Melinda reached for her choring apron. I suppose I can wait a few more weeks to take that test. Maybe by then I’ll be more prepared.
Gabe stood in front of his workbench sanding the arms of a wooden rocking chair. It was a nice change from working on cabinets, which was what Pap usually stuck him with. Even so, Gabe would rather have been working on the gun stock he’d promised to make for Aaron. After Aaron saw how nice Gabe’s gun stock had turned out, he’d placed an order for one just like it. A couple of other men in their community had also asked Gabe to make them a new gun stock, which meant he had plenty of his own work to keep him busy after regular working hours.
If he kept getting orders for gun stocks, he might be able to open his own business sooner than he’d expected. If he had his own place, Melinda might understand why he didn’t want to leave their Amish community and start life over in the English world.
Gabe glanced over his shoulder. His dad was working on a coffee table Bishop Frey had recently ordered for his wife’s birthday.
Gabe set the sandpaper aside and moved across the room. “Say, Pap, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something.”
“Sure, son. What’s on your mind?”
Gabe shifted from one foot to the other, his courage beginning to waver. “I’ve…uh…been thinking that I’d like to have my own place of business.”
“Are you saying you’d like to open another woodworking business here in our area?”
“Jah.”
Pap crossed his arms and stared hard at Gabe. “Would you mind explaining why you’d want to be in competition with me?”
Gabe shook his head. “It wouldn’t really be in competition. I’d be making other stuff—things like gun stocks, animal cages, birdhouses, and maybe some different kinds of household items, like the trash can holder I’ve made to give Mom for Christmas.”
“I see.”
Hope welled in Gabe’s soul. Maybe Pap understood.
“Do you think you could handle a shop on your own?”
Gabe nodded.
“Guess time will tell.” Pap shrugged his shoulders. “In the meanwhile, we’ve got a job to look at in Branson that will take a couple of weeks to finish.”
“What kind of job?”
“A bed-and-breakfast needs some new furniture, and they want it to be made by an Amish carpenter.”
Gabe leaned against his dad’s workbench. “What part of the job will you expect me to do?”
“That all depends.”
“On what?”
“On what all the customer wants made.”
“Who’ll we get to drive us to Branson?”
“I don’t know yet. Probably Ed Wilkins. He’s usually available whenever I need to go somewhere outside the area.”
Gabe headed back to his own workbench. At least Pap hadn’t said he would be stuck doing the menial jobs for the bed-and-breakfast. Maybe he would let Gabe build some of the furniture and not just do finish work.
“Oh, and Gabe, there’s one more thing,” Pap called over his shoulder.
“What’s that?”
“If it turns out you’re still working for me after you and Melinda get married, I want you to know that I’ll pay you enough so you can make a decent living.”
Gabe sucked in his breath. Should he tell Pap that he and Melinda might not be getting married? Would Pap have some good advice if he knew what Gabe was up against right now? Or if Pap knew the whole story, would he be worried that Gabe might decide to leave their Amish community and go English with Melinda?
Gabe grabbed his piece of sandpaper and gave the arm of the chair a couple of good swipes. I’d best not say anything yet. Better to wait until I know for sure what’s what.
When they woke up Saturday morning, Melinda’s mother had said she was feeling better and suggested that she and Melinda pick some produce from their garden. They’d spent most of the morning harvesting tomatoes and green beans. Now they stood at the kitchen sink washing the bounty of produce.
“Why don’t you let me finish this up?” Melinda suggested. “You were sick yesterday, and it’s probably not a good idea for you to overdo.”
Mama fanned her hand in front of her face. “I’m fine, dear one. It was only a twenty-four-hour bug, and I promise to rest once the produce is washed and put away.” She smiled. “I appreciated your canceling your shopping trip yesterday and staying home to see to my needs. It proves what a thoughtful daughter you are.”
Melinda’s face heated with embarrassment. If her mother only knew that she’d planned to do more than shopping in Springfield, she wouldn’t be saying such kind things.
“All these tomatoes make me think about that day a few weeks ago when the skunk sprayed you and Gabe,” Mama said.
“The two of us smelled to high heavens, and you wouldn’t let me come inside until I’d bathed in the galvanized tub Papa Noah had set up in the woodshed.” Melinda grimaced at the memory of it. After several baths, alternating tomato juice and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dishwashing soap, she had scrubbed so hard she was afraid she wouldn’t have any skin left on her body.
The day after their spraying, she and Gabe had washed his buggy down with something Dr. Franklin had given her that was stronger than what she’d bathed in. Never again would Melinda knowingly go near a skunk.
Mama had just placed another batch of tomatoes on a towel to dry when Isaiah entered the room. “I’m glad I didn’t have to go to work with Papa today,” he muttered. “Pullin’ weeds around them trees was harder than workin’ in the garden.”
“A little hard work never hurt anyone, and I know your daed and Hank Osborn appreciated the help.” Mama smiled. “Both of my kinner sacrificed to help others yesterday, and it pleases me to know we’ve raised such willing workers. I don’t know what I’d do without either of my dear children.”
Melinda cringed. What will Mama say when she finds out what I’m thinking of doing? Will she understand why I feel the need to become a vet? Will I feel guilty and miserable once I leave home? Can I really give up all that I have here with my family and friends? I wish I felt free to tell Mama that I’m going to take my GED test as soon as I can reschedule a time. But if she knew, she would probably try to stop me.
Melinda closed her eyes and leaned against the kitchen cupboard as confusion swirled in her brain like a windmill going at full speed. Oh, Lord, please help me to know what to do.
Chapter 22
Two weeks later as Melinda left the college in Springfield where she’d finally gone to take her GED test, a feeling of weariness settled over her like a drenching rain. The test had been difficult—much harder than she’d expected it to be. But she had studied hard and knew she had done her best. If all went well, by this time next week, she might know the results of her scores.
She shook the troubling thoughts aside as she approached Marsha’s car. I’ll figure this out after I get the results of my test.
“How did it go?” Marsha asked when Melinda opened the car door and slid into the passenger’s seat.
Melinda shrugged. “It was a hard test, but I think I did okay.”
“When will you know the results?”
“In a week or so, I expect.”
“And then will you tell your folks?”
Melinda nodded.
“Would you like to go somewhere for lunch now, or do you want to do some shopping first?” Marsha asked.
“I’m kind of hungry, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to have lunch first.”
“That sounds good to me.” Marsha started the engine and pulled away from the curb. “When we get back to Seymour, I’d like to stop by Kaulp’s General Store before I drop you off at your house. I want to buy a couple of those large wooden spoons they sell there.”
“That’s fine by me. Since Kaulp’s isn’t far from my home, I’ll just walk from there.” Melinda leaned against the seat and tried to relax. Oh, how she wished she knew the results of that test. She
hated being deceitful, but if she had told Mama or Papa Noah the real reason she’d gone to Springfield today, they would have tried to talk her out of it. She felt grateful that Marsha had promised not to say anything.
“I’m heading out to make a delivery,” Gabe’s dad said as he plucked his straw hat off the counter near the front door and plunked it on his head. “Can you handle things here while I’m gone?”
“Jah, sure,” Gabe mumbled. It always irked him whenever Pap asked that question. And he asked it nearly every time he left the shop. Wouldn’t the man ever realize that Gabe was capable and could manage things on his own?
“I’ll be back sometime before supper,” Pap said as he headed out the door.
Gabe grunted and reached for a hunk of sandpaper. “I can’t wait until I own my own shop,” he muttered when the door clicked shut. He gritted his teeth and gave the arm of the rocking chair he’d been working on a couple of solid swipes.
Sometime later, the shop door opened, and Noah stepped into the room. “How’s it going, Gabe?”
“Fine. We’re keeping plenty busy these days.”
“It’s always good to be busy.”
“Jah.”
“Is your daed around, or are you on your own this afternoon?”
“It’s just me. Pap had a delivery to make.”
“I see.” Noah leaned against the workbench closest to where Gabe was working. “I was on my way home from work and thought I’d stop and talk to you for a minute.”
Gabe stood and brushed the sawdust off his trousers. “Is there a problem?”
“Not a problem, exactly.” Noah shifted his weight as he cleared his throat. “I’m…uh…a bit concerned about my daughter.”
“Is Melinda all right? Has something happened to her?”
Noah shook his head. “She’s not sick or anything like that. In fact, she had one of our neighbors take her to Springfield for the day so she could shop for some things that aren’t available in Seymour.”
Gabe grimaced. If Melinda had gone to Springfield, she was probably planning to take her GED test today. Did Noah know about it? Is that why he wanted to talk to Gabe? Did Noah think Gabe had some influence over Melinda and could talk her out of going English? But what if Noah didn’t know? Gabe had to be careful about what he said so he wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag in case Melinda hadn’t told her folks about her plans yet.
“What did you want to say to me about Melinda?” Gabe asked.
Noah drew in a quick breath and released it with a huff. “Her mamm and I think she’s spending way too much time with those critters of hers. We’re afraid if she doesn’t find a happy medium soon, she’ll end up spending the rest of her life with her priorities all mixed up.”
“What’s that got to do with me? As I’m sure you must know, Melinda’s and my relationship isn’t so solid anymore.”
“I know you’ve had words a few times; Melinda confided that much to her mamm. Even though you don’t always see eye to eye on things, I’m sure she cares for you, Gabe.”
“I care for her, too.”
“I’m hoping you might be able to convince her not to spend so much time with those critters of hers. She needs to spend more time helping her mamm and learning things that will help prepare her for marriage.”
Gabe groaned as he pulled his fingers through the sides of his hair. “I’m not sure I’m the one you should be talking to, because I don’t have that much influence where your daughter is concerned. Fact is our relationship is slipping so bad that she doesn’t much care what I have to say about anything.”
Noah placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Do you love my daughter?”
Gabe nodded. “Guess I’ll always love her.”
“Do you think it would help if I put in a good word for you? Or maybe Faith could invite you and your family over for a meal sometime soon.”
Gabe shook his head. “Melinda knows what it will take for our relationship to get better. I don’t think a meal or a good word from you will make any difference.”
“Is the problem you’re having about hunting? Does Melinda expect you to give up hunting?”
Gabe rubbed his chin as he contemplated the best way to reply to Noah’s question without revealing the real problem. “Let’s just say that Melinda’s priorities are different than mine, and unless she changes her mind about certain things, we can never have a future together.”
Noah stared at Gabe with a peculiar expression. Finally, he turned toward the door, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll be praying for you and Melinda.”
“I appreciate that.”
When the door clicked shut behind Noah, Gabe dropped to his knees and resumed sanding the rocking chair. Oh, how he hoped Melinda would come to her senses and choose him and her family over her animal friends.
Susie had just put a bolt of blue material on one of the shelves near the back of Kaulp’s store when the bell above the front door jingled, signaling that a customer had entered the building. She turned and saw Melinda and Marsha Watts step up to the front counter where Freda Kaulp stood.
A few minutes later, Marsha and Freda moved over to the shelf where the kitchen items were kept, and Melinda headed in Susie’s direction.
“Did you come here with your neighbor, or did you just happen to arrive at the same time?” Susie asked as Melinda joined her in front of the shelves full of fabric.
Melinda leaned close and whispered in Susie’s ear. “Marsha drove me to Springfield this morning.”
“That’s nice, but why are you whispering?”
Melinda gave a quick glance over her shoulder then blotted the perspiration from her forehead with the corner of her apron. “I don’t want Freda to know where I’ve been.”
Susie squinted. “Why not? Lots of folks in our community hire a driver to take them to Springfield for shopping and appointments.”
“Not the kind of appointment I had this morning.”
“What kind of appointment did you have?”
Melinda’s voice lowered even further. “I went to the college to take my GED test.”
Susie swallowed hard as a sick feeling swept over her. So Melinda really was serious about leaving the Amish faith and becoming a vet. She had hoped it was only a passing fancy and that Melinda would give up the idea when she’d had a chance to pray about it.
“You don’t look very happy about me taking the test.”
“I’m not.”
“Don’t you even want to know how it went?”
Susie shrugged. “I figured you’d get around to telling me.”
Melinda pursed her lips. “It was a hard test. Much harder than I expected it would be.”
Susie bit the inside of her lip to keep from smiling. She’d never say it to Melinda, but she’d hoped the test would be difficult and that Melinda would fail. Flunking the test might be the only thing that would keep Melinda from making the biggest mistake of her life. At least, that’s how Susie saw it.
“When will you get the results?” Susie asked.
“I–I’m not sure. I expect I should know something in a week or so.”
“I see.” Susie’s fingers traveled over the bolts of material stacked on the shelf as she mulled things over. If Melinda passed her GED and decided to take some college courses to prepare for her veterinary training, they might never see each other again. Once Melinda moved away and pursued a career, she’d have little reason to come home except for an occasional visit. Susie figured even those times would be strained.
Melinda tapped Susie on the shoulder.
“What?”
“Ever since we were little and Mama and I moved here after she’d been an entertainer, you and I have been good friends and shared everything with each other.”
Susie knew full well how close she and Melinda had been over the years. But things were tense between them now, and they would only get worse once Melinda left home. How does Melinda expect me to be happy about this decision? She turned to face Me
linda. “Does Gabe know you went to take the GED test today?”
Melinda shook her head. “I saw no reason to tell him.”
“I’ll bet you haven’t told your folks yet, either. Am I right?”
“No, I haven’t told them. I will, though, as soon as I receive my test scores.”
“Will you tell them even if you’ve failed?”
“I don’t know. Probably not, since there would be nothing to tell. I can’t make a final decision on what I should do with my future until I’ve passed that test. So, until I do, mum’s the word, okay?”
Susie drew in a deep breath as she slowly nodded. Oh, how she wished she didn’t have to keep Melinda’s secret.
Chapter 23
Clutching a basket of freshly picked tomatoes, Melinda trudged wearily from the garden to the house. It seemed as if there were no end to the ripe tomatoes, and today she and Mama planned to do up several canner-loads. Dr. Franklin had wanted Melinda to work at the clinic this afternoon, but with so many tomatoes to be harvested, she felt obligated to lend her mother a hand. It was a sacrifice, considering that Melinda would much rather be holding a dog or a cat than canning squishy tomatoes. If she became a vet, she’d have even more contact with animals than she did just working for Dr. Franklin a few days a week.
Melinda couldn’t believe it had been a week already since she’d taken her GED test. She worried about when she would get the results and whether she had passed. All this week, she’d alternated her time between working at the clinic and helping Mama can beans and tomatoes, hoping to keep busy enough that she wouldn’t think about the test results.
Melinda glanced out the window at the line of trees bordering the back of their property. If she couldn’t be working at the clinic, she would have enjoyed being in the woods on this Saturday morning, sketching some of the wildlife. Even being inside the chicken coop, checking on the baby pheasants that had hatched yesterday morning, would have been preferable to being here in the stuffy house. Maybe when she finished with the tomatoes, there would be time for her to make a quick trip to the woods.
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