She stepped up into the buggy and took hold of the reins. Once she jiggled the reins slightly, the horse moved forward. She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed driving a buggy.
The journey to Mrs. Smith’s house took her past Simon’s property. She looked over at the house to see if she could see him, but there was no sign of him. The further away she got from Amos’ house, the more she relaxed. The sunlight dappling on her skin through the trees, and the air gently tickling her face, gave her a sense of peace.
She finally saw the narrow dirt track to Dora Smith’s house, off to the left. The track was up a slight rise and wouldn’t have been wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other; luckily none was coming toward her.
She pulled up at the house to see Dora in the doorway waiting to greet her. She got down from the buggy, and Dora walked toward her.
“Hello, Anita. I saw you on Sunday, but I didn’t get a chance to talk to you.”
“How have you been?”
Dora reached out and grabbed one of her hands. “I’ve been well. And you?”
Anita nodded.
“Let’s take a closer look at you and see how this boppli of yours is doing.”
Anita went inside glad that her midwife would be someone she’d known all her life.
After she examined her, Dora said, “All looks good.” She helped Anita sit up.
“Are you certain?”
“Jah. I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
“I didn’t realize that I’d been so worried about…”
“That’s normal for first-time mudders. After you’ve had a few, you’ll know what’s normal and what’s not.”
Anita knew that this baby was possibly the only one she’d ever have. She was grateful that God had given her the chance to have a child. She knew a couple of married women who were never able to have children, and she knew that her child was a blessing from God.
“Denke, Dora.” Anita heard hoofbeats. “You have a visitor?”
“That’ll be my next appointment.”
“Sounds like you’re busy.”
“I’m getting busier all the time.”
When Dora led her outside, Anita nodded to Molly, a woman she knew from the community. She was a younger woman just newly married, and didn’t look like she was having a baby at all. Anita wondered if Molly had told anybody yet that she was having a baby.
Anita got back into the buggy, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She knew in her heart her baby would be all right, but had still suffered pangs of worry. It was nice to hear from the midwife that everything seemed fine. She made her way down the narrow driveway and turned onto the road back home.
Anita was lost in her daydreams enjoying the cool breeze blowing against her face when the horse suddenly pulled to one side and she nearly fell out of her seat. Then, the horse came to an abrupt halt. She wondered whether it was a broken wheel.
When she got out of the buggy, she leaned down to see that the wheel was wedged into a rut. She took hold of the cheek straps of the horse’s harness to walk him forward, but the horse could not make the buggy budge. Anita could see that the horse was trying. She let go of him and patted him on his neck.
“It’s okay, boy. We’ll just have to wait here until someone comes along. Hopefully someone will come along in a car and might be able to pull us out.”
Anita leaned against the buggy so she’d be ready to wave a car or another buggy down. A few moments later, she saw a car. She stepped out on the road a little way to wave it down.
The car pulled up beside her, and a man stuck his head out the window. “What’s happened?”
She pointed to the back wheel. “The wheel’s stuck. I can’t budge it.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He pulled the car off to the side and got out to help her. He leaned down to study the wheel, and said, “Looks like it’s stuck there good and proper. You get the horse to pull, and I’ll push the back of the buggy.”
After a few unsuccessful attempts, they both came to the conclusion that what they were doing was not going to work.
He rubbed his neck. “I don’t know what else to do. Can I call someone for you? I’ve got a phone in the car.”
“Yes please.” She couldn’t remember the phone number in Amos’s barn, and the only thing she could think of was the name of Simon’s business. “Are you able to look up a number for me?”
“Should be able to. What is it?”
“Watson Buggies, in town. Can you ask for Simon and tell him where I am?”
“Will do.” The man headed to his car.
Anita listened in on the man’s conversation and by the sounds of it he’d eventually gotten to speak to Simon. The man ended the call, and then got out of the car and called out, “He said he’d be here in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you for calling him. I appreciate it.”
“Would you like me to wait with you?”
“That’s nice of you, but I’ll be all right here by myself.”
The man gave a wave and got back into his car. Anita watched the car drive away. She was impressed how nice the man had been. She hadn’t had a lot to do with Englischers, but the ones she’d met had been kind to her.
It was a blessing that the man had come by, because no one had passed her until she saw Simon’s buggy heading toward her.
“What trouble have you got yourself into?” he asked, a big grin on his face.
“It seems as though I’m stuck in a rut.”
Simon jumped down from his buggy and examined the back wheel. Without a word, he went back to his buggy and brought back a shovel. “This should fix it.” After minutes of shoveling, he placed the shovel on the side of the road. “Try to lead him forward.”
Anita took hold of the horse’s cheek strap, and clicked him onward. It was the same as before; the horse and the buggy went nowhere.
“It doesn’t look like this is going to move. I’ll get behind and push it.” Once Simon was behind, he yelled, “Okay go.”
The horse pulled, Simon pushed, and then they heard a loud ‘crack.’
“That doesn’t sound good,” Anita said.
The buggy wheel had moved out of the rut, but now there was something wrong with it.
Simon called out, “Looks like there’s damage to the wheel.” He walked around the front to face her. “You’ll have to drive it back nice and slow. Follow me back. I won’t leave you, in case something happens again.”
“Denke so much, Simon, for coming out. I hope you didn’t mind me calling you, but I didn’t know who else to call. I couldn’t remember the number of Amos and Hannah’s phone in the barn.”
“I’m glad you called me. I haven’t seen much of you lately.” He leaned against the buggy. “Amos let me know I’m not too welcome over there at the moment.”
Anita looked down and didn’t want to ask why. When she looked up at him, she said, “He gets some crazy ideas in his head sometimes.”
Simon folded his arms, and said, “What were you doing along these roads? These roads are never gut, especially after rain.”
“I was heading back after seeing Dora Smith, the midwife.”
“Is the boppli alright?”
Anita nodded. “She said everything’s going fine. The boppli and I are well.”
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.” He looked up at the gray sky. “We’d better start heading back before it rains again. I’m certain Amos won’t mind me being on his property if it’s to bring you safely back home.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s like a big scary dog; his bark is worse than his bite.”
Anita followed Simon’s buggy back to Amos’ house. She knew that Hannah would be at work and hoped that Amos would be out working on the farm somewhere so he wouldn’t see Simon.
When Amos’ house came into view, Anita was pleased that there seemed to be no one around the house. Simon brought his buggy right up to the barn where the buggies normally parked. After Anita stopped the bug
gy and climbed down, Simon came closer to have another look at the wheel.
“I’ll have to have a closer look at it in better light.”
Anita looked up at the overcast sky. It was darker than usual for that time of day.
Then Anita saw Amos making his way over to them from behind the house. “Into the haus, Anita,” he yelled.
Anita looked in fright from Amos to Simon. She didn’t want to be the cause of an argument and Amos seemed to be seething. “Why?”
“Because I’m going to have some private words with Simon.”
Anita called out, “There’s something wrong with the buggy and Simon helped me with it. You might want to take a look at it.”
“It’s okay, Anita,” Simon said in a quiet voice.
Anita looked over at Simon and he nodded toward the haus. Anita took a deep breath and walked away. Why was her brother such an unreasonable man?
When she walked into the house, she heard Amos’ raise his voice at Simon. She went back outside and yelled, “Stop it, Amos! Stop it! Your buggy is broken, and Simon was helping me get it out of a rut. He helped me bring it home.”
When she stopped, she saw both men looking at her as though they’d never seen or heard a woman yell before. Tears trickled down her cheeks, and she said, “Can’t you just stop it, Amos?”
Amos faced her with his hands on his hips. “How did he just happen to stop by to help you with the buggy?”
“It’s okay. I’m going,” Simon said backing away. “She’s getting upset, Amos.”
“I can see that. She’s my schweschder!” Amos yelled at him.
Simon got in his buggy and turned it around. Anita went back inside the house. She walked into the living room sat down and tried to make herself stop crying.
Amos came in and sat down in front of her.
Through her tears, Anita said, “Somehow the buggy got trapped in a rut. A man stopped to help me and couldn’t get it out. He asked me if I wanted to call someone. I couldn’t remember your number; the only thing I remembered was the name of Simon’s business. The man looked it up and called Simon to help me. That's the only reason Simon came out. Was I supposed to just wait there until you realized I was late and came looking for me? We’re not lying. Do you think we were meeting in secret or something?” Anita took a deep breath. “Can’t you see for yourself that there’s something wrong with the buggy?” Anita wiped the tears away from her face with the back of her hand.
They were interrupted by sounds of a buggy.
“Sounds like Hannah coming home.”
When Hannah walked into the room without the children, she told Amos that her mother was looking after them overnight.
Amos’ lips drew together tightly and Anita knew he wasn’t happy about the children staying overnight. Anita wondered how long he would let Hannah keep her job.
When Hannah looked at Anita she rushed to her side, “What’s wrong? Is the boppli all right?”
“The boppli is fine.”
Hannah glared at her husband. “Have you done something to upset her?
Amos lifted his chin high. “I’ll tell you about it later, but right now it’s time to cook the evening meal, isn’t it? You know I don’t like to eat my food too late in the night.”
Hannah nodded, and said to Anita, “Come and talk to me while I cook.”
Anita pushed herself up from the chair and went into the kitchen with Hannah.
“Now tell me what’s the matter,” Hannah ordered.
Anita told her all that had happened.
Hannah shook her head. “Amos has got a gut heart.”
“I know he has. I’m trying to do what he wants because he thinks he’s looking after me. But your bruder did not have any bad intentions, and neither did I. He assumed that Simon and I did something wrong.”
Hannah nodded. “I know.”
Anita dabbed at her eyes with her fingertips. “Normally I never cry.”
“You’re going through an emotional time. I cried all the time when I was carrying Sam.” Hannah laughed. “That is, when I wasn’t being sick.”
“At least I’m over the morning sickness. That was dreadful. Tell me, how did you enjoy your first day?”
A smile glimmered on Hannah’s face. “It was wunderbaar. It was so busy. There were two buses that stopped outside and the place flooded with people.”
“It must be nice to do something a little different from being home all the time.”
“It was. I think two days will be all I can do, though, with everything I’ve got to do around here.”
“If you want to do more, I can help around here and with the boys. As long as it’s all right with Amos,” Anita said.
Hannah giggled. “Nee, I think I’m happy with two days, and I wouldn’t like to push things with Amos.” Hannah handed Anita a basket. “Let’s go outside and get some vegetables for dinner. I’ve got salted pork, and we can cook up some vegetables with it.”
Since the boys were with their grandmother, Anita thought it would be a good time to have a talk with Amos over the way he was treating Simon.
After they said their silent prayers, Anita said, “I don’t know why you’ve stopped Simon from coming here. He’s only been a good friend to me.”
“You can’t call him a friend. You hardly know the man. He would’ve been just a bu when you left here; and you’ve only been back a short while.”
“That’s not fair to say. He’s Hannah’s bruder, and I’ve seen him quite often. His intentions towards me are nothing other than being a friend. We’re part of the same familye. I don’t know why you can’t see that.”
“I’ve told you before why I think that.”
Hannah interrupted, “What do you mean, Amos? Are you keeping something from me?” Hannah looked at Amos, and then glanced at Anita.
Amos set his knife and fork down, pressed his hands together, and set his elbows on the table. When he finally spoke, he said, “I told Anita I’ve seen the way he looks at her, and it’s not how someone would look at their schweschder.”
“What does that matter, then? You think Anita should be married, so what’s wrong with my bruder?”
“He’s younger! There are much better matches for her.”
Hannah scowled. “Who? Mark Yoder, or his older bruder, Hans?”
Amos drew his dark eyebrows together. “Not Hans. I already told Anita he’s too old, but Mark would be her best match.”
Anita didn’t know where to look. She glanced at Hannah, to see her staring at her husband looking none too happy. Anita held her head in her hands. She had only meant to have her brother be nice to Simon, not set husband and wife against each other. “I didn’t mean to cause an argument,” Anita said as she looked at Amos. “Can’t you see, Amos, I’m not interested in any man?”
Amos shook his head.
Anita continued her explanation, “Maybe in a few years I might feel differently, but not now. I don’t have to live here, I can move out somewhere by myself. I don’t like to cause irritations.”
“You’re welcome to live here forever. This is your home; I want you to feel as though it’s your home,” Amos said.
Anita saw her brother’s eyes become watery.
“Thank you, Amos. Forget I mentioned anything. Let’s just put this behind us. All I want is for my boppli to be brought into this world happy and healthy. Simon has done nothing wrong, and he’s Hannah’s bruder. Can’t you see if me being here is causing upsets, I’ll have to stay somewhere else? Amos, please tell me you realize that.”
He nodded.
“Does that mean Simon’s welcome back here?” Anita closed her eyes and hoped she hadn’t pushed him too far. She opened her right eye to see Amos raise his hands in the air.
“Let’s just leave things how they are at the moment. And I don’t want to hear another word about Simon at this dinner table tonight.”
“Libby is having a candy stall at the Mud Sale,” Hannah said.
“When’s tha
t on? I love mud sales,” Anita said.
“Three weeks time. I happen to know who’ll be running the auction.” Hannah smiled at Anita.
When Amos cleared his throat loudly, Anita knew that it was Simon who’d be running the auction.
Chapter 11
Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psalm 119:90
* * *
It was weeks later, and they were at the Mud Sale, and it wasn’t called a mud sale for no reason. Anita looked down to see clumps of mud stuck on her black boots. She had to be careful where she stepped so she wouldn’t slip.
Hannah had gone ahead earlier with Libby, and Anita had arrived with Amos and the boys. Amos took the boys to look at something while Anita looked for Hannah and the candy stall.
“There you are. I’ve been waiting for you to come. Where are the boys?”
“They’re with Amos somewhere. I’m sure they’ll be by later.” Anita ran her gaze over the candies. She selected three bags of hard caramels, her favorite. “Are you here all day?” Anita asked when she handed Hannah the money.
“I’m here most of the day, but I do get a break for lunch at twelve.”
“I’ll tell Amos when I see him. He’d like to have lunch with you.”
When more people came to the stall, Anita walked away to give them some room to view the candy.
Anita heard the auction start in the main arena. She walked over, and when Simon came into view she leaned her back against a post to watch him. Anita figured she was far enough away so Simon wouldn’t be able to see her. After half an hour of standing, she spotted a seat open up in the back row, so she sat down. Simon handled the job of auctioneer very well, and Anita knew it couldn’t be his first time at it. He certainly was a handsome man; Anita could see why many girls in the community were fond of him.
When the auction was over, Anita walked away with the crowd leaving their seats. She had just bought an ice cream and was leaning against a tree eating it when she spotted Simon. He saw her at just the same moment, and made his way over to her.
Amish Widow's Hope Page 6
