The Shunning (3 page)

"I am so relieved," Wade stated again and Samuel was positive the man was sincere.

"Have you had supper, Wade?" Sadie asked. "I would be happy to heat something for you...?" she offered, impressing Samuel by her thoughtfulness.

"No, thank you, Sadie. I need to get home to Eleanor. She's worried about me being out on these roads. Do you need me tomorrow?" he asked.

"Ja," Sadie answered, hoping her Dat would not forbid her to go.

"I will be here. You dress warm because it is supposed to be very cold tomorrow," he bossed as he headed for the front door.

"It was very nice of Wade to drive all the way out here to make sure you were safely home, Sadie," Martha said.

"He says I remind him of his granddaughter," Sadie announced. "I knew he would not leave me stranded without a good reason."

"Ja," Levi agreed. "You'd best get to those dishes now while I show our guest to the door."

"Thank you once again, Mr. Hilty," Sadie said.

"Du bischt wilkumm, Sadie," Samuel said, and added, "Guten nacht."

"Good night," she responded, still shocked that Samuel spoke the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch of the Amish.

Once their parents and older siblings left the kitchen, Mary looked at her older sister and said, "Samuel is very handsome, ja?"

"I did not notice," Sadie lied.

"Ja, you did, too! He likes you a lot!"

"Don't be silly, Mary! He is an Englischer!"

"Not for long, he isn't. Even Dat liked him," she added with a grin. "I think he will make you a fine husband once he joins the faith."

Sadie flipped some water from her fingers at her sister and then giggled at her expression of shock. Before Mary could retaliate, John looked over at them. "I need some help with this math problem, Sadie."

Sadie immediately went to help John, and then Hannah also had a question. Mary helped her, and it took quite a while to get the dishes washed and the kitchen put to rights. Once the homework was done, they all joined their parents and older brothers in the living room. Mama was mending one of Katie's dresses; Dat was reading The Budget, the Amish newspaper published in Sugarcreek; Atlee and David were playing checkers.

Levi put down his paper to ask, "Are the lessons all done?"

"Ja, Dat," his younger children all nodded. Jacob added, "Sadie and Mary helped us when we didn't understand how."

"Goot," Levi nodded. "It is almost time for bed, but we have time to read from the Bible."

Sadie loved it when her Dat read to them and then they discussed the passages, learning from each other. Dat always encouraged the smallest child to tell what the verse meant to them, and once in a while the little ones came up with something funny, and sometimes with wisdom profound.

"Gott is good to us," Martha said quietly, and then announced bedtime.

Sadie shared a bedroom with Mary, and it wasn't long before they were snuggled under the quilts on their beds. Mary was soon asleep, but Sadie found herself thinking about a handsome man with wonderful blue eyes. She also thought of the bletching he gave her, and was thankful that he hadn't mentioned that part to her Dat.

* * *

Wade was right on time to pick up Sadie the next morning, and she told him over and over again that he was forgiven for not picking her up the evening before. It was obvious that the man was feeling guilty, and Sadie calmly assured him there was no harm done until he smiled and believed her. He promised he wouldn't be late to pick her up after work and Sadie reminded him to drive safely. The storm was over, but the roads were still slick and dangerous.

Her boss was very happy to see her; several of the other girls called off, saying the roads were too bad. "We will be busy today," he predicted, and he was right.

Sadie worked hard, taking orders for breakfast, and then for lunch. She woke that morning with a scratchy throat and by noon she felt hot, but she continued to cover her tables during lunch service and hurried to keep up with her customers' demands. It was getting harder and harder for her to concentrate on her words when her head started pounding and her body ached all over. Still, Sadie did not complain, and continued to work.

She was relieved when the heaviest lunch traffic cleared, but she was given another table just when she thought she might get to take her break. Sadie did not complain, but went to the table.

"Hello, Levi's Sadie," Samuel said with a warm smile.

"What are you doing here, Samuel?" Sadie asked, flustered.

"I wanted to see you," he answered truthfully, winking at her. "I also need to eat, and I am not a good cook."

"What can I bring you to drink?" Sadie asked in a professional manner.

"Water to drink with lunch, coffee after I eat," he answered.

"You look over the menu while I get your water, Samuel." Sadie hurried away, feeling flustered. Her heart was beating fast... and if she were honest with herself, she had a bit of a fancy for the handsome young man. She also had a million questions about him and told herself she was foolish for thinking of Samuel. Her Dat would never accept him, having been raised an Englischer. But, she had to admit, there was something special about Samuel. He made her heart beat faster and none of the boys she socialized with at the singings and frolics made her feel anything more than friendship. Why, she hadn't agreed to ride home from singings with any of the young men she knew, not wanting to encourage any of them when she was sure she would feel nothing special for them. With Samuel it was different! When he was near she could feel her heart pounding in her chest and her tongue seemed to get all twisted. She wanted to be with Samuel and learn all about him, and the fact he was here seemed to tell her he felt the same way.

Sadie put ice into a glass and then filled it with water before returning to Samuel's table. She placed the glass in front of him and then asked, "Have you decided what you would like to order, Samuel?"

"Sadie, are you feeling well?" he asked of her, his blue eyes looking at her in concern. "You look flushed."

"It is warm in here," she answered. "Your order...?" she asked. She could see that another table was trying to get her attention.

Samuel told her what he wanted and she promised she would have his meal out to him soon. He thanked her politely, and then watched while she went to the other table to see what they required. Sadie had a pretty smile and he grinned as she made the children at the table giggle. Samuel felt a sense of frustration as his blue eyes followed her across the dining room until she disappeared into the kitchen. He was more interested in Sadie than he should be. For one thing, she was very young, and for another, he didn't know her well. Another reason he should not be finding reasons to be around her is that her Dat and Mamm would not approve... at least not until he made clear his intention to join the Baptism classes and take his kneeling vows. Even then, if he were Sadie's Dat, Samuel knew he would insist that he prove himself for at least a year before he permitted a relationship to flourish. In the meantime, Sadie could very well fall in love with another man. That thought made Samuel frown.

Sadie returned quickly, carrying his lunch on a tray. "Be careful, Samuel; the plate is very hot," she warned.

"This looks goot, Sadie."

"Ja, it is," she answered with a smile. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"

He wanted to ask her to join him; instead, he said, "No, not right now, Sadie. Thank you."

"You are welcome, Samuel." Sadie found him pleasant to look upon, but since it would not be considered polite to stand there and stare at him while he ate, she went to the kitchen to get the desserts the other table ordered. As she carried the tray to the eagerly waiting children and indulgent parents, Sadie glanced over at Samuel, wondering again why she was so drawn to him. The man gave her a spanking while on the side of the road! It was sheer good fortune that no one witnessed her humiliation. Still, there was a small part of her that responded to Samuel's firmness. The spanking hurt when it was happening, and well into the evening, but there was no soreness today to remind her of the incident. And, she was more relieved than she cared to admit that Samuel did not find it necessary to tell her Dat that he gave her a bletching!

Samuel glanced across the room in time to see Sadie serving the children their ice cream. She brought some sprinkles to the table and helped each little one put some over their ice cream. Sadie was giggling along with them, and it was obvious the parents were delighted to see their children so happy. Yes, Sadie was special, and he wanted to spend time with her.

Sadie met his eyes and then smiled, easing away from the family's table and coming over to check on him. "Would you like more water, Samuel?" she asked, and he said 'yes', just to have an excuse for her to return.

Sadie smiled as she returned with a pitcher of ice water. She refilled his glass and asked, "Was your lunch goot?"

"Ja, it was," he agreed, and then asked, "How much longer do you have to work?" She answered, and he noted that her voice sounded strained. "Sadie, are you feeling ill?" Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. She appeared to have a temperature.

"It is nothing, just a scratchy throat. Mama will know what to do for me when I get home this afternoon."

Samuel got to his feet and put the back of his hand to Sadie's forehead, just as his Mamm used to do when he was little and didn't feel well. To his surprise, Sadie was burning up. "You are running a fever, Levi's Sadie. You need to go home right now and get into bed."

"No, I have another two and a half hours to work, Samuel. I am fine."

"You are ill and you have no business serving food when you are carrying a temperature. Go and tell your boss you are leaving while I pay my check and I will take you home."

Sadie shook her head 'no'. "Wade will pick me up at the end of my shift."

"Sadie," Samuel said with patience, "has anyone ever told you that you are one very stubborn young lady?"

She turned up her chin. "No! I just refuse to do something when it is wrong."

"Leaving you here to work when I know you are ill would be wrong. Now, please don't make an issue of this, and go and talk to your boss." She shook her head 'no'. Samuel leaned closer and whispered, "Am I going to have to take you over my knee for another bletching so soon?"

Sadie gasped, thankful that no one heard him. "Shhhh! Do not embarrass me, Samuel Hilty!"

"Be reasonable, Sadie," he said firmly. He put her tip on the table and went to pay his check. He was aware that she went into the kitchen, and when she didn't come out and didn't come out, he walked that way in determination, ignoring the 'employees only' sign on the door. All eyes turned to him questioningly. A woman spoke up. "May I help you, sir?"

"Yes. I need to speak to the person in charge," he said politely.

"That would be me," a man said as he stepped forward. "I am Hiram Yoder, and you are...?"

"Samuel Hilty, sir. I am a friend of Sadie Miller and her family, and I noticed she is ill and trying to hide it. I would like to take her home so her Mamm can take care of her. I asked her to speak with you, but apparently she has not done so."

"Fraa, did Sadie speak with you of this?" Hiram asked his wife, who was the woman who spoke to Samuel when he first entered the busy kitchen.

"No, but I will go and check on her right away," she said with determination. She returned and said, "Ja, Sadie is ill and should not be working, Hiram, but she is refusing to go home, claiming it is her way to be dependable."

"We know she is dependable. Take her home, Samuel. She is in the break room through this door, and you may leave to the parking lot from there. Thank you for making us aware. Sadie should have said something. I have my buggy here and I would have driven her home myself."

"I am sure you would have, Mr. Yoder."

"The David Yoder you purchased your farm from is my Onkel," Hiram said with a smile. "Welcome to our community."

Samuel smiled. "Thank you, sir. I am enjoying getting acquainted with everyone. The food here is goot," he stated. "Since I am a terrible cook, it will be nice to take meals here."

"Danki, Samuel," Mrs. Yoder said with a pleased look on her face.

"Please tell Martha to keep Sadie home if she is not well tomorrow, and not to worry about Wade. I will call him on the restaurant's telephone," Hiram said.

Samuel nodded and then headed for the break room. If little Sadie gave him more of her sass, he was going to give her a spanking that would make her bottom burn as much as forehead!

Sadie looked up to see who was coming into the break room. Her bowl of soup was still sitting in front of her, untouched. She did not feel well, and was feeling worse by the minute, but she could not permit Samuel to take her home again today. Her Dat would not approve. Sadie was more than a bit surprised when Samuel came through the door. He looked angry and Sadie quickly lowered her eyes, recalling his promise to give her another bletching! Surely he would not!

Samuel thought the break room was small, but it was nicely decorated, and a place where the employees could relax when they were not working. There was a small refrigerator in case they brought food or beverages from home. And, there was a nice table with chairs. Hooks on one wall held their coats or shawls, and there was a shelf to put boots and other personal items. There was a door that led to a small bathroom, but with the door open Samuel could see it was nicely decorated, too. A window on the outside wall allowed light to filter in and brighten the room. Samuel could see that the Yoders cared about their employees. He turned his eyes toward Sadie, who was sitting at the table, pretending to eat the soup she was stirring with a spoon.

"Sadie, I am taking you home, and it would be best if you did not give me any more arguments on the subject."

"I cannot permit you to take me home again, Samuel. Dat would be very angry with me," she said.

"Your Dat was not angry last night, was he?" Samuel reminded her. "And I doubt he will be angry today. Get your boots on your feet and your shawl. It is very cold today."