[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (21 page)

“I’ll go out and let him know lunch is ready.”

Suzanne left the house and hurried to the barn. When she stepped inside, she didn’t see any sign of Grandpa.

“Grandpa, are you in here?” she called.

All she heard was the nicker of the horses from their stalls on the other side of the barn.

Suzanne moved toward the back of the barn, and when she came to a place where a ladder had been set, she halted. There lay Grandpa, facedown on the floor!

K
umme, Nelson!
Schnell!”
Suzanne shouted as she hurried from the barn and cupped her hands around her mouth.

Nelson dashed out the back door of the house. “What are you shouting about? Why do you need me to come quickly?”

“It’s Grandpa! He’s passed out on the barn floor. I … I think he must have been trying to climb the ladder and fell.” Suzanne’s heart pounded, and her voice shook with emotion. “Where is he?” Nelson asked as he raced into the barn. “Over there.” Suzanne pointed to the spot where Grandpa lay. “I tried to wake him, but he didn’t respond.”

Nelson tore across the room, and Suzanne followed. “Grandpa, can you hear me?” Nelson felt Grandpa’s pulse. “He’s alive, so that’s a relief.” He picked up Grandpa’s false teeth. “Looks like these got knocked out of his mouth when he fell.”

Suzanne knelt beside Grandpa, gently patting his face. “Wake up, Grandpa. Please, wake up.”

Grandpa’s eyes fluttered open. “Wh-what happened? How come you two are standin’ over me with such worried faces?”

“I found you here, unconscious.” Suzanne motioned to the ladder. “Were you trying to climb that to get to the wasp’s nest?”

“Jah. Didn’t want any of ‘em botherin’ the horses while they’re in their stalls.” Grandpa groaned as he tried to sit up. “Think I must’ve got the wind knocked out of me when I fell, ‘cause I hurt all over. Guess that’s what I get for thinkin’ my shaky old legs could carry me up the ladder.”

“I think we’d better call our driver and take you to the hospital in Hopkinsville,” Nelson said.

The wrinkles in Grandpa’s forehead deepened when he frowned. “What for?”

“To check you over and make sure nothing’s broken.”

“The only thing broke is my pride,” Grandpa muttered. “Seems like I can’t do much of anything these days.”

“That’s not true,” Suzanne spoke up. “You’re still doing the bookwork in the shop.”

“Bookwork’s nothin’ compared to what I used to do.”

Suzanne knew how much Grandpa liked being in the shop, but she also knew it must cause him pain whenever he tried to use his hands.

“We can talk about this later,” Nelson said. “Right now we need to make sure you’re okay.” He slipped his hands around Grandpa’s waist, helping him slowly to his feet, while Suzanne gently held on to Grandpa’s arm.

Grandpa winced as he tried to stand. “Oh boy. Don’t think I’m gonna be able to walk. My right ankle’s sore, and it feels like it’s swollen. Same holds true for my wrist.”

Nelson lowered Grandpa back to the floor. “I’ll go inside and get Russell and Chad. Then the three of us will carry you into the house.” He looked at Suzanne. “Run down to the phone shanty and call one of our drivers. Let ‘em know that we need a ride to the hospital right away.”

Allen had just pulled his truck out of the parking lot at the monument site, when Titus’s cell phone rang. As soon as he removed it from his trouser’s pocket, Esther’s eyebrows furrowed.

Ignoring her questioning look, he clicked the T
ALK
button and held the phone up to his ear. “Hello.”

“Hi, it’s me, Timothy.”

“Hey! Guess where I just came from?”

“Where?”

“Went up inside the Jefferson Davis Monument. It’s so high you can see for miles around. If you ever come to visit, I’ll have to take you there.”

“Did you go there alone?”

“Went with Allen and his friend, Connie. Also brought a friend of mine—Esther Beiler.”

“I knew it!” Timothy chuckled. “I knew when you moved to Kentucky that you’d find a girlfriend there. What’s she like, Titus? Tell me about her.”

Titus’s face heated. “We’re … uh … we’re all just friends.” He couldn’t say much with Esther sitting right beside him, still wearing a curious expression.

“How are things with you?” Titus asked. “Is Hannah feeling any better?”

“A bit. Samuel and Elsie were here awhile ago, and talking with Elsie seemed to help her some.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“It’s good that you were able to get a cell phone,” Timothy said. “Makes it a lot easier to get a hold of you now.”

“Jah.” Titus glanced at Esther again, but this time, she looked away.

“Guess I’d better let you go. Just wanted to see how you were doing.”

“I appreciate you calling. Be sure to tell Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family I said hello.”

“I will. Talk to you later.”

After Titus put the phone back in his pocket, Esther looked over at him and said, “I didn’t realize you had a cell phone. Did you bring it with you from Pennsylvania?”

He shook his head. “Bought it in Hopkinsville so I’d be able to keep in touch with my family back home.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “In case you didn’t know it, cell phones aren’t allowed in our church district. I’m sure our ministers would be upset if they knew you had one.”

The disapproving look on Esther’s face made Titus wish he’d left his cell phone at home.

“Since there’s an old phone shanty behind the trailer, I’ll see about getting the phone there connected,” Titus said.
I’ll just keep the cell phone for emergency purposes and to call home whenever I need to talk directly to someone
, he silently added.

As Esther turned to stare out the window, Titus thought about her fear of heights. It had really put a damper on his day to have her stay below while he went up into the monument. He wasn’t really sure that he and Esther were suited for each other but figured he needed to give her a chance. Maybe after a few more dates he’d feel more comfortable with her and discover that they had a few things in common.

H
ow’s Hannah doing?” Fannie asked when she and Abraham entered Timothy’s yard and found him sitting on the porch, with Mindy playing on a blanket nearby.

“She’s in our room taking a nap right now, but she’s feeling a little better.”

“Emotionally or physically?” Fannie asked.

“Both. Samuel and Elsie stopped by yesterday, and Elsie shared a few things with Hannah about the way she felt when she had a miscarriage a few years ago. I think it helped for Hannah to know that someone else understands how she feels.” Timothy reached over and patted the top of his daughter’s head. “Hannah realizes that Mindy and I both need her, and I think she found comfort when Elsie reminded her that the baby we lost is in heaven.”

Fannie nodded and smiled. “I’m glad she’s feeling better.”

“We wish none of our family ever had to suffer, but unfortunately, everyone must face some trials, Abraham said. “We just need to hold God’s hand and let Him lead us through the valleys whenever they come.”

“You’re right about that,” Timothy agreed. “On a different note, I think there’s something you both should know.”

“What’s that?” Fannie asked as she and Abraham took seats on either side of Timothy.

“Titus has a new girlfriend.” He grinned.

“Already?” Abraham asked before Fannie could respond. “That son of ours sure does move fast.” He nudged Fannie’s arm and chuckled. “I think he takes after his daed, at least in that regard.”

“It’s not funny,” Fannie said with a huff. “I don’t think it’s good that Titus has found someone already.”

“Why not?” Timothy asked.

“It’s too soon after Phoebe.” Fannie frowned. “It’s not good to get involved with someone so quickly after breaking up. I think Titus needs to give himself some time to adjust to his new job and surroundings before he starts courting again.”

“As I’m sure you recall, we fell in love pretty quickly,” Abraham reminded her.

“That was different. We’d both been widowed awhile and weren’t on the rebound.”

Abraham shrugged. “Maybe Titus needed to find someone right away to help him get over Phoebe.”

“You could be right,” Timothy put in. “This new girl might be a better fit for Titus, too.”

Fannie sighed deeply. “If Titus falls in love with a girl from Kentucky and marries her, he’ll never move back home.”

Abraham patted her arm affectionately. “Let’s not worry about that until the time comes.”

Pembroke, Kentucky

“Guess it’s time to get my horse and buggy ready. Are you going to the young people’s singing with me?” Nelson asked Suzanne as the two of them sat at the kitchen table with Mom, having a glass of cold apple cider.

She shook her head. “I’d better stay here and help Mom take care of Grandpa.”

“I don’t need your help,” Mom said. “Grandpa’s sleeping right now, and the pain medication the doctor prescribed will probably keep him sleeping for several hours.”

“Even so, I’d rather stay home.” Suzanne took a sip of cider and let it roll around in her mouth before swallowing. It was sweet, yet a bit tart—just the way she liked it. When the apples in their yard ripened in the fall, they’d take them to the Beilers’ and make more apple cider, using their press. She always looked forward to that.

Mom tapped Suzanne’s shoulder. “You need to get out and have some fun. You’ll never find a husband if you don’t spend time with other young people your age.”

Suzanne’s jaw clenched. Not this again. She didn’t know why Mom thought she had to get married. They knew several Amish women who’d either never been married or were widowed and had chosen not to marry again.
Of course
, she reminded herself,
if I don’t care about getting married, then why do I feel envious when others I know find boyfriends and get married?

“Suzanne, did you hear what I said?”

“Jah, Mom, I heard.”

“Are you going with Nelson to the singing or not?”

Suzanne looked over at Nelson. “Won’t you be taking your girlfriend tonight?”

He nodded. “I’ll be picking Lucy up on the way to the singing.”

“Then I shouldn’t go. I’m sure you’d rather spend time with her alone than have your sister sitting in the backseat of your buggy, able to hear every word you’re saying.”

“Won’t bother me any,” Nelson said with a shrug. “Besides, maybe there’ll be some fellow at the singing who’ll ask if he can give you a ride home.”

“Puh!”
Suzanne flapped her hand. “Like that’s going to happen.”