The Bridge of Peace

by Cindy Woodsmall

  She was absolutely right about that. “We won’t be able to see each other much. I can’t come to your place just to visit you, and we can’t go anywhere together. We can meet here some, but even that will have to slow down, or after our relationship is public, we’ll be accused of using Allen’s place in an inappropriate way.”

  “Your kiss was better than perfect. Did … I do it right?”

  She had a way about her that fit him so perfectly. How had he never known that? “Was that your first kiss?”

  She nodded. “And well, well worth waiting for.”

  A bump near the top of the stairs startled both of them. Moving his chair slightly, he straightened and put more distance between them.

  She reached under the table and held his hand. “I know the period of mourning and propriety puts restraints on you. I don’t mind … too much.”

  “It’ll take being very careful and all of that time to win Allen’s approval.”

  She frowned at him. “Why would he not approve?”

  “Lennie?” The thumping sound of Allen coming down the stairs made Lennie jolt.

  “Build us a bridge between your place and Allen’s. Then you can walk over for a few minutes here and there, or come over while we’re outside in the spring. Emily and I could bring over a dish of food. That way your visits don’t have to be so formal or visible for others in the community to even notice.”

  Grey held on to her fingers for a moment longer. “I’ll build us a bridge … in every way possible.”

  She grabbed her notebook and pencil. “What does every way possible mean?”

  Allen walked into the kitchen and motioned Grey toward the sofa. “She’s got work to do, and the living room is much more comfortable.”

  Grey rose, wishing they had time to really talk but at peace with the commitment between them. How had love for Lennie grown such deep roots in such a short time?

  Thirty-One

  Deborah stopped the carriage in front of Jonathan’s home. She, Ada, and Cara had been at the school helping Lena set up for today, but as the morning wore on, she grew concerned that Jonathan might not come to the auction. Armed with Ada’s sage advice, Deborah walked across the gravel drive and into his shop.

  Jonathan glanced up, and a soft, hesitant smile drew her before he turned away, concealing his heart from hers. He continued working as if she weren’t there. She’d not seen him in his leather apron and rawhide gloves in a long time. The apron was marred and stained, and his face had smudges of black, but those things only added to his rugged, handsome appearance. With a sturdy pair of tongs, he moved the horseshoe from the forge to the anvil. Still clutching the tongs with one hand, he began hammering, molding the metal to his will.

  “Jon?”

  He studied her for a moment before returning his focus to pounding the metal.

  His Daed stepped out from a stall. “Well, hello, Deborah. We don’t see you in these parts much anymore. You here for the auction?”

  “Ya. I came to see Jonathan for a minute first.” She waited, but Jonathan didn’t stop pounding on the horseshoe. “I need to say a few things, and I think it’s reasonable to ask you to hear me.” She spoke above the noise.

  He finally nodded. His Daed walked over to him and took the tongs and hammer. Jonathan removed his apron and walked outside with Deborah. She’d hoped they would go for a real walk, but he escorted her to the carriage and opened the door.

  Although tempted to tell him he was being ridiculous and stubborn, she held on to Ada’s advice. “From your perspective, you have every right to end our relationship. And I was wrong but not as wrong as you think.”

  “Wrong enough.”

  “I wanted time to think for myself. I did a selfish thing. I know that. I wanted to form my own opinion. Even more than that, I needed time to try to convince him to treat Ada right whether he returns to our faith or not. I didn’t succeed, but I know I tried my best. And now we both know that I wouldn’t have Mahlon back under any circumstances.”

  “So he did return to win you again.”

  Deborah climbed into the buggy. “He did. He said all the sweet, flowery things he’s so capable of saying, including how he would rejoin the faith and how he wanted my help in giving grandchildren to Ada.”

  “That’s some heavy temptation he tossed your way.”

  “No. It carried no temptation, although I expected it to.” She drew a breath. “I would greatly appreciate your keeping what I’ve told you just between us. If he does decide to return and rejoin the faith, I don’t want anyone else knowing what I just shared.”

  “Then you’re still protecting him.”

  “I’m protecting us from being gossips and displeasing God. No part of me answers to Mahlon, but I do pray he finds his way. Hear me on this, Jon—I whisper thanks to God, even in my sleep, that I’m free of my promise to marry him.”

  He remained unmoving until a slow, easy smile radiated from him.

  She took the reins in hand. “I have a picnic basket chock-full of your favorite foods. It’d be a shame if my Daed were the one to win the bid. It starts in twenty minutes. For years you’ve bought Lena’s basket because she’s your friend. If you refuse to forgive me as your girlfriend, I hope you will at least remain my friend.”

  He looked down at his clothing. “Twenty minutes?”

  “Wear what you have on. I’m only picky about what’s inside a man’s heart. Nothing else matters.” She studied the strength in his shoulders and arms and smiled. “Well, nothing else matters more than that.” She slapped the reins against the horse’s back, hoping that she’d begun regaining his respect and that he’d at least be her friend again.

  Grey stood in the back of the schoolroom, watching as Lennie spiced up the bidding with quips and humor and handed baskets to the auctioneer. There were times when she snatched the gavel and the battery-powered microphone from the auctioneer and managed to get twice the bid. Ivan sat next to Allen’s oldest son. People came in and out freely, buying homemade lemonade and slices of cake from tables set up outside. All of today’s proceeds would go into the teacher’s fund.

  As he watched Lennie, he could feel her lips against his. Since it’d been a first for her, he would have expected her to be self-conscious and unsure. She had no shyness. He liked that. But she did have insecurity about her looks. If he had the power to do it, he intended to scrub that lie out of her life even if it took years. He wished he were free to court her, free to treat her as she deserved. They’d already ventured past correctness for him as a widower. The only thing they hadn’t done was make a public admission of it.

  He couldn’t cross that line. Lennie’s reputation would be stained for a long, long time, because becoming involved with someone during their period of mourning was equal to adultery in the sight of many.

  Grey jolted when Michael spoke to him. “I didn’t expect to see you here today.”

  Too distracted to have a response, Grey simply shook his father-in-law’s hand.

  Michael blinked, as if keeping tears away. “I wouldn’t have asked it of you, but it’s right for all the members of the school board to be here. As chairman of it, I knew Dora and I needed to be here. Although Lena’s …” Michael’s voice softened as he said Lena’s name, and Grey recognized the serious tone.

  “She’s what?”

  Michael shook his head. “You haven’t been coming to the meetings. When you’re ready, we need to discuss what’s going on.”

  “Michael Blank,” Lennie called, “are you paying attention to the teacher?”

  The room tittered with laughter.

  Michael turned. “Ya, Teacher Lena, I heard every word you said.” Michael winked at Grey.

  “Well, now that’s good. Did you wish to make the next bid on your wife’s basket?”

  Michael rubbed the back of his neck, clearly comfortable going along with Lennie’s harassment. “Uh, the last bid was …”

  “Fifty dollars,” Lennie assured him.
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br />   “Fifty.” His eyes grew large. “I bid sixty.”

  “Sold!” Lennie exclaimed.

  The room broke into laughter.

  The auctioneer hit the gavel against his podium. “The first and last bid on Dora Blank’s basket is sixty dollars.”

  Lennie motioned for him to take his seat.

  Michael played along, lowering his head like a young man in trouble as he moved to the front of the room to sit beside his wife.

  “Anyone else care to talk while the bidding is going on?” Lennie asked.

  “Not me,” Michael said. “I’m now penniless and can’t afford to say a word.”

  Grey chuckled. Lennie could charm a snake right out of its skin when in this schoolroom. But the school board meetings never flowed as easily. Her nontraditional ways managed to get someone’s hackles up all too often. And she’d stand her ground as if the Old Ways needed amending. He’d like to alter them himself about now and be free to see her at will. He looked around and saw Christian watching Lennie, probably ready to bid on her basket when it became available. Dwayne sat beside him.

  Grey didn’t like the idea of standing by while Christian won the bid and a date with Lennie. Her Daed or brothers might be willing to bid, but they’d drop out when a single man showed interest. He’d wanted to ask Allen to win the bid, but what excuse could Grey give for asking such a thing?

  He looked around the room and saw Peter staring at him. He gave him a reassuring smile. He held no grudges against him. Peter nodded, not looking anything like the surly teen who six months ago stood in this very room and back-talked Lennie.

  Several more baskets were bid on and sold. A few young men kept upping the bid when Cara’s basket hit the block, making sure Ephraim had to pay dearly to share a picnic lunch with the woman he’d marry.

  Lennie held up another basket. “Okay, this basket belongs to the beautiful and single Deborah Mast. Who will start the bidding?”

  Deborah jumped to her feet.

  Lennie frowned. “You’re bidding on your own basket this year?”

  Deborah hurried to the front. “I’m taking matters into my own hands, so to speak.” She snatched her basket from Lennie.

  Lennie picked out another basket.

  Deborah motioned to her. “You haven’t auctioned my basket.”

  “You took it and confused me, so I’ve moved on.” Lennie raised an eyebrow and put one hand on her hip. “Anyone else here confused?”

  Deborah shook her head. “I’m not a bit confused, haven’t been for many months. Begin the bidding.”

  Lennie pointed the microphone near her mouth. “Okay, who will—”

  “Everything in this basket is made from scratch,” Deborah interrupted, pulling the microphone toward her as she spoke. “All the ingredients are fresh made, including the butter.”

  “Can I assume you made this with one person in mind?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Couldn’t you have written him a note about all this ahead of time and spared the rest of us?”

  “That’s not how the auction works.”

  “And this is?” Lennie asked. “Can we cut to the chase here? Jonathan, our good friend Deborah, who used only the best ingredients and no processed foods or leftovers whatsoever, would dearly love for you to win the bid. I suggest you aim high and end my misery.”

  Jonathan stood. “Three hundred dollars.”

  Cheers went up, and Deborah smiled broadly, laughing and blushing at the same time as she walked to Jonathan and delivered her basket.

  The crowd in the room thinned out as some of the men paid for their baskets and left with a girlfriend, wife, daughter, or mother. Israel won the bid for Ada’s basket, and they left. Soon Allen bought Emily’s basket, and they left too. Grey moved to a bench, and his son sat beside him. With the sun shining brightly and today’s temperature around seventy degrees, Lennie had the day she’d hoped for, a perfect time for picnics. The auctioneer and Lennie continued to take turns grabbing the baskets and asking for bids. As the event organizer, Lennie was called away to tend to some other business a couple of times. While she was elsewhere, the auctioneer took her basket from its place on the table behind him. There were only a few more baskets to bid on.

  “The next basket belongs to our own Lena Kauffman.”

  Christian made the first offer. The moment Christian bid, Dwayne said something to him. Sammy, one of Lennie’s older cousins, placed a bid while Christian and Dwayne seemed caught in an argument. Sammy had already bought and paid for his wife’s basket, but with Israel and Allen gone, he seemed to be stepping in for them. Christian got up, bid again, and moved seats. Dwayne followed him.

  Lennie hurried back into the room with a handful of twenties. He’d bet she’d had to take ones and fives out to her students who were running the lemonade and baked goods table.

  Peter raised his ticket, showing the runner his number. “Fifty dollars.”

  Christian turned, clearly interested in who his competition was.

  Dwayne stood. “No. You can’t bid on her basket.” He looked to Christian. “Or you either.”

  “Let’s keep it calm, boys,” the auctioneer said. “Anyone can bid.”

  “No!” Dwayne whirled around, looking at various people as if panicked. “She put poison in that food. I know she did. She tried to poison me and Aaron. If he were here, he’d tell you straight out.”

  Michael went down front. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s true,” Dwayne cried out. “She brought us a cake that was poison. Aaron didn’t want to make no fuss about it, so he threw it away quietlike.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Lennie motioned. “Take a seat, Dwayne, or take yourself outside.”

  “Don’t let her do this. Please,” he pleaded.

  “It’s okay, young man.” Michael put his hand on Dwayne’s shoulder. “Just take a deep breath.”

  “I didn’t want to say nothing out loud like this. I tried telling Christian private-like. You saw me. You got to believe me. So many people feel sorry for her because of that mark that they don’t want to believe the truth about her.”

  Lennie placed her hand over her birthmark for a moment.

  Grey’s heart pounded like mad. “You’re out of line, and I think it’s time you leave.”

  “She’s a liar and a deceiver.” Dwayne sounded crazy, and Grey wondered if he realized that. But whether he was stable or not, Grey believed he knew Dwayne’s purpose for bringing this up at this specific time—to cause Lennie as much trouble and embarrassment as possible.

  Michael motioned toward the door. “Let’s go outside, and we’ll talk.”

  “No, I have to say this. I have to tell the truth. She’s destroying men’s lives one by one. Ask Peter. He don’t want to admit it, but he knows she’s a deceiver. At the last school board meeting, they told her never to bring a psychologist into the school again. So you know what she’s doing instead? Bringing that woman from the Englischers’ school into her house right after school is out, and Peter’s been meeting with her behind Mamm and Daed’s backs. I bet other students are too.”

  Grey couldn’t believe that. Lennie was stubborn enough to do something her own way, but she wouldn’t have hid it from him, would she?

  Michael looked to Lennie. “Is this true?”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Lena, we made our position very clear at the last meeting. Is what Dwayne says true?”

  Confusion stirred. Lennie was in trouble with the board and had said nothing to him about it? He dismissed the nonsense. She didn’t keep secrets from him.

  Grey stood. “This isn’t the right place or time.”

  “He’s right,” Michael said. “There are only three baskets left. If any of you intended to win the bid on one of the remaining baskets, please pay a reasonable fee, and let’s end the auction now. I’d like to wrap up today’s event and everyone go on home. We’ll have a board meeting Monday night.”

  Lennie m
aintained control, smiling politely and thanking the first man who made his way down front to pay for one of the remaining baskets.

  “Don’t let her keep lying to you,” Dwayne screamed before anyone left the room. “She knows exactly where Aaron is. She’s the reason he went there. She’s even chasing after Grey, almost as if she plotted for Elsie to be in that pasture with that bull while Grey stayed in this very classroom with her and Peter. Now Peter needs psychiatric help. Aaron is under the care of a doctor. What she’s done eats them up inside, and if you don’t stop her, she’ll either run Grey crazy or seduce him.” He motioned at Grey. “Grey’s not falling for her tricks, though, because he’s been asking other men to date her. He asked me and Christian. I think he was just hoping to find someone else for her to prey on so she’d leave him alone.”

  “Enough!” Grey strode to the front of the classroom.

  Lennie stared at him in disbelief. “You … you did that?”

  Michael and Dora waited for him to respond. If he assured Lennie of his love now, he’d break Elsie’s parents all over again. He’d run Elsie’s good name through the mud. And he’d ruin Lennie’s reputation as well as his own. People inside the schoolhouse waited on him to respond. People who’d been outside had heard the shouting and come in.

  She turned to Christian. “Did Grey ask you … to … date me?”

  Christian looked at Grey, clearly unsure what to say.

  “Well? Did he or not?”

  Christian nodded.

  Dwayne turned to his brother. “Peter, tell them it’s true. Tell them you’ve been going to her place to see someone.”

  She folded her arms, trembling as if she were cold. “It’s true.” Her eyes met Grey’s. She brushed her fingertips across her birthmark. The hurt reflected in her eyes pierced him.

  She lifted her shoulders and walked out.

  Everything inside him wanted to chase her, to make her hear him and trust his love for her. Surrounded by disapproving stares, he knew anything he did right now would harm her more. Dwayne’s accusations against her character would die out—all but the one about her setting up meetings between Peter and the outsider.