by Molly Jebber
Ellie froze. Abigail stood behind the woman. When had she snuck in?
Abigail chimed in. “She’d probably be thrilled to have you dress her in clothes such as yours. She’s quite adventurous. Right, Ellie?”
The woman narrowed her eyes at Abigail. “Young lady, it’s impolite to interrupt.”
Abigail opened her mouth then shut it. She pinched her lips and pretended to study the contents of the display case.
Ellie stiffened, and, dismayed, her temper flared. She fought to control it and ignored Abigail. “Madam, I’m flattered, but I’m Amish and my dress is part of our tradition. What can I interest you in today?” She gestured at the baked goods.
“I apologize. My husband tells me I’m too impulsive sometimes. I’m not familiar with the Amish traditions and lifestyle.”
Ellie said, “No need to apologize.”
“I’ll buy an apple pie and a dozen molasses cookies.”
Ellie accepted her coins and wrapped her choices. “Danki for kumming in. I hope you’ll visit us again.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you, and if we pass through this town again, I will.”
Abigail stared at Ellie until the door shut and the customer had gone. She jutted her chin and scowled. “Even Englischers can sniff out your desire for beautiful things, Ellie.”
“What do you want, Abigail?”
An elderly man made his way into the bakery and stood behind Abigail.
Abigail scrunched her face. “Two loaves of cranberry bread.”
Ellie slid the wrapped package to her. “Here you go.”
Abigail paid for her purchase and left.
Ellie held a hand to her stomach. She had a bad feeling about Abigail’s visit today. Now what did the girl want? She was positive she hadn’t kumme to the bakery only to buy bread. She was glad the troublemaker left and refrained from saying anything more to frustrate her further.
* * *
Ellie pressed her lips tight to stifle a yawn during the bishop’s message Sunday morning at the Kanagys’. The days had dragged by this past week as she’d waited to see Joel. She had tossed and turned all night, excited about her afternoon with him. She stole a glimpse of him. Her gaze met his, and she thought her heart would melt.
Ellie cringed as she listened to the bishop talk about loving your enemies. Ellie prayed Abigail would stop antagonizing her. The girl had worked hard at being her enemy. Distance between them would be best, but Abigail sought her out. She didn’t know how much more she could take before lashing out at her adversary. The girl had tested her patience to the limit.
The bishop read Matthew 5:44, “‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you . . .’”
A pang of guilt stabbed at Ellie’s heart. She couldn’t imagine liking Abigail, let alone loving her. She bowed her head and prayed silently. Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for my wrongs, and soften my hardened heart toward Abigail. Amen.
The bishop finished his sermon, led them in a hymn from the Ausbund, prayed over the bountiful food, and dismissed them.
Hannah walked outside with her. “I’m not going to Timothy’s.”
Aaron came from behind Hannah and clasped her hand. “Pretty girl, you’re kumming to my haus today. Timothy said so.”
“How can you disappoint his sweet face?” Ellie chuckled.
Hannah and Timothy had red hair and green eyes. If they did get married one day, their kinner were sure to have the same. She better not tease Hannah about this. She was prickly where Timothy was concerned. Hannah might get upset with her.
Hannah sighed and playfully tapped his nose. “I’ll be there, sweetheart.”
“Yippee!”
Peter joined them. “Ellie, Aaron asked me to sit with him. We were first in line and have our plates at the table over there. I can’t find Mamm and Daed. Will you tell them?”
“Jah, you go ahead.”
Peter dashed to Aaron.
Joel approached them. “Ellie, Hannah, sit with Timothy and me and the boys at the picnic table to the left of the barn.”
“Danki. We’ll get our plates and be right there.” Ellie gave him a warm grin.
Ellie followed Hannah and filled her plate. “The message this morning pricked my conscience.”
“Because of Abigail’s poking at you?”
“Jah. The girl won’t leave me alone.”
“There are some people we forgive but we stay away from for our own good. Abigail’s one of them. I’m upset she’s provoking you. I wish I’d been there when she interrupted your conversation with the Englischer the other day.”
“It’s probably better you weren’t. I don’t want her to treat you mean.” She overheard Abigail’s laugh and avoided looking in her direction. “Let’s not let her spoil our day.” She squeezed Hannah’s hand while holding her plate with the other. She and Hannah joined the boys.
Joel slid and patted the spot next to him. “Sit by me, Ellie.”
She squeezed her elbows to her sides and sat. “Danki.”
Aaron motioned to Hannah. “I saved you a seat next to me, pretty girl.”
“Her name is Hannah.” Timothy gave him a stern look.
“I know. I just like calling her pretty girl. You called her a pretty girl to Joel.” Aaron shrugged his shoulders and took a bite of his buttered white bread.
Peter huffed. “Don’t pick on Aaron.”
Ellie loved Peter’s protective stance with his new friend, but she couldn’t sit still. She had to rescue her friend. “We should address Hannah by her name. We don’t want to embarrass her.”
“I’ll call you Hannah from now on. All right?” Aaron gave Hannah puppy-dog eyes.
Ellie surveyed her friends. All were stifling their chuckles at the innocent boy.
Hannah nodded. “No harm done.” She tapped him gently on the nose. “You’re a charmer, like your bruder.”
Timothy blushed and gave her an impish shrug.
Ellie and the others didn’t comment and finished their meals.
Joel stood. “Ellie, I brought the wagon so you and Peter can go to the Barkmans’ with me.”
Timothy pointed to his buggy. “Hannah, you can ride with Aaron and me. Peter, you can ride with us too.”
“May I?” Peter folded his hands and held them under his chin.
“Please let him.” Aaron stared at her.
Ellie and Peter waved good-bye to her parents in the distance. “It’s all right with me. Go ahead.”
Hannah stared at her shoes. “Timothy, if you don’t mind, I’ll go with Ellie and Joel.”
He crossed his arms. “I do mind. I may need help with these two ornery boys. And Joel and Ellie may enjoy time alone to talk on the way.”
Hannah winced. “I suppose they would. All right, Timothy. I’ll go with you.”
Ellie hugged her and whispered in her ear. “He won’t bite. Relax.” She strode alongside Joel to his buggy and got inside. “Danki for taking me.”
He waited for a moment to flick the reins, and met her gaze. “My pleasure. I’ve looked forward to this day.”
“I have too.” Her heart fluttered with delight.
“Are you happy working at the bakery?” Joel waved to their friends passing them.
“I love it. Liza is a talented baker and creative with her recipes. It’s fun working with my best friend and stepmamm. Do you have any interests other than farming?” She loved watching the blond bunny hopping in the lush green grass on the side of the road.
“I tinker with wood when I have time.”
She shifted in her seat to focus on him. “What do you make?”
“Tables and chairs. I sold quite a few in our previous hometown.”
Ellie hesitated to ask her next question. She wasn’t sure how she’d handle the disappointment if he didn’t have a positive answer. “Are you glad you moved to Charm?”
“I am. How abo
ut you?”
She rested easier. Their family had no plans to leave. “I lived in Nappanee, Indiana, before moving here, and I enjoy both towns. Daed marrying Liza, and having Hannah as my best friend, has made Charm special to me. I don’t plan to move again.” Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned Nappanee. He might ask questions. Questions she wasn’t prepared to answer. She held her breath a moment.
His shoulders slumped a little. “I’ve had close friends. Here I am twenty-two, and there’s no one I’d call a best friend. I envy you.”
She’d had a difficult time winning over some of the Amish girls in the community. The gossips had shed a bad light on her past behavior. She understood it could be a challenge to make new friends, let alone a best friend. She was grateful for Hannah. “It takes time to nurture relationships with others, and it’s not easy with our work schedules. Timothy will probably introduce you to other young men.” She hoped he would leave time for her. “You’re always wilkom to kumme over to my haus.”
Joel waggled his brows. “When?”
She jerked her head in surprise. Her heart skipped with excitement. “How about tomorrow night at six?”
“I’d be honored.” He pulled back the reins to slow the horse.
Ellie pointed to a small pond. “Look at those two beautiful geese paddling beside each other. They’re lovely. This property stretches far and wide. Much like ours. It’s got plenty of room for the boys to run and play.”
“It’s quite a place.”
She jumped to the ground. “They’ve got two porch swings and enough room for rocking chairs. We have the same. Our porch is my favorite place to have some quiet time and watch the squirrels hunt and bury nuts, the fireflies light up in the summer, and butterflies fluttering around the flower bushes. I miss those things in the winter.”
“I appreciate all those things too.” Joel stepped out of the buggy and tied the horse to the post.
Ellie walked with him to join Hannah, Timothy, and the boys.
Timothy led them to the backyard, where he already had wooden pegs in the ground and horseshoes in different weights and sizes.
Peter picked one up. “This is heavy!”
Aaron passed him a lighter one. “Try this one.”
“Much better. Danki.”
Ellie stood next to Hannah and watched Timothy and Joel instruct the boys on how to play the game. Joel had a more serious side to him than Timothy. A sign of his maturity she found attractive. Joel would make a good daed someday. Patient, firm, and kind.
Aaron stomped to Joel. “Will you show me the right way to throw? My bruder won’t let me try.” He crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip.
Timothy’s cheeks reddened. “I’m sorry, little bruder. Kumme back. I’ll let you play.”
Peter threw one and bounced on his toes. “I did it! I did it!”
Aaron ran to Joel. “Will you help me, Joel?”
Joel handed him the horseshoe then put his hand over the boy’s. He guided his throw.
Aaron clapped and jumped up and down. “I made it! I made it!” He hugged Joel. “Danki!” He wrinkled his nose at Timothy.
Timothy removed his hat and scratched his head. “You sure have a way with kinner, Joel.” He put his hand on Aaron’s head. “Kumme on, bruder. I’ve put checkers out for you and Aaron.”
Hannah whispered close to Ellie’s ear. “Timothy has a big heart. He just needs more time to mature.”
Ellie nodded. “I understand what you mean.”
Timothy acted as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was fun-loving and didn’t appear to have a serious bone in his body. She was sure he did have his serious moments, but Hannah was smart to not consider him for now. She walked with the group to the picnic table.
Timothy had checkers arranged on top of the table. “Would you like to play checkers while the four of us play horseshoes?”
Aaron faced Peter. “Do you? I’m kinda bored with horseshoes.”
“I wouldn’t mind playing checkers.” Peter followed his new friend and squirmed onto the seat across from him.
Ellie went with her friends to the horseshoes. She and Hannah played together, while Timothy and Joel played a couple of yards away from them. Ellie rounded the peg with each throw on her turns.
Hannah threw and missed each time. “Ellie, how do you do it?” She laughed and rested her hands on her hips.
She shrugged. “I’ve played the game a lot with Daed over the years. Let me show you.” She took Hannah’s hand and guided her throw.
The shoe swung around the peg. Hannah clasped her hands and held them to her chin. “Finally! Danki, friend.”
“Want to watch Joel and Timothy?” Ellie gestured to them.
Hannah nodded.
“All right, here I go.” Timothy took a moment to stare at the peg, made a show of holding the horseshoe, and then threw it. The horseshoe landed over the peg. “Three in a row!”
“Well done, Timothy.” Joel lobbed his horseshoe with ease and made it.
Timothy held up his palms. “Do you ever miss?”
Joel shrugged. “I do.”
Ellie observed Joel. He didn’t boast like Timothy. His humbleness was apparent, confident he didn’t have the need to prove himself. “You both had a good game.”
Mrs. Barkman brought out a tray of cold sandwiches and lemonade. “Take a break and have some supper.”
Ellie and the others thanked her, relaxed on the seat at the table, and enjoyed the food.
Peter rounded the table and sat across from Aaron. “Why do you have a dent on the side of your head?”
Ellie gasped. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she opened her mouth to speak.
Joel gently gripped her arm under the table. He whispered, “Let Aaron explain. If you scold Peter, it may embarrass them. If Aaron answers, it will show Peter has gained his trust, and it will be a natural conversation between them.”
She bit her tongue and nodded.
Aaron shrugged and tapped the indentation on his head. “Our mare kicked me right here. I got too close and touched a sore spot on her leg. It makes me sad when schoolmates call me slow and won’t play with me.”
Batting the air with his hand, Peter sighed. “I’ll be your friend.”
Aaron sat up straighter and held his spoon in midair. “Let’s hurry and eat. Then we can play with the kittens.”
Ellie’s eyes pooled with tears. She was proud of Peter for his compassion and understanding. Kinner could be intolerant and impatient with others who weren’t like them. Joel had been right. If she’d interfered, it would have made everyone at the table ill at ease. “Danki for stopping me from making a mistake. It was best to let the boys talk it out.” Ellie raised grateful eyes to him.
“Peter is easy to love. His innocence is refreshing, and his acceptance of Aaron shows his big heart.”
She winced. “I should’ve forewarned him about Aaron’s accident. I didn’t find the time.”
Joel shook his head. “Nah, their conversation turned out perfect. They have an understanding between them.”
Ellie folded her hands tight. Did she and Joel have a silent understanding between them not to broach the subject of what he’d been told about her? She held the thought close to her heart. She didn’t want anything to ruin her time with him today.
Timothy loaded the dirty plates on the wooden tray his mamm had left at the end of the table. “I’ll carry these inside, and then we can play checkers or other board games.”
Hannah stood and gathered the empty glasses. “I’ll follow you inside with these.” She faced Ellie. “Shouldn’t we get going soon?”
Joel stood. “Jah, we should head home. Hannah, I’ll be glad to take you, Ellie, and Peter home.”
“Nah, I’ll take her.” Timothy raised his brows.
“Danki, Timothy, but I’ll go with the others.” She bustled into the haus carrying the glasses.
Timothy didn’t move. “I’m afraid she can’t stand me. I wanted us
to be friends.”
Ellie was certain Hannah didn’t mean to offend him. “She does care about you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.” She hoped she hadn’t overstepped by giving some assurance.
He beamed and went inside.
Hannah returned wearing a baffled expression. She leaned close to Ellie’s ear. “Did you give him the impression I was interested in him? He resembled a puppy the way he was on my heels in the kitchen.”
Ellie opened her mouth but shut it.
Timothy stepped between them. “I’m glad you came today, Hannah. I hope we’ll get together again soon.”
Hannah turned on her heel. “Timothy, I consider you a friend. Frankly, I don’t believe you’re ready to pursue anything serious with a woman.”
He bent and plucked a long blade of grass and tied it in a knot. “You pegged me right, Hannah, but we don’t know what the future holds.” He met her gaze. “We had fun, didn’t we?”
“We did.”
“Friends?”
Hannah sighed and stared at her hands. “Jah, friends would be nice.”
Ellie listened to Hannah and Timothy’s exchange, and then she gave Joel a knowing look and chuckled.
Joel whispered to Ellie, “I’m curious to find out where our friendship leads. Are you?”
She blushed and nodded. “I am too.”
“Good.” Joel held her gaze for a moment then called to Peter. “Time to go home!”
Peter skipped to them with Aaron by his side.
Aaron stared at the ground and kicked a small stone. “Will you kumme back sometime?”
Peter hopped from one foot to the other and peeked through his lashes. “Sure, I will. You can visit me too. I’ll show you Snuggles, my rabbit.”
“I can’t wait. Danki.”
Timothy rested his hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “All of you kumme back anytime. I doubt anyone could wipe the smile off my bruder’s face, and I credit Peter for putting it there.”
Ellie nodded. “We’ll get them together again soon.”
The Barkmans came outside and everyone said their farewells.
Joel guided the mare down the lane onto the narrow dirt road to Hannah’s.
Hannah bumped Ellie’s shoulder. “What did you say to Timothy?”
