Finding Love at Home (The Beiler Sisters) (20 page)

Lois shivered. “Minister Kanagy kissing a woman? The very thought!
Da Hah
help us.”

Ida glared at Lois. “There’s nothing wrong with his kisses!” She immediately realized what she’d admitted and turned as red as a beet.

A sly smile crossed Lois’s face. “Aha! So you’ve kissed him already!”

Before Ida could salvage the situation,
Mamm
took charge. “No more talk like this, the both of you. Are you going to help with the planning, Lois?”

“Of course!” Lois settled into the kitchen chair. “Fire away.”

As they talked, Ida noticed that Lois kept giving her quick glances accompanied by smiles. It was as if her sister realized what she was doing for Melvin’s children. I think she admires my courage, Ida thought. And that courage had led to the kiss with Ben. Ida smiled as she remembered the kiss…

Nineteen

O
n Thursday morning Debbie was up and in the kitchen before either Saloma or Ida stirred. She lit the fire in the cookstove and set the water to boil. The threshing crew would need plenty of coffee all day long, especially at lunchtime.
Yah
, today was the big day when the men would make their annual stop at the Beiler farm to put up the corn. By dusk tonight the Beilers hoped to have their silo filled to the brim. And that meant an early start for everyone.

Debbie had awakened an hour ago. Unable to fall back to sleep from the excitement, she decided to get up. Alvin would be on the threshing crew, she was sure. She hadn’t dared ask whether Paul would also come. That would likely have encouraged Ida to ask how things had gone with Alvin Sunday evening. Thankfully Ida was wrapped up in her own wedding plans.

The truth was that Debbie wasn’t sure how to think about what had gone on last Sunday. Crystal was still around, presumably visiting her relatives, but she was also attending the community’s services and hymn singings. But Crystal wasn’t the problem—at least when it came to Alvin. Something else wasn’t quite right though, Debbie thought. Although they both had tried hard to make it a pleasant
time, there was obvious tension. She’d thought everything had gone quite well… until after Alvin had left. Then the dark thoughts had crept back in—thoughts about Mildred Schrock being in such close proximity to Alvin. And Debbie had been shocked about her own feelings when it came to Emery. His fascination with Crystal bothered her a great deal.

Debbie forced her odd thoughts away. This was to be a cheerful day, full of excitement and joy. She would not spoil it. Already she’d done all she could to help make things run smoothly around the Beiler household. She’d offered to stay home from work an extra day yesterday to help with the large noon meal, but Saloma would hear nothing of it.

“One day off your job is enough.” Saloma gave her a stern look followed by a smile. “We appreciate you taking one day off to help us.”

Saloma probably knew her real reason for wanting the day off—so she could watch the activities. Since Debbie hadn’t been raised Amish, seeing events such as this close-up hadn’t occurred very often. Debbie smiled as she thought of Verna and baby Sarah Mae. They would both be here. Verna had stopped by yesterday with the
boppli
for a few moments after Debbie had arrived home from her job at Destiny Relocation Services. Verna insisted she’d be back today to help. Saloma had made a fuss, of course.

“You shouldn’t even be out yet,” Saloma had lectured. “Let alone coming to help with the silage filling.”

“Now,
Mamm
,” Verna had chided, “you know it’s time for me to get back to my regular routine. If it makes you happier, I’ll sit in the rocker all day and watch. But I’m coming.”

Saloma had given in after that. Although there wasn’t much she could do if Verna showed up—just as Saloma couldn’t do anything if Lois showed up. Ida had dropped a wistful sigh yesterday about Lois not liking the
gut
things of Amish life, so maybe she shouldn’t be here anyway. “But at least she’s coming to my wedding,” Ida had
added. “I can’t give her any special part being my witness like I wish I could.” Ida hadn’t gone on to say who her witness would be, but the decision would have to be made soon.

Debbie paused as sounds stirred from upstairs. Either Emery or Ida must have gotten up to begin the chores. Debbie took kitchen duty on most mornings in her feeble attempt to fill Lois’s space. That was impossible, of course. She didn’t come close to Lois’s cooking abilities, but the Beiler family didn’t complain. Even Emery stayed quiet, and he was the one who would most likely speak up if things weren’t just right.

She wondered what Emery thought of how she cooked. He would be too gentlemanly to complain, and he probably didn’t want to hurt her feelings. It was the rare
Englisha
girl who could match the cooking Emery was used to. Debbie wasn’t sure she fit those shoes. Did Crystal know how to cook? But maybe Emery would sacrifice food for love. That was, if Emery would consider an
ex-Englisha
girl as a future
frau. Nee
, he wouldn’t. And these were outrageous thoughts to have anyway. Why was she acting jealous of Emery’s interest in Crystal? She must stop such thoughts! But how could she when she was sure she saw an extra gleam in Emery’s eye in his unguarded moments. She recognized the signs of awakening love.
Yah
, unless she missed her guess, love was stirring in Emery’s heart—and Crystal was to blame.

Debbie jumped when Saloma spoke behind her. “
Gut
morning! You’re already up.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” Debbie smiled. “I’m too excited about the silo filling.”

“Well, it’s going to be a big day, there’s no question about that.” Saloma bustled about the kitchen.

Morning bustling was something Debbie still hadn’t grasped. An Amish woman could wake up early and hurry about at once. More than likely, this came from a lifetime of habitual early rising, something Debbie hadn’t acquired in her childhood. She would learn
though, she told herself as she picked up her speed. And she would make a decent
frau
for Alvin once they said the wedding vows. And she
would
say the vows with Alvin. With what they’d both been through, they should be able to weather any storm Mildred Schrock or anybody else cooked up.

Moments later Ida appeared with Emery and her
daett
close behind. They mumbled their “
gut
mornings,” pulled on their overcoats and boots in the washroom, and then plunged out into the darkness with their gas lanterns. Debbie paused for a moment to watch the bobbing lights vanish through the barn doorway. A thought ran through her mind that left a chilly trail in its wake. Did Mildred’s duties at the Knepp farm include helping with the morning chores?

They would almost have to, Debbie decided. Alvin had been doing the chores alone with close to as many animals to take care of as what the three Beiler family members handled together. In extreme cases, Emery or Bishop Beiler did the chores by themselves, but it took much longer. Likely Mildred was in the barn with Alvin right now. Mildred would be hard at work with Alvin under the hissing light of the gas lanterns. Alvin couldn’t help but be affected by such close help from his former beloved. Was that, perhaps, the real reason Alvin had agreed to Mildred’s care for his mother in the first place?

But Alvin had said nothing on Sunday evening about Mildred helping with chores, Debbie reminded herself. Surely he would have been honest if Mildred spent much time in the barn with him. He would know where that could lead… wouldn’t he? Especially now that Mildred had so clearly shown a renewed interest in him? Granted things had been a little less obvious with Mildred at the services now that Alvin was dating Debbie, but the gleam was still there in Mildred’s eyes.

“Debbie!” Saloma’s call made her jump again. “Will you watch the bacon?”

“Of course!” Debbie rushed over to the stove. She had to stop this jealousy of Alvin and Mildred! She trusted Alvin like he would trust her. And it was a disgrace for an Amish woman to get distracted in her own kitchen. She obviously had a lot to learn.

Debbie turned the pieces of bacon frequently, soon bringing them to the golden perfection the Beiler family liked. Debbie lifted them out with her fork—all but two pieces that needed a few more seconds. As she waited, thoughts of Alvin returned. With Ida marrying so soon, could she and Alvin do the same? It might be good to say the vows soon so all her foolish imaginings would stop. And yet it wasn’t up to her. Alvin hadn’t really said anything firm about marriage.

Debbie glanced at the bacon pan and gasped. She pulled the last two pieces of bacon out, but they were burned a deep brown and would be uneatable—at least by Beiler standards. “I burned them!” she said aloud.

“That’s what comes from not getting your sleep,” Saloma offered with a smile. Saloma was teasing, but it didn’t help Debbie’s feelings. She had to get control of herself. This was an important day for the Beiler family, and she was supposed to help—not be a distraction. She quickly set aside the two pieces of bacon for herself and helped move the food to the table.

They’d just finished spreading the table when Ida came in from the chores. She put on an apron and helped fill the water glasses. When Emery and Bishop Beiler arrived, they seated themselves, followed by the women. Debbie took her place along the back bench across from Emery. He gave her a quick smile before they bowed their heads in prayer.

“Now unto You, O God, we give thanks again,” Bishop Beiler led out. “To You, our most gracious and merciful Father. Bless our home this day and the food the women have prepared. Give grace to their hearts for all the hard work they do and will be doing today. Be with us men as we try to supply the needs of the farm. Give us all protection and safety. We give You thanks as always. Amen.”

Debbie passed the bacon to Emery, followed by the eggs. He took what he wanted and passed the plate on to his father. What went on in Emery’s head? Debbie wondered. Soon she would get up enough nerve to ask him again about Crystal. Perhaps sometime when she could catch him alone in the barn. Not today, of course, but soon. Maybe she could yet prove her usefulness to Bishop Beiler and warn Emery of what might lie ahead if he had thoughts of being interested in an
Englisha
woman.

Bishop Beiler interrupted her thoughts. “So
Mamm
tells me you’re staying home to help today, Debbie.”

“Yes! It’s an exciting day for me,” Debbie said, choosing to sound upbeat.

“We’ll put you on the wagons,” Emery said with a grin, obviously teasing.

“I can try that!” Debbie offered, though she wasn’t sure what work on the wagons entailed.

Bishop Beiler smiled. “We’d best leave that work to the men. Throwing corn bundles on and off can be quite a chore.”

“You can keep us supplied with plenty of lemonade and coffee.” This came from Emery. “That might be more appropriate for a woman.”

“You don’t have to patronize us, Emery,” Ida shot at him. “Debbie and I could load those itchy corn bundles just fine. But this is a man’s day, we know, and we women can’t be around to interfere with all your horsing around.”

Emery laughed. “Don’t look at me! I behave myself perfectly.”

A shadow crossed Bishop Beiler’s face. “I will lecture everyone before we start this morning. I agree that things have been getting a little rough the past years… what with the teasing among the young men.” Bishop Beiler’s face softened. “But some of them are getting older, thank
Da Hah
, and the wedding season’s just around the corner.”

“That’s still no excuse for rough play,” Saloma spoke up. “I heard
the women say last week that Joe Weaver’s younger brother, Virgil, and his cousin Roy were racing each other on who could throw in the most bundles. They ended up nearly knocking Virgil into the blades.”

“
Yah
,” Bishop Beiler agreed. “I heard that too, so I will be saying something this morning when the crew arrives. I know
Da Hah
watches over us, but tempting Him is never the right thing. We are supposed to use our heads.”

“Young men don’t always have a lot of sense.” Ida gave Emery a sharp glance.

“Hey!” Emery protested. “I don’t act like that. And speaking of the wedding season, you and Minister Kanagy are getting married soon… too soon, if you ask me.”

Ida looked ready to fire something back, but she must have changed her mind because she looked at her food instead.