Healing Faith (12 page)

The men paused in their work, leaning in to take the
cups we had and dipping them into the cool water to take a drink.
The men did not introduce themselves; they merely drank their fill
and passed the cup around, ignoring us. When they were done, one of
them nodded and we moved along towards the next group of men.

As soon as we were out of earshot, Emma answered
me.

"Of course he can, Katherine. But I broke his heart.
I shamed him by denying him.”

"How do you know that? If he will love no other, then
he still loves you," I whispered, afraid that the men near us could
hear our conversation. She didn’t answer me until we were on our
way once more to the next group.

"You do not understand, Katherine. He is a faithful
man. But his father is most pious. He did not approve of me
breaking his son’s heart. I denied his family. I am not the wife
John needs," she said and pulled me along roughly only to come to a
stumbling halt before the next group of men, all young and
beardless.

Her breath caught as the first came towards us, a
good-looking man with wavy blond hair and deep brown eyes. He
seemed a little older than the rest, perhaps a year or two older
than Nathan. His smile was quick, like a radiant blast of sunshine
before he restored himself to a more stoic demeanor. He tipped his
straw hat back a bit as he walked towards us, his long gait
bringing him to us quickly. The other men followed him a little
more slowly. I recognized Mark among the young men of this
group.

But their leader was looking intently at Emma.

And again, the briefest smile on his face.

"Pleasant day, Emma," he said softly, tipping his
head towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Even I could see the adoration in them.

This was John Wittmer.

And there was no way that he did not absolutely love
the girl beside me.

He looked on her for longer than any of the other
men, his eyes never leaving her even as the cup was passed around.
Emma kept her eyes downturned, avoiding his gaze until the men
turned to leave. When they were far enough away, she glanced
towards me and nodded.

"John, this is Katherine. She is visiting our family.
Katherine, this is John Wittmer," she mumbled.

John's adoring gaze drew away slowly so that he could
finally look my way, his smile suddenly polite as he nodded to
me.

"Welcome, Katherine. I have heard much about you. I
am most happy to see you have made friends with my Emma," he said
quietly, his voice resonating in the hot air.

"She is a wonderful friend. I am grateful to meet
you," I replied, feeling my own heart flutter at how he seemed to
watch her.

His smile widened for a moment before he looked off
past my shoulder, a flash of amusement passing across his face
before the more polite look slipped back into position.

"I am keeping you from your duties, I must apologize.
Emma, may I sit with your family at mid day meal?" he asked, his
focus back on Emma.

She nodded and blushed, staying silent as he nodded
and turned back to the work on the long wood fence. I glanced at
Emma as she let out a soft breath and shook her head slowly, trying
to pull herself together. I put my hand on her shoulder gently and
urged her on, quiet as we walked to the next group of men.

We emptied the bucket, heading back twice more for
water before we made it to the last group of men at the top of the
far field, mending the fence beside what looked like a large cow
pasture. It was the last group of men that made me stumble like
Emma had when she had seen John.

Before me with a large sledgehammer in his hand was
Nathan Fisher.

I heard Emma let out a soft giggle and tugged me back
into motion. My eyes couldn't look away from him, drawn, as they
seemed to be from my first glance at him. His arms moved, the
sledgehammer rising in the air in a perfect arch to land squarely
on the fence post, driving it into the ground. The man across from
him copied his movement, but somehow, it was not nearly as
mesmerizing.

Nathan swung again, his body moving with a graceful
rhythm accompanied by a low grunt as the iron met wood. Again the
man copied him, then again Nathan swung.

Swing. Thump.

Every movement was crystal clear in my head as I
watched in awe. A flash of moisture escaped, flying from his head
as he swung and the noise of the hammer connecting in the
background to the noise that escaped Nathan's lungs on impact made
me flush. The damp shirt clinging to his back that moved when his
back moved, bunching up and pulling out around the suspenders was a
sight I would remember long after the sun went down. The way his
bottom lip slipped into his mouth when he noticed I was standing
there, watching him work, only made me much more aware of his pull
on me.

I looked away hurriedly and kept my eyes turned
towards Emma as the men slowly moved to take a drink, Nathan
lingering in the back of the line until everyone had had their
fill. I watched as his scuffed boots stepped up beside me as he
took his turn to drink down the cool water. I chanced a glance up
towards him, hoping to give away nothing of the draw I felt, but
the steady blush on my face was a dead give away to my conflicted
feelings.

And his sweet, bashful smile only made me blush
more.

"Pleasant day, Emma. Kath…Kate," he said softly
around his cup, the first part of my name barely audible before he
was swallowing down a long drink of water.

"We have missed you, Nathan," Emma said sweetly.
"Will you eat with us today? I know Fannie is hoping to see
you."

Nathan glanced at me for a moment, as if to read my
thoughts on the matter of him eating with us. I looked down at my
feet, fighting to keep myself calm and neutral, but I could feel my
cheeks burning as he watched me. Nathan returned the cup to the
water bucket and took a step back to return to the task.

"Please tell Fannie I would be grateful to sit with
you. Until mid day," he said and turned to return to his work, his
back yet again the image burned into my mind as he picked up the
hammer once more.

I felt Emma tug me along, realizing after a moment
that I was still staring. We hurried back to the water pump,
filling it up and carrying it back towards the gathering of women,
who were busy making final preparations for the meal. Fannie saw us
and motioned us toward her.

"Excellent, Emma. Would you two help Sarah with
setting up the food tables?" she asked and turned back to the task
of cutting up the chicken in front of her.

We made several trips in and out of the house heavily
burdened with casseroles and bowls of food. My arms had begun to
feel numb by the time Sarah finally dismissed us and sent us out to
find a place to settle in to eat. It seemed Fannie had made a
comfortable spot by an old oak, providing room and much needed
shade in the worst heat of the day. She waved us over, looking off
towards the field when an old fashioned bell rang out.

I followed her eyes and watched as the men turned as
one and made their way towards us, separating to find their
families. Jonah walked towards us with John and Mark in tow. Fannie
turned to us and handed us small hand towels. I looked down at
them, confused.

"The men will need to clean up," Fannie explained,
pointing to our bucket that was sitting by the tree, full of water.
I looked down at the towel again and blinked at the idea that I
would get to see Nathan washing up again.

Hannah stood by Mark, who grinned down at her own
smiling face. I watched as Emma took a deep breath and moved
towards John, who was watching her intently. He took the towel with
a soft thank you and hidden smile, causing Emma to appear even more
bashful. I smiled at the thought that he did really care about her.
It was simply a matter of time before he asked her again.

I looked around our little gathering for the familiar
black hat, seeing nothing but straw as I craned my neck to find
Nathan. He was nowhere to be seen. I felt a bit left out, standing
there alone as the other couples tended to one another before
settling into places on the quilts Hannah had laid out. I moved
towards the bucket, the vantage a bit higher so that I could see
well. But still there was no sign of Nathan.

The men reclined on the quilts while Fannie and her
daughters made their way towards the tables of food, where plates
were being filled and passed out. I looked a final time towards the
gathering of men as they mingled and found their places before I
sighed and tucked the towel into my waist and started towards the
food line where Fannie and her daughters waited.

I stood quietly behind them, listening to the
conversations as they flitted past.

New babies.

The Schmidts had to put their bull down.

It would be a tough winter again.

A simple life.

Not if the Giant's had scored.

Or the new movie that had become a blockbuster.

Nor the newest trend in fashion.

I glanced around again, catching a few eyes looking
my way, but for the most part I seemed to be ignored. I found that
odd. Perhaps it was because I was with the Bergers. I watched as
people passed Fannie and smiled and wished her well, looking back
towards our camp out to see Jonah speaking with several men before
they ventured on their way. I was learning that they held a
respected position in the community.

Abigail pulled me along, laughing quietly as she
watched me take in the surroundings. All work had stopped, families
sitting close together but the entire community within hearing
distance so that the Bishop, a tall man that Emma pointed out could
speak as we made plates of food.

I was making my way back to the Bergers when I
noticed Nathan.

He was standing off by himself, behind the tree where
the men had cleaned up. His eyes were tracking me, and the
knowledge that he had been watching me made my skin tingle. Emma
looked his way and let out a frustrated sigh.

"He is nervous, Katherine. I would say he is worried
about sitting too close to you, or maybe too far," she whispered,
grinning when I grunted and shrugged.

"I don't care where he sits," I muttered, although to
be honest I was hoping he would sit near me. Then perhaps I could
speak with him.

Figure him out.

He continued to watch me, his eyes flickering briefly
towards the plates before he would look away, sucking on his bottom
lip as if trying to make a choice in something. We arrived to our
blankets, the men sitting up and smiling in anticipation as Fannie
and her daughters handed the men their food. I was left standing
with two plates, glancing towards Nathan as he slowly made his way
towards us.

I pretended to ignore his approach, placing his plate
near the edge of the blanket, as if bribing a wild animal closer. I
sat down carefully, tucking my legs under me and sitting straight
with my back to Nathan's plate, wondering if he would finally sit
down and eat with the family. Jonah's booming voice gave him no
alternative.

"Nathan! Please come sit with us! Katherine has
brought you a plate. Come sit with us, do not linger there!"

I felt him draw near, hearing his voice soft as he
thanked Jonah and sat down near me. I continued to sit facing away
from him, waiting patiently for prayers to be said. The Bishop
stood and raised his arms to call for silence. He was a tall man,
with a strong presence. He looked around as the community quieted
down, his voice carrying in the quiet afternoon air. His voice was
deep and carried across the yard, so that it was easy to hear his
words.

"Brothers and Sisters. This is a blessed day. Once
more our community comes together to help one in need. I am
thrilled to see the commitment of so many young sons and daughters
help out one of our Elders. As you know, Elder Wittmer was in need
of our assistance, after a hard winter, one that so many of us felt
deeply," he said, his booming voice carrying through the trees.

At mention of the winter, I heard a soft sigh leave
Nathan from behind me. I knew the Bishop’s words had made him
remember his loss.

Without looking behind me, I leaned back, letting my
hands rest behind me on the blanket. I could sense Nathan behind
me, could feel his foot touching my extended hand as I sat stock
still, willing some energy his way. I felt his fingertips brush
against mine; one finger curling with my pinky finger for only a
second and then it was gone. Just that brief touch filled me with
the fluttering feeling I always felt when I thought of him.

The Bishop’s prayer complete, everyone turned to the
food, the buzz of conversation building once more. I chanced a
glance towards Nathan behind me, swallowing when I noticed he was
watching me. He offered me a tremulous smile before turning his
attention to John and striking up conversation. It was difficult
for me to concentrate through the meal with his voice so close
behind me. I sat there listening, forgetting to put the fork in my
mouth many times. His voice was melodic as he spoke of typical
mundane things.

Abigail leaned in close to me and looked over my
picked meal.

"Do you not like your food, Katherine? You have eaten
very little.”

I shook my head.

"Oh no, it's all very good. I just can't eat this
much in one sitting. I'm full and we haven't even gotten to the pie
yet," I said.

"Did you make pie, Katherine?" Mark asked, grinning
like a hungry Yogi Bear.

I blushed and nodded, ignoring Hannah's glare.

"Well, I am looking forward to it," Emma said
happily. "Apple is my favorite!"

"It would be," Hannah muttered under her breath,
noticing Emma tense.

“Hannah,” Jonah warned quietly from far end of the
quilts.

“I just mean to say that it did not do Adam well, the
apple,” she said and glanced at Nathan with a knowing look.