Planted with Hope (6 page)

A sinking feeling came over Hope, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Without turning, she sensed who stood behind her. Hope's heart pounded against the walls of her chest and tremors danced through her stomach.

“It
has
been an eventful day,” a man's voice broke through. “And that's why Emma and I came to see her, to thank her.”

“I helped
Aenti
Ruth Ann make Peanut Better cookies. They're my favorite,” Emma's small voice rang out.

Hope turned slowly, wondering how she'd missed the front door opening and their guests being welcomed in. In the midst of her tuning them out, her mem and sisters had gone from talking
about
Jonas and Emma Sutter to talking
to
them.

“Peanut
Better
cookies?” Grace giggled. “Don't you mean peanut butter?”

Emma held up a paper plate filled with cookies. “
Ne
. We call them Peanut Better because we put in chocolate chips… which makes them even better than peanut butter.”

Laughter filled the room, and Hope forced a smile. Even though she'd yet to look his direction Hope sensed Jonas's gaze on her. Mem stood to his side, and her lips were tight as she attempted to hold back a smile. A knowing look danced in Mem's eyes.

“That's so kind of you, Emma.” Hope approached the young girl and leaned down. Emma's large, brown eyes that had been filled with fear earlier today were now warm and happy. They
were the color of the dimpled brown cowpea seeds Hope had ordered last year, hearing they grew well in the Southern states. But her results had been disappointing in the sandy soil of their backyard. The cowpeas had never flourished.

Hope smiled, holding up the jar of peanut butter in her hand. “I do like peanut butter, and I was just going to make myself a sandwich. Would you like one?”

Jonas cleared his throat. “That's nice of you, but we just had dinner—”

“I want one!” Emma stepped forward. “Dat, just a half a sandwich, ple-e-ease.”

Hope smiled and turned back to the counter. “We can share one.”

“Emma.” Jonas sighed. “We came to bring Hope these cookies and thank her for today, not to cause more work for her.”

“As if making a sandwich is a lot of work. It's no trouble at all,” she shot back before remembering they had an audience. Mem, Dat, and her four sisters all sat in silence, watching the exchange. Feeling the tension of their presence, Hope sliced two pieces of bread and spread them with peanut butter.

Hope called over her shoulder. “Jonas, would you like some?”

Jonas cleared his throat again, and he took the plate of cookies from Emma's hands and placed it on the counter. “Actually, that does sound good. If it's not too much trouble.”

“Of course it's not. I hope peanut butter and jelly is fine.”

“My favorite!” Emma called out.

Jonas smiled. “
Ja
, that's fine.”

“Why don't you three take it out back?” Mem bustled to the back door, opening it wide. “I bet Emma would love to see the flowers you've planted, Hope.”

Heat rose up the back of Hope's neck again, only this time it wasn't from the sun. “Oh, they're really not much, Mem.”

“I'd like to see them,” Jonas's words came quick. She didn't turn to look, but she wondered if he was still watching her. Was the same glimmer of interest evident in his eyes as it had been earlier today?

Hope's heartbeat clattered. “If that's what you want.” She smeared the jelly onto the bread and sliced the sandwiches into triangles.

“I should say… I'd like to see them if you don't mind.” He stepped forward to help her with the sandwiches, placing them on a paper plate.

“Of course not.”

Don't look at him. Don't look for the same look in his eyes that you saw earlier. The Sutters are just being neighborly—that's all.

Jonas moved toward the back door, and Emma skipped beside him as if being in the Miller's home was the most natural thing in the world. When Hope had been Emma's age, she'd been too timid to act natural around strangers. Then again, who was she fooling? She still was.

Thankfully, she'd found a few good friends in Pinecraft, and they liked to go to the beach together. They didn't have to talk much. Instead, they just enjoyed the simple pleasure of lifting up their skirts a bit and walking in the waves.

But she'd never had a male friend, or even a child as a real friend for that matter. But as she joined the young father on the back porch Hope couldn't help but be thankful that they'd stopped by.

They took a brief tour of Hope's flower garden before they took their plates over near the swing and chairs. Hope sat in the
chair and motioned for them to take the swing, which could fit two people.

“Dat says he's going to teach me to swim when we get back to Kentucky,” Emma said. She plopped onto the white porch swing that Dat had made for Mem as a Christmas gift.

“That's not for a few months yet.” Jonas sat next to his daughter, and then he pulled a sandwich off the plate and took a big bite. “We're going to be in Pinecraft for a while, remember.”

“You have to stay. You're the new schoolteacher.” The words shot out of Hope's mouth before she realized what she was saying. “But, of course, you know that.”

“
Ja
.” Jonas nodded. “It's not something I've ever done before, but I told my sister that if she was open to my unconventional ways I'd take her place.”

“Take her place?”

“
Ja
, it's Ruth Ann's classroom that I'm taking over. Her daughter—my cousin Hannah—is pregnant with twins and there have been some complications. I've never really asked what's going on, and I don't really need to know. Since things are quiet on the farm until spring and the school year here is over at the end of April, I agreed to come and teach.”

“I see,” Hope said.

Emma peeled the crust off her sandwich. “Then we are going back to Kentucky. I have a horse named Rocky, and Dat says when we get back we can start our garden.”

Hope's eyebrows peeked. “Oh, do you like to garden, Emma?”

Emma shrugged. “I like making mud pies best.” Once the crust was off, she ate her sandwich with vigor, as if she hadn't eaten anything all day.

Jonas finished his sandwich and then rose. “We didn't mean to interrupt your evening. We—Emma—just wanted to stop by
and thank you for rescuing her.” He placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. “She knows now she's not going to go down to the creek unless she has an adult with her.”

Emma set her empty paper plate on the swing's seat and stood. She clapped her hands together. “Oh, will you come with me sometime, Hope?”

“Now, Emma, I'm sure Hope has other things—”

“I'd love to,” Hope answered, not letting him finish. “The park is one of my favorite places. It's so quiet and peaceful down there.”

“And maybe Dat can come too!” Emma reached up and took his hand, smearing peanut butter on his fingers as she did. Jonas released the young girl's hand, licked off the peanut butter, and then returned his grasp without batting an eye. Hope's stomach did a little flip. It was clear he spent a lot of time with his daughter and they had a natural comfort when they were together.

“We can do it tomorrow. After church!” Emma's eyes danced as she looked from her father to Hope. Hope saw something there… anticipation? Excitement? Was it possible that an eight-year-old could be a matchmaker? If Emma was anything like Hope's mother she could.

Hope swallowed hard, and worry wreathed her heart. This little girl had gone through so much. She didn't want her to get her hopes up. Hope knew very little about Jonas Sutter, and she knew even less about being open to a new friendship when a child was involved.

“Maybe not tomorrow,” Hope hurriedly said. “But sometime this week might be nice.”

Emma's shoulders sunk, and she nodded. She looked to her dat. Her eyes widened as if she was waiting for him to make the next move.

“It'll be a busy week. School starts on Monday, but I'm sure we'll
see you around town.” His face was expressionless. Hope couldn't tell if, like Emma, he was disappointed that they wouldn't be seeing each other the next day. If so, he hid it well. But Emma's face… well, the disappointment was clear, and it broke Hope's heart.

“There's a gospel sing on Birky Street Thursday night,” Hope hurriedly said. “You bring your own chairs, but if you'd like, uh, we can meet there.”

The hint of a smile touched Jonas's lips. “We'd like that, wouldn't we Emma?”

He looked down at the girl, but instead of answering she slipped her hand from his and rushed to the side gate. “Look, Dat, a cat!”

“He's stray, and I don't think he'll let you get too close,” Hope called after the young girl.

Emma rushed forward as if not hearing. Jonas cupped his hands to call to his daughter. “Emma, wait up! Stay on the side of the street. Don't go out into the road.”

Emma nodded, but she didn't slow and didn't turn back.

“This one always keeps me busy,” Jonas said to Hope apologetically.

He hurried away with a slight wave, and Hope watched as Emma chased the cat and Jonas chased Emma. Finally reaching her, Jonas scooped up the young girl and hoisted her onto his shoulder. Both of her legs dangled on his right side, and Emma's laughter filled the air, warming Hope's heart.

She hoped to see them at the gospel singing, if not sooner. Hope picked up the paper plates they'd left and realized she hadn't taken a bite of her own sandwich. She didn't feel like eating now. Instead her stomach balled in knots. Her gaze wandered back to watch Jonas and Emma disappearing down the street.

Oh Lord,
she prayed.
May it not be too long before I see them returning that way again.

 

Emma's Peanut
Better
Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup cake flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

¼ cup shortening

½ cup butter

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

½ cup creamy peanut butter

½ tsp. vanilla extract

10 oz. chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, sift flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter, and sugars. Add eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Add sifted dry ingredients; mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in chocolate morsels. Drop heaping Tbsp of dough onto parchment-lined sheets, 3 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Baking Tip: You can make your own cake flour. For every cup all-purpose flour, remove two Tbsp and replace with two Tbsp cornstarch. Sift.

Chapter Four

You will always leave something behind—your influence.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB