A Plain Man (28 page)

“It won't,
Mamm.
” Caleb sounded appropriately contrite.

“This isn't satisfactory in my estimation.” Eli thumped his palm on the table. “According to Rebekah, plenty happens behind our backs. I won't have this sparring between my girls. Any disagreements that occur at work should remain at the bed-and-breakfast. Talk things out on the walk home and don't bring your problems into this house.”

“
Jah, Daed
,” his daughters replied in unison.

“When did you three become so uncaring, putting your own selves before one another? Even if I weren't the bishop of this district, I would be discouraged by your behavior. And because I am the bishop, our family should set an example...in a positive way.”

Everyone sat very still—even Katie, who'd not been to the singing.

Caleb cleared his throat. “I apologize, Rebekah. As long as I live here you have my word,
Daed,
I'll take better care of my sisters.”

Eli nodded. “Let's finish this meal and make time to read Scripture. I would say we could use extra prayer time this evening too.”

While his daughters cleared the table and Caleb headed out the door toward the barn, Eli carried his coffee to the porch. Heat lightning in the distance foretold of rain later that night, much needed by the crops. Hopefully, the rain would relieve the humidity that had shortened tempers.

Elizabeth soon joined him with a glass of tea. “I gave Katie the night off. I don't intend to lift a finger in the kitchen either. A bit of penance will do Rebekah and Sarah some good.”

“Where did we go wrong,
fraa
?” Eli gazed at the night sky as though it might hold clues to his family's problems.

“Isn't that the question asked by parents everywhere in the world?” She laughed merrily.

Grunting, he leaned his tired body against the post. “This isn't how we raised them. Maybe I've been too lenient.”

“I don't think so. They are
gut kinner
, but are going through adjustments with each other. Give them a few years and all will be well.”

“My hair will turn white as snow by then.”

“It probably would anyway.” Elizabeth slipped her arm around his waist, a rare gesture that he cherished.

“They are in God's hands.” Eli pulled her close.

“They are indeed. Let's take a walk,
ehemann.
I don't want to set foot in that house until there's not a chore left to be done.”

13

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

O
n Sunday Caleb couldn't wait to get to the preaching service. Not particularly because of the forty-five minute membership class, but because he would be taking Josie home in his open buggy. They needed to spend as much time as possible with each other, especially in such lovely weather. Sooner or later they would be expected to give up
rumschpringe
in preparation to join the church and follow the
Ordnung.
He'd finally found the first Amish woman he wished to court and he had only ten or twelve weeks left to do so. Then the singings, volleyball parties, hayrides, cookouts, and drives on starlit nights would become pleasant memories. By the time people reached his age, they were ready to give up running around to get married and raise families. But was he? Without a doubt he loved Josie, but he wished they had more time to get know one another.

So much time wasted in Cleveland.

So much money wasted in Cleveland.

And so many mistakes to live down.
Between now and baptism, he and Josie must cross some troubled waters—something he'd hoped to avoid for the rest of his life.

When the preaching service concluded, he found Josie helping her
grossmammi
to a lawn chair in the shade. He waited patiently until she delivered a glass of lemonade and then approached with hat in hand. “Care to take a walk with me, Josie? Or maybe a Sunday drive in the country?”

“We live in the country, Cal, and have done so our entire lives.
Where else would we go?” Perching one hand on her hip, she looked adorable when piqued...and adorable when things were right-as-rain.

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe to the bike trail to watch the riders whizzing past at great speeds, as though the trail actually went somewhere other than sleepy little Millersburg.”

Josie massaged her grandmother's shoulders. “They'll probably be in just as big a hurry on their way back. But what about lunch? I prepared a huge bowl of four-bean salad especially for you. And you want to rush off like those
Englischers
?”

“Don't be a stick in the mud,” said
Grossmammi.
“Take a few sandwiches for the ride with a thermos of drinks. Maybe there'll still be beans when you return.” She reached up to pat Josie's hand.

“Fat chance any will be left,” Caleb said in English since the expression had no meaning in
Deutsch.
“Josie's salad is the best.”

The elder Yoder nodded in agreement.

“All right, I'll make sandwiches while you hitch the horse. We'll meet at your buggy in fifteen minutes.” Josie brushed a kiss across her grandmother's forehead and skipped off without a backward glance.

So like Josie—not a woman to ponder or vacillate or discuss plans endlessly. Just set a course of action, whether for the afternoon or the rest of your life, and go for it.

In exactly a quarter of an hour, Caleb helped her into his open buggy. “What type of sandwiches do we have?” He flicked the reins lightly on the horse's back.

“Ham and Swiss on rye with mustard. They're my favorite. Will that be okay?” Josie turned her dazzling green eyes in his direction but didn't wait for an answer. “Your
schwester
Rebekah followed me around the buffet table, very curious about what we're doing. I thought she might ask to tag along. What's going on with her?”

He shrugged. “Rebekah is having difficulty being sixteen years old. She wants to grow up but can't quite figure out how. I need to be more patient with her.”

Josie issued a sound similar to a snort. “Good luck. Rebekah will create a ball of trouble if none's waiting when she arrives. Where are we headed?”

“To the booming metropolis of Fredericksburg. We'll watch the river flowing under the bridge if the cyclists don't interest you.”

“Fine with me. Maybe I'll cool my heels if there's a place to sit on the bank.”

“So, Josie, why don't you fill me in on what I missed during the last five years?”

“You mean in our district?”

“
Nein
, in your life.”

Josie's expression turned skeptical. “You're teasing, right? What do you suppose I did? You're the one who left for a grand adventure. I stayed in town and planted five gardens, pulled millions of weeds, picked thousands of vegetables, and canned corn, cucumbers, lima beans, beets, green beans, peas, potatoes, okra, and spinach.” She ticked off her impressive list on her fingers. “And those are what come readily to mind. I'll save the fascinating stories about laundry and cleaning for another day.”

“Didn't you get a job at some point?” Caleb prodded the horse into a fast trot.

Josie pivoted toward him on the seat. “I did take care of an
Englischer
's
boppli
when she went back to work. But after six months, the woman decided it wasn't worth it, not once she added up the cost of fancy clothes, gas for her car, and paying me. So Mrs. Wilson quit and stayed home. Now she's expecting another.” Josie smiled. “I still get to babysit a few times a year.”

“You didn't work anywhere else? How about a restaurant, or gift shop, or maybe a B&B like my sisters?”

She shook her head. “What's this about? Are you worried I'm lazy or useless? Good grief. I'll ask
Mamm
to fill out a list of how much work I do at home. Maybe
Grossmammi
will testify on my behalf regarding the
dawdi haus
.”

They locked gazes for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“I'll accept your word that you didn't spend those years in a hammock, reading romance novels.” Caleb wiggled his eyebrows.

“You forget the part about eating bonbons.”

“Not in my mental picture, I didn't.” They laughed again, sending
birds flying from overhead branches. “Sorry,” he said, sobering. “I don't think you're lazy, but I'm curious how you spent your running-around years. Were there places you wanted to visit or things you wanted to do before baptism? Where have you gone?”

“Let me think.” Josie looked toward the clouds. “I went to the Akron Zoo and out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant. They had the best tortilla chips. And I went canoeing in Loudonville.”

“Did you camp in a tent?” he asked.

“No, a bus brought us home. But it was after midnight when they dropped me off in my driveway. Is that worth extra points on your tally board?”

“At least an additional ten. What about an overnight trip to see the ocean or the mountains? Didn't you want to go to Disney World?”

Josie shrugged. “The travel bug never bit me like you and Sarah. Don't worry about me, Caleb. Even if I never see a larger body of water than Charles Mill Reservoir, I can still die a happy woman.”

“So at least you've been there.”

She punched him in the arm. “Yes, and I brought home a nasty case of poison ivy as a souvenir.”

Caleb snaked his arm around the back of the seat as the buggy rolled downhill into Fredericksburg—a town so quiet people didn't bother locking their doors at night. Josie waved at locals who were strolling the main thoroughfare, eating ice-cream cones.

“Let's park near those picnic tables.” She pointed at a gravel parking area close to the bike path.

Caleb dutifully applied the brake and tugged on the reins. His gelding tossed his head but slowed down to a walk. “What about courting?” Caleb waited to ask until he'd tied the reins to a post. “Didn't you date while I lived in Cleveland?”

Josie pulled the picnic basket from the back, her mouth scrunching into a frown. “I've courted a few men before you. You're not my first beau, if that's what you're worried about.” She sat, but didn't swing her legs under the table.

“Who were they?” he asked. “Or are their identities a deep, dark secret?”

Handing him a sandwich, Josie looked rather bewildered. “I'm not sure why this is important, but I courted Benjamin Fisher and Joel Bent.” She filled their cups with lemonade until they nearly overflowed.

Caleb repeated the names, trying to put faces to the names. But he couldn't remember meeting either man at preaching and didn't recall them from school either. “Were they from a different district—or Mennonite perhaps?”

Josie's complexion darkened a shade. “They are Old Order, same as us. Joel moved out west with his parents, and I seldom saw Ben after our last redistricting. I believe he's courting a Miller girl, if you're worried he still pines for me.”

Caleb knew he should change the subject. It was none of his business. Yet he couldn't seem to stop himself. The thought of Ben or Joel holding her hand or kissing her soft lips sent him into a jealous rage. “I was curious why I didn't know them.”

“And I don't know why you're so inquisitive. You don't hear me demanding to know who you dated while you were gone. That's in your past—over and done with.” She took a small bite of ham and cheese.

“Kristen,” he said.

Josie was about to take a second bite before she realized he had spoken. “What?”

“The name of the woman I'd been involved with was Kristen. There were several others, but I honestly can't remember their names.” His collar grew tight and suffocating under the shady canopy of the town park.

“Fine, your former girlfriend's name was Kristen. For some reason, it was important you told me, and now you have. Can we get on with lunch? You haven't touched your sandwich and I plan to go wading before we head back.” Her face returned to its carefree composure.

“There's plenty more to the story.” His voice turned raspy, his mouth dry, as he rolled up his right sleeve.

Josie blinked several times. “That is awful, positively dreadful.” She pressed both hands to her throat.

“I agree. It's something I'm ashamed of and deeply regret. If I could remove it I would, but I can't. So I'm asking you to forgive me.”

She peered at the tattoo and then glanced down at her lap. “There's nothing to forgive. You did a stupid thing that has nothing to do with me, but the past is the past. I'm more interested in our future.”

Josie had said the right thing—the perfect words that should have eased his mind. Yet for some reason, tension still surrounded their picnic table like a fog. Caleb believed that for the first time, the woman he loved had just lied to him.