A Plain Man (6 page)

“How could they be sure it was one of Caleb's friends? Anyway, you know very well my brother would never do such a thing, whether
Englisch
at the time or Amish.”

“My
daed
said Cal threw keg parties where the sole purpose was getting drunk.” Josie shivered.

Sarah paused to collect her thoughts. Once again she was defending Caleb's reputation—something that shouldn't be necessary. “I'm not condoning his behavior, but that's all in the past. He learned a hard lesson up in Cleveland. He's home and doesn't throw keg parties anymore. He intends never to touch beer again.” She stomped her foot as her temper flared. “I didn't think you of all people would be so judgmental.”

“Easy there, friend.” Josie took her hand. “I'm not judging Cal, just saying my father wouldn't like me courting him.”

“Don't you make your own choices?”

Josie grinned, slowly at first. “My, you have become persuasive under the influence of
Englischers.
Okay, I'll come to the pancake breakfast on Saturday with you and Adam, but I make no promises about falling in love with anyone.” She reached for a pair of pants. “Just make sure
your mamm
doesn't start planting celery that's not intended for you.”

On impulse, Sarah kissed Josie's cheek. “We'll pick you up at eight. Don't be late.” She started down the hill. “Oh, I almost forgot. I brought two loaves of sweet bread to bribe you, but I didn't need them. Return the basket on Saturday.” Sarah set the hamper in the tall grass and practically ran all the way home.

Mrs. Pratt's challenge had taken one giant step in the right direction.

3

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

C
aleb woke before his father on Saturday morning, dressed quickly, and hurried to the barn. Yesterday's cold wind had died down while the sky remained clear. When the sun finally rose above the eastern hills, the day promised to be quintessentially spring. By the time Eli arrived at the barn, the cows had been milked and Caleb was busily filling water troughs and feed buckets.

“You're up mighty early, son.” Eli Beachy stood in the doorway with his battery lantern and an unreadable expression. “Develop a taste for night crawlers instead of your
mamm'
s bacon and eggs?”

The joke took Caleb a moment to comprehend. “No worms for me,
danki
. In fact, no bacon and eggs either. I've got plans for today. That's why I started chores early.” He concentrated on filling the five-gallon bucket from the fifty-pound sack. They'd run out of last year's silage and had had to purchase local grain.

Eli set his thermos on the stall wall. “You already turn the sow and horses into the outdoor paddock?”

“
Jah.
I'll begin mucking out their stalls next.”

“Mind if I ask what your plans are? I figured you were becoming another Amish hermit like your old pal, Albert Sidley.”

Caleb peered up, unsure how to take his father. “Just waiting for the weather to clear before I make my social debut.” He clamped the feed sack shut and carried it to the wheelbarrow.

“Debut? Rather fancy word for an ordinary Saturday morning.” Pushing his felt hat to the back of his head, Eli leaned against a post.

Caleb realized his father wasn't leaving without an answer to his question. He waited, however, until he'd filled both cattle troughs with grain. “I'm going to the annual pancake breakfast in Shreve with James Weaver. He talked me into it, but I'll be back before afternoon chores. Sarah and Adam are coming too. Adam hired a van so we won't have to take our rigs.” He wiped his hands down his pants.

The expression on Eli's face would be more appropriate after an alien spaceship landed in their recently plowed cornfield. “Your
mamm
and I went one year a while back. Big crowds. I couldn't see standing in line for a stack of flapjacks.” He stroked his beard during the reminiscence.

“Hopefully, the crowds have died down since then.” Picking up the shovel and pitchfork, Caleb headed toward the sow's pen. But his
daed
stepped into his path.

“I'll do that, since I won't have to wait an hour to eat.” Eli pulled the tools from Caleb's grasp. “You jump in the shower so you don't keep Adam Troyer waiting.”

“
Danki
.” A short word that Caleb found hard to utter on his way out the door.

Inside, his mother was in her usual position at the stove. “Coffee's ready.”

“Exactly what I'm looking for.” Caleb headed to the cupboard for a mug as his sister exited the bathroom, a thick towel wrapped around her long hair.

“All yours.” Sarah smiled sweetly. “Adam will pick up James first and then come for us. We'll make one more stop and arrive in Shreve before you know it. I'm hungry already.”

Caleb filled a mug with black coffee and tried to step around her, but Sarah blocked his path. “If you'll let me pass, I won't attend the event smelling like barn stalls.”

Sarah glided toward the coffeepot, still grinning.

Caleb started to close the door behind him when a thought occurred. “What do you mean another stop? Who else did you invite along?”

She blew on the surface of her mug. “Only my best friend, Josie Yoder. You remember her, don't you? Tiny gal with dark hair, lives on Route 852?”

“Of course I remember Josie. I saw her last month at a preaching service.” He shot Sarah a frosty glare before shutting the door.

How could any man with blood in his veins forget Josie Yoder?

The skinny little girl had bloomed into a beautiful young woman during Caleb's long absence. Josie had taken a shine to him when she was seventeen, but he had already been twenty. He decided to give her some growing-up time before asking her out. Then the whole world had shifted beneath his feet. His father took a contract to build a new hotel in Wilmot, working alongside
Englischers.
Caleb had met a skilled carpenter from Cleveland and they'd become friends. Pete encouraged him to apply at a major construction firm by Lake Erie when they finished the hotel. Not that it was Pete's fault. That summer Caleb had lost his common sense and his way...spiritually and emotionally. And his journey back was far from over.

Adam Troyer picked them up at the appointed hour in a hired van. Always punctual. Adam might be wound a little tight, but he was a good man. And one thing was crystal clear: He loved Sarah and would be a dependable, devoted husband.

James, as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as any squirrel, jumped out of the van as soon as it slowed to a stop. “Cal, let's sit in the backseat so the courting couple has a chance to be together.” James imbued the term “courting couple” with a silly, juvenile inflection.

“
Guder mariye
, Adam,” Caleb greeted, remembering to use only
Deutsch
with his future brother-in-law. “Hey, James, you scrub off all the dried sap just in time for today?”

“You bet I did. I can't wait to dig into those pancakes.” James rubbed his hands together. Caleb bit the inside of his cheek trying not to laugh. He knew James's exuberance had nothing to do with food.

Sarah monopolized the conversation on the way to the Yoders, filling Adam in with the latest news from home and the inn. Caleb contently watched the passing scenery. Everywhere were the green, fertile signs of spring and new life. When Josie Yoder skipped out her door and down the steps, Caleb forgot all about soggy farm fields. During the five years he'd been gone, the pretty girl had morphed into a stunning beauty with creamy skin and sparkling green eyes. One lock
of black hair trailed from her
kapp,
offering a hint of her luxurious mane beneath. Caleb's heart thudded against his chest wall. He glanced away before his blush revealed he was no more sophisticated than James, despite his years living with the
Englisch.

“Hi Sarah, Adam. How are you doing, James?” Josie called the first two greetings en route, but waited for the third until she reached the van. “Good to see you, Caleb. This is my first chance to welcome you home.” She locked eyes with him, much to his chagrin.

“Thanks, Josie.
Gut
to be back.” Caleb studied the back of Adam's head.
Gut
to be back—as though he'd been vacationing in Florida?

“Josie, sit up here with me and the driver.” Sarah instructed through the open window. “Adam can crawl into the back with the men.”

As Josie Yoder climbed onto the front seat, Caleb said a silent prayer of thanks. Praying hadn't been a habit for a long while, but he thanked God Josie wasn't sitting next to him. Now he would have thirty minutes to pull his act together.

Once they arrived at the pancake breakfast, true to his father's prediction, the line snaked out the door of the elementary school. But customers chatted and laughed as though waiting hours to eat was normal. The party of five took their place in line in a crowd. Many of the people were
Englisch
, but there was a good smattering of Amish folks among them. Always the hostess, Sarah kept conversation lively, finding ways to include James, Josie, and Caleb.

Caleb had just begun to relax when the rowdy locals behind them caught his attention. From the corner of his eye, he assessed the group—three muscle-bound young men with their overly made-up girlfriends. The men talked as though they wanted the world to hear them while the women giggled shrilly.
Must Englischers be so loud?
Caleb tried his best to ignore them and concentrate on Adam's story about coaxing a bull back behind a fence. Then Caleb overheard the
Englischer'
s taunt clear and true.

“Do you suppose there's only one Amish barber in town, or do all the barbers learn only one haircut?” Laughing, the three girlfriends stole not-very-subtle glances at them.

Caleb felt heat start in his chest and spread up his neck, but he
focused on Adam. Adam either didn't hear the comment or was able to ignore it. Sarah pulled Josie closer to her side as though closing ranks.

“I know there's only one clothing store in town. They dress so much alike, I don't know how they tell each other apart.” That particular remark came from the shortest of the men.

Caleb pivoted around to face them while his fingers bunched into fists. Five years of living in the city had taught him to be cynical, wary, and defensive—three traits frowned on in Amish society. He took a step toward his adversaries, but Josie Yoder grabbed his hand, halting his progress.

“If my stomach grumbles any louder, I won't be able to hear myself think,” she said. “Could we skip pancakes for now and buy one of those giant funnel cakes? A booth is selling them near where the van dropped us off.” Her dark lashes fluttered while she spoke.

“Great idea,” said his sister. “I'm starving too. We can either check this breakfast line later or chow down solely on junk food. I vote for the latter.” Sarah began dragging Adam in the direction of the vendors and craft tables. Adam continued his tale about the wily bull without interruption. Josie didn't release his hand as they fell in step behind them.

“Smart thinking to shake those troublemakers,” James whispered to Caleb, joining his other side. “I saw plenty of Amish women at those food booths. Besides, I eat tons of pancakes with maple syrup at home.” His spirits hadn't been daunted in the least by the
Englisch
thugs.

Caleb relaxed his shoulders and released his breath. “I could go for one of those greasy funnel cakes. I've been eating way too healthy since moving back.”

“
Gut,
that means I won't have to share any of mine.” Josie swung their arms like children on a playground.

Caleb smiled at the prettiest and most clever woman at the Shreve pancake festival. His temper had reared its ugly head, but Josie had diffused a bad situation. Even if the lovely Miss Yoder never spent another minute in his company, Caleb Beachy would remain forever grateful.

Caleb turned over in bed early Monday morning. Sleep refused to come. Too much had taken place during the last forty-eight hours for his mind to stop spinning. He hadn't had so enjoyable a Saturday in a long time—five years to be exact. Who would have thought a tourist celebration in a small country town could change his outlook?

Like throwing sand on a fire, Josie had doused his anger at the rude
Englischers.
The last thing he needed was to pick a fight with plenty of Amish and
Englisch
witnesses. The Amish were known to be pacifists—to turn the other cheek as instructed in Scripture. So why had he been eager to wipe away that man's smirk with his fist?

After Josie had guided them to the funnel cake booth, they bought sweets and cups of hot chocolate. Adam groused they were spoiling their appetites while munching an enormous elephant ear. Next Sarah led them to the display of Amish quilts, birdhouses, and feeders, and just about everything that could be crocheted or knitted. Although not a big fan of handmade creations, Caleb savored the feel of Josie's small hand in his. When she finally let go, his fingers tingled for several minutes.