Beside Still Waters (A Big Sky) Page 14

  All of us got baths and our clothes washed. Such a little thing before seemed like a big accomplishment. I washed up Trapper, too. Yes, that's what we named our dog. Charlie picked the name because he's sure the dog figured out how to trap in order to stay alive in those woods. Personally, he has so much energy I don't think he'd let himself stop long enough to die. I have to admit he is much cuter once he's bathed, but I refuse to let him sleep with me no matter how much he whines.

  I've been thinking about it, and maybe I should try to get back in time for Clara's wedding. Clara, telling me Aaron is attending has me thinking this way. There's nothing more romantic than sitting at a wedding knowing that the man you fancy is sitting close by. I was worried about getting enough money before then, but Uncle Ike was telling me about the Amish Auction coming up in a few weeks. He said it's a big thing around these parts. Folks come from all around the country and bid on Amish made things, like handmade furniture, quilts, and even log homes! If I can get to town soon for supplies, I might be able to finish my quilt in time. Uncle Ike said he's seen quilts go for over a thousand dollars. Imagine that.

  Well, I better go, the boys should get home from school soon. I'm curious to hear about their day. I feel like Aunt Ida—waiting on the porch for our visits, wanting to know the whos and whats. Unlike Aunt Ida, I have no one to spread the news too. I'm sure all of you aren't that interested about the latest news of the West Kootenai Amish!

  Sending all my love (and a Montana wildflower),

  Marianna

  Ben breathed in the fresh, Saturday morning air and fingered the envelope in his hand as he entered the Kootenai store, where he dropped the letter in the out basket. Edgar didn't comment, but the older clerk looked at the envelope with sadness in his face. One would think after seeing the same thing happen every week, Edgar would have gotten used to it by now.

  "Ike's looking for you." Edgar said, returning to the Kalispell newspaper spread before him.

  "Thanks." Ben headed to the dining area and even before he rounded the corner he knew he'd find Ike in the second booth on the left. Ike always sat in the second booth. Ben's feet slowed as he noticed Ike's brother, Abe, sitting across from him, sipping coffee.

  Ben continued into the room, preparing to sit at a different booth when Ike motioned to him. "You can sit with us. The ladies should be gathering soon, and we men need to stick together. Besides, I have something to ask."

  "Sure." Ben slid into the booth next to Ike, then motioned to Annie in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. With a grin she grabbed a mug, filled it, brought it his way, and then hurried back into the kitchen.

  "Women gathering?" Abe shifted slightly in his seat as if uncomfortable about Ben joining them.

  "Yup." Ike cut his scone with a fork. "The Amish ladies show up around 8:30 and the Englisch filter in around nine. They just eat and gab. You know, talking about women stuff."

  "The Amish and . . ." Abe started and then stopped.

  "The Amish and Englisch sit together?" Ike took a bite, chewed and swallowed. "Is that what you were going to ask?"

  Abe looked to Ben, then to Ike. "Maybe." He lowered his head.

  "I'm not offended really." Ben raised his hands. "I wondered the same thing too. But as Ike here has reminded me, if we're all children of God, then we have to have a family reunion once in a while." Ben elbowed Ike's ribs. "Ain't that right."

  Ike nodded.

  "Yes, well, that's not how I'm used to doing things." Abe lowered his head and finished eating his meal. He was at least fifteen years older than Ike, and he seemed set in his ways. Ben wanted to ask why he'd come to Montana but knew it would be important to give Abe time. He'd heard it took a long time—sometimes years—for Amish to trust outsiders.

  As they sat there, women started entering. As each woman passed by, Ike introduced them to his brother.

  Abe tensed up the first few times he was introduced to Englisch women, and Ben could tell from the man's face he'd never seen anything like this before—women from both sides gathering and talking as friends.

  Ben wondered if Abe would tell his wife and eldest daughter about it. It would do Marianna good to get out and meet some people. She seemed bent on making this place as close to Indiana as she could get. It might work for a while to focus on tending a home and only communicating with other Amish, but as soon as the snow flew—if they stayed that long—it would be a different story. They needed each other.

  All of them did.

  Ben glanced at Ike. "Did you have a question for me?"

  "Yeah." Ike leaned forward in the booth and rested his elbows on the wooden table, then he lowered his voice. "Is there any place in Eureka one could get an English Bible?"

  Ben tilted his head. Though the Amish only read German Bibles, Ike had been reading an English one ever since he'd started attending the small Bible study Ben also attended. Most likely Abe didn't know that . . .

  Ben nodded. "Yes, why?"

  "Well, my brother here has already been asked to be part of the rotation for preaching. I'm not sure you know how our church works, Ben, but most congregations have a bishop who handles that duty. Because we're so small we've yet to get one, the responsibility falls on the men." Ike looked to Abe and Ben followed his gaze, noticing the older man's cheeks reddening.

  "He doesn't read German," Ike continued, "and I suggested reading English might be easier."

  From the tone and the expressions on the men's faces, one would think they were planning a bank robbery.

  Ben hid his smile and nodded. "That makes sense. I'll be heading into Eureka soon and I'll see what I can find."

  Abe cleared his throat. "But no one must know."

  "Of course not." Ben folded his hands on his lap. "Your secret is safe with me."

  "There is one more thing." Ike focused on Ben. "If there are passages my brother doesn't understand, can we talk to you about them? I know you've studied the Bible a great deal."

  "Yes. I don't know everything, but I'll do what I can to help."

  "Denke."

  At Abe's quiet thanks, Ben met the man's gaze—and started. Marianna had her father's eyes.

  Abe cleared his throat. "This is new to me, and truth be told I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of all these folks."

  "I understand." But he didn't. Not really. If Abe didn't read the German Bible well—and didn't have an English one—how much time, really, did he spend in God's Word?

  Ben took a sip of coffee, pondering these people and their strange ways, wondering again how he ended up here—called to work for them. Most days he enjoyed it, but he hadn't really gotten used to feeling like an outsider. Like yesterday when Marianna did her best to ignore him once they got to their house.

  As Abe and Ike turned their talk to the log-home business that Abe would soon work for, the laughter of women's voices filled the air, joined by the jingling of the bell on the front door. From his view from the restaurant, Ben watched as five women, entered. From their rosy cheeks, he guessed they'd walked to the store, talking and laughing as they went. Yet as they moved from the store area to the restaurant, their voices lowered and they eyed the room, first looking to Annie and then to him.

  No matter how friendly they were, the message of their looks and quieting voices was clear:

  We are among outsiders. We must be careful. We must always keep up our guard.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Marianna didn't know what she'd been thinking, believing she could finish her quilt in time for the auction. She hadn't even made it to town, let alone found time to work on it.

  Dat cleaned up a buggy he'd bought from another family and guided the boys in cleaning out the barn. She'd shopped for Mem at the Kootenai Kraft and Grocery and a few times took Dat his lunch at his new job at Kootenai Log Homes, where he worked with Uncle Ike. Then there was all the cooking and cleaning. Now she was helping the little ones get ready for their first church gathering. They'd all woken up early to bathe and press the
ir clothes just so.

  Over the last week and a half they'd met a few members of other Amish families. Some had struck up a conversation at the store. Others had greeted Marianna and the children on the road when she took Trapper for walks. Everyone seemed nice, but she was having a hard time remembering who belonged with which family. Today would be a new experience. They'd all be in one place, and she'd really get a good look at the type of people who called this area home.

  It felt good in a way to see the other buggies pulling in and parking. She let out a soft breath when she spotted all the men congregating near the front of the barn, and all the young men near the back. At least some things were the same.

  Dat pulled up by the front door of the Peachy house, and Mem climbed out. Marianna followed and then turned and helped Ellie down.

  Planting Ellie's feet on the ground Marianna leaned over and whispered in her ear. "You be good, you hear. These are nice people and we need to show them we're a nice family."

  "Hello, hello there!" A woman's voice carried in the air like a bird's song. "You must be the Sommer family." She bustled outside with open arms, and Marianna was surprised to be greeted with a holy kiss. The round, smiling woman turned to Mem and greeted her the same way.

  The first thing Marianna noticed was the woman's kapp. There was less stitching in the back and it fit loosely on the woman's head. Marianna could picture her grandmother's mouth gaping if she saw such a thing. According to Grandma, and everyone else back in their community, to have a kapp like that was a sign of laziness. There was one specific way for them to be sewn—much more intricately and better fitted. Apparently this woman was unaware of that fact. Still, Marianna forced a smile and told herself to focus on the woman's warm welcome instead.

  "We are so glad you can join us today. Ike has told us so much about you. We feel as if yer old friends yet. My name is Sallie Peachy and my daughters are around here somewhere." She looked to Marianna. "About your age. I'll introduce you when I spot them. Eve and Hope are most likely checking out the bachelors. There are thirty of them around here," the woman babbled on. "They come in the spring and work through the summer in order to get their residential hunting license." She turned to Marianna. "So if you don't yet have someone special dear, there's many to choose from."

  "Well, I—"

  "Thank you. We are happy to be here," her mother interrupted, patting her kapp and smiling. "My husband has told me—"

  "Oh my, oh dear!" Sallie stepped closer to Mem, pressing her hands on her stomach. "It looks like your family is growing, what a wonderful surprise. Oh, look over there. Come, I'll introduce you to the other women, and we'll check the schedule to see when church is at your house."

  Mem nodded, and Marianna's eyes grew wide at Sallie's energy. She'd been looking forward to sitting back and observing everyone today, but she knew this woman wouldn't allow that.

  "Come inside." Sallie motioned again, leading them through a screened-in front porch. It was simple, made of bare sheets of plywood. Chopped wood for the stove lined the walls. "We set out extra seats for we knew your family was coming, and around these parts when the snow melts we also know there will be extra guests. Everyone seems to have someone visiting this time of year. Especially with the auction coming up next week yet."

  Marianna nodded following the woman into the living room area where other women were already sitting. She opened her mouth to mention her eagerness over the auction, but before she could say anything Sallie sucked in a breath and started in again.

  "You are such a pretty thing. I'm sure you'll have no trouble gaining the affection of one of the bachelors, if not more. Your name is Marianna, right? Your uncle told me a little about you. How old are you, my dear?"

  "I'll be twenty soon. On June 7." Marianna spotted two young women in the kitchen who looked to be younger versions of Sallie. She guessed they were her daughters, Eve and Hope. Before she had a chance to ask to be introduced, laughter spilled from Sallie's lips and Marianna looked to Mem, wondering what was so funny. Her hand tightened around Ellie's.

  "Mari, I think today is June 7." Mem looked to the woman to see if she'd guessed correctly.

  "Ja, it is. How someone could forget her birthday I'll never understand." Sallie clicked her tongue.

  Marianna forced a smile, but deep down she wondered the same. In a few days she'd no doubt get a large envelope, filled with birthday wishes from all her friends, but the realization that no one from her family remembered pierced her. How much she'd lost when they moved! Levi, Rebecca—they would have remembered. Many in her old community would have remembered, too. Aunt Ida always embroidered special towels or pillowcases as a gift for Marianna to put in her trunk.

  She sat on the backless bench and pulled Ellie on her lap, telling herself not to look around, not to notice all the differences lest she break into tears. An emptiness expanded in her chest as she realized how many miles spread between here and the only community she'd ever known. Tears lined her bottom lids as she imagined all the families gathered around the tables for lunch. The laughter. The familiar faces. The many birthday wishes. She imagined Rebecca showing up at church, as a gift to her, and surprising her with a large slice of homemade pie. She bit her lip wondering if Aaron would have snuck a small gift, too. Maybe a hand-carved trinket, a drawing, or handmade card just to let her know she was in his thoughts.

  Then again . . . for the first time since she could remember, Mem hadn't seemed especially broody today. Marianna's birthday also brought sadness, since it was the anniversary of her sisters' death. Yet today Mem had acted like everything was normal. She'd fixed breakfast and cared for the kids without evidence that her heart was breaking in two.

  But even that wasn't enough to blow away the dark clouds that had moved over Marianna's heart.

  Her knees quivered, despite her best efforts to keep her feelings inside. She did her best through the singing. She attempted to focus during the silent prayers, but it was hard to keep the tears pent up when the preacher was introduced for the day, for it wasn't a preacher at all, but Mr. Peachy. He was tall and wide with a red beard that seemed to bounce when he spoke. After leading them in silent prayers, he explained to the newcomers that since their community had no bishop, no ministers, all the men took turns sharing a word from the Scriptures whenever church was hosted in their homes.

  Though she kept her eyes focused forward, Marianna reached over and poked Mem's side and she felt her mother stiffen beside her. They'd been here less than two weeks and each day they found a difference between this community and the one they left. Although it was challenging, they could dismiss most differences, but this . . .

  Ellie must have felt Marianna's stiffness because she scooted over and moved onto Mem's lap.

  Marianna crossed her arms over her chest and listened, but the words didn't sink in. Instead she thought of something else. If the men in the community took turns preaching when church was in their home, then that meant her father would have his turn too. She looked across the room to where her father sat. She could only see part of his face, as he looked ahead and though she couldn't see his expression, she clearly noted his fists clenched on his lap.

  Obviously, he wasn't happy with this. The question was, was it enough to get them packing and heading home?

  The rest of the service followed an order similar to what Marianna was used to, and she had to admit the people were nice. Many women approached to talk to her as they got out the food after service and laid it out for all the men. Eve and Hope introduced themselves and offered to come by and visit that week and show her the way down to the lake. Marianna agreed. She'd spent so much time caring for others she liked the idea of taking Trapper down for a walk along the lakeside.

  At least I can enjoy the time I'm here.

  They were climbing into the buggy when a woman approached. She was half the size of Mrs. Peachy and her voice was half as loud. Marianna liked her.

  "I'm sorry to bother you yet, I'm Deborah Sh
elter. I know you're heading home, but I'm sure you've heard of the auction. It's a fundraiser for our school. The whole community helps, and I was wondering if I could ask fer your help that day. I wouldn't ask 'cept I've heard you plan to be part of our community for a while, and I know your sons benefit from our school."

  Mem straightened her back. "Yes, of course. How can we help?"

  The woman's face pinched up, and Marianna could tell she didn't like to impose. "Well, if you're not too busy, we'll need someone to help with the quilts. Caring for them. Taking them to the auctioneer and such. And another to help with the food . . ."

  "I can help with the quilts." Marianna leaned forward in the seat. "If that's okay, Dat?"

  "Ja, of course." Dat stroked his beard and looked to Mem.

  "I could help, too."

  Marianna knew that's what her mother's answer would be. After all, what would it look like if she refused?

  "Wonderful. Since you're planning to be around a while, this will give you a chance to meet pretty much everyone from these parts." The woman clapped her hands together so softly they didn't make a sound. "If you'll be at the store at 8 o'clock on Saturday, we'll be all set." The woman chatted with her mother for a few more minutes, telling her how all the money for the auction went to the school and for a much-needed firehouse, and Marianna noticed that Mem answered in as few words as possible.

  As they drove away, the buggy wheels followed the dirt road, dipping and rising through the potholes, and Marianna couldn't help but recognize the tension between her parents.

  "So yer telling folks we're gonna be here a while?" Mem's words pushed out through clenched teeth. "More than one woman told me she was happy we'd committed to a longer lease on our home."