The Forbidden (26 page)
Did Daed think Susannah could actually beguile me . . .
change my mind about Nellie Mae? If so, what sort of man
would I be? And what sort of husband?
He felt ensnared, trapped by his father’s impossible expectations, yet unwilling to abandon his love for Nellie. His frustration gnawed at him.
I have to find a way to
make this work!
But first things first. Picking up his pen, Caleb began to write to his sweetheart.
Dear Nellie Mae,
I hope you’re all right, even though by the looks of
your sad eyes Sunday night I fear you aren’t. Frankly,
neither am I. To think I might lose you because of this
ridiculous deed . . . well, I simply can’t stand by and
let you think the worst of me.
Truth be told, I went against my better judgment.
My father insisted I spend time with Susannah Lapp,
hoping I would regard her as a future bride. Now, I
realize you have merely my word on this, but what I’m
telling you is true.
Talking once with Susannah was the only way for
me to say I’d obeyed my father’s bidding, something
I was anxious to be done with. Then you came into
the barn and saw us together, when she and I were
already in disagreement, to put it mildly. That girl is
more trouble than I ever suspected.
I want nothing more than to see you again, Nellie.
Will you meet me at our special place this Saturday
night?
I’ll bring my courting buggy, so we can at least
ride a bit. Please hear me out. Won’t you give me a
second chance?
Until then.
With all my love,
Caleb Yoder
Satisfied he had explained things adequately to his darling, he slid the letter into his bureau drawer to mail later.
Mamma appeared absolutely chagrined at the news of who’d placed the ad. “Susannah, you say? Why, that schemer!”
“Nan thought so, too.” Nellie cut generous wedges of coconut cream pie for Mamma, Rebekah, and Nan as they gathered around the table. Dat was out paying someone a visit.
“Sure would be nice to have Rhoda home,” said Nan, changing the subject. Nellie and Mamma muttered their agreement.
“It was your sister I’d set out to see yesterday when I felt impressed to stop in and visit Rosanna instead,” Mamma mentioned. She didn’t bring up again the heartbreak –Rosanna was enduring, yet Nellie knew it was on all of their minds.
They sat quietly, savoring their pie for a while before Rebekah said, “It’s been awful nice of you to let me stay here for the time being.”
“Won’t your father ask you to return home?” Nellie asked gently. Was David Yoder so hard as to forbid his daughter to ever come home?
“I doubt it.” Rebekah took another bite of pie, her face serious.
“Well, girls,” Mamma said, “let’s not forget God does impossible things. He’s surely at work in your father’s heart, jah?” Mamma’s eyes were suddenly bright with tears. “You’re welcome to stay with us as long as you wish, Rebekah dear.”
Rebekah reached for Mamma’s hand. “Will ya remember my family in your prayers? I’d be so grateful,” she said, surprising Nellie—Nan, too, apparently, because her eyes looked like big blue buttons.
“How about right now?” Mamma opened a hand to Nan, as well, and Nellie slowly put hers out, too. They all bowed heads. “Our heavenly Father, will you look over our broken hearts—each one—and mend and heal those who are in need of mercy? Please give your grace to Rebekah.
Watch over her parents and her brothers and sisters and their families . . . and give her peace this night.”
Mamma paused as if to keep from breaking down, releasing Nellie’s hand to blow her nose. Nan and Rebekah kept their eyes closed, evidently waiting for the amen, which was only slightly delayed by Mamma’s addition of “poor Rosanna and Elias” to her prayer, as well as “dear Rhoda.”
When she said Rhoda’s name, her voice cracked.
Nellie wondered what Rebekah thought of such fervency, but Caleb’s sister seemed unfazed and actually inquired about what Mamma thought was the “best way to pray.”
“Anyone can talk to God,” Mamma explained, looking at Nellie now—“like you would to a close friend or family member.” Mamma was undoubtedly hoping to win her over yet.
Sighing, Nellie wondered if she shouldn’t get Suzy’s diary out of hiding again. She’d felt so tenderhearted after reading the last third of it. Suddenly she recalled Rhoda’s request for it. She’d refused, afraid of what Rhoda would think after reading of Suzy’s wild months in the world. But with Rhoda gone, Nellie wondered whether it might have done her oldest sister some good to see Suzy’s path to transformation. If Rhoda had read the journal through to its sweet end, maybe she’d still be here with them now.
She looked at Mamma, who had endured such painful losses in the past year. Presently her mother was talking about “trusting in our Savior, even when people around us disappoint.”
“Sometimes it’s terribly hard, though.” Rebekah sniffled.
“Well, sure it is. But it’s not so much how we manage to get through the hard things as it is being willing to cling to God’s promises while we’re gettin’ there, ya know?”
Nellie was surprised at the way her mother described things. She couldn’t deny being somewhat curious about her parents’ loyalty to their newfound faith . . . a faith shared by Nan and Rebekah.
Elias and Rosanna, too
. And to think the Kings’ choosing the New Order had taken little Eli from them and put him back in Kate’s arms!
When Reuben knocked on the Beilers’ back door, he was quickly met by John, who did not usher him inside with his formerly cheerful welcome. Rather, he gave a single nod and stepped aside awkwardly to let Reuben pass.
Immediately it was clear Eli was the center of attention that evening. A doting Kate held him, surrounded by all the children.
Reuben’s heart sank but he didn’t dare let on. As pleasant as the scene before him was, he could think only of grieving Rosanna King. How was he to broach that thorny subject over the soft buzz of voices?
Kate tenderly kissed Eli’s cheek, and the two youngest children leaned in on either side of the rocking chair, kissing him, too. John moved to his wife’s side, leaving Reuben to merely observe.
For a moment he almost forgot why he’d come, but Eli began to cry as if he was downright hungry. The oldest girls shushed and made over him, but nothing seemed to work.
“What do ya think’s wrong?” asked the older of the two.
“He just ate, and he’s wearin’ a fresh diaper.”
The domestic peace broken, John finally turned his attention back to Reuben. “What’s brought you out on such a wintry night?”
Normally by now Reuben would have been offered a seat at the table and a slice of pie, but there was no sign of hospitality from either John or Kate, and Reuben felt increasingly disconcerted.
Lord, please keep a rein on my temper. Help me to know
how to bring up Kate’s heartless deed
.
Just then someone pounded on the back door, and John hurried to see who it was.
There stood Elias King, his face ashen. “Hullo, John . . .
Reuben.” Elias’s expression registered surprise.
“Elias . . . good to see ya.” Reuben’s throat tightened up. He felt for this fine young man; it was obvious Elias had come to beg for the child’s return, as awkward as it seemed.
Kate rose and wordlessly walked out of the room with Eli, who was still wailing. All six children followed, like ducklings scurrying after their mamma.
When John waved them toward the table, Elias eased himself onto the bench, pain on his face. He folded his hands on the table and eyed Reuben. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “You’re witness to the things I mean to say.” He then directed his gaze at John.
“Elias, you won’t be changin’ our minds, no matter how many times you come over here.” John reached for his coffee.
“Now, wait a minute,” Reuben spoke up. “Look at this man. Hear him out, for pity’s sake.”
John’s posture stiffened. “Eli is my son.”
“That he is, though I feel as though he is mine, too.” Elias took in a long breath and offered a thin smile before becoming more solemn. “But hear me out. A baby girl is cryin’ without end for her brother, over yonder.” He glanced toward the window. “And my wife’s pining for Eli, too.”
“Eli will be raised here,” John stated. “With God-fearin’ people.”
“We
are
God-fearing people, John. And in the fear of the Lord, you gave Rosanna and me a son . . . and a daughter. They belong together.”
John’s neck and face were red, although thus far he appeared stubbornly in control of himself. “My son belongs with us, here, where he will grow up in the Old Ways.”
“What Eli needs is to grow up knowin’ the saving grace of the Lord,” Elias stated, his voice firm but calm.
The tension in the air was palpable. It was agonizing to watch this exchange over a single baby—a man-child. It seemed to Reuben there was no satisfying either person, and he again beseeched the living God for aid.
A flickering thought crossed his mind that a third party was needed, someone to guide them in the right direction
. In
the same direction.
“Bishop Joseph should decide,” Reuben said suddenly.
“No, I’ve already made up my mind. I won’t allow my boy to be raised by folk professin’ an alien gospel.”
“But surely you trust the bishop? The wisdom of the Old Order?”
John looked at Reuben, as did Elias. A mutual hope filled both men’s eyes. “If that’s what it’ll take,” John said, and Elias nodded in agreement.
“Then I’ll speak to my brother on your behalf.”
Surprisingly, John reached over to shake Reuben’s hand as all three men stood.
“I’ll let Rosanna know,” Elias said gratefully to Reuben as he made his way toward the back door.
“And I’ll tell Kate,” said John with confidence.
Reuben bid John good-night and headed home to Betsy.
He wondered if what he’d proposed had been divinely dropped into his heart, perhaps.
I’d dread to be in the bishop’s shoes!
Rosanna had been walking the floor with fussy Rosie for more than an hour, not understanding how such a tired baby could simply refuse to give in to sleep. So she held her near, talking softly during the short intervals when Rosie would let up to catch a breath, only to begin howling again. Rosanna tried humming, cajoling, rubbing her back, her tummy—everything that had always helped in the past, but to no avail.
When Elias finally arrived home, she was ever so glad.
He took Rosie from her, kissing her little forehead, then the top of her head. Even so, she continued to cry.
“What do you s’pose is wrong?”
“Could it be she senses Eli is gone?”
She’d considered that earlier. “Could be, jah. We’ll simply give her more attention . . . till her brother’s home again.”
Elias’s face sagged; he must have been dead tired. But she knew it was more than that.
“Kate might not bring Eli back, Rosanna. You must know this.”
“No . . . no, let’s not think that way.”
“Well, the decision’s not ours anymore. Nor is it John and Kate’s.”
“What do you mean?”
He paused as Rosie gave in to sleep. “Where Eli should grow up is the bishop’s choice to make now,” he told –Rosanna, who followed when he carried Rosie upstairs to her cradle.
“But no! Bishop Joseph will surely rule in their favor.” She began to cry.
He reached for her, tenderly pulling her into his arms. “Come here.”
She felt the strength of him, the great affection he had for her, in the gentle brush of his lips against her cheek and then her mouth. “Oh, Elias . . . I’ve worried so.”
He took her hand, leading her to their room. “We must trust God for Eli’s future. Not a speck of worry will change a thing.”
She agreed, trying to focus on her darling as he sat on the bed, drawing her to him.
“You’re so perty, love.”
She forced a smile as she sat next to him, his arms around her now. His kisses were ever so light, comforting her, if only for this moment.
“I love you, Mrs. King.” He often said this somewhat comically during their most intimate moments, but tonight his tone was wholly serious. “Let me ease your sadness . . . for now.” He cupped Rosanna’s chin as his kisses grew more fervent. Their tears of joy and sadness mingled as they comforted each other with their love.
By nine o’clock Wednesday morning, the bakery shop was filled to capacity and abuzz with fancy talk. Nellie was glad for the extra help as Mamma served up warm muffins and sticky buns oozing with icing and glazed sugar. Nan and Rebekah periodically delivered more freshly baked goodies to the bakery shop from the kitchen at the house. Soon, though, the most requested items on the “menu” were hot coffee and cocoa, which were plenty easy to make on the hot plate Dat had rigged up to a small gas-powered generator.
Next thing, he’ll want to put in an oven,
Nellie thought with a smile. More and more of the People were having electricity installed, along with phones—her own brother James and family were among the latter. So far, though, there was no talk of such happening under Dat’s roof. Nellie was secretly glad, although there was no reason now to worry over whether Caleb and his family approved of them—not after what she’d witnessed last Sunday evening. She truly wanted to look on the bright side of things, as Mamma often encouraged her children to do, but she was consciously bracing herself for a breakup letter from Caleb.
Several regulars were sitting at the table farthest away, where Miss Bachman was indulging in her usual treat— peanut butter fudge—saying nothing else could quite compare. Laughter cascaded from the middle table, where all four chairs were occupied, as was also the case at the first.
Twelve customers in all, and every one having a wonderful-good morning together.
Nellie refused to puff up with pride, but she was delighted to see the pleasure they took in enjoying her creations. Oh, she wished she could bottle up some of this happiness and carry it over to Rosanna. If Kate Beiler hadn’t seen the light and returned Eli by now, there was surely great sorrow in the Kings’ house again today. Sadness seemed to abound in any number of hearts here lately, including poor, displaced Rebekah’s.
