Piecing It All Together

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Piecing It All Together Page 17

by Leslie Gould


  Mathilde nodded. “We’d come here in the late summer and early fall. We’d fish from the river and creeks. Pick berries. Trap rabbits and squirrels and wild turkeys. Collect turtle eggs.”

  Emma rubbed her brow. “Your family came here? Where my brother’s farm is now?”

  Mathilde nodded.

  “I’m so sorry,” Emma said. Mathilde must be thinking of her parents and her sisters now, of her own heartbreaking memories.

  Mathilde leaned toward Emma until their shoulders touched. “Don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault. Besides, after we spent time here, we would go back to the land by the mission and harvest our squash and corn and learn more about God the Father and Jesus the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

  Emma stared out at the water. The rejection of Catholicism was behind the Reformation, responsible for the schism that led to the Anabaptists, which led to the Mennonites, which led to the Amish. Emma’s people believed only adults should be baptized once they’d made the choice to follow the Lord and join the church, while Catholics believed in baptizing babies, such as Agnes. Of course there were many other differences too.

  But Mathilde found comfort in the same scriptures that Emma did—or that she used to, anyway. Emma couldn’t remember the last time she had read scripture or truly prayed. But not Mathilde. Both seemed to be in the forefront of her mind, along with her family and all the ways her life had changed.

  THE NEXT DAY, Emma and her brothers rode the horses to Dat and Mamm’s place, where the church service was being held. Phillip had invited Judah, who accompanied them.

  All four of them planned to spend the night and leave early in the morning for Union Township. Walter had said he’d do Phillip and Isaac’s chores while they were gone.

  Emma would sleep in the cabin, and Judah would sleep in the barn with Phillip and Isaac.

  Eli Wagler approached Emma before the service, happy to see her. She was thankful when everyone sat down on the log benches, divided in two groups, one for the men and one for the women. A bishop from Ohio preached from the book of Joshua, about the Israelites arriving in the Promised Land. “God has brought us to our own Promised Land,” he said. Emma couldn’t help but think of the Potawatomi people being forced to Kansas so white settlers could have their land.

  “We must honor Him with our lives,” the preacher said, “as we serve each other and the Lord. May we bless our neighbors as the Lord has blessed us.”

  Emma thought of her neighbors. The Landis family. The Burtons. Jean-Paul and Mathilde. One Plain. One Englisch. And one French-Potawatomi. All three families were in Union Township for very different reasons.

  Before the meal, Eli approached Emma as she spoke with Mamm, telling her about Mathilde’s baby girl. Mamm nudged Emma and stepped away.

  Eli seemed attentive, telling Emma that he had been disheartened to find out that she’d been staying in Union Township. “It’s not permanent, is it?”

  “Nee.” Emma explained that she was keeping house for Phillip.

  Eli nodded his head toward the field, where Barbara and Phillip were deep in conversation. “Perhaps you’ll be out of a job soon.”

  Emma smiled, deciding that it wouldn’t hurt to become acquainted with Eli. She appreciated that it didn’t matter to him, unlike Judah, that she was a widow. “How have you been?”

  “Gut. Busy with harvest. I’ve started the corn, and then I will do another cutting of hay. I’m grateful the weather has been cooperative.”

  Emma nodded in agreement.

  “Later this fall, I’ll cut more trees and then pull out the stumps so I can plant more crops in the spring.”

  He was definitely ambitious. He continued talking about his plans for his farm until Emma became aware that all of the women, even Barbara, were helping put the food on the long table outside the cabin. “I need to help,” she said.

  “How about a walk later?” Eli asked.

  She hesitated but then said, “All right.”

  After the meal, Emma joined the other Youngie, which felt odd to her. She was different from the others. She’d been married. She’d been a mother. But now she was a single woman again. She started out walking with Eli, but he soon became distracted by one of the other young men, asking about the best corn seed to plant in the spring.

  But then, about ten minutes later, there were heated voices behind them. Eli and Judah seemed to be arguing.

  Emma slowed her pace.

  “They were all savages,” Eli said. “Of course they had to be removed.”

  “Do you know any Natives?” Judah asked.

  “Of course not. They were gone before we arrived.”

  “Not all of the Potawatomi are gone.”

  “Pot-a-what?” Eli asked.

  “Potawatomi.” Judah spoke slowly. “That’s the name of the tribe who lived here.”

  “Savages,” Eli retorted. “They fled like cowards.”

  “They were forced to go,” Judah said. “Most of them, anyway.”

  “You said some are still here?”

  “Jah,” Judah said.

  “Who might yet attack us?”

  “They’re peaceful,” Judah answered.

  “They’re not,” Eli said. “They’re killers.”

  “That’s not true.” Judah’s voice grew firmer. “Their culture is based on what they call the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which are wisdom, respect”—Emma turned her head and watched as Judah counted the topics off on his fingers as he spoke—“love, honesty, humility, bravery, and truth. They teach equality and respect for all creation—”

  “Instead of for the Creator,” Eli interrupted.

  “Nee, that’s not true either,” Judah said. “Many have embraced Christianity. Because they were taught there was a Creator, it made sense to them.”

  Eli shook his head. “You’re lying.”

  Not taking her eyes off Judah, Emma tripped on a root. In a split second, Judah was at her side, taking a hold of her arm. “Are you all right?”

  “Jah,” she answered, embarrassed.

  Behind them, Eli had turned to someone else and said, “Can you believe he’d say such heresy?”

  The other person laughed.

  Judah lowered his voice and tilted his head toward Emma. “Did you stumble because you were eavesdropping?”

  She shook her head. “You were both so loud that I was simply listening. I can tell you feel strongly.”

  “I do,” he said. “But I’m afraid I wasted my words. And I’m sorry if I offended your friend.”

  Emma’s face grew warm.

  Judah cleared his throat, as if he wanted to say more. But he didn’t.

  Eli caught up with them and stepped to the other side of Emma. “Are you enjoying the walk?”

  “Jah,” she answered. “It’s been . . . very enlightening.”

  “We’ve come to a beautiful country. We’re blessed to be in a new land, with all of life ahead of us,” Eli said, his arm grazing hers. “This is truly our Promised Land.”

  Emma stepped away from him but bumped into Judah. She quickly centered herself between the two of them. Eli started talking about the four properties his family had bought, all adjoining each other in Newbury Township. “I didn’t tell you about our buildings,” he said. “We finished the third barn and the big house this summer. I’m working on making furniture now. . . .” He talked on and on.

  Judah stayed at her side, quiet but seemingly attentive.

  “What about your farm?” Eli asked Judah. “Where is it?”

  “Oh, I don’t have a farm,” Judah answered. “Not really. I’m helping my brother.”

  “Oh, a farmhand. That sounds disheartening.”

  “It’s fine,” Judah answered. “The Lord will provide.”

  Eli didn’t answer. Instead, he started talking about how many acres of woods he planned to clear for his next field. She felt grateful toward Judah for his defense of the Natives. And she felt sympathetic toward him concerning his lack of reso
urces. But that didn’t mean he was of good character, generally speaking.

  The best plan for Emma was to return to Pennsylvania and marry Abel. There was a possibility that Judah wasn’t trustworthy, and Eli had definitely proven himself to be a bore.

  When they returned to Mamm and Dat’s cabin, Emma joined the women putting out the puddings, pies, and cobblers.

  Mamm, just as she’d been back home, was in the center of the group of women. There was a confidence about her that Emma didn’t see in other women. She wasn’t sure if it was because Mamm was a midwife—or if Mamm had become a midwife because of her confidence.

  As the women dished out the sweets, a man on a horse, with a child riding in front of him, came into the clearing. It was Jean-Paul, with Baptiste. “Tabitha,” he called out. “Mathilde is ill. And I can’t find Emma.”

  “Here I am.” Emma stepped out of the group of women, her heart racing.

  Jean-Paul held on to Baptiste with one hand and the reins with the other. “I need one of you to come with me, s’il vous plait. Mathilde is burning up with fever.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Savannah

  As I stood at the window of the farmhouse waiting for Tommy the next morning, I thought of Emma. She’d made it to Indiana and was quickly thrust into helping her mother deliver babies again. Eli Wagler offered security but seemed full of himself. Judah Landis didn’t have anything to offer Emma, and he didn’t want to marry a widow.

  I sighed. I hoped I could hear the rest of the story before I left. Would Emma stay in Indiana? Or go back home and marry Abel? Jah, she’d have to leave her family, but life would definitely be easier than in Indiana.

  A sentiment I shared.

  On the phone, Ryan had said, “I can’t stop thinking about you.” Did that mean he regretted what he’d done? My heart began to race. Did he want me back?

  I shook my head. How could I even entertain the idea? He’d dumped me. Heartlessly and emphatically. The sooner I forgot him and put him behind me, the better.

  Tommy turned his Jeep into the driveway just as Mammi came into the room, heading toward her quilting frame.

  “I’ll be gone all morning,” I said. “I’ll let Uncle Seth know I’m picking up a rental and will return his pickup this afternoon.”

  “All right.” Mammi peered over her reading glasses. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

  “What do you have planned for tomorrow?”

  “I thought I’d go out to Jane’s.”

  “Perfect.” I grinned at her. “I’ll take you.” And hopefully hear more of Emma’s story. I gave Mammi a wave as I walked out the door, pulling it shut behind me.

  The morning sky was blue with just a few puffs of white clouds. It was cold, but not bitterly so. The thermometer on the other side of Mammi’s kitchen window had read thirty—the warmest it had been since I arrived.

  I grabbed my phone charger from the pickup and then climbed into Tommy’s Jeep, this time in the front seat.

  He wore a San Francisco Giants hat. The black and orange looked good over his brown eyes and goatee. “Guder mariye,” he said, with an impish grin.

  “Good morning to you too.” I laughed. “Nice hat.”

  “Thanks. I bought it at a game.”

  “At Oracle Park? In San Francisco?”

  He nodded.

  Incredulous, I asked, “You were in the city and didn’t let me know?”

  “I didn’t know you lived there,” he said. “Otherwise I would have.”

  What would that have been like? Would Ryan and I have taken him out to dinner? Offered him a place to stay?

  “I’ve been to San Fran a few times over the years,” he said. “But last I heard you were going to UCLA.”

  “And you thought I was on the ten-year plan?”

  He laughed. “No, I always knew you were smart. I was pretty sure you’d do well.”

  I always knew he was smart too. I held up my charger. “Mind if I plug this in?”

  “Go ahead.” He pulled out the cigarette lighter so I could.

  “I’m a little obsessive about taking advantage of every opportunity I have to charge my phone,” I explained.

  “Please note that I have an apartment in town.” Tommy backed out of the driveway. “With electricity.”

  “Did you give notice on your apartment? Like you did your job?”

  He shook his head as he pulled onto the highway. “Kenny took over the lease.”

  “But now he’s not here.”

  Tommy nodded. “I’m not sure what to do about that. I keep expecting Kenny to show up any day now. When he does, I’ll let Deputy Rogers know.”

  “That puts you in a difficult situation.”

  Tommy shrugged. “He’s put me in difficult situations before. He knows how this works.”

  I couldn’t help but be a little suspicious. Was Tommy trying to put himself in a better light by criticizing Kenny?

  But he seemed so matter-of-fact about all of it. He didn’t seem arrogant or self-serving. I decided to change the topic. “So what’s the story with Mason’s mom?”

  “She was in rehab but has been out for a few months,” he answered. “The court determined she can have Mason back in a halfway house kind of situation.”

  Dumbfounded, I asked, “And you’re okay with that?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Isn’t he better off here, with you?” I paused and then added, “With his father?”

  He raised his eyebrows and then suppressed a smile. “I can see why you would think that, with him calling me Dada and all. But he calls every man he meets Dada. I’m not his father.”

  “What?”

  “Kenny is.”

  Dumbfounded again, I leaned back against the seat. “But your mom is his grandmother, right? And I’m pretty sure Mammi thinks he’s your son.”

  Tommy wrinkled his nose. “I think a lot of people do. My mom doesn’t, of course. But she tells everyone Mason is her grandson, which is somewhat true since she certainly took Kenny in. They have a mother-son relationship. Kenny has broken her heart more than any of us.” Again, I wondered if by being negative about Kenny, Tommy was trying to make himself look better.

  “Is Mason more attached to you than Kenny?”

  “No, Mason is pretty fond of him too. I’m just more available.” Tommy pulled onto Route 6, heading west. When I didn’t say any more, he finally continued. “Christine is the name of Mason’s mom. She grew up in Texas and met Kenny in Las Vegas, when he and I were living out there. Kenny was on the up-and-up then. Not doing—or selling—drugs. He was working construction and met Christine at an AA meeting, which is the closest he’s come to any kind of therapy or rehab. He fell head over heels.

  “She got pregnant and stayed clean, but then started using again after Mason was born. When she went into rehab, Kenny and I headed home so my mom could help with Mason, which turned out to be the best option.” He had a sad, faraway look in his eyes. “But then Kenny started acting weird here, staying out late, sleeping all day, being evasive. Mom was taking care of Mason during the day, and I was taking care of him at night.” He sighed. “I have no idea what’s best for Mason, if taking him back to Nevada is even the right thing to do.”

  “Why doesn’t Kenny drive Mason back to Nevada?” I asked.

  Tommy stared straight ahead, not taking his eyes off the road to even glance at me. “He and Christine were fighting when she went into rehab. No one thinks it’s a good idea for him to go down there.”

  “But what about custody?” The pitch of my voice was rising. “Is Kenny just going to give Mason up?”

  “I’m not sure.” Tommy shrugged. “Hopefully Kenny will move back to Nevada soon or at least visit regularly—once Christine is in a better place and once he’s in a better place too.”

  “It doesn’t sound as if he’s doing anything to get in a better place.”

  “That’s true,” Tommy answered.

  My voice stayed hig
h and was tense now too. “Will you stay in Nevada? And be able to see Mason?”

  “I’m planning on staying, and I hope I can see Mason,” he said. “If Christine will allow it.”

  “Does Christine have support?”

  He glanced over at me, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips. “This reminds me of when we were little. Of all the questions you asked.”

  I grimaced. “Sorry.”

  “No, it’s fine,” he said. “It’s good to talk about it.” He took a deep breath. “The only support Christine has will come from the staff at the halfway house, but they say that women do better in recovery if their children are with them.” He checked his side mirror and rearview mirror and then passed a semi. “Christine had a pretty rotten childhood. Lots of trauma, thus the addiction. Her parents were out of the picture, but she had a grandmother who raised her. She died right after Mason was born, which probably accounted for her relapse.” He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “That and the fact that Kenny wasn’t the best partner.”

  I exhaled as Tommy passed another semi. “Poor Christine.”

  Tommy nodded. “Kenny’s had his own trauma. His mom died from cancer when he was fourteen, and his dad was never warm and fuzzy, certainly not supportive. Kenny was out on his own at sixteen.” He sighed. “At least Kenny and Christine both have reasons for their downfalls. There are lots of things I’ve done for no reason that I regret.”

  I was impressed with how empathetic Tommy sounded when talking about Christine and Kenny. He didn’t sound judgmental or unforgiving. Then again, if he had regrets, maybe his empathy was based on his own experience. I had no idea what he’d done.

  Before I could ask more questions, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it anyway. “Hello?”

  “Hello, this is Joshua Wenger. Listen, I haven’t heard from Miriam since Wednesday. I’m afraid something’s happened to her.”

  “What do you mean, you haven’t heard from her?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Joshua, be honest with me. Does she have a cell phone?”

  After a long moment of silence, he said, “Jah. But like I said, I haven’t heard from her. Maybe she hasn’t been able to charge it. Or maybe something’s happened.”

 

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