The Winnowing Season (41 page)

He glanced up. “Landon wanted me to meet you in the barn so I could eat cookies?”

“Remember some of the times I brought cookies out to you, Jacob, and Eli? You’d stop working and we’d talk for a bit?” She held up the plates to him.

He took a cookie. “Sure. Why?”

“Leah?” Jacob walked into the barn. He spotted Samuel and immediately turned to go the other way.

Leah caught him by the arm. “Can we talk?”

Jacob shot a disgusted look in Samuel’s direction. “I got things to do.”

She held up the plate of cookies. “Please.”

“Let him go, Leah.” Samuel waved the cookie in the air and half of it broke off and fell to the ground. “He’s always choosing to hide from the past rather than look to the future.”

Jacob wheeled around. “Exactly what future would you like me to gaze upon? The one of mine you ruined? The one where you ride off with Rhoda?”

Samuel yanked off his hat. “I never wanted anything to happen with her. I did my part the best I knew how. It was your place to be here for Rhoda. Her heart was fully committed to you. If you’d come home or written or called, we wouldn’t be in this fix.”

“You don’t think that’s what I wanted? Regret over not being here gnawed at me all the time. And I was trying to do what was right. It wasn’t just me involved, Samuel.”

“Sandra wasn’t the most important person in your life!”

“You don’t know what she’s been through. Her childhood was a nightmare, and she’s a mess, but she has a child who deserves better than what was dished out to Sandra.” Jacob gestured heavenward. “And I wasn’t going on trips to Disneyland! Sandra’s apartment is a dingy, run-down place with no hope. I was trying to keep Sandra strong so she had it in her to do right by Casey. What would you do to protect Arie or Isaac?”

“Anything that was required of me. But Sandra’s daughter isn’t one of them.”

“Is Casey any less important? Is that how God would feel? I don’t think so. And neither do you. But I wasn’t gone this last time because of Sandra. I was
trying to protect Rhoda from my past, and I went to a lawyer just like you said. You know what I found out about my construction job troubles? That Sandra’s deceived me all along. All along!” Jacob took the plate from Leah and flung it against the wall, shattering the plate and scattering cookies. “I finally get home to discover I was duped here too.” Jacob’s eyes glistened as if maybe tears were in them. “I want to forgive Rhoda. God knows how much I want to forgive her.” He paused, clearly taking a moment to compose himself. “But I can’t even forgive myself right now.”

Jacob turned and walked out the barn door.

Samuel threw his hat onto the ground. “Your need to be forgiven is between you and God, and you’re taking it out on Rhoda!”

Jacob turned. “You want me to take full responsibility for what’s happened. But you had just as much of a role in it,
Brother
.” He stared into Samuel’s eyes. “My trusted, loyal brother.”

Leah struggled to breathe as Samuel and Jacob locked eyes, reflecting the battle of anger and agony that waged inside each of them.

What had happened here? She had wanted them to talk, and now … She swallowed hard. Jacob’s use of the word
brother
rang in Leah’s heart.

The sense of betrayal for Jacob was clearly more than he could bear. He turned and walked out.

Leah looked at Samuel. He seemed every bit as broken as Jacob. What would happen to the new settlement? To Kings’ Orchard? To them as a family?

Rhoda stood in her room, her empty suitcase open on her bed, staring up at her. In the blink of an eye, her life had become as vacant as the inside of this oversize piece of luggage.

She went to her drawers and began emptying them.

It had been four days, and she’d heard Jacob and Samuel yelling at each other less than an hour ago. When Jacob first came home and implied she needed to leave, she thought he would cool off and talk to her. But it was no use.

He wouldn’t even look at her.

Or eat with the family.

Or speak to his brother.

He had told everyone that he and Rhoda weren’t seeing each other anymore and that it was his fault, but life would go on as before.

Everyone knew Jacob was furious with her.

She imagined they all had speculations as to what had happened.

And Samuel?

He had said nothing to her.

Nothing!

That
she didn’t understand. But she understood that Jacob was hurt. Unfortunately, his pain and anger were increasing as the days went by. She could see the agony in his eyes—when she could catch a glimpse of him.

His letter had yet to arrive. Had he really written to her, or had he lied to her?

Either way, it was time to give up or at least give him space and hope he would come around. But she wasn’t going far. She and her brother had a stake in this business, and she would do her best to make it a success.

If only she could understand. How could Jacob love her so deeply and yet be unable to reach past the pain and offer even a crumb of forgiveness?

Maybe after she gave him the space he wanted, he would be able to reconsider.

Rhoda sighed. Was that what she really wanted—for Jacob to reconsider his stance?

Who knew? Certainly not her.

Her drawers and tiny closet were empty now. All her clothing lay folded and waiting on her bed, but she hadn’t been able to make herself put the items in her bag.

As weary as she was of trying to get Jacob to talk to her, she was more weary of feeling like a harlot.

And Samuel?

Ever since Jacob had set foot in the barn four days ago, Samuel had back-pedaled from her like she had the plague. Was it because he regretted his actions and now wanted to wash his hands of her? Or did he think that’s what she wanted him to do?

What
did
she want him to do?

Confusion had her addled, much as it had the days after her sister was murdered. It crowded out every bit of clear thinking, and she didn’t know what she felt or thought or wanted.

The sound of tires crunching on the driveway caused her to move to the window.

Nicole
. Apparently here for another visit.

Samuel walked out of the barn just as Nicole got out of her truck.

A suffocating weight wrapped itself around her, making it hard to breathe. Samuel went to Nicole, and after a few moments they turned toward the orchard. Nicole looped her arm through Samuel’s as they walked.

So …

Had Samuel cared for Nicole all along?

Someone tapped on her bedroom door. She unlocked it and eased it open, hoping to see Jacob.

“Phoebe.” Rhoda backed away, letting her in.

Phoebe motioned at her suitcase. “I figured this was coming. So did your brother. Where will you go?”

“Camilla and Bob invited me to stay with them for a while. I won’t abandon the canning business, but I can’t stay here.”

“Steven has doubled his efforts to find us a home, something with two kitchens so you can have one for canning.”

Rhoda nodded. She never had to doubt the faithfulness of her family. She picked up a stack of folded dresses and slid them into the luggage. “You or Steven have yet to ask me anything.”

“We didn’t have to.” Phoebe sat on the bed. “How could you not have seen what was happening between you and Samuel?”

Rhoda swallowed. “I love Jacob.”

“And Samuel?”

Samuel
. Rhoda returned to the window. Samuel and Nicole were out of sight now. Was Samuel wondering how he would navigate the Amish ways while caring for a non-Amish woman?

“It doesn’t really matter, does it?”

Tell them
.

The phrases reminded her of when she had been so sure what she needed to tell Jacob and Samuel—to confirm to them her faith in each one. But now neither man cared what she thought. Or wanted. Or needed.

Dumont
.

How long had it been since that name had come to her?

“The atmosphere is suffocating around here right now.” Rhoda put the last of her clothes in the suitcase. “Call Landon on the walkie-talkie for me, would you?”

Phoebe unclipped it from the bib of her apron. “You don’t even want Jacob or Samuel to hear your voice through this, do you?”

Rhoda choked back tears. “
They
don’t want to hear it.” She swallowed hard.

Phoebe pressed a button on the walkie-talkie. “Landon, could you come upstairs, please?”

“Sure. I’m filling the woodbin. Be there in just a minute.”

Tell them … before it’s too late
.

The little girl’s voice rang out clear, and Rhoda knew the
them
was Bob and Camilla.

“Tell them what?” Rhoda whispered.

Phoebe stared at her. “Huh?”

Tell them I’m a Dumont
.

If Rhoda lived with them for a while, could she uncover what this voice wanted her to do?

She’d already lost Jacob, so whatever trouble she stirred, it wouldn’t bring
it upon his head. And Samuel seemed to think she should face her gifts, not run.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Kumm,” Phoebe answered.

Landon stepped inside. His eyes moved to the suitcase. “So it’s come to this. Leah and I have been wondering how long you would put up with Jacob’s silent treatment.”

“I’m at my wit’s end, and I can’t wait until Steven and Phoebe buy a house.”

Landon put his arm around her shoulders. “Did you want to move in with me and Granny? She would love it.”

“Thank you, but you see enough of me while we’re working. Would you take me to Camilla’s? I can’t lug my suitcase that far.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “It’s you and me again, just like it was before we met the King brothers. Well, and Leah. She wants to help us can too. Whether we use Granny’s kitchen or the one in the house Steven and Phoebe will buy or Camilla’s, we’ll can apple products and be a bigger success than anyone has imagined.”

Hope and courage trickled into her broken heart. “You’re right. You are absolutely right.” She hugged Phoebe. “I’ll have to return to work in the greenhouses, so tell Steven I’ll see him then.”

“I will.”

Dumont
.

Rhoda zipped her suitcase. She slid into her coat, took a last glance around the house, and left.

Maybe this is what God had intended all along—for her to finally be free enough of any Amish restraints to do His bidding.

And if not, she’d figure that out too.

Main Characters in
The Winnowing Season

Rhoda Byler
—A young Amish woman who is skilled in horticulture and struggles to suppress the God-given insights she receives. Before her fruit garden was destroyed, her canning products were carried by stores in several states under the label Rhode Side Stands.

Samuel King
—Loyal and determined, he is the eldest of three sons, and he’s been responsible for the success of Kings’ Orchard since he was a young teen.

Jacob King
—Irrepressible and accepting, he is the middle King brother. He began courting Rhoda a few months before the opening of
The Winnowing Season
.

Leah King
—At seventeen she’s the eldest King daughter and moves to Maine with her brothers Samuel and Jacob to establish a new orchard.

Eli King
—The youngest of the King brothers. He remains on the farm in Pennsylvania.

Benjamin King
—The father of Samuel, Jacob, Eli, Leah, and their two younger sisters, Katie and Betsy. He runs the family’s dairy farm.

Mervin King
—Benjamin’s brother. He’s an Old Order Amish preacher in Lancaster.

Karl Byler
—Rhoda and Steven’s father.

Steven Byler
—Rhoda’s brother who moves to Maine to help found the new Amish community.

Phoebe Byler
—Steven’s wife.

Isaac Byler
—Steven and Phoebe’s four-year-old son.

Arie Byler
—Steven and Phoebe’s two-year-old daughter.

Emma Byler
—Rhoda’s younger sister, who was murdered almost three years ago.

Catherine Troyer
—Samuel’s former girlfriend and Arlan’s sister.

Arlan Troyer
—Leah’s friend and Catherine’s brother.

Landon Olson
—A single, non-Amish man who has worked as Rhoda’s assistant and driver for several years.

Erlene Olson
—Landon’s grandmother, who lives in Unity, Maine.

Rueben Glick
—He destroyed Rhoda’s fruit garden in book one,
A Season for Tending
.

Urie Glick
—Rhoda’s bishop and Rueben’s uncle.

David Yoder
—Samuel’s bishop.

Glossary

Ausbund
—Amish hymnal

Daadi
—grandfather

Daed
—dad or father (pronounced “dat”)

denki
—thank you

Englisch/Englischer
—a non-Amish person

Grossmammi
—grandmother