She opened the small pocket calendar and wrote Games at Selah’s in the Thursday square. She’d been surprised when Selah stopped by earlier in the day and invited her, considering she’d been rather cool to her the two times they’d interacted. Maybe she’d had to warm up to Ruby. Regardless, Ruby was glad for the chance to socialize, considering how disastrous last night had been. Selah hadn’t mentioned anything about Chris attending, not that it mattered to Ruby if he did. Knowing him, he probably thought playing games was juvenile. Besides, she’d see him this Saturday for their first lesson. She marked that down on the calendar too. Although she told him he needed to learn tact, and she believed he did, it wouldn’t hurt for her to brush up on that subject herself. She wrote down the words Barton Library on Tuesday’s square.
Timothy walked into the kitchen and glanced at her. “What’s this?” he said, coming to the table. “Mei little schwester is using a calendar? Must be a miracle.”
“Very funny.” She tucked her pencil under her kapp and behind her ear.
“Never thought I’d see the day.” He gave her a teasing smile as he looked over her shoulder. “Looks like you’re filling up the days. But what does Lesson #1 Chris mean?”
She snapped the calendar shut. “It means none of yer business.”
“The only Chris I know is the teacher. Is he tutoring you in something?”
For a split second she was insulted. He’d assumed she was the student and not the teacher. Then she realized his assumption was common sense. What other reason would she have for meeting a teacher about a lesson? Still, she didn’t appreciate his nosiness. “Like I said. None of yer business.”
“Okay, okay.” He headed straight for the chocolate cake she’d made earlier that day and cut himself a thick slice before placing it on a plate she’d just washed and dried.
“Didn’t you already have some cake after supper?” she asked.
He grabbed a fork and took a bite. “None of yer business,” he said around the mouthful. Then he swallowed. “Sehr gut, Ruby. You should think about helping Carolyn Shetler at her bakery.”
“Are you saying you want me to get a job?”
Timothy licked some of the frosting off the fork. “Might not be a bad idea since yer visit here seems to be open-ended.”
“I offered to help you with the farm, but you won’t let me.” She turned her chair so she could face him. “I can tell you’re tired, Timothy.”
He set his fork on the plate. “Everything’s fine, Ruby. I know you don’t care for farm work anyway. I’ll leave you to yer calendar.” Then he left the kitchen before she could respond.
Ruby frowned. She wished her brother would let her help him. She enjoyed watching her nephews and helping Patience, but sometimes during the day she was at loose ends, and she could fill those times with work. Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to consider checking out Carolyn’s bakery. She did like to bake, after all.
She went outside. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon, but a bit of dusk was still left. She drew in a deep breath and listened to cicadas, crickets, and katydids play their night music. She really did like Birch Creek, and she felt at home here. Timothy might not like to hear that, but it was true. He wouldn’t have to worry about her after she found a husband anyway. Despite her utter failure at the singing, she was more determined than ever to talk to Seth Yoder—without hiccupping.
She sat down on one of the wooden chairs on the back patio. Even though the world was calm around her, her mind was whirring. Her brain was always moving fast, sometimes too fast. Now would be an excellent time for her to quiet her mind and listen for God’s voice. He might have some insight for her about Seth. All her life she’d known people who said they had heard his voice, but she’d never even experienced a whisper. Then again, had she really taken the time to listen?
Ruby closed her eyes and tried to keep her thoughts still. But it didn’t take long for her to think about her calendar again. She hadn’t put Seth in her calendar or come up with a good excuse to see him. She’d have to be casual about it. Being too direct when it came to men didn’t get her anywhere. She learned that the hard way when she asked not one but three men to go with her to a Saturday frolic when she was seventeen. All three were shocked, and all three had said no. Granted, they were all standing next to each other when she asked. Perhaps that hadn’t been the best way to get a date. Being covert was key. She was sure of that now.
She sighed and opened her eyes. The sun was gone, and unlike last night, fluffy clouds gathered in the darkened sky. Maybe she should just give up the whole husband thing. It was getting a little too complicated. She didn’t have to go back to Lancaster, though. She could get a job and do it perfectly. Patience had already mentioned the midwife option, or she could work as a baker . . .
A baker. She popped up from the patio chair. Perfect! She could bake Seth a cake and take it to him. The way to a man’s heart was always through his stomach, just like Mary said, and the young men of Birch Creek seemed far more interested in eating at Sunday night’s singing than doing anything else. Besides, nothing about taking a cake to the neighbors was overt, even though these neighbors lived several streets away.
Ruby hurried back into the house, grabbed the pencil from behind her ear, and opened her calendar. She squinted as she wrote Seth in the Wednesday block, resisting the urge to draw a heart around his name like the old Ruby would have done.
She closed the calendar and hugged it to her chest. For the first time in her life, she had a week of activities planned and recorded. Determined to follow through with every one, she wouldn’t allow any diversions, distractions, or disasters. With her plans in order, this week would be flawless.
For the first part of the week, Christian put game night and Martha out of his mind. It was the last week of September, and his students were settling down and getting into the rhythm of school. He’d given a few extra assignments to Malachi he thought would challenge the boy’s intellect. Although Malachi didn’t seem excited about doing the work, to his credit he did complete the assignments, and most of them were one hundred percent correct.
On Wednesday he stayed after school to provide extra reading assistance to two of Thomas Bontrager’s sons, Jesse and Perry. Like Malachi, they were difficult to engage when it came to their reading, as well as to their pencil and paper work. That was no excuse to be lax about their assignments. Christian had learned from an early age that disciplined learning led to increased knowledge, a concept he wanted to pass down to his students. Especially the reluctant ones.
They were seated at the same kidney-shaped table in the front of the classroom where Christian worked with the reading groups. He occupied his chair in the middle, with Perry and Jesse across from him, the way they would be during their own reading group. Perry was already squirming in his chair.
“Jesse,” Christian said, pointing to the reader open in front of him, “please read the first paragraph on page thirteen.”
Jesse’s legs swung back and forth as his stubby fingers turned the pages in his reader. Christian was tempted to tell him and Perry to stay still, but he knew that was practically impossible for children their age, particularly when they had already spent all day in school. There was no need to put extra restraint on Jesse while he was struggling with his reading. Just as Jesse found the correct page, Christian had an idea. “Before you read, Jesse, I’d like you to stand up.”
“What?” the boy said, rubbing his finger under his nose.
“Stand up, please. Like this.” Christian pushed back his chair and stood. “Perry, you may also stand up.”
Perry followed suit, looking just as baffled as his brother.
“Now hop on one foot,” Christian said.
Jesse’s eyes widened. “Why do you want us to do that?”
“Because the movement allows the blood to circulate through your body, which will invigorate your mind. In turn, that will enable you to focus on your reading.”
“What d
id you say?” Perry said.
Christian looked at him and then at Jesse. “Hop because I told you so.”
The boys understood that simplified explanation, and they began hopping on one foot. Christian glanced out a classroom window to make sure no students were lingering outside, and then he joined them. Of course, the boys couldn’t stay in one place for very long, and after about three hops they lost their balance, knocking into the chairs and tables, giggling all the while.
“Now switch feet.”
They did, and then they hopped a few more times with the same results. Before the boys were completely out of control, Christian halted and held up his hand. “Stop.”
The boys froze and looked at each other. Perry was on one foot, and Jesse was leaning to the side. They giggled again.
“Sit down, please.”
They sat down in their small chairs, still grinning. Both of their readers had fallen closed.
“Open your readers.” The boys followed his instruction. “Jesse, read the first paragraph on page thirteen.” Christian pulled out his chair and sat down.
Although both brothers struggled with their reading during the next twenty minutes, they gave optimal effort. Christian was pleased. He had read that letting students release pent-up energy helped them concentrate, and he was glad it worked. “That’s enough for today,” he said, closing his book.
“I didn’t read very well,” Perry said, his eyes downcast.
“Me neither,” Jesse added through pursed lips.
“But you both gave your best effort, and that’s what’s important. Reading will become easier with time.”
Neither boy looked convinced, but Christian was confident they would be good readers in the future. They would have to work and practice a little harder, but in the end it would be worth it. He just wished he could give them more self-assurance. Sometimes he wondered if his words of encouragement to his students were getting through. At times they looked at him with blank expressions when he tried to give them a pep talk.
After Jesse and Perry left, Christian stuck to his schedule of grading the day’s papers, reviewing the next day’s lesson plans, and tidying up the schoolroom. He locked the schoolhouse and headed home. When he arrived, he found a note from Selah on the kitchen table.
Spending the night at Martha’s. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.
Don’t forget about game night. You can impress Martha with your skills.
He smiled and folded the note. So far Selah had kept her word about making a better effort. No dirty dishes sat in the sink, and on Monday she had left the house and driven Einstein and the buggy over to Ruby’s to invite her for game night. She was more pleasant, and she’d even talked to him during supper, asking how he liked his job.
“I could never be a teacher,” she said as she finished eating the small slice of meat loaf on her plate. The mashed potatoes and gravy she’d also made were delicious.
He picked up a scoopful of potatoes. “Why not?”
“I’d have to be around kinner all day, for one thing.” She looked at him. “I’m surprised you have so much patience with them. I don’t see you as the fatherly type.”
He wasn’t sure how to take that. “I’m not their father. I’m their educator.”
“I know, but what about when they scrape their knees on the playground or one of them gets sick and throws up in the trash can? I’m sure yer paternal instincts will have to come out then.”
“I have a first aid kit in my desk, and plenty of disinfectant in the closet.”
She chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Her humor faded. “Really, I am surprised you’re an Amish teacher. I thought you’d leave to go to college.”
He shook his head. “I’ve never had intentions to leave our faith. It’s more important than being a teacher, although that is what I’ve wanted to do ever since I can remember.”
“Is that why you always had yer nose in a book? And why you spent so much time at the library?”
He nodded. That, and it was a reprieve from working with their father, who was a butcher and wanted Christian to go into the family business. As far as Christian knew, his father still wanted that. “I like to learn. And when I decided to attend a teaching workshop with some other Amish teachers, I also discovered I liked to teach.”
“Then you’re happy here?”
“Ya,” he said, switching to Dietsch. “I am.” And he’d be happier if he could mark marriage off his list. With Selah’s help, he might be able to do that.
Christian set down the note and went to the barn to let Einstein out in the small pasture behind the barn. After purchasing the house, he had hired someone to build a fence around a large portion of the backyard for the horse to have a place to graze and exercise. He was still getting used to this horse, which he’d bought shortly after arriving in Birch Creek. Einstein was a fine animal, a former racer, and gentle. He’d sold his other horse and buggy back in New York, and while he was happy with his current animal, he missed Charlie.
He went inside and washed up before making himself a ham-and-cheese sandwich and pouring a glass of milk. Then he sat down at the table to eat his meager supper. After saying a silent prayer, he opened his eyes and stared at the sandwich. The house was quiet. He liked quiet, especially after a busy and loud day with his students. That was why he was glad to find the large tree and empty pasture approximately a mile from his house. There was something calming about being outdoors where it was quiet yet still humming with natural activity in the background. He’d come to think of the land with the tree as his personal space, even though he had no idea who owned the property and had never seen anyone around. If the owner objected to him sitting under the tree, he would honor his or her wishes. Until then, he would continue to spend time there whenever possible. The setting gave him peace.
But he wasn’t feeling peaceful right now. The house was too quiet. Too empty. He noticed he missed Selah’s company, which he had enjoyed the past three days. Not only that, but he also realized he missed having company in general.
Odd that he was experiencing this now. He was usually fine with being alone, often immersed in books or his own thoughts. However, he couldn’t deny that tonight he felt . . . lonely.
Christian shook his head at the foolish emotion. Less than three hours ago he’d been tutoring Perry and Jesse. He was surrounded by children all day long, so he definitely wasn’t alone.
Still, that didn’t stop him from taking his sandwich and glass of milk outside. He leaned against the fence and watched Einstein graze. If anyone had told him he would be seeking out a horse for camaraderie, he would have thought they were joking. But tonight, for some reason, Einstein’s company was better than no company at all.
CHAPTER 6
You’re baking another chocolate cake?” Patience asked Ruby as she entered the kitchen, carrying Luke with Tobias toddling in behind her. “We still have plenty of the other one left.”
Ruby opened the oven door and placed the Bundt cake pan inside. She shut the door and then set the kitchen timer on the counter next to the stove. She smiled. It hadn’t taken her long to whip this together, and in thirty minutes she’d have a delicious, fresh cake to impress Seth Yoder with.
“Ruby?”
She turned to Patience, still smiling. “Ya?”
“I appreciate yer help in the kitchen, and you are a gut baker.”
She glanced at the oven. “But Timothy and I can’t, and shouldn’t, eat that much cake.”
“Don’t worry about that. This dessert isn’t for you and Timothy.”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that.”
Patience set Luke in his high chair and then picked up Tobias and set him on his booster seat at the table. She went to the drawer where she kept a few items to keep the boys occupied while she worked in the kitchen. She pulled out a blank piece of white paper, red, blue, and yellow crayons, and a teething ring. She gave Luke the teether and put the paper and crayons in front of Tobi
as, who picked up the red crayon and started scribbling.
As Ruby watched all this, she was relieved her sister-in-law wasn’t asking the next logical question. Thank goodness for the distraction of her nephews.
“Then who’s the cake for?” Patience asked when she turned to look at her.
Ruby bit her bottom lip. She’d been caught. If she said Seth, then Patience would think something was going on between him and Ruby. That would be fine with her once she knew for sure that Seth liked her back. Unlike many young Amish couples, she wasn’t concerned about keeping her relationship a secret—once she had a relationship. One thing was worse than unrequited feelings, though, and that was public unrequited feelings, even if the public was only her sister-in-law. “I thought I would take a cake over to the bishop’s family, as a welcoming gesture,” she said, pleased with her explanation.
“Don’t you have that backward?” Patience pulled down a large metal bowl and walked over to the gas-powered refrigerator. “You realize you’re the visitor who’s welcome here, not the other way around.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t thought about it that way. “Well, I’m just trying to be friendly.”
Patience smiled at her before opening the fridge door. “That’s sweet of you, Ruby. I’m sure the Yoders will appreciate the cake— and the gesture.”
Ruby nodded, glad that she didn’t have to come up with another excuse to take a cake to Seth. She walked over to the cabinet where Patience kept the spices. Her sister-in-law was highly organized and posted a weekly menu on the refrigerator each week. She was making meat loaf tonight. “I thought I would geh over there after supper,” she said, reaching for a jar of garlic powder.
Patience pulled out a two-pound package of hamburger that had been defrosting in the refrigerator. “That sounds nice. Why doesn’t Timothy go with you? He and Freemont are friends, and I’m sure he’d like to visit with him for a little while.”
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