Sewn with Joy (5 page)

She rolled to her side. She'd have plenty of time to think about all these things tomorrow.
Sleep, Joy, sleep.
But even as she chided herself, a loud rumbling interrupted her thoughts. The vibration of it caused the bedroom window to rattle. It sounded like a large semitruck, but what would a large truck be doing in the middle of the night on a small residential street in an Amish community?

“What is that?” she muttered to herself.

She squinted in the dimness, attempting to see whether Faith stirred in the twin bed next to her. “Do you hear that?” she whispered to her sister.

But she received no reply. Faith slept peacefully. That's how it had always been. They could be in the middle of a family gathering, with adults talking and children running around, and Faith could climb onto the sofa, tilt her head back, and fall asleep as if she were in her own bed.

“Faith,” she whispered louder.

Joy reached over and lit the small lantern on the side table. Even though they had electricity in their house, both she and Faith used their lantern at night. It was more peaceful. It made Pinecraft feel more like their home in Ohio.

“Faith, do you hear that?” She sighed. “Never mind. Go ahead and sleep. You should just be glad night courting isn't popular anymore, because you'd never get a date.” She giggled at her own joke, imagining Matthew tossing stones at her window, urging her to sneak to the living room to talk.
Dat
had admitted bed courtship was popular when he'd dated
Mem
. He'd come to her house after everyone else had retired for the night, and they'd sit on her bed and talk while everyone else was asleep.

Joy shook her head, glad that practice had grown less popular over time. No, she couldn't trust herself if she was sitting next to Matthew on her bed at night. She'd let her mind wander for
certain then, further than she should ever allow it to go before marriage.

Outside the rumbling grew louder. Joy climbed from her bed. She put her face to the window, cupping a hand around her eyes. Still not able to see where the rumble was coming from, she turned off the lantern and tried again. Bright headlights filled the narrow roadway, and a rented moving truck rolled past. It was the largest size she'd ever seen. Someone was moving to Pinecraft, but what were they doing at this hour? And on this street?

Now illuminating the yards and small cottages that lined its path as well, the truck stopped just in front of her house, and a light in the cab flipped on. They were
Englischers
, of course. Two men, and they appeared to be lost. The passenger wore a red ball cap and was talking on a cell phone while looking at a map spread in front of him. His free arm flailed in anger as he spoke, but the driver seemed unfazed. He yawned and stared straight ahead, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel to some beat she couldn't make out.

Joy rose and slipped on her bathrobe. She touched her sleeping kerchief, making sure it was in place. The men had no idea where they were going. That was for certain. She didn't want to go out there, but if someone didn't help them, they'd wake the whole neighborhood.

Joy considered putting her dress back on, but that would take too long. Instead, she adjusted her sleeping kerchief one more time and hurried toward the hallway closet, pulling out her
dat
's winter jacket. She slid it over her nightgown and robe. The heavy wool coat wasn't used much in Pinecraft, but it was useful now. It hung to her knees, and she zipped it up. It wasn't pretty, but it was modest. It would do.

The passenger was still talking on the cell phone when she
hurried forward. The truck's cab was high, and Joy stretched to knock on the window. The man jumped, but as he peered down at her, the anger and surprise on his face morphed into confusion. He rolled down the window and leaned out.

“Yes?”

“Are you lost?”

He eyed her, taking in her coat, her face—and then her kerchief.

Joy touched it self-consciously. “Do you need directions?”

He still didn't answer her, and she pointed up to the map he held. “If you give me the address I might be able to point you in the right direction.”

He motioned down the street. “Is this Pinecraft?”

The question surprised her. Most
Englischers
had no idea about Pinecraft. No idea of the small Amish community within Sarasota.

“Yes, it is.”

“Are you Amish?” Before she could answer, another question rushed out. His brow furrowed. “And do you always wear that scarf when you sleep?”

His second question didn't surprise her. Multiple times a day she was asked if she was Amish, but the third disturbed her. Why did he want to know about her head covering? Why did he care?

She touched her sleeping kerchief. That was one thing different about living in Pinecraft, especially working in the fabric store. Back in Ohio, people were used to the Amish and their ways, but here in Florida they weren't as used to the Amish, and the ways of the Plain people were a mystery. The
Englischers
asked a lot of questions. She decided to answer him as simply as she could.

“I am Amish, and this is my sleeping kerchief. I wear a prayer
kapp
during the day and this at night, in case I want to pray.”

“In case you want to pray?”

Joy covered an ear by pressing a hand against the side of her head and then pointed to the truck. “Listen, I don't mind answering your questions, honestly I don't, but if you haven't noticed, this street is lined with houses, and everyone is sleeping—or at least trying to. And that truck is as loud as a freight train. So if I could just help you with directions…”

“Yes, of course.” He looked down at a piece of paper and read the address to her.

She tilted her head in surprise. “Really? That's where you're going?”

“That's what my assistant told me. She said it's a small house…”

“It is, but there isn't really anyplace to park your truck there. I suppose you can park it in the Tourist Church lot. It's close enough.”
Then you can figure it all out yourself tomorrow
, she wanted to add.

“Can you show me? If you have a car we can follow…I mean, if you can point the way or something.”

“Point the way.” She tried to think how best to explain the way so they would wake up the least amount of people as the truck rumbled past.

“If it's not too much trouble.” He grinned at her, as if attempting to charm her. The man was handsome, but he didn't hold a candle to Matthew. His eyes had dark circles under them. He yawned. The sooner she helped him, the sooner he could get to sleep. Then maybe his charm would work on someone other than her. And maybe this loud truck wouldn't be here long enough to wake the rest of the community.

“It's not too far. I'll ride my bike. Just follow me.”

Joy hurried to the carport and pulled out her bike. As she sat on it, she realized her nightgown skirt wasn't as full and flowing as her dresses. It was nearly impossible to straddle the bike seat
and pedal, so she hiked up the nightgown just a little. Her bare legs from the calf down showed, but it was the only way. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she was glad the men didn't have a clear view of her face as she rode in front of the truck. She showed more of her legs than she wanted to. Her parents had no idea she was riding off and leading two strangers across Pinecraft. But what else could she do?

After taking a few turns, she finally pulled in to the Tourist Church lot and waited. When the truck was parked, the men got out and walked toward her.

“The house is right down there. The one on the corner. You just passed it,” she called, not getting off her bike. They continued forward, and she wondered if she should just ride away, but they paused far enough away not to worry her.

The passenger was just a few inches taller than she was, and he walked slightly bent over as if weary to the core. He held out a large bill.

She eyed it and wrinkled her nose. “What's that for?”

“For your help.”

He wants to pay for my help?
She placed her foot on the bike pedal. “Oh no, that's not necessary, really. I am glad to help.”
And I'll even be more glad to be back in my room, in my bed.

He slipped it inside the pocket of the Western-style shirt he wore. His sleeves were rolled up at the elbows, but his arms weren't thick and muscular like Matthew's. He wore a watch on his right wrist, and it looked expensive. On both hands he wore a few rings, something she'd never seen on a man.

“I'm just glad I can help. I best get home.” She pulled out and offered a quick wave.

“I'd like to see you again. If it's possible. I just have questions, about that sleeping hat…and maybe a few other things.”

Joy paused again. “Sure. I'll be at the fabric store tomorrow. I work there.”

“Can you give me an address?” He pulled out his cell phone as if he was going to type it in.

“You don't need an address. Our community is only eight blocks square. Anyone will know.” She rode off then, before he could ask any more questions. From behind her he was calling out something else, maybe a thank-you, but with the soft wind whipping around her face, it was hard to be sure. The sooner she could get home the better. She just hoped the truck hadn't woken up anyone else, hadn't made them look out their windows to see her riding her bike to this house—in her nightgown, of all things. And that news of it wouldn't get back to the bishop.

The wind blew on her face, and a cold shiver raced down her spine. No, that wouldn't do at all.

 

Ham Loaf

2½ pounds ground ham

1 cup crushed saltines

2½ pounds ground beef

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons Lawry's seasoned salt

½ cup milk

1½ teaspoons salt

Glaze

¾ cup brown sugar

¼ cup water

½ tablespoon mustard

¼ cup vinegar

Pineapple Sauce

1½ cups pineapple juice

½ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin

1 teaspoon dry mustard

⅓
cup dark corn syrup

2 tablespoons vinegar

Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients. In a larger bowl, combine ham and next seven ingredients (through salt) and half of glaze. Mix well and put in loaf pan. Shape into loaf like meat loaf. (It can also be baked in a roaster pan.) Bake 1 hour, basting with glaze every 15 minutes. Serve with pineapple sauce over the top. For variety, shape into balls and bake on cookie sheet about 15 minutes. Serves 15 to 20.
*