He chuckled. “You sound just like your mamm.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Of course not. If you were to follow in your mamm’s footsteps all the way through life, it would be a good thing.”
Melinda felt the heat of a blush cover her cheeks. If Papa Noah knew what Dr. Franklin had suggested I do, he might wonder if I was preparing to follow in the footsteps Mama took when she left the Amish faith many years ago. He’d probably think Dr. Franklin was a bad influence, and he might insist that I quit my job.
Chapter 3
Melinda hurried through her kitchen chores, eager to get outside. She planned to check on the baby goat and its mother, see that Isaiah’s dog was secured for the day, and make sure all the chickens were doing okay. After yesterday’s close call with Hector, she didn’t want to see a repeat performance, and she was sure her mother didn’t, either. Mama hadn’t been happy about the loss of that pie.
“I’m going over to Grandma Stutzman’s to help her clean,” Mama said as Melinda passed her in the downstairs hallway. “Your daed, Grandpa Hertzler, and Isaiah loaded the pies into the buggy and will drop them over there before they head to Ben and Mary King’s place to pick up the benches for tomorrow’s church service.”
“I’m glad Grandpa’s going with Papa Noah, because I’ll be heading for work soon, and it wouldn’t be good for him to be left home alone.”
Mama popped a couple of her knuckles, a habit she’d had ever since Melinda could remember. “I thought it was just Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays you helped out at the veterinary clinic.”
“It was, but Dr. Franklin thought I could learn some new things if I spent more time there, so I may be working some Fridays and Saturdays, too.”
Mama sighed. “Learn more of what, Melinda? I thought you were only hired to clean the cages and feed the animals.”
“I—I was, but sometimes the doctor lets me do certain things—like give a dog its flea bath or hold on to a nervous cat while it’s being examined.” Melinda shrugged. “He says the gedier are calmer when I’m there.”
“You do have a way with animals. Even unruly ones like Hector.”
Melinda was on the verge of defending the poor rooster and reminding her mother that the incident yesterday was Jericho’s fault, but Mama grabbed her black purse off a wall peg and headed out the door. “See you this evening. Have a gut day.”
“You have a good day, too.”
Melinda stood in the doorway, watching her mother head down the driveway on foot. Since Grandpa and Grandma Stutzman lived less than a mile away, Mama often chose to walk there instead of bothering with a horse and buggy.
Melinda smiled at the way her mother held her head high, with shoulders straight back and arms swinging in perfect rhythm with the strides of her long legs. Soon Mama began to yodel. “Oh-lee-ay-tee—oh-lee-ay-tee—oh-lee-ay-tee-oh!”
Melinda cupped her hands around her mouth and echoed, “Oh-lee-ay-tee—oh-lee-ay-tee—oh-lee-ay-tee-oh.”
Mama lifted her hand in a backward wave, and Melinda shut the door. She needed to get busy and clean her room before she left for the clinic. If there was enough time, she would check on the animals in the barn.
For the next half hour, Melinda dusted, shook her oval braided throw rug, pulled the colorful crazy quilt up over the four-poster bed, and swept the hardwood floor. Just as she was finishing up, she noticed her writing tablet on the dresser, and it reminded her that she’d forgotten about the note she was supposed to leave Gabe inside the old birdhouse near the front of her folks’ property. She grabbed a pen from the drawer and hurriedly scrawled a message.
Dear Gabe,
I got your last letter, and I do plan on going to the young people’s gathering tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to a ride home in your buggy.
I’ve enclosed a picture I drew of the baby raccoon Ben King found in the woods behind his place the other day. He said the critter’s mother was killed, so the poor thing needs a home. I told him I would keep her, since the coon seems to have a problem with her eyes and probably wouldn’t survive on her own. I’ve named her Reba, and I can’t wait for you to see her.
I look forward to seeing you at church on Sunday morning. After the common meal, maybe we can play a game of croquet with some of our friends. Until tomorrow…
Yours fawnly,
Melinda
Melinda slipped the note, along with the picture of the orphaned raccoon, into an envelope and hurried out of her room. She made a quick trip to the barn and was pleased to discover that the baby goat was sleeping peacefully beside its mother. The kid’s bulging tummy let a relieved Melinda know it had recently eaten. Too many times she had bottle-fed some animal because it was orphaned or its mother wouldn’t take care of it. Not that she minded playing nursemaid, but it was better for the animal if its mother fed it.
“Sleep well, and I’ll check on you both when I get home from work this evening,” she murmured as she stroked the mother goat behind its ear.
Melinda left the goats and led Jenny, her favorite buggy horse, out of the barn then hitched her to one of their open buggies. Sometimes she wished they could drive the box-shaped, closed-in buggies most other Amish communities used, but when she and Mama first moved to Webster County, Mama had explained that the community she belonged to was more conservative than most. One of the things they did that separated them from other Amish was to drive only open buggies.
“These buggies aren’t so bad in warmer weather,” Melinda murmured, “but in the wintertime, it can sure get cold.” She gave Jenny a quick pat, climbed into the driver’s seat, and picked up the reins.
At the end of the driveway, Melinda saw the familiar gray birdhouse and halted the horse. “Just a few more minutes, Jenny, and then we’ll be on our way.”
Melinda hopped down and lifted the removable roof from the birdhouse. She was pleased to see that no birds had claimed it as their new home. She and Gabe had been sending each other messages this way since they’d started courting, and so far, the birds seemed to know it was off-limits.
She slipped the note inside and replaced the roof. “I just hope Gabe comes by before tomorrow and picks it up.”
Melinda was about to walk away when she caught sight of a small bird in some tall grass, chirping and furiously flapping its wings. She bent for a closer look and realized it was a fledgling blackbird that apparently couldn’t fly well yet.
“I can’t leave you here. Some big cat or hawk might come along and make you its meal.” Gently Melinda picked up the tiny bird and set him on a low branch of a nearby tree. “There you go; be safe.” She smiled, content with the knowledge that she’d helped another one of God’s creatures, and hurried away.
Gabe shielded his eyes from the glare of the sun and pulled his buggy to the side of the road by the Hertzlers’ driveway. I sure hope there’s a note from Melinda today.
He hopped down and lifted the lid of the weathered birdhouse. To his surprise, a few blades of grass and a piece of string lay on top of an envelope. “Some bird must have decided to make a nest here,” Gabe muttered. He reached inside, pulled out the grass and string, and tossed them on the ground. “That ought to discourage those silly birds from claiming this as their new home.”
Unexpectedly, a sparrow swooped down, just missing Gabe’s head. He ducked. “Hey, cut that out! This is Melinda’s and my message box. Go find someplace else to build your nest.”
Gabe stuck his hand inside the birdhouse and retrieved Melinda’s note. As soon as he had replaced the lid, he bent down, grabbed a small rock, and plugged the opening in the front. “That should keep you birds out of there.”
As Gabe climbed into his buggy, he decided that, in all fairness to the birds, it wasn’t right to shoo them out of a birdhouse that was built for them. He would add a separate compartment to the birdhouse he was making for Noah to give Melinda on her birthday. Then even if the birds decided to make it their home, he and Melinda would still have th
eir secret place to hide messages—one without a hole in the front.
Gabe headed down Highway C toward Seymour, letting the horse lead while he read Melinda’s note. He was pleased to discover that she planned to be at the young people’s gathering on Sunday night and was looking forward to him taking her home afterward.
“I like a woman who knows what she wants,” he said with a chuckle. “Especially if it’s me she’s wanting.” Melinda’s eagerness to be with Gabe made him believe she might say yes if he were to propose marriage. He just needed to find the right time and the courage to do it.
He studied the pencil drawing Melinda had made of the baby raccoon. It certainly looked like a coon, but he was concerned about her making a pet out of a wild animal. What if the critter bit or scratched her real bad? She could end up with rabies or something!
“That woman doesn’t think straight when it comes to the animals she takes in,” he mumbled. “She would cozy up to a bull snake if she thought it needed a friend. I think I’d better have a talk with Melinda and let her know I’m concerned.”
When Susie stepped into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Faith sitting at the table having a cup of tea with their mother. “Wie geht’s, Faith?” Susie asked. “I didn’t know you were here.”
Faith smiled. “I’m doing fine. I came over to help Mama clean house today.”
“I appreciate it, too,” Mama said with a nod. She took a sip from her cup. “Of course, we’re not getting much done sitting here drinking tea.”
“Well, you deserve a little break,” Susie said as she grabbed her lunch pail off the counter and flipped it open so she could begin making her lunch. “I’d help with the cleaning if I didn’t have to work at Kaulp’s General Store today.”
“If it makes you feel any better, Melinda won’t be helping us, either, because she’s working for the vet today.”
“She’s been working there a lot lately, jah?” Mama asked.
“A little too much, if you ask me.” Faith’s voice held a note of irritation, making Susie wonder if her big sister disapproved of her daughter working for the English vet.
“Why do you say that?”
Susie’s ears perked up. That was something she’d like to know herself. She glanced discreetly over her shoulder and waited for Faith’s response.
“All Melinda talks about anymore is either the critters she’s caring for at home or the ones she helps Dr. Franklin with at his clinic.” Faith set her cup down and popped a couple of knuckles, causing Susie to cringe. “Gabe Swartz and Melinda are courting, yet she spends more time with those silly animals than she does him.” Faith popped a couple more knuckles. “Wouldn’t you think she would want to concentrate on honing her cooking, sewing, and baking skills so she’ll be ready for marriage, rather than trying to play dokder to a bunch of smelly creatures?”
“If I had a boyfriend, I sure wouldn’t be thinking about any dumm old animals or trying to play doctor,” Susie put in as she slathered two pieces of bread with butter.
“Do I detect a note of envy in your voice, daughter?”
Susie turned to face her mother. “I don’t begrudge Melinda having a boyfriend; she has the right. I just wish I was being courted by someone, that’s all.”
“It will happen in due time,” Faith put in. “Just try to be patient and wait on the Lord to bring the right fellow along.”
Susie shrugged and turned back to her sandwich making. At the rate things were going, Melinda would be married with a houseful of kinner before Susie had a boyfriend. It didn’t seem fair that everything always seemed to go Melinda’s way. It wasn’t fair at all.
Chapter 4
On Sunday morning when Melinda and her family arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Stutzman’s for church, Melinda spotted Susie on the wooden two-seater swing hanging from the rafters under the Stutzmans’ front porch. Papa Noah and Isaiah headed to the barn to put the horse inside, and Mama and Grandpa Hertzler went into the house right away. Melinda stopped at the swing to speak with Susie.
Susie patted the seat beside her. “Why don’t you sit with me awhile before everyone else shows up?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Melinda sat down and started pumping her legs to get the swing moving again. The day was warmer than most April mornings had been so far, and the breeze from the motion of the swing felt nice.
Susie glanced over at Melinda with a puckered brow. “I see you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. How come?”
“I stayed up late last night caring for my animals.”
“Which ones?”
“I’ve only got a couple I’m taking care of right now. One’s a baby goat, and I’ve been checking to be sure the mother goat keeps feeding her little one.” Melinda tapped her finger against her chin. “I also helped Papa Noah groom the horses and spent some time with my raccoon because she was acting kind of peculiar.”
Susie’s eyebrows shot up. “What coon? I didn’t know you had a coon.”
“I got her from Ben King. She’s an orphan and nearly blind.”
“That’s too bad.”
“At first, Reba wouldn’t eat and kept bumping into the side of her cage. After I sat with her awhile, she finally ate a little and seemed much calmer.”
Susie groaned. “I can’t believe you’d lose sleep over some dumm critter or that you’d bother to name a wild animal.”
“Reba’s not dumb. Do you think your cat’s dumb?”
“Of course not. Daisy’s a good mouser. She also keeps me company and likes to cuddle.”
“Well, there you go.”
“Are you still planning to go to the young people’s gathering at the Hiltys’ place tonight?” Susie asked.
Melinda was thankful for the change in topic. She and Susie seemed to be arguing a lot lately—especially whenever they talked about Melinda’s love for animals.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.” Melinda smiled. “Gabe’s giving me a ride home again. He said so in the note he left in our birdhouse the other day.”
“You’re sure the lucky one.” Susie released a gusty sigh. “I wish I had the promise of a ride home with some cute fellow tonight.”
Melinda stopped swinging and reached over to pat Susie’s hand. “Your time will come. Just wait and see.”
“Jah, well, I’m twenty years old. Many Amish women my age are married by now. I’ll probably end up en alt maedel. Could be I’ll spend the rest of my days working at Kaulp’s and never have a husband or family of my own.”
“You won’t be an old maid, and I doubt you’ll be working at Kaulp’s General Store the rest of your life. One of these days you’ll—”
Susie jumped up, jostling Melinda and nearly tossing her out of the swing. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Some more buggies have pulled into the driveway, and one of them belongs to Bishop Frey. Church will be starting soon, so we’d better get inside.”
“You go on,” Melinda said. “I’m going to sit here awhile and enjoy the fresh air. Once we’re all in the house, it will be hot and stuffy.”
“Suit yourself.” Susie went in the front door, and Melinda resumed her swinging.
A few minutes later, John Frey and his wife, Margaret, stepped onto the porch. The bishop walked with a limp these days and was beginning to show his age, but he could still preach God’s Word and lead the people. Melinda figured he would continue as bishop for several more years before he died.
“Good morning,” she answered with a nod.
“Are you planning to be baptized and join the church soon?” the bishop asked.
Melinda could hardly believe the man had posed such a question. Was Bishop John’s memory failing him the way Grandpa Hertzler’s seemed to be? It was a shame to witness older folks forgetting so many things.
“I got baptized last year, Bishop John,” she said. “It was soon after my eighteenth birthday.”
The wrinkles in the bishop’s forehead deepened, and he gave his long gray beard a couple of sharp pulls
. Then he narrowed his eyes and stared at Melinda so hard she began to squirm. “Hmm. Well, jah, that’s right, you were one of those I baptized last year.”
Melinda realized the man’s memory wasn’t going after all. His problem was probably failing eyesight. She had felt bad when her mother began to lose her close-up vision and started wearing reading glasses, but Mama had laughed and said, “It’s okay. That’s what comes with getting older.”
Margaret smiled and adjusted her own metal-framed glasses. Then she clasped her husband’s arm and said, “Shall we go inside now, John? The service will be starting soon.”
The bishop yawned noisily. “Jah, guess we’d better.”
As soon as John and Margaret stepped into the house, Melinda left the swing and headed straight for the barn. If she hurried, there would be time to see the kittens Susie’s cat had given birth to a few weeks ago.
Inside the barn, Melinda took a seat on a bale of straw to watch Daisy feed her six squirming babies. All baby animals are cute. Some more than others, but I enjoy each one, she thought dreamily.
She drew in a deep breath, relishing the sweet smell of fresh hay. A horse whinnied from one of the stalls nearby, and a pigeon cooed from the loft overhead. It’s so peaceful here. Next to being in the woods, this is my favorite place to sit and relax.
Sometime later, Melinda left the barn, but as soon as she closed the door, she realized that the preaching service had already begun. The chantlike voices of the people singing inside her grandparents’ house filtered through the open windows. She hurried in through the back door and tiptoed down the hall. Backless wooden benches filled the large living room and spilled over into the parlor. The rooms were separated by a removable wall that was taken out whenever preaching services were held in this home.
As Melinda slipped quietly into the main room, a few people looked up from their hymnbooks and glanced her way. Most, however, stayed focused on the song they were singing.
Dear to Me Page 3