Rosanna's Gift

by Susan Lantz Simpson

  * * *

  The sky had become a thick, gray mass of clouds, and the wind had a bite by the time Rosanna made her way out to the clothesline. Darkness would swallow them early this evening with so many clouds. If it didn’t snow, it was sure missing a gut chance. Rosanna fought to release the clothespins from the flapping trousers, shirts, and dresses. The diapers threatened to wrap around her and encase her like a mummy. She shivered and wished she had remembered to pull on a pair of gloves before stepping outside.

  The constantly jiggling clothesline and slapping clothes kept her attention so focused on her task that she didn’t hear the approaching buggy until it had nearly reached the house. It was almost supper time. Who would be visiting now? She wrestled the clothes into the wicker laundry basket before turning to face the gray buggy.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Emma!”

  Emma hopped to the ground, tethered her horse, and jogged to the clothesline. “This looks like a losing battle.” She swatted at a diaper that smacked her in the face.

  Rosanna chuckled. “It sure seems that way, but I’m determined to win.” She yanked another one of Sadie’s dresses from the line and tossed it into the basket.

  “Brrr! I’m surprised the clothes aren’t as stiff as boards.”

  “I think the wind has kept them dancing so they didn’t freeze.”

  “You must be frozen, though. Look how red your hands are.”

  “I am pretty cold. I remembered my gloves after I got out here.”

  Emma quickly unclipped diapers and folded them. “You probably won’t even feel your fingers by the time you’re done. I think winter has moved in for sure.”

  “I believe you’re right—on both counts.” Rosanna’s fingers had already stiffened. She flexed them twice and pulled the rest of the misbehaving clothes from the line as Emma corralled the remaining diapers. “So what brings you by so late in the day?”

  “I would have kumm earlier, but my mamm took a notion to beat all the rugs and wax the wood floors after we did all the laundry.”

  “You must be tired.”

  “I am, but I wanted to get out. Mamm didn’t need my help for supper since she threw everything but the kitchen sink into a big pot of soup.”

  “It’s a perfect day for soup. We’ve got a pot of stew simmering ourselves. So to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Rosanna bent to hoist the overflowing basket to her hip.

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Emma trotted to the house behind Rosanna.

  “As you can see, I’m as healthy as ever.” Rosanna tossed the words over her shoulder.

  “I didn’t mean I thought you were physically ill.”

  “Are you implying I am mentally ill?”

  Emma giggled. “Nee, silly. You stole away from the singing last night without saying a word. I was afraid you were upset.”

  Rosanna let Emma pull the door open, since her fingers seemed to have frozen to the basket handles. “You were busy, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  “Busy? Me?”

  Rosanna slid a sideways glance at her freind. “It appeared you were making eyes at my bruder and vice versa.”

  “Ach! Rosanna Mast! How can you say such a thing?”

  “My vision is perfect, and I speak only the truth.”

  “I think not.”

  “I think so. Your words may protest, but your face is beet red.”

  “It is cold and windy out here, you know.”

  “Uh-huh.” Rosanna plopped the basket on the floor as soon as she entered the kitchen. She hurried to the big black woodstove and held her hands out to warm them. “I think my fingers are too stiff to untie my bonnet or take off my cloak.”

  “Here, I’ll help you.” Emma helped Rosanna out of her outerwear and hung everything on a peg near the door.

  “Danki.”

  “Sure. What are freinden for?”

  Rosanna flexed and extended her fingers several times. “I believe they will work again soon. Aren’t you frozen, too?”

  “Not quite. I wasn’t out there as long as you were.”

  “It’s a gut thing. Now, tell me who you talked to after the singing?”

  “Is Mollie taking a nap?”

  “She is, but don’t change the subject.”

  “I wasn’t aware we were discussing anything in particular.”

  “Oh, but we were. Just before we came inside.”

  “Funny, I don’t seem to remember.”

  “Selective memory. Isn’t that what they call it?”

  “I don’t have an idea what you’re talking about.” Emma shrugged out of her own cloak and hung it on a peg beside Rosanna’s.

  “Let me refresh your memory. Could it possibly be my own dear bruder Tobias who you chatted with? Did he take you home?” Rosanna nudged the taller girl with an elbow.

  “That’s for me to know.”

  “And me to find out! If your face glows any brighter, I’m afraid it will burst into flame.”

  “You’re so funny, Rosanna.”

  “Maybe I should put my still-icy fingers on your cheeks to cool them off.”

  “And maybe you should tell me why Paul Hertzler disappeared from the barn right after you did.”

  Rosanna shrugged her shoulders. “How should I know what went on after I left?”

  “I’m guessing you didn’t walk home. And you didn’t wait for Tobias.”

  “Aha! You wouldn’t know if I waited for him or not if you didn’t leave with him.”

  “Not necessarily.”

  “Explain it, then.”

  “I don’t owe you an explanation.”

  “True, but we’re freinden. Best freinden.”

  “So?”

  “So spill.”

  “You first.”

  “I have nothing to tell.” Rosanna turned toward the cupboard and reached to open the door. “Would you like some tea or cocoa?”

  “Now look who’s changing the subject.” Emma’s blue eyes twinkled. She hopped onto a kitchen chair. “I’ll have tea, by the way.”

  “Okay, me, too.” Rosanna dragged down two mugs and plopped a tea bag into each. She felt Emma’s eyes on her as she turned her back to pour hot water into the mugs. She knew for sure a smirk would be plastered on Emma’s face.

  “Danki,” Emma said when Rosanna set the mug in front of her. She reached for the sugar bowl in the center of the table and dumped three heaping teaspoons of sugar into her tea.

  “Did you want a little more tea to go with all that sugar?”

  “This is fine.”

  “I don’t know how you stay so skinny. You have the biggest sweet tooth in all of St. Mary’s County.”

  “I’m just lucky, I guess.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’m waiting.”

  Rosanna sat in the chair across from Emma. She took her time stirring a single spoonful of sugar into her tea. She purposely ignored Emma’s stare, though she had to work hard to keep from squirming. She raised the mug to her lips to take a tentative sip. Steam swirled around her face.

  “You might want to wait a minute on that.”

  “Oooh! I think you’re right. It is a tad hot.” Rosanna set her mug on the table but kept her hands wrapped around it. Knowing her mamm was probably sitting in the living room mending, she lowered her voice. “I’ll tell you what happened, like I told Mamm this morning, so you won’t jump to the wrong conclusion.”

  “I’m all ears.” Emma wiggled in her chair as if getting ready to receive some juicy snippet of gossip.

  “Wipe that silly grin off your face. This is not going to be some happily-ever-after love story.”

  “Really?” Emma poked out her bottom lip in a pretty little pout.

  “Nee. I’ll let you provide that.” Rosanna attempted another sip of tea but again set the mug down without doing so. “This stuff might be drinkable by next week.”

  “You’re stalling. Go on with your story.”

  “As you
know, I didn’t feel totally comfortable at the singing. I enjoyed the actual singing and seeing everybody, but by the time we finished the last song, I wanted to leave. I wanted to check on Mollie.”

  “Your mamm was watching her, ain’t so?”

  “True, but I’ve rarely been away from her.”

  “Okay. I can understand that. Even though I’m not a mudder, I imagine it would be hard to leave your boppli, at least the first few times.”

  “Right. I was missing Mollie and thinking I should be home taking care of her.”

  “Everyone needs a break, though, and you’re still young and single.”

  Rosanna nodded. This time when she raised her mug, she did take a gulp of tea. “Ahh! It’s just right now.”

  “Would Henry’s slipping out with Frannie have had anything to do with your desire to leave?”

  “Nee. Jah. Maybe. Others were slipping out or pairing up, even you.”

  “Me?”

  “Jah, but I expect you to tell your story in a minute. Anyway, I had told Tobias he was stuck bringing me home, but I didn’t want to rush him or spoil his evening. I figured I would wait for him in the buggy.”

  “But it was cold outside.”

  “It certainly was. I thought about walking home while I was huddled under a blanket. I guess Paul was leaving early. He saw me shivering in the cold and offered to take me home. End of story.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Rosanna raised her eyebrows and ventured another sip of tea.

  Emma sipped, too. “Yum. Nice and sweet.” She lowered her mug. “I don’t think Paul just happened to leave. From what I observed, he shot out of the barn practically on your heels. I’m thinking he deliberately left when he did in search of you.”

  Rosanna lifted and dropped her shoulders. “I wouldn’t know about that.”

  “All right. He drove you home. Did he kumm inside?”

  “As I told Mamm, I couldn’t be rude and not offer him a snack since he was kind enough to give me a ride and it was my fault he didn’t get any refreshments at the singing.”

  “Of course not.”

  Emma’s look of expectancy almost made Rosanna ball up a paper napkin and throw it at her. “It wasn’t anything romantic at all.”

  “Didn’t you talk while you ate?”

  “We did. Mamm was still up rocking Mollie when we tiptoed into the house. Paul wanted to see Mollie before Mamm took her upstairs. While we ate our snack, we talked about Mollie.”

  “That’s a gut thing, ain’t so? After all, most fellows wouldn’t be too concerned about a boppli.”

  Rosanna shrugged again. “I don’t know. But I do know that Paul and I aren’t interested in each other in any way except as freinden.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  “I’ve learned my lesson.”

  “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Henry. I know you talked to him a lot at singings.”

  “That’s just it. I talked to him. I sought him out. I guess he was never interested in me, though.”

  “Unless Mollie’s arrival scared him off.”

  “That’s silly. Mollie is the sweetest little thing ever.”

  “You know that, and I know that. Maybe Henry didn’t want any extra responsibility.”

  “It’s best I know that now.” Rosanna sighed. “I’m okay with being Mollie’s mudder. I don’t have to be someone’s fraa.”

  “You will be.” Emma reached across the table to squeeze Rosanna’s hand. “With the right person. And I think I know who that person might be.”

  Rosanna looked up and gave her head a shake.

  “Don’t dismiss Paul like that.” Emma snapped her fingers for emphasis. “He’s a very nice fellow, and he’s obviously crazy about you.”

  “You’re crazy!”

  “Nee. I’ve seen him watching you. He is definitely more than a little interested.”

  “I told you, Emma, we’re only freinden.”

  “Give it time. Just don’t write him off until you’ve given him a fair chance.”

  Rosanna rolled her eyes. “It’s your turn. Did you talk to Tobias after the singing?”

  Emma squirmed, bumping the table so hard their tea nearly sloshed onto the table. “I talked to a lot of people.”

  “Uh-huh. Did you talk to my bruder more than the others?”

  This time Emma shrugged and stared into her mug.

  “I’ve seen you two sneaking peeks at each other.”

  Emma clapped her hands to her cheeks.

  Rosanna giggled. “Your strawberry red cheeks are so pretty.” She yanked one of Emma’s hands down. “Did you and Tobias go for a ride?”

  “We did not. We only talked.”

  “Would you like me to put a bug in his ear, you know, put in a gut word for you?”

  “Don’t you dare!”

  Rosanna laughed harder. “I could help you out.”

  “And I could talk to Paul for you. I could offer him some encouragement.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Then we’ll both have to wait and see what happens, ain’t so?”

  “As far as you’re concerned, anyway. I already know for me. I’ve resigned myself to being single all my days.”

  “Such a martyr!” Emma chuckled. “You mark my words, my freind. You’ll be getting married before the rest of us.”

  “Such crazy talk, Emma Kurtz. That is not in my plans at all, not anymore.”

  “Don’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.”

  “Jah, but I’ve made my plans.” Rosanna crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the pretty blonde girl. “And they don’t include apples, bad or gut.”

  “Sometimes the Lord Gott’s plans might be different from ours, ain’t so? He probably created the perfect shiny red apple for you.” Emma smiled sweetly before raising her mug to her lips.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Rosanna sighed in relief when Mollie finally dozed off in her arms. Poor angel had been teething and suffering so much discomfort with a tooth that stubbornly refused to break through the red, swollen gums. Rosanna wanted to cry along with her miserable boppli. She had been so worried that Mollie was sick, since she had seemed too young to be teething, but Mamm assured her little ones teethed at all different ages. Mollie apparently was an earlier teether.

  She would have gladly taken on her little girl’s pain if she could have. She carried her downstairs to the living room to keep her from waking the rest of the family. Elongated shadows cast by the single flickering oil lamp danced on the walls of the dimly lit room. Only the occasional squeak of the rocking chair or the crackling of wood in the stove broke the tomb-like silence of the room. Rosanna leaned her head back against the thick, blue cushion lining the back of the chair. Her body had passed beyond tired, but her brain whirred.

  “The Lord Gott’s plans might be different from ours.” Those were Emma’s earlier words. Did His plan for her include a special person who would be her husband and Mollie’s daed? If so, who was this mystery man? It obviously wasn’t Henry Zook. She’d given him enough opportunities to move any relationship forward. The reticence she had mistaken for shyness could only have been disinterest. She was okay with that now. She was over him. Even her embarrassment had faded once she realized most of the other young people at the singings had been too absorbed in their own conversations.

  Rosanna squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t crawl into the past to change it. She could only do her best in the present. Right now, she’d love to sleep for a few minutes while the house was peaceful. Her eyes popped open when her ears detected a shuffling sound. She squinted into the darkness until a lumbering shape came into view. “Tobias?” Her whisper was little more than an exhalation, for fear of waking Mollie.

  “Rosanna? What . . . ?”

  “Shhh!”

  Tobias stumbled into the living room. He groaned when he stubbed a toe, but he didn’t cry out. “What are you doing up?”

 
“I might ask you the very same thing.”

  “Is Mollie all right?” Tobias scooted closer to the rocking chair.

  “She’s teething and was fussy. I brought her downstairs so she wouldn’t disturb anyone.”

  “Little chance of that. You know we all sleep like dead men’s bones. Is she asleep?” He leaned over to peer into the little cocoon of blankets.

  “Finally. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Aside from the toe I just broke, you mean?”

  “Jah.” Rosanna stifled a giggle.

  “My stomach rumbled so loud I thought a freight train crashed in my room.”

  “It must have been some rumble if it woke you up. There was some peach pie left from supper unless someone else crept in and finished it off.”

  “I’ll check. Do you want a piece?”

  “Nee. I’m fine.”

  “You don’t seem so fine.”

  “Go get your pie!” Rosanna loved her bruder but hoped he’d stay in the kitchen to eat his pie. Maybe she should ease herself out of the rocking chair and carry Mollie upstairs before Tobias had a chance to return. Her bruder could read her too well. He already suspected something wasn’t quite right. She’d managed to slide to the edge of the chair before Tobias shuffled into the living room with the metal pie plate in one hand and a fork in the other.

  “Tobias!”

  “What?”

  “You’ve got the whole plate!”

  “Hey! There was only one piece left.”

  “One big piece.”

  “I’ve got a ferociously big hunger.” He patted his belly. “I’ll share with you, if you want.”

  “You go right ahead. I certainly wouldn’t want you to starve or even go to bed the teensiest bit hungry.”

  “I appreciate your concern. You’re such a kind, thoughtful person.”

  “Why, danki.” Rosanna tried not to show her disappointment when Tobias plunked down onto the chair nearest the rocking chair. She peeked over the rim of the pie plate. “Tobias Mast, that’s a third of the pie!”