Judith Miller - [Daughters of Amana 01] (11 page)

I wanted to call after him and say he’d have to answer to more than Sister Nusser if he didn’t obey the rules, but he was out of sight before I could gather enough gumption to speak.

“He’s nice looking, don’t you think?”

My frustration moved from a slow simmer to a raging boil. Eyes shining with curiosity, the paring-knife sisters leaned forward to watch as I yanked Berta up the porch steps and into the kitchen. “Don’t forget the potatoes, Sisters.” I pointed at the pile of unpeeled vegetables. All three dropped back into their chairs and glared at me.

Sister Muhlbach crossed the kitchen, her heavy feet thudding across the wooden floor, and her focus square upon the two of us. “Now what has she done?”

Before I could respond, Berta twisted from my hold and jutted her chin. “I followed Sister Nusser’s directions. She isn’t feeling well and said the handyman should escort me back to the Küche.”

“I’m sure she didn’t say you should walk arm in arm with the hired help.”

Sister Muhlbach gasped. “You did not do such a thing.”

This time I didn’t give Berta a chance to respond. “Yes. She did.”

The older woman’s complexion visibly paled, and she dropped into a nearby chair. “This is something I don’t want to believe you would do, Berta.”

I bobbed my head. “That’s exactly what I said.” The other women cast curious stares in our direction, one or two dallying in the kitchen longer than necessary.

“Come with me.” Sister Muhlbach stood and waved us toward the door that led to her private living quarters. Once inside, she pushed the door until the latch clicked in place. “Sit down. Both of you.” We didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t know why this is such a concern. Matthew is very nice. We did nothing wrong. We traveled directly from the acreage, past the woolen mill, and down the main street until we turned toward the kitchen.”

Sister Muhlbach cupped her palm to her wrinkled cheek. “You rode in the wagon with him by yourself? Did you at least ride in the back of the wagon?”

Berta shook her head. “No. I rode beside Matthew. Riding atop the wagon was great fun, and there’s a much better view.” She smiled as though we should be pleased. “He helped me up and down, of course.”

“Of course.” Sarcasm dripped from the older woman’s terse reply. She turned her attention to me. “There is no way to keep this from the Bruderrat.”

I nodded. “They’ve probably already heard. But this is not your doing, Sister Muhlbach. If anyone is to blame, it is me. I shouldn’t have left her. The elders assigned me as her supervisor.”

“Perhaps. But Sister Nusser is the one who should be held to account. She told you to return to the kitchen, and she told Berta the handyman could escort her. The decisions were improper.”

“No, you’re wrong. Sister Nusser’s stomach was upset. She promised I would be back in time to help, and she needed to rest before supper.” Berta clasped her arms to her midsection as if to emphasize the garden boss’s illness.

Sister Muhlbach’s eyes flashed with anger. “Sister Rosina doesn’t need you to defend her decisions. Go to the kitchen and begin your duties. Your work in the garden has ended. I can find enough work right here to keep you busy from sunup to sundown.”

Mouth half open, Berta hesitated, but Sister Muhlbach raised her finger in warning. “Don’t say one more word.”

The minute Berta was out of earshot, the older woman shook her head. “Never have I seen one girl so difficult to manage. And who would believe Sister Rosina would behave in such a foolish manner. Do you think the girl is lying?”

“I don’t think so, but with Berta I can never be sure.”

“Talk can wait. Supper cannot.” Lifting her ample body from the chair, she motioned me to do the same, and I hurried from the room to continue meal preparations, a welcome respite from further discussion.

Thankfully, supper was completed on time. Otherwise, Sister Muhlbach’s mood would have gone from bad to worse. The prayer of thanks for our meal had been recited and I was serving the men’s table when Sister Nusser opened the front door and quietly slid into her regular place at one of the women’s tables. Immediately turning to find the Küchebaas in the kitchen, I didn’t miss the look that passed between Sister Muhlbach and Sister Nusser. Fur would fly after this meal—of that there was no doubt.

Berta did her best to capture my attention while I rushed back and forth, refilling and serving the bowls of food. When I slowed my pace for a moment, she grabbed my arm with a sudsy hand. “Do you think she’ll change her mind and let me return to the garden?”

I heaved a sigh and shook my head. “I doubt that will happen. After being instructed to keep your distance from the hired men, why did you sit beside Matthew in the wagon and then walk arm in arm with him? You knew such behavior was improper, Berta. You enjoy creating havoc.”

She grabbed a towel and wiped her hands. “That’s not true. I just like to have fun. And riding on top of the wagon was fun.”

There wasn’t time to argue. Besides, it would do little good. I picked up two bowls of rice pudding and carried them to one of the women’s tables. As I drew near, Sister Nusser crooked her finger and beckoned me closer. “Did Berta return to help in the Küche?”

“Ja. She is scrubbing pots and pans.”

“Then why is Sister Thekla looking at me with such anger?”

No matter what, it seemed I was going to be stuck in the middle of this conflict. “You should ask Sister Muhlbach, not me.”

I plopped the bowl in front of her, but she grasped my hand.

“Tell her I was sick. She needs to know that is why I sent Berta back with Matthew.”

I nodded. “She knows. And you should talk to her yourself. I’m pleased to see you have returned to good health in such quick order.”

A scowl creased her face. “Tell Sister Thekla I will speak to both of you when supper is finished. And Berta should be there, too.”

I doubted such a command would sit well with Sister Muhlbach. She didn’t like anyone else issuing orders in her domain. And given the circumstances, I was certain she’d be disgruntled. Entering the kitchen, I decided to temper Sister Nusser’s order just a mite.

“What did she say to you?” Sister Muhlbach whispered the question as soon as I cleared the threshold.

“She asked if we could meet with her after the others leave the dining room—to explain.”

“Explain? What’s to explain? Sister Rosina’s decision was wrong.”

“But you have a forgiving heart, Sister Muhlbach. I know that you can bring the matter to resolution. Then if the elders come to you, you can tell them it has already been settled to your satisfaction. They will be pleased that you have remembered what our Lord says about peace and unity among the body of believers.” I was doing my best to offer a solution. Neither of the older women would want to appear the loser. “You’d prefer to avoid a meeting with the Bruderrat, wouldn’t you?”

“Ja, of course. And since she asked so nice . . .”

I picked up a bowl of rice pudding and hurried from the room before she could finish the sentence.
Please don’t let Sister Muhlbach
discover the meeting was a command rather than a request.
The aroma of the sweet-smelling dessert drifted heavenward in tandem with my prayer.

The end-of-meal prayer was recited, followed by the clatter of dishes and shuffling of feet. Sister Muhlbach shooed the other workers from the dining room and kitchen much earlier than usual.

“To what do we owe this special privilege?” Sister Hillmer asked.

“To my kind disposition, but if you’d prefer to stay and work, I can accommodate you.” Sister Muhlbach’s remark was enough to send the workers, both young and old, skittering out the door. All except Berta and me—and Sister Nusser.

Once the four of us had gathered around a table, I said, “I think it would be wise if we prayed before our talk.” The three of them glanced at me and then at one another. To disagree would appear ungodly. Without a word they bowed their heads, and we prayed.

When the meeting concluded a half hour later, the two older women had arrived at an agreement. They would accept equal responsibility for what occurred, but Berta would no longer help in the garden. When Berta attempted to object, I tromped on her foot.

Sister Nusser pushed away from the table. “The matter is settled.”

We all nodded.

Unless the Bruderrat decided otherwise.

CHAPTER 8

Berta Schumacher

The following morning when Rudolf arrived at the Küche to deliver milk, I managed to sneak outside and meet him. “I want to know how I can make a request to the Bruderrat.”

He stared at me as though I’d spoken a foreign language.
“You?”
He pointed his finger at me. “You want to go before the Bruderrat?” He clapped his hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.

I slapped his arm. “I didn’t expect this from you!” I turned, but he lunged forward and captured my hand.

“Wait!” He stepped closer. “Why would you want to go before the Bruderrat?” He tugged on my hand. “Please tell me. I promise not to laugh.”

“The elders are the ones who decide where people live, isn’t that correct?”

“Ja. You want to move to another house?”

I heard the disappointment in his voice, and it pleased me. “No, not another house. But I’ve been thinking that since no one has moved into the two rooms that were occupied by Oma Reich, they might assign them to me.”

“To
you
?” His voice cracked. “Assign two rooms to a seventeen-year-old girl? They would never consider such a suggestion.”

“You haven’t heard the entire plan. I would tell them it would be easier for my father to see patients late at night if he had use of the extra rooms. Then I would convince my father to let me use the rooms as my own.”

Rudolf didn’t let me go any further. “They would never agree. And even if they did, your father would not agree to such dishonesty, would he?”

I shrugged. “I won’t know if I can’t ask the Bruderrat.”

“It doesn’t matter, because Oma Reich’s rooms will soon be occupied.”

Rudolf ’s curt reply startled me. “How do you know?”

He tapped his index finger against his right ear. “I hear things, but I’m not sure I should tell you.”

I scrunched my eyes together and did my best to glower at him. “Because you don’t know anything. You’re just trying to make me think you do.”

He shook his head and grinned. “I know.”

He’d spoken with such authority that I could no longer doubt what he was saying. “Tell me who it is, and I promise we’ll be friends forever.” When he hesitated, I pointed my nose toward the heavens and turned on my heel.

“Wait! I’ll tell you.” He sighed. “It’s Carl Froehlich who is moving into the rooms.”

“Nooo. Is that the truth?”

“Ja. When I returned the milk wagon to the barn a couple days ago, Brother Ilg told me Carl would be moving into our house next week.”

Without thinking, I leaned forward and pecked Rudolf on the cheek. “Thank you for telling me.” I glanced toward the Küche, hoping no one had seen me.

He touched his cheek with his fingers. “I will never again wash my face.”

“That’s not a good idea. At least not if you want me to kiss you again.”

“If that is all I need to do, let me get water from the cistern and I’ll scrub my face this very minute.”

Even though nothing had been said that day in the barn, maybe my idea about Johanna’s father arranging a marriage between Carl and Johanna had been correct. Yet the members of the community believed a single life superior to marriage. If that was their belief, why would Brother Ilg seek a husband for his daughter?

“Did Johanna’s father seem pleased with this new arrangement?”

“Who can say? But he is a member of the Bruderrat. If he didn’t like the plan, he could have asked the other elders to assign Carl to another house.”

“I wonder what Johanna will think.”

The milk wagon blocked the sun and cast a shadow across Rudolf ’s face. “Why would Johanna care where Carl lives?”

Men!
They didn’t understand anything at all. If Rudolf hadn’t figured it out, I wasn’t going to take time to explain. “I’d better go back inside before Sister Muhlbach comes looking for me. I can hardly wait to tell Johanna.”

Rudolf grasped my arm. “No! You cannot tell her.”

I wheeled around. “Why not?”

“It is not your information to share. Brother Ilg told
me
, not you. He will tell Johanna, just as he told me, when he believes she should know.” He stepped closer. “Promise you won’t betray my trust, Berta.”

I hiked up on tiptoe and brushed his cheek with a parting kiss. “Oh, all right. I promise.”