She nodded. “I have to be.”
“I don’t want to upset you.”
“I won’t be. I just need to know … I want to see how bad it is.”
When the approached the house, all Evelyn could see was a heap of charred wood. “It’s bad. It’s gone. I didn’t know it would be this bad.” She looked over at Mark. “I thought you said some of it was okay?”
“I guess not, sorry. It’s worse than I remember.”
“How did the fire start? No one was living here so it couldn’t have been an accident from the fireplace or a candle.”
“The police suspect it was arson.”
“Arson? You mean someone deliberately burned the haus?”
“The police said they’d come and speak with you. I told them you’d just had a baby so they said they’d wait a day or two. You were too upset for me to tell you that yesterday.”
“Do they think I did it?”
“Nee, they just need to make a report.”
“Denke, Mark, for talking with them and everything else you’ve done.”
He gave an embarrassed cough and shook his head. “Was the place insured?”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t come across any of Amos’ paperwork that says it’s insured. And our haus isn’t insured. I can’t think who would’ve wanted to destroy the house.”
“The police said it could’ve been youngsters—troublemakers.”
“That’s dreadful! What if someone had been in there?”
“They most likely knew it was vacant and that’s why they did it,” Mark said.
Now Evelyn had something else to worry about. Someone could set her house alight. She’d never considered that before.
She placed her baby, who was now sleeping, carefully on the seat, and then stepped down from the buggy. “Look at it, Mark, I don’t think it can be rebuilt. You’d know better than me.”
“It could be rebuilt. It’s just whether you’d want to do that or not.”
“I don’t hold any special fondness for that house; it has no special memories for me. It only holds bad memories in recent times.”
“Best not to mention your feelings about the house to the police until you find out if it’s insured.”
She glanced at Mark’s face to see whether he was joking. When she saw that he wasn’t, she said, “I’m positive it’s not insured, but I’ll go through his papers tonight to see if I can find anything.” She took one last look around. “Can you take me home now?”
“Sure.”
When they got back to Evelyn’s house she saw the clean laundry flapping on the line. “I’m glad that rain’s gone.”
“What rain?”
“It rained before. Just as I put the sheets on the line.”
“That’s odd. It didn’t rain at my place.”
“It was quite a downpour.”
“You’d think we would’ve got at least a bit of it. Anyway, I’ll go and get the animal chores done for you.”
“Denke, Mark.”
Evelyn placed her sleeping baby in his crib and went outside to feel the sheets—they were still damp from the rain. She fetched dry sheets out of her cupboard and made her bed. There were enough diapers to last for two more days if he kept going through as many as he had been. If the next day wasn’t sunny, she’d still have to do washing and pin everything on the covered line in the barn to dry.
She headed back downstairs to see if Mark wanted a cup of tea. When she opened the front door, Mark was walking up the steps with a bucket of eggs.
“There you are,” he said as he handed them to her.
“I completely forgot to fetch the eggs. Martha and I normally do it together of a morning.”
“You can’t do everything. Do you need anything else? I’ve given the stall a quick clean. I’ll give it a better going over tomorrow, and I’ve given the horse and the chickens fresh water.”
“Nee, that’s fine, denke. Go home and look after Sally.”
Chapter 17
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
* * *
As soon as Mark left, Evelyn placed the eggs in the container in the kitchen. Now with the baby asleep, she would have a peaceful and quiet cup of tea. When she turned on the tap to fill the pot, the tap came off in her hand and the water sprang up like a fountain. She tried her best to screw it back on with water hitting her in the face, but it wouldn’t fit. Remembering there was a water main switch outside, she got the wrench out from under the sink and hurried outside. She finally located the water main and turned it off.
Now soaking wet, she had to get out of her clothes; she couldn’t afford to get sick. She squeezed as much water as she could out of her dress and headed upstairs. There were no clean dresses left, so she changed into her nightgown, put her dressing gown over it, and went back downstairs. Evelyn mopped up the kitchen floor while trying her best to keep herself as dry as she could. Once the area was dry, she studied the tap and the broken section. She could see that she’d have to keep the water to the house switched off until it was repaired. With a heavy sigh, she pulled her boots on, and then collected all the containers she could find to fill up with water from the rainwater tank. The tank was mainly used for the livestock.
When she’d carted water inside, she recalled Mark said that the police might visit her. She couldn’t answer the door in her dressing gown; a clean apron would have to disguise the fact that her dress wasn’t clean.
When she pulled out her drawer and saw that this was the last clean one, she was upset. I must be thankful that I do have a clean apron, she thought trying to keep herself focused on staying positive. Evelyn was totally exhausted once she’d changed again.
Right then, Nathan woke and cried. She picked him up. “I’ll feed you down by the fire so we’ll be warmer.”
Once they got down the stairs, she saw the fire was dying. She carefully propped the baby on the couch and placed another log on the fire.
By the time she’d finished feeding her son, there was a nice fire burning. She lifted Nathan upright and stared into his eyes. “I hope you know how much I love you. It won’t always be this hectic. Things will calm down.” Without warning, vomit shot out of the baby’s mouth.
She looked down at her no-longer-clean apron. “Why didn’t I know that was just about to happen?” Once again, she propped the baby between pillows, wiped his mouth with a clean section of her apron and headed to clean herself up.
“Anybody home?”
Evelyn heard Beth’s voice, calling out from the front door. “Come in, Beth.” She’d forgotten that Martha would be coming home today. Evelyn met them at the door.
“I can’t stay, I’m in a hurry,” Beth said.
“Don’t you want to see the boppli?”
Beth raised her eyebrows. “Of course. Where is he?”
“He’s on the couch. Can’t you stay a little while?” Evelyn wanted to share her dreadful day with someone.
“Nee.” Beth stood over the baby. “He’s so sweet.”
Evelyn looked at Martha who was looking glum with her arms folded. “What’s wrong with you, Martha?”
“Martha’s cross because she wanted to stay and play with Jemima.”
“I didn’t want to come home. There’s no one to play with here.”
“This is where you live; you have to come home. The baby and I need you.”
“I must go,” Beth said.
“Okay. Denke for watching her.”
Evelyn closed the front door once Beth was back in her buggy.
“I want to stay with Jemima.”
“You can play with her another time. You’ve got your bruder to play with.”
Martha pouted. “He’s too little.”
“When he’s bigger you can play with him, but it’s tru
e, right now he’s too tiny.”
”Can’t I go back to Jemima?”
“Nee! And you can go to bed right now if you keep asking me the same question over and over. You’ve been told you can play with Jemima another time, but not today.” Realizing she’d never spoken so harshly to her daughter, she added, “You must be gut today. It won’t be long before you can play with your bruder.”
“How long?”
“In a few months. You’ll be able to sing to him, and tell him stories.”
“Is that long?” Martha asked.
“It'll go quickly.”
“When can I play with him?”
Evelyn groaned; she was not in the mood for a grumpy child when she was barely holding things together. “The time will go quicker if you stop asking about it.”
“Why?”
“Because that's the way things are.”
“But why?” Martha’s voice was turning into whining the more she spoke.
“Martha! Stop it! I can't take any more!” Evelyn shouted.
Martha’s mouth fell open and she stared at her mother with large round eyes. It was the first time that Evelyn had raised her voice at her child. She didn't know what to do. She considered apologizing but she couldn’t recall a time when her parents had apologized to her when she was a child.
“Go and find something to play with and leave me alone for just a moment.”
When a knock sounded on the door Evelyn was pleased. This will be Beth. Sounds like she’s changed her mind about staying for a chat. Maybe she’ll offer to take Martha for another day. She opened the door to see two uniformed police officers.
“Good day, Ma’am,” said the taller one, who was standing closest to the door.
“Hello.”
“Are you Evelyn King?”
“Yes, have you come about the house?”
They nodded.
“My brother-in-law said you’d be coming by. Come in.” She stepped back to let them pass. “Martha, go and play with your toys.”
Martha stomped to the corner of the room and sat with her toys. She mostly played with wooden blocks and other toys that Amos’ vadder had made for her.
After Evelyn scooped her baby into her arms, she said, “Perhaps we should sit in the kitchen. It’s this way.”
Once they were seated, the tall officer pulled out a notepad and pen. Evelyn was instantly itchy and knew her nerve rash was back. She looked down at her hands holding Nathan to see that they were shaking.
“Cute baby,” the quieter of the two said.
“He’s only a few days old.” She tried to hide her trembling hands under the baby’s blanket.
“You seem to be nervous, Mrs. King; why’s that?” the tall one asked.
“I am nervous. My brother-in-law said that you think the fire might have been lit deliberately and I’m hoping you don’t think I did it.”
“Did you?” the other one leaned in to ask.
“No. I didn’t. That’s the only money I had to live on. Well, it would’ve been when it was leased. It’s only just been fixed up. It was in a dreadful condition before that.”
“Was it insured?” the taller officer asked, ready to jot down his notes.
“No. I’m sure it wasn’t. But I still haven’t been through all my husband’s things.”
“Yes, we heard about your husband. We’re sorry for your loss.”
“Yes, we are,” the short officer added.
Evelyn nodded. “It came as a shock. It was an aneurism. Which I knew nothing about until Amos’ father died six months before of the very same thing.” Stop talking so much, she told herself. She tried to steady her nerves by deep breathing. “The last thing I wanted was for anything to happen to the house.”
“We believe you.”
“You do?”
They both nodded, but that didn’t stop them from staying for fifteen more minutes and asking many probing questions.
When they left, Evelyn was unbelievably exhausted. If she hadn’t had Martha there, she would’ve had tried to get some sleep.
She sat down on the couch holding Nathan who was nearly asleep.
“Can you open the toy box for me?” Martha asked her mother.
The lid on the wooden box was far too heavy for a girl Martha’s age to open.
“Okay, if you'll ask properly.” After Martha did so, Evelyn stood up. She laid Nathan on the couch and propped pillows on his side, even though he was far too young to roll over by himself.
When Evelyn opened the toy box, a large spider sprang out at her. Evelyn jumped back screaming. Then she pulled Martha back.
“Go and sit on the lounge by your bruder.” She picked up a block of wood to hit the spider with. If Amos had been there she would’ve had him catch the spider and release it outside so it wouldn’t be killed. After all, a spider had a right to live. But with no one else there, it seemed like it was either her or the spider.
Just then Hezekiah threw open her door. “I heard screams. Are you all right?”
“There’s a spider!” Martha shouted as she jumped up and down.
Hezekiah jumped into action. “Where did it go?”
“I think it went under there.” Evelyn pointed to the blanket Martha had been sitting on.
He turned to Evelyn. “Do you have a container?”
“You’re not going to kill it?” Evelyn asked.
“Not if I don’t have to.”
“I’ll get one.” Evelyn hurried to the kitchen, pleased that Hezekiah thought the same way as she about spiders. Most people would’ve squashed the spider and thought nothing of it.
Once he’d successfully captured the spider, he took it outside. Evelyn collapsed onto the couch, lifting Nathan into one arm and snuggling Martha close to her side with the other. Could God be giving her a sign that Hezekiah was the man she should marry? Jed had gone, but it seemed like Hezekiah would always be around to look after her. He was kind and caring even though he was older. Perhaps an older man, and one who’d been married before, would make a better husband than a man who traveled around with no cares.
Hezekiah walked back in with the empty container.
“Can you put it in the kitchen?”
When he came back into the living room, he sat down and lifted up the broken tap. “How long has your kitchen been like that?”
“The tap?”
He nodded.
“A few weeks now. I’ve been collecting water from the tank.”
“I’ll have it fixed today. All it needs is the broken section replaced and a new tap. Evelyn, why didn’t you tell me of this?”
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I offered to do things for you. It would make me happy to do things for you.”
“Denke, Hezekiah.”
Martha smiled at him as she stood next to him looking at him.
“I’ll go to the hardware store and pick a few things up and I’ll have it fixed in no time.”
“You can do that?”
He nodded. “Do you need anything while I’m out?”
She shook her head. “Nee, I don’t.” Some sleep!
While Hezekiah was away, she had a good think about her situation. Her sister was right; if she married Hezekiah she’d never have to worry about anything. He was a solid reliable man and a capable and caring person. He’d already chopped her wood and chased a spider out of the house, and now he was fixing her tap. Hezekiah was there when she needed him and where was Jed? Jed was nowhere to be seen just the same as Amos had always been. She couldn’t carry on without help—she needed a man who’d be there all the time—a man with whom she could have a real family.
Chapter 18
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.
John 10:10
* * *
“Mr. Hoster back now, Mamm.”
“Denke for letting me know.” By the time Hezekiah returned, the bab
y was asleep upstairs. It meant a great deal to have her tap fixed. Now she wouldn’t have to go out into the cold and bring water inside every day.
Martha and Evelyn watched as Hezekiah replaced the tap and the broken connection.
“I didn’t know you could do things like that, Hezekiah.”
“I can do all kinds of things,” he said smiling.
“Well, now I can offer you a cup of tea.”
“Jah please.” He looked down at his hands. “I’ll put my tools back in the buggy and wash up outside.”
“Can I go with you?” Martha asked in a tiny voice.
“Okay,” Hezekiah said.
It hadn’t escaped Evelyn’s notice that Martha was very fond of Hezekiah. She rubbed her tired eyes as she filled the pot with water. Having a husband by her side is something that she needed right now. Feeling warm fuzzy gooiness and feeling butterflies over a man meant nothing if the man wasn’t there when she needed him. She said she’d only marry a second time for love, but that wasn’t practical. Now she had two children to raise; she had to put her fancies aside and be practical. Her children needed a stable father they could look up to—Hezekiah was that man.
She looked out the window at her daughter holding Hezekiah’s hand as they headed back to the house. It warmed her heart to see the affection Martha had for him already, and he seemed to return it.
Once she made the tea, she gave Martha cookies in a bowl and sat her by her toys in the living room. She wanted to speak to Hezekiah in private. Martha was happy to eat the cookies in the living room as she normally was allowed only one cookie a day, and now she had two in her bowl.
She placed the tea in front of Hezekiah and sat down next to him. “Hezekiah, I’ve been thinking about what you asked me recently.”
“About marrying me?”
She nodded. “My answer is yes.”
His face lighted up. “You will marry me?”
“I will.”
“That pleases me.” He took her hand and squeezed it gently.
“Me too.”
“We should get married soon.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“I must go now. I’ve got people waiting on me to tell them what to do with the next job. I’ll come back and see you soon to talk about when to speak to the bishop.”
Amish Widow's Proposal Page 9
