The Protector (5 page)

“This is a busy house,” Lucy murmured.

“Too busy for me. And I don’t like that. I’m important, too.”

Little by little, Lucy’s lips curved upward. “Indeed you are,” Lucy said softly. After a pause, she said, “Katie, why do you want to go to the library so badly? Do you really need a new book?”

“My girlfriend Mary said they have a summer reading program there. She started on practically the first day off from school.”

“Ah. Now I’m beginning to understand. You want to join it, too?”

“I do. Mary said she takes books home and reads them, and then when she goes back, she gets stickers on a chart. I bet I’m going to be the only student at school who won’t be able to show the teacher a star chart.”

“Which would be a difficult thing.”

Katie quickly looked at Lucy just to see if she was laughing at her. But Lucy’s gaze was sweet and kind. So she added, “I want to join. And I’m trying to be patient, but my patience is almost all gone.”

“I can see that it is.”

“I’m trying, but I don’t have all that much patience, anyway.” She shook her head sadly. “I don’t know why.”

“It’s one of the Lord’s mysteries, for sure.”

“Anyway, no one will take me to the library and I’m too small to take myself.”

After another long look her way, Lucy started straightening up her writing supplies and set them in a basket. “You know what? You are exactly right. It isn’t fair that no one has taken the time to take you.”

“I am?” She shook her head. “I mean, really?”

“Indeed. Two weeks is a mighty long time to be patient. And you have done a
gut
job.”

“You think so?” She really did want someone to think she was a good girl.

Lucy chuckled. “Oh, Katie, you do make me laugh! I had forgotten all about my promise to take you to the library. I am sorry.”

“Graham had promised, too, but he started thinking about Jenna.”

“And Loyal has the new farm.”

“And Mamm has the house and her chores. Calvin has you,” Katie blurted, then immediately wished she hadn’t. Calvin had told her many times that he wanted everyone to be nice to Lucy all the time. And that they should always make her happy and welcome.

Katie was pretty positive that he wasn’t going to like her saying such things to Lucy.

But instead of frowning, a dimple appeared in Lucy’s cheek. Katie almost sighed in relief. That dimple was a sure sign that she was amused, not angry or hurt.

“Let’s put on our bonnets and hitch up the buggy and go, then.”

“You mean we can go right now?”

Lucy tilted her head to one side. “Can you think of a better time?”

“No . . .”

“Then I think we’d best get going. After all, to tell you the truth, I’m a little afraid of what might happen if we make you be any more patient.”

“My
mamm
says I have a lot to learn about waiting.” Lowering her voice, Katie confided, “I’m not too good at waiting, either.”

Lucy laughed again. “Let’s go, Katie. And guess what? When we sign you up, we’ll sign me up for the program, too.”

“You’re going to read a bunch of books?”

“Why not? I enjoy reading. And it will give you and me something of our own to do together.” She clapped her hands. “So, today, we’ll sign up and check out some books as well.”

“Danke.”

“It’s no trouble, Katie,” she said softly.

Stepping closer, Katie reached out for Lucy’s hand. “I’m sorry if I made you sad.”

“You didn’t,” she said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I, for one, am glad your
bruder
Calvin married me. He makes me happy. But, you know what else?”

Katie shook her head no.

“You do, too,” Lucy said with a smile.

Katie grinned right back. Maybe people listened after all.

Chapter 7

E
lla loved working at the library. There was always plenty to do, she was surrounded by lots of people to talk with, and every day at noon she got to read a book to the children.

Picking out which book she would read aloud was the first activity she did each morning. She’d comb the children’s section, looking for books that were bright and cheerful and amusing. Every read-aloud book should be like that, she thought. Those books needed to inspire small children to develop a love for literature and learning, too.

Precisely at noon, she picked up her book and walked to the area designated with a large braided rug and a comfortable wooden rocking chair. Twenty children were sitting there—some by themselves, some with their mothers or fathers.

“Oh, what a nice group we have today,” she said when they all looked up expectantly. “I’m happy to see each one of you.”

Almost as one, the small group of children scooted closer. Peering at her, they seemed to be weighing her attributes. Ella held herself still as they looked at her tall frame, her big feet, her glasses.

Though she’d long given up trying to look smaller than she was, this was one of the few instances where she certainly did wish she was as petite and lovely as Calvin’s wife, Lucy.

Lucy never failed to look like an angel, and Ella had noticed more than one man look at Calvin’s bride with admiration.

Ella didn’t fault them. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like for someone like Loyal Weaver to think she was attractive.

Oh, for heaven’s sakes! When was she ever going to move on from Loyal? Years and years of waiting had shown that she was not ever going to be the woman for him. She needed to start looking for someone else. Surely there were other men in the world who she would take a fancy to.

With effort, she pushed all thoughts of him away and concentrated on the adorable faces in front of her.

As they peered at her, and she smiled right back, a few waved to her. Others scooted closer.

“What are you going to read today?” a boy in the front row asked.

“It’s a funny book that is going to need your help, children.” Holding up the bright cover, she grinned as many of the boys and girls stared in wonder at it. “It’s called
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
”

To her pleasure, the whole group started to giggle.

“The title made me giggle, too,” she said. “Do you think all of you could say it?”

One by one, each child called out the book’s title. Earning lots of laughter—and scowls from a pair of elderly men reading the paper in the back corner.

Ella didn’t let their displeasure worry her too much, though. Signs clearly announced that there was a children’s story time three days a week at noon. If a person really was looking for peace and quiet, he should take care to sit far from the reading area.

And anyway, Ella figured a twenty-minute story, filled with laughter and the merry sound of children’s voices, had to make even the most hardened of irritable people lighter of heart.

“Let’s begin,” she said, folding the title page back of the bold purple-and-green-colored book. “
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Mr. Bill Martin, Jr. and Mr. John Archambault.” She looked around. Most of the children were sitting cross-legged, fidgeting. And some of their parents were looking at her warily. As if they’d hoped for something far different than a story involving such nonsensical words.

Ella’s nerves sang. This was only her third time to read aloud. The other two times had been successes, but perhaps each time wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped.

Well, there was only one thing to do, and that was to try her best. After clearing her throat, she opened up to the first page, smiled at the wonderful bright, blocky drawings, and began: “ ‘A told B, and B told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.’ ”

One by one, all the eyes of the
kinner
lit up and smiles of pure joy lit their faces. Ella found herself smiling, too. Oh, but she loved these storybooks!

Page by page, she read the silly alphabet story, delighting in the children’s enthusiasm.

Especially one little girl’s enthusiasm. By the time Ella was reading about “Q,R,S, and T,” she’d realized who that girl was—Katie Weaver. It had been some time since she’d seen the child, and even longer since she’d tried to put a name to her. Over the last two years, Ella’s attendance at church had been sketchy at best. And the days when she had gone, she’d been so worried about her mother, she’d hardly done more than quickly nod a greeting to everyone before escorting her home.

But now, as she closed the book, Ella couldn’t help but notice that Katie had scooted so close, she was almost at her feet.

“
Kinner,
thank you for coming today. That is the end of that.”

Broad grins and spontaneous clapping greeted her words.

“That was a
gut buch
, Miss Hostetler,” one of the parents said as she walked forward to claim her child. “You chose well.”

“
Danke
. It is one of my favorites.”

The woman’s son spontaneously hugged her knees, and Ella smiled and patted his shoulder. “I’m glad you had fun today. Maybe I’ll see some of you another time?”

“You will. Thank you, Miss Ella,” he said.

A few others chorused the same sentiments as they left.

Ella waved goodbye to them. Then couldn’t help but notice Katie Weaver was standing at her side, patiently waiting.

“Hello, Katie. How may I help you?”

After a glance toward Lucy, who she’d just realized was sitting on a chair by one of the windows knitting, Katie puffed up her chest a bit. “I want to do the summer reading program.”

Katie sounded so very solemn, and her posture was so stiff and assured, Ella crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking the girl’s stance. “Is that so?” she teased.

“Uh-huh. Is it too late?”

Belatedly, Ella realized that this was a very important topic for the girl. “Not at all,” she said softly. “Come with me, and I’ll give you the information.” Ella looked beyond Katie’s head and smiled at Calvin Weaver’s new wife. “Hello, Lucy. We’ve met before, but you might not remember. I’m Ella.”

“Of course I remember meeting you.” She stepped forward, all golden eyes and hair. “It’s nice to see you. You are a
gut
storyteller.”

The praise made her feel wonderful. But as she eyed Lucy’s delicate beauty, she started to feel awkward once again.

But almost as quickly, she shrugged off that feeling of insecurity. Lucy couldn’t help her looks any more than Ella could. And obviously, they were of no concern to Ella. “So, Lucy, how are you enjoying Jacob’s Crossing?”

“I am enjoying it very much,” she replied with a friendly smile. “Especially this morning’s visit to the library. I liked that
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
book.”

“I do as well. I think I enjoy the books as much as the
kinner,
” she confided as she led the way to the circulation desk and a pile of brochures about the reading program.

Leaning down a bit, she showed the girl the packet. “Katie, every time you read a book, we’re going to give you a stamp,” she said, flipping the first page back. “At the end of the summer, we’ll give you stamps and perhaps even a special prize.”

“I want to read lots of books.” She looked toward Lucy. “She does, too.”

Lucy set a novel on the counter. “May I have a reading chart too, Ella?”

“Well, of course.” After giving Lucy a packet and stamping Lucy’s book, Ella started to turn away. But Katie stopped her with a little tug of her sleeve. “Miss Ella, do you work every day?”

“Almost. I work four days of the six a week. The library is always closed on Sundays.”

“I’m going to come back to see you.”

“I hope so.” Turning toward Lucy, she smiled again. “I hope you both do.”

After they said their goodbyes, Ella went back and rearranged some of the pillows and things that had gotten thrown about when the children had come.

Ms. Donovan joined her. “Ella, I want to let you know that we are so happy you’re here. Already, we’ve noticed an increase in children during story time. Two mothers who had never been to the library before confided to me that they specifically came because they heard you were such a wonderful storyteller.”

“That makes me happy to hear.”

“I’m glad.” Patting her forearm, Jayne smiled broadly. “You’re a terrific addition to our staff.”

“Danke.
I mean, thank you,” Ella said with a smile. “I’m glad to be here, for sure.”

“I think it’s your lunchtime now.”

“Yes. I’ll eat my sandwich then work at the circulation desk.”

“Take your full thirty minutes, Ella. We don’t want to wear you out.”

“I’ll be fine.” Oh, if Jayne only knew how easy were her days compared to those of her previous life. Living isolated on the farm, keeping up with the garden, laundry, and cooking—added to the necessary time spent caring for her mother—her days had been exhausting.

Here things were a little scary but mighty fulfilling, too.

The rest of the hours flew by and before she knew it, she was walking home by Dorothy’s side. She seemed especially withdrawn and quiet, barely offering much more than one-word answers to Ella’s comments.

Only later did Ella remember that not once did Dorothy say a word about her success and Jayne Donovan’s praise.

No, if anything, her friend and neighbor only looked angry about it.

L
ater that evening, Ella invited Dorothy over for cobbler. Dorothy had done a lot for her, and Ella wanted to make sure she didn’t feel taken advantage of.

When she’d first arrived, Dorothy still seemed sullen. But by the time she ate her last bite, she seemed more like her usual self. “I don’t know how you managed to make a peach cobbler today,” she said, finally thawing a bit. “But I’m glad you did. It was tasty.”

“
Danke.
It was my mother’s favorite recipe. And it’s very easy to make, you know. All you really need are the right products on hand to put it together in a snap.”

“Where did you find the peaches?”

“Corrine brought them by today.”

Dorothy stilled. “I didn’t notice her buggy.”

“She walked here from her home.”

“That far?”

“It’s only a forty-minute walk.” Feeling awkward, Ella added, “Corrine enjoys the exercise. Plus she knows how much I like to see her.”

“She seems to go out of her way for you.”

“She does,” Ella said with a smile. “She’s always been a
gut
friend.”

“But doesn’t she have a husband and family?”

Ella hesitated for a moment. “Of course. Dorothy, what is wrong? You’re acting like you don’t understand why Corrine would come visit me.”

“I’m merely surprised you two are such
gut
friends. Still.”

Dorothy’s conversation was definitely taking some getting used to, Ella reflected. She was so blunt and seemed to have no problem saying what was on her mind, at any time. “Why would you be surprised? Corrine is a very nice woman.”

“You have nothing in common.”

“We do. We’ve been friends for years, since we were small. Corrine and I used to trade sandwiches at lunchtime. I never liked my mother’s ham sandwiches.” She grinned, remembering the memories. “Of course, I never told my
mamm,
so she continued to pack me ham sandwiches.”

But Dorothy wasn’t even smiling. In fact, she looked confused.

With some surprise, Ella realized that because Dorothy was ten years older than herself, she’d never gone to school with her.

And so she’d never seen just what good friends she and Corrine really were.

Attempting to fill Dorothy in, Ella kept talking. “When I first started school, I didn’t have my glasses. Living on the farm the way we did, neither of my parents had much time to teach me my letters. When I went to school, it was the first time I had to see a chalkboard. Or try to read the tablets in front of me.” Smiling faintly at the memory, Ella shook her head. “Well, I couldn’t see anything. It all looked like fuzzy worms. But I was too shy to tell the teacher, so everyone thought I was dumb.”

“That’s horrible!”

Remembering the pain of those days, Ella nodded. “It was difficult. But Corrine sat right next to me at lunch and offered to help me. As a matter of fact, she was the one who realized I had a vision problem, not a reading problem.”

“What did your parents say?”

“They were terribly relieved. Glasses were easy to get, and they made my life much better. Obviously, I have a lot to be grateful to her for.” Well, until everyone stopped calling her “Dumb Ella” and switched to “Four-eyed Ella.” Of course, later, they called her “Plain Ella,” but she wasn’t eager to share all this.