by Sarah Price
“I . . . I have to go to the grocery for my maem.”
He nodded in a thoughtful way. “I’ll take you.”
Inwardly, she cringed. Had he thought she was asking him to do that? As usual, she felt like a bumbling fool around this stranger. Something about his presence made her feel even more conspicuous than usual. While that wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling for her, she was also worried about whether her hair had fallen from the bun at the nape of her neck or if her prayer kapp was askew upon her head.
That was definitely a new concern for her, and she felt the color rise to her cheeks as she averted her eyes.
“But my bicycle—”
“—can go in the back.” Clearly, he wasn’t taking no for an answer. Without waiting for her to counter his offer, he stepped down from the buggy and reached for her bicycle. He met her gaze and held it for a long moment.
“It . . . it’s not that far.”
The corner of his lips twitched as if he was trying not to smile. “You intend to push your bicycle to the store and then home?” He made a clucking noise. “If it were me, I’d accept the ride.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you,” she managed to say.
“No inconvenience for me at all.” This time, he did smile. “In fact, I’d rather enjoy some company, if you don’t mind stopping at the harness store with me on the way back.”
Her resolve was wearing down. After all, he was right. It was safer if she rode in the buggy with him.
He tilted his head as he studied her with increased curiosity. “Besides, you really have no choice but to oblige me.”
Her eyes widened.
Smiling, John continued, “My maem would have my daed take me behind the woodshed if she knew that I let you push your bicycle home.”
Bethany’s mouth opened just a little and then she frowned. “You’re too old to go behind the woodshed.”
He gave a little laugh, those blue eyes lighting up his face. “Get in now, Bethany, and take the reins so I can put your bicycle in the back.”
Bethany nodded, feeling as if her heart would beat right out of her chest. What was it about this man that caused her pulse to quicken so?
Bethany had never been one to argue with anyone, even strangers. But John Esh wasn’t exactly a stranger. She’d known him all of her life, although she hadn’t seen much of him for a few years. When she had been younger, Bethany’s mother and her friends often got together with their extended families, but those days were few and far between now. No wonder she hadn’t recognized him at Yoders’ Store the other week. The last time she’d spent any time with him, it had been at Edna’s farm when the Eshes held a cookout. Bethany barely remembered it; she’d sat by her mother’s side and avoided Myrna, Rachel, and Ella Mae. They were far too boisterous and loud, opinionated and argumentative.
But she’d only been ten or eleven years old.
Bethany knew that John was older than she by six or seven years. Unlike his younger brothers, John had never teased her or, in fact, paid any attention to her at all. Not once had she exchanged any conversation with him, that was for sure and certain.
Now, however, she found herself climbing into the buggy with him and felt her heart pounding as he quickly settled her bicycle in the back. It only took him a few minutes before he returned to sit beside her.
She saw him look at her, his blue eyes studying her face. When he didn’t look away, she felt that familiar tightness in her chest.
“Is . . . is something wrong?”
“Ja.” He reached over and with his thumb, wiped at her temple.
Immediately, Bethany felt a shock course through her body. She’d never had a man other than her father touch her, and despite feeling uncomfortable, she also felt something else. “What was that for?” she whispered.
He turned his thumb around so she could see the dark smudge on the tip of his finger. “I imagine you didn’t purposely put that on your face?”
Her mouth opened, just a little, and then she felt her cheeks grow warm. “Oh.” Swallowing, she bit her lower lip. “Nee, I didn’t put that there on purpose.”
The corners of his mouth twitched as if he were repressing a smile. “That’s what I thought.” And then, he picked up the reins, holding them expertly in his hands, and clucked his tongue, urging the horse to move forward. The buggy jostled and she felt her weight shift, her arm brushing against his.
“Sorry.”
She noticed that his lips moved, just a little. Was he smiling at her apology?
Suddenly her cheeks felt warm and she turned her head to look out the window. She’d never ridden in a buggy with anyone except her parents. But today she was seated beside a handsome young man with the most beautiful blue eyes and a comforting presence that, for some strange reason, made her feel safe.
Chapter Sixteen
Ever since Friday when Abram had notified her about Mary’s leg, Edna had fretted about her situation. Somehow, she’d managed to keep everything together on Friday and again on Saturday, but that had only been because John wasn’t working at the auction house. He’d volunteered to help her with serving the food and clearing the tables. He’d even rolled up his sleeves to wash dishes.
But he’d be returning to work this week, and Edna had to face the facts: she couldn’t survive the next four weeks without help.
Slowly, Edna had come to the realization that she’d have no choice but to accept Wilma’s offer, and that was not something she was looking forward to doing.
Once again, there were four groups of people coming that week. Edna knew she simply couldn’t prepare food for everyone and clean the kitchen every day without help, never mind doing her regular chores, such as laundry and cleaning the rest of the house.
Now, she sat at the table, tapping her pencil on the edge of her calendar. The thought of calling the woman at Destination Amish and canceling some of the dinners crossed Edna’s mind. However, as much as she wanted to do that, Edna knew she couldn’t. After all, she’d made a promise, and she’d no sooner break it than she’d tell a lie. Besides, she knew how much her family needed the extra income.
“What’s the matter, Maem?”
Looking up, she saw John walk through the door, followed by her husband, Elmer. The last thing she wanted to do was cause either of them any worry, so she forced a smile.
“Nothing, John. Just looking over my calendar.” And worrying about how to manage the next few weeks, she wanted to add but didn’t. Edna knew that God would never give her more than she could handle. Perhaps working with Rachel and Ella Mae was part of His plan, and if so, she knew better than to question it.
Of course, after almost thirty years together, her husband saw through her. “Sure is a shame about Mary,” he said as if reading her mind. He walked to the sink and turned on the faucet. After waiting for it to warm, he washed his hands. “You’ll be needing other help while she heals, I reckon.”
Edna sighed. She should’ve known better than to think that she could hide something from Elmer. “And on short notice,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to accept Wilma’s offer, but I suppose I’ve no choice.”
“Wilma’s offer?” John handed his father a dry towel before he, too, began washing his hands. “You mean to have Wilma Schwartz help you?”
“Nee, John. Her dochders.”
Immediately, he froze, an expression of dismay covering his face. “You mean the twins? Rachel? Ella Mae?”
Elmer chuckled and Edna shot him a sharp look.
“Wilma said they could help,” Edna explained. “Mayhaps better than nothing.”
“What’s better than nothing?” Jonas tossed his straw hat on the counter and headed for the sink. His face and neck were covered in dirt and hay. With his hip, he nudged John out of his way and cupped his hands under the water before splashing it on his face.
“Having Rachel and Ella Mae Schwartz help me.”
Jonas froze. “Rachel and Ella Mae Schwartz?” He enunciated their names
as if just the sound left a bad taste in his mouth. He splashed the water on his face and then shut off the water and turned to face her. “I thought Mary Ropp was helping you.”
“She was.” Edna sighed. “But her ankle’s broken.”
“Bad luck, that.” He reached for a hand towel and rubbed his neck. “But those Schwartz schwesters.” Jonas made a face. “Nee, they would not be better than nothing. Why, those two aren’t even in our church district and even I hear tell about how poorly they behave.”
John raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lot, coming from you.”
Jonas threw the towel at him.
“Still, I have to agree with Jonas.” John folded the towel and hung it over the edge of the sink. “Even I’ve heard stories about how difficult those two are.”
“Since when do you listen to gossip, John Esh?” Edna scolded. Without help, she’d never survive. Between cooking for the tourists, preparing for the holidays, and baking cookies for Yoders’ and worship, Edna had far too much work to handle on her own, even if she wasn’t hosting the cookie club at her own house.
“It’s not gossip if it’s true,” John retorted.
“Well, unless one of you boys wants to help out,” Elmer said, leveling his gaze at Jonas, “we best be welcoming of Rachel and Ella Mae.”
Jonas groaned.
“Besides, you never know, Jonas,” Elmer continued. “Mayhaps you’ll decide one of them suits your fancy,” he teased his son.
Immediately Jonas held up both of his hands and backed away. “That’s about as likely as Miriam Schrock not enjoying a bit of gossip.”
Even Edna couldn’t help but smile at Jonas’s comment.
“Well, your maem needs some help, and surely neither you nor Jeremiah is suited for housework.”
Edna choked back another laugh. But just as she was about to respond, John spoke up.
“There is another solution.” He reached into the glass bowl on the counter and grabbed a red apple. For a second, he stared at it. “What about asking Mary’s dochder? That quiet girl—”
Edna’s eyes widened. “You mean Bethany?”
“Ja, Bethany,” he said, nodding his head.
“She’s so shy . . .” Truth was that it had been years since Edna had spent any time with Bethany. She remembered the girl as having been shy as a young child. From all of Mary’s complaints—and Wilma’s comments—Bethany’s shyness had only grown worse. While she knew that Bethany was a fine baker and cook, she wasn’t certain how the young woman would do in a chaotic environment with twenty or more Englischers needing to be served.
Surprisingly, John defended the young woman. “She seemed pleasant enough when I took Mary home the other day.
“Oh, she is pleasant, just so quiet. But I reckon she’d be more helpful than Rachel and Ella Mae,” Edna said.
Jonas made a scoffing noise. “Anyone would be better than twenty Rachels and Ella Maes.”
She shot Jonas another dark look, but she suspected that he was correct. “I reckon it’s worth asking, especially since I really could use her help.” One quick glance at the kitchen clock and Edna knew that calling the Ropp household would risk creating a delay. If Bethany or Elmer didn’t check the messages right away, Edna wouldn’t get a response in time to help that week. “Mayhaps you might ride over to ask, Jonas? See if she could start on Wednesday?”
From the corner of her eye, she saw John stiffen. “Nee, I’ll go.”
Edna leveled her gaze at Jonas. She wasn’t about to let him off so easy. John was always the one to volunteer to run errands or go out of his way, while Jonas and Jeremiah rarely did so. “Nee, John. You travel enough to town, what with work and all. Besides, you ran errands for your daed on Friday. Jonas should go.”
John shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
“Hallelujah!” Jonas didn’t wait for his mother or father to state otherwise and darted from the room, practically skipping out of the house.
“My word,” she mumbled and turned toward John. “That bruder of yours! You should’ve let him go. It’s about time he steps up a bit around here.”
“That’s Jonas for you.” John pushed off from the counter and started toward the door. “Best go harness the horse, then.”
Chapter Seventeen
Mary sat in the recliner, her foot elevated, and stared out the window. She felt terrible. How on earth could she have let something like this happen?
With all of the groups coming to Edna’s house over the next few weeks before Christmas, her friend needed help now more than ever. And, to make matters worse, Mary couldn’t even help with the weekly baking of cookies for Yoders’ Store. At least not until Abram said she could leave the house.
“Knock, knock.”
Mary glanced up. “Wilma!”
Her friend filled the doorway, a concerned look on her face. “Hope you don’t mind me popping in like this and all.”
“Nee, of course not!” She gestured with her hand. “Kum, Wilma. Sit a spell. I’ve been bored out of my mind for two days now. You’re a welcome distraction from all of my woes.”
Wilma shuffled into the kitchen, dropping her large purse on the floor and placing a container on the counter. “Baked you some pumpkin bread this morning,” she said, gesturing toward the container as she made her way over to the sitting area. Her eyes glanced at the cast on Mary’s foot and she clucked her tongue. “Now, you tell me what on earth happened here?”
“Oh, it was so silly, really.”
Wilma pursed her lips. “It usually is.”
Mary managed a soft laugh. “Quite true.”
A noise from the other side of the room momentarily interrupted the conversation. Mary glanced over and saw Bethany emerging from the cellar. Wilma followed her gaze and, upon seeing Mary’s daughter, called out to her.
“Well now! If it isn’t Bethany!” Wilma gestured wildly with her hand for Bethany to join them. “Kum sit with us. Tell me what silliness your maem’s been up to, getting herself laid up and all.”
True to form, Bethany froze at Wilma’s request.
“Hmph,” Wilma mumbled. “That girl’s always been plain scared of her own shadow.”
Mary cleared her throat and averted her eyes. She didn’t want to engage in a discussion about her daughter with Wilma Schwartz, that was for sure and certain. Truth be told, Mary much preferred her shy daughter to Wilma’s competitive, argumentative two. But she’d never say such a thing. Some things are best left unsaid, she reminded herself.
Wilma shifted her weight and returned her attention to Mary. “So?”
“‘So’ what?”
Wilma frowned and pointed her finger at Mary’s leg. “How’d you do it?”
“Oh!” Mary gave a nervous laugh. “I . . . well, I was helping Edna—”
“I knew that was a bad idea!”
Mary ignored the interruption. “—and I should’ve waited for one of her boys to help fetch that container on the top shelf, but I didn’t.” She sighed. “I fell from the stepladder.”
Wilma made a loud noise, almost a sound of disbelief. “Why, that Edna should’ve known better than to let you climb a stepladder!” Leaning back in her chair, Wilma gave a look of satisfaction. “Well, reckon now she won’t be so quick to dismiss my girls’ offer to help.”
For the briefest of moments, Mary felt a strong desire to remind Wilma that neither Rachel nor Ella Mae had offered to help Edna. It was Wilma who had put forth their names. But she didn’t want to appear argumentative or petty.
“Someone’s here, Maem.”
Upon hearing her daughter’s announcement, Mary looked up. Two visitors? In one day? “Who is it?”
Bethany walked over to the door and peered through the windowpanes. The expression on her face did not change and Mary realized that her daughter did not recognize the horse and buggy.
Wilma started to get up. “If you’re expecting someone, best I leave, then.”
“Nee, stay, Wilma.” She gave her friend a
reassuring smile. “I’m sure it will be quick. Mayhaps someone from church. We don’t get visitors often.”
“When it rains, it pours,” Wilma quipped drily.
By now, Mary’s curiosity was too piqued to pay any attention to Wilma’s comment. She hadn’t thought to ask how Wilma had come to learn about her injury. Despite the late autumn weather, the Amish grapevine must be flourishing. If that was the case, it was most likely someone from church—perhaps the bishop’s wife?—to check in on her.
She watched as Bethany waited in the shadows by the door for the inevitable knock. Mary’s heart jumped at the sight. In the dim light, her daughter appeared extraordinarily beautiful. She wore her dark blue dress, a color that always made her skin appear like fresh porcelain. It dawned on Mary that Bethany was no longer just a girl. With her quiet demeanor and fetching features, Bethany had grown into the quintessential Amish woman.
She felt a surge of pride in her daughter, and yet that pride was bittersweet. How long would it take for Bethany to find her way in the world? Surely she’d never find it hiding at home, her only interactions with her mother and father.
She was a good daughter, that was for sure and certain. But there was so much more to life than just taking care of one’s parents and home. It was time for Bethany to venture forth and find not just her way but herself.
If only God would show Mary how to peel back the years of overprotectiveness when both she and Abram had unknowingly blanketed their daughter from the outside world.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of someone’s knuckles rapping against the door.
Bethany stepped forward and opened it. Mary waited, hoping that her daughter would greet the person so she would have a clue who had stopped by, but she heard nothing come from Bethany’s mouth other than a soft oh sound.
“My maem’s in there,” Bethany whispered after she composed herself.
When John Esh walked into the room, Mary almost caught her breath, too. He would have been one of the last people she’d have expected to visit her—that was for sure and certain. What on earth was he doing at her house?