Katie told him all about Rachel’s proposal and how she was concerned about Abigail being alone. John thought for a moment. “Well, I believe that it would do you good to get away, especially with what has happened, plus, Gott would want you to help Rachel in her time of need.”
“Jah, Daed, but Rose is getting married, and she’ll be moving into her own house which would mean Abigail would be alone. I might not be back in time. I don’t think she can handle everything by herself, can she?”
“Rose told me that the house she and Abraham were moving into needs some major repairs so they would be living here until the house is ready; which would likely take a month or two. I’m sure it won’t be too difficult to ask them to stay a while longer if you aren’t back,” John said. “You can go ahead and tell Rachel you can go with her. I think you need this time away. We’ll manage here just fine.”
“Ach, Daed, you are the best daed ever. Danke. I feel good about helping Rachel. Besides, you are right, this will do me good to get away from here for a while,” Katie said, hugging her father.
“Gut, just remember; with everything that Gott has for us to do, there is a reason… and I’m sure there’s a reason you’ve been asked to help Rachel. Go and have fun and enjoy this adventure that He has put in front of you,” John said, returning Katie’s hug.
After supper, Katie ran quickly to Rachel’s house to tell her the news. They would be leaving in two weeks, since Rachel needed time to prepare for the trip and Katie’s sister Rose was getting married.
Katie walked home that night feeling invigorated. A new adventure was exactly what she needed. She would show Thomas Becker that she wasn’t going to sit around and pout about him.
* * *
Chapter 5
“Are you sure everyone will fit in the buggy, Daed?” Katie called out as she brought her suitcase down to the front porch.
“Jah, the train station isn’t that far. We better get going. We still need to pick up Rachel and the kinner,” John said, putting Katie’s suitcase in the back of the buggy.
John had offered to drive them to the train station and to check on Rachel’s house periodically while they were gone.
Katie has been particularly excited because she had never been on a train before. She could feel her heart pound with excitement as they neared the station and she caught sight of the massive trains waiting for people to board.
Saying their goodbyes, Katie picked up her suitcase and headed for one of the cars.
“Katie, this way,” Rachel pointed to the front car.
“But the sign says for first class passengers only,” Katie said. “Are we first class passengers?”
“Jah, actually we are. My mamm sent me extra money so we could all travel first class. This trip is going to be extra special.” Rachel smiled, taking two of the children's hands.
Getting on the train, Katie was amazed at how luxurious it was. There was a special area for families in first class, and they could all sit together. The children immediately took out their books and they spent their time waiting for the train to leave reading the children their favorite stories.
“Good morning. My name is Patty, and I’ll be your personal attendant on your trip. Can I get something for the children to drink? Any special needs?”
“Perhaps some water,” Rachel said.
“Anything for either of you?” Patty asked Rachel and Katie.
Katie looked at Rachel not knowing what to say.
Rachel laughed. “You can have anything you want, Katie.”
“May I have a tea, please?” Katie asked shyly.
“Of course. We should be leaving the station in about ten minutes and then we will be serving breakfast.” Patty smiled and left to get the beverages.
“Rachel, this is amazing. Have you traveled by train before? Katie whispered to Rachel.
Laughing, Rachel said, “Jah. Years ago, though. My mamm sent John and me money for a trip to visit her before we had our first bobli. I think I was the same way you are, my first time.”
Feeling the train jerk, Rachel held onto the armrest as she looked out the window and watched all the landscape fly by.
After a fantastic breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and coffee, Katie and Rachel settled the children for a nap seeing as they had been up very early.
“Excuse me, are these your children?” an elderly woman who was sitting across from them asked.
Rachel nodded. “Yes, they are.”
“I just want to say how well behaved they are. They are the sweetest things I have ever seen,” she said.
Rachel laughed. “Thank you, they are behaved now, but they do have their moments.”
Katie smiled and snuggled down in her seat. She didn’t want to go to sleep because she didn’t want to miss anything, but before she knew it, Rachel was shaking her awake.
“Katie, we’re here.”
“Ach! I slept the whole way,” Katie said, sitting up and stretching.
“Jah, and so did we. We must have been more tired than we thought,” Rachel said.
Getting off the train, Katie was overwhelmed by the number of people coming and going.
“Where do we go from here?” Katie asked.
“We’ll have to get a taxi to bring us to my mamm’s,” Rachel said, looking around for a taxi sign.
“Excuse me, but are you Rachel?” a male voice came from behind them.
“Jah, I’m Rachel.”
Katie turned to see an Amish young man standing there who seemed to be a few years older than her.
“Hello, Rachel. My name is David. I’m a friend of your mamm’s, and she sent me to pick you up.” He picked up a few of the suitcases.
“Danke, David.”
After they were all settled in the buggy, Rachel asked, “You’re a friend of my mamms?”
“Jah, I live just a few doors down from her. I used to live with my mamm until she went to be with Gott and then I started taking care of your mamm when I noticed she was having trouble keeping her house up,” David said. He looked over at Katie curiously.
Seeing David’s glance, Rachel said, “This is my neighbor and friend, Katie. She helps me out with my kinner and has come to watch them so I can take care of my mamm’s affairs and get her moved.”
“I’m happy to meet you, Katie,” David said, tipping his hat. He looked back over at Rachel. “I’m going to miss your mamm. She became like a mamm to be after mine died. She would have me over for supper almost every evening and tell me the most wonderful stories about her childhood and your childhood, too, Rachel.”
Rachel smiled. “I hope she left out the embarrassing parts.”
Laughing, David said, “But your mamm is a great storyteller.” He looked over at Katie. “Have you ever been to Ohio, Katie?”
“Nee, this is my first adventure.”
“Well, maybe while you are here, I’ll have some time to show you some of the sights.”
“That would be nice, but I’m sure I’ll be kept pretty busy,” Katie said.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to spare some time, Katie. I’ll only need the kinner watched the days I have appointments to attend. This trip is part vacation, and part work for you, so enjoy every moment you can,” Rachel said.
Smiling, Katie looked at the back of David’s head as he drove the buggy. He was extremely handsome in a rugged sort of way, and the first thing that she had noticed about him was his smile. Maybe it would be fun to go with him to see some of the sights.
As they drove into Rachel’s mothers’ driveway, Katie was amazed at how big her house was.
“Wow, when you said the house was big, I never imagined…”
“Jah, my daed did very well in the furniture business, and when he went to be with Gott, he left my mamm very comfortable,” Rachel said, opening the door and calling out for her mother.
“Where are those boblis,” a voice called out from the kitchen.
Walking in the door, Katie heard the squeals of delight f
rom the children as they said hello to their grandmother.
“Rachel, Rachel, my dochtah, come and give your mamm a big hug,” Katie heard and looked up to see Rachel’s mother running down the hall toward her.
“Ach, mamm, it’s wonderful to see you. Mamm, this is my dear friend and helper, Katie. She’s going to watch the kinner while we tend to business.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Katie said.
“Welcome to my home, Katie. Please call me Irene. I see you’ve met my David.”
“Jah, danke for having him pick us up,” Rachel said
“Well, come into the kitchen. I have treats for the kinner, and cake, coffee, tea, juice, anything you want. I’ve been so excited that you were coming I haven’t stopped cooking and baking,” Irene said, laughing.
David stayed for supper that night, and Katie noticed that he was especially good with the children.
“The kinner seem to really like you,” Katie said after the little ones had been tucked into bed.
“Jah, I love kids. I hope one day I can have a whole houseful. I was an only child, and it became very lonely sometimes,” David said. “My dream is to marry and have lots of kinner, so they’ll never get lonely.”
Katie smiled at him thinking to herself that that was the same dream she had, except of course it involved Thomas and not David.
“Say, tomorrow night, if you don’t have to watch the kinner, there is a play I wanted to go see that is being put on by our town’s local theater group. It actually is about us Amish. It’s about a young boy who is torn between his faith in Gott and the evils of the world. I hear it is quite good,” David said.
“Well, I’ll have to check with Rachel, but I think it should be okay. It sounds like fun. I’ve never been to a play like that before, just our school’s plays.
“Wonderful. I’ll come by later to check,” David said as he stood up to say good night to everyone.
After he had left, Katie smiled to herself. She had her doubts about coming on this trip, but maybe it was the best thing for her after all.
* * *
Chapter 6
Katie found herself alone with the children the next day while Rachel and her mother tended to financial matters involving her move.
It was a beautiful sunny day so Katie decided to bring the children outside to play. She sat on the grass and started reading a book to Sarah while the other children played in the sandbox. She was so immersed in the story of the three little pigs she didn’t notice a buggy pull up into the yard.
“David, it’s nice to see you again,” she said when she saw him.
“Hello, Katie, I was off this afternoon so thought I would stop by,” he said, jumping down from his seat and kneeling down beside Katie and Sarah. “I thought perhaps a trip into town for some ice cream would be a good idea.”
“Ice ceem, jah!” little Sarah shouted.
Katie laughed. “That’s awfully sweet of you. A ride into town would be very welcome. I’ll go get the kinner ready.”
“I’ll come and help,” David said, following Katie to the side of the house where the boys were now involved in a very serious game of marbles.
“Who would like to go get some ice cream?” Katie asked.
“Ice cream!” the boys yelled and forgot all about their game.
“Great, everyone into the buggy,” David called out, heading towards the front of the house.
“I’ll just go and leave a note for Rachel in case they come back while we are gone.”
After opening a few drawers, she found a piece of paper and pen and wrote a quick note. Stopping briefly to look at herself in the small foyer mirror, she tucked in a few strands of hair that had come loose from under her kapp.
The ice cream parlor was crowded, so they had to wait their turn. As they waited in line, David turned when he heard Katie suddenly say “Ach, nee!”
“What’s wrong Katie?”
“I left in such a hurry, I forgot to take some money with me. I have no money to buy the kinner’s ice cream,” Katie said with a panicked look.
David smiled. “Silly girl, this is my treat. I certainly wouldn’t invite everyone out for ice cream if I expected you all to pay.”
Katie released a sigh of relief. “Danke, David,” Katie said almost embarrassed. “I certainly didn’t expect you to pay.”
“Well, I am. This is such a glorious day, I wanted to share it with my new friends,” David said, stepping up to the counter where the girl was ready to take their orders.
Sitting on a bench outside eating their ice cream cones, David asked Katie, “did you check with Rachel if you can go this evening for the play?”
“Jah, there’s no problem. What time will you pick me up?”
“About six thirty. That’ll give us enough time to get a good seat,” David said.
“Alright. I’m looking forward to it,” she said as she wiped the children’s ice cream covered faces and hands.
* * *
Katie was amazed at the bright lights and crowds of people walking into the auditorium. She looked around, hoping that they weren’t the only Amish ones there and gave a sigh of relief when she saw more Amish people walking in.
“You look a little overwhelmed,” David said when he saw her face.
Katie looked at him nervously. “Jah, just a bit. Where I’m from, everywhere you go, there are always lots of Amish. I’m not used to having mostly English around or having them stare at me.”
David laughed. “I’m used to it. Their stares are mostly from fascination or curiosity. They mean no harm.”
Katie noticed that David tipped his hat to say hello to several of the people attending which put her at ease.
“Do you want anything from the snack table before we go in?” David asked.
“Nee, I’m fine,” Katie answered looking around wide-eyed. Without realizing, she reached out and grabbed David’s arm. He looked at her and smiled slightly.
When Katie realized what she had done, she quickly removed her hand. “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to get lost.”
David laughed and reached down and took her hand. “There, this will make you feel better.”
After they got their seats, the lights dimmed and for the rest of the evening Katie was mesmerized with the characters on stage. She laughed, she cried, she felt every emotion imaginable. When the lights came back on, she looked at David in complete awe.
“That was a wonderful experience! Danke for inviting me.”
“You’re very welcome,” David said as he wiped his cheeks.
“Were you crying too?” Katie asked surprised. She had never seen a man cry before and wasn’t sure what to think.
He chuckled. “I’m just a sensitive person. My daed was the same.”
On the way home, they chatted about growing up and their love of God. Katie told him just a bit about what happened to her and Thomas.
“Well, I hope Thomas wakes up and realizes what a wonderful girl he has in his life. He’s one very lucky guy.”
Katie blushed. “But I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again. He said he would be back, but only Gott knows for sure. What about you, David, do you have someone special?”
“Nee, I don’t. There’s some girls in my church, but I’ve never felt anything in my heart towards any of them. I pray to Gott every chance I get, asking for Him to send me my true love, but I’m still waiting,” David answered. “In the meantime, I keep myself busy, and now helping out Rachel’s mamm takes up a lot of my time. I’m going to miss her when she moves.”
“Well, I don’t know you very well, but I think you are a wonderful, kind, man.”
“Danke, I appreciate that, Katie.”
* * *
Finally, everything was settled, and Rachel was ready to finish packing and head back home. Everyone helped out including the older children. David came by every evening to help also as much as he could.
“Ach, David, I don’t know what I’m going to do without you,�
�� Irene said after they were all done.
David smiled. “It’s me who doesn’t know what he is going to do. For the last five years, you’ve been like a mamm to me. I know I’m an adult now, but I will definitely miss you.”
“Well, you can always come and visit. It isn’t that far. You can come and spend vacations with us,” Rachel said.
Katie smiled. “Jah, and then it’ll be my turn to show you my part of the world.”
The next morning, David piled up everyone’s suitcase in the back of the buggy and brought them all to the train station. Finding a dolly, David piled the bags on it so he could roll them out to the train platform to wait for the train.
“I’ve told the real estate agent to go see you should they have anyone interested in the house. Hopefully, it won’t take that long to sell. The truck will be by tomorrow to pick up the rest of my things,” Rachel’s mother said, hugging David.
David nodded. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything, and I have the address so I can write you and let you know what’s going on.”
After saying goodbye to Rachel and the children, David looked at Katie. “Danke.”
“For what?” Katie answered, looking puzzled.
“For being you and for spending time with me. I cherished it, and I’m going to miss you.”
“It was my pleasure. You made this a fascinating visit. Please come and see us as soon as you can,” Katie said. “I would love that, and I know the kinner would too.”
Getting on the train, Katie looked out the window, smiling as she watched David standing on the platform. As the train pulled away, David waved at her. Waving back, she sat back in her chair and smiled to herself. What are these feelings I’m having? I think I’m really going to miss him, she thought to herself as the train picked up speed.
For almost the entire time she was away, she hadn’t thought of Thomas at all. She hadn’t even wondered if he missed her or if he had written her. Was this a sign from Gott that Thomas was not the one?
Katie checked the children who were all occupied with books or games. Rachel and her mother were sitting on the other side of the car making plans on where they would put all the furniture when it arrived. Sitting back down in her chair, Katie sighed. Deep down she hoped David would visit soon.
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