Sweet as Honey (22 page)

Lily curled her lips into a halfhearted smile. If she married Paul, it wouldn't be because he had money. She glanced doubtfully in his direction. Next year seemed too soon. When Paul finished his house, he'd put extra pressure on her to get married, but she was anything but sure she wanted to marry Paul. Dan Kanagy had planted too many doubts in her mind. “I don't care about money, Mammi.”

Mammi eyed her as if she were a simpleton. “Of course not. But it doesn't hurt.”

Though Aunt B rarely came with them for a visit, she always sent ajar of honey and something delicious from the oven. Lily handed Mammi a plastic zipper bag of granola.

“What's this?” Mammi asked.

“Granola with honey and wheat germ,” Lily said. “It's wonderful-
gute
with milk. One of Aunt Bitsy's favorite recipes.”

Mammi drew her brows together. “It's still warm. Elizabeth should know better than to put it in plastic before it cools. It will sweat.”

“She made it right before we came,” Lily said. “She thought you might like to eat it warm.”

Mammi shrugged. “She should have let it cool first. Elizabeth never had the patience your
mamm
did with the baking. I told her, ‘Mark my words. You'll never get a husband if you can't keep your cakes from falling.' And she hasn't.”

“But she has, Mammi,” Poppy interjected. “Aunt Bitsy's cakes hold up fine.”

They followed Mammi as she marched into the house. “But she hasn't got herself a husband. And she certainly won't now, no matter how delicious her cakes are.”

Mammi took the offensive granola to the kitchen while Lily and sisters sat down on the sofa in the small sitting room. Paul followed them and slid into the wooden chair closest to Lily. Dawdi hobbled in on his cane and shut the screen door behind him. After hooking his cane on the arm of his threadbare chair, he sat down and studied the girls as if trying to discover their hidden weaknesses and sins.

“Have you girls been good this week?” he said. “Does Elizabeth make sure you say your prayers and repent of your sins?”

“
Jah,
Dawdi,” Lily said. Rose was too timid to do much more than nod at their
dawdi
, and Poppy didn't much like the questions. “We have tried to be humble and kind and turn the other cheek.”

Paul chimed in as if he were already a grandson-in-law. “Lily is sometimes tempted by vanity, but I am helping her to see a better way.”

Dawdi nodded thoughtfully. “The girls must watch themselves for any hint of vanity. Elizabeth indulged them with braces and peacock dresses. I never understood why the girls couldn't be like other good Amish and simply go without teeth.”

She felt Poppy and Rose stiffen on either side of her. Lily glanced at Poppy's red and blotchy face, and she could see the anger threatening to boil over. It happened almost every time they came to visit. Poppy, Lily, and even Rose were forced to bite their tongues again and again when Dawdi made disparaging comments about Aunt B. Paul's condescending attitude didn't help matters today.

An unfamiliar annoyance simmered at the base of her throat. Usually when Paul started listing Lily's faults, she felt deep shame for being so wicked. But Dan didn't think she had anything to be ashamed of. He'd called her pretty. Was that so terrible? She'd grown tired of apologizing to Paul for simply existing.

Guilt wrapped an icy hand around her heart. She shouldn't think ill of Paul. He only wanted to help her. She kept forgetting that.

Ach!
Paul was right. She was too vain and proud by half.

Mammi came from the kitchen carrying a tray filled with bowls of ice cream. She served one to each of them and then sat in her old rocker next to Dawdi.

Lily was grateful for the opportunity to change the subject. “We are sorry we haven't come around this week. We've been pulling the honey something wonderful.”

Dawdi nodded. “You told us you wouldn't be by. Did it take long? The hives seem to have done well.”

It was as close to a compliment as Dawdi would ever get.

“Not near as long, Dawdi.” Poppy's lips twitched smugly, and she directed her next words at Paul. “Dan Kanagy helped us two whole days, and he built a clever honey extractor that made the work go twice as fast.”

Paul turned three shades of green in succession. Stiffening as if someone had shoved an iron rod down his spine, he said, “I couldn't help. It's been busy at the market.”

Poppy gave him a syrupy sweet smile. “
Ach,
Paul, we know how busy you are. You don't have to worry. If we need something, we ask Dan. He's never too busy to help.”

In school, Poppy usually expressed her displeasure with her fists, but Lily had never seen her deliver such a fantastic blow. Paul looked as if he'd been smacked upside the head with a hive tool.

Rose nodded eagerly. “We adore Dan. He takes very
gute
care of us,” she said, in an unusual show of defiance.

Lily took no pleasure in Paul's discomfort, but she was grateful her sisters gave Dan the credit he deserved. Not only had he saved them hours of work, but he had made the long, hard days more fun than they had ever been. She smiled just thinking of him.

“Dan Kanagy?” Dawdi said. “Is them the Kanagys out on the county road?”

“
Jah,
Dawdi.”

Dawdi thumbed his suspenders. “They're not in our district, but I hear tell they have a wonderful-
gute
dairy operation. I am glad there is someone who will do you a good turn. Elizabeth has always been stubborn about asking for help.”

Paul swelled with indignation. “Dan Kanagy has a way of worming his way into people's good opinion, but don't forget how his family cheated mine out of that piece of land.”

Dawdi turned his attention to Paul and narrowed his eyes. “That's an old argument. You should forgive your brother his trespasses.”

Lily smiled to herself. She and her
dawdi
actually saw eye to eye about something.

Paul squared his shoulders. “I have forgiven him, but I will never forget what happened. I won't let them cheat my family again.”

Dawdi didn't back down. His eye could have seared a hole right through the straw hat in Paul's hand. “If you have truly forgiven, then you would forget. Search your heart. You're harboring bitterness there.”

Paul didn't reply. He wouldn't argue with Dawdi, but he wouldn't admit that he might be wrong. His face turned from green to a dark shade of rose petal pink.

As justified as Lily felt, she'd rather not sit there and watch Paul squirm. “Dawdi, we need to ask your advice. Someone has been making mischief on our farm, and we don't know what to do about it.”

“What kind of mischief?”

Lily met eyes with Poppy. They both knew they weren't to mention the barn incident. “Three weeks ago, someone tipped over one of our beehives. After that, they pulled our laundry off the line in the middle of the night, and yesterday, they sneaked into our barn and removed one of the wheels from our buggy.”

Dawdi stroked his beard. “Have you any idea who it might be?”

“None at all,” Poppy said. “Dan thinks it's
Englisch
teenagers playing pranks.”

“That's what I said,” Paul insisted, pouting as if another child had stolen his toy.

The lines on Dawdi's forehead bunched up as they always did when he stewed over a problem. “Years ago, there was a family in Cashton who was getting their propane stolen during the night. They put a watch at the tank, but the thief got smart and came around on Sundays when they weren't home. They thought of buying an expensive lock to secure the tank. Instead, their
dat
taped a simple note to the tank. It said, ‘If you need our propane, take as much as you want. You are not stealing from us. We give it to you freely.' They didn't want the poor man to have more sins heaped upon his head. The thief never plagued them again. I hope he saw the error of his ways and came to sore repentance.”

Lily thought on that for a minute. “Do you think we should write our own note?”

“Lord willing, it will prick someone's conscience,” Dawdi said. “But if not, it might bring you a measure of peace.
Gotte
's peace comes not by the world. As your friend Paul here has forgotten, Jesus said if a man takes your coat, give him your cloak also.”

Beads of sweat appeared on Paul's forehead, and agitation rose off him like steam. “I haven't forgotten. I told you already I don't forget.”

Dawdi regarded Paul with a critical gaze. “Look to the beam in your own eye before plucking your
bruder
's mote.”

With his face getting redder by the minute, Paul stood up, probably feeling the need to justify himself or divert Dawdi's attention. “There is a bigger problem, Solomon. I hate to say it, but I'm afraid your granddaughters have been led astray.”

Led astray? Lily stole a look at Poppy. Poppy rolled her eyes.

Talk of sin and wickedness pricked Dawdi's interest more than anything else. “Who is leading my girls astray?”

Paul paced across the small room. “Bitsy is encouraging them to go against the
Ordnung
.”

Dawdi's face became a dark storm cloud. “What has she done?”

Lily was as curious as Dawdi and far more irritated.

Paul swept his hand in the direction of the sofa where Lily and her sisters sat. “All three of them wear
Englisch
jeans around the farm.”

Englisch
jeans? That was worse than a missing buggy wheel?

Lily's annoyance turned to indignation. She'd already explained the necessity of a bee suit. Had Paul not listened?

Poppy blew out air from between her lips and threw herself against the back of the sofa. Even Rose looked put out, and she never got annoyed.

Dawdi frowned, but he didn't erupt as Paul probably hoped he would. “Are you talking about the trousers they wear for beekeeping?”

Paul folded his arms across his chest and flashed a smug look in Poppy's direction. “
Jah
. It's unseemly and immodest.”

Lily's chin nearly scraped the floor. What did Paul think he was doing, blatantly insulting her
schwesters
and Aunt B, not to mention straining Lily's patience something wonderful? He was obviously in an abominable mood.

When he got worked up like this, she could usually talk him down by meekly giving in to his wishes or apologizing for her unrighteousness. She felt too irked to do either. “Paul,” she said, “I already explained—”

He looked at her as if she were a small child, too ignorant to understand. “Just because your
aendi
gives you permission does not mean it's right. She is a blind guide, leading you and your sisters into the ditch. Too many of
die youngie
follow worldly fashions.” He turned to Dawdi. “Your granddaughters have been baptized. They shouldn't think of putting on men's clothing.” Paul had the audacity to squat next to Lily and lay his hand over hers. She resisted the urge to snatch it away. “I'm sorry to have to resort to taking this to your
dawdi,
Lily, but he is the only one in your family who can see reason. Sometimes the men must put our foot down.”

Lily came within inches from grabbing both her sisters' hands and storming out the door. Was it worth the extra hour it would take to walk home? It might be if she could be rid of Paul.

Dawdi looked as if he were carefully considering what Paul had told him. “I appreciate your concern for my granddaughters. They are already outsiders in the community because of their
aendi
Elizabeth. I have cautioned them time and again that they, of all people, must be strictly obedient to the
Ordnung
.”

Paul nodded so enthusiastically, his hair slapped against his forehead. “As Lily's boyfriend, it is my duty to give the sisters correction when I see a need.”

Dawdi bowed his head in resignation. “Heaven knows they don't get correction at home.”

“Dawdi,” Poppy protested, “please don't speak ill of Aunt Bitsy.”

Poppy had enough courage to speak for the three of them, as she so often did at Dawdi's house. It was
gute
of Poppy to try, but there was no reason to bother. Defense of Aunt Bitsy fell on deaf ears.

With every bone in her body, Lily wanted to give Paul a good scolding, but she'd never hear the end of it if she embarrassed him in front of Dawdi and Mammi. Besides, her censure would only make him grumpier.

“I never speak ill of another man, Priscilla. I am only stating the truth,” Dawdi said.

Paul looked exultant.
Ach,
how he loved to be right.

Dawdi settled back in his chair. “I have talked to the bishop about the beekeeper clothes. His nephew in Indiana keeps bees, and the girls can't wear dresses when they do it or they will be stung, not once but several times. Since Elizabeth and the girls seem to be coming along fine with their honey, the bishop has given permission.”

In other words, since Aunt B had never asked for support from the church, they liked the honey business very much.

Dawdi eyed Paul. “Didn't Lily tell you she got the bishop's permission?”

“She did,” Paul stammered. “I only wanted you to be aware of what goes on. The girls have no
fater
to be strict with them.”

Was that the role of a
fater
—someone to be strict and unbending without a drop of mercy to temper his rules? Was that the kind of
fater
Paul would be? Lily didn't remember her own
dat
that way.