“Why not?” Miriam said, bending forward over the saddle horn. “Lead the way!”
Hannah let out the reins, pressing her knees against the mare’s ribs. “Let’s go,” she whispered. “But be careful, I haven’t done this in a long time.”
Moving quickly to a gallop, Hannah rode with her weight resting on the stirrups, pushing upward with her feet. Behind her came the pounding of Miriam’s horse. Hannah kept the reins tight, throwing her head back and laughing as the wind blew her head covering off, the strings snapping tight around her throat.
The trees went by in blurs, the feel of the horse’s footing solid, the strength of the mare’s body flowing through Hannah until she felt as if it were her own. This was the way she used to feel in those long-ago summer days while riding her pony in the pastures at home. Then there was only the wind, the joy of the ride, and the freedom of the open skies that flooded her heart. Those were the glorious days before Jake, and the baby, and the weight of church problems hanging over their heads.
“Whee!” Miriam said when Hannah pulled to a halt, the horses breathing heavily. “I can see you’ve done this before.”
Hannah didn’t say anything as she pressed her eyelids together, resisting the urge to wipe her eyes. Hopefully Miriam thought the tears came only from the wind.
“There are a lot of memories out here for you, aren’t there?” Miriam said softly. “It looks like a place where only good things would happen. With the mountains on all sides, and the river. It brings God close, doesn’t it?”
“Sort of,” Hannah said.
Miriam didn’t seem to notice the catch in her voice.
How was Hannah to explain all that had happened here? Her rides alone on Prince, reading her letters from home, wrestling with what to do about Sam, and then that fateful last ride with Jake when she thought they would confess their forbidden love for each other, only to have it end so tragically. Only the grace of God could ever have put all that mess back together again.
Perhaps Betty and she should keep their fingers out of Miriam’s relationships, regardless of what will happen. Betty’s interference with Jake and her relationship certainly hadn’t turned out well. In fact, it had done more harm than good.
“Perhaps I can find love out here,” Miriam said, gazing off into the distance toward the towering mountains. “I was only half serious before, but you’re making a believer out of me. I had forgotten how deeply moving this country is. Anything can happen out here.”
“The road of love is not always easy,” Hannah sighed. “I suppose you’ll find that out soon enough.”
“You think I’m setting myself up for a broken heart, don’t you?” Miriam teased.
Hannah wiped her eyes, and said, “I think I’m going to stay out of this from now on.”
“I don’t suppose Betty will do likewise. I’m expecting a summer full of advice about boys, and who I should and shouldn’t date.”
“Then I’ll try not to join her. Really…I’ll try really hard.”
“No, don’t try,” Miriam said, reaching across to pat her sister’s shoulder. “You’re a wonderful sister, and I value what you have to say.”
“You shouldn’t tease me with sugary words,” Hannah said, turning her mare back toward the barn.
“I wasn’t, Hannah. I wasn’t.”
“Thanks for the compliment then.”
“So tell me about this boy who has Betty and you so worried.”
“Miriam, I said I wanted to stay out of it.”
“It’s already too late for that, so tell me. What am I going to see that will be so awful?”
“Something you’ve never seen before.”
“Hannah, now you’re teasing. Quit it! You’re not good at it.”
“What if I’m not teasing?”
“But you are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then please tell me more. My heart is already pounding.”
“He’s a little older than you are, tall, very handsome, a little dark and moody, and he will give you shivers down your spine.”
“Hannah,” Miriam said. “Now you’re scaring me. Tell me you’re just making this up.”
Hannah laughed. “His name is Dennis Riley. And his parents weren’t raised Amish. He and his brother live here. His brother Will is married to Rebecca, who is a very good friend of mine. They have two children, Andrew and Edith.”
Miriam took a deep breath. “Well, to be honest, I do like the part about him not being from the Amish. Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing all my life. Amish boys are boring.”
“That attitude is what I’m afraid of,” Hannah said. “When you meet the right Amish boy, he won’t be boring. Jake’s not boring. At least not to me.”
“Still, this Dennis sounds interesting.”
“Miriam, he’s trouble.”
“Does Jake think so too?”
“No. Jake says he’s a solid, upstanding member of the church.”
“And you don’t believe him?”
“His brother Will isn’t stable, and doesn’t instability run in a family? We’ve seen that a lot.”
“Hannah, you’ve been Amish too long. That’s your problem.”
“Talk like that scares me, Miriam. Surely you’d never leave the Amish? Is this what the trip is about? If it is, it was most dishonest to leave Mom and Dad under a false impression, and I won’t have anything to do with it. If you’re planning to leave the Amish, I think you should turn around right now and go back home. Jake and I can’t have this on our hands. Mom and Dad would never forget it if you left the Amish while you were visiting us.”
“Oh, Hannah, you do worry too much. I’m not leaving, I promise,” Miriam said, urging her horse forward. “Come on. Let’s take another run. This time you follow me. We’ve had enough of this serious talk. I want to enjoy Montana.”
Hannah followed her, feeling the wind in her face again and allowing her worries to fly off her shoulders. Miriam was right. There had been enough serious talk for awhile.
“I love it!” Miriam shouted from ahead of her, throwing her hands in the air. “Hello, Montana!”
“You’re as wild as I am,” Hannah said, laughing heartily when they slowed down at the turn toward the barn. “Doesn’t this remind you of our growing up years, of riding our ponies in the pasture?”
“I didn’t have my pony for very long,” Miriam said. “But you had Honey for most of your growing up years. It’s a miracle he didn’t break his leg the day Sam came by to moon over you.”
“I did break my collarbone, but Honey was okay. That was the important thing.”
“You should take better care of yourself. You have accidents, bash your head in, break your collarbone, date boys who die in car wrecks. But maybe that’s my problem. I’ve been taking such good care of myself nothing has ever happened, good or bad.”
“It’s the grace of God, Miriam. It’s not anything I’ve done.”
“Then I think it’s time to get a little of that grace for myself, Hannah.”
“You’re scaring me again.”
Miriam laughed and pulled her horse up in front of the barn. She swung down and loosened the saddle cinch.
Kendra came running across the yard waving her arms at them. She arrived breathless and stood still for a moment to catch her breath.
“Is something wrong?” Hannah quickly asked.
“No, no,” Kendra said, between breaths. “Mom wonders if you’d come inside and help her move a piece of furniture to the basement. Dad told her he would help her some evening, but Mom said she might as well seize the moment with both of you here.”
“Of course,” Miriam said. “As soon as we get these horses put away.”
Hannah led her horse to the barn and pulled his saddle off. Beside her Miriam did the same, swinging the saddle to its place on the rack.
“Your hands will get tired doing this all summer,” Hannah said. “But I got used to it and really enjoyed the job.”
“You’ll have to come over and help me sometimes.”
“I might come to ride since you’re here, but I don’t know about helping.”
“Then I’ll look forward to riding some more with you,” Miriam said with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun.”
“Same here,” Hannah said as they walked toward the house.
Kendra held the door open for them, and Betty came rushing down from upstairs.
“Oh, thank you two so much for helping out. If I can get this old desk down to the basement, I will feel so much better. The thing needed to be out of the living room for I don’t know how long, but we’ve been putting it off.”
“Then a heave and a ho,” Miriam said, taking one corner with Kendra, while Betty and Hannah took the other. Together they managed to slide it over to the basement stairs. Betty had rugs ready, and they slid it down, placing rugs in front of the desk as it moved.
“There, that’s done!” Betty said, when she was satisfied with the new location. “And thank you so much. I will see both of you on Sunday then, if not before.”
“I’m already enjoying my visit so much,” Miriam said, turning to follow Hannah up the outside basement steps.
“To a happy summer!” Betty hollered after them.
“And to a happy meeting with this handsome Dennis fellow,” Miriam said over her shoulder.
The two young women heard Betty gasp.
Twelve
Mr. Brunson drove out of the grocery store parking lot and turned northwest on Highway Two, his weekly grocery bags on the floor-board. The single carton of eggs sat on the seat, sliding sideways as he accelerated. Now he had no excuse to stop in at Mary Keim’s stand on his way home. It was better this way, as Jake had said. The distance between the two cultures was simply too wide for even love to bridge. If it was love. Perhaps he was experiencing just another crush, mirroring his youth. Didn’t old people enter a second childhood somewhere around his age? But then he knew the real thing when it happened. He had experienced the real thing with Bernice those many years ago. Wasn’t this like that?
Accelerating, he pulled out of town, approaching the speed limit before he slowed down. Jake’s friendship was an issue in his decision, but of greater concern were Mary’s feelings on the matter. How was he to find out how she felt about him if he couldn’t ask her out to dinner? Apparently from what Jake said, trouble would begin for Mary if the Amish community even heard of her interest in an Englisha man. But did she have an interest? Or was he simply imagining his own feelings were hers?
Ahead of him the framed box stand with the blue tarp covering the top came into view. Beside the stand Mary’s horse stood tied to the fence, switching its tail at flies. Mr. Brunson had no reason to stop, but even so he found his foot easing off the gas pedal. He turned slowly into the small parking area under an oak tree. His face felt flushed and his hands were sweaty. What was he to say to her, and what was he to do with another carton of eggs?
Climbing out of his truck, he walked toward the stand, meeting Mary’s peaceful eyes as he approached. This woman was obviously happy in her world, content to submit to what God had sent her way. Could he fit into that will, or was he the interloper come to disturb and ruffle that peace? His heart pounded as he greeted her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Keim,” he said. “It certainly is beautiful weather this morning.”
“That it is, Mr. Brunson,” she said, laughing softly, the sound like country church bells on a Sunday morning. “I just sold my last carton of eggs, and here I saw your truck coming down the road. But I’ll have more eggs tomorrow if that isn’t too much of a problem.”
“Oh, that’s perfectly fine,” he said. “Do you have any more canned goods?”
“I have peaches,” she said. “Although these are from a batch I canned two years ago. I don’t know if that makes any difference to you. It’ll be a few months before the new crop of peaches comes in.”
“I’ll take a jar,” he said, reaching into his pocket for his billfold. “I’m sure they’ll be delicious.”
She took his money as she handed him the jar. “I hope you enjoy them.”
“I know I will,” he said, clearing his throat.
Did he dare? But what could he say that wouldn’t produce an automatic rift in their current comfortable relationship?
“Is there anything else?” she asked, waiting, her bonnet pushed back on her head, revealing her white kapp and the dark hair stretched tight across her forehead.
“You have a good day,” he said, looking away and turning back to the pickup. He pulled out of the driveway and headed back toward town. His groceries needed to be home in the refrigerator, but they could wait. He needed to speak with Jake.
Careful to maintain his speed, Mr. Brunson drove into Libby and pulled into the small parking lot in front of Jake’s furniture store. A small display room in front had a rocker, a log bed frame, and a dresser in the window. Mr. Brunson exited the truck, walked to the door, and entered. He stepped past the empty front desk and almost slammed into Jake when he went through the door to the workshop in the back.
“Oh, it’s you,” Jake said. “What’s the rush?”
“I’ve got to speak to you,” Mr. Brunson said. “Can we go to the front office?”
“Sure,” Jake said. “I hope nothing is wrong.”
“Not unless you count my feeling like a bogeyman,” Mr. Brunson said, taking the chair behind the desk. Jake dusted off his apron and sat on the rocker.
“You look distraught,” Jake said. “Is everything okay?”
“No, everything is not okay,” Mr. Brunson said. “And you’re going to have to help me.”
“All right. What can I do?”
“This matter of my feelings for Mary Keim, that’s what. I know you told me to stay away from her, but I can’t. At least not until I know how she feels. And I can’t ask her myself lest I get her into trouble with your people. Besides, she’d probably die from shock if an Englisha man asked her out for dinner.”
“She would be surprised, that’s for sure, and, yes, troubled,” Jake said. “Regardless of what her feelings might be on the matter. She would think she’s to blame for giving you ideas.”
“But how can it be wrong? I love the woman, Jake.”
“You think you love her,” Jake said. “Love to the Amish is much more than romantic feelings. It’s commitment, respect, and a willingness to place the good of the other first.”
“And what would be best for Mary? That I disappear?”
“I don’t know,” Jake said. “This situation is a new one on me.”
“And you think it’s not for me?” Mr. Brunson said, laughing grimly.
“Would you be willing to join the Amish?” Jake asked.
“Join the Amish? But why can’t she join me?”
“I don’t think she would. Mary’s been Amish all of her life. Do you want her to leave the faith now and face a separation from her family? That’s what she would experience if she marries an Englisha man.”
“No,” Mr. Brunson said. “She’s a sweet woman, and I wouldn’t wish any hardship on her, even for my own benefit. But still—if I at least knew how she felt that would help.”
“And if she expressed feelings for you, you’d really join our faith?”
“What would that involve? Do the Amish have any weird doctrines hidden under the surface that would come out to haunt me?”
“No.” Jake laughed. “I don’t think so, anyway. We are very similar to Protestant churches in matters of doctrine. Where we differ is in our belief that the church needs to be separate from the world. And you can see for yourself how that takes shape. We don’t drive cars, have electricity in our homes, and so on.”
“And would you take me in as a member? I mean, what could an old man like me lose from joining the Amish? And for a woman like Mary I would be more than glad to.”
“I don’t think you should rush into a decision,” Jake said.
“It’s a lot harder than what it may look like to you.”
“I can imagine,” Mr. Brunson said. “Is there any way I can talk with Mary, perhaps with you or Hannah present? I could let her know that my feelings for her would prompt me to become Amish. That would prove I was serious.”
Jake shook his head. “I don’t think that would be fair. She’d think you were joining just because of her.”
“But I would be.”
“But that’s not good,” Jake said. “I think you’re going to have to take the risk beforehand. She’ll respect you for that. That is, if she has feelings for you, which I don’t know. If you attempt to secure her affections beforehand, it will never be quite the same. I think she’d want to know you had become Amish because you were convinced it was the right thing for you to do…not just to please her and win her heart.”
“I don’t know,” Mr. Brunson said. “Are you sure that’s not the preacher in you talking?”
“It could be,” Jake said, smiling. “But I’m responsible for her as a church member, as are the other ministers.”
“Still, I think the eloping idea is better,” Mr. Brunson said, getting up. “I’d sweep her off her feet with my offer of marriage. What could the poor woman say to the life I have to offer her? There’s the money. I could take her on cruises to Alaska, to the Bahamas, to Europe, to the Mediterranean, and that’s just the beginning. Plus, she’d be getting me,” he added with a wink.
“You would be a good catch,” Jake said. “You’re a good man, but we value our faith above anything this world has to offer. That’s part of who we are. Would you wish to take that away from Mary?”
“I declare you could outtalk a Princeton graduate in rhetoric, Jake. Let alone being a master at making me feel guilty. No, I wouldn’t want Mary to give up her principles.”
“Then you don’t have much choice, do you?”
“Look, Jake,” Mr. Brunson said, placing both of his hands on the desk. “At least tell her that I wish to speak with her. Do that for me, and I will take it from there. You don’t have to tell her why, just make it legitimate, let it be someplace where she doesn’t get in trouble for it and can give me a fair hearing.”
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