“Jah, he seems very kind. He likes to help the poor and the needy. I like that.”
“And the way he’s spending time with you is so sweet.” Gabbie sighed.
Doubts crept into Martha’s heart. Is Gabbie the woman he prefers and he’s taking the long way around? Gabbie was by far the brighter and more outgoing of the two as far as personalities were concerned. Martha knew she lacked the energy and spark that Gabbie had.
Gabbie went up to the bedroom to get away from Martha for a while. It wasn’t fair that Michael asked Martha, but he wouldn’t have known her leg would be 'miraculously' better. Anyway, she had gotten to feel the hardness of his chest and put her arm around his neck, and that’s something Martha would never do. Gabbie giggled as she flung herself on her bed. She wondered for a moment if Michael could like Martha but quickly dismissed the idea. Martha wasn’t much fun, so what could Michael see in her?
Chapter 22
At one o’clock on Friday afternoon, Michael arrived to take Martha to the charity auction. As they set out, Martha noticed the buggy was indeed full, but another person could’ve easily fit.
“How long have you known Gabbie?” Michael asked.
“I only met her recently, but we'd been writing to each other for months. Amy met her when she was on vacation there some time ago.”
“She’s a different girl. Different from anyone I’ve met before.”
“She is.” Martha agreed trying to hide a frown. She didn’t want their time to be spent speaking about someone else, especially Gabbie.
“She helped Anna quite a bit with the sewing the other day,” Michael said.
“Jah, Anna showed me when I went there to fetch Gabbie.” Martha remembered how Gabbie had tricked Michael into driving her home. She couldn’t say as much to Michael. He would know Gabbie liked him; she was making it obvious enough for everyone else to see. “Maybe Gabbie could’ve come with us today. There seems room enough in the back.”
Michael laughed and glanced over at her. “I wanted to have some time with you, away from Gabbie.”
Martha looked away from him and stared at the road ahead.
“I hope that’s all right?” Michael asked.
Martha smiled and nodded, wishing she could say something witty or clever.
“When Gabbie’s around, it doesn’t give you a chance to speak, and I’m sure there’s a great deal you’d want to say,” Michael said.
She glanced back at him, their eyes locked for a second before she looked away.
“I’m not much of a talker. I mean, not when I first meet people,” Martha said.
“Then you need more practice.”
Once they arrived at the charity auction, Michael wasted no time unloading the buggy while Martha was dragged into one of the tents by a couple of the women. They needed another volunteer to serve the teas and the coffees, and Martha was it.
Martha heard the noises from the auction for the next two hours and she hoped that they were raising a good sum of money. She looked up from behind the counter and saw Anna walking toward the refreshment tent.
Martha stepped over so Anna could see her, and waved.
“Hello, Martha, I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“I wasn’t coming this year with Gabbie visiting, but Michael said he’d bring me.”
“Gut. Where’s Gabbie?”
“She’s at home,” Martha said.
Anna frowned. “She didn’t want to come?”
Martha shook her head. “Don’t think so.”
“That’s odd.”
Martha wondered why she thought it odd, but remained silent. She didn’t want to get into another conversation about Gabbie.
“She was such a wunderbaar help to me. I might ask if she’d like to help me put the finishing touches on everything. Jah, I will. I’ll have her come to the house when I have my attendants for their final fittings if she’s still in town.”
Martha smiled and tried to be happy. “I’m sure she’d love that. She had a good time the other day at your haus.”
“I should go and catch the auction before it finishes. Are you staying for the dinner afterward?”
“I think so,” Martha said.
Anna smiled and walked on. Martha had spent the entire time in the refreshments tent. She was pleased to see Michael coming to get her after the auction, and they got to know a little more about each other at the meal afterward.
* * *
On the way home, Michael asked, “Would you go on a buggy ride with me, Martha? Just you and me, one night soon?”
“Jah, but I don’t know when.” Martha’s insides tingled with excitement, but then nerves got the better of her. “My mudder’s been sick. I’m taking her to get a tonic on Monday. She tried one, but it’s not as good as the ones she used to get from a different place.” As soon as Martha spoke, she knew it was no excuse at all. Her mother being sick hadn’t stopped her from going anywhere else. She was nervous about being with him, and that was all.
“Where are you taking her for the tonic?” Michael asked.
“There’s an old lady in our community. She lives by herself and makes tonics. I don’t think she’s been to a gathering for a while. She keeps to herself pretty much.”
“Sounds strange.”
“Nee, she’s a really nice lady. I’ve been with Mamm to visit her before.”
“How far away does this lady live?”
“She lives a long distance away. Dat jokes it’s in the middle of nowhere.”
“As I said, I’d like to see you again very soon.”
Martha didn’t say anything else.
* * *
When they got back to the Yoders' house, she looked over at him. “I’d better get inside.” Why didn’t she know what to say to him? Should she have said she wanted to see him soon as well, or would that have been too forward? She stepped down from the buggy.
He jumped out and ran around the other side to meet her. “I’ll walk you in.”
“Nee, there’s no need.” Martha glanced up at the house and saw Gabbie watching them from the window of her bedroom. It seemed her best friend had now become her rival in love. He followed her to the door, and when she turned, she found him closer than she’d expected. “I had a nice time, being with you today.”
“Me too,” Michael said. “And, don’t forget I’m driving you and Gabbie around on Saturday.”
“I won’t forget. Do you want to come in?”
“Nee. It’s late.” Michael stared at her and she didn’t know what to do or say. Turning away from him, she put her hand on the door handle.
“Goodbye,” she said before opening the door. Once she was inside, she heard his goodbye before she shut the door softly behind her.
She leaned against the closed door and wanted to cry. Every time she said something to Michael she was sure it was wrong.
When Martha went up to her bedroom, she knew she’d be faced with one hundred and one questions from Gabbie. When she opened her door, she saw Gabbie was in bed. Martha knew she wasn’t asleep because it was still early and she'd seen Gabbie looking out the window. “Gabbie, come downstairs with me. We can have hot tea and cake.”
Gabbie said, “Nee, I’m not hungry. I’ll stay here and sleep.”
“Do you want me to bring something up to you?”
“Nee.”
Martha decided to go to sleep too. Changing into her nightgown, she wished she was more like Gabbie. Gabbie was never at a loss when it came to conversation. Even though Michael had asked her to the charity auction with him, he’d soon lose interest if she was boring to be around. She was always afraid of saying something stupid. That was her real fear and it kept her from saying much at all.
* * *
Gabbie knew that there was only one reason for Martha to want to speak with her, and that was to gloat. Martha had spent most of the day with Michael and she wanted to rub it in. Of course, she was upset, but she couldn’t let Martha see that.
&nbs
p; Maybe Michael likes her more, just like Joseph and Ilsa. Life is so unfair. When is a man going to want me?
Gabbie closed her eyes tightly, so she wouldn’t cry. Michael asking Martha out had stirred up the sadness in her heart over Joseph’s rejection.
Chapter 23
On Saturday morning, both girls were excited Michael was going to drive them in his buggy.
“Do I look all right, Martha?” Gabbie asked.
Martha looked over at Gabbie who was pushing a few strands of hair back under her prayer kapp. She had borrowed Martha’s brown dress, which enhanced her hazel eyes and her warm skin tone. “Ach, jah, you look lovely, Gabbie.”
“Do you think Michael will think I look lovely?”
Martha looked over at Gabbie. “Of course he will.”
“What are you going to wear?”
Martha looked down at the nightgown she was still wearing. She only had three dresses and since Gabbie was wearing her brown dress she had a choice of lemon or grape-colored. “I am going to wear my favorite grape-colored dress and my new over-apron. He won’t be here for hours anyway.”
“I know.” Gabbie smoothed down her apron. “I’m excited to be looking around at all the things you’ve told me about. You don’t think he’ll cancel again, do you?”
“Nee, I don’t think that he’d do that.”
“I guess not,” Gabbie said.
“I’m sorry I haven’t taken the time to show you around.”
“That’s okay. Don’t feel bad.”
Martha pulled on her dress. “Come on, let’s help with the breakfast.”
“Okay, but don’t you want me to braid your hair first?” Gabbie asked.
Martha laughed when she realized she hadn’t brushed her hair or put on her prayer kapp. She always did that first thing when she woke up. “Would you? That would be great. We have to be quick because the girls will wake soon. Amy and I try to let Mamm have a good sleep-in.”
“Jah. I noticed she spends most of her time in bed. I’ll be quick. You’re such a good person, Martha. You’re always caring about other people. I wish I could be more like you.”
Martha was pleased Gabbie thought that way of her. Sometimes she felt a little selfish. “You’re caring too.”
“Not really. I’m not.”
Martha tried to think of an example of Gabbie being kind, but couldn’t come up with anything. When they finished dressing, Martha and Gabbie raced down the stairs. It was usually the young girls who collected the eggs, but since there weren’t any in the egg box, Gabbie collected the eggs while Martha set the table. Scrambled eggs and bacon were what they were having for breakfast. Bacon was a luxury reserved for Saturdays.
“I’m not going anywhere today, Martha.” Amy held a letter in her hand.
“There’s a surprise,” Gabbie commented with sarcasm.
Amy ignored her and kept speaking to Martha. “Could you post this for me?”
“Jah, of course.”
Gabbie reached forward and plucked the envelope from Martha’s hands. “Who’s it from?”
“From me.” Amy giggled.
Gabbie frowned and looked at the letter. “I meant who’s it to? Ah, it’s to my Onkel Andrew. I knew you were still in love with him.”
“Did he give you a message for her?” Martha took the chance to ask since they were talking about Andrew.
“Nee, he didn’t, I’m sorry to say.” Gabbie handed the letter to Martha. “I’ll remind her to post it.”
“Denke, Gabbie.” Amy leaned over the kitchen table, grabbed a piece of toast and headed back to her room.
* * *
While in the middle of the morning chores, Martha realized it probably hadn’t been a good idea to wear her best clothes. She should’ve put them on after all the work had been done. It was too late now, she knew, as she looked at her soiled apron. She did have a spare upstairs, which she’d change into before Michael arrived. Just as she climbed the stairs, she heard Michael’s buggy.
The rest of the family, except for Amy, had left the house after breakfast, leaving Martha and Gabbie alone.
“He’s here now,” Gabbie called out.
“I’m coming. I’ll be down in a minute. Don’t leave without me,” Martha joked.
Martha heard Gabbie laughing and then heard the front door click open.
While she put on her clean apron, she walked to the bedroom window and looked out to see Michael and Gabbie talking. Gabbie was extremely close to him, but Michael seemed more interested in tying up his horse.
Martha was pleased with what she saw and rushed downstairs. Michael stood at the front door with Gabbie behind him.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Jah, all ready, and Gabbie and I made a picnic lunch.”
Michael threw his head back and laughed. “I was just telling Gabbie that my aunt packed food for the three of us too.”
Gabbie stepped in front of Michael. “That’s wunderbaar; we’ll have a lot of food. Come on, Martha, aren’t you ready yet?”
“Jah, I’ll just get the picnic basket.”
“I’ve already done that; it’s in the buggy,” Gabbie said.
Michael clapped his hands. “Okay, let’s go.”
Martha followed Gabbie and Michael out to the buggy, wishing that she was going alone with Michael. She immediately dismissed that thought; she didn’t want to be mean and horrid; there was nothing wrong with Gabbie going with them. As usual, Gabbie made sure she sat right next to Michael. Martha wasn’t upset, she had expected as much.
“Where to first, Martha?” Michael asked as he clicked the horse forward into a slow trot.
Martha breathed out heavily. She should’ve planned their drive; she had no idea where to go first. It was still a couple of hours before lunchtime, so she figured she’d show them all the farms and sights, and they could have lunch at one of the parks near the creek. “Turn right up here and keep going until I tell you when to turn.”
Chapter 24
While Martha showed Michael and Gabbie around, Amy had been collected by Olive and was now having coffee with three of her friends at the Coffee House.
Amy walked into the familiar place with Olive and saw her best friends, Jessie, and Lucy. Claire wasn’t there because she’d married Donovan Billings, an Englischer, and it wasn’t right for them to associate with her too much since she’d left the community.
“Has anyone seen Claire?” Olive asked.
The girls all shook their heads.
“Does anyone have any news?” Amy asked, wondering why Olive had called this impromptu meeting.
“Tell them, Jessie,” Olive urged her friend, and now, her sister-in-law.
Jessie giggled. “Okay.”
The other two girls leaned forward. “Are you pregnant?” Lucy asked.
“I am.”
The girls all squealed, and people turned around and looked at them.
Lucy put her hand on Jessie’s tummy and Jessie hit her hand away. “There’s nothing there yet. Well, there is, but my stomach’s still flat.”
“Not for long,” Amy said.
“I know. I can’t wait.” Jessie continued, “We told Elijah’s family last night. That’s how Olive found out first.”
“I can’t wait. This is the first boppli out of all of us,” Lucy said.
Olive nodded. “I know. She beat me to it.”
“You have Leo,” Lucy pointed out.
“I know and he’s such a blessing to our lives,” Olive said, regarding her stepson.
All of Amy’s friends were married and now one of them was pregnant. As much as Amy was happy for them, inside she felt empty and a touch inadequate.
“I’m going to be an aunt again,” Olive said.
“So are we, kind of.” Lucy giggled.
Jessie said, “You’ll all be honorary aunts.”
The only news Amy had didn’t seem quite so important compared to Jessie’s. “I’m so pleased for you and Elijah,” Amy said.
>
Lucy asked, “What about you, Amy?”
Olive nudged Amy with her shoulder. “Jah, Amy, have you heard anything from a certain person?”
All eyes were now on Amy.
“What do you mean?” She knew very well what Olive meant. Olive was always urging her to get back into contact with the man who occupied her thoughts every waking hour.
“Andrew,” Jessie stated.
“Oh, Andrew. Jah, what’s happening with him?” Lucy asked.
“I finally took your advice and I wrote to him.”
Olive squealed, and patrons in the café once again scowled in their direction. Olive turned away from the table, and told them, “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” Then she faced the girls and they all had a quiet laugh.
“When did you do that?” asked Lucy.
“Last night.”
Jessie leaned close to her. “You posted it, right?”
“I gave it to Martha to post. She was going somewhere with Gabbie and Michael Glick. I didn’t know I was going out today until Olive stopped by to collect me. Otherwise, I would’ve posted it myself.”
“Good. It’ll be on its way. It’ll take about a week to get there and then when he writes back, that’ll take another week. In two weeks, you should have an answer from him.” Olive’s face beamed with happiness.
“Well, I’m not holding my breath,” Amy said. “He might’ve lost interest, but at least I tried.”
“You’ll find out soon. You’ve done the right thing,” Lucy said. “At least you’ll know one way or the other.”
That’s what Amy had been afraid of. She didn’t want a letter back filled with news of what was happening in Andrew’s community with no word about his feelings for her. Neither did she want to find out he’d met someone and was getting married. Maybe not knowing had been a blessing. It was possible that Gabbie had said no word about him because the news wasn’t good.
After an hour of giving her tour, Martha said, “Michael, tie the buggy under that tree over there. There’s a picnic spot a little walk from there.”
The Amish Deacon's Daughter Page 13
