Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Willis had given her a sympathetic look before he left. Perhaps even he couldn’t imagine how shy Norman was taking a girl home, let alone his sister who was part of the controversy.

  Mabel had left with Willis without even a glance in Katie’s direction. The girl hadn’t said anything about her feelings for Norman since the blowup in the living room. Surely Mabel’s attraction to Norman was only a passing thing. She’d gotten over Mose fast enough after Jesse had put his foot down.

  Mabel’s affections must not go that deep yet. Someday they might, but right now she was like a bee flitting among the flowers. If Norman showed any interest in Mabel, that might be another matter. But Norman didn’t seem interested in her. He wanted Katie, and that was a great honor she didn’t wish to ignore. Norman would be a much better husband than Ben could ever hope to be.

  A few girls lingered in the washroom and smiled as Katie gathered her wrap. They’d all figured it out by now. Since she hadn’t left with Willis, they knew something was up. Their minds were whirling this very moment trying to decide which boy had gone out ahead of her. Katie gave them all a sweet smile. They would just have to wonder for a few more minutes. Making people curious was part of the fun of having a young man take you home.

  With her bonnet on, Katie stepped outside and searched the line of buggies for a sign of Norman. She paused as several girls came out of the washroom too. They took discreet glances at the line of buggies before climbing into their own families’ vehicles. Laura Mullet peered back to give Katie a little wave along with a bright smile. She no doubt had it figured out and was feeling triumphant in her guess. By tomorrow night the whole community would know that Norman Kuntz had driven Katie Raber home from the hymn sing.

  This was the first time she’d been on an official Amish date, Katie thought, as she moved closer to the end of the walk. Ben had never driven her home from a hymn singing with the approving eyes of the community on them. They’d always been together at Mennonite youth gatherings.

  It gave a person a warm feeling on the inside, Katie decided, knowing she was doing the right thing. She and Norman would make a gut couple. Everyone would approve of the match. And since she’d stood up to Mabel, Katie felt much better about Norman. It was almost as if the issue had forced her to make a claim on Norman—calling him her boyfriend in front of Mabel and Mamm. And wasn’t that the case? Why else would he be taking her home?

  As Norman’s buggy pulled into the first place, Katie froze. Something about the shape of Norman’s horse in the shadowy darkness stopped her. Norman’s horse looked just like Ben’s Longstreet! But that couldn’t be. All horses were different. It must be the shadows playing tricks on her mind. Katie forced herself forward, her mind spinning. If this were Longstreet, then Ben would be waiting in the buggy. And she would snuggle up to him under the buggy blanket. They would kiss even before they arrived at the house. Celebrating this night for what it was—a special night of being together again.

  Katie grabbed the side of Norman’s buggy and pulled herself up the step, angry at herself for imagining such a thing. Ben had no right to intrude on this moment. She was done with him. Katie landed on Norman’s buggy seat with a thump. She was about as graceful as a bag of feed tonight.

  Seated beside her, Norman didn’t seem to notice. His face twitched as he let out the lines. “Gut evening, Katie.”

  Katie forced thoughts of Ben out of her mind. “Gut evening, Norman. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

  “Oh, you wouldn’t do that, I’m sure.” Norman attempted to laugh.

  The poor man was frightened half to death—and of her! The thought was ludicrous, but then Katie was used to Ben’s confident attitude. He never blinked an eye at the presence of girls. Norman wasn’t Ben. And most men probably weren’t as confident as Ben had been.

  “Are you cold?” Norman asked as he offered her part of the buggy blanket.

  “Oh yah.” Katie took it, her hand going toward his.

  Norman dropped the edge of the blanket, jerking his hand back. The blanket slid to the floor.

  Please, I’m not deadly. You can touch my hand, Katie wanted to say. She smiled instead and bent down to pick the blanket up.

  Norman took his horse around a turn, hanging on to both lines. “I hope I’m not driving too fast. Bonnie is a little skittish yet. I only got her at the sales barn a few weeks ago.”

  “Fast?” Katie laughed. “I like fast horses. And that’s a nice name—Bonnie.”

  “You do?” Norman was looking at her as if she were some strange creature from another planet. “My sisters are always complaining about my driving too fast. Susie just this morning even threatened not to come to church with me if I drove Bonnie. But I wanted her broken in some more before I…well…picked you up tonight.”

  Katie laughed. “I think your sisters don’t know what they’re talking about. There’s nothing like a fast ride home in the dark. It’s romantic.”

  “Ah…” Norman fell silent but he loosened the reins, and Bonnie raced through the night. The buggy wheels hummed under them at the steady pace of Bonnie’s hooves on the pavement.

  Norman seemed to relax, but he soon tensed again, pulling back on the reins. He glanced sideways at Katie. “I’m…I’m not used to…to driving so fast. Daett says something could fly off the wheels. And there’s no fixing a buggy that slides along the blacktop, to say nothing of the people inside.”

  “I suppose so,” Katie allowed, as Norman slowed down even more. She chided herself for allowing Ben to intrude again. Thinking about how it used to be…those evenings dashing home from the Mennonite youth gatherings. Fast living was now a thing of her past, Katie told herself. She was wrong to encourage Norman to live differently than he’d been brought up.

  Minutes later they were turning down the driveway. Norman parked in front of the hitching post and jumped out with the tie rope to secure Bonnie. Katie climbed down and waited for him. She led the way to the house. On the front porch, the swing squeaked in the evening breeze, bathed in the soft light of the lantern Mamm had left on inside the house.

  Katie paused. Why not sit on the swing at least for a few minutes? She gave Norman a sweet smile. “The swing. We could sit out here for a few minutes.”

  “Yah, maybe.” He hesitated, but Katie had already sat down.

  Lowering himself on the swing, Norman stayed on his side, a wide space between them.

  “Norman,” Katie said, “you don’t have to sit way over there. I won’t bite.”

  He laughed and moved closer, but he still kept plenty of space between them. It was clearly going to take awhile for Norman to get over his nervousness. She had to be patient.

  Norman cleared his throat. “You used to date Ben Stoll, didn’t you?”

  “You know I did,” Katie said. “That was a long time ago.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to…well…I just mean I’m sure you quit the relationship when you found out about…”

  “Yah, I did. In fact, I haven’t spoken to Ben since…” Katie let the words hang for a moment. Her visit to Ben’s hospital room wasn’t something she wished to discuss with Norman. “Well, let’s just say the relationship is over.”

  Norman sighed, his relief evident. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  Apparently she needed to justify herself in Norman’s eyes, so Katie continued. “I know what Ben did was a great evil. I had nothing more to do with him after I found out about it.”

  “I expected that of you, Katie. You’re a decent girl,” he said at once, although his tone wasn’t very convincing.

  Katie turned to face him. “Why would anyone expect me to do something else?”

  Norman managed a smile. “We didn’t, but Daett still thought I should ask where you stood.”

  Katie almost gasped. “Your daett must believe I’m committed to Amish ways. He hired me as the schoolteacher.”

  “That’s different. Your joining the church kind of took care of that doubt. But for dating, I
guess one must be sure.”

  Katie settled back in the swing. What kind of strange conversation was this? Her character was still being questioned. What would Norman say if he knew she’d been to see Ben at the hospital? Thank Da Hah that had been Willis’s idea and for a gut cause. Even Jesse had approved so who could hold that against her? But wasn’t it possible Norman would find out about the visit? Mamm knew, as did the rest of the family. They had no reason to spread the information around unless Mabel had. Katie drew in her breath. Would Mabel do such a thing? Perhaps. If her feelings were strong enough for Norman—and if Mabel suspected Norman cared about the matter. Plus it was hard to keep things from the community.

  “It’s gut to hear that you agree,” Norman was saying, seeming more relaxed now. “Our youth are open to so many temptations in the world today with wild living during their rumspringa time. There’s also drinking and, in Ben’s case, even worse things. You never did rumspringa either, did you?”

  Katie’s head was spinning. She hadn’t expected this kind of questioning from shy Norman. She forced the words out. “Mamm never allowed it.”

  Norman smiled. “Emma’s a decent mamm then. I hope to keep my children out of such things.” He fell silent for a moment before continuing. “After I…well, after I wed, of course. When Da Hah sees fit to open the door for my wedding vows.”

  “I understand, Norman.” Katie touched his arm and he flinched. She pulled her hand back quickly. She would have to learn how to act more circumspect again after being around Ben. But that was a gut thing, no doubt.

  Norman was looking at her. “I hope I’m worthy of love. I search my own heart many times, and I don’t know. Keeping a wife and raising children can’t be an easy thing.”

  Katie said nothing. She felt as if she weren’t here, that Norman was lost in his own thoughts. Still, she was on a date with him, which meant they were headed toward the very thing Norman was wondering about.

  “I hope I’m not boring you with these things,” Norman said.

  Katie forced a smile. “It’s okay, Norman. We all wonder and doubt at times. I know I do. Shall we go inside where it’s warmer?”

  “Yah, let’s.” Norman stood.

  Katie also rose and led the way inside. If Norman knew what her doubts were or what she’d been thinking all evening concerning Ben, the shy man would surely have gotten into his buggy and driven home right away. That must not happen. She’d worked too hard to achieve a position of respectability in the community to lose it now.

  Chapter Ten

  Katie stood in the kitchen glaring at Mabel, who was smirking back at her. Norman was in the living room where Katie had left him. She’d promised him cherry pie and ice cream. She’d seen a flash of Mabel’s dress vanishing into the kitchen doorway when they’d walked in, so she knew Mabel had probably been listening by the window.

  “So we’re back where we started, Mabel,” Katie said. “I thought we were going to respect each other from now on. And what about being friends…you and me?”

  “That was before I knew you were going to date Norman and get all high and mighty again,” Mabel shot back.

  Katie sighed. “I’m just trying to live a normal life, Mabel. Can’t you understand that?”

  Mabel didn’t back down. “You know you don’t love the man, Katie, so why don’t you let me have a chance at him?”

  Katie couldn’t stop herself. “What do you know about love, Mabel? You kissed Mose out in the feed bin. That’s about how far your experience goes. I’ve had my heart broken.”

  Mabel glared. “Just wait until I let it slip at the sewing that you were down at the hospital to see Ben. What do you think Norman and Enos will think about that?”

  So Mabel had been listening and planned to use the information gathered to her advantage. “You’d better not Mabel,” Katie warned. “Don’t you dare!”

  Mabel smirked. “And what would you do, Katie? Once they know, the damage is done.”

  Katie grabbed a thought. “And you think Norman will ask you home just by getting rid of me? There’s not a chance in the world. The Kuntzes have higher standards than you.”

  Mabel laughed. “You don’t have anything over me, Katie. You just think you do. At least I’m not stupid enough to still have feelings for a drug dealer. What if Norman finds that out about you?”

  Katie turned away. The girl was impossible. And Katie was losing all the ground she’d thought she’d gained in their relationship in the last year. She didn’t want to go back to those days of fighting with Mabel over every little thing. But on this point she simply couldn’t—wouldn’t—yield. Mabel was out of line. Besides, Norman didn’t care for Mabel anyway.

  Before she could decide what needed doing, Norman stuck his head in the kitchen opening, a puzzled look on his face. “Is something wrong?”

  “Nee,” Katie tried to smile. “I was just talking with Mabel.”

  “Well…then,” Norman continued, “why doesn’t Mabel join us for ice cream and cherry pie? That is, if there’s enough.”

  Mabel looked at Katie with triumph.

  Katie fumbled for the right words. “Yah, I guess there’s enough. There’s a whole pie and a half gallon of ice cream left from last night. We made plenty of extra knowing you’d be coming.”

  Norman looked quite pleased. “Then I’ll go back to waiting in the living room.”

  When Norman disappeared, Mabel turned to Katie. “See there? He likes me!”

  Katie pulled out the cherry pie and set it on the counter. If she did what she felt like doing, she’d throw the whole thing in Mabel’s face. Instead she commanded, “At least help with the ice cream.”

  “Glad to.” Mabel was clearly gloating. If Norman swooned over Mabel once they arrived in the living room, Katie decided she would throw the pie after all—but in his face. Katie cut the pie and slid three pieces onto plates. Mabel was busy scooping out ice cream and scurrying around for bowls and spoons. Without a sideways glance at Mabel, Katie strode into the living room carrying two plates.

  “Here!” She handed Norman his pie, and set the other plate on the footstool in front of the couch next to Norman. She sat down beside him. Mabel could get her own pie. Norman glanced at Katie out of the corner of his eye. His irritation regarding her display of temper was obviously showing, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Recent events were bringing out a nasty side of her that she hated to acknowledge. She was acting worse than she ever had back in the days when she was known to everyone as “Emma Raber’s odd daughter.” Now she had a well thought of boy bringing her home, and she couldn’t even control her temper.

  And to make things worse, Mabel appeared all smiles, the bowls in her hands brimming with pecan ice cream. She acted like she’d made it! And Katie had been the one who had toiled over the ice cream maker last night, preparing this treat for Norman. Mabel hadn’t touched the handle once. Yet there she was, beaming as if she’d done everything. And clearly Norman, smiling ear to ear, didn’t seem to know the difference or care.

  “That looks delicious, Mabel,” he said as he accepted his bowl.

  “Fresh from last night,” Mabel chirped, disappearing into the kitchen for her piece of pie. Now it looked to Norman like Mabel was doing all the serving, which would no doubt score extra points for Mabel in Norman’s book, Katie thought. How had she gotten herself into this situation? Outfoxed by her temper and a teenager! Katie was truly irritated now.

  “You’re not eating,” Norman commented, looking sideways at her.

  “She wasn’t feeling too well earlier in the day,” Mabel offered, appearing like a ghost in front of them. She was a ghost, Katie thought. A haunting ghost she couldn’t get rid of.

  “Is this true?” Norman asked, concern evident.

  “I…well…I did have a little headache after church,” she stammered. “But it was nothing serious.”

  “You didn’t say anything on the way home.” Norman was still looking at her.

  Mabel
gave another chirpy little laugh. “Katie’s a secretive sort of girl. You have to dig things out of her.”

  “I am not,” Katie snapped. She’d said it much too loud, displaying her anger again.

  Norman looked puzzled for a moment before shrugging. “I hope you’ll be okay. And I hope you don’t hide things from those around you and from Da Hah. That is not something our people believe in.”

  “She has her moments,” Mabel offered. “Most of the time Katie’s honest around the family.”

  Norman looked like he might ask another question, but he smiled instead. “This is quite gut ice cream. Did you make it, Katie?”

  “Yah,” Katie managed to get out.

  They sat in silence as the clock ticked loudly on the wall. Mabel’s spoon clicked in her bowl. She jumped up. “I’d better get to bed so I can get my sleep. Lots of work ahead of us tomorrow.”

  In a flash Mabel was gone up the stairs, her footsteps lingering in the stairwell.

  Norman’s eyes lingered for a moment on the closed door. “Jesse has raised his children well, I see. Industrious, all of them.”

  Katie didn’t say anything until Norman’s gaze jerked her out of her daze. She stumbled over the words. “Yah. Jesse’s a gut daett. I have no complaints with how Mabel helps around the house.”

  Norman smiled. “I think Jesse has also had a gut effect on you. At least that’s what Daett told me. Before your mamm married Jesse, you used to attend the Mennonite youth gatherings, didn’t you?”

  “I used to, but I don’t anymore,” Katie said much too quickly.

  Norman didn’t seem to notice though. He settled back into the couch with a sigh. He pushed his empty pie plate onto the coffee table. Any further questions about her former days seemed forgotten at the moment. Mabel had put him in a mellow mood, Katie noticed. He was more relaxed than he had been all evening, especially on the drive home.