Katie's Journey to Love (10 page)

Katie forced herself to breathe and then offered to take another turn at nailing the floorboards. She whacked the nails so hard that she moved rapidly down the space placing one nail after another in quick succession. After fifteen minutes, she was breathless again and handed the hammer to the next girl in the rotation.

Standing up, Katie dared take a peek across the barn floor. She caught sight of Ben talking with one of the boys, laughing as they both carried boards into the barn. Could this really be happening? Was Ben really here? Or was she imagining things? She wasn't. The look on Ben's face had been plain enough to see. He'd been surprised and maybe even impressed at seeing her here. Ben had never been one to hide his feelings. She'd always noticed that about him. Every emotion he had seemed to flash across his face. Unlike her, Ben had probably never had the need to hide what he felt.

Oh, she must give time spent with Ben every opportunity to grow. From now on she'd come to every Mennonite youth gathering there was. Just on the hope he might stop by. Not a chance must be missed. In the rush of her optimistic thoughts, dark ones soon crept in. Is this what
Mamm
used to feel for Daniel Kauffman? Is this what
Mamm
was trying to warn her about? It couldn't be! This was too
wunderbah
a feeling for that. It couldn't be the same. Still, Katie was sure
Mamm
would say it was just that—if Katie ever shared this news with her. But she wouldn't. This would be her secret to hold and cherish in her heart. Someday it would grow into something
wunderbah
—so
wunderbah
she wouldn't believe it herself.
Mamm
had only wished for Daniel Kauffman's love. For Katie, love between Ben and her might happen.

Chapter Ten

An hour later, under the bright yard lights, the bonfire had burned low and the coals glowed. Several youth held wooden prongs over the low fire, roasting one last batch of hot dogs. Others sat on benches or on blankets spread on the ground. Several of the boys were standing around, talking and munching hot dogs.

Katie saw a shadow move toward her, and she held her breath briefly before exhaling and wondering who it was. She still had her half-eaten hot dog in her hand. Ben had been on the other side of the fire a moment ago, but now his place was empty. Was the shadow Ben's? She forced herself to take a bite of her hot dog before she looked. Her hand trembled in the darkness. She didn't want to act too eager, but it was so hard to hide her feelings. If Ben came over, she would need to let him know she was interested…but not let him know how much or he might run like a spooked horse.

“Have you enjoyed the evening?” Ben asked.

Even though she was expecting it, she jumped when Ben's voice came from right beside her.

He laughed softly. “Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.”

“That's okay,” she said. “I loved the evening. Did you?”

“It was nice.”

She worked on getting the last of the hot dog down without choking.

Ben stood beside her without moving. “So, how's the new…housing situation going?” he finally asked.

That's an odd way to put it, Katie thought. And why did he keep mentioning this? “We're working on it. It's a big adjustment for everyone.”

Ben smiled in the darkness. “
Yah
, I know. I was at the wedding, you know.”

“
Yah
, I saw you.”

“And how about you? It can't be easy getting thrown in with five children from another man's marriage.”

Katie swallowed hard. Ben was being kind and sensitive—just as she'd always imagined he'd be. But she didn't want to spill out her troubles to him. “I'll be okay. Mabel's giving me a hard time. Well,
Mamm
and me. Mabel got used to running the house on her own when her
mamm
died, so it's been difficult.
Mamm
is working with her to help make the transition smoother.”

Ben chuckled. “I'm glad to hear they're working things out.”

Katie stole another quick glance at his face. The firelight threw soft shadows on his handsome features. She looked away at once. This nearness was almost more than her heart could take. But what did Ben mean by “working things out”? Did he know something about
Mamm
's marriage to Jesse that he wasn't saying? “Yes, they're ‘working things out.' Have you been hearing things?”

Ben didn't say anything right away.

Katie rushed on to fill the silence. “
Mamm
's very happy with Jesse—happier than I've seen her in years.”

Ben nodded. “Look, Katie, I have no problem with your
mamm
marrying Jesse Mast. It wasn't any of my business. It was interesting to watch, though. It's not often Ruth Troyer gets bested. And after she'd set her
kapp
for Jesse…Well, congratulations go to your
mamm
.”

Katie stole another look at him. Wow, he even knew about the Ruth Troyer business! It must be all over the community. Of course, that shouldn't be a surprise. The community was small. “Yes, that was an interesting time,” Katie admitted. She stared into the glowing coals. She was talking with Ben Stoll! She still couldn't believe it. And for such a long period of time. This went to show how different things were with the Mennonite youth. If this were an Amish gathering, she was certain she wouldn't be saying one word to anyone, much less Ben Stoll.

“It's good to see you here tonight again,” Ben said, giving her a sharp glance.

Katie returned his gaze. “A lot of things have been changing with me, I guess. In ways I wasn't expecting either.”

“You've been coming for some time now?” Ben asked. When Katie remained silent, he continued, “That's what one of the girls told me.”

Katie noticed he was looking at her. She was sure she was turning a brighter red then the burning coals. Well, at least it was dark and he probably couldn't see her very well.

“
Yah
, I have been,” she admitted.

Ben motioned toward the food table. “Are you still hungry? There are plenty of hot dogs left. I could cook you one.”

“No thanks,” she said, watching Ben out of the corner of her eye. “I've had enough.”

“I think I'll get one for myself.” Ben patted his stomach. “All this work has made me a hungry man.”

Katie waited by the fire as Ben walked over to the table to grab some meat and a roasting stick. She watched as another
man walked up beside him. They began talking, and soon were laughing together. This was the Ben she knew—so comfortable around people. Katie continued to watch as Ben and his friend walked over to the bonfire. They were still talking and laughing as Ben cooked his hot dog. When he finished, he didn't return to Katie. Instead he sat down on the grass next to a group of girls sitting on a blanket. They made room for him, and after he scooted closer they were soon chatting away. Katie forced herself to look in another direction. Ben had every right to speak with whomever he wished. And he
had
spoken with her. She would never forget that, not as long as she lived. It was a moment she would treasure, especially if it never happened again.

“Here you are!” Margaret announced.

Katie jumped.

Margaret laughed. “Did I scare you?”

“
Nee
…” Katie chuckled. “Well, just for a second. I was just lost in thought for a minute.”

“He is dreamy,” Margaret whispered as she looked toward Ben. “He's Amish, isn't he?”

Katie didn't bother asking who Margaret was referring to. Her gaze made that clear enough. “
Yah
. His name is Ben Stoll,” Katie whispered back.

“I saw you talking to him,” Margaret continued. “The two of you must know each other well.”

“Not really,” Katie admitted, but she didn't offer more information. There was no way she wanted to explain her relationship with the people in the Amish youth group. And she certainly didn't want to get into all the feelings that were rushing around inside her heart about Ben.

“I'm glad he could stop by,” Margaret said. “Are you ready to hear my news?”

Katie gasped. “Oh, I almost forgot! Yes, I'd like to hear about it.
I'm so sorry I didn't track you down to ask you about it. So many things have been going on all evening.”

Margaret smiled. “That's okay. I know it's been kind of wild. I'm sorry Sharon couldn't be here tonight so we could tell you together. She so wanted to be, but her
mamm
had a quilt that had to be finished for a customer.”

Katie waited expectantly.

“It's like this…” Margaret paused. “Katie, did you meet Nancy Keim tonight? The woman who spent a year in Holland?”

Katie nodded but said, “Not really. Esther said ‘hi' to her when we came in and told me who she was.”

“Did you get to speak with her?”

“
Nee
. There were too many other things going on. Esther mentioned Nancy had been in Holland. That sounds like such an exciting place to go to.”

“Yes, it does. And that's why I'm so excited!” Margaret exclaimed. “My big news is that several of us are going to Europe, and we want to invite you to go with us! Do you think you might be able to?”

“Europe!” Katie almost shouted, and several heads turned in their direction. Thankfully, a car started up at that moment, and the roar of the motor drew their attention away.

“Yes, Europe,” Margaret said. “Nancy so enjoyed her time in Holland that she wants to go back. She didn't have the time to sightsee much, and she didn't have anyone to tour around with her while she was there, so she's invited Sharon and me to go back with her. We told her about you, and she suggested we invite you too! We plan to fly into Switzerland and tour sites where the Mennonite and Amish faith began. Then on to Holland from there. But we wanted one more person to go, and we decided you'd be perfect. Katie, please say that you will consider going with us!”

Katie was so pleased she was being asked that she couldn't find her voice.

“It's going to be awesome, Katie,” Margaret went on. “This is the trip of a lifetime. Just the four of us girls. And Europe is quite safe for travel now, except for pickpockets and the like. But there will be four of us so we can look out for each other.”

Katie stammered out, “Margaret, I can't go to Europe.”

“Why not?” Margaret asked. “Your mother has just remarried, so she's happy. And surely your new dad isn't making hard-and-fast rules for you. He's probably being real easy on you right now. And you are almost twenty.”

“Jesse has been
wunderbah
,” Katie said. Her body felt numb right now as she tried to think this through. How could she take off on a trip to Europe? What about her job at Byler's? What about the expense of such a trip?

“I know it's kind of sudden,” Margaret was saying. “It was for us too. But the more we think about it, the more excited we are. You can't say no, Katie. It would break our hearts.”

“Oh, my!” Katie rubbed her forehead. “I'm going to have to think about this. Wouldn't it be really expensive?”

“It shouldn't be too expensive. Sharon and I have some money saved up for our share. We're not going until the first of May, so there's plenty of time for all of us to save or round up some money.”

Katie's mind was spinning. What an opportunity! But how could she make it happen? For one thing, she'd need
Mamm
and Jesse's approval to go. What would they say about her going to Europe with her Mennonite friends? Attending their gatherings was bad enough in their view. And then there was the money required.

“I really will have to think about this,” Katie finally said. “I need to talk to
Mamm
and Jesse and consider whether I can afford it.”

“Okay,” Margaret said, patting Katie on the back. “That's
reasonable. And if you really want to go, I know the Lord will make a way for you somehow.”

When Margaret put it that way, Katie remembered the power of prayer.
Da Hah
was already opening so many doors for her. Was this another one? Was He going to provide a miracle to swing this one open? And this was a really big one, at that.

Chapter Eleven

Thirty minutes later Esther slowed down as they passed the woods near Jesse's driveway. The sports car's headlights cut a swath of light across the fields and into the woods, but this time there was no buggy in sight.

“You didn't really think he'd still be there?” Esther asked, laughing. “That is, if he ever was. I'm beginning to think we imagined the whole thing. I mean, what boy nowadays sits around in the woods waiting for his girlfriend to visit him?”

“Maybe you're right,” Katie allowed. After all the things that had happened tonight, knowing that Mabel wasn't sneaking around visiting Mose Yutzy at all hours of the night would be a relief. There was only so much excitement a person could handle.