[2016] The Precious Amish Baby

by Faith Crawford

  She giggled when she thought that. She’d seen a drawing of a sloth in a textbook when she’d been going to school and it made her giggle even harder. As she gathered beans in the basket she was carrying, she noticed the carrots were ready to reap and there was one small watermelon, too. She was very surprised by that and wondered when Gregory had sown seeds for watermelons.

  She went to it and pulled it up from the ground, examining it. It was definitely ripe and ready, though it was fairly small.

  “Where’d you come from?” She asked in a very soft voice. She looked up at the sky. “Thanks.” She grinned and placed the small melon into her basket, pushing aside some of the beans to make room for it.

  Chapter Two

  Late that night, the stars were out, sparkling and twinkling from a smooth, clear black sky and Rebekah was standing on the porch, her arms folded over her chest.

  Gregory had not come back.

  She was picturing in her mind all the things that could have happened to him. What should she do? Should she go searching for him? Certainly not this late at night. She wouldn’t want to venture into town by herself. The saloons were probably full of brawling, angry drunks.

  Then again, it could be quiet and peaceful in town tonight. She wouldn’t know.

  Rebekah weighed the importance of going to look for him. She didn’t care that he hadn’t come back for dinner. He could be out all night and she really wouldn’t care. It gave her an opportunity to decide whether she wanted to continue on with him or just get out once and for all.

  She went back in the house and made a cup of hot tea. She would sit on the porch and enjoy the evening alone for a while. If he didn’t return that night, she would go to bed and get some restful sleep. If he didn’t come back the next day, she would decide what she thought was the best course of action. She didn’t want to start all over again on her own. But she didn’t necessarily want to return to her Amish community and be shunned and shamed, either.

  She sat on the porch, wondering if God would protect her and help her. Rebekah wasn’t exactly living the way she had been raised to live. She had walked away from that.

  She sat in the rocking chair and pushed it with the tips of her toes so that she was rocking back and forth lightly. It was comfortable. The air felt clean and fresh. She took off her bonnet and swung her head so that her dark blond hair fell over her shoulders. She pulled off her boots and her socks and wiggled her toes.

  As the night wore on, she thought about her childhood and wondered how she had come to be in the situation she was in. The more she thought about it, the more she didn’t understand why she had stayed with Gregory, why she craved being around him when he was so cruel to her half the time. She wondered if that was what love was like. She hadn’t seen that type of behavior from her father to her mother. In fact, though they had really not shown a lot of affection for each other, he had always spoken kindly to her. Mother had always been smiling and happy. She never looked upset and Rebekah couldn’t remember seeing her cry or argue with her father.

  “I want to be like that.” She murmured to no one. “I want to be happy, too.”

  That wouldn’t happen if she stayed with Gregory. She knew it would always be more of the same, that things weren’t likely to change.

  What was left of her hot tea had grown cold. Rebekah stood up to go inside. “Rebekah Ann King,” she said to herself. “It’s time to make some changes.”

  ***

  For the next two days, Rebekah didn’t see Gregory. He just didn’t return. He didn’t even come back for the clothes he had left behind. She wondered where he was and what he was doing, how he was clothing himself and if he was even worried about her. She was doing all right, the meat in the icebox would last for another week and there were still vegetables growing in the garden, though beans, potatoes, corn and carrots were going to become tiresome if they were all she ate every night. She would have to go into town and see if she could get something to supplement her meals. There were plenty of ways she could fix them but she would need flour for biscuits, butter, sugar and some spices, like salt. She was pleased that she had started a herb garden. It was a good way to add flavor to meals. Gregory had always enjoyed the rosemary, basil and other herbs she added to her chicken dinners and roasts.

  On the third day, she packed up all of his clothes and put them in the old trunks he kept stored under the bed. Although it looked like it was going to rain later, she put them in the front yard. When she set them down, she looked up at the cloudy sky and smiled. “Do your worst,” she whispered.

  She turned and went back inside.

  It was nearly noon. She pulled on her boots and prepared to walk to town. She wanted a newspaper and to go by the diner to see if they needed a cook or a serving girl. She had made up her mind that going to the Amish community she had come from was probably not a good idea so she thought no more about it. She couldn’t handle being shunned by those who had once loved and accepted her. It didn’t matter if it was for a month or a year, it would be too long.

  Rebekah was using Gregory’s big rain slicker and walked out on the porch with her red and black umbrella. She opened it and was pleased to step down onto the muddy path in front of her. The squishing of her boots in the mud made her feel like a young girl again. She resisted the urge to splash, knowing that it would make her boots dirty, but smiled at the thought.

  It would take about 45 minutes to walk to town. She hadn’t been there in almost a month because Gregory would never take her and she didn’t like to take the risk of meeting people from her Amish community. She had always thought it better to avoid confrontation than go looking for it. She could probably hold her own in a debate but really didn’t want to be forced to get into one.

  The rain soaked her overcoat at the bottom but she was happy it didn’t appear to be getting muddy. The sky was so overcast she couldn’t see the sun anywhere. Rainy days made her feel sad and as if she wanted to sleep all day.

  But Rebekah wasn’t about to do that today. She kept walking, knowing she would reach her destination and could get a drink in a restaurant once she got there. She was relieved when she saw the outer buildings, though. She wanted to go in somewhere and sit down for a moment.

  She hurried to the nearest restaurant, a small building next to the hotel, and stepped up on the wooden porch.

  There were only four tables in the tiny restaurant. She went to the counter and waited until the clerk saw her. He was a young man she had never seen before. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

  “How can I help you, Miss?”

  “I’d like a glass of Coca-Cola, please.”

  “Sure.” He made her a glass right away and set it on the counter. “Are you new in town?” he asked, after collecting her coin.

  “No, I just don’t come in often. Are you?”

  “Yes, I’ve been here about two months now. My parents brought me here from New York. The name’s Joel. Joel Singleton.”

  “I am Rebekah King. Do you like it here?”

  “So far. The people are really nice.”

  “I’m glad.” She gave him another smile. “Do you have a newspaper?”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t have one, no.” He shook his head, leaning on the counter. “Are you looking for a job or a place to stay?”

  “I have a place to stay for now but yes, I need a job.”

  He gave her a half-frown. “I’m afraid you might have a hard time with that. I was lucky to get this one. There doesn’t seem to be anyone hiring for anything. Unless you got skills. You got skills?”

  She laughed. “I don’t know. What skills would I need that would get me a job?”

  “I mean, if you are a nurse or a seamstress, you might be able to find work. But for jobs that you learn, like this one, there aren’t any right now. You could be an apprentice but that don’t pay.”

  She nodded, looking thoughtful. “You’re right. They don’t.”

  “So you don’t have skills, then.
”

  Rebekah shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not. I can cook and sew but not to any special level.”

  Joel’s eyes moved to the side and then he looked back at her. “Have you tried asking at the church? Maybe they can suggest something for you.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “That’s a very good idea, Danki, I mean, thank you!”

  He nodded. “My pleasure, miss. You can sit at any of the tables. I don’t expect anybody to come in for at least an hour. Wish I had a paper for you. But at least you’ll be dry from the rain.”

  “That’s true. It’s okay about the paper, thank you anyway.” She moved to one of the tables and sat down, glad to get off her feet. Her boots were a little tight, as she hadn’t been able to get a new pair for almost a year and they were worn. She was blessed they didn’t have holes in the bottom and were still keeping her feet dry.

  She sat there until an older couple came in, people she did recognize. She was surprised when they saw her and then looked away abruptly with reproachful looks. They glanced at each other and avoided her as they ordered and sat in a table that was not near her.

  Her chest tightened with anxiety. Why would they treat her in such a stand-offish way? She was not dressed in her Amish garb and had gotten used to people seeing her and at least smiling, like the young clerk had done. She noticed the man had a newspaper folded up under his arm but when they wouldn’t look at her, she flushed and didn’t ask if she could see it. She finished her Coca-Cola and took the glass to the counter.

  “Thank you.” She whispered breathlessly, fearing she was going to cry.

  Joel noticed her anxiety and leaned over the counter, picking up the glass. “You’re welcome, Miss.” He leaned in closer and murmured, “Don’t be down, lady. Go to the church and talk to Pastor Aaron. He will help you.”

  Rebekah nodded and turned away quickly before he could see that her tears were about to fall. She hurried out the door, grabbing her umbrella from where she had left it beside the front window. She didn’t need to open it, as the sun was peeking through the clouds, trying to bring warmth and light to the dreary day. She looked up at it and whispered a prayer in her mind, asking for strength.

  The church was just down the main street. There were smaller congregational churches in little buildings along the way but she wanted to go to the biggest one. She knew it was where Pastor Aaron was. She had gone there twice after leaving her community because she missed the support and encouragement she received from other Christians. It was not a high priority on Gregory’s list so he never went. In fact, she didn’t think it was even on his priority list. She was beginning to wonder what she had seen in him in the first place. Several times, she had thought to herself that it wasn’t a good relationship and wasn’t what God wanted. But then she would fool herself into thinking she could change him, she could show him the proper way to behave if she was just good enough to him.

  She was wrong, though.

  Nothing was going to make Gregory change.

  Nothing.

  Chapter Three

  The church was empty when Rebekah stepped in. The rows of pews in front of her were broken in the middle by an aisle. She walked down it, looking up and around her at the majestic interior. It was obvious someone with a great deal of money had placed this church in the town. The windows were stained glass tributes to Jesus, the Holy Mother and beautiful animals, like the Lion and the Lamb. One was a rendition of Noah’s Ark. Another showed the walls of Jericho with soldiers surrounding it blowing trumpets. Still another had a choir of angels singing.

  The floor was covered in a soft carpeting that matched the fabric on the cushioned pews. There was no one in the sanctuary but Rebekah knew that Pastor Aaron had a small office at the back of the church. She hoped he was in there. She turned to the left and went around the pews to walk along the side wall. She wanted to be closer to the beautiful stained glass windows so she could examine them better. In between Noah’s Ark and the singing angels, there was a bulletin board. She stopped to read the notes that were attached. There was a total of six small pieces of paper attached with little push pins.

  Most of them were requests for prayers and event notifications. But one of them was not. She focused in on it and tilted her head in interest. It was a request for a woman to join a man on the western border of the state. He was a semi-successful goldminer turned ranch hand named Andrew Cunningham. He was working for and living on the land of a successful doctor in the larger city.

  She contemplated it for a moment in silence, not realizing Pastor Aaron was approaching from behind her.

  “Hello,” he said, making her jump. She turned and looked at him. He laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  She smiled back, grateful to see he was not going to shun her or ignore her like the people in the little restaurant. “It’s all right. How are you, Pastor Aaron?”

  “I’m doing well today. How are you?”

  She reached out to shake his hand. “I’m all right. My name is Rebekah King. I don’t know if you remember me. I have only been in here a few times and it’s been a while.”

  He nodded. “Actually, I do remember you. Weren’t you part of the Amish community at one time, the Dunspring community near here?”

  She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yes, I was! I am surprised you remember me!”

  “Well, I remember that you had several brothers and sisters and you all went for ice cream on the warm days. The parlor is near here.”

  His memory of her made her feel warm inside and she sighed slowly. “Yes, I remember that. I have not been back to my community for some time now.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t think so. I’ve seen you coming in town with Gregory, though. And I know you came here once or twice before for services, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I did. You have a very good memory, Pastor.”

  He smiled. “One of those little blessings. Are you looking for something? Would you like to talk?”

  She nodded, turning back to look at the note on the board. She reached up and pulled out the pin, taking the note down. “Yes. Gregory has left and I am all alone in that little house. I don’t want to stay there by myself. I can’t, really. I will not have money to reseed the garden or make any repairs or pay for anything that I need. I do not think I can do it on my own. I was looking at this. What is your advice?” She handed him the note and he read it over quickly.

  “I remember posting this. I was wondering if any of the young ladies in town would be interested in such a prospect. It sounds like it might be a good venture for you. And a good adventure, too.” He smiled. “You have not considered rejoining your Amish family?”

  “Nee. I mean, no,” Rebekah shook her head. “I…I know that I will be shunned by many there, if not all. I…don’t want that to happen. I feel it is perhaps not my best option.”

  He nodded. “I understand. It is not a lifestyle that all can adhere to.”

  “Yes.”

  “You know I did see Gregory a few days ago. How long has he been gone?”

  “This will be the third day. I do not want to wait any longer for him to return. I am hoping that he does not return. But if he does, I think it would be best if I were not there. I had initially thought to see if there was work I could do in town but it does not appear that I have the skills to perform any type of work that might be available. The young man in the restaurant, Joel, said that having the job he had was a blessing because there just didn’t seem to be anything going on.”

  The Pastor nodded. “The jobs are scarce here, I’m afraid.” He handed the note back to her. “Perhaps this would be a good idea for you. Gregory is not well-liked here and you coming to town with him probably made people think you were like him. An ornery soul, he is. God did not bless him with a calm demeanor. He often causes chaos at the saloon.”

  Rebekah bit her lip. “Yes. I know how he is.”

  “Would you like some help with this? I would be happy to
send a telegram to Mr. Cunningham on your behalf. Perhaps we could use my wagon to take you home? You can gather your things and stay in one of the back rooms of the church until you hear back from him. I will be glad to share food with you if you have no money. And you will be safe from Gregory, should he return unannounced.”

  Rebekah felt relief flood through her. “Oh Pastor, that would be most helpful! Thank you!”

  “It is my pleasure to help, my dear. We are all God’s children and we must help each other through this world. Otherwise, we would all be lost.”

  “Thank you. Thank you.” Rebekah kept the paper tucked in her grip while they walked to the Pastor’s office.

  ***

  It only took three days to make the change. Rebekah could hardly believe it. Pastor Aaron’s telegram was answered the following day and he had offered to take her in his wagon to the ranch where Andrew worked and was waiting for her. He brought along his two nephews, who were 15 and 16, large farm boys named Frank and Fred, who had lots of experience lifting heavy objects. There weren’t many heavy objects to lift but Rebekah did manage to fill up three separate large trunks and one smaller chest with items she wanted to take with her.

  She’d even managed to fold her smaller trinkets inside her clothes to keep them from breaking. Taking the trinkets would remind her of her Amish home and the life she had left behind. She didn’t care whether she remembered her time with Gregory. But she didn’t want to forget her mother, father, brothers and sisters.

  She was soon rolling down the dirt road toward her new home, sitting next to the Pastor, his nephews in the back of the wagon. They had chosen to ride along, anxious to travel a little bit and see the scenery. Pastor Aaron told them it wouldn’t be very different, as they weren’t traveling to the other side of the continent, but they didn’t care. They just wanted to get out of the small town they lived in for a little while.

  The Pastor kept up a steady stream of conversation the entire ride, entertaining her and his nephews with funny jokes, anecdotes and even singing for part of the journey in a humorous way. She had a smile on her face the whole time. It felt good to leave behind the heartache, the stress and the pain she had been suffering for so long without even realizing it.