Plain Admirer

by Patricia Davids

  They received good news about Otis an hour later. His surgery had gone well. He was in intensive care, but he was expected to make a full recovery. The tension in the office lightened perceptibly after that.

  When they closed up for the evening, they had made significant inroads into their workload. Leonard was ready to start printing the seventh-grade books, and Joann had finished the wedding announcements. They walked together out the back door to where the horses were stabled. Joann had managed to get away long enough to feed her pony. He seemed eager to be on his way home. She was surprised to realize she wasn’t eager to leave. She was enjoying Roman’s company.

  “Since you’re working with us again, why don’t I pick you up tomorrow?” Roman said as he headed for his horse’s stall.

  She frowned as she considered how she could make time to get to the lake now. She couldn’t. Her letters would have to wait until things settled back to normal.

  Roman led his mare out of the stall. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

  “No, I want to, I mean, that’s fine and it’s nice of you to offer.”

  “But what?”

  She smiled to reassure him. “Never mind. It’s something I had planned to do in the mornings since I wasn’t working, but it can wait. The usual time?”

  He nodded. “Ja, the usual time.”

  She looked forward to spending time in his company more than she cared to admit.

  The various jobs at the office kept them busy for the rest of the week, but it gave them something to talk about on their way to and from work. Roman remained approachable and interested in what she had to say. At least it seemed that way.

  On Friday, Joann found him in Otis’s office, seated behind his uncle’s desk. He didn’t look comfortable there. She couldn’t blame him. His uncle’s illness had forced him into a position he wasn’t ready for.

  He looked up. “Did you need something?”

  “Do you have a minute to talk about the schoolbooks we’re reprinting?”

  He frowned at the paper he held. “Do we really need sixteen reams of copy paper this month?”

  “That sounds about right.”

  “Okay.” He jotted a note and closed the order book. “What was it you wanted to discuss?”

  She took a step inside the office. “There are some changes that need to be made in the booklet on learning to drive a horse and buggy safely.”

  “I read through the book. I didn’t see anything that needed changing. Besides, we have the plates for that one. It will cost more if we make changes and we’ve already agreed on a price with Eli Imhoff for the project.”

  “I wish you would read through it again.”

  “I don’t have time,” he said with exasperation.

  “You, of all people, know how important it is to share the road properly.”

  He scowled at her. “I was sharing the road properly until Brendan Smith decided to knock the open door off my buggy with his truck. Either he didn’t know or he didn’t care that I was standing on the other side of that door.”

  “There’s no denying you suffered a bad experience.”

  “Thank you, but that doesn’t help me move my fingers.”

  “All I’m asking is for you to take a look at the booklet again, with your own experience in mind, and see if you don’t think we can make it better.”

  “You will nag me until you get your way, won’t you?”

  She pressed her lips into a tight line. “I would hardly call it nagging.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  “That’s all I wanted.”

  “Fine. Now, I’ve got work to do.”

  “And I’ll be out here taking a nap,” she muttered as she turned away. How could he charm her one day and irritate her so much the next?

  * * *

  Roman heard Joann’s remark, but he didn’t respond to it. He had far too much on his mind. His uncle’s health wasn’t improving as rapidly as his doctor had hoped. Roman didn’t have time to reread each schoolbook and make sure they were accurate. They had been good enough in the past. They would be good enough now.

  Only, Joann had planted the seed of doubt in his mind. He couldn’t dismiss it. He opened a copy of Learning to Drive a Horse and Buggy and started reading. Bishop Zook’s words came back to him. Driving on well-maintained roads was a privilege, it wasn’t a right. The Amish had to share the responsibility for the roadway upkeep and safety, too. Nothing in the textbook addressed this fundamental piece of information.

  He, like many Amish, was guilty of being proud that he shunned cars and drove a buggy. Didn’t he expect cars to travel at his pace and pass him safely no matter how long he slowed their progress?

  The Englisch did not intend to slow down to the Amish pace of life. The Amish had to take as much, or even more, responsibility for safety on the roads. It annoyed him that Joann was the one to point it out.

  His conscience pricked him as an overlooked truth wormed its way into his thoughts. It wasn’t so much that she was annoying. What he found annoying was that she was so often right.

  Later that afternoon, he stopped beside her desk. “Rewrite the section that you think needs to be changed, and I’ll look it over.”

  Her eyes grew round. “Really? We’re going to change it?”

  “You were right, it needs to be updated.”

  “Oh, that was hard for you to say, wasn’t it?”

  He struggled to hide a smile. “You have no idea.”

  “I’m glad you took this job. It suits you.”

  “Are you going to the school benefit on Saturday?” he asked.

  “Ja, I planned on it.”

  “Do you want to help me take the books out there?”

  She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure. Shall I meet you here?”

  “I’ll pick you up at the usual time.”

  “Can we make it an hour later?” she asked hopefully. “I have something I’d like to do first.”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Great.” She smiled brightly and his mood lightened.

  He found he was reluctant to walk away. “My mother wants to come with me. Daed and Andrew will be along later with the lumber that’s needed.”

  “That will be fine.”

  He still didn’t move.

  She raised one eyebrow. “Is there something else?”

  He cleared his throat. “Nee, I’ll let you get back to your nap.”

  “Danki.” She swooped the paperwork on her desk into one large pile and laid her head on it.

  He chuckled as he went back to his uncle’s office. He had no idea she had such a cute sense of humor. There was more to her than he once suspected.

  In spite of the heavy workload, they were able to get everything finished on time.

  Roman’s good mood lasted until Saturday morning. His mother was bustling around getting food, plates and glasses ready to help feed the people who would be working at the school that day.

  She handed him a picnic basket to put in his buggy and said, “Esta Barkman asked if she could ride along with us. I told her we’d pick her up. I hope that’s okay.”

  Esta and Joann in the same buggy. That should make for an interesting ride to the school. His mother was humming as she worked. That wasn’t like her.

  He suddenly had a bad feeling about the day.

  * * *

  Joann hurried toward the lake early on Saturday morning. She hadn’t had a chance to check for a new letter since she had resumed her old job. It had only been a few days, but it seemed much too long.

  When she reached the log, she was disappointed when she saw her letter was still in the same place. The Friendly Fisherman hadn’t returned. She sat down and added a short note to the end of her first letter. Content that her friend would know how she had taken his message to heart, she replaced the jar and hurried home.

  An hour later, she waited at the end of the lane as Roman pulled up beside her. His mother sat beside him. “
Guder mariye, Joann,” she called out.

  “Good morning, Marie Rose. Have you news of your brother?” Joann climbed into the buggy with them.

  “He’s doing well and has been moved out of intensive care.”

  “That is wonderful news.”

  “Roman tells me you are helping at the printing office again until Otis returns.”

  She had her old job back, but this wasn’t how she wanted it. “Roman has things well in hand. I’m just doing what I can to help.”

  “We have one more stop to make,” Roman said. He seemed out of sorts this morning.

  His mother said brightly, “We are picking up Esta Barkman. She wanted to go with me to the hospital after we finish at the school. She’s such a thoughtful young woman, and such a good cook, too.” She smiled at her son.

  Joann wanted to slink away and hide. She hadn’t exchanged a single word with Esta since that day in the barn.

  Roman turned into the Barkman lane. Esta was waiting on the porch swing. She looked lovely in a crisp new dress of pale lavender. Joann had chosen one of her work dresses to wear. The plain gray fabric and black apron looked shabby next to Esta’s cool color.

  Esta came down the walk with a wicker basket over her arm. “Hello, everyone. Joann, I’m surprised to see you.”

  “Roman and I are taking the new books out to the school.”

  “How kind of you. Very wise to wear your old dress for such work. Isn’t she practical, Roman?” She stood beside the buggy looking up at them.

  Joann realized they couldn’t all sit up front. She got down and climbed in back expecting Esta to sit in back with her.

  “Danki, Joann.” Esta smiled brightly at her and took her place beside Roman’s mother up front.

  When Roman set the horse in motion, Esta and his mother were engaged in conversation, Joann folded her arms across her chest and stuck her tongue out at Esta’s back.

  At the publishing office, Joann and Roman loaded the boxes of books while his mother and Esta continued their chat. They were getting ready to leave when Mabel came out with another box of books. “These are some I wanted to donate to the school. They’re mostly storybooks and a few songbooks, things I know the kids will enjoy.”

  Joann put them beside her on the seat. “Danki, Mabel. I know Leah will be most grateful.”

  When they arrived at the school, the work was well under way. A scaffold had been built across the burned opening at the side of the building. Men in straw hats, white shirts and dark pants with suspenders swarmed around the building like ants. Eli Imhoff and Bishop Zook supervised the work and made sure that everyone knew their job.

  The sounds of hammers and saws filled the air along with the chatter and laughter of the children who were playing on the school-ground equipment. Long tables had been set up beneath the shade of a nearby tree and women in dark dresses and white kapps laid out the food, and made sure everyone had plenty of lemonade or coffee.

  Roman’s mother and Esta carried their baskets of food toward the tables. Leah came out of the school with Sarah and Sally at her side. “Oh good, you have the books. Bring them inside.”

  Joann carried the boxes while Roman went to join the men. She and the other women were soon busy shelving books and sorting through the donations that continued to come in.

  Later, when they went out to get refreshments, she saw Roman had been put in charge of painting the building. He had seven young boys of various ages wielding paintbrushes beside him. As Joann watched, Esta approached him with a glass of lemonade and a sly smile.

  “I can’t believe she has set her sights on him again,” Sally said as she folded her arms and shook her head.

  Joann tried to pretend she didn’t care. “His mother likes her. I think she feels it would be a good match.”

  Sarah stood beside them nibbling on an oatmeal raisin cookie. “I had hoped that you two might hit it off, Joann.”

  Joann sighed. Sarah always had matchmaking on her mind. “Roman is not my type. He’s not sensitive. He doesn’t appreciate my quirky sense of humor.” She closed her mouth. She had almost revealed her secret.

  Sally turned to stare at Joann. “Is there someone who does appreciate your quirky sense of humor?”

  Joann couldn’t help the blush that heated her cheeks. Sally and Sarah exchanged excited glances and leaned close to Joann. Sarah said, “Out with it. Who is he? Where did you meet him?”

  Now she was in a pickle. They both knew something was up. She was going to have to tell the truth, or some version of the truth.

  “I haven’t actually met him, but I know a lot about him.”

  “What does that mean?” Sally asked.

  “We’ve been exchanging letters.”

  Sarah clapped her hands together. “A pen pal courtship, how wonderful. Who is he? Where does he live?”

  Joann shook her head. “I’d rather not say.”

  Sally’s eyes narrowed. “Why not? What is this paragon’s name?”

  “I’d rather not say,” Joann answered in a weak voice.

  Sarah nodded. “We won’t tease you anymore.”

  Sally fisted her hands on her hips. “You’re making it up.”

  Joann’s chin came up. “I am not.”

  “Well, there is something fishy about this. How come we haven’t heard about him before?”

  Joann made sure that no one else was close enough to overhear. “We’ve been leaving letters for each other in a hollow tree at the lake.”

  Sarah put her arm around Joann’s shoulder. “How romantic.”

  Sally shook her head. “I’m not buying it.”

  “It’s true,” Joann insisted. “I lost my new fishing rod in the lake. I was heartbroken. He went fishing and recovered it. Instead of keeping it, he left it with a note beside it. When I went back to the lake, I found my rod and his note. I wrote him a thank-you letter in the same place. It sort of took off from there.”

  Sarah’s gaze grew troubled. “But you know who he is, right?”

  “Not exactly.” Joann had never considered how lame it would sound when she tried to explain.

  Sally scowled at her. “Are you telling us that you’re exchanging letters with a complete stranger who happens to fish at the same lake that you do?”

  “That about sums it up. I think I’ll have another cookie.” She started for the table.

  Sally grabbed her arm. “Are you crazy? He could be some kind of nut.”

  Joann didn’t want to hear it. “He’s not a nut. He’s sensitive and troubled and he shares what he’s going through with me. What is so wrong with that?”

  Sarah clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my goodness. He’s Englisch.”

  Joann stared at the ground. “I don’t think so. His letters sound...Amish.”

  “Old Amish? Young Amish? Single Amish? Married Amish? Ex-Amish?” Sally waited for an answer. Joann didn’t have one.

  “I don’t know.”

  Sarah and Sally each grabbed Joann’s arm and pulled her to a more secluded spot. Sarah said, “You don’t know his name, but he knows yours. Right?”

  “I sign my letters the Happy Angler. He signed his letters the Friendly Fisherman.”

  “Are you telling us he doesn’t even know he’s writing to a woman?” Sarah’s mouth dropped open.

  Joann closed her eyes. “I told him I was an Amish woman. It’s only letters. I was afraid he would stop writing if he knew. It started out innocent enough. Why are you making it sound so sordid?”

  Sally shook her head. “You have to stop. He could be anybody.”

  Joann walked a few steps away from them. “You don’t understand. We have a connection. I don’t want to stop writing him.”

  “Then you have find out who he is.”

  “I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m exchanging letters with someone who likes to fish as much as I do. We share a joke, talk about our problems, offer suggestions and support. There is nothing wrong with what I’m doing.”

  S
arah and Sally exchanged pitying glances. Before they could say anything else, Leah joined them. “It’s almost done. You can’t even tell where the fire was. I’m so thankful for all the people who have come out today. Come, Bishop Zook is going to offer a blessing.”

  Sarah and Sally followed her, but Joann stayed where she was. In her heart, she knew they were right. She had to end the secrecy. If their friendship was a good thing, it would bear up in the light of day.

  If it didn’t, she didn’t know what she would do.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Roman managed to stay busy and out of Esta’s reach for most of the day. He was thankful when she and his mother left to visit Otis in the hospital with some of his English friends. Before she got in the car, his mother gave his arm a squeeze. With a happy smile, she said, “It’s wonderful to see you and Esta together again.”

  “We’re not together.”

  His mother leaned closer. “She told me that things have been rough between the two of you, but she’s willing to work it out.”

  Esta was already in the backseat of the car. She had the grace to blush. She scooted over to make room for his mother when she got in. He closed the car door and watched as they drove away. It didn’t matter if she charmed his mother or not. He didn’t see a future with her.

  On the ride home, he glanced frequently at Joann. She seemed deep in thought. A small frown put a crease between her eyebrows. He wanted to smooth it away. “Is something troubling?” he asked.

  She glanced at him and shook her head. “I have a hard decision to make and I’m not sure what to do.”

  “That sounds serious. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but this is something I have to work out for myself.”

  “If this is about your job, you can stay on until Otis comes back.”

  “I will be happy to help out again if you get in a bind, but there isn’t enough work to keep all of us busy now that the schoolbooks have been finished. On Monday I’ll be at the bookstore again.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  She sighed. “I believe everything happens for a reason.”