The Storekeeper's Daughter

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Andy snickered. “I’m surprised you haven’t come up with some excuse to go inside and see your girlfriend.”

  Caleb shrugged. “I’ve been thinkin’ on it.”

  “Figured as much.”

  “Maybe I’ll go up to the house at noon, but in the meantime, we’ve got plenty to do. So let’s get busy.”

  Andy wrinkled his nose. “Whatever you say, boss.”

  ***

  Naomi glanced out the window again. Caleb and Andy had disappeared into his shop, along with the broken buggy they’d been pushing. Sure wish I could step outside for a breath of fresh air.

  “Naomi, would you mind helping me in the kitchen?” Millie’s question drove Naomi’s musings to the back of her mind.

  “Sure, I’d be happy to.” Naomi followed Caleb’s mother into the next room. “Will the menfolk be comin’ inside to eat lunch today?”

  Millie opened the refrigerator and withdrew a platter of sliced ham. “Don’t think they’d feel comfortable in the presence of so many women. I thought maybe I’d take something out to the shop for Caleb and Andy, and one of them can haul lunch to the rest of the men workin’ in the barn.”

  Naomi moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I’d be willing to take their meal out. That is, if you want me to.”

  “That’d be much appreciated.” Millie smiled. “I’m sure Caleb would be glad to see you.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Naomi stood in front of the buggy shop with two baskets of food. She set one on the stoop and rapped on the door. When no one answered, she decided the men were probably busy or didn’t hear her knock, so she entered the building unannounced.

  The front part of the shop, where Caleb did his paperwork, was empty, but she could hear voices coming from the back room.

  “Hand me that screwdriver, would ya, Andy?” She recognized Caleb’s voice, and her heart skipped a beat. Hearing her intended talk made her all the more eager to see him. She set the baskets on the wooden desk and started across the room.

  Suddenly, there was a crash, followed by a muffled cry.

  “Oh, no! Caleb!” Andy shouted.

  With her heart pounding so hard it echoed in her ears, Naomi rushed into the next room. She’d barely stepped through the door when she bumped into Caleb’s younger brother. His face was white as a sheet of blank paper, and Naomi knew something horrible had happened.

  “What’s wrong, Andy?”

  “We were tryin’ to get the wheel off Mose’s buggy, and the whole thing collapsed.” Andy’s chin quivered. “I’ve gotta get help quick. Caleb’s pinned underneath.”

  CHAPTER 32

  Naomi stood on the Hoffmeirs’ front porch, holding the book she’d brought for Caleb. Ever since he came home from the hospital, he had refused to see her. Mose Kauffman’s mangled buggy could have cost Caleb his life, but he’d escaped with a concussion, several broken ribs, and a hand that had been badly crushed under the weight of the buggy axle. The doctors performed surgery, but Millie Hoffmeir told Naomi that Caleb would never again be able to use his left hand for repairing buggies. He wouldn’t have enough strength, and two fingers were severely damaged. It looked as though Caleb would need to give up the buggy shop and learn a new trade, unless he wanted to oversee his brothers, who might be willing to take over the business.

  Naomi drew in a deep breath and knocked on the door. She hoped she could see Caleb today. It wasn’t good, him shutting himself away in his room like that, refusing to see her or even talk about the horrible accident.

  Life was full of disappointments; Naomi knew that firsthand. But you didn’t give up or shut your loved ones out when you needed them most.

  Caleb’s nine-year-old sister, Irma, answered the door. “Hello, Naomi. How are you?”

  “Fine. I came to see Caleb.”

  Irma shook her head, her blue eyes looking ever so serious. “He don’t wanna see anyone. He’s only allowed our mamm and daed into his room.”

  Tears stung the back of Naomi’s eyes, and she blinked a couple of times. “Is he feeling any better?”

  Irma shrugged. “Don’t rightly know.”

  Naomi transferred the book from one hand to the other. “This is for Caleb. Would you see that he gets it? It’s a fiction novel set in the Old West. I thought he might enjoy reading it.”

  Irma took the book, and Naomi turned to go.

  “Wait up, would you?”

  Naomi recognized Caleb’s mother’s voice, and she spun around. “How’s Caleb doing? Is he feeling any better than he was the last time I dropped by?”

  There were dark circles under Millie’s pale blue eyes, and her ash-blond hair seemed to have developed a few more gray strands than Naomi remembered. “Caleb’s concussion is better, and his ribs will heal in time, but his hand will never be the same.” Millie sighed. “I fear my boy’s heart is crushed as badly as those wounded fingers that will no longer hold the tools of his trade.”

  Naomi stared at the wooden boards beneath her feet, unable to voice her emotions. If only Caleb would see her, maybe she could say something that would help him feel better or at least offer a ray of hope. His hand might be crippled, and he probably would have to give up fixing buggies, but one thing hadn’t changed. Naomi still loved Caleb and looked forward to their wedding, only a few months away.

  “Won’t ya come in?” Millie prompted. “I took a shoofly pie from the oven a short time ago, and I could fix us a cup of hot tea.”

  Naomi pondered the invitation. Shoofly pie was a favorite of hers, and it would be nice to visit with Caleb’s mother awhile. Maybe she could learn more about his condition and why he refused to see her whenever she dropped by. She nodded and forced a smile. “Jah, that sounds gut.”

  “Have a seat, and I’ll get the teapot,” Millie said when they stepped into the kitchen. “Would ya like cream or sugar?”

  “I drink mine black, danki.”

  Millie scurried about the kitchen, and with Irma’s help, soon they each had a cup of hot tea and a plate full of pie. Irma was about to take a seat in the chair beside Naomi, when her mother waved her away. “Why don’t ya cut your sister a hunk of pie and take it to her?”

  Irma’s forehead wrinkled. “Lettie’s outside playing. She probably don’t want to stop for a snack.”

  Millie wagged her finger. “Don’t be sassin’ me now. Get some pie for both of you and head on out.”

  Irma did as she was told, but Naomi could see by the set of the young girl’s jaw that she was none too happy about being forced to leave the kitchen. If Irma was anything like Nancy, she probably figured the conversation between the women at the table would be more interesting than entertaining her younger sister.

  As soon as Irma left the room, Millie leaned forward and looked intently at Naomi. “I’m worried about Caleb, and I think it’s important for the two of you to talk.”

  Naomi nodded. “I agree, but how’s that ever gonna happen if he refuses to see me?”

  Millie pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll go upstairs and tell him to come down to the kitchen and have a hunk of pie. He doesn’t need to know there’s someone waitin’ to see him.”

  “He might not like it when he realizes I’m here.”

  Millie shrugged. “Maybe so, maybe not. The point is, he’s put off seeing you long enough.”

  When Caleb’s mother left the room, Naomi took a long drink from her cup. She hoped the herbal tea would help steady her nerves.

  ***

  Caleb sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his bandaged hand. He clenched his teeth and struggled with the desire to holler at someone for the injustice that had been done to him. It wasn’t fair. Why had the Lord allowed him to make such wonderful plans for the future, only to dash them away?

  He thought about a verse of scripture the bishop had quoted from Isaiah chapter forty-nine, verse four during the last church service he’d attended. “Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet
surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.”

  Caleb groaned. I have labored in vain for several years while I tried to build up my buggy business so I could marry and start a family. I used all my strength, and it was for nothing. One little mistake under Mose’s buggy cost me everything I loved so much. A tear slipped out of Caleb’s eye and rolled down his cheek. He wiped it away with his good hand, feeling angry with himself for giving in to his grief. All these months he’d waited for permission to court Naomi. They’d been on the brink of marriage, and now this!

  A knock on his bedroom door drove Caleb’s thoughts aside. “Who’s there?”

  “It’s your mamm.”

  “Come in.”

  Mom opened the door and peeked in at him. “I made shoofly pie. How about comin’ down to the kitchen and havin’ a piece?”

  He shook his head. “No thanks. I ain’t hungry.”

  “Won’t you do it for me?” she pleaded. “I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.”

  Caleb blew out his breath and stood. He winced as pain shot through his side, but he tried not to show it.

  “You okay?” Mom asked with obvious concern. “You look a mite pale.”

  He shook his head. “I’m fine. Let’s go to the kitchen.”

  Caleb followed his mother and took the stairs carefully, holding onto the railing with his good hand. When he entered the kitchen a short time later, he halted inside the door. Naomi. What was she doing here?

  She smiled, and it made his heart clench. “Hello, Caleb. It’s good to see you.”

  Caleb’s gaze darted to his mother, who stood off to one side with her arms folded. “Well, I think I’ll head outside and check on the girls. You two have a nice visit, ya hear?”

  The back door clicked behind Mom, and Caleb fought the desire to flee to his room. He didn’t, though. Instead, he marched across the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Might as well get this over with, ’cause if I don’t, Naomi will probably keep coming around.

  “I’m sorry about your accident with Mose’s buggy,” she said. “I wanted to tell you sooner, but everything happened so fast the day it occurred, and after that, I was always told you weren’t up to company.”

  Caleb just sat there, staring at the shoofly pie in front of him.

  “How are you feeling?” Naomi prompted. “Are ya in much pain?”

  He forced himself to look directly at her. He could see the questions on her face, the look of compassion in her eyes. He didn’t want Naomi’s pity or to have to answer any questions. He just wanted to be left alone, to suffer his grief in silence.

  She tipped her head. “Caleb? Why aren’t you sayin’ anything?”

  He shrugged. “There ain’t much to say.”

  “I asked if you’re in pain. You could start by answering that question.”

  He lifted his bandaged hand. “This will never work right again, did ya know that?”

  She nodded, and tears welled up in her eyes.

  “I can’t make or repair buggies anymore.”

  “Jah, I heard.”

  He cleared his throat. “You know what that means, don’t ya?”

  “I—I guess it means you’ll have to learn a new trade.”

  “There is no trade for this cripple, Naomi.” Caleb slowly shook his head. “And since I can’t do the work I’ve been doin’, I won’t be able to support a family.”

  “Oh, Caleb, you can’t mean that. Surely one of your brothers will keep the buggy business going. Maybe you could do some light chores and keep charge of the books.”

  “Makin’ and repairin’ buggies is all I’ve ever wanted.” He grunted. “Do you really think I could sit around doin’ nothing while my two brothers took over the business I’ve worked so hard to build up?”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. “I don’t see how we can get married now, Naomi.”

  “Please, don’t say such a thing. I love you, Caleb, and I’m sure we can work something out.” Naomi reached out to touch his uninjured hand, but he pulled it away and stood.

  “If I can’t support a wife with honest work, I won’t have a wife at all. It must not be God’s will for us to be together, or He wouldn’t have allowed the accident to happen.” He turned toward the door.

  “Caleb, wait! Can’t we talk about this some more?”

  “There’s nothin’ to be said. You’d better find someone else.”

  “I don’t want anyone but you,” Naomi said tearfully.

  It almost broke Caleb’s heart to know she was crying, but he couldn’t back down now. “There will be no wedding for us.” He nearly choked on his final words. No matter how much Caleb’s heart ached to have Naomi as his wife, he would not take on that responsibility when he couldn’t provide adequately for her. As he stumbled out of the room, the echo of the door slamming shut reminded Caleb that a chapter of his life had been closed for good.

  ***

  Fannie stood at the kitchen stove, stirring a pot of bean soup. Today, things had been busier than usual at the store, and she was exhausted. Since Naomi left early to go over to the Hoffmeirs’, and Mary Ann, Nancy, and Samuel were back in school, she and Abraham had been on their own all afternoon.

  She added a dash of salt to the soup. Sure hope Naomi made out okay with Caleb. I pray he agreed to see her this time. She sighed. That girl’s been through enough, and she shouldn’t have to hurt anymore.

  Fannie turned when she heard the back door open and click shut. Mary Ann and Nancy rushed into the room, their faces aglow.

  “Guess what, Mama Fannie?” Mary Ann said breathlessly.

  Fannie smiled. She liked how easily Abraham’s youngest children had taken to her. “What’s got you two lookin’ so excited this evening?”

  “There’s a new batch of kittens in the barn,” Nancy announced before Mary Ann could open her mouth.

  “How many are there?” Fannie questioned.

  Mary Ann held up five fingers.

  “They’re all white this time. Not a dark one in sight,” Nancy said.

  “Is that so?” Fannie got a kick out of the girls’ exuberance. She’d always liked animals and could remember her own excitement over the birth of new arrivals on the farm when she was a young girl.

  “When Papa comes in from feedin’ the horses, I’m gonna ask if I can keep one of those cute little busslin,” Nancy added. “Naomi has her own cat, so I think it’s only fair I should have one, too.”

  Fannie chuckled. “We’ll have to wait and see what your daed has to say about that. In the meantime, I’d like you girls to run upstairs and wash your dirty hands. I’ll be needin’ help with supper soon.”

  “What are we havin’?” Mary Ann asked.

  “Buhnesupp—one of your daed’s favorites.”

  Mary Ann wrinkled her nose. “Bean soup? I’d much rather have chicken noodle.”

  Nancy grabbed her younger sister’s hand. “Aw, quit your gripin’ and come with me.”

  The girls’ footsteps resounded on the stairs as Fannie gave the soup a couple more stirs. When she heard a horse and buggy come prancing into the yard, she glanced out the window and saw it was Naomi. She’d no more than climbed down from the buggy, when Abraham stepped out of the barn and unhitched the horse. He led him away, and Naomi headed for the house, shoulders drooping and head down.

  Fannie moaned. It doesn’t look like things went well for my stepdaughter this afternoon.

  A few minutes later, Naomi entered the kitchen through the back door. She hung her black bonnet on a wall peg and without a word went to the sink to wash her hands.

  “You okay?” Fannie asked.

  Naomi shook her head but made no verbal reply.

  “Did you get to see Caleb this time?”

  Naomi’s shoulders trembled as she nodded.

  Fannie turned down the gas burner and rushed to her stepdaughter’s side. “What’s wrong? What happened that’s got you so upset?”

  When Naomi
reached for a hand towel, Fannie noticed how red the young woman’s eyes were. She’d been crying—probably all the way home, from the looks of it. “Caleb called off the wedding,” she said with a catch in her voice. “He doesn’t want to marry me anymore.”

  “Come over to the table and have a seat,” Fannie suggested. “Then you can tell me what happened, if you like.”

  Naomi shuffled across the room as though she was in a daze and sank into a chair. Fannie took the seat beside her, placing one hand on Naomi’s shoulder.

  “The doctors told Caleb his left hand will never be the same, and it means he can no longer work on buggies.” Naomi sniffed and blinked a couple of times. “He said if he can’t make buggies, he won’t be able to support a wife, so there will be no wedding for us in two months.”

  Fannie’s heart went out to Naomi. She looked so downcast and discouraged. If there was only something Fannie could say or do to make things better.

  “Caleb thinks it must not be the Lord’s will for us to be together, or else God wouldn’t have allowed the accident to happen.”

  Heavenly Father, give me the right words, Fannie prayed. Show me how to help Naomi through this ordeal. She gently squeezed Naomi’s shoulder. “I know things look bleak right now, but God has a plan for your life, and you need to wait and see what it is.”

  A muffled sob erupted from Naomi’s throat. “I think maybe God’s still punishing me for leavin’ Zach on the picnic table last summer.”

  “No, no, you mustn’t think that way,” Fannie was quick to say. “You didn’t do it on purpose. God knows that, Naomi.”

  Tears rolled down Naomi’s cheeks. “I—I don’t believe I can take much more.”

  Fannie reached out to wipe away the tears. “Sweet girl, the Bible says God won’t give us more than we can handle. And Isaiah chapter twenty-six, verse four, says, ‘Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.’”

  Naomi pushed her chair back and stood. “I’m goin’ upstairs awhile. Is that okay?”

  “Jah, sure. Take as long as you like. Nancy and Mary Ann can help me get supper on.”