by Molly Jebber
Hannah put the plate in the cabinet. “Liza, it’s no secret Jacob loves you. What would you do if Ellie came back and Jacob asked you to leave with them to start a new life somewhere else?”
Liza put up her palms. “Wait a minute. Let’s not invite trouble. God is the only one who knows the future. I have no intention of leaving Charm. I hope Jacob and Ellie won’t either. As far as a possible marriage with Jacob, there’s a lot at stake for me. He asked me to marry him, but I squelched it. We both have a lot to consider. It’s only been three weeks since Ellie left. She’s our focus right now.”
Esther pushed a stray hair near Liza’s eye and tucked it back under her kapp. “Correct answer. We love you. Take your time.”
“I love you both very much and appreciate your watching out for me.” Liza kissed each of them on the cheek. She had only concentrated on Ellie not accepting her if she did go forward with him in the direction of marriage. It hadn’t entered her mind they might move to avoid Ellie facing constant tittle-tattle and for another fresh new start for them. This was a much bigger rut in the road for her and Jacob if his decision to leave became a reality.
Liza, Esther, and Hannah joined the men on the porch.
Jacob rose. “I should head home. Liza, do you mind walking me to my wagon?”
She strolled with him and stopped to pet the beautiful horse. “You’ve been unusually quiet this evening.”
“Liza, please look at me.”
She faced him. His voice low and serious perked her ears. “I hope I haven’t driven a wedge between us with my talk of moving if it becomes necessary. I shouldn’t speculate at this point.”
She shivered. Waiting to discover what happened with Ellie was all she wanted to do right now. Her decisions weighed heavily on Ellie’s choices in life, and if she returned, her reaction to Liza as a potential part of their family. “Jacob, if Ellie has a change of heart and kummes home, her attitude about us matters.”
“Ellie’s not here. She’s my child and I’m the parent. She has to accept decisions I make in my life and trust what I do is best for both of us. If she doesn’t approve of you being my fraa, she’ll have to respect and be kind to you. I won’t have it any other way.” He lowered his chin and raised his gaze to hers. “Am I a potential husband for you? Liza, again, I want you to marry me. The circumstances aren’t good, but why wait? Ellie may never kumme back.”
“What if Ellie kummes back to Charm and then runs away again because of us? I don’t want this unrest in a second marriage. I also don’t ever want to destroy whatever positive relationship you may have with Ellie.”
“We can’t wait forever for her to act on our plans.”
“Not now, Jacob. Please understand. It’s important to me to wait. Let’s give Ellie more time. Let’s talk about this in a few months.”
“A few months? In the short time we’ve been acquainted, I’ve had no doubt you are the woman I want by my side for the rest of my life. Please, Liza, don’t put our lives on hold.” Jacob pinched his eyes closed for a moment, then opened them. “Everything is about Ellie. She’ll have to grow up and accept what decisions I make for my life and hers if she returns.”
“Please, Jacob. Accept my request to put this subject aside for now. I have my reservations about the dissention it would bring to our lives. I love you, but love isn’t enough. I won’t commit to thinking of marriage anytime soon. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll let us continue to be content with what I’m offering you now.”
“I’ll not coax you anymore for the time being. I understand your reservations.” He glanced around. “Everyone has gone inside.” He pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips. “I love you, Liza. Sweet dreams.” He smiled.
Her heart beat with joy. She should’ve shoved him away, but she couldn’t do it. His strong arms around her and his kiss reminded her how much she loved him. Then she stiffened. His earlier forlorn expression sent a twinge of guilt through her. The man was suffering and she hadn’t helped by rejecting his suggestion they marry. He wanted some type of commitment she would marry him soon and she couldn’t do it. Ellie would have to accept her first, and she didn’t foresee that happening. She’d pray for God to speak to Ellie’s heart and give the young woman peace of mind and clarity. Maybe then Ellie would be in the frame of mind to accept Liza as Jacob’s fraa and at least a friend to her.
*
Jacob went home burdened, got his horse settled in the barn, and crossed the yard to go inside the haus. He slumped in the big oak cushioned chair and stretched his feet out on the matching footstool. The softness of Liza’s lips from their farewell kiss lingered on his. Her past would keep her from committing to marry him. She was afraid they couldn’t overcome Ellie’s attitude if she returned. He couldn’t blame her, but together, and with God’s help, he was certain they could conquer any problem they encountered, including whatever Ellie threw their way. Ellie might surprise them and be happy to include Liza in their home. Either way, he was ready to commit to a date to marry Liza.
A dark cloud hung over him while he went over his conversation with the sweet woman he wanted to call his fraa. Why couldn’t she let her inhibitions go and trust him?
One minute he found himself frustrated with Ellie and the next he was wrought with sadness. He’d give anything to have her home safe. If she did kumme home, he’d have to have a frank conversation with her about Liza. He believed Liza would be good for Ellie, even if his dochder didn’t agree. She’d have to follow his rules and he’d have to stop being too lenient. If she refused and left again, he’d have to accept her decision and realize she had to learn from her mistakes. There was only so much he could do.
He sniffed the air kumming through the open window. Smoke! He hurried to the window. Fire blazed near his corral fence. He caught sight of a man on a horse riding away. Running outside, he squinted to identify the stranger too far away to identify. Mr. Phillips?
He rushed back inside, unhooked his rifle above the front door, and fired in the air twice, alerting the neighbors there was trouble. He grabbed his coat from the hook, rushed to the mare, and jerked open the corral gate. The flames licked closer to the boards, and he breathed deeply to calm the storm of worry rising inside him. His voice soft, he soothed the horse, reassuring the animal all would be well. He inched closer to the horse, threw his coat over his horse’s head, and grabbed a handful of mane, then guided his four-legged friend to the barn. He was so thankful the workhorses were already in the barn.
Ezra and other neighbors jumped out of wagons and fetched pails from the barn, pumped water into them, and doused the mean and angry orange-hued blaze snapping and threatening to destroy part of the corral fence.
Jacob snatched a shovel and threw dirt from a pile he had in the yard on the damaging fire to extinguish the oxygen feeding it.
The men worked until the fire diminished and smoke filled the air.
Ezra wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his sleeve. “It’s not too bad. We caught it in time. I’ll help you replace the back section. It won’t take us long.”
Jacob thanked his friends for their help and bid them farewell. He was grateful to the kind, good men for their fast response and willingness to rescue his enclosure.
“Do you have any idea how this fire got started?” Ezra bent to wash his hands under the pump.
Jacob handed him a clean rag from the unaffected shelf in the barn. “Danki, Ezra.” He slid one palm over the other. “I don’t want to accuse Mr. Phillips and get him in trouble, but I’m almost certain it was him I saw heading away from my place in a hurry on his horse. Ellie left with his son, Bill. Not long ago, I approached the Phillipses to ask if they knew where my dochder and their son might have gone. Mrs. Phillips said she didn’t, but she asked me to leave for fear her husband would start something with me. He came out and pointed a rifle at me, demanding I leave. He’s so unreasonable. The man doesn’t show an ounce of happiness in his life.”
“I passed him
on the way to your place. I don’t know why he’s so obstinate either. I’m sorry about Ellie.” He stared at the ground. “I should’ve told you this earlier. I didn’t know whether to get involved or not. I realize I did the wrong thing, keeping it from you.”
“What is it, Ezra?”
“I’d seen Ellie and Bill together a few times. They didn’t notice me fishing in the woods. They weren’t doing anything inappropriate, other than being alone, with her being Amish and him an Englischer. I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
Jacob put a hand on Ezra’s shoulder. “Don’t apologize. I understand. I wish I would hear from Ellie. I haven’t the slightest idea where she went or how she is. She’s on my mind constantly.”
“I’m sad to know you’re suffering like Annabelle and me. God has given us an unexplainable peace about our dochder, Martha. We remain disappointed in her decision. But it’s relieved our minds to know she’s healthy and safe whenever she writes to us.” Ezra pointed to neatly stacked wood, perfect for replacing the damaged fence. “You’ve got what we need to rebuild the corral’s fence already. Let’s repair it while we still have daylight.”
“I had them left over. Good thing I did.” Jacob nodded.
They replaced the damaged portion and stood back to admire their work.
“You’re much better at this than I am. I appreciate your help and friendship, Ezra.”
“Always glad to help, my friend.” Ezra bid Jacob farewell.
Jacob walked to the haus and went inside. He fixed leftover potato soup and slathered butter and raspberry jam on fresh bread as he mulled over what Ezra had told him. Ezra and Annabelle had to live without their dochder near. He hoped not to have to settle for the same situation with Ellie.
Why would Mr. Phillips do such a thing? Does he blame Ellie for his son’s departure? The man is unpredictable and vengeful. Jacob wouldn’t go to the sheriff about his suspicions. He had no proof, and he didn’t want any more trouble or to antagonize the menacing man any further. Mr. Phillips searching for Bill and Ellie terrified him. Mr. Phillips had proved he was prone to senseless violence. The Amish abhorred violence. It sickened him that he couldn’t protect his only dochder from this man. She could be anywhere. He feared Bill wasn’t a match for his daed but hoped he was wrong.
*
Jacob rose Tuesday morning missing Ellie so much. Each day he stared at the door or at the lane, hoping she’d return home. As time passed, he grew more anxious about her safety and wondered if he’d ever lay eyes on her again. He blinked away tears. Stiff and weary from yesterday, he peeked out the open window. The sun played hide-and-seek with the puffy white clouds floating overhead.
He would visit Liza later. They’d gotten into a comfortable routine, having coffee or tea in the afternoon at the bakery, even if it was just for a few minutes. He’d go around three, which was her slowest time of day for business. He didn’t hold back anything from her, and she had been frank with him about her feelings and reservations about considering him for a potential husband. His faith in God and Liza’s love for him kept him from going mad fretting about Ellie.
Swinging open the front door, he took a fresh cup of coffee out on the porch and sat in his rocking chair. The birds chirped and the slight breeze sent the water rippling over the stones on the pond’s edge. He’d paint the new part of the fence.
A buggy was traveling on his lane. He stood and squinted. “Ellie!” He jumped off the porch and opened his arms wide. Bill Phillips jumped out and tied the horse to the post.
Ellie ran into Jacob’s arms.
Tears fell onto his cheeks as he held her tight. “Ellie, I was so worried about you.” He gently pulled away from her, his hands on her shoulders. “Are you all right?”
She glanced at Bill, standing a short distance away. “I’m fine, Daed. Bill watched out for me. We did nothing inappropriate together. He’s an honorable man and no more than a friend.”
Jacob swallowed the frustration and relief in his throat. Ellie had chosen to go with this young man. She was as much at fault for their abrupt departure as Bill. “I don’t condone you taking my dochder with you, but I’m glad you’ve brought her back to me.”
Ellie walked to Bill’s side. “Don’t be upset with him. I coaxed him to take me away. He had to get away from his daed. Mr. Phillips has berated him and not shown him an ounce of love.” She stared at her shoes. “The opposite of the way you treat me.”
“Kumme inside. Tell me where you’ve been.”
Bill wrung his hands. “Mr. Graber, I’m sorry for upsetting you by taking Ellie away. I can assure you I haven’t laid a hand on your daughter in a way that would be displeasing to you. I would like to stay and explain where we’ve been and answer your questions, but I must get going for all our sakes. My dad may ride by and recognize our quarter horse and wagon. If he does, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“Don’t worry, son. I’m concerned for your safety too. Let’s put your buggy and horse in the barn in case your daed passes by, then we’ll talk inside.”
They put his animal and buggy out of sight in the barn, then went inside to the kitchen.
Ellie touched the coffeepot. “Coffee’s still warm. Would you like some, Bill?”
“Yes, please.”
She poured them each a cup and joined them at the table.
Jacob crossed his arms. “Where did you stay?”
Bill traced the top of his mug. “My aunt Delores and uncle Glen Phillips live about thirty miles outside of town. They own forty acres and my uncle raises a large number of beef cattle to sell. I’ve visited them often through the years and they’ve been very good to me. Glen is my dad’s brother.”
Ellie reached over and put a plate of shortbread cookies on the counter in the center of the table. “Glen is nothing like Bill’s daed. It’s a mystery how Glen could be so kind, giving, and thoughtful and Mr. Phillips is so hateful and mean having grown up in the same haus together.”
Jacob wrinkled his brow. “It is a mystery.” He cocked his head. “Didn’t Mrs. Phillips question your bringing a young Amish woman to stay with you, and you being unmarried?”
Bill sat back. “No. They’ve asked me to live with them. They’ve witnessed my dad’s temper directed at me. Uncle Glen visited us several times to check on me. Dad didn’t lay a hand on me while he was around. Yet his harsh demands and shouts at me let my uncle know my mother and I were afraid and unhappy around him.
“Uncle Glen tried to take me with him one time, and my mother begged him to leave me with her. I didn’t want to leave my mother and Uncle Glen didn’t have the heart to separate us. He begged her to leave my dad more than once. I’m going to convince her to come with me. I suspect she’s ready.”
Jacob shook his head. “I’m sorry you’ve had such a tough time. I went to ask your parents if they knew where you and Ellie had gone right after you left. Your mamm was kind and told me she didn’t know, and she warned me to leave before her husband caught sight of me.”
Bill sat ramrod straight. “Did you get away in time?”
“He found me as I headed to my wagon.”
“What happened?” Bill’s eyes held fear and he scooted to the edge of his chair.
The concern Bill showed touched Jacob’s heart. The young man truly wasn’t the same hard man as his daed. “He pointed a rifle at me. I tried to reason with him, then thought it best if I left and did.”
“I apologize, Mr. Graber. I should’ve had Ellie warn you in her note not to approach him. He’s a belligerent person.”
“I’m so sorry, Daed.” Ellie stared at Bill in wonder.
“I would’ve gone to ask the Phillipses if they knew your whereabouts anyway.” Jacob cast her a reassuring smile. “Has your daed always been an angry man?”
“My mother said he fooled her with his charm at first. After they were married, he turned gruff and mean. He doesn’t bother her much or lay a hand on her. They steer clear of each other, are quiet at mealtime, an
d discuss only what they need to. He provides a good living for us. I learned to leave him alone and do what I was told.”
Ellie frowned. “How sad.”
Bill glanced at Jacob. “Ellie told me what a good father you are to her. She’s blessed to have you. Again, I apologize for any pain we caused you.”
“You’ve returned her safe, and I’m grateful to you.” He sipped his coffee and set his mug on the table. “What did you do while you were at your relatives’ haus?”
Ellie held an oatmeal cookie. “Bill’s aunt Delores taught me how to knit a blanket. I helped her in the garden and kitchen. Bill worked with his uncle, caring for the cattle and property.” She bit her bottom lip and paused. “We slept in different rooms. Again, we’re friends.”
Jacob noted the disappointment on Bill’s face. Ellie had repeated this statement more than once, he supposed to reiterate it to Bill. The young man must wish Ellie thought of him as more than that. As her daed, he was relieved she hadn’t fallen in love with an Englischer. “What brought you back to Charm?”
Ellie rested her hand on her daed’s arm. “I missed you and our new life here. Delores urged me to reflect on my faith, family, and friends. The values you, Mamm, and Amish life have taught me. I’m weary of running away from the pain of losing Mamm. I fell on my knees and prayed to God to forgive me for all the hurt I’ve brought on you and my friends, for turning my back on Him, and for running away from Him.
“I opened my Bible to read Matthew, 11:28–29. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The same verses I’d read many times before jumped out at me and seared my heart this time. I asked God for peace in my heart. He answered my prayers.”
“Does that mean you’re staying in Charm and you’ve chosen to live as Amish?”
“Jah, Daed. I’m home for good.” She kissed his cheek. “I am ready to join the church when I reach eighteen.”
His heart burst with gratitude as he pulled her into a hug. “I’m so relieved and happy. This is an answer to my prayers.”
