The Peacemaker, page 20
“You need to stop coming in here to talk to my sister. She’s busy working, and this is a place of business. So unless you plan on buying something—”
“Oh, don’t worry, big brother Norman. I’ll buy some meat or cheese.” Ben whirled around like the wheels of a buggy and stomped off toward the back of the store.
Norman breathed audibly through his nose as he clasped his hands tightly together. He wished there was something he could do or say to make Susan see that Ben was not a good choice for her.
Ephraim wasn’t a good choice for Rosa either, Norman thought. And look how that turned out. Norman winced, feeling the weight of the past settle on his shoulders. Even though there had never been any proof that Ephraim was to blame for Rosa’s disappearance, he’d never been able to shake the feeling that Ephraim knew more than he was telling.
Susan’s focus had been on the job at hand, and she was surprised when she heard Ben’s voice and he knelt beside her in front of the meat cooler.
“How are you, Ben?” Susan asked, giving him what she figured was a full-toothed grin. “Did you come here to buy some meat, cheese, or milk?”
“Nope. I came to see you, but your bossy brother thinks I ought to buy something while I’m here.” Ben grabbed a package of meat out of the cooler. “And so I shall.”
“You just have to ignore Norman. His bark is bigger than his bite.”
Ben shrugged. “Whatever. I need something to gnaw on anyway.”
“So what did you want to see me about?” Susan tilted her head.
“I’ve decided to stay here in the Big Valley, so I contacted my brother Arlan and asked him to make all the arrangements to have my horse sent here. I’ve debated about doing it for a while and figured now was the time.”
“That’s good news.” Susan felt like jumping up and bouncing on her toes. If Ben had made arrangements to bring his horse up from Lancaster County, it really must mean he planned on staying in Mifflin County.
“I can’t wait to see what your gaul looks like,” Susan said.
“And I can’t wait to show you how fast Thunder can run.”
Susan’s heart raced at the thought of it, and she offered Ben what she hoped was one of her most pleasant smiles. “I will surely look forward to that.”
Allensville
I’m glad you were free to come here with me,” Ephraim told Ada after they’d gone into the restaurant and were seated at a table.
Her beaming face was as radiant as her russet eyes. “It was nice of you to invite me. I haven’t eaten here in a long time, and I’m looking forward to choosing my meal from the buffet.”
“Same here. I’ve been thinking about it all day.” Ephraim dropped his gaze. A brisk trail of heat rushed along the bridge of his nose. And I’ve been thinking about you too.
The truth was he’d had a good time with Ada at the fair and hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since that night. There were so many things Ephraim appreciated about Ada—the way she always listened to others, wished everyone the best, and spoke well of them; the fact that she was a defender of the weak; her humble attitude; her maturity; her even-tempered, honest, principled nature; and the calming effect Ada had on him. The last trait Ephraim thought of concerning Ada was something Rosa had lacked. Instead of making him feel calm and relaxed, she often made Ephraim feel uptight, especially when they disagreed on something like whether to join the church. Rosa always wanted her own way and rarely let Ephraim choose which restaurant they would go to for a meal. She was talented at volleyball, though, and that was something they’d enjoyed doing together. Rosa had a wild side, which excited Ephraim back then, but after a while, he desired the simple life he’d grown up with. Ephraim had been foolish in expecting Rosa to follow suit, especially when she’d shown bitterness toward the idea of joining the church.
Guess I was pretty wild myself, he thought, toying with the spoon on his paper napkin. Maybe that’s why I thought Rosa and I were so good together—we both liked to break the church rules and thought having fun was more important than living the life of a devout Christian. At least, that’s what I convinced myself to believe. I regret going to those parties, and if I could go back, I would change a lot about how I handled situations.
When the waitress came to take their drink orders, Ephraim pushed his thoughts aside and asked his date what she would like to drink. My date, he mused. Would Ada consider this a date?
“Think I’ll just stick with water,” Ada replied.
“Guess I will too then.”
After the waitress gave them the go-ahead to help themselves at the buffet, Ada suggested that they pray before getting their food.
“Good idea.” Ephraim bowed his head and prayed silently, asking God to bless their meal and the time they had together.
When they finished praying, they both went up and proceeded to fill their plates with as much food as a plate could carry.
Back at the table, Ephraim noticed a young English man and a woman who was most likely the man’s date. Ephraim determined that fact because the couple sat close together and the guy kissed the girl’s cheek one time.
Even in my wildest days, I would never have done that, Ephraim thought. He’d been taught at an early age that kissing in public was not proper, and it had stuck with him even to this day.
While eating, Ephraim and Ada discussed their jobs—his at the harness shop, and hers working at the greenhouse, as well as their shared interests in volleyball and baseball.
“I enjoy playing board games and working on jigsaw puzzles too,” Ada stated.
“I haven’t put a puzzle together in a long time,” Ephraim said. “Maybe we could get together and do that sometime this winter.”
Her eyes brightened, and she scooped a forkful of salad toward her mouth. “That sounds like fun. I could make a batch of buttered popcorn and fix us each a mug of hot apple cider.”
Ephraim licked his lips. “Yum. Those would be perfect on a cold winter evening.”
They were almost finished with their meal and were talking about whether they should indulge in some dessert when the English fellow whom Ephraim had been watching earlier got up from his table and came over to stand beside Ephraim’s chair.
“You’re both Amish, right?”
Ephraim wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin before answering, “Jah, we are.”
“Mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“I guess so.”
“I was watching a documentary on TV a few weeks ago, and it was mentioned that most Amish teens go through a time called ‘rumspringa.’ I think that’s what it’s called.”
Ephraim nodded.
“And some Amish young people go pretty wild during that time?”
“Some do and some don’t,” Ada spoke up.
“What about you two?” The young man pointed at Ephraim and then at Ada. “Did either of you go through a wild time?”
Ephraim tugged on his suspender, hoping the action might remove the source of his agitation. He’d done his share of wrong things during his running around years and felt ashamed by it. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about it with a complete stranger.
“I’m sorry,” Ephraim said through clenched teeth, “but I’d rather not discuss this with you.” He gestured to the dessert menu and said, “Now if you’ll excuse us, my friend and I would like to finish our meal without any more interruptions.”
“Okay, suit yourself.” The fellow shrugged and moved back to his own table.
Ephraim heaved a sigh of relief. The brief discussion he’d had with the English fellow had irritated him, and he needed to calm down, because before this evening was over, he planned to ask Ada if he could begin courting her, and he hoped she would say yes.
CHAPTER 22
AS THEY TRAVELED BACK TO Ada’s house that evening, she thought about the questions the English man had asked Ephraim. Ada knew he had touched on a sore spot with Ephraim, and she’d felt sorry for him. Ephraim wasn’t the same man he’d been during his rumspringa. He was a kind, humble person who seemed honest and trustworthy. Ephraim also worked hard and cared about the needs of his family. Hopefully he wouldn’t allow his history to prevent him from finding contentment.
When Ephraim pulled his horse and buggy onto the property owned by Ada’s parents, he set the brake and turned to face her. “Can I tell you something before you go in, Ada?”
“I suppose.” Ada nibbled on her lip. “Is something wrong?”
Ephraim shook his head. “Nothing like that, but …” He huffed out a breath, while fiddling with his suspender. “I’m sorry. I’m just gonna say it. I’ve known you for a long time but never realized how much I enjoyed your company until recently. Being able to hang out with you at the fair made me understand this, which is why I invited you to join me for supper tonight. I’d like to get to know you more and continue to share moments like these with you.” He paused. “I care about you Ada, and if you’re agreeable, I’d like to court you.”
Ada’s body pressed against the buggy seat. She couldn’t believe what Ephraim had just asked her. If she’d heard him right, he’d said he wanted to court her. She had longed to hear those words come out of Ephraim’s mouth but never thought she would. Was he serious or merely asking a question he thought she wanted to hear? But that’s ridiculous, she told herself. Ephraim has no idea how I feel about him. I’ve always been just a friend, nothing more. What could have changed between us?
“Ada, did you hear what I said?”
Ephraim’s question pushed her thoughts aside. “You—you said you wanted to court me?”
“Jah, that’s right. Are you willing, Ada?”
Ada wanted to shout, “Most definitely,” but she said instead, “Are you sure, Ephraim? I mean …” She faltered, not sure what to say next.
“I am very sure.” He leaned forward, looking directly into Ada’s eyes. “I’ve come to care about you, as more than a friend.”
Ada fixed her eyes on his deep chin dimple before averting her gaze. She didn’t know where to look in this situation, given how she was feeling right now. “You have?”
He nodded. “I find myself thinking about you when we’re not together, and when we are, it’s all I can do not to touch you, kiss you, or hold you in my arms.”
Ada’s heartbeat increased, and she swallowed hard. I must be dreaming. This can’t be true.
Ephraim reached for Ada’s hand, and when his fingers grazed hers, a tingling sensation spread up her arm and to her shoulder. “How do you feel about me? Have I overstepped my bounds?”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, Ephraim, not at all. I feel the same way about you, and have for a long time.” Ada clung to his hand. “Even when you and Rosa were seeing each other, I wished it could be me you were going out with.”
He blinked rapidly. “Seriously?”
“Jah.”
“All this time? You certainly hid your feelings well. I really had no idea.”
“Rosa didn’t know how I felt about you either. I never said anything because I did not want to upset my best friend or cause her to worry that I might say or do anything to break up the two of you.”
Ephraim hitched a breath. “Oh boy! I had no idea. Sorry, Ada.”
“That’s okay.” Ada dipped her chin to her chest. “It was best that you didn’t know.”
“How come?”
“You were in love with Rosa, and I believed she loved you too.” She locked eyes with Ephraim, observing him. Ada noted that his brown eyes weren’t fully brown, which she had never seen up close before. A greenish tint lined his irises. “If I had said something, you probably both would have been upset, and it would have ruined my friendship with Rosa … and maybe your relationship with her too.”
Ephraim’s cheeks reddened. “It was ruined the day Rosa disappeared and never contacted me.”
“She hasn’t been in touch with me either. And maybe she can’t, Ephraim. Rosa might have been taken hostage, or she could be—”
“Dead?” His shoulders curled forward, and he let go of Ada’s hand. “Will you please be honest with me if I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Do you now or have you ever believed that I was in some way responsible for Rosa’s disappearance?”
Ada had to think for a moment before giving her response. Some folks in the valley, especially Norman, had been convinced that Ephraim must have harmed Rosa and denied it. Ada had to admit that at one point the thought had crossed her mind, but she’d dismissed it. Even though Ephraim had been pretty wild during the first part of his rumspringa, he’d settled down quite a bit and had even asked Rosa to join the church with him. When Rosa had said no, Ada felt sorry for Ephraim, certain he must have believed that if he and Rosa joined the church, the next step would have been marriage. Ada didn’t understand why Rosa would have passed up the opportunity to be Ephraim’s wife. Rosa may have believed that Ephraim would abandon the Amish faith, but his request for her to join proved that wasn’t going to happen.
Ephraim laid his hand on Ada’s shoulder. “You still haven’t answered my last question. Did you ever believe I might have done something to harm Rosa?”
“No, not really. I knew how much you loved her, and I even stood up for you when Norman made accusations.”
“Thank you for that.” Ephraim put his hands on Ada’s cheeks and caressed her face. Then, when he leaned close to kiss her, she trembled as though her heart might become molten. She closed her eyes and savored the essence of Ephraim as she pressed into his kiss. Maybe Ephraim really does have strong feelings for me.
Pacing from one end of the living room to the other, Dorothy halted long enough to peek at the grandfather clock, which would soon be chiming again. It was almost nine, and there was still no sign of Sarah. Josiah’s driver had picked her up at eleven this morning, so Dorothy figured her mother-in-law would surely be here by now.
“Those furrowed brows, and the fact that you’re pacing, tells me that you must be fretting because my mamm isn’t home yet,” Lewis commented from the chair where he sat across the room.
She paused and put both hands on her hips. “You’re right, Lewis. Your mother should have been home by now.”
“They probably stopped somewhere for supper.” He pointed at Dorothy’s rocking chair. “Why don’t you sit down and try to relax? You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor if you’re not careful.”
Dorothy lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “Jah, right.” She made her way across the room and plopped in the rocking chair. “I don’t see why they had to make an entire day of it. The drive to Reeds Gap State Park shouldn’t have taken long, and two elderly people wouldn’t have done much walking.”
“No, but the younger ones may have done a bit of sightseeing on foot, while the older couple sat on a bench somewhere and rested.”
“I suppose you could be right.”
Lewis chuckled. “Just listen to us, Dorothy. This morning, I was all worried about my mamm, and now it’s your turn to fret.”
She couldn’t help smiling. “You’d think we were the parents and your mother was our child. I can only imagine what Sarah would say if she knew we were talking about her and worrying about her welfare.”
“She’d probably say that we were worried for nothing and that she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.”
“I am well aware. Even so—”
Dorothy’s sentence was interrupted when the front door opened and Sarah entered the room. The first thing Dorothy noticed was that her mother-in-law’s dress and black apron appeared to be wet. She was also baffled to find Sarah wearing no shoes. Several strands of silver-gray hair hung loose from her flattened head covering as well.
“What’s going on, Mom?” Lewis asked before Dorothy could voice the question. “Why do you look like you showered with your clothes on?”
Sarah brought a hand to her mouth and giggled. “I took a tumble while looking at some pretty rocks in Honey Creek, which flows through the park. Josiah helped me get out by holding his cane out to me so I could pull myself out of the wasser.”
Lewis frowned. “Where was your driver when this happened, and what about Josiah’s son and his daughter-in-law?”
“The driver was in the van taking a nap, and Josiah’s son and his wife had gone for a hike up one of the trails.”
“And they left you two alone?” Dorothy questioned.
“We weren’t alone. We were together.” Sarah’s eyes shone brightly, and she spoke in a bubbly voice. Apparently, she found the whole ordeal quite humorous.
Dorothy flexed her fingers repeatedly. She was not amused.
“What happened to your shoes, Mom?” Lewis pointed to his mother’s bare feet.
“They were too wet to wear in the house, so I took them off and left them on the front porch.”
“Can I fix you something to eat?” Dorothy rose from the rocker and moved toward her mother-in-law. “I’m sure you didn’t stop at a restaurant to eat wearing wet clothes.”
Sarah flapped her hand. “Oh, no need to bother. We went to one of those fast-food places and ate while we were riding in the van.” She let out an exuberant sigh. “I am pretty tired, though, so I think I’ll get cleaned up and go straight to bed. You two should probably do the same, because you both look mied to me.”
Dorothy had to admit that, at this moment, she was fatigued. And truth be told, Lewis probably was too.
They both told Sarah goodnight, and Dorothy watched as the elderly woman sauntered down the hall toward the guest room. She could hear a faint hum from Sarah’s lips, which gradually faded until only the sound of crickets reverberated from outside.
Dorothy returned to her seat and looked over at Lewis. “What do you think about that?”
“You mean my mamm falling in the creek?”
“Jah, and also the way she made light of the whole thing.”
“I believe Mom forgets her age and still thinks she’s a young woman.”
Dorothy leaned heavily against the back of the rocker and pushed her feet to get the chair moving. At the moment, she felt too keyed up to think about sleep. She’d only been sitting there a short time when the front door opened again and Ephraim ambled into the room, his expression looking sappier than a sugar maple tree.
