“I think he has his farming under control,” Susan said. “If you can cook for him, he’ll be a happy man. But really, Teresa, you did gut for your first time. You should try it again.”
“I’ll see about that tomorrow,” Teresa said, moving toward the fence. She stood watching as Susan took the horses down the field. Across the fence she saw Menno wave to her. He must have been watching. I guess he’s okay with my clumsy performance. Yah, he’s probably used to girls who don’t know how to drive horses the first time they try. After all, he probably taught all of his girls. He’s a good-hearted man who tolerates the learning process. She smiled and waved back to him.
Remembering the laundry on the line, Teresa washed her hands at the spigot in the barn, allowing the wind to dry them as she ran over to the clothesline. She checked several of the garments for dampness and found them dry to the touch. Going into the washroom she retrieved the hamper and headed outdoors again.
“That was gut work in the fields,” Mamm said with a smile when Teresa came in with a heaping load of clean wash. “I was watching. We’ll make a farm girl out of you yet.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The early afternoon sun spilled through the green trees of John Troyer’s place. The rays fell onto the newly mown lawn. Church benches were spread out, some running parallel to each other with wide spaces between, others cutting across at right angles. Under the shade of an old oak, several men sat trading stories, leaning forward at times to laugh and sitting back up as they chewed on their toothpicks. Behind them the front door opened, and the second round of young boys from the dinner tables came rushing out, pulling on their hats as they ran across the grass toward the barn.
Deacon Ray’s son, James, came up behind Thomas Stoll and tapped him on the shoulder. “I have to speak with you,” he whispered.
“About what?” Thomas asked, pausing in the middle of the flow of boys.
“Not here. Out in the barn where it’s private,” James said, motioning with his head toward the men seated near them.
Thomas laughed but followed James out to the stables. “So what’s the big secret, huh? Are you planning some stunt tonight you don’t want the men to know about?”
“Nee,” James said. “I just think you and I need to get on the same page concerning our girls.”
“You have a girl?” Thomas asked, looking at him in surprise.
“Not yet,” James said. “But I’m moving in that direction.”
“You’re not planning to move in on Susan, are you?” Thomas wasn’t laughing anymore.
“If I wanted to do that,” James replied, “I certainly wouldn’t tell you, you big oaf. I’d let you find out for yourself after I had her safely in my buggy.”
“So what have you got in mind?” Thomas asked, still not smiling.
“It’s about that crazy scheme of yours to get rid of Teresa,” James said. “You know, hitching her up with Yost. Well, it’s not working. As Daett told me last night, the ministers will no longer be holding her to the engagement. I think Daett figures I’ll forget about Teresa now, but he’s wrong. So, what I want you to do is back off on encouraging Yost.”
“Yah, I heard about the change,” Thomas said, chewing on a toothpick. “But what do I have to do with it? I only went to speak with Yost that once.”
“That’s why Yost will come whining to you about Teresa not being required to marry him on her baptismal day. And when he does, I don’t want you to give him any encouragement regarding Teresa,” James said.
Thomas broke into a smile. “Aren’t you getting the cart before the horse? Or has Teresa agreed to let you take her home after the hymn singing?”
“Nee,” James admitted. “I haven’t even spoken to her about that, which brings up another reason I wanted to speak to you. Let’s go visit the girls together this afternoon. Invite them out for a nice sunny walk on the lawn.”
“You want me to go see Susan and take you along?” Thomas laughed. “Like that will do any good for either of us.”
“I don’t see you speaking with her now,” James pointed out, “let alone taking her home on Sunday nights. Working with me, I’m sure you can improve your standing with Susan. You should have spun your schemes with me a long time ago!”
Thomas stared off into the distance, thinking.
“If you stick with me,” James offered again, “you will be talking with Susan this afternoon.”
“What makes you think the girls will say yes?” Thomas asked.
“Well, they wouldn’t if it were just you or me alone with one of them,” James said. “But together, it’s more likely they’ll agree. It won’t mean quite as much, you see. At least they can tell themselves it will be just an enjoyable walk and talk—nothing more. And Susan might enjoy herself with you if she feels the pressure is off a little. We could kind of ease into their good graces.”
Thomas considered it for a few minutes. “Okay, I’m with you.”
“There’s Menno coming now,” James whispered. “We’ll follow him in our buggies in a few minutes. After he’s out of the driveway.”
“Shh…” Thomas lifted his finger to his lips, motioning toward the ladder that led to the haymow.
The two young men scurried up just as the first of the men came into the barn to retrieve their horses for the drive home. Peeking out of the cracks in the barn siding, they waited until the men had their horses hitched and lined up at the sidewalk to pick up their womenfolk.
“We forgot something!” James whispered, sitting down in the hay and throwing his hands in the air.
“That would be our sisters,” Thomas said as he watched the women coming out of the washroom, their bonnets pulled forward.
“We’d better drive them home first,” James said. “It’ll take too much fuss explaining why we can’t. So how about we meet at the old bridge later? We can go together from there.”
“What we don’t go through for love,” Thomas groused as he climbed down the wooden ladder.
“Love is worth it!” James asserted, looking down at Thomas’s black wool hat. Following his friend outside, James grabbed his horse and led him to his buggy. He hitched up, got into the one-seater, and waited until Thomas had pulled forward. At the sidewalk, two of Thomas’s sisters were waiting. Behind them Edna and Vera stood, waiting for him. James pulled to a stop and they came toward him as Thomas’s sisters climbed into their buggy.
“Howdy,” Edna said, pulling herself up the step and moving to the far side of the buggy.
“Why are you two so late?” Vera asked, walking around and getting in on the other side.
“I didn’t know I was,” James said, holding his horse until Thomas moved out of the way.
“We were waiting forever,” Vera said. “The old men are already leaving.”
“Maybe I’m an old man,” James told her. “I didn’t see a lot of boys leaving before we did.”
“I think everybody was slow today,” Edna said.
“Thomas and I were talking,” James finally offered. “I’m going out with him this afternoon.”
“Now where would you two be going?” Vera asked. “I can’t imagine the two of you having someplace to go together. You don’t hunt frogs in the creek anymore.”
“None of your business!” James replied good-naturedly.
“I’m sure they have grown-up things to do,” Edna said.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for James to do some grown-up things—like stick with one girl for a while,” Vera said. “It’s an embarrassment the way he acts.”
“Maybe he has his reasons,” Edna said.
“I do,” James said, getting a word in edgewise. “And someday, Vera, you will have a husband and have to watch that sharp tongue of yours.”
“I didn’t say anything that isn’t true,” Vera snapped. “And I’ll find a husband who doesn’t mind being told the truth. Unlike some people I know. And you are an embarrassment, James. I even heard you were out talking behind the buggi
es the other Sunday night with that Englisha girl who is promised to Yost Byler.”
“Vera!” Edna exclaimed. “I heard the same thing but didn’t believe it was true.”
“Well, let James tell us if it’s true or not,” Vera asked, looking at her brother. “Is it true, James?”
“And what if I did?” James asked, not bothering to confirm or deny. “Daett knows about it, so you don’t have to even think about tattling.”
“I can’t imagine you confessing much of anything,” Vera said. “What were you talking to that Englisha girl about? I’m sure it wasn’t about love. You don’t even speak with Amish girls about that.”
“Teresa is planning to join the church and community,” James said. “So don’t be knocking her. She’s not Englisha anymore.”
“I wasn’t knocking her,” Vera said. “I like her. I just can’t imagine what you wanted with her.”
“Maybe it is none of your business,” Edna said, shifting on the buggy seat. “If Daett knows about it, then I’m sure it’s taken care of.”
“You are a hopeless case, always sticking up for James,” Vera chided. “It spoils him.”
“Well, maybe if you’d be sweet like I am,” Edna said, “some young man would be taking you home from the hymn singing tonight. I saw Emery Yoder’s boy looking at me today.”
“You’re a little young for such thoughts,” James said. “And leave Vera be. She’ll have plenty of chances yet. Some boys like a spitfire version of a woman.”
“I’m sixteen and you can mind your own business, thank you very much.” Vera glared at James.
James laughed. “I’ll be sure to warn Peter about you the next time I see him.”
“You’d better not!” Vera said. She looked out and watched the scenery through the open buggy door.
“Don’t worry, Vera,” Edna said. “James is just teasing. He really likes you deep down.”
“Sure I do. That’s why I don’t want to get rid of her,” James teased. “And if I warn Peter, she’ll stay around the house forever as an old maid.”
“I don’t think I’m the one to be worried,” Vera snapped. “You are the one who can’t keep a girl.”
“Woo hoo!” James laughed. “And what would you say if that were about to change?”
“I’d say you are dreaming,” Vera said. “You aren’t capable of settling down. Ever.”
“I don’t agree,” Edna said. “If James finally finds a girl he likes, then there’s no reason he can’t settle down.”
“Why can’t you ever agree with me?” Vera asked her sister.
“Because you’re always wrong!” James inserted, laughing as he gave Vera a nudge with his shoulder.
Vera glared at him but said nothing.
“Well, here we are…home at last,” James said, turning into the driveway. “And am I ever glad to get rid of this cloud of pestilence and thunder hanging around my buggy.”
“I’m just telling you what is true,” Vera said, climbing down. She waited for Edna to join her. “Behave yourself this afternoon with Thomas. Whatever you’re planning. You aren’t little boys anymore.”
“I’m going to warn Peter,” James hollered after them as they walked to the house. “The poor man needs to be told.”
Vera looked over her shoulder, faked a sweet smile, and held the front door for Edna.
James waited until they’d entered the house before turning the buggy around. The horse hesitated, swishing its tail at the end of the driveway.
“Come on, it won’t be far,” James encouraged, flicking the reins against his horse’s back. Turning east at the first fork, he arrived at the bridge to find Thomas already waiting. With a wave of his hand he motioned for Thomas to take off. Thomas grinned, looking happier than he had in a long time.
The afternoon sun warmed the sides of the buggy, so James pushed open the door, allowing the soft breeze to move through. What would Teresa say when they arrived at Menno’s place? he wondered. Surprised no doubt, but surely she would agree to speak with him, especially with Thomas along. Even Susan shouldn’t object to an hour or so spent on the front lawn. But what if she did object and turned Thomas away? Would that not cause Teresa to do the same?
And why hadn’t he thought of this sooner? What had come over him to think that the spat between Susan and Thomas wouldn’t affect even an innocent talk on the lawn? He ought to turn back now before it was too late. But it was already too late. He would have to tough the thing through. Closing one door of the buggy shut, he stayed close behind Thomas as they rattled down the dirt road.
James shifted on his seat, remembering what Vera had said on the way home from church. The girl had a way of getting under his skin with that sharp tongue, but on this point she was simply wrong. He did not pursue girls until they were willing to have him drive them home, and then dump them. It simply wasn’t true. He was interested in much more than the pursuit. A wonderful girl would be well worth the catch.
And Teresa was different than any of the other girls. Whether she was the one he would marry was another matter. But that didn’t need to be decided at the moment. For now, the gut heart she had was enough reason to know her better.
“Gut afternoon,” Susan’s mamm said after she opened the door.
“Gut afternoon,” Thomas said, his face in a stiff smile. “We would like to speak with the girls, with Susan and Teresa.”
Anna didn’t move. “They don’t want to speak with either of you.”
“But it’s only for a little while,” Thomas encouraged. “James and I thought they might like to walk around the lawn with us.”
“I can only tell you what they told me,” Anna responded. “You should ask them home on a Sunday evening before you just drop by.”
“I guess so,” Thomas said, turning to go.
“That wasn’t a good idea after all,” Thomas hissed as they walked back to their buggies.
“It was an awful, horrible, rotten idea,” James agreed, feeling his neck burn. “I’m sorry.”
“Well, don’t feel too bad,” Thomas said, relenting. “It was worth a try. Anything is worth a try to reach Susan.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Teresa watched from the upstairs window of Susan’s room, hiding behind the dark-blue curtains. Below her Thomas and James were walking toward their buggies, stopping to speak a few words before untying their horses and pulling out of the driveway.
“You shouldn’t watch them leaving,” Susan said. She was lying on her bed, her nose in a book. “Thomas is good riddance, but I’m having second thoughts about James. Maybe he’s not so bad after all.”
“His face was bright red,” Teresa said. “I could see it from up here, the poor boy.”
“I suppose he’s not used to having girls tell him to take a walk back to his buggy,” Susan said. “At least not without seeing him first.”
“Maybe I should have spoken with him. But I don’t think so,” Teresa said. “It won’t make things any easier. Besides, if he’s serious, he’ll be back again.”
“You sound awfully confident of yourself,” Susan commented, looking up from her book.
“Not really,” Teresa replied, moving away from the window. “But I know his type. The harder the contest, the more interested they are.”
“Oh!” Susan laughed. “So now we are reeling in the fish. I didn’t think you had it in you, Teresa.”
“No, it’s not that,” Teresa said as she moved to respond to a cry from Samuel across the hall. “Just a moment and I’ll be back.”
Teresa left the door to Susan’s bedroom open, entered her own, and picked up the kicking baby. Bringing Samuel back, she sat on the floor and put him beside her on a blanket. Samuel blinked in the bright light, his eyes drawn to the window. Teresa ran her fingers through his wispy hair.
“My little sweetheart,” she whispered. “You’re such a darling!”
“So what was this about James?” Susan asked, closing her book.
“He
thinks I’m playing hard to get,” Teresa said.
“So this afternoon will really help reinforce that,” Susan said.
“Yes, it will. And I think he’ll be back. But once a girl says yes they lose interest.”
“I don’t think Thomas is like that,” Susan said. “But then maybe he is. Perhaps that’s why he lost interest in me. I guess I was too available.”
Teresa looked up from the baby. “Susan, you know you might be wrong about Thomas. Don’t you think he deserves another chance?”
“You didn’t see Thomas acting embarrassed when they were walking back out to the buggies, did you?” Susan asked.
“I wasn’t watching him.”
“Oh, I see,” Susan said with a grin. “So you do have an interest in James?”
Teresa blushed. “That’s not the point, and you know it.”
“I think we should pray long and hard about your situation,” Susan said.
“Shh…” Teresa held her finger to her lips. “I think I hear something. A buggy’s coming.”
“They go past the road all the time,” Susan said, picking up her book again.
Teresa stood and walked over to the window. She pushed the drapes aside again; this time Samuel was cradled in her other arm.
“It’s him!” Teresa gasped. “He’s come back.”
“Won’t they take no for an answer?” Susan said, rising and moving toward the window.
“No, it’s just James. Thomas isn’t with him.”
Delight flashed across Susan’s face. “My, talk about answered prayer! I do think you may be right.”
“I can’t talk to him.” Teresa looked pale. “I have Samuel to take care of. He’s not fed yet.”
“When Da Hah moves, there are always ways to say yes.” Susan took Teresa by the arm. “Samuel can wait for such an important thing as you visiting with his future daett.”
“Susan, please! Don’t say such things,” Teresa protested. “James doesn’t want another man’s child. Besides, Yost may come visiting soon. You know it’s about time for him to be back.”
“Just come!” Susan said, leading Teresa, who was still holding Samuel, out of the bedroom.
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