Plain Peace

by Beth Wiseman

  For a short while today he’d felt like it might be true. But Anna had straightened him out about her intentions, and now he just felt sad. And a bit bitter.

  Anna waited until they were almost home before she mentioned the singing to her grandparents. She leaned forward into the front seat of the buggy and clenched the leather backrest in front of her. “Daadi?”

  Her grandfather gave a brief glance in her direction as he flicked the reins for the horse to pick up the pace. “Ya?”

  “A—a . . .” She’d always hoped this day would arrive, and she’d always thought her grandfather would allow her to be picked up for a singing, but now that the moment was upon her, she wasn’t sure.

  “Spit it out, child.” Daadi glanced at her again. “What is it?”

  “A—a . . . um . . . boy would like to take me to the singing tonight. Is it all right?” She squeezed her eyes closed for a few moments until she felt the buggy slowing down. She opened her eyes to see her grandfather pulling back on the reins.

  “What’s this?” He narrowed his eyebrows into a frown and peered over at Anna’s grandmother. “Did you know about this?”

  Mammi shook her head. “Nee, but I think it is gut. She has been of age, Isaac, for a while.”

  Anna tightened her grip on the seat and waited.

  “Who is this boy?” Daadi was still frowning and keeping the horse at a slow trot.

  “Jacob Hostetler, the new boy from Ohio.” Anna bit her bottom lip, glancing at her grandmother, but Mammi just stared straight ahead.

  “We know nothing about his family.” Daadi continued to scowl, but Anna felt hopeful that he hadn’t outright denied her request. She waited for her grandmother to back her up again, but Anna supposed Mammi’s earlier comment was all the help she was going to get.

  “He seems nice, Daadi, and this would be a way for me to get to know more about his family.” Anna knew her grandfather liked to be well-informed about members in their district, especially the new families.

  She waited, the clip-clop of hooves growing louder against the silence. After another minute or so, her grandfather spoke up.

  “He will come and talk with me first. You will not just jump in his buggy and leave. I didn’t have an opportunity to properly meet him today.” Daadi gave a taut nod of his head, and Anna wondered if she’d even get to the singing once her grandfather got done with Jacob. But this was probably the best she could hope for, and she’d take it.

  “Ya. I will have him come in and talk to you and Mammi when he gets here.” Anna released her grip on the seat and leaned back. She felt lucky to have nabbed this opportunity before Jacob chose someone else in the community. She knew someone like him would never really be interested in her, but going with him tonight would at least show boys like Ben and Rubin that she was allowed to date. Not that she’d ever go out with either one of them, but they were bigmouths and would spread the word. Maybe someone else would show an interest.

  Jacob changed his shirt before he went downstairs. His excitement about Anna asking him to the singing had provided a welcome distraction from his troubles. But knowing that she was using him put a damper on the plan. Had everyone really been so fearful of her grandfather that they hadn’t asked her out? Jacob would have gladly faced off with her grandfather for a chance to go out with her. But he sure wished the circumstances this afternoon were different.

  His mother and the twins were in the living room knitting when he walked in, and he figured his brothers were outside.

  “Where’s Daed?” Jacob poked his head into the kitchen before his mother answered but saw no sign of his father.

  “He’s resting right now.” Mamm didn’t look up.

  “He’s always resting.” Jacob shook his head as he pulled his hat from the rack.

  She looked up but ignored his comment. “I think it’s wonderful that you’ve found someone to take to the singing already.” Mamm glanced at Anna Mae and Mary Jane. “Maybe your schweschdere would like to go?”

  “This is a date, Mamm.” Jacob put one hand on his hip and shifted his weight. “But you know I’ll take the twins if they want to go.” He glanced at his sisters, wishing they would go—and wishing they wouldn’t go. They both shook their heads, leaving him relieved and sad.

  By the time he arrived at Anna’s house, his stomach was churning. He hoped Anna would wait for him outside, but after everything he’d heard about her grandfather, he was sure it wouldn’t be that easy. Once Bolt was tethered, he walked across the yard and up the porch steps. Anna’s house was big like his own and appeared freshly painted. The porch decking was light gray, and two white rocking chairs sat on either side of a plain white table. Not surprisingly, there were no wind chimes or other decorations on the porch, but it was nice to see the colorful assortment of blooms in the flowerbeds.

  He knocked on the door, stood taller, and took a deep breath. Anna answered right away. She wore a burgundy-colored dress beneath a black apron, and she was smiling. Jacob couldn’t get over how pretty she was. She could have anyone that she wanted, someone far better looking and more suitable than him. But this was God’s plan, he supposed, so Jacob would do his part—letting the district know that her grandfather would let her date.

  His stomach lurched as Anna stepped aside so he could come in.

  “Mammi and Daadi would like to meet you before we go.” She was still smiling, and Jacob wished they were going out under different circumstances. A real date.

  “Ya. Sure.” Jacob crossed the threshold, and he recognized the aroma of freshly baked bread mixed with something else he couldn’t quite identify. Their living room was the plainest he’d ever seen, and his own family was going to be in trouble if this was how Bishop Byler expected everyone’s home to be. There was a small, tan couch, two wooden rocking chairs, a simple coffee table, two lanterns on the mantel, and . . . He glanced around. That was it. No propane lighting, no wall decorations whatsoever. Not even a clock. He quickly looked to his right when heavy footsteps grew louder.

  Bishop Byler hadn’t looked all that scary at worship service earlier. But now that the man was in his own home, scowling, Jacob could see what all the fuss was about. The bishop was a tall man with slumped broad shoulders, and as he looped his thumbs beneath his suspenders and frowned, Jacob wondered what he was in for.

  “Mei maedel does not kiss on dates, and she must be home by seven o’clock.” Bishop Byler raised his chin, stroked his gray beard, and peered at Jacob. “Understood?”

  Jacob felt his face reddening. A quick glance at Anna found hers to be a bright crimson as well.

  “Ya. Yes, sir.” Jacob pushed back the rim of his hat and nodded, hoping this portion of the date would go quickly. “I will have her home by seven.”

  Bishop Byler folded his arms across his chest. “And what else?”

  Jacob glanced again at Anna, who was now hanging her head. “I—I . . . uh . . . no kissing.”

  “Ach, good grief, Isaac. Leave the boy alone.”

  Jacob had met Marianne Byler earlier in the day, and he was glad to see her entering the room now. “Nice to see you again, Jacob.” She gave his hand a squeeze and smiled at Anna. “You kinner go on now, and have a gut time.”

  Jacob waited for a cue from Anna, and when she waved for him to follow, he did so quickly.

  Marianne closed the door behind Anna and her date, then whipped around to face her husband. “Why did you embarrass them both like that?”

  Isaac raised his chin, frowning. “Why did you speak to me in such a way in my own home, in front of the kinner?”

  “I’m sorry, Isaac.” Marianne softened her voice to appease him. “But don’t you ever wonder why no young lads have come calling for Anna? They’re scared of you. And now, finally, a new boy in town comes a-courtin’, and you’re gonna scare him off.”

  Her husband walked to the couch and sat down. He picked up his Bible and his reading glasses, slipping the spectacles on his face. “He needs to be scared. Not
just any young man deserves to be with our Anna. This Jacob must prove himself worthy first.”

  Marianne sat down beside him and touched him gently on the leg. “My dear, Anna must make her own choice for a husband, but if you scare away all her options, she’ll have to settle for whoever is brave enough to face you. Do you want that?”

  He turned the page in the Bible and pushed his glasses up on his nose before turning to face her. “I was a young man once. I know how they are.”

  Marianne grinned. “Ya, I know. I remember how you were too.” She tapped a finger to her chin. “And if I recall, mei daed was just as worried about me as you are about Anna. But you must trust her to make gut decisions.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Why don’t you take a nap, and I’ll cook us some supper.”

  “A nap does sound gut.” Isaac pulled his glasses off and put them on the coffee table. “See you in a bit.” He kissed her before heading to their bedroom, and Marianne hurried to the kitchen. She pulled out a tub of leftover stew and quickly set it on the stove, turning the knob to low.

  Once she could hear Isaac snoring, she tiptoed to the basement entrance, eased the door open, and hurried down the stairs.

  4

  ANNA WISHED SHE’D NEVER ASKED JACOB TO THE SINGING. He was sure to tell people what her grandfather had said. And even if her friends saw her on a date, they’d eventually learn the truth—how Anna had asked Jacob out. Why didn’t I think of that? But the silence in the buggy was too awkward not to say something and try to make the best of it.

  “Danki for taking me to the singing. And I’m sorry about mei daadi.” She turned to face him, wishing this was a real date—one he’d asked her on because he was interested in getting to know her better.

  “Ach, it’s okay. He’s just looking out for his little girl.” Jacob flashed his perfect smile, and she again wondered why he even agreed to this. He could easily have gotten out of it by just saying he didn’t have his own buggy.

  She pulled her eyes from his. “It was just so embarrassing.” She let out a heavy sigh, but Jacob chuckled. She lifted her head. “What’s so funny?”

  “I was just thinking how goofy I must have looked. I could feel my face turning red, and I wasn’t sure what to say.” He clicked his tongue until his horse picked up the pace.

  Anna twisted slightly in the seat to face him. “Under the circumstances, I think you did just fine.” She paused, twirling the string from her kapp around her finger. “Are you going to tell everyone what my grandfather said?”

  His smile faded. “Nee, Anna. I won’t tell anyone. I don’t want to blow your chances of someone asking you out.” He paused, still not smiling. “I’ll tell everyone—Rubin and Ben included—that it was very easy, taking you out and facing your grandfather.”

  The edge in his voice was confusing, but Anna cringed just the same. “Ew. I don’t want to go out with Rubin or Ben, so I really don’t care what you tell them.”

  “So do you have someone else in mind?”

  Anna kept her eyes on him, even though his gaze was straight ahead. He wasn’t even pretending this was a real date. Part of her had hoped he would, even if just for the afternoon. No one in her district was as handsome as he was, plus he’d raced after her when she was upset and been brave enough to face her grandfather. She sighed. It would still be nice getting to know him, even though she knew he’d end up with someone who was a better match. Like Emma.

  “There’s no one in particular I’m interested in,” she finally said. Except maybe you. At one time she’d had a crush on Jesse Dienner. He’d married a girl named Shelby, someone new to their district, so that had ended that. But maybe if Jacob stayed true to his word and didn’t mention her grandfather’s grilling, someone unexpected would ask her out.

  They were quiet for a while as the buggy rolled down the gravel road. The Huyards were hosting the singing, and they lived about six miles outside of Paradise. Whoever held worship service usually hosted the singing in the evenings, but Sadie and Kade didn’t have children old enough to participate, so the Huyards had offered to have the gathering at their house.

  With two miles to go, the tension was thick, so Anna spoke up again. “Emma said she thought you moved from Middlefield, Ohio.” She paused. “I guess that would explain this black buggy, as opposed to the gray ones we all have.” She’d also noticed the slight differences in his clothing, and she was glad her grandfather hadn’t mentioned anything about that. Usually a new family was given time to adhere to the rules of a new district.

  “Ya. We moved here a couple of weeks ago.”

  “What made you move to Lancaster County?”

  He shifted his weight in the seat, his eyes forward, and just shrugged. “Needed a change.”

  Anna pursed her lips together, knowing she could be a nosy Nellie sometimes. But curiosity won out. “Did you leave family behind?”

  “Ya.”

  Hmm . . . “I bet that was hard.”

  “Ya.”

  Anna released the string of her prayer covering and dropped her hands to her lap. “I’ve never been outside of Pennsylvania.”

  “You’re kidding? Not even on a vacation?” Jacob turned to face her, frowning.

  “We don’t go on vacations.” She twisted in her seat. “Have you traveled a lot? Have you been on an airplane? What about Florida? Lots of folks around here vacation in Florida.”

  “I’ve traveled a little, and yes, I’ve been on an airplane.”

  She gasped slightly. “Really? Where did you go?”

  Jacob pulled back on the reins and the buggy slowed. He reached in his pants pocket, apologizing as he put a cell phone to his ear. Anna had never had a mobile phone, and while they’d been widely accepted by Bishop Ebersol, eight months ago her grandfather had forbidden them completely. She knew that many members of the community still used them for business but kept them hidden.

  Anna watched as Jacob’s eyes widened. He pulled back on the reins until the horse was completely stopped. “I’m on my way.” He glanced at Anna. “I have someone with me.” He paused, nodding. “Okay.”

  “Is everything all right?” she asked as he set the phone on the seat in between them.

  “Nee. I have to go home. Right now. It’s mei bruder. Mamm said something is wrong with him, but she was crying and I couldn’t understand her.” He slapped the horse with the reins and yelled for him to take off. “I’m closer to my haus than yours. Do you mind coming with me? I’m sorry about this.” His mouth was tight, his jaw clenched.

  “Of course not. Do you need to call an ambulance? Or I know some drivers for hire.”

  “I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “I mean . . . I don’t know. I don’t know what’s wrong.”

  He yelled again, picked up the pace even more, and Anna held on for dear life as the buggy hit a rut in the road. She bounced in her seat, but Jacob didn’t seem to notice, his eyes focused on the road in front of them. As the horse’s speed increased, so did the flurry of dust beneath its hooves, and after a taste of it, Anna kept her mouth clamped shut. She wasn’t sure she’d ridden this fast in a buggy before.

  A few minutes later Jacob slowed the buggy in front of his house. It didn’t look much different from when the Zooks lived there, except that Lena and her daughters had always kept the flowerbeds plush with greenery and flowers. Jacob’s mother and sisters must not have had time to tend to them yet.

  “What’s wrong?” Jacob jumped out of the buggy as soon as it was stopped and ran toward the little boy who stood in front. “Abe, what is it? What’s wrong with Eli?”

  The boy glanced at Anna, his face wet with tears, then back at Jacob. “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Anna. Now what’s wrong with Eli?” Jacob grabbed the boy by his shoulders. “Where is he?”

  They waited, but Abe just shrugged.

  “Never mind.” Jacob let go of the boy and glanced at Anna. “I’ll be back.” Then he bolted toward the house and took the porch
steps two at a time. Anna stepped out of the buggy and walked around to where Abe was standing.

  “Anything I can do to help?” She extended her hand to him. “I’m Anna.”

  He hesitated, then latched on. “I’m Abe.” He let go quickly, then rubbed his nose. “I don’t think there’s nothin’ you can do.” He dashed around her, up the porch steps, and into the house. He couldn’t have been more than six or seven.

  Feeling awkward, she sat back down on the passenger seat in the buggy and chewed on one of her fingernails. She jumped when she heard Jacob’s cell phone ringing next to her on the seat. Glancing down, she saw the name Carolyn.

  Eli sat crouched in the corner of the living room, covering his face with his hands. Shards of glass and pieces of a broken lantern surrounded him, and his left hand was covered in blood. Their mother was crouched near her son, but she wasn’t touching him.

  “I can’t find your father,” Mamm whispered, shaking her head. “And he screams when I get too close to him.”

  Jacob turned toward the door as his youngest brother burst in. “Abe, go upstairs.” Jacob waved a hand toward the stairs. “Go on, now. Do as I say.”

  Abe hesitated, then darted up the stairs. Jacob edged a little closer to Eli. “Where are Anna Mae and Mary Jane?” he asked his mother.

  “They left awhile ago to pick berries.” Mamm shrugged, swiping at her eyes. “They should have been back by now.” She took a couple of steps toward Eli. “Eli, let me just clean this glass up, and I’ll make you—”

  “Get away from me!” Eli didn’t look up as he yelled. Their mother stepped back and looked at Jacob. “What should we do?” she mouthed.