First Down

by Paula Mabbel

  He had moved into town about six months before, out of the Amish community and into the outside world. There was talk that he was doing things to become a part of that world, but neither of the girls had been able to talk to him since he had moved. Their father had forbidden it.

  Hannah still had a suspicion that it was him coming up the road. He was likely coming to pay his parents a visit, and as much as Hannah wanted to see him, she knew that she shouldn’t let him see her, so she just watched from behind the wood pile to see if she recognized the driver as he drove past.

  She was right.

  It was Isaac Troyer.

  *****

  Word spread fast throughout the colony. Although the Amish were highly against gossip, the women talked to each other as they had their sewing meetings, and the current talk of the town tended to be what was on their minds.

  “They say that he has forsaken everything that he did, and that he is returning to his roots right here in the colony. Isaac’s parents are going to give him his grandfather’s old house, and I bet they are going to have a barn raising for him in the next month or two.”

  Mrs. Kurtz had most of the information, and she gladly shared it with all of the ladies who were gathered around in her living room. They were all there working on a large quilt, nine of them all together, for Mrs. Yoder, who was due to have her baby the following month.

  Miriam had gone to several of these quilt gatherings in the past, but this was the first one that Hannah had decided to attend. She now sat opposite Mrs. Kurtz on the floor and was trying hard to line up the bottom of the quilt with the rest of the patchwork.

  For the first time in her life, she wished that her sister would tell her more what to do. She was always bad at quilting, and gathered here with all of these women who did know what they were doing made her realize even more how much improvement she needed to do on her sewing.

  Miriam, however, was far too absorbed in the talk about Isaac Troyer to pay any attention to what her sister was doing. Miriam was the oldest unmarried young woman in the entire colony, and that fact alone made her wish for an attractive young man to appear on her doorstep.

  The old Troyer farm wasn’t far from where the girls lived with their father. If he were to move in there, they would be neighbors, and Miriam was sure she would find one reason or another to call upon the young Mr. Troyer…with her father’s permission, of course.

  “I just hope that his change is true and genuine, and that he is coming back to the colony for good. And leaving all of that filth behind him!”

  Old Mrs. Schrock was not impressed with Isaac, and she was certain he was going to bring horrible things back into the colony along with him.

  “I am sure he has changed for the better. After all, he didn’t have to come back. He did that all on his own.” Miriam spoke without thinking, and the older women stopped their sewing and looked over at her.

  She blushed, but their attention was suddenly drawn to Hannah as she cried out in pain.

  “I pricked myself again! I am so tired of this horrible project!” Hannah held up her finger to her lips, and all of the women gasped. Mrs. Schrock clicked her tongue at Hannah disapprovingly.

  Miriam felt even more embarrassed over the actions of her sister than she did over Isaac, and she didn’t know whether to scold her or show her how to do it properly.

  “Mind that you don’t stain the quilt,” she said, loud enough for the older women to hear. Hannah gave her sister a look, then excused herself.

  She wrapped a bandage around her finger and walked outside. It was a warm afternoon and the birds were all singing in the trees, and Hannah smiled. She didn’t know what to make of the chatter of the older women. They seemed to be against Isaac’s return, but Hannah couldn’t figure out why.

  I should think that they would be happy that he is back. At least I know Miriam is. Now I can stop listening to her whine that there isn’t a handsome young man nearby.

  If only I were older…or better at keeping house…then perhaps I—

  Hannah shook her head before her mind could wander off further. She had always loved Isaac, but deep down inside she knew that he was going to pick her sister long before he would ever pick her.

  And why wouldn’t he? she thought. Miriam is beautiful, and she is a great cook and can keep house and do everything just as well as Mama did.

  Hannah put her hands on the gate and looked out across the fields. She liked to think of a day when she would be the one who a husband would want, but she just couldn’t see that happening.

  “Hannah! Hannah, where are you?” Miriam’s voice called out to her, and Hannah hesitated.

  Her first inclination was to head out of the gate and start for home, but she knew that the older women would not approve of that. She sighed and gave her finger a final squeeze. It had stopped bleeding and didn’t hurt so much now.

  “I guess I can go back and try again,” Hannah moped, but then she tightened the bun that was in her hair and went back inside the house.

  *****

  “I don’t care what you think about him, I want you to stay away from him!” Evan Miller took another drink of his tea, and gave his older daughter a stern look. Miriam looked frustrated, but she wasn’t about to argue with her father.

  Hannah tried to stay out of it, and instead focused on her porridge. If there was one thing that she was good at, it was making porridge, but she still felt bad for her sister.

  “Father, are you going to see Mr. Troyer about it? He will be expecting you, after all.”

  Hannah was amazed at her sister for pursuing the conversation further, but she silently admired her for approaching it in a different light. Of course, with their father being an elder in the church he would go to Isaac’s father and talk to him about Isaac’s return into the community, but it was an act that he didn’t seem too fond of doing.

  Evan knew that both of his daughters had always been fond of Isaac, but he had hoped that, when Isaac had left the community for the world outside, his girls would move on from their infatuation with him and stick with the community.

  “Never mind my visit. I am going to tend to that when I tend to that!” Evan snapped at Miriam. She looked hurt and excused herself to go out and tend to the chickens.

  “She doesn’t mean anything by it, Father. You know that she respects your wishes.” Hannah served her father a bowl of the porridge, with a light drizzle of cream over the top.

  “I know, but I worry about her…and you. You girls deserve someone who is going to take care of you, and someone who honors God…and our Amish ways. Isaac Troyer was out in the world for a long time. I don’t know what he learned or what he is bringing back in here with him, and until I know for sure, I want you both to keep away from him.”

  Her father used a gentler tone with her, as he always had. There was a connection between Hannah and her father that Miriam and her father lacked. It was as though the clumsiness that Hannah had inherited had transferred into a connection between the two of them that was endearing.

  Evan finished his breakfast and kissed his daughter on the forehead before he headed out the door. The Yodel’s were having a barn raising today, and her father was going to be head of the building.

  All of the Amish community came together for these barn raisings, all of the men working together to build the entire barn in just a day. It was a fascinating event for Hannah; she always wondered how they were able to put so much together in such a short amount of time, even if there were a lot of men working.

  Of course a lot of the women and children were going to be there, too, making enough food for everyone and helping Mrs. Yodel out in her house. Mr. Yodel had run into some hard times the summer before, and when his barn caught fire over the winter, they were faced with near starvation.

  The community had pulled together to help them make it through the tough winter, and now that it was high summer it was time to help them build their barn again before the next winter struck.
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  Hannah thought about going, but she wasn’t sure if her sister was going to go. It was almost certain that Isaac would be there. If he had truly returned to the community, then it was expected that he would come together with them to make this happen.

  With the tension that had arisen between Miriam and her father, it would be very awkward if Isaac were to try to talk to Miriam, which he almost certainly would given their prior friendship.

  I guess I can go even if Miriam doesn’t. After all, he was always her friend more than mine, and it might be easier to help out without Miriam there to tell me everything I am doing wrong.

  Hannah hurried to finish the dishes, then she tied her cloak around her shoulders. She was going to wear the navy blue one that went so well with her blue dress, and she didn’t care if Miriam said that it was too much blue in one outfit.

  “Miriam! I’m leaving!” Hannah called out. She heard Miriam reply something from the barn, but she didn’t stay to talk about it further. Barn raisings were fun, and she didn’t want to miss when they put up the first wall.

  Isaac Troyer was there. So were both of his parents, but Hannah made a point to stay in the house with the other women. Isaac’s mother was in the kitchen with her most of the morning, but neither one spoke of Isaac.

  They were all chatting with Mrs. Yodel about her plans for the winter, and when she was going to start a family. They had been married for almost two years now, and still no children.

  Mrs. Yodel blushed at the conversation, but didn’t give a straight reply. Hannah was actually having a good time with the women. It was nice helping them without anyone telling her that she was doing it wrong, and the more she helped, the more comfortable she felt.

  Hannah mixed up a bucket of sweet water. She flavored it with a bit of lemon, ginger, and honey, and she headed out to give it to her father and the other men who were working. Her father was pleased to see her, and smiled as he took the ladle.

  Hannah laughed as his eyes lit up when he tasted the sweetness of the water, and she chatted with him as the men passed around the bucket. When the bucket was empty, they handed it back to her, and she excused herself to head back into the kitchen with the other women.

  As much as she wanted to deny it, and as much as she told herself she was just seeing things, Hannah knew that Isaac Troyer had kept his eyes on her the entire time she was out in the barn with them.

  *****

  Miriam hadn’t said another word about Isaac to their father, but whenever she was alone with Hannah, she quizzed her about what was going on. The fact that Hannah had gone to the barn raising without her was enough to make her curious, but even more so when she heard that Isaac had been there, too.

  “I’m telling you there is nothing to tell!” Hannah said, sharply this time. She did feel sorry for her sister, but she also knew that Miriam was going to have to handle things like this on her own. Hannah was close with her father, and she didn’t want her sister’s desires to put her at odds with him.

  “Why don’t you focus on that pie you’re making for the fair? You know you were so close to winning last year, and with how you are able to make crust now, I bet you are going to take the blue ribbon!” Hannah smiled, and her sister looked away.

  “I should have gotten it last year. Besides, aren’t you going to enter a pie? It wouldn’t be kind of me to enter a pie the same day you do. You know I will win, and how do you think you would feel about that?”

  Hannah looked down. She knew that her sister was better at, well, most everything, but it still stung when she said things like that.

  “I don’t mind if you win. I know you’re better at making pies and I’m okay with it. I just put one in to make Father happy anyway.”

  Miriam smiled. She did seem to be feeling better, which put Hannah more at ease. She didn’t like it when things were amiss, and whenever her sister and her father were upset with each other, she felt unsettled.

  “Okay, let’s get the things out and start baking. Remember what I told you about the crust. You have to let it chill for a couple of hours then—”

  “You must knead it and beat it and spread it out flat,” Hannah finished in a rather singsong tone. She was glad that her sister was feeling better, but she wasn’t happy that her boss was now back.

  They got to making pies, and began chatting the day away. To Hannah, it was perfect. There was no talk of husbands or children…or Isaac.

  They both made their favorites. Hannah made her peach pie and Miriam made her cherry. They were both careful with the crust and picked out the best of their pick of the fruit.

  Hannah was pleased with her pie. She had never before done so well with the crust or the fruit. Her peaches came out that beautiful golden color she always tried for, and the crust didn’t get too dark. All in all, she thought that it was the best pie she could have ever dreamed of making.

  Miriam’s pie was just as nice, and she had even taken the time to cut out little leaves to put on the top and around the edges. It looked like something out of their cookbooks.

  “Oh, Miriam,” she exclaimed, “with a pie like that, the blue ribbon is yours! It just has to be!”

  “Yes, I do believe this one is a winner, but tomorrow we will know for sure.”

  The day of the fair was always one of great excitement. The girls both got up earlier than they usually did, and they hurried through their chores. The pie contest was one of the last contests of the day, but if they were to be part of it, they had to have their entries in early.

  They were both down at the fair as soon as they could be, and Hannah nervously held her pie in her hands. She hoped that she would at least get a ribbon of some kind, but she doubted that it was going to happen for her.

  Ribbons and prizes were meant for Amish girls who were good at what they were doing, the ones who knew how to make pies and the ones who knew how to patch quilts. Hannah wasn’t one of those Amish girls. She was one who barely made it through her day.

  They both got into line in the entry tent and patiently waited their turns. Miriam was whispering all kinds of orders, but Hannah’s mind was wandering the entire time. She heard Miriam say something about how she ought to straighten her head covering, or smooth out the wrinkles in her apron or—

  “Hannah! Miriam!” Her thoughts were broken into as she heard their names called. Her sister gasped and almost dropped the pie that was in her hands. Isaac came running up to greet them.

  “I have been wanting to talk to you two for some time now. It’s been forever!” He seemed thrilled to see them both, but Miriam’s word’s caught in her throat. She mumbled something about the pies, and that they should get going.

  Hannah laughed and held up her pie for Isaac to see.

  “We have to get them entered if we are going to be in the contest. Spots fill up quick in these parts! It doesn’t matter, though. I think Miriam is going to win the blue ribbon, hands down.” Miriam blushed as her sister spoke, but Isaac’s eyes twinkled.

  “Oh I have no doubt that she is going to do quite well, as I am sure you will, too. And, I am glad to see that both you girls are going to enter your pies. I am one of the three judges.”

  *****

  “Miriam! You’re not even paying attention!” Hannah was growing impatient with her sister. Ever since she had heard that Isaac was one of the judges, it was as though she couldn’t concentrate at all.

  “Pay attention to what, Hannah?! The horses? As if I have never seen a horse before! I have way more important things to think about right now.”

  “You were going to win the blue ribbon even before Isaac was a judge. I don’t see why you are so worried about this.” Hannah rolled her eyes and went back to admiring the mare she was petting.

  “Don’t you see? He is on the judges’ panel. That means that he has been accepted back into the community fully. That means that Father has accepted him. That means that he must have forsaken the outside world!” Miriam had a look in her eye that made Hannah shake her
head.

  “So?”

  “So! That means once he tastes my pie, I’m as good as married! You know he has been around for all of the latest events. He has seen how well I can sew and quilt and tend to small children. Now all he needs to do is taste my cooking and he will know for sure that I am the one for him.” Miriam chuckled to herself and gave the horse in the stall a shove.

  Hannah protested the act, but her sister was already out the door. She tried to coax the mare back over to her, but the horse was on the other side of the stall and refused to move.

  Hannah sighed and put her face in her hand. Part of her wished that her sister would just forget about this whole Isaac thing, but another part of her wished that she would just get married and be done with it.

  “Hannah!” Are you coming? The baking judging is coming up in a few minutes, and you don’t want to miss it!” Miriam had poked her head back into the horse barn and was back out again before Hannah could reply.

  “You mean you don’t want to miss it,” Hannah muttered under her breath as she pulled herself away from the stall and headed for the door.

  “Is the pie contest next?” Hannah whispered to her sister. They had been sitting in the baking tent for more than a couple hours, and Hannah was getting bored. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the judging, but it was long and she wasn’t really looking forward to the way Miriam would take the prize.

  Miriam hushed her sister and leaned forward on the seat. She was clearly trying to make eye contact with Isaac, but he kept glancing around the crowd, as though he were looking for someone specific.

  His eyes scanned over Miriam and her sister once or twice, but they always seemed to hesitate over them. Each time that it happened, Miriam’s heart would beat faster, and she would smile or try to hold his gaze, but Hannah gave him a bold wave.