A Simple Spring: A Seasons of Lancaster Novel

by Rosalind Lauer

  “After five days of rain, it’s good to know there’s still a sun to shine down on us,” Nate said with a wry smile.

  “But it got a little warm in the barn during the services.” Jacob’s brown eyes were magnified by his glasses. “I noticed that young Simon was dozing off in there. Everything okay? Is the boy sick?”

  “A boy needs his sleep, and we know our Simon has his problems with that,” Uncle Nate said. “Is he having the bad dreams again? I remember when he was sleepwalking through the night. That was a terrible thing.”

  “Night terrors,” Jacob said, wanting to set them straight. “That’s what Dr. Trueherz says they’re called. But the doc thinks they were caused by trauma.”

  And Simon had been through more than his share of pain. The only witness to their parents’ murders, Simon had suffered deeply during those dark days. Many nights the boy had paced the halls with a crazy look in his eyes and panic in his heart.

  But not anymore. Many things had been resolved when the police had arrested the man who killed Levi and Esther King. And when the puzzle pieces had fallen into place, Simon settled into an easier peace.

  “I don’t think Simon has had a nightmare for a long time,” Jonah said, glancing over at the paddock where Simon was tossing a football with other boys his age. “And the night terrors ended in the winter.”

  “Good! That’s good to hear.” Jacob nodded, his head bobbing on his broad shoulders.

  “No more sleepwalking?” Uncle Nate asked.

  “No more. I think he’s just tired today,” Jonah said. “Probably because he’s been staying late in the stable with his horse.”

  Simon had become close with his horse, Shadow, whom he’d been working with all summer. Since school had started, Simon had been worried that he’d have to cut back Shadow’s training. “She’s a good horse,” Simon told Jonah nearly every day in the stables. “A hard worker. It won’t be long before she’ll be able to pull the plow with the rest of the team.” ’

  Shadow had come to them as a squeamish loner of a horse, but Dat had seen something in her, and Simon had refused to give up. Now, with Simon’s training, Jonah had no doubt that Shadow would become one of the most valuable horses on the farm.

  “I’m counting on you to make sure Simon gets the sleep he needs,” Nate told Jonah. Their uncle did his best to look out for the family, Jonah knew that, but he felt himself bristling over the warning. Simon was a good boy.

  And Jonah didn’t notice anyone asking about why Eli Zook was pinching his brother during the service.

  Jacob Yoder turned the talk to Ira and Rose Lapp, members of their church who had attended the service today after being shunned for nearly two months.

  “Is the ban over?” Nate asked, touching his beard lightly.

  “They were allowed to attend church today,” Jacob explained, “but the bishop said they still can’t sit at the same table as members come mealtime. Still shunned, until the bishop says otherwise.”

  Jonah let his eyes skim over the tables near the kitchen door, where the ministers and older members were sitting down to the first shift of lunch. A small table, barely bigger than a sewing table, had been set off to the side near the rose trellis. Not the most desirable spot, with fat bumblebees buzzing over the late blooms. Old Ira Lapp sat there with his wife, Rose. The couple had their heads bowed. In silent thanks for the meal, or bidding the Lord to bring them back into the community?

  How miserable it would feel to be shunned. Even as he vowed never to be in such a position of shame, Jonah felt a pang of sympathy for the older couple.

  “What was the real story about that car?” Uncle Nate asked.

  “It’s a Jeep, actually,” Jonah offered. “Sitting on the side of the road with a ‘for sale’ sign in the window now. I pass it every time I take the covered bridge into Paradise.” He stopped himself, not wanting to be one of the gossips, even if he had heard murmurings of Ira’s story.

  “Ira got in a pickle over the automobile. His son Daniel left it behind when he went off during his rumspringa, and Ira just let the car sit behind the barn. Bishop Samuel warned him many times to put it up, but Ira did nothing.” Jacob shrugged. “What else could the bishop do but bring on the ban?”

  “Mmm.” Uncle Nate’s lips curled to one side. “There’s probably more to that story.”

  “Cars have tempted many a good man,” Nate said. “Didn’t you and your brother drive a Ford back in your rumspringa?” he asked, squinting at Jacob.

  Jacob’s cheeks flushed red above his beard, but he smiled. “That was a very good car. When you pressed the gas, it could really gallop. Remember that, Nate? Faster than any horse I ever knew.”

  “Fast, but you can’t feed a car hay and oats.”

  The two older men chuckled.

  “Those days are far behind us now,” Jacob said with a sigh.

  Nate nodded. “Ah, but sometimes it seems like yesterday.”

  Seeing the smile on his uncle’s face, Jonah wondered if his own father had ever learned to drive a car. Dat had never spoken of it, but Jonah knew it was something most young men tried.

  Even Jonah. He was embarrassed to admit it now, but he had driven the very Jeep that had gotten Ira in trouble. Ira’s son Daniel had been a friend, and he’d taught Jonah everything about the vehicle. How many times had they climbed dusty hills and plunged through the low part of the river in that Jeep? He had very clear memories of gripping the plastic stick shift. The pattern of the gears was like a road map in his mind. He’d been a good driver, but he’d known that driving wasn’t going to be a part of his life. Jonah had always known that he would never stray from the path of the Amish.

  “But time marches on,” Jacob said wistfully. “Now we have our own boys in rumspringa. Hard to believe. And you and Betsy have an Englisher girl living with you.” He tipped his hat back, squinting at Nate.

  “We do. But Remy’s living Plain now. She’s been going to the classes. Going to get baptized.”

  “Is she learning the language?”

  “She’s getting better at it,” Nate said.

  “The little ones love to teach her words.” Remy’s arrival had overturned the applecart for his family, but Jonah had to admit, she was trying to fit in.

  Jacob pushed his glasses up on his nose. “She seems like a nice girl, but do you think she’ll really stay? Some Englishers like to dabble with Amish life, but they never stick with it.”

  “I think Remy is a special one.” Nate’s brown eyes scanned the gathering on the lawn.

  Jonah followed his uncle’s gaze to the girl in the purple dress, her bright copper hair framing the edge of her kapp. She was helping the women serve the meal. For an Englisher, she was a hard worker.

  “All I know is that Remy is quick to pitch in, and Betsy likes her sunny outlook,” Nate added. “I think she’ll stick around.”

  Jonah nodded in agreement, but Jacob shook his head doubtfully. “You can’t make a Jersey into a Holstein.”

  Uncle Nate laughed. “That’s true.”

  Jonah held his tongue, though he was bothered by the small-mindedness of some people in the congregation. To compare a young girl to a cow?

  It was a relief when the older men were called to sit for the meal.

  Saved by the lunch bell.