Katie's Redemption (6 page)

E
lam finished loading the lumber he needed into the back of his farm cart. His gray Belgian draft horse, Joey, stood quietly, his head hung low, waiting to carry the load home. As Elam closed the tailgate of the wagon, he heard someone call his name. Turning, he saw Bishop Joseph Zook approaching.

“Good evening to you, Elam.” The bishop touched the brim of his black felt hat.

“And to you, Bishop,” Elam replied, feeling uneasy at the man’s intense scrutiny.

“Mrs. Zimmerman mentioned that Katie Lantz has been staying with you. I didn’t know she was a friend of the family.”

“She returned expecting to find her brother still farming here. The shock of finding him gone brought on her labor and she delivered a little girl, but they left today.”

“She’s gone, then?” The bishop seemed relieved.

“
Jah,
she’s gone.” Saying the words made it seem so
final. Katie had dropped into his life without warning. She had stirred up feelings he’d tried to keep buried. Now she was gone and he felt her loss keenly.

He hesitated, then asked, “Did you know her well, Bishop?”

“I did not. Once she was of age, she rarely attended services or gatherings. Her brother used to lament how stubborn and how selfish she was, how she thought herself better than the others in our Plain community. He expressed much worry that she meant to leave us and to entice other youth away, as well.”

Her brother’s description didn’t match the quiet, meek woman that had come to Elam’s door. Still, her family would know her best.

Bishop Zook hooked his thumbs in his suspenders. “I wish that I might have spoken to her to see if she has come back to the faith. My cousin lives near Malachi in Kansas and he has written that they are happy in their new home. It would be good news for them to hear Katie has found redemption.”

Elam shook his head. “She was in trouble and seeking her family’s help, but I fear she does not mean to stay among the Plain people.”

“It was commendable that you rendered her assistance, but it is better that she has left your home if she has not repented. Perhaps she will see the error of her ways. Until then all we can do is pray for her.”

“
Jah,
we can do that. I’d best be getting on my way or it will be dark before I get home.” Elam nodded toward the bishop and climbed up to his seat.

“Please tell your mother I send my regards.”

“I will. She’s looking forward to holding church services at our home come Sunday.”

“I know God will bless the gathering. It will not be long until spring communion is upon us. We must select a new deacon before then.”

“I was sorry to hear of Deacon Yoder’s passing. I did not know him well, but I’m told he was a good man.”

“He is with God now, and we must all rejoice in that.”

Besides the bishop, Elam’s church district had two preaching ministers and one deacon. The deacon’s responsibilities included helping the bishop and preachers at church services and assisting needy members of the community, such as widows, by collecting alms. It was also the duty of a deacon to secure information about errant members of the community and convey those to the bishop.

It had been the deacon in Elam’s old church that had brought the pronouncement of Elam’s father’s excommunication and later the news of his fiancée’s shunning.

“You are new to our congregation, Elam. If you feel you don’t know our men well enough to nominate someone for the office, I can offer you some guidance. My cousin in Kansas writes that they too have lost their deacon and that Malachi Lantz has been chosen to take his place.”

Being single, Elam knew he was ineligible to be nominated, and for that he was glad. Only married men could serve. A deacon would be chosen by lots from among the nominated men. It was a lifelong appointment.

Nodding to the bishop, Elam said, “I will visit with you after services this Sunday.”

Slapping the lines against Joey’s broad rump, Elam left the lumberyard and headed down Lake Street toward Main. Pulling to a halt at the traffic light, he glanced up Main toward the bus depot at the other end of town. Had Katie already left? Was she on her way to her brother’s or was she going back to the city and Rachel’s father?

Either way it was none of his business, so why did he care so much? The light turned green, but he didn’t notice until a car honked behind him. The English, always in such a hurry.

He clucked his tongue to get Joey moving, but as they entered the intersection Elam suddenly turned the horse left instead of right.

What would it hurt to make sure Katie had gotten on the bus? If he could tell his mother he knew for certain Katie had left town Nettie might feel better and give up worrying over Katie and Rachel. He didn’t closely examine his own motives for going out of his way. He simply assumed he wanted the chance to say goodbye.

As he neared the station, he saw the lights were off and the closed sign had been hung on the door. Sadness filled him. The bus had already gone, taking puzzling, pretty Katie Lantz with it.

Pulling on the reins, he started to turn around when he caught the sound of a baby crying. Drawing closer to the building, he saw Katie sitting huddled against the side of the depot. She had her head down, her face buried in one hand as she cradled her baby with the other. Her shoulders shook with heavy sobs.

He stopped the wagon and jumped down. Reaching
her in three long strides, he dropped to his haunches beside her.

Her head jerked up and he found himself looking at her red-rimmed eyes and tearstained face, partially obscured by the curtain of her dark hair. Even in her pitiful state he couldn’t help but think how beautiful she was. Reaching out with one hand, he gently tucked her hair behind her ear. “Ah, Katie, why couldn’t you have been on that bus.”

“I tried…but I didn’t have…enough money.”

Her broken sobs twisted his heart like a wet dishrag. He had no business caring so much about this woman. He said, “Mother wants me to bring you home.”

“I can’t…go with you. I’ve been…too much trouble…already. We’ll be…fine.”

“You are a prideful woman, Katie. Would you stop me from doing what the Bible commands of me?”

At her look of confusion, he said, “It is my duty to care for anyone who is destitute and in need, even if it be my bitter enemy—which you are not. Now, let me have Rachel.” He eased the baby from her arms.

“Besides, if Mother found out that I left you and Rachel here alone she would tan my hide. Or make me do my own cooking, which would be worse.” His attempt at humor brought a fresh onslaught of crying.

“Don’t cry, Katie.” Slipping his free hand under her elbow, he helped her to her feet. She swayed, and for a second he feared she would crumple to the sidewalk. He pulled her close to steady her, wondering how he could manage to carry both of them to the wagon.

“Be strong just a little longer,” he whispered.

She nodded and moved away from him, but he didn’t
let go of her arm. Helping her up onto the wagon seat, he glanced toward the street as a horse and buggy trotted past. What kind of rumors would soon be flying about him and the weeping English woman he’d picked up at the bus station? Hope Springs was a small town with a well-oiled rumor mill. By tomorrow, speculation would be flying over the fences.

More gossip was the last thing he wanted for his family in their new community, but leaving Katie and her baby on the side of the road was out of the question. He briefly considered taking them to the medical clinic and leaving them in the care of the midwife and the town doctor, but he dismissed the idea.

He hadn’t been kidding when he said his mother would be upset if he didn’t bring Katie back. It was easier to blame her than to admit he wanted Katie and Rachel back under his roof as much as his mother did.

When Katie was settled on the seat, he handed her the baby, then picked up her suitcase and swung it into the wagon bed. After glancing around, he asked, “Where is Rachel’s
babybett?
”

“I sold it,” Katie answered, her voice low and filled with anguish.

“You did what?”

“I sold it to the woman who runs the Amish Trading Post to pay for my ticket but it wasn’t enough. I’m so sorry. I had to do it.”

And you left Rachel without a place to lay her head.

He bit back the comment he wanted to make and climbed onto the seat beside Katie. Picking up the reins with one hand, he clucked to Joey.

The big Belgian swung the wagon around and began plodding toward the edge of town. Before long, a line of cars started stacking up behind them, but he didn’t care.

At the Trading Post, Elam drove into the parking lot and stopped near the front of the store. Katie withdrew a wad of bills from her pocket and silently held them out. He ignored her.

He jumped down from the wagon without saying a word and entered the building. The bassinet was on display near the counter. He picked it up, haggled the outrageous price down to one he could afford and left the store with the bed slung over his arm and his anger simmering low and hot. Outside, he climbed onto the wooden bench and set the basket between them.

As soon as Joey had them back out on the highway, Katie said. “I’m sorry. It was all I had. Please take the money.”

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her lips trembled pitifully. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying. His anger evaporated. How could he stay angry with her in the face of her obvious distress?

“Keep your money.”

“But you bought back the bed.”

“I bought it for Rachel, not for you. It is hers. Put your money away.”

Katie extended the bills toward him. “I can’t let you do that.”

“Repay me by explaining why you ran off today.”

Her eyes widened. She looked like a rabbit caught in the open, with nowhere to hide and a hawk swooping in for the kill.

“I wanted to reach my brother. The next bus wasn’t until Monday. I didn’t want to impose on you for that long.”

“Since you have not given me or my mother a letter to mail to your brother, I’m going to ask why not.”

She looked down at the child she held in her arms. “I have to go to Malachi in person.”

“What are you not telling me, Katie Lantz?” Elam’s firm tone demanded a truthful answer.

She looked away and stared at the barren fields awaiting their spring planting. “I am dead to my brother until I kneel in front of him and beg his forgiveness.”

Elam could only wonder at the behavior that had forced her brother to make such a pronouncement. Church members who had committed serious offences were required to kneel in front of the congregation or the bishop and confess their sins before they could be forgiven. Her brother was not a bishop.

“Surely a letter would suffice under these circumstances,” Elam said. “Had you written to him when you first came to us, you might have a reply by now.”

“I wrote my brother several times in the first months after I left home. I was sorry for the things I said and the way we parted. He sent my letters back unopened. After that, I stopped trying.”

“So that’s why you didn’t know he had sold the farm and moved away.”

“Yes.”

“He will open a letter from me,” Elam stated firmly.

Katie said nothing. Her eyes were closed and she swayed on the seat. She looked utterly exhausted. He said, “Why don’t you put the baby in her bassinet before you drop her.”

Katie’s eyes shot open. “I won’t drop her.”

“You’re both bone tired. I think she’ll rest better in her bed.”

“She does seem to like it. The woman at the Trading Post wanted you to make more of them.”

“Is that so?” Some additional orders for his work would be welcome. He hadn’t considered making baby beds. Perhaps Katie’s actions would bring some good after all.

Elam let the lines go slack, but the horse continued on his way without faltering. He needed no urging to head home where there would be hay, grain and a rubdown at the end of the trip. Elam held the baby bed steady while Katie laid her daughter in it. Rachel made little grunting noises as she squirmed herself into a comfortable position and drifted off to sleep.

Once he was sure she wasn’t going to start fussing again, he carefully set her bed on the floorboard under the seat, where she would be out of the wind.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Katie asked, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know what I did to deserve her.”

“
Jah,
she’s a right pretty baby.” A baby with a young and foolish mother and a father who didn’t want her. As Elam picked up the reins again, he prayed that Rachel and her mother would come to know God’s love in their lives.

They rode on in silence as the last rays of sunlight cast long shadows toward the east. Elam began to make an inventory of the supplies he’d need to make more beds like the one Rachel slept in.

Suddenly, Katie slumped against Elam. He grabbed her to keep her from tumbling forward off the wagon seat and jerked Joey to a halt.

“Katie! Are you all right?”

He cupped her chin and lifted her face so he could see her. She was deathly pale. Dark circles under her eyes stood out like vivid bruises. Her eyelids fluttered open and she tried to focus on his face.

“I’m…so tired….” Her words trailed off and her eyes closed again.

Poor thing. She was all done in. It was no wonder. She’d had a rough time of it today. He shifted his weight and settled her head against his shoulder, keeping one arm around her to hold her steady.

Elam spoke softly. “Hup now, Joey. Get along.”

The horse moved forward once more. Elam tried to concentrate on the road ahead, but the feel of Katie’s slender body nestled against him drove all coherent thoughts out of his head. How could something that felt so right be so wrong? She wanted no part of his faith or his way of life. He knew that, but he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her.

He’d only held one other woman this way. Salome, the night he’d asked her to marry him. The memory of that day came rushing back.

He had nervously proposed marriage as he was driving her home in his buggy after the barn raising at Levi Knopp’s farm. She’d said yes as she sat bolt upright beside him, looking straight ahead. He’d draped his arm around her shoulder wanting to hold her close.