A few minutes later, she heard the front door open and click shut. Thinking one of her pupils had forgotten something, she kept on cleaning.
“How’d the first day of school go?”
Leona whirled around at the sound of Abner Lapp’s deep voice. “Oh, it’s you. I thought maybe one of the kinner had come back.”
Abner removed his straw hat and grinned. “Just came by to pick up my bruder.” He scanned the room. “Looks like I got here too late, though.”
She nodded. “The scholars left several minutes ago. If Emanuel didn’t cut through the Zooks’ cornfield, you might catch him along the road on your way home.”
Abner shuffled his feet a couple of times, which brought him closer to where Leona stood. “Sure was plenty warm today, jah?”
“Hot and humid,” she agreed.
“How’s your daed doin’? Any of his memory comin’ back yet?”
“Not really. There are times when he says or does something that makes us believe he might remember some things from his adult life, but then he starts acting like a boy again.”
Abner twisted the brim of his hat. “Sure is a shame to see him like that.”
Leona’s only reply was a quick nod. She didn’t feel like discussing Papa’s condition right now. All she wanted to do was go home and relax on the front porch with a glass of iced tea and her best friend, Cinnamon.
“It seems odd to go to church and not hear our own bishop preachin’,” Abner continued. “He used to be such a fine man.”
Leona bristled. “He still is a fine man. He’s just lost in the past, that’s all.” She didn’t know why she felt the need to defend her daed—especially since she, too, had been having such miserable thoughts about him.
Abner took another step toward her. “I meant no disrespect. And I sure didn’t mean for you to get all riled.”
“I’m not riled.” As the words slipped off Leona’s tongue, she knew they weren’t true. She was riled. In fact, talking about Papa’s predicament made her feel edgy and depressed. As time went on and they continued to see little or no improvement, she became more convinced that her daed would never remember he was Bishop Jacob Weaver and not a little boy.
Abner touched Leona’s arm, and she jumped. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle ya. You just look so sad, and I was wonderin’ if there’s anything I can do to help.”
She shook her head. “There’s not much anyone can do except God, and He seems to be looking the other way these days.”
Abner’s forehead wrinkled. “I can’t believe I’m hearin’ that kind of talk from the bishop’s daughter.”
Leona stared at the floor. She didn’t feel close enough to Abner to bare her soul, and she didn’t want him feeling sorry for her. “I—uh—should be getting home,” she mumbled.
“Jah, me, too.” Abner plopped his hat back on his head and pivoted toward the door.
When she heard the door click shut, she released a sigh. Did everyone in the community think like Abner did—that she wasn’t a good bishop’s daughter because she couldn’t accept her daed’s accident and had lost faith in God?
“Well, they can think whatever they want,” she mumbled as tears pushed against her eyelids. “No one understands all that I’m going through right now.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind me leaving the store a little early today?” Naomi asked Caleb as she set her black bonnet in place over her white kapp.
He shook his head. “I know you’re anxious to hear how the kinner did in school, and since Sarah and Susan are here to help, we’ll get along fine.”
She smiled, feeling grateful to be married to such a good man. “If I leave right now, I may be able to catch them before they get to your folks’ place.”
Caleb chuckled. “Knowing Josh and Nate, they’re probably halfway there by now.”
Naomi’s smile turned upside down. “They’d better not have left Millie to walk alone.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t do that.” Caleb opened the back door and leaned down to kiss Naomi on the cheek. “See you at supper time.”
“I’ll make sure it’s ready on time.” Naomi hurried down the steps and out to the corral where they kept their horse and buggy. She was soon on her way. A short time later, she turned onto the road where the one-room schoolhouse was located. It was the same school she’d attended when she was a girl.
So much has occurred in my life since then, Naomi mused. If I had known all that would happen once I became a woman, I might not have been in such a hurry to grow up. She clucked to the horse to get him moving faster, determined not to dwell on the past. But then she thought about her daed and how he still acted cool toward her. I’ve asked his forgiveness for hiding Zach’s quilt. What more can I do?
Naomi noticed several children walking along the shoulder of the road, but there was no sign of her three. She’d just reached the entrance to the school yard when she spotted Leona’s buggy pulling out, so she tugged on the reins and guided her horse to the side of the road.
“If you came to pick up your kinner, they’ve already headed for home,” Leona called as she drew near.
“I figured as much, but I thought I might catch ’em walking along the way.”
“That’s probably the case.”
“How’d the first day of school go? Did my three behave themselves?”
Leona nodded. “No problems with discipline, although Millie didn’t seem very interested in learning.”
Naomi frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When I tried to get her to write the letters of the alphabet, she got several of them mixed up and acted as if she didn’t want to try.”
“Maybe she was too nervous to concentrate. During breakfast this morning, she expressed some concern about her first day of school.”
“That’s probably all it was,” Leona agreed. “I’m sure in a couple of days she’ll be fine.”
Naomi opened her mouth to reply, but a noisy truck pulled alongside her rig. Jimmy Scott, wearing a straw hat like the Amish men wore this time of the year, leaned out the window and offered them a friendly wave.
If Jimmy had a different haircut and wore suspenders, he would almost look Amish, Naomi noted. I wonder if he’s wearing that hat to keep the sun out of his eyes, or if he’s trying to fit in with the fellows he works with.
“Are you on your way home or heading to a job?” Leona asked, nodding at Jimmy through his open window.
“I’m basically done for the day, but Arthur asked me to drop by your folks’ place and see about painting their kitchen.”
“I thought Arthur was planning to do the painting for us.”
“He was, but he’s been busy with other jobs and doesn’t think he’ll get around to it for several weeks, so I told him I’d be happy to do it.”
Naomi couldn’t help but notice the eager smile Jimmy offered Leona—or the one that Leona gave Jimmy in return. It made her wonder if her daed had been right when he’d mentioned to Caleb recently that he thought the Englisher had too much interest in Jacob’s daughter. Of course, she reasoned, Papa might be jealous because Jacob seems to enjoy Jimmy’s company these days more than he does Papa’s.
“I’m heading home now, Jimmy,” Leona said. “So if you’d like to meet me there, I can show you what needs to be done.”
“That would be great.” He gave the steering wheel a couple of taps. “If you want to go ahead of me, I’ll drive slow and follow you.”
“All right then. See you at the house.” Leona got her horse moving and turned onto the main road. Jimmy pulled out behind her.
Naomi clucked her tongue. I’ve not seen Leona smile at any fellow that way since Ezra died. Maybe Papa’s right. Maybe there is cause for concern.
Traffic was sparse on this sunny stretch of road, and through the undercarriage of Leona’s buggy, Jimmy could see the horse’s feet clopping briskly along. As he drove slowly behind Leona, he thought about how much he enjoyed being with her. Leona was pretty in a pl
ain sort of way, and even though she wore glasses some of the time, it didn’t detract from her natural beauty. It’s good to see her smiling today, he thought. She’s been so sad since her dad’s accident.
Jimmy’s cell phone rang, and he grabbed it off the seat. “Hello.”
“Hi, son. How are you?”
“I’m a little bit sunburned and kind of thirsty right now, but other than that, I’m doing okay,” he said with little enthusiasm. I wish he would quit calling. It only adds to my frustration.
“I—uh—had lunch with a friend of yours the other day.”
“Oh? Who was that?”
“Holly Simmons, the lady who goes to your church. You know—the one who owns the health food store at the mall.”
A ray of hope flickered in Jimmy’s soul. If his dad was getting friendly with Holly, maybe he would see the light and start going to church, which was exactly where he needed to be if he was ever going to see his need for Christ.
“Jimmy, are you still there?”
“Yeah.”
“Holly invited me to attend an AA meeting with her.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“I said I wasn’t an alcoholic and could quit drinking any time I wanted.”
“You really believe that?”
“Well, I—”
Jimmy tapped the brake pedal a few times, realizing that he was getting too close to the back of Leona’s buggy. “If you can quit drinking on your own, then why don’t you?” he asked, feeling his irritation mount further.
“I will—when I’m ready.” There was a long pause, and then Jim asked, “So, what’s new with you? Any luck finding your Amish family?”
“No. I’ve struck out at every place I’ve looked, and I’m beginning to wonder if I should forget about trying to find them and concentrate only on helping the Weavers.”
Jim grunted. “Maybe you should come home and forget about trying to rescue that family.”
Jimmy tensed as his face grew hotter, and he knew it wasn’t from the sunburn he’d gotten earlier today. He needed to get off the phone before he said something he might regret.
“I miss you, son, and it’s awful lonely here without you.”
It’s not my fault you’re alone or can’t deal with your guilt. I didn’t ask to be kidnapped, and I shouldn’t have to pay for your trickery or lack of selfcontrol where your drinking’s concerned. “I’ve got to hang up now. Bye.”
Jimmy followed Leona up her driveway, feeling a sense of relief to be off the phone. Maybe now he could concentrate on something more positive.
He turned off the ignition and hopped out of the truck the minute her horse stopped in front of the barn. “Want me to put him away for you?” he called to Leona.
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not a bit. Eli’s been teaching me how to handle his horse, and I’ve even driven his buggy a couple of times.”
She smiled and nodded toward the house. “I’ll go inside and fix us a glass of iced tea. Then, as soon as you get the horse put away, we can cool down with our drinks before you look at the kitchen to see what needs to be done.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The sun beat upon Leona’s back, causing rivulets of sweat to trickle down her spine. She hurried for the house, anxious to get out of the intense heat.
She stepped into the kitchen a few minutes later and found it empty. By the time Jimmy came in, she had two glasses of cold tea and a plate of peanut butter cookies waiting on the table.
He removed his straw hat, placing it on the nearest wall peg. “I got a little too much sun today, so a cold drink will hit the spot.”
Leona studied his face and realized that it was quite red. “Let me get something to put on that burn,” she said, heading for the refrigerator.
“You keep sunburn medicine in there?”
“It’s aloe vera, and it feels better going on if it’s cold.”
“Ah, I see.” Jimmy took a seat at the table and gulped down half of his iced tea before she returned with the leaf from an aloe plant that had been sliced open.
“Would you like me to put it on for you?” Leona asked. “Or would you rather do it yourself ?”
“You can see better where I need it the most, so if you don’t mind, I’d be much obliged.” Jimmy leaned his head back and closed his eyes as Leona gently slathered the gel on his face.
When her fingers made contact with his warm skin, it sent unexpected shivers all the way up her arm. What’s wrong with me? Why should being close to this man make me feel so giddy? For an unguarded moment, she let herself imagine what it would be like to be courted by Jimmy.
Drawing in a deep breath, she ordered her runaway heart to be still. I’m just attracted to him because he’s been so kind and helpful since Papa’s accident.
“That feels better all ready. Danki,” he said, pulling her thoughts aside.
She pulled her hand back and stared at him. “You said ‘thank you’ in Pennsylvania Dutch.”
He grinned up at her. “Eli’s been teaching me that, too.”
“It’s good,” she said.
“Jah, is gut.”
She nodded. “Yes, it’s good.”
Feeling the need to put some distance between them, Leona moved aside. She sat in the chair across from Jimmy and took a drink of her iced tea. It was hard to make sensible conversation or think straight with him looking at her in such a peculiar way. The only sound to break the silence was the steady tick-tock of the battery-operated clock on the wall and the persistent hum of the propane-operated refrigerator.
After Jimmy had eaten a few cookies and finished his tea, he pushed away from the table and stood. “Thanks for the refreshments and the sunburn remedy.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Guess I’d better see what needs to be painted in here.”
“I didn’t realize you’d come home already,” Mom said, stepping into the room. “Your daed’s taking a nap, and I was resting on the sofa. Must have dozed off and didn’t hear you come in.”
The whites of Mom’s eyes were red, and the skin around them was kind of puffy, making Leona wonder if things hadn’t gone well with Papa today. She was about to voice her concerns when Mom squeezed Leona’s arm and said, “I’m so sorry to be tellin’ you this, daughter, but Cinnamon is dead.”
Leona sat there several seconds as she let her mamm’s words sink in. My dog can’t be dead. Cinnamon was alive this morning when I went to the barn to get the buggy horse. She hasn’t even been sick.
“I’m awful sorry,” Mom said, shaking her head. “It was an accident, plain and simple.”
“Wh–what happened?” Leona rasped.
“Your dog ran into the road and was hit by a car.”
Leona’s spine went rigid, and tears gathered in her eyes, wetting her lashes and threatening to spill over. “Cinnamon never goes into the road. I’ve trained her to stay on our property.”
Mom pulled out the chair beside Leona and sat down. “Your daed was outside playing with his goat, and then Cinnamon came along and got in on the act. The goat chased the poor dog around the barn so many times I feared they would both get dizzy.” She paused and drew in a quick breath. “I kept calling to the dog, and your daed chased after the goat. But the two of them ignored us and ran down the driveway and into the road. Then a car came whizzing past, and Cinnamon—”
Leona held her hands tightly against her ears, hoping to drown out her mother’s next words.
“Cinnamon was killed instantly, and the goat ran into the cornfield with your daed right behind him.”
Leona clenched her fists and tightened her features as she screamed, “This was Papa’s fault!”
“I don’t think you should put the blame on your dad’s shoulders,” Jimmy spoke up.
She looked at him, but tears clouded her vision. In the pain of hearing about Cinnamon’s death, she’d almost forgotten Jimmy was in the room. “If Papa had been at work, the way he used to b
e, this would not have happened.”
“Leona, please be reasonable,” Mom said. “It’s not your daed’s fault he had an accident and lost his memory. And he’s not to blame for the car hitting your dog, either.”
Leona trembled as she fought for control. Mom didn’t understand the way she felt. She never had. “Where is she? Where’s Cinnamon now?”
“Your daed wanted to bury the poor dog, but I knew you’d want to see her first. So after he captured the goat, I had him move Cinnamon’s body to the barn.”
Leona stood, and with a convulsing sob, she rushed out the door.
Jimmy started after her, but Lydia reached out a hand to stop him. “I think it’s best to let her go. She needs time to be alone and think things through.”
“I can’t believe she would blame Jacob for this. Doesn’t she realize it wasn’t his fault that the animals ran into the road?”
Lydia shrugged as a swirl of emotions spun around in her head. “Leona’s been moody and depressed ever since her boyfriend died, and then, after Jacob’s accident—well, I think she blames God for allowing it all to happen. I’m afraid if her daed’s memory never returns, she might spend the rest of her life angry at God and leery of establishing any close relationships for fear of losing the one she loves.”
Jimmy slowly shook his head, and Lydia wondered what he might be thinking, but before she could ask, the sound of heavy footsteps clomping outside the kitchen turned her attention to the door leading to the hallway. A few seconds later, Jacob entered the room with his arms stretched above his head. When he spotted Jimmy, he rushed over to the table and pulled out a chair. “I didn’t know you was comin’ here today. Did ya want to go fishin’? I’ll bet Mama would fix us a picnic supper to take along.”
“I can’t go fishing this evening, Jacob,” Jimmy said. “I came by to look at the kitchen.”
“Mama’s got a good kitchen. She makes wunderbaar peanut butter cookies in this kitchen.” Jacob tapped Jimmy on the arm. “You hungry? I sure am.” He looked over at Lydia and smiled. “Can me and Jimmy have some cookies and milk?”
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