“Would you like to take Mose some sweet tea?” Rebecca handed her two glasses without waiting for her to answer and started walking toward them. “You seem amused.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this. An entire schoolhouse built in one day?” Abby looked at the tea and was suddenly thirsty. It was dark, brewed to a deep brown.
“Jah, the barns take longer, but they’re usually done by the time the sun goes down too.” She raised a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade. “Thirsty, Eli?” She asked an older man, who smiled and took the glass.
“Danke.” He took a sip. “You must be Abby.”
A rush of heat slipped up Abby’s neck. He intimidated her for some reason, even though he was friendly. “You’re Mose’s father?”
“Jah, and proud to be. He’s a gut son.” He narrowed in on her bruise, downed the rest of the drink, and stood. “Back to work.”
Abby floundered with what to say but didn’t want the moment to slip by without saying something more. “Thanks for letting me stay at your home.”
“Wilkom.” He smiled and went back to his work. No one took breaks that she could see. They drank plenty, but nothing seemed to stop them from keeping on task until the work was done.
There was a slight breeze, just enough to give some relief against the blazing sun overhead. As the women walked along, Abby felt eyes on her. She didn’t know whether she liked being known as the young woman staying with Mose’s family, but then, what would she expect? Abby handed a glass to one of the many men with beards that didn’t touch over their upper lip. Rebecca had explained this style meant they were married.
Abby looked around at all of the men. “I’ve wondered why there are no mustaches.”
“That goes back to the Civil War when the Amish refused to fight. The army men grew mustaches, a symbol of valiance that we don’t share,” she said it boldly as if not to be questioned, but Abby had no intention of doing so. She was just curious and found herself wanting to know about their culture. This group of Amish were of the few who moved to Texas from Virginia and had only been in the area for a couple of years. She didn’t see much of them, so this was all new to her.
Rebecca bumped her arm and motioned to where Mose was working, digging a hole for the beam to be inserted. “He’s one of the few who does the joinery and doweling of the beams. He’s quite the craftsman.”
Abby was impressed, even though she didn’t know exactly what Becca meant. She watched him work as Abby walked closer to hand him the drink she held. “Mose.” When she called to him, the men close by slowed their work to glance at her.
Mose climbed down and took the drink. “Danke. I hoped you’d bring me a drink.”
As he took a long swig, Abby stewed inside at his comment. It was the same type of arrogant comment she’d heard him say before. She tried to let it pass and forced a smile.
He downed the entire drink and then thanked her again. “Are you okay?” He looked at her sideways, seemingly unsure of what she might say.
She shook her head. This was his way, his people. She should keep her opinions to herself, but she didn’t know if she could.
“Abby, I want to know if something is bothering you. Is it your daed?” His eyes closed as if to soften saying the word. But now that he had, her mind went to Jim. She wondered what he was doing and whether his health was better. But after he had struck her, Abby wasn’t sure what she should do.
“I do wonder about him, but no, it’s not that.”
His brows went up in question.
“Okay, I’ll tell you. I’m not comfortable with the roles of men and women here, and what you said just now…” When she heard herself saying the words, Abby stopped and thought about how different it was here. They each had a role to do, and by doing their parts, they came together as a whole. It was different here than it was where she came from, and Abby knew she had a lot to learn before judging what went on in Mose’s community.
He shook his head. “I didn’t realize—”
“I know. That’s why I shouldn’t say anything.” She glanced around and realized she was taking him away from his job. “You should work now.”
“Jah, we’ll talk later, then?” His forehead wrinkled as he waited for her answer. His concern shone through, and that was all that she needed to know—that he honestly couldn’t understand.
“No, we don’t need to. I’ve said enough.” She pointed to the beam he’d been working on.
“Hey, I’m Mose’s bruder Chris.” He stuck out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Abby looked at him and smiled. She recognized that he was a little slow for a boy his age. “That’s not fair.”
“Why’s that?” He stuck his hands in his pockets.
“I haven’t heard about you.” She took in the blond hair and blue eyes so similar to Mose’s.
He hit one fist against another and tried to look mad, but he didn’t pull it off. His pudgy cheeks and frown made him laughable. “Mose didn’t tell you about me?”
“Maybe he was saving the best for last.” She tried to make him feel better, but it didn’t change his mood.
“Have you met Zake already?”
“No. Is he a friend of yours?”
“Jah. He’s older than me, but we act the same about a lot of things.” He nodded with a serious expression. He seemed wise beyond his years, which made Abby smile. She’d had students who acted older than they were, but some couldn’t be taken seriously. “I gotta give this hammer to my bruder. He’s sure picky about his tools.” He shook his head with a grin. “Wanna go with and meet Zake?”
There was no way possible she could say no to him and stood to follow his lead. “I’m right behind you.” With that prompt he gave her another grin and marched forward.
“I think I should tell you that my friend is special.” He slowed and squinted one eye against the sun and closed the other. He was very serious, so she responded in the same manner.
“I work with all kinds of children who have different ways of dealing with things that are a little easier for you and me.” She watched as he stuck out his bottom lip and studied her.
“Jah, just like that.”
She nodded at his understanding and then looked ahead to see a lanky young man walk over. “Is that your friend?” Abby nodded her head toward him.
“Jah.”
“Should we say hallo?”
Chris grinned at her using an Amish word. “Sure.” He led the way and stopped just short of stepping on his friend Zake’s shoe. “This is Mose’s friend Abby.”
Zake robotically lifted his hand to shake hers. His face was without expression, and he wasn’t about to drop his hand until she shook it. Abby wasn’t comfortable with the greeting but knew enough not to reject his offer. His grip was tight and he made only one pump, then smiled quickly and pointed to a sawhorse. “Gotta work.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his serious expression. “Nice to meet you. Work hard.”
He nodded and walked slowly to his station, along with the other men.
“He doesn’t talk much, but he liked you.” Chris squinted his eyes to show the seriousness in his words.
They walked slowly back to where Mose was working. “Thanks for introducing us, Chris.”
She watched as he stood on his tiptoes and stretched his arm up to Mose. Abby could hear Mose telling him something, and then Chris climbed up a few rungs to hand off the tool to him. As he did, Chris looked like a smaller version of Mose.
As the sun slowly drifted down on the horizon, the food disappeared, tables and chairs were put in wagons, and the pounding of hammers slowed to a stop. Everyone slowly left, one after another, until all that remained was the new schoolhouse.
Abby walked closer to admire the building that was built together in one day’s time, from the ground to a completely constructed building within a matter of hours. Although it was raw, with coarse wood sides and no windows cut out yet, or a door, it was a beautiful lit
tle old-fashioned schoolhouse.
She heard someone walking up behind her and turned to see Mose admiring his work.
“What do you think?” He didn’t take his eyes off the structure.
Abby’s eyes roamed from top to bottom, in awe of their handiwork. “It’s perfect.”
When she turned to him, he was smiling. “It does give a person a sense of accomplishment.”
Now that the day was done, Abby felt out of place again. She didn’t have a home to go to like everyone else. She let out a long sigh, wondering what in the world she was doing there. Abby never thought she would be living in an Amish community, but there was something else. Abby felt a closeness to God here. Maybe because of their ways—helping one another, praying, and simplicity of life, or perhaps it was that she was still enough to feel Him near her.
“Why the long sigh? Are you tired?” Mose was regarding her intently. His eyes were fixed on hers as she turned to answer him.
“No, just appreciating the hard work that went into this. You were in demand. Becca said you’re one of the best at what you do.”
Mose shook his head. “I don’t like to be compared like that, but I am handy with wood.”
“Does modesty come with being Amish?” She smiled.
One side of his lips lifted. “I suppose so.” He picked up a wooden box with tools and walked with her to his buggy. “Mamm will have something cooking at home, if you’re hungry.”
As Abby climbed into her seat, she was suddenly famished. “She made a good breakfast, and her macaroni salad was delicious.”
“Cooking for four boys and my daed has kept her busy.” He grinned and slapped the horse’s hide with the reins to start him moving. “Get along, Frank.”
Abby chuckled. “Frank?”
“Jah. Ya don’t like the name?”
She shook her head. “I just haven’t ever heard of a horse being called Frank before. It sounds so…human.”
“I heard the singer once on a radio in town, so I decided to name my next colt that was born, Frank.”
She paused, putting the pieces together. “Are you talking about Frank Sinatra?”
Mose’s eyes lit up. “That’s the one.” Then he lowered his voice. “But it may be frowned upon to listen to other music than what we sing in the Ausbund.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what that meant but assumed she should keep that to herself. She asked questions about building the school that Mose was happy to answer, and they were soon at his house. Only a sliver of sunlight shone over the horizon, burning yellow and orange colors across the sky. She wanted to work with Ginger every day but didn’t want to bother anyone about her. Everyone here was doing more than they should for her already. Abby was just glad that she didn’t have to face Jim and that Ginger and Old Blackie were being cared for. Once Jim was thinking straight, he’d think about the money, and at the very worst, he would sell Ginger, though it hurt her to even consider such an action.
Abby stayed seated in the buggy as Mose stepped down and grabbed his tools. She took in the clean air and the quiet that made time stand still. There was no urgency or stress, only a peaceful place that surrounded her soul.
When she looked over at Mose, his arms were crossed as he leaned on the buggy door. “Enjoying the view?”
“The land seems to go on forever out here.” Most of the ground she’d seen in Texas wasn’t picturesque, but this place, with the manicured fields and white clapboard houses, was as close as she had ever been to any real beauty. “I’ve never been outside of Texas. Have you?”
“Born and raised in Virginia. Went to Haiti to help build a haus after the hurricane.” He walked over to her side and helped her down. She admired him for doing mission work overseas, something she’d never considered.
“That was good of you.” She wanted to say more, but he seemed embarrassed by her appreciation of his work. “You aren’t proud that you helped others in need?”
“Nee, that’s considered prideful.” He kept his eyes to the ground as they walked up the stairs to his home. The extra-long porch held a number of chairs and a porch swing.
“You’re a very humble people.” She meant it as a compliment, but judging by Mose’s expression, she worried it didn’t come across as the accolade she meant it to be. “I meant that in a good way.”
Mose opened the door for her. “Danke, but the praise goes to the Lord.”
Abby was thrown for a loop again, slowly catching on to the ways of these simple but genuine people whom she had a growing respect for.
Chapter Seventeen
BEFORE DINNER MOSE’S daed excused himself and asked Mose to sit with him so they could talk. Abby seemed comfortable in the kitchen with his mamm, so he took slow steps behind his daed, wondering what was so important. His daed plopped down in his chair in their family room.
His mood was serious, and he didn’t waste any time getting situated. The second Mose sat down, he started in. “I’m not going to pry—what’s happening with Abby isn’t my business—but it’s not right that she stay here, Mose.”
Mose was in a tough place between what to tell his daed and how much to protect Abby’s privacy. His daed obviously knew Mose had feelings for her to be bringing up the issue; he wished it wasn’t so apparent. Her safety was more important than how he felt. “I know, but I can’t send her back home.”
His daed gave him a long look, and Mose hoped he wouldn’t ask him to say more, but he understood Daed’s concern. “It’s nothing that would be putting us in a bad place if anyone knew about it, but out of respect to Abby, I’m going to leave it up to her as to what she wants to share.”
Daed’s face turned to concrete. It was their way to help someone in need, but to carry one’s burden, it was best to know the hardship. Harboring someone for the right reasons was acceptable, but foul play could put them in a bad place. Abby might be open and willing to share her plight, but that was up to her. From what he’d seen, she and her father kept to themselves, accepting no help from anyone. This was probably difficult for her to be in an unfamiliar place with people she didn’t know and carrying her cross alone.
Daed sat back in his chair and looked into the dark fireplace. “You’re a wise young man, Mose. I trust you know what’s best.” He rubbed his trimmed beard. “The bruise worries me, though. Whatever or whoever caused it, I hope you’re taking care of.” Daed’s eyes were still and intense as he stared at Mose.
“I worry for her too. But just by being here, she’s in a better place.” He grinned. “She liked seeing the school go up today.”
Daed grunted a laugh. “Is that so…well, that’s gut to hear.”
“She was even interested in our blacksmith shop and my tools.” Mose tried to curb his enjoyment, but a smile snuck up that he couldn’t hold back.
“Well, now that is something.” Daed chuckled.
Mose shook his head at his father’s ribbing. “It’s not every girl that would ask about things like that.”
Daed let out a long breath. “Nee, but she’s been in a different way of thinking that’s not our way.”
Mose didn’t like the words, but he knew his daed was right. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized maybe her different way of thinking was what attracted her to him. And that wouldn’t go well with his daed.
“Even something as simple as tools and a shop?” He was hanging on to hope that his daed may let this pass.
“It’s nothing to concern ourselves about. She’s a visitor, and that’s how we’ll handle things.”
Mose breathed a little easier.
“One thing though. You’ve been alone together quite a bit. I know you’re older and you both have reason to go into town, but try to have someone around.”
Mose nodded, but he thought it was unnecessary. He wasn’t one to take advantage of a situation, and his daed knew it. But he didn’t want the deacons making a fuss about it. “I’ll drag Chris around with us.”
Daed chuckled and then
became serious again. “She’ll be leaving as soon as it works out for her to go, jah?” He held Mose’s gaze.
“Jah, I’m sure she will.” He turned away to leave, but then stopped and looked back at his daed. “What if she stayed?” It was a fool thing to ask, and as soon as he said it, he wished he hadn’t. Was it that he didn’t like his daed deciding things for him, or did Mose really want her to stay?
Daed’s head shot up. “What are you thinking, son? She’s English.” There was no humor in his daed’s face, but there was a warning. His entire expression, from his narrow eyes and wrinkled forehead to his tight lips, cautioned Mose to tread lightly.
“Nothing. Gut night.” Mose felt irritation flutter up into his chest. He was a grown man, and if he wanted to get some answers, he could go to the minister or bishop. He knew how his daed felt, but that was because he felt responsible about the situation.
Mose walked out the front door to let off some steam. The stars were big and bright in the Texas sky. He took in the fresh air and let out the tenseness in his neck.
“Pretty tonight, isn’t it?” Abby’s voice startled him, and she laughed when he turned around quickly. “Sorry. I thought you knew I was here.”
Mose put a hand to his chest and searched out her silhouette through the darkness. “I thought I was alone.” He moved closer to the porch swing and sat with her.
“Do you want to be?”
He looked into her face, not wanting the same feeling to rouse him when he searched her eyes. But it did, so he turned away. “Nee. Since it’s you, I don’t mind the company.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Jah, why do you ask?”
“I could hear you and your daed talking.”
Mose whipped his head her way. “You heard us?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. We were making dinner, and I heard your voice is all.”
Mose was never very good at hiding his feelings, but he tried his best for her sake. He didn’t want her to feel unwelcome, but Mose had just found out she was. Then it dawned on him what she’d just said. “You and Mamm made dinner?”
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