by Debby Giusti
“Ice cream, too?” Kayla asked.
“We will see about the ice cream, Kayla.”
“Are you sure we should go into town?” Julia asked. “Can’t you use your neighbor’s phone?”
“I could, but it might be smarter to use a pay phone, in case anyone is tracking Mr. Raber’s number. Using a pay phone in town will be an added precaution.”
Julia’s face clouded.
“Do not worry,” he assured her. “Besides, a trip to town will be enjoyable.”
“What if it rains?” Kayla asked.
Abraham glanced out the window. “It is cloudy, but I do not think we will have rain. Are you made of sugar?” he teased.
“Sugar?”
“I thought all little girls were sweet as sugar.”
She giggled. “No, Mr. Abraham. I am not made of sugar. I am made of flesh and blood.”
“And you are smart, too. You take after your mother.”
Kayla grinned and looked at Julia. “Then William takes after our father.”
“I do not,” the boy insisted.
“Do too,” Kayla replied. “You’re a boy. That means you take after him.”
“Enough, Kayla,” Julia said. “You are each unique and special. Is that understood?”
“Still—”
Julia tilted her head. “It’s time to eat instead of talk, young lady.”
The child sighed with exasperation. Abraham squelched a smile. Kayla was precocious, which was cute at this age. Just as long as she learned how to temper her remarks as she aged.
He glanced at William with his downcast eyes and flushed face. Kayla’s comment seemed to have cut William to the quick.
“The chores in the barn were done more quickly today because William helped me.” The boy glanced up. Abraham nodded his appreciation. “You have a fine worker in your son, Julia. I know you are proud of him.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you recognize his willingness to serve, Abraham. Both my children are eager to help whenever they can.”
Kayla’s eyes widened as she accepted her mother’s praise and seemed less interested in her brother and more in her breakfast.
Children made life interesting and challenging, but also filled it with joy and love. Abraham thought of his Becca with her big blue eyes and curly blond hair. The pain was real as he thought of all he had lost.
“You look sad, Mr. Abraham.”
Kayla was staring at him, her eyes wide. The concern he read in her sweet gaze was like salve to his wounded heart.
He forced a smile, not wanting to pull Julia or her children into his own sorrow. “I am fine, Kayla, but food remains on your plate. You need to eat now so you can go with us to town.”
“Will we stop at the store where we bought our kapps?”
He glanced at Julia. “Is there something you need?”
“I need nothing.” She turned to her daughter. “Is there some reason you wanted to return to the store?”
“I wanted to get another kapp in case I lose this one. Ella said they get dirty when we play outside and sometimes the wind pulls them off our heads and into the air.” She touched her kapp. “I do not want to lose mine, but it might happen.”
“If so, we will get another one then, Kayla. For now, just be careful when you go outside to play.”
“Did you enjoy Sarah’s daughter?” Abraham asked.
“Ella’s nice. I helped her do her chores. After that, we played tag. Miss Sarah said I will need a larger dress soon, and if so, she has one that her daughter can no longer wear.”
“Miss Sarah is very thoughtful,” Julia said.
“She also will get some clothes for William.”
“I don’t need more clothing,” he insisted.
Julia looked sharply at her son. “We will be grateful for anything Miss Sarah provides. Isn’t that right, William?”
He shrugged. “I guess so. Maybe she will bake another pie.” The boy glanced at his mother and widened his eyes. “Mom, you used to bake. A cherry pie would be good.”
“With ice cream,” Kayla added.
Julia laughed. “We can look for canned cherries at the grocery store.”
“Yum.” Kayla smiled as she scooped the last of her eggs into her mouth.
Once everyone had eaten, Julia stood and began to clear the table. “If you would like more coffee, Abraham...”
He held up his hand. “I have had enough. William and I will go to my neighbor’s farm. When we return, we will prepare for our trip to town.”
“Yay!”
“Finish your milk, Kayla, and help clear the table.”
“Yes, Mamm.”
Abraham smiled. Julia did, as well. If only children could remain innocent longer, he thought.
He glanced back and waited as William drank the last of his milk. The boy carried his plate and glass to the sink, rinsed the dishes and placed them on the counter.
“See you soon,” Julia said as she carted another plate to the sink.
Abraham put his hand on the boy’s shoulder as they walked outside. The pain he had felt earlier eased and was replaced with a sense of well-being.
Working together, they fed and watered the livestock at the neighbor’s house. On the way back, they stopped at the phone shack. William stayed outside as Abraham checked the answering machine. The one voicemail was from a telemarketer.
After deleting the message, Abraham stepped from the shack. “Let us go home, William. You can help me harness Buttercup for our trip to town.”
The boy nodded, then he glanced again at the phone shack. “Were there any messages?”
“Are you expecting a phone call?” Abraham asked.
William shook his head and hung his head. “No, but I thought David might call since I never met up with his brother.”
“Maybe David realizes being in the gang is not a good thing.”
“Maybe. David’s mother never wanted him to get involved with anything Pablo did. She said someday they would leave the city and go to live with her sister in the country.”
“What did David think about that?”
William shrugged. “He said the country might be nice, especially if he could be outside more and if there were animals to play with. He always wanted a dog.”
“What about you, William?”
“I wanted a dog, too, but now I would tell him about Buttercup and the other horses and cows, and what I’ve learned to do.”
“You have learned much because you are a good listener.”
“That’s what Mrs. Fielding said. Kayla talks a lot, but I talk when I have something important to say.”
Abraham put his hand on the boy’s back as they walked back to the farm. “You are becoming very wise, William.”
The boy smiled and nodded as if he thought the same thing.
William seemed to have learned the importance of having a home and a mother who loved him. If only he could have felt love from his father, too. Maybe the pain of that loss would ease with time. Until then, Abraham would try to offer good advice for as long as William and his mother stayed with him.
Right now, he wished they would stay for a very long time.
FIFTEEN
The wind had picked up, and Julia held on to her kapp as the buggy headed toward town.
“Perhaps Kayla was right,” she said to Abraham. “I may need to get a second kapp in case this one blows away in the wind.”
He looked at the sky. “The strong wind brings a chill to the air. You and the children might want to cover your legs with blankets. They are behind the last seat.”
Without being told, William stretched back and retrieved two blankets. He handed one to his mother and the other to Kayla.
Julia helped her daughter arrange the covering over her legs. “William, do
you want to cover your legs?”
“I’m not cold,” he said.
Julia enjoyed the warmth of the blanket and draped part of it over Abraham’s legs.
He smiled at her and nodded. “You are very thoughtful, but I am not cold. We will be in town soon.”
“The wind is brisk, Abraham. You do not want to get sick.”
“I am more concerned about you and Kayla.” He glanced over his shoulder at her son. “William and I will be fine.”
“Yah,” the boy answered with his new attempt at using Pennsylvania Dutch. “Abraham taught me a few phrases when we were working in the barn. Es ist heute nicht so kalt.”
Julia lifted her brow. “Would someone translate?”
Abraham laughed. “William said it is not so cold today in German. Meaning we do not need the blanket.”
“What about Pennsylvania Dutch?”
Abraham nodded. “We will work on that soon.”
“Someday I will need to learn the Amish language if I want to understand my own son.”
William patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mamm. I will always tell you what I’m saying.”
She grabbed his hand and felt a swell of gratitude.
“When will we be in town?” Kayla asked.
“Soon, Kayla.”
“Do I need an Amish first name?” the child asked.
“Your name is Kayla,” Julia said. “It’s a lovely name and suits you well. We’ll stick with that one.”
“You and William will keep your names, too?” the child asked.
“Don’t talk about new names,” her brother warned. “You never know who will hear you.”
“You called Davey Davila,” she said with a huff.
“I made a mistake, okay? We move on when we make a mistake. That’s what Abraham told me. We don’t look to the past. We look to the future.”
Julia reached for Abraham’s hand and squeezed it. William had been listening. Whether their Amish protector realized it or not, her son was drawn to Abraham and wanted to do what was right in his eyes. His own father had never given him attention, and the boy hungered for male guidance. Julia could only do so much. Abraham was a good role model for William. If only they could remain with him a bit longer.
Given the opportunity to talk to Jonathan privately, she would ask if they could stay in Yoder. The children were taking to the Amish way of life, and they both liked Abraham. Neither child needed another change in their lives. Julia didn’t want to change locations, either. She liked the farm, but she liked Abraham even more. He was a good influence on her children. He was a good influence on her, as well.
* * *
Riding to town with Julia at his side and the children in the rear of the buggy made Abraham all the more aware of his feelings for Julia and her family. He glanced at her, seeing her flushed cheeks and warm smile. She took in the surrounding area with the Amish farms and neighbors, some of whom had reached out to Abraham when he first arrived. He had appreciated their welcome and willingness to help if and when he needed extra hands to harvest or bale hay or any of the other jobs a farm demanded. Regrettably, he had remained somewhat aloof and kept to himself far too much.
Julia with her sweet disposition would fit in well with the women in the area. Never once had he heard her complain about the lack of worldly items. She had cooked on the wood-burning stove, made delicious coffee and even baked biscuits that were light and fluffy and so different from the overcooked and flavorless lumps of flour he pulled from the oven.
He glanced over his shoulder at the children who seemed lost in their own thoughts. The breeze blew their hair back from their sweet faces and their contented smiles brought a warmth to Abraham’s heart that filled him with joy.
Even Julia seemed more lighthearted today, as if the struggle of the past was over and a new time of peace and happiness appeared on the horizon.
Abraham wanted to fully embrace that new dawn, but he had to be practical. The Philadores were tough adversaries, and until he knew otherwise, Abraham would keep up his guard.
“The grocery downtown has a pay phone,” he shared. “We will shop and then call Jonathan.”
Julia leaned closer. “But will he know anything about Pablo and his friend?”
“The marshals have informants. We should be able to learn what the Philadores are planning.”
“I pray they are planning to stay in Philadelphia and have abandoned any desire to find William.”
“You are in danger, too, Julia. You saw the men who broke into your apartment. Plus, you saw Pablo in Kansas City and could incriminate all of them.”
“We will trust the gang is concerned about other issues, do you not agree?”
Her smile lit up her face. “I agree. We must trust.”
If only Julia could trust him. He had not been able to protect his wife and child. He could not become complacent and make a similar mistake again.
He jiggled the reins to hurry Buttercup along and glanced at the oncoming traffic. Any car passing by could be a threat. He did not want to live his life in fear, but he needed to be cautious and on guard.
“I made a list of some of the things we’ll need at the grocery.” Julia opened the tote she had placed at her feet in the buggy and pulled out a sheet of paper. “Will the store be different than the groceries I’m used to?”
“More items are sold in bulk. Anything dry, such as flour and corn starch and spices—even powdered laundry detergent—is packaged in plastic bags.”
“So I won’t find the brands I’m used to?”
“I am sure many of the products you bought in Pennsylvania will be available for purchase. After all, the grocery serves the Englisch community in addition to the Amish. Although the selection may be more limited.”
“What about the meat?”
“The meat market has a butcher. He makes sausage and provides other selections typical to the Amish.” He chuckled. “Do you like pig’s feet?”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me it’s a Pennsylvania Dutch delicacy.”
“Some like it. My mother served it with homemade noodles over mashed potatoes and gravy.”
“Noodles and potatoes are eaten together?”
He laughed at the surprised look on her face. “A lot of carbohydrates, but so good. Sarah can teach you to make the noodles.”
“She’s already done so much. I need an Amish cookbook.”
“Perhaps we can find this at the store, as well.”
“Is there something I could give Sarah as a thank-you for keeping Kayla?”
“She does not expect a gift for being a good neighbor.”
“Still...” Julia thought for a moment. “I want her to know how grateful I am.”
“Before you and the children arrived, Sarah had asked me to help her at the upcoming flea market in Yoder. I planned to sell some of my neighbor’s furniture for him if he does not return home before then. Sarah will have a table nearby and sell her quilts and other handmade items.”
“We could help her that day.”
“First we will see what Jonathan has to say. If the Philadores have eased their search for William, we can attend the flea market. Otherwise, we will stay home and out of sight until all of this is over.”
“Will that time ever come, Abraham?”
“I pray it will be over soon.”
If the Philadores ended their search for William, the marshals might move the family to a less isolated area and back into the Englisch world.
Saying goodbye to the children would be hard. Saying goodbye to Julia would be even more difficult.
SIXTEEN
Julia enjoyed visiting the grocery and felt like a child in a toy store at Christmas. As Abraham had mentioned, many of the products she used in Pennsylvania were available for purchase. She placed a number of items in her ca
rt, including canned cherries for the pie she would bake sometime soon.
The dry items, sold in bulk, intrigued her. Powdered chicken stock for soups, flour and sugar, corn starch and a myriad of spices, including pickling spices that she had never used. Just as Abraham had mentioned, they were packaged in clear cellophane bags with a store label.
“I’ll need to ask Sarah about canning,” she said to Abraham as she browsed the shelves.
“There is time,” he assured her. “First we must plant the fields and grow the crops before harvest.”
“I have a feeling I’ll be busy throughout the summer.”
If Jonathan would allow them to stay with Abraham that long. She would talk to him today about her preferences.
The children had noticed the small lunch area at the front of the store when they entered. Kayla kept mentioning that ice cream was sold by the cone—and candy by the pound.
“We’ll shop first,” Julia said.
They passed another Amish family and Kayla, always the extrovert, waved at the little girl and smiled at the mother.
“We like this store,” Kayla announced to the woman.
“You are new to Yoder?” the Amish shopper asked, eying both of them.
Julia groaned inwardly. She should have instructed Kayla not to initiate conversations, especially with adults. The Amish embraced the adage that children should be seen and not heard.
If only Abraham had been nearby to offer a response, but he and William were in the hardware section, examining nuts and bolts and screws. When had her son started appreciating anything to do with carpentry? Probably since he started hanging around their Amish host.
“We have not lived in Yoder long,” Kayla responded while Julia debated whether to nod and hurry on to the next aisle or offer some type of noncommittal reply.
“My daughter never met a stranger,” Julia finally said with a stilted laugh. If only the woman would continue shopping without additional comments.
“I have not seen you in town. You are living in the surrounding area?”
“In Mr. Abraham’s daddy’s house,” Kayla explained before Julia could grab her hand and tug her to the far side of the shopping buggy.
