Huckleberry Summer (18 page)

“Our mailbox?”

Lily felt timid yet proud at the same time. “Come and see. He dug a deep hole and secured the pole with cement. A car couldn’t knock it over now.”

Dat furrowed his brow and marched to the front yard with Lily doing her best to keep up. He stopped at a few feet from the mailbox, folded his arms, and examined it as if it had fallen from the sky.

Lily clasped her hands together. “He dug so deep, he must have hit bedrock.” When Dat didn’t laugh, she added, “He worked all afternoon.”

Dat placed his hands on his hips and turned to face her. He frowned. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

His reaction struck Lily dumb. “I . . . uh . . .”

“The mailbox should be on the other side of the driveway, where it is less likely to be hit. I told you that the day it got knocked over.”

“No . . . no, you didn’t, Dat.”

“Didn’t he even think to ask me where I wanted it before he started digging?”

Stunned and confused by Dat’s reaction, Lily wasn’t quite sure what to say. “He put it back in its original spot.”

“So it can get knocked over again,” Dat growled.

Lily felt her face get hot. Except for three days ago, the mailbox hadn’t been knocked over in all the years they had lived here.

“He didn’t even think it might be a gute idea to ask me where I wanted it?”

Surprised by the tears that stung her eyes, Lily stood like a statue as Dat stormed to the toolshed and came back with a crosscut saw. He knelt down and began to saw at the base of the mailbox pole.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Dat, what are you doing?”

“Well, I can’t yank it out of the ground now that it’s cemented in there. I’ll have to cut the whole thing down and start again. A shameful waste of a pole, that’s what it is.”

“Couldn’t you leave it there until it gets knocked down again?”

Dat paused in his back-and-forth motion, but only long enough for him to reject her reasonable idea. “Then no one would learn anything, would they?”

Exactly what did Dat want to teach her by cutting down Aden’s mailbox?

Lily slumped her shoulders. Dat’s message was for Aden.

“Perhaps Aden doesn’t realize he is wasting his efforts. My girls are too smart to get caught up in that boy’s schemes. Tyler Yoder is steady and faithful. That other boy can’t measure up to Tyler.”

She hated to see her dat so irritated. “I didn’t know he planned to come today. I’m sorry. I should have told him to go home.”

Standing up, Dat nodded and gave her a knowing smile. He patted Lily’s cheek. “I don’t blame you. You are my gute girl. I know you would never do anything to disappoint me.”

“Nae, of course not.”

“Aden knows more about the world than you do, Lily. Much more. You must remember that. Do not let him or anyone else lure you into Babylon. It leads to heartache.”

Lily thought about Aden’s kisses. Was he trying to lure her into Babylon?

Dat caused her to doubt herself, as he always did, being so much wiser than she was. But then again, Dat wasn’t the one who had to marry Tyler.

Would Tyler make her pulse race and her face feel flushed after they were married? Would she really have to work so hard at loving someone? Or would it come naturally, flowing to her like water in a brook?

“Cum,” Dat said, gazing at her affectionately, “you are my gute girl. You would never act foolishly as some young people do, like your Onkel Zeke.”

Lily didn’t trust her voice to reply.

Dat took her hand and nudged her gently toward the house. “Let’s eat supper, and I will fix this mess later.”

“Jah, okay.”

His dark mood seemed to lift as soon as he turned his back on the offensive mailbox. “Your mama’s fried chicken is my favorite meal. If there are any leftovers, you should take a piece to Tyler as a thank-you for fixing our barn. I can tell he worked hard. He likes you very much.” He squeezed her hand and grinned. “I like that about him.”

Lily sighed. She would try harder to please her dat.

Before she went to bed tonight, she resolved to make a list of all of Tyler’s excellent qualities. The qualities that would make a gute Amish husband. Those qualities certainly did not include owning a slobbery dog, risking his life for that dog, or chasing bears with frying pans.

No matter how handsome, no matter how appealing, she would not let Aden Helmuth drag her to Babylon with his heavenly kisses.

The pathway to hell was paved with good intentions.

The propane lamp glowed brightly as Estee shut the book she read and placed it on the nightstand between their beds. “The first thing Floyd wants to buy after we get married is a horse-drawn sleigh. Can you believe that, Lily? He says he wants to take me riding in a one-horse open sleigh, like in the song.” Estee giggled and reclined on her pillow, twisting the end of her braid with a faraway look in her eyes. “He’s so romantic.”

Lily lay in bed, staring at the ceiling in the room she had shared with Estee for nineteen years. This was usually her favorite time of day, just before she and Estee drifted off to sleep. They would share funny stories and giggle like little girls. For the past year, Estee had talked of almost nothing but Floyd, because she adored him and because he seemed to do either something wildly ridiculous or deliriously charming every day.

Floyd was Estee’s perfect match. Estee organized cans of soup in alphabetical order. Floyd would forget his head if it weren’t attached to his body. Dat once commented that when Floyd had children of his own, he was likely to misplace them on a regular basis. It was good Floyd had found Estee. She would never lose her own children. Her children would organize their sock drawers according to length and color and walk to church single file in matching dresses and shirts.

Tonight, Lily was on the verge of tears and the last thing she wanted to do was talk about boys, especially about any upcoming nuptials in the family. She feared if she said one word, her voice would crack and Estee would know something was wrong. She’d press Lily for answers that Lily didn’t want to give.

Part of her ached to tell Estee about Aden’s kisses. Of all people, Estee might understand. On the other hand, Estee might scold Lily for setting foot in Babylon. Lily did not want to be scolded tonight. She felt bad enough already.

Estee scooted farther under the sheets. “Is Tyler romantic? Has he ever tried to hold your hand or anything?”

“Um,” was all Lily could muster. Of course he had never tried to hold her hand.

Estee sat up and gazed at Lily. Lily wiped all expression from her face. “He
has
held your hand?” Estee giggled. “Did you like it?”

Estee was talking about Tyler, but all Lily could think about was the way her hand seemed to fit so nicely into Aden’s calloused one, like it was made for him. She fluffed her pillow and faced away from her sister. “Of course he hasn’t held my hand.” She would have to add that to her list of Tyler’s good qualities. He would never think of doing something so reckless.

“He came to fix the barn today. That’s sort of romantic.” Estee sighed. “A boy in love trying to win your father’s approval.”

Lily felt a pang in her heart. Estee didn’t realize how close she’d come to the truth. Except Aden was the boy trying to win Dat’s favor, and Tyler was the boy who already had it.

Estee must have taken a nap at Mrs. Deforest’s house. She didn’t act as if she were anywhere near ready to sleep. Lily held perfectly still. Maybe Estee would think she was asleep and stop prying.

Apparently not. “It was nice of Aden to fix the mailbox today. Too bad he went to all that work for nothing. I haven’t seen Dat that irritated since the time the horse threw a shoe on the way to Cousin Perry’s wedding. I hope Aden’s feelings won’t be hurt when he sees what Dat did.”

It hadn’t occurred to Estee that Aden had fixed the mailbox for the same reason Tyler had secured planks on the barn. Did Estee see a relationship between Lily and Aden so unlikely that she couldn’t possibly consider that Aden might be trying to win Dat’s approval too?

Lily swallowed hard and fluffed her pillow again. “Dat was mad as a hornet about the horseshoe. Perry is his favorite cousin.”

Estee lay down again. “I suppose Aden wanted to do something for us since you have been so gute to his grandparents. He is a nice young man. Floyd is certain he will mend his ways and turn out quite well after all.”

Lily’s pillow must have developed several lumps in the last twenty-four hours. She sat up and pounded it with her fists before resting her head on it with her back to Estee. “Good night, Estee.”

“What do you think?”

“About what?” Lily mumbled, hoping to make Estee think she was mere moments from sleep.

“About Aden. Do you think he’ll turn out quite well after all? You see him three days a week. You would know if anybody would.”

Lily folded her pillow in half and shoved her elbow into it. Had someone filled it with rocks? She tried her best not to sound bitter. “Aden would turn out very well if people would see fit to give him a chance.”

“That’s not true. Look how many folks helped clean up the pond. I like him. Floyd likes him.”

“Dat doesn’t.”

Silence for a few seconds, then Lily heard Estee whip off her covers. Lily’s bed creaked as Estee must have decided her own bed wasn’t good enough. She had the audacity to pull back the sheet and climb into bed with Lily. It was a tight fit. Lily didn’t move a muscle.

“I want to know everything.”

Lily scooted closer to the wall. “What are you talking about?”

“I feel so foolish that this didn’t even cross my mind. Even Dat figured it out before I did,” she said, still too cheerful.

Even Dat. Dat was a lot smarter than either of them.

Estee sighed. “That’s why he chopped down the mailbox when it was in a perfectly good spot and would have stood for three generations. A team of horses wouldn’t have been able to dislodge that thing.”

Lily waited for the lecture.

Estee reached over and grabbed Lily’s hand, which wasn’t an easy feat since Lily had tucked both hands under her rock-hard pillow. Lily was forced to roll onto her back or risk getting her arm yanked off by her sister. “Ouch. Watch it, Estee.”

“Oh, Lily. He is so handsome! And Floyd thinks he’s just the smartest. And so nice, what he did for the pond and all.”

Lily tilted her head toward her sister. “You . . . you like him?”

“Like him? Of course. It wonders me what I wouldn’t like.” Estee gasped and squeezed both of Lily’s hands. “And he likes you. Oh, how wonderful gute.”

“I think he likes me.”

“No boy would put that much time into a mailbox just to be nice.”

Lily wanted to give her sister a giant hug.

“I don’t really need to ask if you like him. Now that the notion has come to me, it’s plain enough you’re smitten,” Estee said.

“Jah, sure. Ten minutes ago you didn’t have an inkling.”

“Well, then, do you like him?”

Lily cracked a smile. “I like him so much that I can’t think about anything else the whole day long.”

Estee giggled.

“But I know I shouldn’t like him.”

“Because Dat likes Tyler Yoder,” Estee whispered. She tucked her arm around Lily, and Lily nestled her head on Estee’s shoulder. “You don’t dare even sneeze without Dat’s approval, but you shouldn’t marry someone simply because Dat wants you to, even if he’s still mourning over Onkel Zeke. It’s not right, Lily.”

“That’s easy for you to say. Dat adores Floyd.”

Estee nudged Lily’s shoulder. “You’re such a scaredy-cat.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

They lay next to each other in silence until Lily found some courage. “He kissed me.”

Estee almost wrenched Lily’s neck when she sat bolt upright. “What?”

“After the bear attack. I think he was relieved to see me.”

Estee sat cross-legged and turned to face Lily head on. “You better tell me more than that or I’ll never be able to sleep.”

Lily hesitated. What would Estee think? “I was terrified he might be dead, and when I saw him coming up the hill, I fell to pieces. I sort of hugged him, and he hugged me back and then he kissed me. Three times. And I liked it. Is that wicked?”

Estee pulled Lily to sit. “Don’t tell anybody this, but Floyd kissed me on our first date.”

“He did?”

“You know how Floyd sometimes doesn’t think before he acts. He claims he already loved me. We were sitting in his buggy talking, and he leaned over and kissed me. I was so surprised I didn’t have time to get ready. He kissed my teeth.”

Both girls exploded with laughter.

“He didn’t try again for several weeks. And then he took my hand and said, ‘May I have permission to kiss you?’ He wasn’t taking any chances with the teeth again.”

“So you don’t think I’m wicked?”

“Of course not.” Estee gave Lily a hug.

“Don’t tell Floyd.”

“I won’t tell Floyd, and I wouldn’t tell Dat if I were you.”

More laughter, even though a small part of Lily wanted to cry. Dat had chopped down Aden’s mailbox. He’d probably burn the post and melt down the metal box if he knew Aden had kissed her.

Nope, she wouldn’t enlighten Dat anytime soon.

Lily jumped out of her skin when she heard a tap on the window. Estee’s eyes grew wide. She took Lily’s hand, and they breathlessly tiptoed to the window together. Estee lifted the curtain, and they both caught their breath when they saw Floyd, seemingly standing in midair at the second story.

Estee used both hands to slide open the stubborn window. “Floyd, what are you doing?” she scolded in a loud whisper. “It’s almost ten o’clock.”

Floyd, who stood on a ladder, looked behind him and then pressed his cheek against the screen. He looked a little silly with half his face flattened against the mesh. “I need your help.”

“My help?” Estee said, looking as dumbfounded as Lily felt.

“My bike got stolen today.”

“Oh no. How will you get to work?”

Floyd pressed his nose against the screen. “I want you to help me steal it back.”

Estee dropped her jaw and stared at Floyd as if he’d sprouted wings on his forehead. “You want me to steal your bike?”

Floyd seemed to be trying to push himself into their room by going through the screen bit by bit. “Randy McCann and his little brother pester me every day after work. They like to knock my hat off and call me ‘Amish Boy.’”

“Clever insult,” Lily said drily.

“Well, today Randy grabbed my bike as soon as I unlocked it and told me it was his now. He laughed because he said I wouldn’t do anything to stop him, which I didn’t.”

“Randy deserves a gute spanking,” Estee said.

“I know he’s keeping it in that little workshop garage of his because his dad would make him give it back if he knew.”

“You want to take it out of his garage?” Lily felt light-headed at the thought of such danger. “What if you get caught?”

“Can you come help?” Floyd said. “If one of you could stand watch, then two of us could sneak in there and get my bike. It will take three minutes at the most.”

“What if it’s locked?” Estee said.

“Oh, he never locks that old garage.”

“How do you know?” Lily asked. “You might get there and not be able to get in.”

“I’ve stolen back my fishing rod and my hat from Randy before. He always leaves it open.”

“Not if he keeps getting robbed,” Lily said.

Floyd put his hand to his head and pulled a bobby pin from his hair. “If it’s locked, I can use this. Aden showed me how.”

Aden showed him how? What? Did Aden regularly pick locks? Maybe it was a skill they taught him in jail.

“Okay,” said Estee, without even consulting Lily.

Floyd thumped his fist on the top step of the ladder. “I’ll be right behind you all the way down. You don’t have to worry one bit about falling.”

Estee glared at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. Lily and I will get dressed and come out the front door like normal people.”

“You don’t want your mamm and dat to hear you.”

“I also don’t want to break my neck,” Estee said.

“Okay, okay,” said Floyd. “I’ll meet you at the front door.”

“Did you carry that ladder all the way from your house?” Estee asked.

“Nae, I took it from your toolshed,” Floyd said. “I picked the lock.”

Estee’s eyes grew wider, and she slammed the window shut. She’d wake Mama and Dat for sure. She let the curtains fall back into place and quickly pulled her nightgown over her head. “That boy,” she said. She didn’t need to finish her thought.

Lily wrapped her arms around her waist. “Estee, we can’t go. What if we get caught? What if they call the police? They’ll think we’re thieves.”

Estee slipped into her dress. “We’re getting Floyd’s bike back. It’s his bike. It’s not stealing.”

“What if we get caught?”

“We’ve got to help Floyd. He needs that bike for work.”

Lily thought she might be sick. “I can’t go.”

Estee paused her flurry of activity. “Lily, you’ve got to come. Floyd needs our help.”

“Floyd could go to McCanns’ tomorrow and talk to the dad.”

Estee went so far as to retrieve Lily’s dress from the hook. “Get dressed. You’re not getting out of this.”

Lily planted herself on her bed and dared Estee to move her. “I’m not going. It’s too dangerous.”

Estee studied her face for a few moments. “You are the biggest chicken I have ever met,” she said, hanging the dress back on the hook.

“I don’t want to get in trouble,” Lily insisted. “And you shouldn’t go either.”

Scowling at Lily, Estee snatched her kapp and bonnet from the hook. “I’m not afraid. Floyd is my fiancé, and he needs me. I’ll be back in half an hour.” She tied the bonnet under her chin, and without another word to Lily, quietly opened their bedroom door and slipped into the hall.

 

 

Lily despised this waiting game.

As soon as Estee left, she had hopped into bed and tried to sleep. Let Estee go out there and risk getting in trouble with the McCanns or the police. Or worse, Mama and Dat. Lily knew she was right to be cautious, but the thought of Estee and Floyd in the clutches of the McCann brothers kept niggling around in her head, and she found it impossible to doze off.