The Photograph (12 page)

E
VA
AND
F
RONA
HAD
BEEN
TEMPTED
to take the long way home after the auction, and they soaked up the lovely evening—mild enough for light shawls in the carriage. The ride brought with it a sense of quiet, ideal for relaxing as the horse pulled them steadily toward Eden Valley. Along the way, they encountered other Amish buggies, everyone waving and calling greetings in
Deitsch
to one another.

“You had yourself a fine time,” Frona said, her hands on the driving lines.

“
Jah
, helpin' Sammy Mast find Naomi,” Eva said. “He got himself lost somehow.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“Oh,” Eva replied, suddenly feeling a little shy.

“But you certainly did seem to enjoy the search for Naomi. Or, at least, the prospect of it.” Frona let out a rare smile. “And you seemed to stick together for a
gut
long time after Sammy went off with Naomi.”

Her sister was having fun with this, no question. “Well,
Orpha Byler didn't bother hiding her opinion of Jed, now, did she?” Eva volunteered, wondering how long Frona had been observing her.

“Oh, it's just Jed already . . . is it?” Frona's eyes narrowed with mischievous delight.

“
Jah
, Jed Stutzman from Ohio. His boss is related to Jonas Byler by marriage.”

“Well, ‘just Jed' looks 'bout our age,” Frona noted.

Eva didn't know how much more she wanted to divulge. Now, if it were Lily asking, she wouldn't have had any problem with telling all.

“It wonders me how Orpha got so chummy with him, at liberty to march over there with her cousins.” Frona was inching into the prying side of things.

Eva began to hum “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and let the comment be, grateful when Frona didn't weasel for more information. Besides, it was only a single encounter. Who knew if Jed would actually appear at market on Thursday.

You just never know about out
-of-towners,
she decided, leaning near the window, glad they were nearing the turnoff toward home.

“You ain't listenin', love,” Naomi told Abner, who'd admitted he was feeling almost too droopy to drive the carriage after all the pie and ice cream he'd enjoyed at the auction. “I daresay the fella from Ohio seemed awful nice, and a progressive Amishman at that. Did ya notice that right fancy hat brim?”

“You just wanna see Eva happily married, like you?” Abner winked at her. “Is that what you're going to say next?”

“Oh, you!”

He reached for her hand, and she pulled away playfully.

“Come on over here, woman,” Abner teased.

“It's still daylight, dear,” Naomi cautioned him. “We ain't youngsters no more.”

“Well, the fire ain't out yet.”

Submitting to her husband's flirtation, she leaned her hand on the seat between them so no one could see as they passed other buggies.

Abner linked his big fingers around hers. “Aw, that's my girl.”

“So, what do ya
really
think 'bout the Ohio fella?” she asked.

“No need to think; I've heard all I need to know from Jonas Byler himself.”

She held her breath.

“Seems one of Jonas's granddaughters might be interested in him.” Abner smiled. “Some competition's always
gut
, of course.”

“If I know Eva Esch, she's not one to put herself forward.”

“She's one sweet girl, I'll say. But Jed'll only be around till Monday sometime, so it may be a moot point.”

Naomi sighed.
Poor Eva.

They didn't talk much more about it. And eventually, when Naomi felt her husband's hand go limp around hers, she looked over and saw him catching more than just flies while their reliable horse kept trotting, heading homeward.

Much later that evening, once the house was quiet and after the second night of Bible reading with Jonas and Elsie, Jed settled into his room. He'd placed the peculiar photograph next to the bed and glanced over at it occasionally, still puzzled. He was reasonably certain, if not convinced, that Eva Esch and the girl in the photo were one and the same. In which case, Eva, kind and thoughtful as she seemed, must have had a defiant side earlier in her life, defiant enough to flout the Old Order's ban on personal photos. If so, she'd hidden it very well today.

Before meeting Eva, he'd considered privately showing Elsie Byler to see if she recognized the young woman. But he was glad now he hadn't been so foolish.
I might have jeopardized my chance to get to
know Eva better. After all, Elsie would surely favor Orpha
over Eva.

After a few minutes of rereading some of the notes in the margins, Jed closed the book and went to outen the gas lamp. He wondered when Eva had taken the train west. Perhaps Thursday at market, if the opportunity presented itself, he would ask her. Nothing pointed or prying, just a simple, casual question.

Lily's done
more than leave us; she's made it clear we
don't count for much,
Eva decided as she wandered out to the stable with the lantern. Max bounded over and sat near her, panting, keeping her company. The air was still, and the katydids and crickets were making a ruckus.

She took down the grooming brush and went to Prince's stall. Poor fellow, he'd trotted ever so hard coming up the incline from the auction hours ago. She would put her angst over Lily to good work on their favorite horse.
Like a pet.

“You miss Lily, too, don't ya?” she whispered, leaning against Prince's velvety nose.

There were times when Lily's absence felt like a stab in her heart, though not as painful as when Dat had died so suddenly.

“Lily sure changed things by goin' away,” Eva muttered as she worked on the thick black mane.

How different this moment would be if Lily were still living at home. They might have come to water the horses together, like many other nights. Eva dearly missed the whispering and laughing. How many times had Lily waited up for Eva after a date, and the other way around?

One night, though, when Lily had stayed out longer than usual, Eva had sat up for hours, wondering if she shouldn't just go to bed. It was the evening Lily had finally agreed to go riding with a fellow outside their church district. The nighttime breezes had helped cool the rooms upstairs, and Eva had gone to the open window and leaned on the sill, peering out at the stars.

She'd never planned to eavesdrop or observe Lily with Manny, but there they were walking toward the house in the moonlight. At first, Eva looked away. Then, realizing something seemed amiss, she hurried downstairs and out to the screened-in porch, listening and watching. Manny was telling Lily that he wanted to see her again, and very soon—even before next weekend—in a demanding tone.

Lily backed away, saying she was getting home awful late.

“It'll be even later next time,” Manny had said as he reached for Lily, but she brushed him away.

Concerned, Eva opened the screen door and hurried out. “Everything all right over there?” she'd called gently, mindful of their sleeping mother.

Relieved, Lily had come running toward her as Manny turned back down the driveway toward his buggy, his footsteps quick on the gravel.

Upstairs, Lily had been terribly quiet as she dressed for bed. Eva prayed for wisdom all the while. And after they'd turned out the gas lamp and settled into bed, Lily confided that Manny definitely wasn't for her. “No matter how nice he was at the Singing last week.” Even though Lily had assured Eva that nothing appalling had taken place, she refused to put herself at risk with such a fellow.

Lily was so careful then.
Why was she now so willing to take a risk
like running away?
Eva wondered.

She finished brushing Prince, then gave him additional water
and headed for the house, Max alongside her as the night sounds filled up the darkness.

———

Inside, Eva said good-night to Frona and took time to wash up, getting ready for bed. Then, sitting at the desk where she'd last seen Lily, Eva took out her journal and began to write.

Tuesday, May 20

With everything in me, I wish Lily would let us know where she is. It would help so much to know she's safe. Frona would rest easier and so would I. Our brothers seem worried, enough so that all of them have spent time questioning various neighbors and relatives. So Lily's whereabouts are a mystery to us all.

It wonders me if someday Lily might recognize that she belongs here and not out in the world. Oh, I do hope she will, before she marries outside the church and it's too late.

At some point, I'm going to have to stop holding my breath. I can't cry for her the rest of my life, even though I would if I thought it might somehow help.

O, dear Lord above, please watch over our befuddled sister. I do pray this in Thy holy name. Amen.

Then, because Eva hadn't taken time after the auction to make any more candies for tomorrow's customers, she set her windup alarm clock for five. Anxious for some good rest, she blew out the lamp and slipped into the soft bedcovers, reaching for the lightweight quilt Mamma had made. Her mind wandered to the fair-haired young man she'd met today.

Ah, Mamma, what would you think of
Jed Stutzman?

Eva couldn't settle down, wondering about the strange but
sweet way she and Jed had simply stumbled upon each other.
Thanks to little Sammy
.

But more than that, she couldn't get over the surprisingly tender way she felt about him, even now as she tucked the covers under her chin and watched the moonlight's dance on the wall. She let her mind flit back to all that Jed had said to her, and she to him, and then felt a little ridiculous.
I just met him, for goodness' sake!