by Sarah Price
“She’ll be just fine, mark my words.” Verna joined her in the sitting area. Reaching into the bowl, she grabbed some dough and rolled it between her two palms. “She’s a fine young woman, Mary. Just needs a bit of exposure, that’s all.”
Wilma scoffed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Verna asked, her tone sharp and upbraiding.
Coming over to join them, Wilma was more than happy to respond. “That girl will surely get exposure at Edna’s.” She plopped onto the sofa next to Verna. “Why, she’ll have downright culture shock, if you ask me!”
“No one asked you.”
Wilma wagged her finger at Verna. “You sure did. Just now. You asked me what I meant.”
“Oh help.” Verna rolled her eyes.
Mary, however, wondered about Wilma’s words: “culture shock.”
When Mary had first encouraged Bethany to work for Edna in her place, she hadn’t thought about the possible negative impact it might have on her daughter. Instead, she’d only prayed that it would help Bethany come out of her shell. In hindsight, Mary realized that Bethany’s exposure to all of those Englischers might have a reverse impact. As sheltered as Bethany had been for so many years, would she be able to handle working at Edna’s? Had Mary made a mistake in asking her daughter to step in?
Suddenly, Mary felt her chest tighten as her anxiety increased.
Verna leaned over and placed her hand upon Mary’s leg. “Are you all right?”
“I . . . I hadn’t thought about that,” she whispered. “What Wilma said. Do you think Bethany will be able to handle so many strangers? All together? At once?”
Her cousin patted her knee. “Now, now,” she reassured Mary in a soothing voice. “Bethany will be just fine. Despite what Wilma said”—she cast a stern look at the other woman—“Edna would never let anything happen to Bethany. She’ll ease her into working among those Englischers. Besides, you were there. You said yourself that it wasn’t so bad, that the tourists mostly talked among themselves.”
Wilma clucked her tongue. “You act as if you’ve sent her to market!”
Mary glanced at Wilma. “I suppose market would be much worse.” It was true. If she’d forced Bethany to work at a market, where people came and went in droves, it would’ve been worse. At least by working with Edna, Bethany was still somewhat sheltered and, as Verna had pointed out, wouldn’t have to interact too much with the guests.
“I suppose you’re both right.”
Verna gave her one last pat. “Of course we’re right. Besides, it’s high time that Bethany began to experience the outside world, even if it’s only at Edna’s haus. Otherwise, how will she ever meet anyone to get married?”
This time, it was Wilma who mumbled “Oh help” and rolled her eyes.
“Why, just think, if we hadn’t put our heads together and found that job for Myrna, well, where would she be today?” Verna reached for more dough. “She’d not be married to Ezekiel, that’s for sure and certain.”
“And we wouldn’t be hearing about it every single time we’re together,” Wilma mumbled.
Verna snapped her head around, glaring. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.” Wilma forced a benign smile to mask her unkind comment. “Nothing at all.”
“Hmph.” Verna squished a cookie dough ball onto the baking sheet. “Somehow I don’t believe that!”
Mary fought the urge to scold the two of them. Sometimes they behaved like schoolgirls instead of middle-aged women. She didn’t fault Verna. There were times that Wilma’s attitude was too overbearing and domineering. She was always quick to overtake the conversation and often made derogatory comments. But scolding her friends wasn’t Mary’s style.
Wilma turned her attention to Mary. “You know, I was thinking—”
“Dangerous thing,” Verna quipped.
Wilma shot her a look before continuing. “—and mayhaps this is a bit far-fetched, but . . .” She paused.
“But what, Wilma?” Mary urged.
“Well, when John Esh came over the other day—what was that? Monday?—he sure struck me as a righteous man.” Wilma glanced at the other two women. “And he sure did look at your dochder a lot.”
Mary froze. She couldn’t deny that she’d noticed John’s attention to Bethany, but she hadn’t realized that Wilma had been paying such close attention, too. “What are you saying, Wilma?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be something if... well . . . you know.”
Verna gasped. Her eyes grew large and a smile broke onto her face. “Oh, Wilma!” she interjected. “I agree!”
“Are you two saying what I think you’re saying?” Mary clucked her tongue and gave them a stern look. “I thought we agreed not to do any more matchmaking.”
“Mayhaps it’s more like match-hoping instead of matchmaking,” Wilma said in a teasing tone.
“Well, whatever it is, I reckon we’ll just let nature take its course.”
Wilma adopted an air of indifference and gave a little shrug. “I don’t see where guiding them along a bit would hurt. I mean, if it were my dochders . . .” Her voice trailed off and she left the sentence unfinished.
She didn’t have to complete her thought. Mary knew exactly what Wilma would do if it involved Rachel and Ella Mae. In fact, it dawned on Mary that Wilma had suggested having the twins help Edna for a particular reason: the Esh boys.
“Hmph.” She pursed her lips. Though she might secretly hope that Bethany would find a special friend while helping Edna, Mary wasn’t about to interfere. Fortunately, the timer went off.
Saved by the bell, she thought.
“First batch of cookies is done,” she announced, grateful for the opportunity to change the subject.
She watched as Verna and Wilma hurried over to the kitchen. Using hot pads, they removed four baking sheets of cookies, setting them on the cooling rack before putting another four sheets of unbaked cookie dough back inside the hot oven.
“It’s amazing how much money we’ve raised from selling cookies at Yoders’ Store to increase Amish Aid.” Mary returned her focus to rolling more cookie dough in her palms.
Verna nodded. “I heard that the cookies are selling out before the weekend starts! And the bishop of our district said we’ve raised well over five thousand dollars so far for our three church districts.”
“Mayhaps we should try to make more for the weekend,” Mary said. “Drop off another batch on Friday morning.”
Wilma made a face. “I don’t have time to make more. Plus, we’re going to Edna’s on Friday morning to make cookies for church.”
Mary sighed, knowing that she couldn’t go. She would miss being there with all of her friends. “Mayhaps Bethany and I could make them tomorrow evening.”
“If she’s not too tired after working at Edna’s.” There was a trace of sarcasm in Wilma’s voice, which Mary chose to ignore.
“I’ll be thankful when Edna can rejoin us.” Mary placed a ball of dough onto the baking sheet. “It’s so nice when it’s the four of us. Feels like something is missing without her here.”
Wilma scoffed. “Something? You mean ‘someone,’ and it doesn’t feel like someone’s missing, because Edna is missing.”
Verna clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know exactly what she meant, Wilma Schwartz!” And then, under her breath, she added, “Always so argumentative about everything.”
“What did you say?”
Smiling, Verna repeated Wilma’s words from just a few moments earlier. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bethany finished washing the last plate, shook it over the sink to free any remaining drops of water, and then set it onto the drying rack. Finished, she thought with a small feeling of satisfaction building inside her chest. Her first official day working outside of the family house! And she’d survived with only a few mild panic attacks.
“My word, Bethany!” Edna exclaimed as she walked out of the pantry
room. From the look on the older woman’s face, she was clearly pleased. “This room is so clean and tidy that it looks as if I’m ready for Sunday worship.”
Bethany couldn’t help but smile at the compliment.
“And so early, too!” Edna set down a container on the kitchen table. For a moment, the older woman stood there and surveyed the room. “And to think we’ll do it all again tomorrow,” she said with a slightly deflated sigh. “You’ll be coming back, ja?”
Bethany stopped working. “Coming back?”
“Tomorrow.” Edna sat down in a chair at the kitchen table. “Or did they scare you off? All those Englischers.”
Ah, Bethany thought, realizing that Edna was teasing her. She gave a soft laugh. “Nee, Edna, they didn’t scare me off.”
“What do you think, then?”
Bethany tilted her head. “About?”
Spreading her hands before her, Edna gestured toward the room. “Today. The guests. The work. Everything.”
“Oh!” She felt her cheeks warm up. She should’ve known what Edna meant. “It . . . it really wasn’t so bad.”
A laugh escaped Edna’s lips. “Not so bad, indeed. This was a particularly fine group of women. Last week, however”—she clucked her tongue disapprovingly—“they ate so much that your maem and I worried we didn’t have enough!”
“She told me.”
“That’s right. You and Mary made me all those apple pies to serve to the weekend group. I sure did appreciate that.”
Demurely, Bethany looked away.
“Usually I have leftovers for my family to eat at supper. I’ll doctor them up a bit, so that they aren’t always eating the same food—add ham or meatballs, ja?—but it sure does make extra work for me when the guests devour everything in sight.”
She could only imagine! She was amazed at how much this group had eaten. She couldn’t fathom how anyone could have eaten still more.
Taking a deep breath, Edna glanced at the clock. “Well, it’s earlier than I anticipated, but if you’re done, you’re done.” She smiled at her. “Reckon I should fetch one of the boys to take you home.”
Bethany watched as Edna walked to the mudroom and opened the door that led onto the porch. A few seconds later, a loud bell rang out. Once, twice, three times. When Edna returned, she explained. “I told Elmer I’d ring the bell when I needed Jonas to take you.”
Bethany returned to drying the dishes and then stacked them on the counter. She wasn’t looking forward to being driven home by Jonas. She’d seen through his attempts to hide his laziness earlier that day when she and Edna had brought out the coffee. And a man who didn’t value hard work certainly did not impress Bethany one bit.
Not ten minutes later, Bethany could hear the sound of a horse outside the house. Edna walked over to the window and peered outside. “Ah, the buggy’s almost ready. Why don’t you collect your things and go on out? And one of the boys will pick you up at the same time tomorrow, ja?”
Bethany nodded.
As she walked into the mudroom and reached for her shawl, she felt herself beginning to grow anxious. Quietly, she walked outside and stole across the small patch of grass between the house and the turnaround in front of the barn. She could see Jonas adjusting the brake lines, and without speaking, she climbed into the buggy.
With the sun starting to set already, the air was brisk and cold. She shivered and pulled her shawl tighter around her throat.
“Cold?”
Startled, Bethany looked up. John? “Oh!” She had been expecting Jonas! The change was definitely preferable to her.
“Something wrong?”
She stumbled over her words. “Nee, not wrong. It . . . It’s just that your maem said Jonas was taking me.”
John raised an eyebrow. “Shall I fetch him? He’d be more than happy to do so.”
Appalled, Bethany flushed.
Leaning against the buggy, John took a deep breath. “Look, Bethany, do me a favor, ja? I’ve worked hard all day and, well, I could use a little break. So if you don’t mind, mayhaps it’d be all right if I, not Jonas, took you home.”
Had she offended him? Her stomach churned and she felt her heart begin to palpitate. She needed to correct this wrong, and quickly. But her throat felt dry as she fought the panic.
Speak, she willed herself. Say something. Anything!
Swallowing, she shook her head. “Nee, John. I . . . I simply meant that I’m so sorry you were inconvenienced by taking me.” She paused and moistened her lips. “Especially because you worked so hard today.”
A hint of a smile touched his lips. “I’m not.”
“You’re not . . . ?”
He turned to look at her. The expression he wore was solemn and serious as he said, “I’m not sorry, and I’m definitely not inconvenienced.”
Her mouth opened, just a little.
“In fact,” John continued, returning his attention to the horse, double-checking the brake lines, “it’s rather nice. A fellow gets tired of always being with just his bruders or coworkers.”
Bethany felt her heart skip a beat. Was he trying to tell her that he wasn’t courting anyone? “I . . . I can imagine that would be rather . . .”
He waited for her to finish. When she didn’t, he smirked. “Rather what, Bethany?”
She struggled to find the right word so that she didn’t offend him. “Monotonous, I reckon.”
He laughed. “If by ‘monotonous’ you mean dull and tedious, then you are more than correct.”
“That’s not what I meant!” She felt her cheeks heat up, embarrassed that he had interpreted her word choice in such a negative manner. “I mean, I don’t know your bruders or coworkers to say if they are dull and tedious!”
His laughter subsided, but there was a bright sparkle in his blue eyes as he looked at her. “Well, I can assure you that they are,” he said in a playful tone, “which is why I am more than happy to take you home, Bethany Ropp. Unlike them, you are neither dull nor tedious. In fact, I find your company to be rather refreshing after a long day of work.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
On Thursday morning, Edna was bustling about the kitchen when she saw the buggy emerge around the corner of the barn.
John must be returning with Bethany already. She smiled to herself, content with how smoothly things had run the previous day and how John had volunteered to fetch her. In fact, he seemed quite happy to help out by picking her up and taking her home.
As she opened the oven door, a wave of dry heat hit her face, and she quickly slid in the bread pans. The kitchen was warm, thanks to the extra help from the oven. She’d always preferred the cold weather that came with winter to the heat of summer. There was something cozy about lazy winter days. With fewer outdoor chores, winter definitely meant time to focus on baking in the kitchen or crocheting in the sitting area. But recently, despite the cold weather, her kitchen always seemed extra warm.
Footsteps behind her interrupted her thoughts. She turned in time to see Elmer walk over to the kitchen window and peer outside. She hadn’t heard him come downstairs. Once again at breakfast, he’d been unusually quiet. Even now, he remained silent for a minute, his eyes following something.
“What is it?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“John and Bethany.”
Hearing Elmer say the two names together, Edna straightened. John and Bethany. Why, those two names sound just about right together, she thought. She joined him at the window.
Bethany was standing beside John as he unhitched the horse from the buggy. At one point, he said something and the young woman hurried over to take hold of the horse’s bridle while John held the left shaft. After setting it upon the ground, he took the horse from Bethany and the two of them disappeared into the barn.
“Oh my,” she whispered. Was it possible that Bethany and John might be interested in each other? The possibility definitely intrigued her, and she wished she hadn’t asked Jonas to take Bethany home later that af
ternoon. She wouldn’t make that mistake again, that was for sure and certain.
“Oh no!” Elmer wagged his finger at her. “I know that look on your face.” He pushed away from the counter and walked over to the coffeepot. It was empty. Without hesitation, he began to refill it with water and then put fresh grinds in the basket. “What’re you up to now, Edna Esh?”
“Nothing,” she said, hoping that her husband couldn’t see through her.
“Don’t be getting any ideas there, fraa.” He wagged a finger at her. “I know you.”
Edna put her hand on her hip and faced him head-on. “Now, Elmer! I have no idea what you mean.”
“Uh-huh.” Clearly he didn’t believe her.
“I mean, just because John was a little extra cheerful this morning,” Edna started, “doesn’t mean anything, right?”
“I noticed that, too,” Elmer said as he set the pot onto the stove. “But don’t go getting your hopes up.”
She placed her hand on her chest. “Me?”
“Ja, you!”
She feigned being insulted. “Hmph.”
When the kitchen door opened, Edna leaned backward, craning her neck to see whether or not it was Bethany who walked through first. The young woman stopped and looked around the room, her eyes brightening as she gave Edna a quiet smile, then removed her shawl and hung it on a peg in the mudroom.
“Gut martiye!” Edna sang out when she saw Bethany. She wasn’t too surprised to see John right behind her. Sure enough, his face beamed. He leaned against the kitchen doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest with a special brightness to his blue eyes.
Elmer made a noise, and she glanced at him.
“Okay then, maybe you can hope a little bit,” he whispered and winked at her before turning to his son. “Kum, John, get some fresh coffee. Enjoy it now before we head back outside to cut more trees.”
After fetching his coffee, John lingered in the kitchen, leaning against the counter by the stove with his mug in hand. His eyes trailed Bethany as she crossed the floor toward the sink. Without being asked, she began to wash the dirty pans, letting the water run for a few minutes so that it warmed up. John took the opportunity to open a drawer and withdraw a fresh dish towel, which he proceeded to set upon the counter next to Bethany.