Harvest of Hearts (29 page)

Daed had definitely been of that mind-set. He’d always assumed that if she hung out with a certain type, then she would be just like them. Simple as that. He’d quoted the same proverb over and over: “
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed
.”

She was certain Daed had classified her as a companion of fools.

Maybe she had been.

Her life would have certainly been different if she’d been a good Amish girl right from the start. Going to singings instead of parties.

Becky touched her hand, startling her out of her daze. “Shanna? Was ist letz? You seem like you’re in a trance or something.”

She shook her head and forced a smile. “I’m okay. Just woolgathering, I guess. Did you say something?”

Becky smiled. “Ach, I’ve been chattering on about nothing.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m naerfich. I haven’t been to one of these in…well, not since I ran away from home.” Before that, really.

“I’m glad you could kum tonight. You’ll have fun.”

Shanna shrugged. “A preacher found Matthew and me when we were….” Her face heated. “I mean, after lunch. He told Matthew that the bishop and the preachers want to talk to him tomorrow.”

Becky’s eyes widened. “Why? Jacob told me that Matthew never gets into trouble.”

“I don’t know. Matthew says it’s probably nothing. But I can’t help worrying that it’s about me.”

“Not everything is about you.” Annie plopped down on the other side of Becky.

Becky patted Shanna’s hand and cast Annie a look of censure. “What has gotten into you? You’ve been acting so sugary-sweet today.”

Annie sighed. “I’m sorry. This morning, right after church, I got snapped at by a couple of parents who don’t think I’m doing a gut enough job at the school. They don’t like my style of teaching, and they’ve threatened to go to the bishop and have me removed. Plus, a board member has talked with me about further complaints. I either had to cry or smile, so I’ve been smiling.” She glanced at Shanna. “I’m sure it’s nothing, like Matthew said.”

But Becky and Annie hadn’t seen the bishop talking with Daed after the service today. Nor had they seen the look Daed had given her when they’d gotten home. In her mind, it had totally erased the tender words he’d said the night before.

She’d scurried off to the barn to take a nap and avoid her family for the afternoon. She hadn’t wanted to be the target of any more of Daed’s silent glares, which he could give her in abundance since he wouldn’t yell at her on the Lord’s Day.

The barn suddenly seemed to come alive as the youths who’d been playing or talking outside all came in. The girls took seats along the benches on the same side of the table where Shanna, Becky, and Annie sat, while the buwe jostled for positions on the other side of the table. Jacob sat across from Becky, and, a few minutes later, Matthew filled the space next to him, across from Shanna.

He grinned at her and nudged her foot with his own under the table.

She smiled back, forgetting all about Annie and the bishop and her worries. At least she had tonight to enjoy.

Silence prevailed for a while as everyone waited for some brave person to start the singing. Finally, a bu did. Shanna didn’t remember this particular song extremely well, and she wished for a copy of the Ausbund so she could follow along. Matthew seemed to know the song, though she couldn’t distinguish his voice from the others that had quickly joined in.

Shanna scanned the length of the table, trying to locate Joseph. She found him seated almost at the end, but she couldn’t see the girl across the table from him. No big deal, though. He hadn’t necessarily sat across from Miriam, the girl she believed he was interested in. Many buwe didn’t. And others openly paired up with their girls, disregarding traditional discretion. Like Matthew and Jacob, who’d boldly staked their claims.

When the singing ended, Matthew waited by the door. Ruth hovered by his side, all talkative and giggly, obviously hoping he would offer her a ride home. When Shanna approached the door, Matthew said good-bye and fell into step beside her. Ruth’s countenance fell, and she gave Shanna a look that could have curdled milk instantly.

Still, Shanna’s emotions were mixed. She felt privileged and proud that Matthew had chosen her over the other maidels, yet hurt by the mean looks and spiteful words of those who had been passed over.

She shrugged it off as they went out to his buggy. Her buggy, actually. Well, it didn’t matter. The buggy. If she returned to the Amish, though, Matthew should consider getting his own. She’d need hers if she worked as a midwife.

That reality was doubtful, though. The bishop probably wouldn’t remember telling her she had a gift, as focused as he seemed to be on her failings. And she did have many shortcomings. She wasn’t Amish, but she wasn’t Englisch, either. She tried to fit in as best as she could. In both worlds.

Matthew helped her into the buggy, then jogged around to the other side and climbed in. “Jacob will probably take Becky into town for a fancy koffee. You can live without that, ain’t so?”

“Jah. I get enough of those at work.”

“Gut. I figured we could ride around, maybe stop and look at the stars or something. Is that okay?”

“Jah.” She scooted closer to him. Anything sounded good, as long as they were together.

Matthew wrapped one arm around her shoulders. With the other, he flicked the reins, and they were on their way.

“There’s a blanket under the seat, if you’re cold,” he said.

Shanna reached down to retrieve the folded cloth, shook it out, and spread it over their legs. “Danki. It’s a little chilly, but not too bad.”

“Nein, not bad at all,” Matthew agreed as she settled back into his embrace.

Snuggling against him, Shanna remembered her curiosity at something he’d said earlier. “Tell me about when you were a young bu. What did you do? Jacob and Josh were your best friends, you said. Are they your cousins, too?”

Maybe if Annie and Ruth found their own buwe, they would leave Matthew and her alone. What about this Josh? Perhaps he could take one of them. Then again, she might not want to wish either of them on Matthew’s good friend, for that would entail spending lots of time together. And if Josh was a relative, it would mean seeing Annie or Ruth at future family gatherings. Though maybe Annie could be excused for her behavior. Hearing multiple criticisms from the parents of her students and from a school board member couldn’t be helping her attitude any.

“Josh is my cousin on Mamm’s side. Jacob, nein; he lived on the farm next to ours. We were together almost all the time, Jacob and I, from getting up to going to bed. We helped each other with the chores and sat next to each other in school. The only thing we didn’t do together was court. Until now.” He smiled. “I got my learner’s permit when he did because he didn’t want to go into the testing center alone. He had a motorcycle, but he’s written to Josh and asked him to sell it.”

“Did you drive the motorcycle?”

Matthew shook his head. “Nein. But I wasn’t all that impressed with it when I rode on it with Jacob. I learned to drive another friend’s truck. He was Mennonite, so it was allowed.”

“I learned to drive before I left home, too. Daed wasn’t very happy when he found out.”

“Mine wasn’t, either, but what could he say? I was in my rumschpringe.”

Matthew had kept the horse at a walk, but they managed to get back to the farm far earlier than Shanna wanted to. She could have ridden with him all night.

He parked the buggy and then came around to help her out. “I had a gut time tonight.”

“I did, too. Danki.” It seemed strange to be saying “Gut nacht” when they both were going to the same place.

Matthew smiled and walked with her the few steps to the barn. Outside the door to her loft, he waited while she fumbled with her key. “You’ll go out with me again soon, ain’t so?” He touched her cheek lightly, then leaned forward and kissed it.

“Jah.” As soon as she could.

“Maybe a walk tomorrow nacht?”

Shanna shuddered, realizing that, by then, he would have met with the bishop and the preachers. And he would want to share it with her. Ach, this couldn’t be anything good.

At the designated time the next day, Matthew trudged up the front porch steps of the home of Preacher Philip Miller, his stomach churning. As he raised his arm to knock on the door, he noticed that his hands were trembling. Not good. He didn’t want his fear to be obvious.

Lord, I don’t know what’s going to happen here, but You do. Go before me.

The door opened before he could touch it, and he looked into the kind eyes of Nancy Miller. “Matthew. Kum in. Do you want a pretzel? I made soft pretzels today for the first time, and I think they turned out well. Here, let me get you one. Have a seat. Philip will be right in, I’m sure. The preachers and Bishop Sol are out in the barn, looking at a lame horse.”

Matthew hesitated. “Maybe I should go out there, then.”

“Nein, he told me to make you comfortable. They’ll be right in. Lemonade?” She bustled over to a cabinet and took out a glass.

Seconds later, a pretzel and a glass of lemonade appeared in front of him. He didn’t think he’d be able to partake of either one.

She poured herself a glass and sat down across from him. “So, how do you like Missouri, Matthew?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t been here long.”

“Just four months, ain’t so? But what are your impressions so far?”

“So far, I like it. I might miss the snow kum winter, though.”

“It snows here sometimes.” Nancy shuddered. “Snow, ice…I can live without them. I’d be happy if the temperature stayed in the seventies year-round.”

He’d liked having four seasons to enjoy in Pennsylvania. But he didn’t answer, because the door opened, and five men walked in. Nancy jumped up and filled five more glasses with lemonade, then set a plate piled with salty pretzels on the table.

“Matthew. Gut of you to join us.” The bishop sat down at the head of the table and surveyed him.

There seemed to be a kindly glint in his eyes, but Matthew wasn’t sure. He nodded.

“We checked references of all the buwe who signed up for the swap. Contacted your family, too. Heard nothing but gut things about you.” He picked up his glass and swirled the pale yellow liquid around before taking a sip.

Nancy picked up something and walked out of the room.

“Jah.” Matthew had expected his parents would have been contacted. He straightened his posture. “If this is about driving that car, I know I was wrong, and I’m willing to kneel and confess.”

“Were you trying to impress a pretty girl that day, Matthew?” One of the other preachers leaned forward.

Matthew considered the question, then shook his head. “Nein. Her driving, it scared me. I am much more cautious, and I wanted to get back alive, if I had any control over it. I’ve refused to get into a vehicle with her behind the wheel ever since. That is my only excuse.”

The bishop chuckled and shook his head. “She did run into Amos Kropf’s buggy, and it was parked in the drive-through lane. Though he tells me that she’s been trying to make restitution by working as his maud for no charge. He considered it a fair trade, but he’s keeping track of her hours so he’ll know when she’s made it up.”

Jah. Matthew knew this. But he still didn’t like it.

The bishop took a sip of lemonade and then studied Matthew again. “I’ve heard tales about her driving. She drives too fast, going airborne over some of the bumps in the road. She’ll ruin her car at that rate. I can understand your fear. Don’t think I’d care to ride with her, either.”

Matthew didn’t answer. Bishop Sol acted a lot friendlier than he’d expected him to. More human, more caring. But if this meeting wasn’t about his punishment for driving a car, he couldn’t imagine what other thing concerned them enough to call him here today.

“How is she at handling a horse?” Philip Miller asked, his mouth full of pretzel.

“I don’t know. I haven’t let her try. But she did borrow Levi’s once with no mishaps.”