Plain Proposal (28 page)

“I would like to wait for him, please.” Rebecca knew she was being rude, but this was an urgent matter that needed to be handled as soon as possible. She’d already waited too long to make this visit.

Both boys stood their ground, not moving. Rebecca folded her arms across her chest. “Perhaps I could wait on the porch for him. Can you please let him know that I am waiting to speak to him? It’s important.”

Ruben bit his bottom lip, glanced at James, then said, “Sure. Please have a seat on the porch, and I’ll let Saul know you’re here.” He turned back to James. “Can you get Rebecca some tea?”

“No bother. I don’t need any tea.
Danki
, though.” She scooted past the boys, walked up the porch steps, then took a seat in the porch swing.

Ruben and James both went into the house, closing the screen and wooden door behind them. Rebecca could hear movement inside, but all the doors and windows were shut, which seemed ridiculous in this heat. She patted the sweat on her cheeks with her hands, then dabbed at her forehead.
Maybe they secretly have airconditioning inside.

Less than a minute later she heard a loud crash inside the house, followed by loud voices, though she couldn’t understand what was being said. She rose from the swing, eased her way to the front door, then leaned her ear against it.

“I can’t get him up. He’s out cold!”

“What do we do? And by the way, Miriam’s mother is on the porch.”

Rebecca listened, unsure what to do. The voices grew softer for a few moments, then she heard James say, “Saul, maybe Miriam’s mother can help us! We need some help! We need someone to tell us what to do!”

“No!”

Rebecca recognized Saul’s voice as the one who’d denied his brother’s request.

What in the world is going on in there?
She took a deep breath, eased the screen away from the door, and grabbed the doorknob. In one quick motion, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. She stepped inside before anyone could say anything.

Bringing her hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp, she wished she could turn around and go back outside. She eyed the scene before her, and Saul was the first one to speak.

“Rebecca, please go home.” Saul’s eyes were wet with tears, and Rebecca started to do as he asked until she saw blood on Zeb Fisher’s face. All three boys were squatting down around their father, and the rank smell of red wine filled the room. Rebecca moved toward them, squatted down between Saul and James, then spoke directly to Ruben as she leaned over Zeb.

“This isn’t bad, boys. Ruben, go get me a wet rag, and see if you can find some ointment. We’ll have your father fixed up in no time.”

“Sarah, is that you?” Zeb could barely open his eyes as he spoke. “No, Zeb. It’s Rebecca Raber. You’ve got a nasty cut on your face, but we’re going to doctor it for you. You’ll be just fine.”

“Hannah,
mei dochder
?” Zeb’s lids flitted open for only a couple of seconds before they closed again.

Ruben returned with a wet rag and some ointment, and Rebecca dabbed at Zeb’s chin. He could probably use a couple of stitches, but taking him to the hospital right now would cause scandal for this family.

Rebecca glanced around at the boys as sweat poured down everyone’s faces. “Saul, why don’t you open some windows?”

“But someone might come by or—”

Rebecca raised her brows. “Someone already did.
Me
. Now open those windows before everyone suffocates in here.”

Saul did as she asked, and a breeze quickly filled the den. Once she’d tended to Zeb as best she could, she told the boys to just put him on the couch. “He’ll wake up in the morning with a nasty headache, but he will be all right.”

“We know,” James said as he swiped at his eyes.

“Hush, James.” Saul frowned at his brother as he reached underneath Zeb’s shoulders. James and Ruben each grabbed a leg, and the boys lifted Zeb onto the couch.

Rebecca glanced around at the boys as she realized that they had done this more than once.
How many times?

“Boys, has this happened before?” Rebecca directed the question to James, since he seemed the most willing to talk.

“All the time,” James said as he shook his head.

Saul quickly grabbed both his brothers by the arm. “Go finish your chores. I’ll take it from here.”

Ruben and James moved toward the door. James turned around and faced Rebecca, his eyes somehow pleading with hers, and Rebecca’s heart hurt for this family. The boys were barely out the door when Saul spoke.

“Please don’t tell anyone, Rebecca. Please.” Saul’s eyes melded with hers in a way that left Rebecca speechless. “Please. I’m begging you.”

“Saul. . .” she finally said. “Why don’t we step into the kitchen?” Saul pointed to his right. Rebecca walked ahead of him, and she was surprised how clean and fresh the kitchen was, especially for four men living alone. White countertops were shiny and clean, and nothing looked out of place. Rebecca sat down in one of six chairs around an oak table in the middle of the room.

“Do you want something to drink?” Saul didn’t sit down.

Rebecca pulled the chair out next to her. “No, I’m fine. Sit down, Saul.”

He sighed but did as she asked. “Are you going to tell anyone about this?”

Rebecca rubbed her forehead for a moment, then looked up at him. “Saul, if this goes on all the time, like James said, then you boys need—”

“It ain’t that often.” Saul leaned back in the chair and looped his thumbs beneath his suspenders. She noticed the blood on Saul’s shirt and quickly glanced over him to see if he might be hurt. He didn’t appear to be.

“Your father needs some help, Saul. You all do.”

Saul pushed the chair from the table and stood up. His eyes blazed as he spoke to Rebecca. “
Mei daed
is the best man I’ve ever known. He is a loving man. He loves his family. He loves us!”

Rebecca stood up, slowly putting her hand on Saul’s shoulder. “Of course he does, Saul.”

Saul jerked away from her. “He would never do anything to hurt us.” The boy blinked as fast as he could, but a tear still rolled down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away.

“Saul. . .” She paused as their eyes locked. “How long has this been going on?”

He pulled his eyes from hers, folded his arms across his chest, and stared past Rebecca.

“Since your
mamm
and Hannah died?”

Saul bit his bottom lip and wouldn’t look at her.

A knot was building in Rebecca’s throat, but now was not the time to cry, even though her heart was breaking for Saul and his brothers. “Saul, you need some help.”

“Why did you come here, Rebecca?” Saul leaned against the kitchen counter, his arms still folded across his chest. “Is it about me and Miriam?”

She cautiously took a step toward him. “
Ya
, but, Saul, I think right now we need to talk about what is happening here, and—”

“If you’re worried about me taking Miriam away from here, don’t worry about it anymore.” He swiped at his eyes again. “I can’t leave Ruben and James. They ain’t old enough to take care of everything around here.”

Rebecca was quiet for a moment.
You’re only eighteen, dear child. You’re not old enough either
.

“Is this why you are so anxious to leave our community, Saul?”

“No.” He wouldn’t look at her.

“I can understand. You’ve been raising your brothers, cooking, cleaning, taking care of your father, and—”

“
Mei daed’s
drinking is not the reason why I want to leave. I’m not running away from everything.”

Rebecca ignored Saul’s sharp tone and softened her own. “Then why, Saul? Why do you want to take my baby girl and leave here?”

Saul uncrossed his arms, then rubbed his forehead for a moment. “I told you. I can’t leave now anyway.”

“Maybe in a few years when you are both older, you can rethink this, and—”

Saul shook his head, then locked eyes with Rebecca. “My job offer is only good for September.” He paused, then stood taller. “I love Miriam. I would have made a
gut
home for her, taken care of her, and always made sure she was happy.”

“Why cooking?” Rebecca eased herself back into a kitchen chair.

“What?”

Rebecca twisted her mouth to one side. “Why does cooking interest you so, and why do you think you need to leave here to go cook?”

Saul’s blue eyes brightened for a moment as if he was about to tell her exciting news, then he looked away as his expression fell. “It ain’t acceptable for a man to cook here. It’s women’s work.”

Rebecca thought for a moment. “True. But I’m sure Miriam would let you do some of the cooking.” Miriam marrying Saul might not be ideal, but if Rebecca could keep them both in the community—well, it seemed the lesser of the two evils.

Saul shuffled to a chair across from her, sat down, then leaned forward a bit. His eyes brightened again. “Do you know how many different recipes there are for rhubarb?”

Rebecca sighed, feeling they were getting off topic.

“There’s rhubarb compote and all kinds of rhubarb sauces for fish, chicken, and beef.” He shook his head. “It’s not just for pies and jam.” After he paused, he grinned. “And I have a great recipe for rhubarb soup with mint in it.”

Rebecca opened her mouth to try to redirect the conversation, but Saul kept going. “And do you know how many different things you can make with eggs? Breakfast frittatas, crepes, quiches. . .” He shook his head. “It’ll make you never want to scramble another egg for breakfast.”

I enjoy scrambled eggs.
Rebecca scowled a bit, realizing Saul knew more at his young age about cooking than she’d probably know in her lifetime.

“And the gadgets, electric gadgets that are available to help with the cooking. . . it’s amazing.” Saul let out a heavy sigh, then stood up from the table. “It was just a dream.” He glanced around the corner into the den where his father was sleeping on the couch, and a big wave of reality brought them back to the subject at hand. Saul spun around and faced her. “Are you going to tell anyone about this?” He swallowed hard.

Rebecca stood up and took a deep breath. “Saul, don’t you feel that you and your brothers could use some help, and that maybe—” “No. Please.” Saul took a step toward her. “I won’t take Miriam away from here, but please don’t tell.”

Rebecca rubbed her forehead as she thought about how miserable Miriam had been. Was she really being fair to Miriam—and Saul? She’d tried to rule out the possibility of true love between the two of them.
They’re so young
. But just as soon as she saw fit to, she thought about her and Aaron. Their love was as real and true then as it was now.
Do Miriam and Saul have that kind of love?

Miriam and Saul’s whirlwind romance gave cause for speculation. Like her husband, Rebecca had known that Miriam admired Saul from afar. And yes, they’d grown up together. But true love was more than attraction, and Rebecca wondered if Miriam and Saul shared the kind of everlasting love blessed by God. Saul was standing at the counter, writing something on a piece of paper. He walked toward Rebecca and handed her the note.

Rebecca pulled the piece of paper closer, struggling to read it without her glasses. “A recipe for rhubarb mint soup.” She scowled. “Saul, you can’t bribe me with a recipe.”

“It’s not a bribe.” Saul lifted one shoulder. “More of an offering of peace.”

Rebecca tucked the recipe into her apron pocket. “I need to go.” She left the kitchen and eased through the den, past Zeb on the couch, and toward the door. Saul followed. She’d won this round. Miriam wouldn’t be leaving here. But as she glanced at Zeb on the couch, she didn’t feel victorious at all.

“Good-bye, Saul.”

It was two days later when Saul finally caught up with Miriam. He’d managed to get a message to Jesse, who gave it to Shelby for Miriam—for her to meet him at the covered bridge in Ronks on Thursday at six in the evening. Saul worried that Rebecca had told Miriam everything, and he wondered what she would be thinking—about him, his father, and their family. Miriam didn’t seem one to judge, and it wasn’t their way, but he was still fearful.

Today he would tell her that he planned to stay in the community. Marrying Miriam would be wonderful, but he couldn’t help but feel that the dream he’d had for years was just out of reach, and that he’d never have this opportunity again. They’d both be baptized, and there’d be no need to rush a wedding. Plenty of time. Since he wouldn’t be going anywhere.

He greeted Miriam with a kiss when he walked up to her. She was standing under the bridge, her buggy parked off the side of the road. “Do your folks know where you are?” He couldn’t stand the thought of Miriam lying to her parents to sneak off and see him. It shouldn’t be like that.

“I told them I was going for a ride.”

“How is everything at home?”

“Tense. No one is saying much.” She leaned closer to him. “But it doesn’t matter, Saul. I love my family, but you are going to be my husband, and I’ll go anywhere with you. Your dreams are my dreams.”

Saul pulled her into a hug and held her tight for a few moments before he eased her away, feeling relieved that Rebecca hadn’t shared anything. “Miriam, I’ve decided not to take the job in Pittsburgh.”