The Crossroad (17 page)

Benjamin continued his story. “Susie and I’d gone to this here singin’ over near Smoketown, and the older folk had departed for home along ’bout ten o’clock, so we knew it was time for a little pairing off and square dancin’ amongst the young people. ’Course I knew that the folk games we often played to the tune of ‘Turkey in the Straw’ and ‘Skip to My Lou’—on a fiddle, guitar, and a mouth organ or two—wasn’t really considered dancin’ by the Old Order.” Ben stopped here and, right in the middle of the tellin’, turned and asked John Lapp, “How ’bout your church district over in Paradise?”

“Jah, same as here,” John said, nodding his head. “Most of the bishops are sticklers when it comes to any sort of dancin’, you know, for the young folk. Same thing with music at them singin’s.” He spoke with authority, like he was mighty confident ’bout his answer.

Susanna liked that, but she wondered ’bout his blunt approach. Almost sounded as though he had something to prove. She wasn’t sure how that would set with Rachel, her bein’ as timid as she was. Most the time, anyways. ’Cept here lately …

“Be that as it may,” Ben went on, “Susie and I each took a corn shock—same as the other couples there—tryin’ to see who could finish shucking their corn first. And wouldn’tcha know, it was
my
girl who found the red ear of corn, put there by the hostess, and she had no choice but to receive a kiss from her partner, which, of course, was me.” Ben was glowing. “‘Course, you all know who I ended up courtin’ and marryin’ soon after that.”

The group burst out clapping. Even Rachel joined in, though she kept her face down, prob’ly because she didn’t know precisely where John Lapp might be seated.

Susanna was startin’ to blame herself for the whole setup. She’d clearly made her daughter miserable on Christmas Day. The smithy was no dummy, neither. Her own husband pullin’ something like this? Why, she could hardly contain herself.

Straightening herself a bit and taking a few deep breaths, Susanna hoped her husband would start thinkin’ of poor Rachel, how she might be feeling along ’bout now. As for John Lapp, she could tell he was a mite embarrassed, too, by the looks of them bright red ears peekin’ out from under his brown hair.

Esther, bless her heart, saved the day for both Rachel and the smithy, changing the course of the afternoon. In a clear and strong voice, she led out in a well-known carol, followed by two more. And if anyone had asked Susanna privately, she would’ve agreed that singing “Joy to the World” and the other songs was a right gut move on her Ohio niece’s part.

Jah, ’twas.

After carols were sung and several of Leah’s and Susanna’s married sons and their families headed back home for milkin’ chores, Levi began sharing certain things from his heart. Listening more closely now, Rachel was ever so interested in hearing what Esther’s husband had to say. He was explainin’ some of the life-changing teachings he and Esther had discovered at their Ohio church, and began to read from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. “‘Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”

Levi went on to explain that “fear is the opposite of faith,” and that we must turn away from it in the name of Jesus. “It’s time we do spiritual battle against the enemy. But we mustn’t shrink back in fear. We must keep our eyes set on the Lord—gaze on Him—as He leads us on to victory.”

He was startin’ to sound ever so much like a preacher, Rachel thought, and she wondered how her own parents would receive his forceful words … on Christmas Day, of all things.

And what of John Lapp? Was he hearin’ some of God’s Word for the first time, maybe? Honestly, she didn’t want to give a second thought to the Paradise widower, not the way her heart beat for Philip Bradley since first meeting him. And, goodness’ sake, the way John had dominated the conversation at the dinner table, well, she was right surprised at a stranger coming in and taking over like that, almost as if he was showin’ off for the whole lot of them!

Just as she was wonderin’ what she’d say if the smithy asked her to go with him somewhere, sometime, the doorbell rang.

“Well, now, who’s this?” Dat said and went to the door.

Immediately Rachel recognized the man’s voice. Philip had come back. Just like he said he would!

She sat still as anything, trying not to get her hopes up that he’d come to see
her
. No, she oughtn’t be so quick to think such a wonderful-gut thing. Still, her heart pounded with delight.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Zook,” Philip said, standing on the doorstep, his present for Annie tucked under one arm.

Ben eyed the gift. “I’m surprised to see you here … again.”

“I was in Reading, visiting a friend, and wanted to drop by and wish you folks a merry Christmas.”

“Well, the same to you,” Ben said, but he didn’t budge an inch or indicate that Philip was welcome inside.

Philip tried but failed to call upon his journalistic skills, those used in interviews and research. “Are, uh, Rachel … and Annie at home?” A ludicrous question. Of course, they were home. It was Christmas afternoon! He struggled with what to say, having experienced the same cotton-mouthed situation months ago, when he’d come here the first time.

Ben glanced over his shoulder. “Jah, Rachel’s home, but she’s entertainin’ company just now, and Annie’s busy with some of her cousins.” The man turned back to face him, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed, nearly hissing through his front teeth. “It’s Christmas Day, for goodness’ sake.”

While Ben admonished him, Philip was able to see past him into the living room, where he spotted Rachel. She was sitting next to a woman about her age, someone who might be a cousin, perhaps, since they looked very much alike, only this woman had darker hair and eyes. But it was the man, a bearded Amishman in his thirties or so, who caught Philip’s attention. He sat directly across from Rachel, gazing at her intently, as if awestruck. And understandably so. Rachel’s face was aglow with color, and there was something more to it, although he couldn’t pinpoint what. Nevertheless, it was obvious the blind woman was the object of
someone’s
affection. Even a momentary observation was enough to see that.

“I … I guess I made a mistake in coming,” he managed to say. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Zook.” Philip turned to go, present still in hand, undecided as to whether to leave it or take it back to his car. So disconcerted was he that he had not a thought of what he might’ve said to Rachel—or little Annie—if he
had
been given the opportunity. And there was the pertinent information on conversion disorder in his briefcase, representing hours of work… .

Opening the back door to his car, Philip placed the lone Christmas present inside on the seat. Just as he was standing up to close the door again, he heard someone call out his name. Looking toward the house, he saw that it was Rachel’s adorable daughter. “Well, hello there, Annie,” he replied.

“You mustn’t be goin’ just yet, Mister Philip.” She was running out the door and down the driveway.

He went around the side of the car to greet her, though he was cautious, touching only her head. “I should’ve called first, I suppose.”

Annie’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Why wouldja wanna do that on Christmas? Nobody calls first before they come. It’s just fine to drop by. All the People do that ’round here.”

“All the
People
,” he echoed, standing up and noticing that both Ben and Susanna were standing in the doorway. “But, you see, I’m not one of the People, Annie.”

The child seemed surprised at his remark and shook her head, her little white prayer bonnet slipping back slightly. “I think Mamma’d be ever so glad to see you,” she whispered, leaning closer.

“Your mother has company today.”

She wrinkled up her nose. “John Lapp, that’s all ’tis.”

“Oh,
Mister
Lapp, eh?”

“He’s lookin’ to marry Mamma, but I won’t let him.”

Chuckling, Philip backed away, thinking he ought to exit the premises before Benjamin came out and bodily shooed him off. “You’re a lively one, Annie,” he said, wishing there was a way to give her the present he’d purchased for her.

“Wait, you mayn’t leave just yet,” Annie said.

“Annie!” Susanna was calling from the front door. “Come inside, child. It’s much too cold!”

Philip motioned for her to heed her grandmother’s warning. The next sound he heard was Rachel’s gentle voice. “Annie, dear, you best be comin’ inside.”

Reaching for the car door, he caught himself just before thoughtlessly waving to the lovely blind woman in the long blue dress and full-length white apron. “Merry Christmas, Rachel!” he called instead, relieved that her parents had moved back into the house.

“Same to you, Philip.” She smiled at him from across the front yard. “Can you come in for a bit?”

Could he?
That was the reason he’d come—but how was this precarious situation going to work itself out? He thought of the Amish suitor John Lapp and Rachel’s crestfallen parents.

Annie reached for his hand and began to pull on him, attempting to bring him back up the driveway. “You hafta come in and sit a spell,” the girl said. “You
hafta
… it’s Christmas!”

“I do?” he teased, thankful for Annie’s tenacity. He would get the opportunity to visit with Rachel, after all.

“We got cookies and candy and—”

“Candy? What kind?”

“Come see.” And she continued to tug on his hand.

In Philip’s entire life, only one other female had ever tried such a tactic with him—his niece, who was equally as spunky as Rachel’s young daughter.

Philip’s coming was the perfect remedy for gettin’ John Lapp out of the house and on his way. ’Course, it was downright awkward, what with both men there in the same room. And no man, ’cept for her dear Jacob, had ever been interested in her back when she was courting age and able to see just fine. The present situation was ever so peculiar, and Rachel was more than relieved when the smithy bade his farewell, not only to her, but to everyone else in the room. Then, before actually leaving, he asked if he might call on her again. “Would that be all right?” he asked, so close that she honestly felt his breath on her face.

Stepping back, she gave him her answer softly, so as not to call attention. “I … I’ll be thinkin’ on it.”

“Gut then, I’ll give you a few days.”

She didn’t say “Thank you” or “Have a nice Christmas” or any such polite thing as he prepared to leave. Truth was, she could hardly wait for him to exit the house. And once he was gone, she wondered what on earth she would do now with Philip Bradley here again, the very man she’d found herself thinking of so often since the day he’d left. If she could’ve seen the expression on Mam’s face, she may have been sheepish, but she was spared that. And Dat did his best to cover his tracks, and he made small talk with Philip, having been a bit aloof at the door. But it was truly Esther and Levi who were most kind.

About the same time as John Lapp left, Aunt Leah and Uncle Amos said they’d best slip out and get on home. And so did the remaining guests, which left only Esther, Levi, and their four children and Annie in the house with Philip and the elder Zooks.

The job of introducing Philip to Esther and Levi fell to Rachel. But Philip had a remarkable way of setting her at ease, once again, and did an excellent job of fillin’ Esther and Levi in on his whereabouts, where he’d grown up, why he’d first come to Bird-in-Hand—to do research for a magazine article—and how it was that he’d come to write for a New York magazine called
Family Life
. Things like that.

She wasn’t sure how it happened that they got to talking ’bout a book Philip had purchased in New York. Sounded like something she wished her own father might be willin’ to read. All about the life of an Amish preacher who’d found himself caught up in age-old practices of powwowing and other occult activities. Philip was asking if any of them had heard of it or knew the author, and he gave the name.

“Does sound familiar to me,” Levi said.

“And it’s high time we had someone Plain speaking out ’bout such things in our communities,” Esther put in.

Dat was quiet; Mam, too, though she didn’t stay put long, excusin’ herself to go out and “check on the children,” which she gave as her reason for leavin’ the room.

“There
was
someone like that—someone who wasn’t afraid to speak out against the witchcraft in high places,” Philip said. “He lived here in the area a long time ago.”

Rachel was worried over what Dat would think. What was Philip going to say ’bout Gabe Esh?

Fear is the opposite of faith… .

Just then, Dat cut in. “And that there fella got himself excommunicated and shunned for it, too. We have our ways, and that’s that.” Then he got up and marched out of the room, making the floor shake as he rumbled past her.

Fear not, and do not tremble… .

“I guess I shouldn’t have brought
that
up,” Philip was saying in an apologetic tone.

“No … no, don’t be feelin’ doubtful,” Levi encouraged. “I believe that’s one of the reasons these things keep bein’ covered up and never discussed. I believe it’s the reason we find so many of the People in bondage to darkness … to the evil one.”