A Season of Love (31 page)

“You’ll get your family and your
heemet
back, Katie,” Elizabeth said with a serious expression. “Just follow your
daed
’s orders and let him calm down. He’ll realize how much he overreacted. I imagine he won’t even let you get on that bus tomorrow. And you’ll also meet the right
bu
for you, Katie. I promise you that. I have faith.”

“Sometimes I’m convinced I’ll be alone for the rest of my life,” Katie said. “I’ve never met an Amish
bu
I wanted to have as a boyfriend, and it’s been difficult watching Lizzie Anne and Samuel and then Lindsay and Matthew.” She felt guilty saying the words, but the truth rang forth from her lips. “I want to find the happiness and love Lizzie Anne and Lindsay have found. And I want to have that happiness with Jake. I feel as if God brought us together.”

“You will find that happiness, but it may not be with Jake.” Elizabeth smiled. “God has
wunderbaar gut
plans for you. He will guide you, Katie Joy.” She stood. “I think you need some chocolate cake and ice cream instead of those
kichlin.
” She crossed the room to the refrigerator and rummaged through the freezer. “Everything will be fine. You’ll get your family back, and you will find happiness. I promise you it will happen in God’s perfect time.
Ich liebe dich, mei liewe.
”

“Danki
,
”
Katie said, her voice hoarse with emotion. “
Ich liebe dich
too.”

“Katie,” her grandfather said, stepping into the kitchen. “I don’t want to interfere in your conversation with your
Mammi
, but I want to remind you about something. It’s a scripture verse
from John 16 that gives me comfort when I desperately need it. Jesus said, ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ “

“Danki, Daadi
,
”
Katie said with a sniff.

“Let’s all have some ice cream and chocolate cake,” Elizabeth said. “Sit at the table, Eli.”

As her grandmother gathered up the desserts, Katie prayed her grandparents’ words would ring true and everything would be all right.

Jake’s heart was lodged in his throat and his hands trembled as he stood in front of Abner Chupp on Robert Kauffman’s porch. He knocked on the back door and then prayed Robert would listen to him and the bishop and give them a chance to explain all of his misconceptions about him and Katie.

The door opened and Robert glared down at Jake. “Jacob Miller,” he growled. “How dare you come back here again! I warned you to stay off my property.”

“Robert,” Abner said, stepping in front of Jake. “Is that how you treat guests who come to pay you a visit?”

“Bishop. Excuse my rudeness.” With an embarrassed expression, Robert opened the door and gestured for him to come in. “Please come in.”

Jake followed Abner into the kitchen where Sadie sat at the table, wiping tears from her face. He wondered why she’d been crying.

“Bishop,” Sadie said, standing. “What brings you here?”

“Jacob and I have some news,” Abner said. “Tell them, son.”

“I’m going to be baptized into the Amish church,” Jake said, squaring his shoulders. “I want to be with Katie, and I know converting to the Amish faith is the only way she and I can be together. I don’t expect her to leave the church, and I don’t want her to be shunned. She’s suffered enough because of me,
and I want to make things right. I’m going to be baptized next spring with Bishop Swartzendruber’s district.”

Robert scowled and shook his head. “You’re too late.”

“What do you mean?” Jake asked, confused.

“Katie’s gone,” Robert said. “I sent her away. Punishing her didn’t work, and her behavior is unbearable. I’m sending her to live with my cousin in western Pennsylvania.”

“You can’t do that!” Jake yelled. “She’s an adult, and she’s entitled to make her own decisions.”

Abner placed his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Calm down,” he said. “Robert, you need to rethink your decisions. Katie needn’t be sent away.”

“What are you saying?” Robert shook his head. “You told me you saw my Katie hugging this Mennonite
bu
on a street corner.” He gestured toward Jake. “You warned me she could be shunned if I didn’t get her under control. I tried over and over again to get her to behave like a proper baptized
maedel
, and she continued to defy me. I had no choice but to send her away.”

“I was wrong.” Abner frowned.

“What?” Sadie’s eyes flew open with shock. “What do you mean you were wrong?”

“Katie did nothing wrong the day I saw her on the street corner,” Abner said. “One of my neighbors witnessed the whole scene and explained it all to
mei fraa.
Katie was attacked by three men, and Jacob saved her.”

Sadie gasped. “She was telling the truth,” she whispered, tears trickling down her chubby cheeks.

“What do you mean he saved her?” Robert asked, looking unconvinced.

“He drove up and stopped the men,” Abner said. “He held up a piece of wood and threatened them and then the men left.”

“I only hugged Katie to calm her down. She was terrified,” Jake said, hoping to keep his voice even despite his frustration. “I was trying to help her, Mr. Kauffman, because I care about
her.” He looked between her parents. “Katie needed to be consoled, not blamed for what those men did to her. And if I hadn’t come along, the situation could’ve been much worse.”

Sadie wiped her tears and shot Robert an accusing look. “How could you not believe your own
dochder
?” she said.

“Don’t speak to me in that tone, fraa,” Robert bellowed. “I will not be spoken to that way by my own
fraa
in my own
haus!
”

“Where’s Katie now?” Jake asked. “Where did you send her?”

“She’s gone,” Robert said. “And you have no right to interfere. You will stay out of this family’s business.”

“You’re wrong, Robert,” Abner said. “Katie doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”

Robert shook his head. “I’ve heard enough. You have no business telling me how to raise
mei kinner.
” He stomped from the kitchen toward the back of the house.

Jake stared after him. His stomach twisted as he wondered what to do. How would he ever find Katie? He turned to Abner. “I’m too late. She’s gone.”

Frowning, Sadie touched Jake’s arm. “She’s heading to Robert’s cousin’s house in western Pennsylvania tomorrow,” she whispered. “She’s gone to Elizabeth Kauffman’s
haus
for the night. Please go get her and bring her
heemet.
”

“I’ll stay here and try to talk some sense into Robert,” Abner said. “Go to your
maedel.
”

“Danki
,
”
Jake said before rushing out the back door. He jogged over to his truck and stopped. Driving his pickup over to Elizabeth’s was counterproductive to proving to Katie he wanted to be Amish. He turned toward Matthew’s sister’s house and spotted a light glowing in the kitchen.

Jake walked over to the kitchen door and knocked.

Betsy opened the door. “Jake,” she said with surprise. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. At least, I think it will be,” he said, wringing his hands. “I’m sorry to bother you, but is Matthew available?”

“Ya
,
”
Betsy said. “Come in.”

Jake stepped into the kitchen while Betsy disappeared into the family room and called her brother. Jake paced back and forth in front of the kitchen until Matthew appeared in the doorway.

“Jake?” Matthew asked, looking concerned. “What’s going on?”

“I need your help,” Jake said. “May I borrow your horse and buggy?”

“Of course, but what’s wrong with your truck?” Matthew asked.

“Nothing,” Jake said, starting toward the door. “I’ll explain while we hitch the horse up.”

“This sounds like an interesting story,” Matthew quipped, following Jake to the door.

24

L
ess than ten minutes later, Jake climbed into the buggy and nodded toward Matthew. “
Danki, freind.
I’ll bring your horse and buggy back as soon as I can.”

“Gern gschehne
,
”
Matthew said, grinning. “We’ll have to work on your Amish before you get baptized.”

Jake raised his eyebrows. “I think I do pretty well.”

“I’m just joking.” Matthew gestured toward the road. “Go get Katie. We’ll celebrate your decision to join the community later. I know there will be a lot of
froh
people when they hear the news. We already consider you one of us.”

“
Danki
for your friendship, Matthew,” Jake said. “I mean that.”

“Go on,” Matthew said, gesturing again. “Get out of here. Katie’s waiting for you.”

“I hope so,” Jake said with a nervous frown.

“You know she is,” Matthew said. “See you later.”

Jake waved as he left. He gripped the reins with both of his hands and sent up a silent prayer as he guided the horse toward Elizabeth Kauffman’s house. He hoped Katie would be as happy to see him as he was to see her and tell her his news.

Katie wondered where Jake was and if he was thinking of her while she stood at the sink and washed the dishes after finishing
dessert with her grandparents. She insisted on doing the dishes while her grandparents retired to the family room. Cleaning up the kitchen was the best way Katie knew to stay busy and try to not dwell too much on her problems.

Despite her grandparents’ insistence that everything would work out for her, she couldn’t escape her heartbreak over losing her family or her worries about her future. She dreaded her trip to western Pennsylvania and her new life with a family she’d never met before.

The sound of hooves drew her gaze to the small window above the sink. Peering out, she spotted a buggy moving up the driveway toward the back door.

Katie moved to the doorway leading to the family room, where her grandparents sat reading. “
Mammi
, were you expecting more company this evening?”

Her grandmother looked up from her Amish novel and shook her head. “No. Why do you ask?”

“There’s a buggy pulling up to the house,” Katie said as a knock sounded on the back door.

“I wonder who that could be?” her grandfather asked, glancing up from
The Budget
newspaper.

“Go on,” Elizabeth said. “You may answer it.”

“I will.” Katie headed to the door and wrenched it open. She gasped when she found Jake standing on the porch smiling at her. “Jake?” she asked. “What are you doing here?” She looked over her shoulder and then stepped out on the porch, closing the door behind her. “You shouldn’t be here.” She shivered.

“You need a coat.” Jake removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “It’s freezing out here.”

“You need to go,” she said. “I’m in so much trouble now, and your being here will only make it worse.”

“I know all about it,” he said, frowning. “Your father sent you away, but Abner Chupp is at your house right now trying to talk some sense into him.”

“What?” Katie asked with surprise. “Why is the bishop at
mei haus
talking to
mei dat
?”

“I went to see the bishop when I left the party today,” Jake said. “He and I talked about a lot of things, and he knows the truth about the day you were attacked.”

Katie stared at him, wide eyed. “What are you saying?”

“One of Abner’s neighbors witnessed the whole scene and told Mrs. Chupp what happened,” Jake explained. “Abner told your
dat
he was wrong to punish you because you did nothing wrong that day. You hugged me because I saved you from those horrible men.”

Katie’s heart swelled with hope that father would forgive her. “What did
mei dat
say?”

Jake shook his head, and Katie’s hope deflated.

“Abner is working on him,” Jake said. “But your
mamm
is very upset. I think she believed you all along, but your
dat
overpowered her.”

Katie glowered. “He always does.”

“But there’s hope,” Jake said, touching her arm. “The bishop and your
mamm
believe you, and they both think your
dat
overreacted today. Your
mamm
told me to bring you home.”

Katie clapped her hands together. “I can go home!”

“Yes, but we need to talk first.” Jake took a deep breath.

Katie’s heart fluttered with anticipation of what he might say.

“I’ll be brief,” Jake began. “First, I want to apologize. I never meant to hurt you today. Jessica wanted to talk to me outside because I’d been so busy worrying about my relationship with you that I hadn’t returned her phone calls.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with me,” Katie said, hoping to keep her voice even despite the emotions raging within her.

“When I told Jessica I cared for her, I only meant I would be her friend no matter what.” Jake’s expression pleaded with her. “I loved Jessica a long time ago, but I don’t love her anymore. I only love you, Katie. You’re the love of my life.”

Katie bit the inside of her lip to keep it from trembling. “It’s too late, Jake. We can’t be together. Our lives are too different.” She started to back up toward the door. “I really want to get ready to go home. I should go tell my grandparents the good news.”

“I don’t want you to be shunned either.” He followed her and took her hands in his. “Please listen to me.”

“We shouldn’t do this,” Katie whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“Yes, we should.” Jake took a deep breath. “My mother was Amish, as you know. She felt in her heart that she had to leave the church when she met my father.”

“I know all this,” she said, frustration building in her voice. “Why are you telling me this again?”

“Please.” His expression begged her to listen. “Let me finish. You are the one I want to be with. And God has put it in my heart that in order to do that, I need to change. I need to become Amish.”