A Plain Man (41 page)

The service lasted far longer than the usual three hours. At some point, people might have grown weary or hungry or thirsty. But for Caleb, those sensations came and went without notice. When he finally strolled from the barn, the cool air revitalized him. He saw Sarah with her beloved Adam under a tree, their heads bent in conversation no one else would be privy to. Caleb felt a surge of pride when he spotted Albert in a cluster by the hog pen. His friend had decided to come back to preaching. Across the barnyard, Katie chased after a calico, determined to make a pet out of a barn cat. Rebekah stood in a group of teenagers that, not surprisingly, included James Weaver.

But it was the sight of Josie helping her
grossmammi
to the house
that sent his spirits soaring. Now that they were baptized, nothing stood in the way of the announcement of their engagement. When Josie exited the kitchen, minus her
grossmammi
, Caleb was ready. “Say, Miss Yoder, do you have plans for the rest of the afternoon? There's something I'd like to show you.”

She gaped at him. “Then why are you standing around? Get in line to eat. As soon as the men go through the line, the women can eat. Go, because I am starving.” When he turned away, she placed both hands on his back and shoved.

“My, you really are pushy for a little gal,” he said over his shoulder.

“You have no clue how assertive hunger makes me.”

He hurried to the table of sandwiches and drinks set up on the porch. Josie was right—the sooner they ate, the sooner they could leave the Yoder farm. Caleb wanted to take a long walk with his green-eyed, five foot fireball before it grew dark. His parents'
Englisch
neighbor had agreed to sell him five acres. The hilly, tree-lined parcel wasn't suitable for farming, but Caleb had no need of flat land other than a quarter-acre garden plot. Since the parcel was landlocked with only a twenty-five foot wide easement, the real estate taxes would remain low. Sounded like the perfect homesite for an Amish carpenter turned small businessman and his successful beekeeping
fraa
.

Caleb gobbled a ham and cheese sandwich, drank a mug of hot cocoa, and wrapped his second sandwich in a piece of foil. But by the time he looked for Josie, she was already headed in his direction.

“If you've got something to show me, let's go.” She wiped her mouth with her apron. “Before
Mamm
spots me and makes me help clean up. I have decades to be a dutiful daughter and wife, but not much time left to be somebody's fiancée.” Josie hooted. “I love that fancy French word.”

Caleb smiled and took her hand. “Did you get anything to eat? I thought you were starved. Most of the ladies are still in line.”

“Laura said she would help
Grossmammi
, so I grabbed a sandwich from a tray in the kitchen and filled my apron pockets with cookies.” She pressed her index finger to her lips for secrecy. “Since I don't know where we're going, we might need provisions.”

“Not far, I promise.”

When they reached the back path behind her house, she lifted one eyebrow. “We're heading to your house? I thought you had something to show me.”

“I do, but we'll walk.
Mamm
and my sisters will take the buggy home before dark.” Caleb offered his elbow.

Josie looped her arm through his and fell in step. At first she chattered away like a magpie on a telephone wire, repeating the news she'd heard in the kitchen. But after she'd been scratched by thorny bushes, tripped over hidden roots in the path, and stubbed her toe twice, Josie tugged her hand free. “We seem to be going in circles. Where on earth are you taking me? Can't we rest for a while in the old mill? No one will see us, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind if they did.” She rubbed a bloody scratch on her arm.

“Speaking of the old gristmill”—Caleb lifted her chin to capture her attention—“who do you suppose owns that historic building?”

“I don't know. Maybe the Alexanders?”

“Nope.”

Josie pursed her lips, peering up at him. “Do your parents?”

“No, not the Eli Beachy family.” Caleb crossed his arms over his vest.

“Then who?” She stomped her foot with waning patience.

“You and I do—the Caleb Beachy family. At least we will after the title transfer. We've just walked the property line of our new homesite.”

Josie studied him carefully. “You're teasing me, right?”

“I would never joke about something so important. What do you think? Could you tolerate a view of the old water wheel instead of the bike path?”

Her initial comment became lost in the folds of his coat as she hugged his waist tightly. “You bought the old mill?” she asked.

“I did. I thought Albert and I could fix it up after we finish building our house. Wouldn't it make a lovely spot for year-round picnics once we replace the roof?”

“I never took you for such a romantic man.” Josie laid her head against his chest.

Caleb rubbed her back. “I've got all kinds of surprises in store, Miss Yoder. You just hang on to your
kapp
strings.”

19

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away;

Send thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day.

D
ECEMBER

W
hen Eli entered his house that afternoon, he thought he had wandered into Troyer's Market in Berlin on a Saturday in July. His
fraa
, Rebekah, and Katie were flying from the oven, to the sink, to the counter, and back again like bees preparing the hive for winter. Sarah was rolling out dough and filling fluted pans with crusts for the next batch of pies. She glanced up and smiled, her face dusted with flour.

“Home from the Sidleys' already,
Daed
?” she asked.

“Already? I left right after breakfast, and now it's almost four o'clock.” Eli surveyed his normally tidy kitchen with amazement.

“Nearly
four
?” Elizabeth squawked as though suddenly awakened by an alarm clock. “Where did the afternoon go?”

“Same place it goes every day.”

“I haven't even thought about dinner.” Elizabeth dropped her apple corer into the bowl of peels.

“What is all this?” Eli flourished his hand in several directions.

His wife blinked. “Have you forgotten that both your son and daughter are getting married on Thursday?” She counted using her fingers. “That's only five days from now. We've invited over three hundred people who will all show up hungry.”

Eli winked at Sarah. “I do recall you mentioning that, but you'll have plenty of help from Margaret Yoder and her daughters, not to mention the entire Troyer clan.”

“
Ach
, Eli, we're in charge of desserts. We'll worry about the rest of the food after the Sabbath.” Elizabeth pressed a hand to her forehead, leaving behind a smudge of flour.

“Just make sure you don't collapse before the wedding.” He hung up his hat and coat.

“I told
Mamm
to slow down, but she won't listen to me.” Sarah shook her head. “She makes me sit while working, then takes the lion's share for herself.”

“You still don't have your strength back.” Elizabeth hurried to the refrigerator. “I'd better get that chicken cut up and into the stewpot.”

The bishop crept up behind her. “That sounds like something our clever girls can handle without supervision. You're coming with me to the front room and putting your feet up. I would like to tell you about my trip to the Sidleys'.” Eli waited until she'd washed her hands; then he dragged her from the room. “Katie, bring your
mamm
a cup of tea after it steeps.”

Surprisingly, Elizabeth didn't argue. Once they were seated with an afghan covering her legs, she turned toward him. “How was your visit? I presume there's no buckshot for me to extract?”

“John's old shotgun was nowhere in sight and I have Caleb to thank for that.” He rested his feet on the stool. “The farm looks
gut.
Manure has been spread and tilled under and the fields are readied for winter. The men of our district are to thank for that.”

“What about the house?”

“You won't even recognize the place. New roof, new windows, fresh coat of white paint, fences repaired, even another porch. And the inside? They now have hot and cold running water, plus an extra woodburner in the front room. All walls have been painted too. No snakes, no hornets, and no mice wandering in and out as they please.”

“But no gratitude from John Sidley, I would reckon.” Elizabeth slanted a wry glance.

Eli leaned his head back. “We are to serve our fellow man without the expectation of gratitude or favors in return.”

“I know that's what Scripture says, but an occasional
danki
would be nice.”

“Then you'll be pleased the Sidley sons voiced plenty of appreciation about Caleb's work on the house. Elijah went on and on about hot water in the shower. He's been taking
three
per week lately.”

“Not every day? He's a farmer.”

“Change comes at its own pace,
fraa.
Plus Elijah leaves his chore coat and boots on the porch instead of tracking mud into the kitchen. He said the new window glass keeps his bedroom so warm he stopped sleeping in his clothes and hat.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “
Gut
to hear,
ehemann.
What about the other boys?”

“Tobias has pickled or smoked into jerky enough venison to last through the winter, according to his estimates. He stored the potatoes, carrots, and root vegetables from the district ladies where they won't mold or be eaten by critters.”

Elizabeth nodded approval as Katie handed her a cup of tea. “Who does the cooking in a household of four men?”

“Tobias. He enjoys cooking and has mastered soup, stew, chili, and scrambled eggs. But he hasn't gotten the hang of baking yet. He says the oven burns everything at the drop of a hat.”

“I'll tell Caleb to explain the knobs on the stove again. In the meantime let's not accept any supper invites for a year...or two.”

“You can be so picky at times,
fraa.
What's wrong with squirrel stew and burnt cornbread?” Eli chuckled good-naturedly.

“What about Albert? Did you see him as well?” She sipped her tea, inhaling the steam as though it was a healing medicinal vapor.

“
Jah,
he loves working with Caleb and is proud of his new skills with hammer and saw. I know pride is a sin, but I didn't tamp down his enthusiasm. This might be his first joys of accomplishment. Albert even looks better—clean-shaven and scrubbed down.”

“Maybe he's in the market for a wife.” Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows.

“That's so like you—always the matchmaker. If you set your mind to it, you'll marry off every one of those boys.”

“Elijah could be my greatest challenge thus far,” she murmured more to herself than him.

“Wait until you see him on Thursday. Since he showers regularly and no longer keeps a pet snake, your task should be easy as pie.”

“I'm glad Albert will stand up for Caleb, along with James.”

“Albert had a new suit of clothes made by a district widow just for the occasion. I thought our son might ask Pete Taylor, but he said it would be easier with Amish attendants. Pete and Michelle are coming to the feast afterward.”

“It's not a feast, just a wedding dinner.” Elizabeth leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“If I know you and Margaret Yoder, it will be a feast.”

His wife sat still for so long he thought she'd dozed off. Then she opened one honey brown eye. “What about John Sidley? Did you speak to him as well, or did he hide in the attic until you drove down the lane?”

Eli stretched his neck from one side to the other. “I talked to him. He was lying on a sheet on the couch. At least the quilt covering him was clean. He began our conversation by calling me a ‘nosy do-gooder.' Then he said if I'm expecting payment for all the construction materials, I have another think coming.”

“Sounds like the renovations haven't improved his attitude.”

“
Nein
, and he had nothing nice to say about his sons either.” Eli sighed with the weariness of the elderly even though he wasn't yet fifty. “I suppose not all those who fall wish to be helped back to the path.”

She reached out to pat his arm. “At least you tried.”

“I got him talking about Emma a bit. He still misses his
fraa
after all these years. I said she wouldn't like seeing him in such poor shape, health-wise.”

“That was a dangerous thing to say, knowing John's history of violent outbursts.”

“Maybe so, but he took it well. John said he can't stand being so helpless and dependent for his needs. He would rather do without care than be a burden for his sons.”

“His sons are
gut
boys. I'm sure they don't mind.”

“In the end, John agreed to let a visiting nurse come two or three times a week. I think he needs to see a doctor for his cough, but we'll take things one step at a time. I will arrange for one to stop out when I can be there too.” Eli closed his eyes, his empty belly adding to his weariness.

“Do you think John is seriously ill?”

Eli considered before replying. “I do. You could almost hear death rattling around in his chest. I prayed for him all the way home, and I shall continue to do so in the coming days. May the Lord have mercy.”

Elizabeth struggled to her feet. “I'll pray for him as well. Now, let's see if the girls started cooking that chicken. I'm getting hungry.”