A Cousin's Prayer

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Katie shook herself mentally. Why am I thinking about Freeman or comparing him to Timothy? I’m not interested in a relationship with Freeman, and I’m sure he wouldn’t be interested in anyone like me.

  Determined to think about something else, Katie hurriedly fed the horses. When that was done, she tended to the dog and cats, then went to the coop to take care of the chickens. She stepped out of the chicken coop just in time to see a horse and buggy rumble up the driveway. It was too late to make a run for the house, so she waited near the barn to see who it was. When the horse came to a stop, Loraine stepped down from the buggy.

  “I’m surprised to see you this morning. I figured you and Wayne would be visiting a neighboring church district today,” Katie said when Loraine joined her by the barn.

  “Wayne woke up with a buckleweh, so when he decided that we should stay home today so he could rest, I figured it’d be a good time for me to check on you.”

  “I’m sorry to hear Wayne has a backache. Will he see the chiropractor tomorrow?”

  “If he’s not feeling better, probably so.” Loraine motioned to the stamp shop. “I came by to see you yesterday, but the stamp shop was closed, and when I went up to the house, you didn’t answer my knock.”

  Katie’s mouth went dry. She didn’t feel right about lying to her cousin, but she didn’t want to admit the truth, either.

  “Where’d you go, Katie? Did you have errands to run?”

  “Uh, no, I didn’t go anywhere yesterday.”

  A deep wrinkle formed above the bridge of Loraine’s nose. “Were you sleeping when I knocked?”

  Katie shrugged. “I ... uh ... may have been.”

  “Were you feeling grank or just tired?”

  “I was tired. Didn’t sleep well the night before.”

  “Would you like to come over to our place and stay until your folks get home?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m doing fine here on my own.” Katie glanced toward the stamp shop. “Besides, I’ll need to be here tomorrow morning, in case anyone comes to the shop.” She knew she wouldn’t be opening the stamp shop tomorrow morning, but she wasn’t about to tell Loraine that.

  “You can stay at our place tonight and then come back here in the morning.”

  Katie nibbled on the inside of her cheek. She needed to come up with a better reason than the one she’d offered. “You have enough people at your house right now,” she said. “You don’t need one more.”

  “Ada and Crist moved into a rental yesterday.” Loraine smiled. “So it’s just me and Wayne now, and we’ve got plenty of room.”

  “I’m sure you’d like some time alone with your husband since you’ve only been married a few months and haven’t had much time to be by yourselves.”

  “We really wouldn’t mind the company.”

  “I’d better stay here.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  Katie nodded, glancing nervously toward the house. She hoped the baby wasn’t crying.

  Loraine touched Katie’s arm. “Am I keeping you from something?”

  “I ... uh ... was just getting ready to head inside and fix myself some breakfast.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll go in with you. We can visit while you eat.”

  A sense of urgency settled over Katie. She couldn’t let Loraine come inside with her. She’d find out about the baby. “I’m not good company right now.” Katie massaged her forehead. “I’ve got a koppweh, and I need to be alone.”

  “If you have a headache, I’d be happy to fix you something to eat, and you can lie down and rest while I’m making it.”

  “No, really, I’ll be fine.”

  Loraine hesitated a moment then finally nodded. “Guess I’ll be on my way home then.” She gave Katie a hug. “If you need anything while your folks are gone, be sure to call and leave us a message.”

  “I will, danki.”

  Loraine climbed into her buggy, and Katie hurried to the house.

  ***

  “How’s your back?” Loraine asked Wayne when she stepped onto the porch where he sat drinking a glass of orange juice.

  “Doin’ a little better than when I first woke up.”

  “That’s good to hear. Do you think you’ll need to see the chiropractor tomorrow morning?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe so. I’ll just have to wait and see how it goes. How are things with Katie?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Loraine lowered herself into the chair beside him. “She turned down my offer to stay with us until her folks get home.”

  “How come?”

  “She said she was getting along fine on her own and that she didn’t want to impose.” Loraine frowned. “I think she was using it as an excuse. I think something else is going on.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Katie acted nervous and kept glancing at the house as though she was eager to get inside.”

  “Didn’t she invite you in?”

  “Huh-uh. She said she had a headache, and when I volunteered to fix her some breakfast, she said she wanted to be alone. I got the feeling that she really wanted me to go.”

  “Well, now that my folks have moved out, I’m enjoying the time we have to ourselves, so to tell you the truth, I’m not too upset that Katie turned down your offer.”

  Loraine glanced down at her stomach, which was still quite flat, and nodded. “I think that we’d better enjoy our alone time now, because once the boppli comes, things will definitely change for us.”

  He grinned. “Are you hoping for a buwe or a maedel?”

  “I don’t care whether it’s a boy or a girl. I just want our boppli to be healthy.”

  Wayne reached for Loraine’s hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Same goes for me.”

  ***

  Freeman thumped the arm of his chair as he stared at the Scrabble pieces lying before him. It would be hard to make a word when he had no vowels, and he couldn’t use the ones already on the board because of how they’d been placed.

  “Gebscht uff?” Fern asked, reaching down to pet Penny, who’d crawled under the card table they’d set up on the back porch.

  “Jah, I give up. You beat me real good this time.”

  “You seemed like you didn’t really have your mind on the game. If you’d just concentrated harder you might have won.”

  “I doubt that.” Freeman stood up and started down the stairs. “Where are you going?” Fern asked. “Don’t you want to play another game?”

  “Not right now. Think I’ll go over to the Millers’ and check on Katie.”

  “But you were just over there last night.”

  “I know that, but I want to see how she’s doing today.”

  “I doubt she’s even at home.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “She probably went to church at a neighboring district, or she could have gone to spend the day with one of her cousins.”

  “Maybe so, but I’m still going over to check on her.” There was no way Freeman could tell Fern that he knew Katie would be home today because she was taking care of the baby she’d found. If he told her that, he’d be breaking his promise to Katie to keep quiet about the baby, and Fern would insist that he notify the sheriff. She’d always been the kind of person who wanted to do everything just the right way, and Freeman was sure she wouldn’t understand why he hadn’t told her about the baby.

  Fern stared at Freeman with a strange expression. “Are you starting a relationship with Katie? Is that the reason you’re going over there again so soon?”

  Freeman shook his head forcefully. “I’m not starting anything with Katie. I only want to be her friend.”

  She lifted her brows with a disbelieving look. “Are you sure about that? The look I saw on your face when you got home from Katie’s last night made me think you might be falling for her.”

  “I’m not falling for her, and I don’t have a
look.”

  Fern frowned. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak to me in that tone of voice. I’m older than you, and I think you should show me a little respect.”

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, “but you shouldn’t worry about what I do. I’m a grown man, not a little buwe you can boss around.”

  “I’m not trying to boss you, but I can’t help but worry when I see you hanging around someone who’s bound to break your heart.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Everyone with eyes and ears knows that Katie has some kind of emotional problems. She hasn’t been acting right since she came back from Florida.”

  “So Katie has a few problems. As you well know, I had some problems of my own a few years back, but I came through them okay.”

  “That was different. You got help for your problems.”

  “Katie’s getting help, too.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I’m trying to help her.”

  “How?”

  “Just listening and letting her talk things through.”

  “What about Eunice?”

  “What about her?”

  “I thought you liked Eunice. When you came home after eating supper at her place the other night, you said you enjoyed being with her and might ask her out sometime soon.”

  “I do like Eunice, and I might ask her out, but that’s got nothing to do with me helping Katie.”

  Deep wrinkles formed across Fern’s forehead. “How do you think Eunice would feel if she knew you were going over to see Katie so often?”

  “I’m sure she wouldn’t have a problem with it. Besides, I’ve made no commitment to Eunice, so it doesn’t matter what she thinks.” Freeman tromped down the steps and sprinted for the buggy shed, glad to be away from Fern and all of her questions.

  Woof! Woof! Woof! Penny raced after him, nipping at his heels.

  Freeman halted, scooped the pup into his arms, and headed to the dog run. “Why do you have to hang around me all the time?” he mumbled. “You’re supposed to be Fern’s dog, not mine!”

  Slurp! Slurp! Penny swiped her pink tongue across Freeman’s chin.

  “Yuk!” Freeman put the dog inside the run and shut the gate. “Starting tomorrow, I’m gonna start teaching you some manners!”

  CHAPTER 23

  Since there wasn’t much traffic on the road, Freeman gave his horse the freedom to trot. It was a nice day to be out for a ride, and if he wasn’t in such a hurry to get to Katie’s house, he’d have taken it slower, like the open buggy up ahead was doing.

  Impatient to pass, Freeman pulled his horse into the opposite lane. When he came alongside of the other rig, he realized that it belonged to Eunice.

  “Seems like we’ve done this before,” she hollered, motioning for him to pull over.

  Freeman pulled his buggy in behind hers and brought the horse to a stop. Then he climbed down and tied the horse to a nearby tree. Some well-trained, docile horses might stay put, but not his.

  “Where are you headed?” Eunice asked when he came around to the driver’s side of her open buggy.

  “I’m goin’ over to Jeremy Miller’s place.”

  “How come you’re going there?”

  “Katie’s folks are gone, and I thought I ought to check and see how she’s doing.”

  A look of disappointment flashed across Eunice’s face, but she quickly replaced it with a hopeful smile. “Mind if I go along?”

  “Huh?”

  “I can follow you there, and after we’ve checked on Katie, we can go over to my house for a piece of pie. I made two coconut cream pies the other day, and I think you ought to try a piece.”

  Freeman sucked in a deep breath. He knew he’d better think of a good excuse, and real quick. He couldn’t have Eunice going over to Katie’s with him. The last thing Katie needed was Eunice finding out about the baby she’d found. “I ... uh ... shouldn’t be at Katie’s too long.” He rubbed his chin as he mulled things over. “Tell you what—after I leave Katie’s place, I’ll come over to your house for a piece of pie. How’s that sound?”

  “Is that a promise?”

  “Sure. See you soon.” Freeman untied his horse and climbed back in his buggy.

  Eunice looked over her shoulder and waved; then she snapped the reins and went on her way.

  ***

  As the day wore on, it had become hot and stuffy in the house. Katie was tempted to take the baby outside until the sun went down and it had cooled off some, but that might be too risky. Loraine had showed up unannounced, and someone else might come by.

  A horse whinnied, and Arnold, their hound dog, let out a howl. Katie hurried to the kitchen window and glanced outside. She was relieved to see Freeman climbing down from his open buggy.

  She opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “Hoscht du schunn gesse?” she asked as he came up the steps.

  He nodded. “Jah, I ate lunch a short time ago, but if you haven’t eaten yet, don’t let me stop you. I just came by to see how you’re doing.”

  “I’m doing okay.” Katie opened the door wider. “Why don’t you come inside? You can keep me company while I feed Susan and fix myself a sandwich.”

  “Guess I will.” Freeman entered the house and followed Katie to the kitchen. “How’s the boppli doing today?” he asked.

  “Just fine. She’s eating well and doesn’t cry much at all.”

  “Have you thought any more about notifying the sheriff?”

  Katie shifted uneasily as she struggled to put her thoughts into words. “I know I’ll have to eventually, but I want a few more days with the boppli. I promise I’ll do it before my folks get home, though.”

  “When will that be?”

  “Friday. At least that’s what they said when they called to let me know they’d gotten there okay.”

  “Should I come by on Thursday and take you to the sheriff’s?”

  Katie nodded and sank into a chair at the table. She hated the thought of giving up the baby, but she’d definitely have to do it before Mom and Dad came home. In the meantime, though, she planned to enjoy every minute she had to care for little Susan.

  ***

  Eunice paced from the porch swing to the steps and back again, stopping every once in a while to scan the road out front. The air was so hot and humid she could smell the musty odor coming from the garden. She’d spent most of the afternoon waiting for Freeman and was worried that he’d changed his mind and wouldn’t come at all.

  The screen door squeaked, and Eunice’s mother stepped out. “I set some lunch meat and cheese on the table,” she said. “Why don’t you come in and fix yourself a sandwich?”

  Eunice shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

  Mama stepped up to Eunice and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Pacing the porch and watching the road won’t bring Freeman here any quicker.”

  “I know that.” Eunice sighed. “When I met up with him earlier, he acted kind of strange.”

  “In what way?”

  “Like he might be keeping something from me.” Eunice glanced at the road again. “I wonder if he knows that Katie’s pregnant and is keeping her secret.”

  “Now, Eunice, you don’t know for sure that she’s pregnant.”

  “Why else would she be feeling sick to her stomach and passing out in church like she did?”

  “I don’t know. It does seem rather odd.” Mama’s lips compressed. “If Katie is pregnant, do you think Freeman might be the father?”

  Eunice gasped. “There’s no way, Mama! Freeman’s not the kind of man who would—” She sank to the porch swing with a moan. “Ach, Mama, if Freeman is the father of Katie’s baby, what am I going to do?”

  “Do about what?” Eunice’s little brother asked, poking his head out the screen door.

  “Never mind!” Eunice shook her finger at Richard. “You’re too nosy for your own good, and you shouldn’t be listening in on other’s people’s conversations.”
>
  “I was just gettin’ ready to ask Mama where the mustard is, and I heard you say that you didn’t know what you was gonna do.” He tipped his head and looked at her with a curious expression. “Do about what, Eunice?”

  “It was nothing important.” Eunice flapped her hand at him. “Now go get the mustard.”

  “I just told ya—I don’t know where it is.”

  “It’s in the pantry,” Mama said.

  “I looked there already.” Richard wrinkled his nose. “I think someone must’ve hid it.”

  Eunice rolled her eyes. “Don’t be lecherich! No one hid the mustard!”

  “Your sister’s right,” Mama said. “It’s ridiculous to think that anyone would hide the mustard.”

  “Did you look in the refrigerator?” Eunice asked.

  He bobbed his head. “It ain’t there.”

  “Isn’t,” Eunice corrected. “Haven’t you learned anything in school?”

  “I’ve learned plenty!” Richard darted into the house and returned a few minutes later with a jar of mustard. “Found it!” He marched up to Eunice, opened the jar, and stuck it under her nose. “Want some?”

  “No, I don’t want any mustard!” Eunice’s jaw clenched as she pointed to the door. “Now go fix your sandwich and quit bothering me!”

  “Aw, you’re no fun!” Richard snickered, passed the mustard under Eunice’s nose one more time, and scurried into the house.

  Mama sighed. “Is it any wonder that my hair’s turning so gray? That buwe can be such a challenge sometimes.”

  Eunice grimaced. Poor Mama. Just when she’d thought she was done having children, Richard had come along. He could be a little pill at times, but Eunice knew her folks loved him just the same.

  Eunice glanced anxiously toward the road. “If Freeman doesn’t stop by like he promised, then I think I’ll just go over to his shop tomorrow and find out what happened.”