The Photograph (10 page)

But
where?

The grandfather clock downstairs chimed ten times, and Jed prepared to retire for the night. Morning would come on cat's paws, sneaking up on him.

E
ARLY
THE
NEXT
MORNING
after breakfast, Jed left Jonas's house to peruse the barn equipment up the road, already displayed for the auction. Other men were trickling onto the property, a smattering of Amish and Mennonites and even a handful of English farmers—many of them milling about and surveying the tools and other offerings.

A number of men had gravitated to the stable, talking rapidly in
Deitsch
, a few puffing on pipes, a habit Jed hadn't noticed much in public places back home.
Except for some of
the older Amishmen who smoke on their own property, like
Uncle Ervin.

It was certain there would be plenty of competition in the bidding for the barn's and house's contents, all of which were to be sold in separate lots.

Jed observed Mose and his wife riding into the lane, Lovina and Orpha squeezed into the second bench seat with two other younger girls. Right now, though, Jed needed to go over to sign up for his bidding number, in case he saw something that caught his interest.

Several older men were chewing the fat as Jed made his way into the line for the bidding numbers. “Word has it a clinic in Philly has health screening tests for seniors, free of charge,” one of the long-bearded men was saying.

“Hadn't heard that,” said another.

“How old do ya have to be?” asked a third.

“A senior.”

“Well, I've got a few years yet till I hit eighty,” the second man said.

“Seems to me that's a super-senior,” the first man said with a chuckle.

Jed grinned, and when he'd acquired his number, he moseyed out to the barn to have a look at the animals, eager for the day when he might own more than one road horse and perhaps some goats or chickens.

Later, on his way back toward the yard, he noticed Mose tie his mare to the hitching post, the girls standing in a cluster nearby. The thought of having to talk exclusively with Orpha Byler again felt uncomfortable in light of last evening's porch encounter.

As they lingered at the breakfast table, Naomi Mast pressed Abner about the estate auction down near Quarryville. “Wouldn't it be nice to go for just a little while?”

Paging through
The Budget,
Abner appeared to have other things on his mind. “There's nothin' I'm looking to buy.”

“Are ya so sure we wouldn't enjoy ourselves?” she pleaded.

“Fairly sure.”

Naomi set her teacup down and added, “We could have some delicious food while we walk around a bit.”

Abner inclined his head toward her. “This must mean a lot to ya.”

“Well, I've been a-turnin' the idea round and round this morning, is all. We meet such interesting people at these sales, and some of our grandchildren might be there, too. Our son Elam will be, for sure.”

Abner set his paper down and came over to the sink to plant a kiss on her lips. “I remember that perty smile of yours, Naomi, and I haven't seen it yet this mornin'. S'pose that means we best be ridin' down to that auction you're so keen on.”

“Oh, Abner, ya mean it?” She couldn't keep from smiling as she leaned happily into his strong arms.

“I do indeed.”

Their rhubarb was coming on fast now, and from the kitchen window, Eva observed Frona basking in the sunlight like a child. She'd gone out to pick right after breakfast while Eva laid out her candies and other goodies for tomorrow's customers.

Frona was happiest, Eva decided, when she was putting up jam, something she did for the tourists who came to The Sweet Tooth and discovered the preserves for sale alongside Eva's confections.
Sweets upon sweets!

To keep from going
narrish
over Lily's departure, Eva poured her heart into her own work. And whenever she thought of Lily, she breathed a prayer and ached for whatever pain had propelled her sister away.

A little while later, Ida Mae dropped by with some fresh bread to share. “You two oughta be down at the Quarryville estate auction, selling your jams and homemade candies,” she suggested to Eva when Frona came inside. “Might lift your spirits some.”

“Oh, there'll be plenty of goodies, I'm sure,” Eva replied.

“Your Dat and Mamm are goin',” Frona said, turning from the
sink, where she was washing rhubarb. “Naomi said so when I was out mailin' some letters this morning.”

Eva brightened. “I'm
sure
Abner's excited.”

Ida Mae laughed. “No doubt she had to twist his arm.”

“Your Mamm likes to mingle with new folks,” Eva told Ida Mae. “She's a social butterfly, my mother always said.”

“Well, Dottie would've known,” Ida Mae said.

When Ida Mae was gone, Frona returned to the rhubarb. “Are ya lookin' forward to going to market Thursday?” she asked Eva as she took out the cutting board and began to slice the stalks for jam.

“
Jah
, and for the same reason Naomi's goin' to the auction.”

“You're itchin' to see some new faces, I 'spect.” Frona squinted at her. “Ain't still hoping to meet someone who might know where Lily's gone, are ya?”

“It
would
be helpful to know if she's safe somewhere, ain't so?”

“I 'spect we'll hear something when she runs out of money,” Frona spouted.

And the sooner, the better,
Eva thought sadly.

“I got thirty dollars
 . . .
now
 
give me forty,” the Amish auctioneer rattled off from where he stood high on a flatbed wagon. “Thirty, thirty
 . . .
give me forty?”

Jed raised his head to the younger man reciting bids while keeping track of indications from the throng of bidders as various items were presented.

“Got a forty-dollar bid—will ya give me fifty?” called the auctioneer.

This was the third item that had caught Jed's eye, but he'd dropped out of the bidding when the price went higher than he felt the particular tool was worth.
I can't see paying these prices.

By ten-thirty, his stomach was rumbling, and he'd struck out further with each item he'd tried to secure. He wandered over to the buggy shed to have a look at the food selection. The place was crowded with church benches and tables set up on one side. Orpha and two other girls he didn't recognize were helping with the food, and he stepped up to order a barbecue sandwich.

Orpha spotted him and smiled, the roses in her cheeks growing brighter.
I have to admit,
he thought,
she's
very friendly. And pretty, too.

“Anything else you'd like?” Orpha asked, pointing out the soda options.

“There's also plenty of pie and ice cream,” another of the girls piped up.

“I'll be back for dessert later,” he said, paying for his sandwich and going to sit at one of the only spots available.

While he ate, he wondered if he might have been too quick to judge Orpha.
Should I give it another go?

After all, he was interested in marrying a level-headed, responsible young woman, and Orpha seemed to be that. She didn't, however, come across as a book reader, though she was smart. His uncle would be pleased if he came home with good news to report.

Still, she's nothing like
Lydiann,
he thought. And that was the heart of the issue, the answer behind every dating-related question
.

The day was mild and sunshine plentiful. The occasional scent of lilacs wafted on the breeze as Naomi walked along with Abner at the auction late that morning. They greeted two other Plain couples, one with young children in tow, and Naomi savored this chance to mingle.

On the other side of the corncrib, Naomi spotted their youngest son, Elam, with his little boy, two-and-a-half-year-old Sammy. The very instant the child laid eyes on his
Mammi
Naomi, he began pulling on his father's sleeve, asking in
Deitsch
if he could walk around with her and
Dawdi
Abner. Elam agreed and told Naomi he'd catch up with them in a little while.

Sammy's blue eyes sparkled as he looked up at Naomi, who delighted in feeling his small hand tucked into hers. “Such a nice surprise,” she said. “Maybe you'd like some ice cream.”

Abner tapped their grandson's miniature straw hat, which leaned jauntily toward the back of his little head. “I'm going to amble over to look at the farming equipment,” he told Naomi.

Naomi nodded and happily led Sammy to the concessions area, where dozens of folks were lining up. While in the crush of the crowd, Sammy managed to slip away from her.

She turned quickly, calling his name.
How'd he get loose
?
she wondered, scurrying about.

Leaving the area, she went in search of the dear child, thinking now that he must have spotted his father and changed his mind, wanting to be with Elam instead.
Like
Kinner
are known to do
.