The Winnowing Season

by Cindy Woodsmall

  He wished God would reach into this new mess Rhoda was in and bring about a miracle. As it stood, Landon would arrive to take Jacob to the train depot. He couldn’t make himself leave last night, and he hated the idea of leaving today.

  A glance at the couch made him smile even in the midst of his disgust with the turn of events. Rhoda was snuggled under a blanket, fast asleep. The weight of what was happening bore down so heavily on Jacob that he hadn’t managed even to doze off.

  She was so beautiful and sweet and kind and tough and strong and fragile. They had talked most of the night. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to spend years with her without having to go into hiding. A lifetime, really. But after staying with Sandra for a month, he was now parting from Rhoda again a mere fourteen hours later.

  Rhoda frowned and stretched. Her prayer Kapp sat askew, and wisps of dark, wavy hair framed her face.

  He moved to the coffee table and sat, holding out his coffee. “Morning.”

  “I fell asleep.” She sat upright and took the coffee. “You should have waked me.”

  “You needed rest.”

  He wished it weren’t true, but if he stayed, it could cause her far more trouble than what she faced now. She didn’t need the investigators to catch wind of the fact that her boyfriend had been lying low, trying to be invisible for years. Or that he lived here only part of the time and the rest of the time at Sandra’s. Or that when he held a job among the Englisch, he did so under a false name and with no Social Security number. Any of that coming to light would put Rhoda under suspicion, whereas for the moment the police believed Gretchen’s story was suspect. As much as Jacob didn’t want to go, he had to protect Rhoda by removing himself from her life.

  He had wrestled with himself about this all night. If he were the only one at risk, he’d chance the police finding out about his past, even if it meant going to jail. It was a risk he would take to be next to her during this outrage of lies. But he wouldn’t chance casting his shady past onto her during this investigation by the Orchard Bend police. He had tried last night to warn her about the potential storm ahead, but he felt she was too shaken to hear any more bad news.

  “Rhodes, sweetheart, I need you to listen to me.”

  Samuel came down the stairs. “Oh.” He stopped and turned to go back. “Sorry.”

  “Wait.” Jacob motioned for him. “We have to talk. All three of us.”

  Rhoda pushed the blanket off and stood. “I need to wash my face and”—she pulled the prayer Kapp from her head—“fix this.”

  Jacob nodded, although he had no desire to spend time alone with Samuel. His brother had said little, but his patience was clearly at the breaking point.

  Rhoda disappeared into the bathroom.

  Jacob swallowed. “I’m sorry about everything.”

  “So you say.” Samuel sat on the couch, a tautness to his face. “If it’d do any good, I’d lecture you on getting your life straightened out. You can’t keep running. And we can’t continue carrying your workload.”

  “I know. Just give me a little time.”

  “It seems that, in one way or another, you’ve been saying that for months. She needs you here, and I’m not sure what kind of man keeps evaporating like water on asphalt every time a little heat is added.”

  “A little …” Jacob got control of his tongue. It wasn’t a little summer heat bearing down. It was Rhoda, and she attracted lightning bolts—one after the other. Jacob had to take cover, this time for her sake. “I’m not running or hiding for me. Not this time. Think about it.”

  Samuel huffed and nodded, but despite Rhoda weathering this rough patch fairly well, Samuel seemed to have lost most of his respect for his brother.

  Rhoda came out of the bathroom looking ready for the day, although her dress was a bit rumpled from sleeping in it. She moved to Jacob, and he embraced her. A horn tooted, and he looked out the window. Landon had arrived.

  “Listen to me.” He cupped Rhoda’s face in his hands. “The police are likely to come and go unannounced for a while if the investigation drags on. If they don’t clear this up within a week or so, it’ll become like shark bait to the media. They love anything scandalous, and a beautiful, young Amish woman accused of selling illegal drugs will capture people’s attention and cause a frenzy. Brace yourselves. Trust Samuel’s judgment. If he says something isn’t a good idea, then don’t do it. You didn’t commit a crime, there’s no evidence against you, so you’ll be cleared of everything. While I’m gone, I’ll see what I can do to clear up my past once and for all.” He kissed her forehead. “We’ll get through this. Trust me?”

  She nodded.

  “You can rely on Samuel.” Jacob looked to his brother. “Right?”

  Samuel gritted his teeth. “Ya, sure.”

  Jacob gazed into her eyes. “If this does drag on and the media attention gets too intense, I’m sure Camilla and Bob would welcome you there for a few days. But volunteer no information to the media about your encounters with those girls. If the accusations aren’t withdrawn and you end up in court, anything you say to them can be twisted.”

  “I’ll be fine. I promise.” She drew a deep breath. “Kumm.” She slid into her coat and walked with him to Landon’s truck.

  She kissed him good-bye and waved until he couldn’t see her any longer.

  Having to go was his fault. No doubt. But since he’d known her, it was as if she were a lightning rod for trouble. That understanding about her had dawned on Jacob during the night while she slept. And as he wrestled with the disappointment of needing to leave again, he realized what he had to do. But could he be stronger than his own past so he could help her every time lightning struck?

  If it was possible, he intended to accomplish that.

  Leah peered out the front door, checking to see if anyone was watching the house. She saw no one. She slid into her boots and wool coat and toted a basket of laundry to the clothesline. It had been two weeks since the police came to the door the first time, and they’d been back to look through the greenhouses numerous times since. Each time they took something with them; most often they removed more of Rhoda’s herbs.

  Rhoda seemed calm and self-assured about the situation, putting her trust in God. Still, she had to be rattled. Who would’ve ever believed an Amish woman, especially one who probably had never smoked a cigarette or had a beer, would be in trouble with the law for distributing an illegal substance?

  Nothing weighed heavier than what was happening to Rhoda, but Leah had her own problems. She grabbed a shirt—Samuel’s, she thought—shook it, and pinned it to the line. Despite the two feet of snow around her, it was an unusually warm day for January in Maine. The sun shone bright through the cloudless blue sky. A few weeks ago she would have been excited at the prospect of a day like today. But now …

  She pondered what was wrong with Landon.

  Was it Rhoda’s troubles? If that was the case, then it seemed he would want to talk about it with Leah. Instead he said almost nothing to her.

  She sighed and grabbed another shirt from the basket. It made no sense. Things were going so well between them, weren’t they? She’d been sure he was a worthy friend. Then he’d casually mentioned that he couldn’t pick her up anymore, as if she was somehow an inconvenience he had been meaning to address. In addition, he told her that his granny no longer needed her help, cutting her off from the non-Amish time that she had so much enjoyed.

  She had started to ask him why, but Rhoda had walked into the room and snapped his name. Maybe Leah was being selfish, and maybe the only thing that was going on was Rhoda’s upheaval and its fallout resting on Landon.

  What Leah found interesting about the last three weeks is what she didn’t miss by not going to Erlene’s. She didn’t miss the fancy stuff—electricity, the microwave, or television. It wasn’t the music she enjoyed with Landon while in his truck. It wasn’t even the restaurants he took her to.

  She missed him. Their conversations. His generosity. Hi
s patience and kindness. His wit and sarcasm. But she was not about to go chasing after him or looking for his attention. No. She had done that with Michael. “Like a dog,” as he had put it. If Landon didn’t want to spend time with her, then fine.

  But she would confront him when no one was around. Unfortunately, in the weeks since he’d informed her of the way things were going to be, she hadn’t found a moment when no one else was around. It seemed that Rhoda was either his shadow or Leah’s.

  She picked up a bedsheet and caught sight of a dark blue car coming down the road. She shook the sheet but was surprised when the car pulled into the driveway. It stopped a few yards from where she was hanging clothes, and a young man stepped out of the car.

  Arlan?

  He adjusted his cap and grinned. It was him! In Englisch clothes.

  Her heart leaped as she let out a muffled half squeal and dropped the sheet onto the snow.

  “Arlan!”

  She hurried through the snow toward him with all the speed she could muster in her knee-high boots. He met her halfway, and she flung her arms around his neck and squeezed tight.

  “Good to see you too.” He laughed. “I guess that eleven-hour trip was worth it after all.”

  “You should’ve known that the second you realized you were coming to see me.” She held up her arms. “Ta-da.” She’d never been so glad to see him.

  It had only been a few months, but somehow his face looked more, well … Mature wasn’t really the right word but certainly more handsome. “Oh, you have no idea. I’ve been so …” She stopped before she said the word bored. It was true, wasn’t it? At least it had been for the last couple of weeks since no one inside that house was in the mood to chat except Arie and Isaac. “Do your parents know you’re wearing that?” She pointed at his jeans and cowboy boots.

  “Yeah, they know.” He shrugged. “My folks aren’t too happy about it. My sister is worse than both of them put together. I knew Catherine would be that way. But they haven’t thrown me out or anything. Not yet, anyway. I imagine, if I’d asked, Catherine would have come with me even though she’s not supposed to ride in my car or be friendly with me if I’m dressed this way.”

  “Let me guess. She’s still hoping Samuel will change his mind about her.” She pushed him. “What are you doing here?”

  He scratched his jaw. “Well, I’m not supposed to say outright.” He glanced around. “Someone caught wind of the news about Rhoda and her troubles. Your Daed asked my Daed if I could make the trip and see what’s really going on.”

  “You’re here to spy?”

  “Got money under the table for it too … to cover gas and food.”

  “Who gave you money?”

  He shrugged. “My Daed passed it to me. Maybe your Daed did, but I got a feeling several people—especially the gossipy ones—chipped in because they want me to find out what’s happening. All done in the name of holding people accountable, mind you.”

  Arlan had no idea what his words did to her. She would guard her mouth carefully while he was here. No way would she say anything about Jacob or Nicole coming in and out or Rhoda regularly visiting the Cranfords. She liked the extra freedoms of this new Amish district, and she wasn’t willing for any church leaders to try to take them away. Besides, she wouldn’t be disloyal to anyone on this farm.

  Wow. Where had that attitude come from? Apparently during all their long days, she’d learned to truly love this bunch of workaholics.

  “You can’t go back with anything negative.”

  He laughed. “Just who do you think you’re talking to?” He waved his arms in exaggeration. “I’m no tattler, and what you want ranks way above what anyone else wants.”

  She grinned. “Sorry. I should’ve known that.”

  “You bet your heavy load of laundry you should’ve known that.”

  She imagined she had a goofy smile on her face, and her mind raced with things she wanted to tell him. “When did you get the car?”

  “I bought it when I turned seventeen—sort of my birthday present from me to me.”

  How could she have forgotten her best friend’s birthday? Her jaw went a little slack as the realization sank in. One apology after another flashed across her mind, but none of them felt quite right to say. “Well, it’s not exactly James Bond material, but the driver is at least a full-grown man, up for whatever the task!” Admittedly she didn’t exactly understand her own reference to James Bond. The character and the car were mentioned many times in commercials she had seen at Erlene’s, so she had concluded he was some sort of car designer who often wore a tuxedo.

  “James who?” Arlan’s brow creased.

  “If I knew, I’d tell you.” They both laughed, and it felt so good. “So which is first—seeing the farm and family or taking me for a spin in your new car?”

  “Farm and family. I need to stretch my legs and use your rest room and get a glass of water.”

  “They grow you boys needy in Pennsylvania.” She looped her arm through his. “Kumm. Maybe later tonight, you, me, and Landon can go get pizza.”

  “There it is! You guessed it!”

  “Guessed what?”

  “That’s the reason I came to Maine: to check out the pizza.”

  She pushed his arm and laughed again, noticing the thick black leather of his jacket. “Oh.” She tugged on his jacket. “Nice.”

  He flexed his muscles. “Ya, and you can’t hurt me through it. This coat is like leather armor. And with my shiny armor and steed,”—he gestured to his car—“I can drive you away!”

  She held back a snicker and tried to look serious as she turned and started to walk away. “Well, if you’re going to try to drive me away, I might as well just—”

  He bounded after her and caught her arm with another laugh. “Wait, not what I meant.”

  She pulled out a walkie-talkie from her coat pocket and announced that Arlan had arrived. Several greetings came through from the other walkie-talkie holders, including Samuel. Arlan chuckled, pleased at the welcome.

  Phoebe came out the front door and went to the abandoned laundry. She waved them away before picking up the dropped sheet, relieving some of Leah’s guilt over ditching her chores.

  “You should come more often. Your presence alone just got me out of doing laundry.”

  “I like you and all, but I’m not making that drive so you can get out of doing laundry. I might do it, however, to bring you my laundry.”

  She huffed and pressed the button on the walkie-talkie again. “Guys, we’re going inside for a bit, so wherever you are, come say hi when you get a chance.” Leah released the button and waited for a response.

  A chorus of “Be there in a minute” and “Sounds good” and “Okay” came back to her. Everyone answered except Landon.

  Leah pressed the button again. “Landon?”

  “Yo.”

  “We’re going for pizza in a few hours. Care to join us?”

  There was silence for a moment. “I’d like to.” There was another pause. “We’ll see.”

  What was wrong with him lately? Did the police investigation have him that rattled? Maybe what he needed was to quit fretting and to get out for an evening with them.

  They stepped into the house. “So how long will you be here?”

  “Two days if you’ll have me. Then I need to get back to work. Carpentry work’s hard to find these days, so I can’t afford to lose my job.”

  Landon came down the stairs, carrying two large boxes stacked on top of each other. “Hey, Arlan. This is a surprise.”

  Arlan grinned and pointed at the boxes. “Some things never change.”

  “Don’t I know it. There’s plenty more where these came from. I’ll be moving them to the barn until dark. I lug these things from one wrong spot to another. Excuse me while I take these somewhere they don’t belong.”

  Landon didn’t even glance at her as he passed by.

  I will not chase after someone ever again.

&nbs
p; But she would give Landon a little space while Rhoda’s investigation was looming. She’d be nice and even invite him again to go with them tonight. But if he didn’t straighten up soon, she’d …

  Hmm, what would she do? Well, she’d probably unload her thoughts on him first. But then she would savor the relationships she had, not wallow in what she didn’t have.

  Isn’t that what God would want her to do?

  THIRTY-THREE

  Landon watched as Leah and Arlan pulled out of the driveway. Man, he wanted to go with them.

  The front door opened behind him. “Is that the last of them?” Rhoda shifted the small boxes in her hands.

  “Yeah. Next time the Amish community wants to load you guys up with used dishes and such, decline.” His tone didn’t sound friendly. His blood was boiling, but he kept the conversation pleasant enough.

  Rhoda paused behind him. “About Leah … it’ll get easier. It’s just the way it has to be. I’m sorry.”

  “No problem, right? Just as long as everything goes exactly as the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Amish want it to.” He exited, walking toward the barn.

  “Landon, wait.” Rhoda hurried over to walk beside him. “I don’t have a choice any more than you do.”

  He kept his focus straight ahead. It didn’t matter how much he could sense her eyes pleading. He couldn’t stand to look at her right now. “So it’s fine if Arlan shows up with a car and takes Leah wherever she wants, but if I take her to Granny’s to help out, it’s going to destroy the whole fabric of Amish culture, perhaps end the world as we know it, and cost me my job?” He all but shouted the last part.

  Rhoda stopped in her tracks.

  He turned. “You of all people should know how hard it is to find someone worthy of your friendship, someone you connect with and don’t want to lose. Being outcasts and loners is part of what drew you and me together. You think it’s been easy for me all these years not having anyone to hang out with? All you ever want to do is work and avoid any conversation that might delve into pop culture, and that’s most of what I know. Besides, she’s not like other girls. She’s … Leah.”