The Preacher's Daughter, page 9
She stared down at her ‘‘Palm,’’ the minicomputer, organizer, cell phone, and camera all rolled into one very cool gadget, and wondered how she would ever manage without it, along with her fabulous car, her favorite DVDs, and her many jazz CDs. Despite any small misgivings she felt now, she couldn’t wait to see Annie, to talk with her in person. That alone she hoped would make up for the abandonment of all her high-tech toys.
Weird, she thought, having such affinity to a Plain girl.
Next to her on the seat, in the pet carrier, Muffin opened his kitty eyes and looked at her through the mesh window as if to say, Where are you taking me?
Leaning over, she whispered, ‘‘You’ll have lots of company where we’re going.’’ She almost laughed, but smothered it so as not to call attention from the driver, who had been noticeably surprised when she’d given the Paradise Township address. ‘‘Isn’t that Amish farmland?’’ he’d asked, and quickly she agreed that it was, saying no more.
She closed her eyes, weary of the day, having gotten up at three that morning to shower, shampoo, and dress in order to catch the first flight out of DIA. Then there was the mad rush to the connecting gate at Chicago’s O’Hare. She was glad to be this far into her travels and could hardly wait for some of Barbara Zook’s home-brewed coffee!
Annie pushed a wet rag deep into the corner, back where the bed hid the floor from the doorway. After dry mopping, she had taken great care to get down on her hands and knees, making sure all stray dust bunnies beneath Yonie’s bed, or anywhere else, were gone. She had also given the front porch a good strong sweeping, very glad the potted mums were still blooming due to no frost yet, a rarity. She had even done something rather ‘‘fancy’’ by bringing in the pots at night, hoping to preserve their beauty for Louisa’s arrival.
Just now she wondered about the time and excitedly ran downstairs to check the wall clock in the kitchen.
She asked Mamm about the apple dumplings. ‘‘Are they done yet?’’
‘‘Ach, calm yourself, dear.’’
One look at Mamm and she knew they were both wound up. The whole family was. Yonie, of course, was out deer hunting with friends over the weekend and most of next week, but Luke and Omar would be around and grinning to beat the band. Jesse Jr., Christian, and Abner and their wives and children, too, would meet Louisa after Preaching service tomorrow. No question, her pen pal’s coming was a first for all of them.
‘‘I made sure Yonie’s room was spotless,’’ she told Mamm, hurrying to the front room to look out the window.
Her mother followed close behind. ‘‘Why don’t you give me that rag?’’ Mamm held out her hand. ‘‘And why not comb through your hair once? Worry less ’bout the cleanliness of the house now and be thinkin’ how ya want to look yourself.’’
I’m all mussed up, she thought, recalling the only other time Mamm had ever spoken to her like that. Back when she was a little girl and not even close to being ready to leave the house for Preaching.
Now she considered tomorrow’s house church meeting. How would the People react to Louisa sitting in their midst? And would her friend even want to join them?
I’ll know soon. . . .
Louisa released her seat belt and stared at the Zooks’ property— the old two-story barn with its picturesque windmill to her right. And the tall white farmhouse with distinctive black shutters on the other side of the road, the south-facing porch dotted with clay pots of gold- and bronze-colored mums. A lofty willow, minus its leaves, hovered near the back of the house, gracing the yard. The distinct vision she had formed in her mind since childhood had been merely a reflection of the real thing. Now, here she was.
This is Annie’s world!
Nearly speechless, she jumped when the cabbie announced the fare. ‘‘Oh, sorry,’’ she said, digging into her purse for a wad of cash.
When her suitcase and matching overnight case were unloaded from the trunk, she thanked the driver again. Then, hooking the two pieces of luggage together, she rolled them across the road, carrying Muffin in his pet tote up the dirt lane leading to the house.
She heard the first little squeal of glee and looked up to see Annie running toward her, arms outstretched, long skirt flying as she came. ‘‘Ach, you’re here, Louisa! Willkumm, friend!’’
Letting go of her luggage, she set down Muffin in his carrier just in time to receive the warm and welcoming hug. ‘‘It’s great to see you,’’ she said, feasting her eyes on her friend. ‘‘You’re so pretty, Annie! You didn’t do yourself justice in your descriptions through the years.’’
They locked eyes on each other, and Annie said, ‘‘I’d have to say you look just like the picture you sent.’’
‘‘The engagement picture or the one with my art students?’’
‘‘Well, both. I’d know you anywhere.’’
Before she could stop her, Annie grabbed her luggage, talking all the while. ‘‘I’m so glad you’re here safely . . . flyin’ on an airplane and all . . . what was that like?’’
Louisa smiled at her exuberance. ‘‘Oh, it’s really lots safer than driving a car, according to statistics.’’
‘‘But how’s it feel to go so fast?’’
‘‘Surprisingly, you don’t realize the speed, except for the takeoff and landing. You mainly sit in a chair, buckled in, of course, and if you’re like me, you pick up a magazine and read. Some people actually sleep through the entire flight, if it’s not too choppy, which it certainly can be flying out of Denver.’’ She explained the updrafts and stronger currents near the mountains. ‘‘One of my friends flies a small aircraft—a four-seater—and she nearly crashed it because of the bizarre wind currents out there.’’
Annie’s blue eyes twinkled. ‘‘Did you say a girl flies the airplane?’’ ‘‘Well, she’s my age . . . a year older.’’
‘‘Ach, what a life, goin’ ever so fast!’’
No, this is the life . . . right here, thought Louisa as she walked with Annie, as energetic and delightful in person as she had always been in letters.
They walked through the well-landscaped side yard, around the house to the screened-in back porch.
Annie’s mother met them with a winning smile, as overweight as Annie was slight. ‘‘Come in, come in, Louisa. Make yourself at home,’’ Barbara Zook said, wiping her hands on her long black apron.
‘‘Thank you, Mrs. Zook. I’m so pleased to meet you at last. Annie’s talked so much about you . . . well, written about you, anyway.’’
That brought another cheery smile. ‘‘Oh, you mustn’t call me something so formal sounding. Honestly, Barbara’s just fine,’’ she said. ‘‘How was your trip in?’’
‘‘Uneventful . . . a good thing, thanks. It’s really wonderful to be here.’’ Louisa took in the unique surroundings and wondered how the large kitchen with its massive black wood stove and long table with wooden benches on either side would have looked to her today if she hadn’t already visualized this house from Annie’s letters. ‘‘What a beautiful place,’’ she said, as if standing in the middle of a dream.
But it was Annie’s demeanor, composed and demure, that struck her. She was as attractive as any of Louisa’s friends. Simply remove the head covering and the long cape dress, and she could pass for a modern girl. But Annie’s remarkably blue eyes grew suddenly wide as she caught a glimpse of Louisa’s long earrings.
Annie is startled at the sight of me, Louisa thought, wishing she hadn’t worn either her pencil-thin jeans or her jewelry.
Chapter 13
Annie sure hadn’t expected Louisa to be dressed the way she was. She honestly wasn’t sure how she expected Louisa to look, really. She was quite sure Daed would be distressed, though, once he came in from the barn and met their English visitor.
A mite taller than Annie anticipated her to be, Louisa also looked much too skinny. Like the painfully thin catalog models in tight-fitting blue jeans and hyacinth-colored linen shirts over matching camisole tees. She knew of such descriptions and colors only from having paged through the ads at Julia’s. She had no idea why the catalogs came in the mail there, since her cousin sewed all her own clothes, as well as little Molly’s dresses and nightgowns. Still, it was interesting to see the different types of shoes and purses and whatnot. She’d even peeked at the fine jewelry section—rings, bracelets, and necklaces—knowing she’d probably never wear such things, but they were awful easy on the eyes.
‘‘Come, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping. Yonie’s out hunting, hopin’ to get his first deer this year, so you’ll have his room for the time being.’’ She started up the stairs, still holding the two pieces of luggage, the nicest-looking suitcase and tote she’d ever seen, and motioned for Louisa to follow her.
‘‘Hey, I’m not helpless,’’ Louisa said, trying to wrestle away the suitcase while still carrying Muffin.
Annie laughed. ‘‘If you want to help so much, then you can finish washing and drying all of Mamm’s dishes for tomorrow’s noon meal. We’ll feed about two hundred and fifty people, how’s that?’’
‘‘That’s a bunch.’’
‘‘Well, wait till you see how many attend our weddings.’’ She stopped at the top of the stairs and waited for Louisa to catch up. ‘‘Ach, I’m sorry to mention that right off.’’
‘‘Don’t worry, Annie. I’m not super sensitive about it.’’
‘‘Well . . . you know. I think we both need some pampering, jah?’’
‘‘For sure.’’ Louisa smiled.
‘‘By the way, breakfast comes early on Sunday mornings, ’specially when we have Preaching here.’’
‘‘I’ll be awake in plenty of time,’’ Louisa said. ‘‘Remember, I’m a morning person . . . like you.’’
‘‘But your body clock’s two hours behind us here, jah?’’
It was Louisa’s turn to laugh. ‘‘I’ll just set my Palm to go off before dawn.’’ Then she seemed to remember something. ‘‘Oh, no! That won’t work.’’
‘‘What won’t?’’
Louisa shook her head. ‘‘There’s no place to recharge, right?
No electricity here. Duh . . . I should know this!’’
‘‘Unless you want to head down to Cousin Julia’s right away. She and Irvin have electric,’’ Annie said. ‘‘But, honestly, you won’t have any trouble wakin’ up. Our peacocks have a built-in alarm clock, trust me on that.’’
She led Louisa down the hall, stopping to point out her own room. ‘‘See there? That’s the desk where I write to you.’’
‘‘Sweet.’’ Louisa hurried into Annie’s bedroom, cat carrier and all.
Annie set down the luggage and moved the desk out from the wall to show the date and initials carved into the back.
‘‘Your dad made this?’’
‘‘It was a big birthday surprise when I was twelve. I got spoiled that year.’’ Annie watched her friend sitting on the chair where she’d pondered so often what should or shouldn’t be shared in her letters to an outsider.
Just then, Louisa turned and looked up at her. ‘‘This is so wild. I’ve tried to picture you, your room . . . everything. You have no idea how terrific this is.’’
‘‘Ach, I feel the same way, havin’ you visit.’’ Annie suddenly thought of their bath routine tonight and cringed. What’ll she think when she finds out about Saturday night baths? Will she turn right around and make a beeline for home?
But she didn’t reveal the bath routine. She just kept smiling, and Louisa did, too, like they were long-lost friends; except they knew they weren’t that at all.
‘‘Come, let’s get you settled.’’
Annie was amazed at the ‘‘slide show’’ in Louisa’s Palm, as Louisa called it—one image after another of the watercolor and oil paintings in the recent exhibit. ‘‘You must be so happy ’bout your students,’’ said Annie, looking intently, and then holding the gadget when Louisa handed it to her. ‘‘What do I do with it?’’
‘‘Just watch.’’
‘‘It goes all by itself?’’
‘‘Yep.’’
She’d heard of some of the womenfolk in other church districts being allowed to own cell phones, but she’d never seen anything like this. ‘‘It’s hard to believe . . . such clear pictures in a little device.’’ She looked at Louisa. ‘‘What will your students do without you while you’re here?’’
‘‘Oh, don’t worry . . . they have plenty of assignments.’’
‘‘A whole month’s worth?’’
‘‘At least.’’ Louisa turned off her Palm. ‘‘That’s enough for now,’’ she said. ‘‘Want to help me unpack?’’
‘‘Sure.’’ But as Louisa removed her colorful clothes from her suitcase, Annie was quite surprised. There were a number of outfits, and for all different occasions, it seemed—dress up, work, play, and everything in between. Foreign as anything she’d ever seen, as fancy as the catalog pages at Julia’s. There was even a separate pull-out case for Louisa’s bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.
Annie bit her lip, wishing she might persuade her friend away from such ornamentation while she was here, at least. Contemplating the potentially awkward situation, she continued helping Louisa organize her clothes.
Out of the blue, Louisa stopped what she was doing. ‘‘It’s surprising that you and your family would open your home to me. I’m really grateful.’’
Annie touched her arm. ‘‘You’re truly welcome.’’ She leaned over to line up Louisa’s shoes beneath the wooden wall pegs. ‘‘We enjoy havin’ company, believe me. My mother loves to cook . . . likes havin’ lots of feet beneath her dinner table.’’
‘‘Cooking is one of my passions, too. Sometime while I’m here, I’d like to treat all of you to one of my favorite recipes. Deal?’’
‘‘I’m sure Mamm will be more than happy to take you up on it, but we’ll help you with the wood stove, of course.’’
‘‘Oh, I didn’t think of that.’’ Louisa’s eyes were mischievous. ‘‘I might present the family with a burnt offering, which would never do.’’ She reached down and unzipped the pet carry bag. ‘‘I hope my kitty’s welcome to stay . . . here in the bedroom. Is it all right?’’
Annie wondered when Louisa might mention Muffin. ‘‘Well, since he’s a city cat he must be used to lots of pamperin’, jah?’’
Lifting out the lump of grayish-blue fur, Louisa snuggled her nose into his neck. ‘‘There’s my sweet boy. Aw, such a good traveler you are.’’
‘‘Our mouse catchers in the barn never had it this fine.’’ Annie laughed, enjoying the sight of Louisa and her cat. She’d heard so much about ‘‘precious Muffin this,’’ ‘‘darling Muffin that’’ for the past year or so, since Louisa had gotten her new place after college graduation.
Louisa set her kitty on the floor, and immediately Muffin disappeared beneath the ruffled white bed skirt.
For good measure, Annie hurried to close the door. In case he decides to make a run for it. Returning to sit on the bed, she decided now was a good time to tell Louisa about the evening’s activities. ‘‘Since we’re hosting the Preaching service tomorrow, there’ll be a group of men comin’ later this afternoon to remove some of the interior walls—to make an open space large enough for the meeting. The bench wagon will arrive soon after.’’
Louisa nodded. ‘‘I’m fascinated to see how everything is set up.’’
‘‘Well, some of Mamm’s helpers will start arriving at seven-thirty tomorrow morning. It gets awful busy round here on Preaching days.’’
‘‘I don’t want to be in the way,’’ Louisa insisted. ‘‘Just tell me what to do and when.’’
Should I say something about fitting in just yet? Annie wondered, not wanting to stare at Louisa’s shiny pink lips or her dangling earrings. Rather, she zeroed in on her thoughtful aqua blue eyes, but even they were made up too much.
Then, as though sensing her concern, Louisa said, ‘‘I brought along several skirts and dresses. Wouldn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb here.’’ Promptly Louisa held up a bright red shirtdress, a tiny flap-style pocket on the upper left bodice. The other dress she showed Annie was a solid lime green, a bit low cut, and the color shouted, ‘‘Lookee here at me!’’
Annie held her breath. The dresses, if they were Louisa’s only choices, were much too loud for Preaching service.
‘‘Knowing your people as you do, Annie, which would be best for church tomorrow?’’
Ach, neither one! She was at a terrible loss for words.
Right away, Jesse was in a quandary, seeing Annie’s friend enter the kitchen looking like Jezebel herself.
What have we done? Even as he thought this, he scooted his chair back from the head of the table. He felt strongly the importance of showing respect to their guest even though she was bejeweled, made up to kingdom come, and wearing fancy clothes . . . a man’s pair of trousers, in all truth.
‘‘Welcome to our house.’’ He extended his hand.
‘‘Thank you, uh . . . Mr. Zook. Well, Preacher Zook is better, isn’t it?’’ She shook his hand and smiled.
He could see she was trying hard to be polite, though he was also mighty sure she was terribly uncomfortable. Still, he recalled the curious words spoken by Preacher Moses regarding Annie and her visitor and hoped that just maybe Louisa’s coming might prove to be providential indeed.
Annie insisted on Louisa sitting next to where Mamm always sat at the table. Louisa offered repeatedly to carry over the serving platters, but Mamm was adamant about her being ‘‘waited on’’ for the first meal with the family.
