Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Ruth laughed. “I don’t think you’re that blind, Katie. Enos is a man of high standards. And your past hasn’t gone away, believe me. He’s just overlooking it right now. But if you turn down the advances of his youngest son, I doubt if things will stay that way for long.”

  Katie almost sputtered a denial, but she pressed her lips together instead. Nothing would persuade Ruth’s mind. Not once she’d made it up. And there likely was some truth to the woman’s statements.

  Ruth smiled, apparently taking Katie’s silence as victory. “Let me show you the books then, and I’ll get out of here. I have a ton of things that need doing for the wedding preparations, but I told myself this morning that I owe you at least one visit since I was the former teacher. I’m aware you know nothing about teaching. I do hate to see you thrown into this situation and making a total mess out of it—to say nothing about all the decent learning from the past few years that could be lost. Let’s look at the books for this term.”

  Katie walked toward the table by the window. Two of the books had fallen to the floor while she’d been going through them, but she hadn’t noticed until Ruth’s criticizing presence entered the room.

  Ruth marched over and bent down to pick up the books. “This is no way to treat new books! I always told myself, if I don’t respect the school’s property, how can I expect ‘my’ children to? Because they do, after all, learn more by example than by any lecture. But how would you know such a thing? Your mamm probably never taught you much.”

  Katie choked back her response. Ruth was trying to goad her into saying something she might regret. And Enos had just been here, and he’d said nothing about books lying on the floor. Everyone knew such things happened during unpacking. But Katie knew Ruth would only see more of Enos’s scheming and favor in his silence, so she might as well keep quiet about that too.

  Ruth’s voice continued in lecture mode. “These are your first-grade reading books, Katie. Be sure to spend plenty of time with that age group. The children need to learn quickly because everything else is at a standstill until they learn how to read.”

  Katie nodded, forcing herself to listen. Ruth was telling her some gut things, and she did have much to learn. She even managed to keep a smile on her face as the former teacher droned on far longer than Katie had hoped. Over an hour later, Katie was more than ready to see Ruth leave. She summoned up her best manners as Ruth finally prepared to go. “Thank you for your time, Ruth. I do appreciate it.”

  “It’s gut that you can listen,” Ruth remarked. “I guess your mamm taught you something after all. Now, will you come out and hold my horse for me? He gets a little skittish when I take off. Albert promised me a decent horse when I move into his house after the wedding. Now that’s a decent man, if you ask me.”

  Katie held her tongue as she walked outside. She held the bridle of Ruth’s horse as the former teacher climbed inside the buggy.

  “I hope you remember everything I told you,” Ruth said as she took off with a slap of the reins.

  Grinding her teeth, Katie watched Ruth go. That woman was the limit and then some. But Ruth was also a creature Da Hah had made, and her elder besides. And the woman had given her some useful advice.

  Chapter Two

  That evening the whole family was seated for dinner when Katie slid her kitchen chair forward while Mamm brought the last of the food to the table. Katie hadn’t arrived home from the schoolhouse until a few minutes ago—too late to help. Apparently this would be another privilege of school teaching. When she’d worked as a cashier at Byler’s Store, coming home late hadn’t been an acceptable practice at all.

  “Let us pray,” Jesse said.

  They all bowed their heads as Jesse led out in prayer. “Our great and heavenly Father, blessed be Your name. We pause at this evening hour to give You thanks, and to beseech Your continued aid and care over our lives…”

  Katie listened to the sound of Jesse’s voice. It was soothing after Ruth’s harsh tones just a few hours ago. That woman’s words had stung more than Katie wished to admit. Still, it wasn’t true that her job had been given to her so Enos could influence her to be his future daughter-in-law. How did Ruth dare say such things? She had to admit that Enos probably hoped she would say yah if Norman ever asked to take her home after a hymn sing. But the outcome of that certainly wasn’t tied to her hiring in any way. Ruth shouldn’t even be thinking such thoughts! If anyone had reason to entertain doubt about someone’s character, Katie did. Didn’t Ruth give plenty of cause for people to question her character. Yet Da Hah required that His people think only the best of others, even when they acted in ways they shouldn’t.

  “Amen,” Jesse said, interrupting Katie’s thoughts.

  “Why’s the stove still putting out so much heat?” Mabel asked.

  Mamm leaped to her feet with a gasp and rushed over to turn the damper knob.

  “Getting forgetful in your old age?” Jesse teased.

  Mamm blushed. “That goes for you too, you know.”

  Katie smiled at their light banter. Mamm had blossomed since her marriage to Jesse. She actually appeared years younger than she had when they’d lived alone on their farm.

  A shadow crossed Katie’s face as the table chatter continued around her. She would have been married to Ben Stoll by now if he hadn’t done what he did. Or at least they’d be talking of marrying next year. But what gut was it mourning what couldn’t be helped? Besides, during and after Ben’s trial had been a time of purifying for her, and now she felt settled about where Da Hah was guiding her. The brief time she’d spent associating with the Mennonite youth group now seemed like a dream, far off and distant—much like Ben himself.

  “How did things go at school today?” Leroy asked from his place on the back bench.

  Katie jumped. Then she quickly smiled. “Fine.”

  The eldest of Jesse’s three boys from his marriage to Millie, Leroy had shown the most interest in Katie’s work at the school. From the look on his face, the answer seemed to satisfy him. He nodded as he dipped a huge helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate before passing the bowl to his brother Willis.

  Mabel, though, was staring at Katie. “Surely something exciting happened? You didn’t sit there all day by yourself with just the books for company, did you?”

  Katie shrugged. She really didn’t feel like going into the visits by Enos Kuntz and Ruth Troyer.

  “Come on, tell us,” Mabel teased. “I can tell you’re holding something back. Let’s not start with secret things this early in the school year.”

  Leroy grinned from ear to ear. “I see what Mabel’s after. She wants Katie spilling all the juicy gossip each night. Training her early so she’ll have the inside track on what’s going on in the community.”

  Mabel didn’t deny the accusation. “Why shouldn’t I know if Katie does?”

  They all laughed.

  “Katie shouldn’t be bringing home news like that,” Leroy said. “Gossip isn’t good, so she won’t. You might as well get used to the fact.”

  Mabel wrinkled up her face but didn’t say anything.

  Taking a deep breath, Katie began anyway. “Well, Enos Kuntz showed up to give me some words of encouragement. And after that, Ruth Troyer came along to help me with the books and see if I had any questions about teaching. So, nothing really exciting happened.”

  “Enos Kuntz?” Leroy was all ears now.

  Everyone else laughed, and Leroy lowered his head. They knew Leroy had his eyes focused on Enos’s niece, Lizzie Kuntz.

  Without missing a beat, Willis piled on. “Of course Leroy finds that interesting. He finds even the passing shadow of Lizzie to be of great interest.”

  “You just wait!” Leroy muttered as laughter filled the room again.

  Mabel made a face at Willis. “Ha! Someday you’ll be the same way,” Mabel said, defending Leroy. Then she dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand. “What I want to know is what Ruth came over for.”

 
“Katie just told you!” Leroy blustered, obviously trying to recapture his dignity.

  “That’s why you should leave this kind of conversation to the women,” Mabel lectured her brother. “We know how to see below the surface of things—unlike men who only see what they see.”

  “Now that’s nasty,” Willis said, back on his brother’s side in a flash.

  “But it’s true,” Mabel said. “Am I right, Katie?”

  Mabel was right, Katie thought as she deliberately kept her face neutral. Mabel knew Ruth Troyer well and had been on Ruth’s side back when Ruth had her kapp set for Jesse. Mabel had played her part in passing along anything unpleasant she knew about Mamm. Still…Katie smiled a little. Mabel had changed since then, and she shouldn’t hold the past against her.

  “I’m right, am I not?” Mabel persisted.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t pry into Katie’s business,” Jesse said. “Katie might not wish to share everything she and Ruth spoke about. Perhaps it was information Ruth had about some of the children. That’s a private matter between teachers, unless it involves Carolyn or Joel.”

  Carolyn sat up straight at her place at the table. “I didn’t do anything wrong—ever! Plus I’m no longer in school. I graduated!”

  “Neither did I!” eight-year-old Joel added. “And I’m still going to school.”

  “I doubt that either of you were trouble free,” Mabel shot their way.

  Katie struggled to speak. “I…really…Ruth had nothing bad to say about any of the children. I think she liked all of them very well.”

  “See, I told you!” Carolyn looked quite vindicated. “Ruth was a gut teacher.”

  “I’m sure she was,” Katie agreed. “And Ruth wanted to share some of her wisdom with me. So she drove all the way over on her own time to help me out—even though she’s busy with wedding preparations.”

  “I think you’ll also make a great teacher,” Joel piped up.

  “I hope so.” Katie said, lowering her head. That was the one uncomfortable thing about teaching in your own district. How would she handle giving orders to her brother? Mamm always did that at home.

  “You’ll be great!” Carolyn agreed.

  Mabel turned to Carolyn. “Remember to keep thinking that when you hear that Katie has to boss Joel around. I believe in discipline, and I don’t want to hear any reports floating around the community that my baby brother is getting special treatment.”

  “That’s a gut attitude to have,” Jesse said. “I’m hoping for the best for Joel this year again. And don’t be all that hard on Katie. She’s new at this and might need some time to learn the ropes.”

  “You can say that again,” Katie murmured. Suddenly she was very glad she’d listened to everything Ruth had told her. The woman had a surprisingly large amount of wisdom behind that wagging tongue of hers.

  “Guess what I heard today?” Willis spoke up. “You won’t believe it!”

  “That some girl consented to drive home with you?” Mabel shot at him.

  Everyone laughed good-naturedly, but Willis looked undeterred.

  “Ben Stoll will be out of jail next week.”

  Katie gasped, and everyone turned to look at her.

  Jesse spoke up at once. “That wasn’t a nice thing for you to be saying at the supper table, Willis. Katie didn’t need to hear the news dropped on her like that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Willis said.

  Katie caught her breath and tried to smile. “It’s okay. That just came as a surprise, although I knew the time was getting close.”

  Leroy cleared his throat. “I’m surprised Ben’s out so soon with all the charges that had been brought against him.”

  “We shouldn’t talk about this at the table,” Jesse warned.

  Leroy shrugged. “The subject was brought up, and I’m curious, that’s all.”

  “Willis can tell you later what else he knows,” Jesse told him. “We shouldn’t talk about this in front of Katie. She’s suffered enough already.”

  “Thank you,” Katie whispered, keeping her head down as the meal continued. She didn’t join in the chatter when the subject changed to the day’s events on the farm. She shouldn’t have reacted like that when the subject of Ben Stoll came up. Da Hah had healed her, and she’d moved on. Perhaps next time she would do better.

  When supper was over, they bowed their heads in silent prayer. Then the menfolk scattered to the living room. Jesse would be calling for evening devotions before long, but in the meantime the womenfolk would clean the kitchen.

  Katie went to run water in the sink for dishes.

  “Mabel and Carolyn, Katie and I will take care of the kitchen tonight. Both of you helped me prepare the food, so you’ve done enough,” Mamm said.

  “Are you sure?” Mabel asked. “We can help.”

  “Get on now, and I mean it!” Mamm gave both girls a sweet smile that softened the order.

  Mamm is being quite wise, Katie thought. This way no resentment would fester between them over her working late at the school. Katie hadn’t thought of how this could be best handled, but Mamm was already finding a solution. And Mamm probably wished to talk, if Katie didn’t miss her guess. Both matters would be taken care of this evening at the same time.

  Mabel and Carolyn were no more out of the kitchen before Mamm asked her first question. “So what did Ruth Troyer really want today, Katie? I know she didn’t drive all that way just to ‘help’ you.”

  “Mamm, please. The woman did offer some helpful advice.”

  “But that wasn’t everything, was it?”

  Katie looked down as she continued to wash dishes. “Well, no. She claims Enos Kuntz only gave me the job with the understanding that I’d be his daughter-in-law. And she rubbed in the fact that she’s marrying again—and marrying rich at that. And she said something about you stealing Jesse from her.”

  Mamm smiled. “Some people are the limit, that’s all I can say.”

  “You don’t think Enos really gave me the job for that reason, do you? I know he’d like me to be open to Norman’s attention, but hiring me would be going kind of far…”

  “Of course he wouldn’t do something like that.” Mamm didn’t hesitate. “Enos isn’t that kind of man. And the entire school board had to approve your hiring.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “I do approve of Norman.” Mamm had a touch of teasing in her voice. “And Enos and his frau apparently approve of you. So on that point, Ruth is correct. All of us like the potential match.”

  “Oh, Mamm,” Katie whispered, “do you think I can ever love again?”

  “Love is a gift from Da Hah.” Mamm looked pensive. “I was given it again, long after I gave up all hope. And twice at that—first for your daett and then Jesse. Yah, you can love again. Da Hah will see to that.”

  “But Norman…he’s so…so…timid. I’m not used to that at all. He hasn’t spoken a word to me yet, Mamm. Not one.”

  “You mustn’t compare every young man to Ben.” Mamm’s voice was low. “That will be your temptation, Katie.”

  Katie nodded. “I’ve tried to forget Ben. I really have.”

  Mamm continued as if she hadn’t heard. “If Norman loves Da Hah and His ways, and if he loves you, then love can grow in your heart. You’re now a church member, Katie, and so is Norman. In fact, he’s been one for some time. That doesn’t happen often—that young men make up their minds so quickly. You can’t go wrong on this one, Katie. Even if the feelings don’t come at once, they will in time. They did for me—with your daett and with Jesse.”

  Katie continued washing the dishes. Mamm was right, she was certain of it. After what had happened with Ben, she should be honored that Norman was even considering her for his frau.

  They finished the dishes and found their way to the living room for the evening devotions. After Jesse read the Scriptures and they knelt in prayer, Katie slipped up the stairs.

  Willis followed her, stopping her outside her bedroo
m door.

  “Katie?”

  “Yah?” Katie turned around and paused.

  Willis glanced down the stairs before continuing. “I didn’t say anything at the supper table, but Ben wants to meet with you when he’s out of jail. It’s urgent, he says.”

  Katie struggled to keep breathing. “I can’t, Willis. You know that.”

  Willis shrugged, his slim shoulders barely visible in the shadowed stairwell. “I’m just passing on what I was told by Emery Graber.”

  Katie didn’t say anything more; she just stared as Willis disappeared into his room. What did Ben want? It didn’t really matter though. Meeting him was out of the question. Their relationship was over…way over.

  Chapter Three

  The following Monday, Katie stood at the door of the schoolhouse as the first buggy full of students turned into the yard. They waved to her, and with a pounding heart Katie waved back. Should she go out and help unhitch? No, she couldn’t do that—not for all of them, and presenting any hint of favoritism on the first day of school was unwise. She would wait inside. And from there she would make sure each child was comfortable as he or she entered. The older students would know their way around, of course, but the first graders might need a tender touch this morning to soothe their ruffled feelings. For some of them, this would be their first time away from home for an extended period of time.

  Katie retreated into the classroom and brushed off her desk again. It was already spotless, but she couldn’t stop cleaning. A sloppy desk was a sign of a dimwitted teacher, Ruth had told her last week. The barb had sunk in deep, along with her other instructions. Katie gathered herself together. She could do this job just fine. Yah, it was different from working the cash register at Byler’s, but still manageable and hopefully a lot more rewarding. From this schoolhouse, she could touch so many young lives.

  The door swung open, and Katie called out, “Gut morning!”

  Three cheerful voices hollered back, “Gut morning, teacher!”