Katie's Forever Promise

by Jerry S. Eicher

  My, how different things had been today from what she was used to at Amish weddings. Katie brought Sparky to a stop beside the barn. She smiled at the memory of Margaret leaping into Lonnie’s car while people threw rice and birdseed at the couple. Margaret was married, all in her own way, and that’s what counted. But Katie knew she wouldn’t share many of the details of this wedding with Mamm or anyone else.

  Unhitching Sparky, Katie had him out of the shafts when Willis appeared with a broad grin on his face. “Back again, I see. Did the happy couple get sent off safely?”

  “Yah!” Katie returned his smile. “A little differently than we’re used to, but they’re off.”

  “Fancy wedding, huh?” Willis apparently knew more than she did about Mennonite weddings. But then maybe he was guessing.

  “Yah,” Katie said. “Are you going to put Sparky up for me?”

  “For my darling sister? Of course!” Willis grinned over his shoulder as he marched off with the horse.

  “Thanks!” Katie hollered after him. Apparently Willis was still trying to soothe her wounded heart. Likely he figured the wedding had stirred up thoughts of her lost wedding hopes with Norman. Well, it hadn’t. Now with Ben…that was another matter. But she wasn’t going to admit that.

  The barn door slammed as Willis disappeared with Sparky and jerked Katie out of her thoughts. She turned and headed across the lawn toward the house. As she entered through the front door, she stopped at once. Why was it so quiet? There should be noises coming from the kitchen or somewhere else, but there weren’t. Had Mamm and the others left for a visit? But Willis would have told her if that were the case.

  Peering into the kitchen, Katie quickly pulled her head back. Mamm and Mabel were sitting at the table across from each other just staring at the ceiling. What in the world was wrong?

  “You can come in,” Mamm called out.

  Katie advanced, stopping beside the stove. It didn’t look like Mabel was crying, and neither was Mamm. In fact, Mabel looked quite pleased with herself now that Katie could see her face clearly.

  “You’d best tell Katie,” Mamm said. “It’s not more than right Katie hears this from your own lips.”

  Katie pulled out a chair and sat down, her knees weak. From the look on Mamm’s face this couldn’t be gut news.

  Mabel smiled, apparently not sharing that opinion. “Norman has asked me to wed him this fall yet. He wants me as his frau.”

  “Wed you…this fall?” Katie knew her mouth had fallen open.

  Mabel’s smile grew even broader. “Norman doesn’t wish to wait another year for the next wedding season since he’s older already and time is slipping away. And he feels quite certain about our relationship. In fact, he says I’m the first girl he has had such strong feelings for.”

  Mamm looked all sympathy now. “I would have tried to make this easier for you, Katie. But I didn’t know how.”

  “It doesn’t matter, really, Mamm. It’s just so sudden. Couldn’t you marry in the spring? It’s not like that hasn’t been done before.”

  Mabel glared now. “That’s what someone like you would say, Katie. But I want Norman to have his proper time—not having to marry out of season. Besides, it won’t do any gut for you to object, Katie. You have no hold on Norman. And you’ve gotten over your feelings for him by now. And if you haven’t, you can just try harder.”

  Katie’s mind spun. Mabel’s barbs were stinging, but she had it wrong. “My feelings are not the problem, Mabel. I was thinking of you. Are you sure about this? Norman has a dark side you know.”

  “Katie!” Mamm exclaimed. “You shouldn’t be saying that about him. Norman is not your boyfriend anymore.”

  “See?” Mabel tilted her head. “There’ll be no sour grapes from you, Katie. You might as well get used to it.”

  “You shouldn’t marry him, Mabel!” Katie persisted. “Not this soon. You hardly know him.”

  “Come on, Katie.” Mamm stood and pulled on Katie’s arm. “I need to talk to you.”

  “You can talk about it right here.” Mabel looked quite smug. “I can guess what you’re going to tell her. ‘Control yourself, Katie. Don’t interfere in what’s not your business. Mabel’s old enough to make up her own mind.’”

  Mamm sighed and sat down again.

  Apparently Mabel had taken the words right out of Mamm’s mouth, Katie thought. Why Mabel didn’t trust her was easy to understand, but Mamm should know better. Norman was a disaster waiting to happen.

  Mabel folded her arms and looked triumphant. “So, Katie, are you going to help me with the wedding or are you going to mope around like a castoff piece of rumpled clothing?”

  Before Katie could answer, Mamm leaped up. “Mabel, you need to show Katie respect and be more compassionate. That being said, the matter is settled. Katie will cooperate. Her heart might be a little wounded yet, but she will get over it. Now, all of us have more work than we can imagine—that is if we’re to pull this wedding off. And we will, Mabel. You have my promise. This is an exciting time for you. I still can’t understand why you didn’t tell us earlier. Every extra day would have helped.”

  “I didn’t know myself until last Sunday night. And then, well, I guess I needed to get my courage up. With how Katie’s been acting, you can see why I was dreading this moment. And I did know this was a little unusual, but Norman wants to marry and soon.”

  “We will make this happen.” Mamm smiled. “Are you going to speak to your daett about this tonight? Then we can start making plans.”

  Katie rose from the chair and left without a backward glance as Mabel and Mamm continued their conversation. She took the stairs up to her room. Mamm and Mabel probably wouldn’t even miss her presence, and Katie knew she’d probably just get another lecture if she stayed around.

  In her room, Katie sat on the bed as her head throbbed. She didn’t care that much about Norman anymore. She never had, if she were honest about it. What was hurting was the shame of the rejection. This short time between Norman’s dropping her and his asking Mabel to wed would not escape the community’s attention. Clearly the community would think the problem between Norman and her hadn’t been Norman’s doing. At least if one looked at appearances—which was, of course, exactly how most people would look at it. Likely this had played a part in Norman and Mabel moving so quickly. They both wanted to add insult to her injury. Yet she mustn’t think ill of what she wasn’t sure of. The reasons Norman had for the quick wedding did make sense. He was older and way past the normal age when Amish men married. Besides, maybe Norman was afraid Mabel would catch on to his character flaws, if the truth be told. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind and calm her soul.

  A loud knock came on the bedroom door. This couldn’t be Mamm; the knock was much too rough. It must be Mabel, but what would she want? To give further words of rebuke?

  “Yah?” Katie finally said.

  “May I come in?” Mabel’s voice seemed hesitant.

  “Yah,” Katie answered. What else could she say?

  Mabel came in looking sheepish and sat down beside her on the bed. “I’m sorry for my harsh words downstairs. I really had no reason to speak to you like that.”

  “That’s okay,” Katie replied. “I got a little carried away myself.”

  “We do have to live together in the same house, Katie.” Mabel was chirpy again. “We’d best try to get along. I just wish you wouldn’t say such horrible things about Norman even if you feel them in your heart. And I will try not to think worse of you than what things really are.”

  Apparently Mamm had given Mabel a lecture about her attitude. Warring sisters weren’t going to make Mamm’s life any easier in the weeks ahead, especially with all the wedding preparations suddenly thrust upon them.

  Katie sighed. “You’ll be leaving in a short time to be Norman’s frau. I’ll try to do my part.” Katie didn’t feel she was to blame for any of the problems with Mabel, but peaceful relationships often begin with taking mor
e than one’s share of the load. That her people believed in, and so did she.

  Mabel stood. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled. And I’m glad you’re going to help. I really do want you by my side on the wedding day even though you used to date Norman. I’m not holding that against you. In fact, I want you as my bridesmaid, Katie, for my side of the family. Norman’s sister will represent his side.”

  Katie gasped. “Mabel, I don’t think I can do that.”

  Mabel’s face turned into a pout. “Why not? Norman thinks it will be okay. He said he has no hard feelings at all. So why can’t you feel the same way?”

  “Because it’s not right. Not this soon after we broke up.”

  “Oh, people will forget about all that. And you’ll be seen with someone else—one of Norman’s attendants. It might even help with your reputation—letting the community see you with another man.”

  Katie swallowed hard, angry thoughts racing through her mind, which she managed to hold back. None of those words rushing forward would help the situation right now.

  Mabel was waiting, so Katie knew she needed to say something…anything…but what she was really feeling. “So why did you speak so harshly to me downstairs if you knew you were going to ask me this? Didn’t you consider how I would feel?”

  Mabel shrugged. “I do get a little carried away with my emotions sometimes. But I did say I was sorry. I’m so worried about you, Katie. Your life has taken such a bad turn lately. And being involved with my wedding would help you, I think. I thought of you right after Norman asked me last Sunday night if I would be his frau.”

  “Mabel, I just don’t think I can do it.” Katie rose. “Now I have to change out of this dress. Then we should go help Mamm with supper.”

  Mabel’s pout returned, but her face was also turning red. She glared at Katie before dashing out of the room and slamming the door.

  Chapter Twenty

  On a Saturday morning during the first week of November, Katie drove her buggy to Bishop Miller’s. She parked beside the fencerow where a long line of buggies had already been left. She’d come to join the others in helping out with Mabel’s wedding preparations. Mamm and Mabel would come later, but Katie was anxious to join the other women who had volunteered their help. The community women seemed to understand Norman’s need to marry this fall. He was older, and if he’d finally found a girl he liked why should he wait—even if his bride was only eighteen. Well, going on nineteen, as Mabel so often reminded them.

  Katie still wasn’t convinced something more sinister wasn’t going on with Norman’s quick marriage proposal. But she’d mentioned it once, so why risk Mabel’s wrath mentioning it again? Things were going well enough at home right now. If they could keep their relationship half decent, Mabel would be moving out before long.

  After much debate with Mamm, Mabel had settled on Mahlon Bontrager as Katie’s partner for the wedding. They’d both calmly ignored Katie’s objections to being a bridesmaid.

  Katie decided if she had to do it Mahlon wasn’t all that bad a choice. He was a young widower, alone for a year now. Part of Mabel’s purpose in this exercise was, no doubt, to present Katie to the community as someone’s suitable frau. But to Katie, that didn’t matter. She couldn’t care less if any man from the community ever asked her home again. And she doubted if Mahlon would be tempted to think of her as a prospective frau. Not that she wanted him to. From what she’d heard whispered among the women after church, Mahlon had only accepted the request because Norman’s daett was so well looked up to in the community. It was a confused mess, and only Da Hah could make final sense out of it all. For her, the easiest thing was to go along and keep her mouth shut.

  “Gut morning!” Bishop Miller’s wife, Laura, called as she came out of the house. “I see you’re out bright and early.”

  Katie returned Laura’s smile. “I wanted to get here even earlier, but I was a little slow. I see the others have arrived.”

  Laura laughed. “Ach, you know how it goes. Most of them will be leaving early, but I expect you’ll be around all day.”

  Katie nodded. “Yah, I plan to be. By the way, thanks for giving us the use of your place. I know Mabel is very appreciative.”

  “We’re happy to help, Katie. Someday we’d love to do the same for you.”

  Katie let the words flow past her and just said, “Thank you. Now, where can I begin?”

  “Most of the women are still in the house cleaning the upstairs and basement. The men will be around in a bit pulling the machinery out of the pole barn. That’s where I suggest you go. Wait a few minutes and start there. In fact, that’s where I’m going right now. You’re welcome to tag along.”

  “I’ll do that.” Katie fell in step with the energetic Laura. She might be getting on in years, but she sure hadn’t slowed down since Mamm’s wedding had been held here.

  “I hope that Ben Stoll hasn’t been bothering you.” Laura gave Katie a quick, sympathetic look. “Da Hah knows life has been hard enough on you without him hanging around.”

  Katie looked away. Must Ben come up again? Why couldn’t people help her move on by forgetting the past? “I haven’t heard anything from him or his family since the night I spent with his mamm at the hospital. Well, except for what his little brother shares at school.”

  “Ben’s living in town now,” Laura offered. “The ministry thought it for the best.”

  “I see.”

  Laura wasn’t finished yet. “And don’t worry about those rumors going around right now. I told Jonas not to believe what he hears about you. I told him I’d spoken personally to Lavina, and she made it clear to me you were acting out of your Christian duty and that you were never with Ben without someone else present.”

  “Thank you,” Katie responded as they walked into the pole barn. At least she had the bishop’s wife on her side.

  Behind them Mamm and Mabel came driving in, and Laura left to greet the two women. Bishop Miller came out of the barn about the same time and greeted Katie. “Here to help, are we? We’ll have to make sure you have plenty of work then.”

  “I certainly wouldn’t want to stand around idle all day,” Katie said, smiling.

  “So where are the men Laura promised would be here? I’ve seen nothing but women driving in.”

  “I wouldn’t know, but I can help push machinery,” Katie offered.

  “An old man and a young woman?” Bishop Miller laughed. “That would be the day. I don’t think the world has come to such a sorry state yet. Let’s see what Laura has to say for herself.”

  Chattering away, the three women approached. When they came within earshot, Bishop Miller asked Laura, “Where’s my help, my frau?”

  “Coming right there!” Laura replied as she waved her arm toward the road. Sure enough, when Katie looked up a buggy full of men was pulling into the driveway.

  “Should have looked before I asked,” Bishop Miller said. “Happens every time a man doubts a woman.”

  Katie smiled at his humor. He was a kindly old soul, and he watched well over the spiritual health of the community. She could be thankful Da Hah had supplied such leaders she could trust.

  “How are things going for you?” Bishop Miller asked as he glanced at Katie.

  “Fine. I’m all right, although I guess my heart is still a bit troubled.”

  Bishop Miller nodded while stroking his long, white beard. “Da Hah’s ways are not always ours. But we will find they are always the best.” A twinkle flickered in his eye. “I hear you might have someone special on the hook at the wedding.”

  Katie laughed. “Believe me, that’s Mabel’s doing, not mine.”

  “One never knows.” The twinkle didn’t go away. “Just keep your heart open, Katie.”

  Katie was sure her face was turning red with such plain talk from the bishop. He must highly approve of Mahlon Bontrager to say such a thing. And the bishop must also approve of her—at least enough to think she was a worthy frau for Mahlon. That thought was e
nough to turn her face flame red if it already wasn’t.

  “Da Hah works in mysterious ways,” Bishop Miller smiled at her and then turned toward the driveway as the men climbed out of the buggy and drew near. “Don’t ever forget that, Katie.”

  “So what have we going on here?” one of the men hollered. “Surely you weren’t planning on keeping all this work for yourself?”

  “I was waiting for you to settle your breakfast and get here,” Bishop Miller retorted.

  “John was catching his late-morning winks out on the porch swing when I picked him up,” another man added.

  Laughing together, they moved into the pole barn and started pushing the machines and dragging the tools out, parking and placing them along the edges of the yard.

  Katie waited until the men had a section cleared before going in to clean. By then Laura and Mamm, along with several other women, were ready with brooms and dustpans. Ben’s mamm, Lavina, had also arrived and greeted Katie with a gentle nod. Bishop Miller soon had a hay wagon brought in with the help of the other men for the women to use as a platform. By late morning they’d swept the upper cross ties of the pole barn, reaching the roof by standing on the hay-wagon racks. As each section was completed, the women pushed the wagon around to the next spot. It took a little doing, but with everyone’s aid the wagon moved easily enough.

  When they were done, Laura hollered to the men, “We need your help. Anyone with some muscles?”

  This produced plenty of laughs, and the men quickly moved the wagon out. Showing off, Katie figured. Men were men, always liking to show off in front of women.

  By twelve o’clock they had the pole barn floor washed; the concrete almost spotless. Rosanna Yoder, who had stayed inside the house, opened the washroom door and hollered across the lawn. “Dinner’s ready! Come get it!”

  “That’s about time,” one of the men commented.

  Katie followed everyone inside to enjoy a meal of sandwiches and chocolate milk that had been set out on the table.