Allison's Journey (13 page)

“Say, I’ve got an idea,” Sarah said to her friend. “Maybe one of your brothers can take you to the barbecue.”

Bessie grabbed Sarah’s hand. “Aaron’s in the harness shop. Let’s go see if he thinks he can go.”

Struggling with an oversized piece of leather, Aaron looked up
when the front door swooshed open. He was surprised to see Bessie step inside the harness shop with Sarah and Allison.

“Hey, Aaron. Look who’s here,” Bessie said.

“What brings you by the harness shop on this hot morning?” Aaron asked, looking at Allison.

“They came to invite us to a barbecue at their place on Friday evening,” Bessie said before Allison could reply.

Aaron dropped the leather to his workbench and stepped forward. “Didn’t you tell them about Emma?”

“ ’Course I did.”

“Even if our little sister comes home from the hospital by Friday, she won’t be up to going to any barbecue.”

“I realize that,” Bessie said in an exasperated tone. “But that don’t mean we can’t go.”

Aaron glanced at Allison, and she offered him a pleasant smile. “Would it be possible for you or one of your brothers to bring Bessie over?” she asked. “I think she’s really looking forward to it.”

“That’s a nice idea,” Aaron replied, “but somebody’s got to stay here with Grandma and Grandpa Raber if Mom and Paul are still at the hospital with Emma.”

Bessie’s lower lip protruded. “I’m sure Grandpa and Grandma can manage on their own for a couple of hours.”

Aaron contemplated the idea. Grandpa’s arthritis had gotten so bad over the years that he could barely walk, and Grandma’s bad back made it difficult for her to do much. While it was true that they could manage a few hours alone, he would feel better if someone were at home in case a need arose.

“I’ll talk to Mom about it when she calls later today. If they don’t mind you going, someone can probably drive you over to
the Kings’ place on Friday evening.”

Bessie smiled and reached for Sarah’s hand. “While you’re here, would you like to go out to the barn and see the baby goat that was born a few days ago?”

“Sure!” Sarah turned to Allison. “Would ya like to come along?”

Allison shook her head. “You two go along. I’ll visit with Aaron awhile.”

Sarah and Bessie scampered out the door, and Allison moved toward the workbench where Aaron stood.

“Are you minding the shop on your own today?” she asked.

“Jah. Probably will be until Emma gets out of the hospital.”

She leaned close to the piece of leather he’d been working on. “Is harness making hard work?”

“Sometimes, but I enjoy what I do.” Aaron motioned to the leather. “It’s a good feeling to make a bridle or harness.”

“The harness shop back home repairs shoes, too,” Allison said. “Do you do that?”

Aaron shook his head. “Paul thought about doing some shoe repair, but we get enough business with saddles, harnesses, and bridles. I doubt he’ll ever do shoes.”

Allison drew in a deep breath as she scanned the room. “I can’t get over how nice it smells in here.”

“You really think so?”

“I do. I think it would be fun to work in a place like this.”

“You might not say that if you knew what all was involved.”

“Why don’t you show me?”

“All right.” As Aaron gave Allison a tour of the shop, he demonstrated how he connected a breast strap to a huge, three-way snap that required some fancy looping, pointed out numerous
tools they used, and showed her two oversized sewing machines run by an air compressor. He was surprised to see how much interest she took in everything.

“These are much bigger than the treadle sewing machine Aunt Mary uses.” Allison smiled, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “She’s been teaching me how to sew, and I’ve learned to make a faceless doll.”

“I’ll bet that required some hand stitching, too.”

She nodded. “Tiny snaps had to be sewn on the clothes.”

“Nothing like the big ones we use here.” He motioned to the riveting machine. “That’s where we punch shiny rivets into our leather straps.”

Allison followed as Aaron moved to the front of the store. “What were you working on when the girls and I first came in?”

“I was getting ready to cut some leather, but the thing’s so long and heavy, I may need to wait until Paul’s here and can help me with it.”

Allison’s eyes lit up like copper pennies. “I’d be happy to help.”

“You wouldn’t mind holding one end while I do the cutting?”

“Not at all.”

Aaron handed one end of the leather to Allison, and she held it while he made the necessary cuts. They’d just finished when the shop door flew open, and Sarah rushed into the room. “The
gees
have all escaped! Bessie and I need your help gettin’ them back in their pens!”

Aaron grimaced. How was he supposed to get any work done if he had to waste time chasing after a bunch of goats?

Allison smiled and said, “I’m sure Aaron has a lot of work to
do here in the harness shop, but I’d be happy to help you round up the goats.”

“That’s okay. I can take the time to get those gees back where they belong.” Aaron didn’t want Allison to think he was willing to let the girls round up the goats on their own.

Allison placed her end of the leather onto the nearest workbench, and they headed out the door.

Out in the yard, they were greeted by a scene of total chaos. Six goats frolicked on the grass, four goats raced up and down the driveway, and two more kicked up their heels on the porch. Aaron could only imagine how much damage those goats would do if they didn’t get back in their pen quickly. The two on the porch needed to be corralled first, as one of the goats had jumped onto a chair and was nibbling away at the petunias dangling from a pot that hung from the porch ceiling.

“Bessie, why don’t you and Sarah try to catch the goats in the yard, while I capture the ones on the porch?” Aaron called to his sister.

“Jah, okay!” Bessie hollered in response.

He glanced over at Allison. “If you’d like to join in, you can take your pick of whatever goat you want to chase.”

With no hesitation, Allison headed for the porch. Aaron was right on her heels. By the time they reached their destination, both goats were standing on chairs, and Mom’s pot of flowers was half eaten.

“Stupid gees! You’re nothing but trouble,” Aaron fumed. He lunged for one goat at the same time Allison did. The goat slipped between them and darted off the porch.
Smack!
—their heads came together.

“Ouch!” Allison pulled back like she’d been stung by a hornet.

“Yow!” Aaron did the same.

“Are you okay?” Allison asked, rubbing her forehead.

He fingered the pulsating spot on his head and nodded. “I think I’ll live. How about you?”

“I’ve got a little bump, but the skin’s not broken.”

Aaron fought the urge to touch the swollen red spot on Allison’s forehead. “Sorry about that,” he mumbled. “Guess I should have told you which goat I was going for.”

“It’s okay; no permanent damage has been done.”

Pulling his gaze away from Allison, Aaron turned to see Sarah, Bessie, and eight frolicking goats leaping around the yard like a bunch of frogs. The goats that had been on the porch now joined the six in the yard, and the four that had been in the driveway were still slipping and sliding in the gravel.

“I guess I’d better see if my brothers can help out,” he said.

Allison nodded. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

I
am glad you were free to go on a picnic with me this evening,” Katie said to Allison as they rode in Katie’s buggy toward one of the ponds off Highway C. “This will give us a chance to get to know each other better.”

“Sorry we couldn’t have left earlier, but Aunt Mary needed my help getting some things ready for tomorrow evening’s barbecue.”

“That’s okay. I had plenty of chores to do at my place today, too.” Katie flicked the reins, and the horse broke into a trot. “I’m glad I got an invitation to your aunt and uncle’s barbecue.” She smiled. “You mentioned that the Hiltys were invited, so I’m hoping Joseph will be there.”

“You’ve heard about little Emma’s surgery, haven’t you?”

Katie nodded. “It’s a shame about her appendix.”

“Sarah and I stopped by the harness shop yesterday to invite
the family to the barbecue. That’s when I heard about it. Aaron said maybe he or one of his brothers might bring Bessie over.”

“If only one brother can come, I hope it will be Joseph,” Katie said wistfully.

Allison chuckled. “I think you’ve got a one-track mind, and it leads to only one place.”

“Where’s that?”

“Joseph Zook.”

Katie’s face heated up. She cared for Joseph a lot, but she didn’t feel she knew Allison well enough to discuss her deepest feelings. “Sure is a pretty evening,” she said as they pulled onto the dirt road that led to the pond.

“Jah, it’s real nice.” Allison grinned. “Would you like to hear about my embarrassing experience while Sarah and I were at the Zooks’ place?”

“Jah, sure. What happened?”

“The goats got out, and Aaron and I bumped heads trying to capture the same goat.”

“Were either of you hurt?”

“We each got a bump, but it was nothing serious.”

“Did you manage to get the goats okay?”

“Finally. . .after Aaron called his brothers to help.”

“Joseph, too?”

“Jah. Joseph, Zachary, and Davey.”

“It can be a real chore to get goats back in their pen,” Katie said. “I can see why you’d need extra help.”

“The breeze blowing against my face sure feels good,” Allison said, changing the subject. “It’s been so hot and muggy all week, and it makes it hard not to become cranky.”

“Don’t you have hot, humid weather in Lancaster County?”

“We do, but I’ve never gotten used to it.” Allison drew in a deep breath and released it with a sigh. “On the really hot days of summer, I find myself envying the English with their airconditioning.”

“You’d never leave the Amish faith so you could have electricity, would you?”

“No, of course not,” Allison said with a shake of her head.

“We’re here!” Katie halted the horse. “Would you mind getting the picnic basket from the backseat while I tether Sandy to a tree?”

“Sure.” Allison climbed down from the buggy and reached under the seat. She grasped the wicker basket with one hand and the quilt lying beside it with the other hand. As soon as Katie had the horse secured, they headed for the pond.

When they took seats on the quilt, they bowed for silent prayer. Then Katie opened the picnic basket and removed fried chicken, deviled eggs, dill pickles, and potato salad. She had also brought a thermos of iced tea, and for dessert, a pan of brownies with thick chocolate frosting.

“Everything looks so good,” Allison said. “But there’s so much food!”

Katie smiled. “Just eat what you can.”

Allison reached for a piece of chicken and practically devoured it. “Umm. . .this is so good. I wish I could cook as well as you do.”

Katie tipped her head and stared at Allison. “All the women I know can cook really well.”

“Not me. Aunt Catherine has never allowed me to do much in the kitchen except dishes and mopping the floors. Whenever I would try to cook anything, she would scrutinize everything so
much, I would get nervous and end up ruining it.”

“How come she was so critical?”

Allison shrugged. “My aunt likes to be in charge. She’s often said she can’t be bothered with the messes I make in her kitchen.”

“How does she expect you to learn the necessary things in order to run a house of your own someday?”

“I don’t know, but Aunt Mary apparently doesn’t think that way. She’s been more than willing to teach me how to cook and sew.” Allison wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know if I’ll ever learn, though. You should have tasted the awful coleslaw I made the other night. I put in too much vinegar, and I’m sure from the things Walter said that he thought I was trying to make them all sick.”

“I doubt anyone in your aunt’s family would think such a thing.” Katie reached for a deviled egg and was about to take a bite, when she heard voices nearby. She turned and spotted two young Amish men with fishing poles heading toward the pond. Her heart skipped a beat. It was Aaron and his brother, Joseph.

She jumped up and ran over to them. “Allison and I are having a picnic supper. There’s still plenty of food left if you’d like to join us.”

Aaron glanced over at Allison, then back to Katie. “Thanks anyway, but we’ve already had our supper,” he said before Joseph could respond. “Fact is, my bruder and I just came here to do a little fishing, so don’t let us bother you.”

“It won’t be a bother,” Katie insisted.

“See, Aaron, they don’t mind us joining them. Besides, I think I could eat a little something,” Joseph put in.

Aaron thumped his younger brother on the back. “You must have a hollow leg.”

Joseph shrugged, leaned his fishing pole against a tree, and joined Katie on the quilt.