On Her Own (5 page)

When he turned, a young boy with brunette hair and dark eyes like Barbara’s faced him.

“Who are you, and what are ya doin’ with my pa’s coffee mug?” The child planted his hands on his hips.

Paul forced a smile. He didn’t like the way the boy was staring at him. “I’m Paul Hilty. You must be one of Barbara’s boys.”

The lad thrust out his chin and pushed back his shoulders, but he didn’t return Paul’s smile. “My name’s Aaron. I’m her oldest son.”

Paul opened his mouth to reply, but Aaron cut him off. “When I grow up, I plan to take over Pa’s harness shop.” He stared down at Paul’s black boots. “My mom’ll be old by then and probably won’t wanna work on harnesses no more.”

Paul chuckled. Aaron scowled at him. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I mean, it seems odd that a young fellow like you would be talking about your mamm getting old and you taking her place in the shop.”

“I don’t think it’s funny a’tall.”

Paul took a sip of coffee and seated himself at the table, but the boy didn’t budge.

“You still haven’t said why you’re in my mamm’s kitchen, usin’ my daed’s mug.”

Paul eyed the cup in question, then nodded toward the empty chair to his left. “Sit down, and I’ll tell you.”

Aaron flopped into a chair.

“I came over to see how your mamm was doing, and then the boppli started fussing. So your mamm said I should help myself
to some coffee while she took care of your little bruder.”

“But you shouldn’t be usin’ Pa’s cup,” the child persisted.

Paul was tempted to remind Aaron that his father was dead and it shouldn’t matter who drank from his cup, but he thought better of it. No use getting the boy riled, especially if Barbara decided to hire Paul in the harness shop. Aaron undoubtedly still missed his father. The idea of someone using his mug could be a powerful reminder of the boy’s loss.

Paul went to the cupboard and got out a different mug; then he placed David’s mug in the kitchen sink. “Better?” he asked as he returned to his seat.

The boy nodded.

For several minutes, they sat in silence. Unable to tolerate the boy staring at him, Paul finally asked, “How old are you, Aaron?”

“Almost nine.”

“Guess it won’t be long until you can begin helping your mamm in the shop.”

The child shrugged. “Used to help my daed some when I wasn’t in school.”

“What grade are you in?”

“Second.”

“You have six more years, then.”

“Jah.”

Paul took another swig of coffee, wishing Barbara would return so he’d have another adult to talk to. His uneasiness around children was intensified with Aaron looking at him so strangely.

“Want some cookies to dunk in your coffee?”

Aaron’s question took Paul by surprise, and he jumped.

“What’s the matter? You got a fly on your nose?”

“Huh?”

“You’re kind of jumpy, wouldn’t ya say?”

Paul cleared his throat. “I’m fine. Just a bit restless is all.”

“Some cookies might help.”

Paul studied the boy’s round face. He was pretty sure the subject of cookies had come up because Aaron wanted some, not because he thought Paul needed something to dunk in his coffee.

“You’re right. A few cookies would be nice.” Paul glanced around the room. “You know where there might be some?”

Aaron dashed across the room. He returned with a green ceramic jar. “These are chocolate chip.” He set the container on the table and headed for the refrigerator. “Think I’ll have some milk so’s I can dunk.”

Paul remembered how he had enjoyed cookies and cold goat’s milk when he was a boy. Peanut butter with raisins had been his favorite, and his mother used to make them often. He watched Aaron fill a tall glass with milk, dip his cookie up and down a couple of times, then chomp it down in two bites.

“This is sure good. Grandma made these just for me.”

“Your grandparents live next door, don’t they?”

Aaron grabbed another cookie. “Jah. Grandma Raber keeps an eye on me and my little
brieder
during the day. Grandma and Grandpa Zook live a couple miles down the road.”

“Where are your brothers right now?”

“Still at Grandma’s.”

“Does your grandma know where you are?” Paul questioned.

“Of course. Told her I was comin’ over here to see if Mama needed me for anything.” Aaron licked a glob of chocolate off
his fingertips. “Sure never expected to find a stranger sittin’ in our kitchen, though.”

“I’m not really a stranger,” Paul said. “I used to live in Webster County. I’ve known your folks for some time.”

“It’s your bruder who died last week, ain’t it?”

“Jah, my brother Dan. His funeral was yesterday.”

“When you said your last name, I put two and two together.”

“I see.”
Aaron’s not only feisty, but he seems to be a right smart little fellow
.

“What’d ya come over to see Mama about?”

“He’s coming to work for me starting Saturday.”

Paul turned his head. He hadn’t realized Barbara had entered the room. She held a baby in her arms, and her face was slightly flushed.

Aaron glared at Paul; then he turned to face his mother and gave her an imploring look. “Why do you need him, Mama?”

“Because I’m not able to work right now.”

“What about Grandpa? He’s still workin’ in the harness shop, right?”

Barbara nodded. “But your
grossdaadi
isn’t able to handle things on his own so well.”

Aaron puffed out his chest. “I could help him.”

“I’m sure you could help with a few things, but not nearly enough, son.”

Feeling the need to make a quick escape, Paul pushed back his chair and stood. “I should head to Seymour and call my cousin to let him know that I’ll be staying awhile longer.” He glanced down at Aaron, then back at Barbara. “I’ll be at the harness shop bright and early.”

She gave him a weary-looking smile and nodded. “Danki.”

Paul had just stepped onto the front porch when a horse and buggy pulled into the yard.

As John Frey stepped down from his buggy, he spotted Paul Hilty leaving Barbara’s house. “I wonder what he’s doing here,” he mumbled.

“What was that, Papa?”

John glanced over at his fourteen-year-old daughter, Nadine, who had followed him out of the buggy. He’d dropped Hannah and Mary, his two younger girls, off at one of their neighbors’ so they could play with their friend Maddie. And since Betty, his oldest daughter, was working and he didn’t want to make his calls alone, he had invited Nadine to join him. “I just wondered what Paul Hilty is doing here,” he said.

“Probably came by to pay his respects to Barbara since he wasn’t here when her husband died.” Nadine smiled sweetly. “I can hardly wait to see Barbara’s new boppli. Maybe she’ll let me hold him awhile.”

John smiled in response. He had enjoyed holding his four girls when they were babies, but they were all older now, ranging in ages from ten to sixteen. He missed having a baby around. He also needed a mother for his daughters and hoped Barbara Zook might be willing to marry him. She was still young and could provide him with more children, as well as take charge of his household and give proper womanly instruction to his girls, so he figured she was the perfect choice. John had been widowed
six months and Barbara for nearly a year. It was time for them to find new mates. Besides, he didn’t think Barbara could keep working in the harness shop now that she had a new baby to care for. She needed a husband to support her and the boys.

“
Guder mariye
, Bishop Frey,” Paul said, as he passed John on the way to his buggy.

“Good morning to you, too.” John was on the verge of asking the reason for Paul’s visit, but Paul gave a quick wave and sprinted to his buggy.

John shrugged and hurried after Nadine, who was already on the porch. Moments later, Barbara opened the door.

“Bishop John,” she said. “What brings you out our way?”

“Came to see how you’re getting along.” He motioned to Nadine. “And Nadine would like to get a look at your boppli, if that’s all right.”

“Jah, sure.” Barbara opened the door wider and bid them in. “I just put Davey in his cradle, but he’s wide awake.”

John and Nadine followed Barbara to the living room, and John took a seat on the sofa while Nadine rushed over to the wooden cradle sitting near the rocking chair.

“He’s so
siess
,” Nadine said dreamily.

“I think he’s pretty sweet, too.” Barbara smiled. “Would you like to hold him?”

“Oh, jah,” Nadine replied with an eager nod. She took a seat in the rocking chair, and Barbara placed the baby in her arms.

“He feels so good. I can’t wait until I’m married and have some
bopplin
of my own.”

“Babies are a lot of work, but they bring many joys,” Barbara said as she took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa from John.

John cleared his throat a couple of times. “We missed you at Dan Hilty’s funeral. How have you been getting along?” he asked.

“I’m still feeling kind of tired, but I’m doing okay.”

“Would you like me to send one of my girls over to help out? Betty’s taken a job at the general store, but I’m sure either Hannah or Nadine would be glad to help you.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m managing with the help of my mamm.”

“How’s Samuel doing in the harness shop? Is he able to keep up with the work now that you’re not there to help?”

Barbara shook her head. “Due to Dad’s arthritis, he struggles to get many things done. Paul Hilty’s going to be helping in the shop for a while, so between the two of them, they’ll be able to keep things going until I’m able to work again.”

John’s eyebrows drew together. “Are you sure you ought to return to work?”

Barbara nodded. “I enjoy working in the harness shop.”

“That may be so, but it’s hard work.”

Barbara simply watched Nadine rock the baby.

“Have you considered selling the shop?”

She shook her head. “As long as I’m able to keep it open, I won’t sell the place.”

Unsure of what to say, John leaned against the sofa, folded his arms, and listened to the steady
tick-tock
of the clock mingling with the rhythmic
creak-creak
of the rocking chair. Finally, John rose to his feet. “Guess we should get going. I want to pay a call on Margaret Hilty and see how she’s doing.”

“I was sorry to hear of her loss,” Barbara said as she stood.
“Will she be moving in with her daughter and son-in-law?”

John shook his head. “From what I’ve heard, Karen and Jake plan to rent their house out and move in with Margaret. It’ll be easier for her if she’s not alone, and I don’t think she wants to leave her home right now.”

“I can understand that.” When the baby started squirming, Barbara leaned over and took him from Nadine. “I think he’s about ready to be fed.”

Nadine cast a furtive glance in John’s direction. “I wish we didn’t have to leave so soon.”

“I think we’d better,” he said, moving toward the door.

Barbara walked with them, and John was about to step onto the porch when an idea struck him. “You know, Margaret could use some encouragement, and since you lost your husband and know what it feels like to be left alone, maybe you could be helpful to Margaret.”

“Helpful how?”

“Well, I know you can’t get out much right now, with having a new boppli and all, but would it be all right if I encourage Margaret to come by and visit?”

“Certainly.”

“Margaret’s really good with flowers, so maybe she’d even be willing to help weed your garden. I’ll make mention of it when I get over to her house.”

“Well, I—”

“I’ll be back to see you again soon.” John smiled, gave Nadine a little nudge, and headed for his buggy. If things went as he hoped, in a few months he’d have a new wife, and then Barbara wouldn’t have to work at the harness shop anymore.

P
aul was about to enter Zook’s Harness Shop Saturday morning, but he slowed his pace, still unsure if he had made the right decision.
Maybe it won’t be so bad. Barbara did say she would be staying at the house to do paperwork and tend to her children
. He would pretty much be in charge of things since Samuel Raber had arthritis and, according to Barbara, didn’t know a great deal about the business.

As Paul opened the door and stepped into the shop, he drew in a deep breath. The smell of raw leather, savory neat’s-foot oil, and pungent dye hung in the air. He glanced around. Several harnesses and bridles were looped from ceiling hooks. Enormous sheets of loosely rolled leather, looking like cinnamon sticks, poured out of shelves along one side of the shop. Hundreds of snaps, rings, buckles, and rivets nestled in open boxes lined
neatly along one wall. Piled on the cement floor were bits of leather scraps, resembling spaghetti noodles. It was a comfortable feeling to be inside the harness shop. He’d only been gone from his cousin’s place a few days, and already he missed it. But Andy and his part-time helpers were doing okay without him, and Andy didn’t seem to mind if Paul stayed to help Barbara in her hour of need.

Paul saw no sign of Samuel, so he headed toward the back of the building. Two oversized sewing machines run by an air compressor sat side by side on a heavy table. A row of tools spilled out of round wooden holders on the wide workbench nearby. “Hello,” he called. “Anybody here?”