blond spiked tips dotting the crown of his head. He wore a hooded red sweatshirt.

  Deborah whirled around in the seat and looked at her. “I’m so glad you changed your mind and decided to come with us.” She pulled the bobby pins from her prayer kapp. “You’re going to have so much fun!”

  Elisabeth leaned forward. Keeping her voice low, she asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Taking this thing off.” She pulled the last of the pins out of the kapp and yanked it off, dropping it on the seat beside Chase. Then she took the pins and rubber band out of her long brown hair and let it flow down her back, shaking it out. “There. That feels much better.”

  “You shouldn’t do that,” Elisabeth said. “What if someone from church sees you?”

  “I don’t care. I haven’t joined the church yet, remember? Besides, there will be kids from church at the party, and I guarantee you I won’t be the only one without a kapp on. You should take yours off too.”

  “Nee.” Elisabeth didn’t care if she was the only one there with a kapp on, she wouldn’t be without it. She hadn’t joined the church either, but she planned to soon, and if word got back to the elders that she’d been out in public without her head covered, she would hear about it. She had gotten her fill of lectures today, thanks to Aaron.

  “You need to chill out, Elisabeth.” Deborah leaned her head back against the white leather upholstery. “Don’t be so uptight.”

  Elisabeth sat back in her seat, bewildered by her friend’s shift in attitude. Chase turned on the radio, and the thumping of the bass reverberated in her ears. She thought to tell him to turn it down, but she changed her mind. Even though she didn’t care for the music, she didn’t want to come off as a whiner. That would earn her a few more words from Deborah, and right now she’d rather her friend stay silent.

  Besides, when did Deborah get so wild? Elisabeth remembered when they both had turned sixteen, they and their group of friends had said they wouldn’t go crazy like a few other Amish teens did. Now Deborah seemed to have forgotten all about that discussion. Or maybe she didn’t care anymore.

  Aaron’s warnings came to mind, but she shoved them away. She wasn’t Deborah and she wasn’t him. If someone offered her a drink, she’d refuse. If they wanted her to try drugs, she’d say no. She wasn’t tempted by those things. There was no reason why she couldn’t attend this party, hang out with people, and have a good time without getting sucked into all that.

  When they showed up at the Schrocks’, Chase bypassed the driveway and maneuvered his car through the side yard, then back to the barn where other cars and buggies were parked on the grass. Elisabeth peered out of the backseat window. Someone had started a bonfire, and she could see several kids standing around it, talking and laughing as tendrils of smoke stretched up toward the sky. The kids were a mix of Amish and Yankee, and all had cups or bottles in their hands.

  Chase killed the engine. He turned to Deborah, then to Elisabeth. The flickering light of the fire shone through the car window and reflected on his face. “Ready to party?”

  “Ya.” Deborah flung open the door and scrambled out of the car.

  Elisabeth slowly got out of the car, all her confidence disintegrating. A weird sensation came over her, as if she were itching from the inside out. As she looked around, she didn’t recognize anyone. She saw a couple of girls who, like Deborah, had removed their kapps. They stood next to three other young women who had kept their head coverings on. At first glance she noticed more guys than girls, more Yankees than Amish. The more she surveyed the scene in front of her, she realized the males outnumbered the females by a long shot.

  “C’mon,” Deborah said, taking Elisabeth’s arm and interlocking their elbows together. “I’ll introduce you to some of the gang.”

  Gang? How long had Deborah been hanging out with these people?

  Deborah dragged Elisabeth to the group of kids hanging by the fire. Elisabeth crossed her arms as she was introduced to everyone. The heat from the fire felt good on her chilly body but did little to relieve the anxiety churning inside her. Right after the introductions, Deborah pulled Elisabeth over to two Yankee couples leaning against a dark-colored car. The air surrounding them reeked of smoke, and not from the smoke of the bonfire. Deborah’s introductions were so hasty, Elisabeth didn’t remember anyone. She let her friend lead her around like a lost puppy, then straight to the barn.

  A gas-powered light hissed inside, illuminating the massive barn. The scent of hay overpowered everything, but she didn’t detect a single sign of animals. Apparently, the barn was for storage only. Deborah took her to the left side of the barn, where bits of straw and hay littered the floor. She saw several coolers with open lids packed with ice and beverages.

  “Take your pick.” Deborah pointed to a large blue plastic cooler. “That one holds the beer and wine coolers. The green one has the harder stuff. You know, tequila, rum, vodka.”

  “Is that all there is to drink?”

  Deborah gave her an incredulous look. “What else do you need?”

  Elisabeth pulled Deborah to the side. “When did you start drinking?” she whispered.

  “Elisabeth, don’t be such a prude.” Deborah’s tone was cutting. “There’s nothing wrong with having a beer or a wine cooler every once in a while.”

  “Ya, there is. And I’m not touching any of that stuff. What about pop? Or bottled water, at least?” If there wasn’t anything nonalcoholic, she wouldn’t drink at all.

  “Over there.” Deborah waved to a small red cooler, then walked toward it. She flipped open the lid. “I think there’s some diet in here,” she said bending over. Her brown hair fell around her face like a curtain. She stood up and handed Elisabeth a generic diet soda. “Here you go.”

  “Aren’t you going to have some?”

  “Nee, I’m getting a beer. Oh, look. Standing over there by Chase. That’s Randy.”

  Elisabeth followed Deborah’s gaze. A young man wearing a plain white Amish shirt, black coat, and broadfall pants was in deep conversation with Chase. Although he dressed Amish, he had a Yankee haircut, and he held an amber bottle in his hand. Both guys looked up at Elisabeth and Deborah. Randy lifted his hand in a small wave.

  “Who’s Randy?”

  “Only the cutest guy in Middlefield. Isn’t he gorgeous? Oh, and he’s waving us over. Come on, I’ll introduce you to him.”

  Elisabeth shook her head, a sudden attack of nerves hitting her. She’d never been shy, but she wasn’t eager to meet Randy either. “I’m okay. You go on. I’ll sit over there and drink my soda.”

  Deborah put her hands on her hips. “I didn’t bring you out here to be a wallflower, Elisabeth.”

  “I won’t be a wallflower, I promise. Just let me ease into the party slowly.”

  “Okay. Fair enough. Do you mind if I geh see Randy? I’m dying to know what he wants.”

  Elisabeth nodded, r
elieved her friend bought her excuse. “Have fun.”

  Deborah grinned. “I’m sure I will.”

  After Deborah flounced away, Elisabeth scanned the barn, looking for a place to sit down. Most everyone seemed content to hang out by the bonfire or the coolers, but she wasn’t eager to join either group. She spied a couple of small stacks of square hay bales in the corner. No one was around, so she sat down, unnoticed by the partygoers, who didn’t seem to care whether she was there or not.

  She definitely wasn’t having fun.

  Not that she would have admitted it to anyone, and especially not Aaron, but she should have heeded his advice. Next time Deborah invited her to a party, she would refuse. Her friend could drag someone else next time.

  She slowly sipped her soda, feeling more out of place and uncomfortable with each passing minute. Teens and young adults came in and out of the barn, most of the guys grabbing beers, while the girls took wine coolers. After about twenty minutes a few guys broke into the “hard stuff ” and started pouring bottles of different colored liquids into red and blue plastic cups. She had no idea which drink was which. She’d never been around alcohol; no one drank at her house. She didn’t understand why anyone wanted to drink liquor anyway—the couple of guys who took a sip made funny faces afterward, sometimes even yelling out loud, as if the liquid hurt going down their throats.

  She set her can down on the hay bale next to her. Although it was cold outside, the barn was fairly warm, and she removed her coat then crossed her arms over her dark blue sweater. Deborah had disappeared from the barn with Randy, leaving her alone. Aaron’s warning about the hayloft entered her mind, and she didn’t want to think about what Deborah and Randy were doing. What she wanted was to go home. The Schrocks lived several miles from her house, but if she couldn’t find someone to take her home, she’d walk.

  She moved to get up when she saw Chase approach, two cups in his hand.