The Amish Seasons Collection: Contains An Amish Spring, An Amish Summer, An Amish Autumn, and An Amish Winter

by Sarah Price

  Today, however, seemed to be a good day. Amos and Esther had gone to the hospital for a meeting with the medical team. Jacob had gone along, eager to find out when his wife would be returning home. With Daniel taking care of the barn work and Elam and Henry assisting him, Drusilla had taken control of the house. Being Saturday, there was no laundry to do and no baking for the next day. This week was an off-week, the Sunday in-between worship services. Instead of worshipping with the church district, the family would spend the day visiting with friends and resting, something Drusilla knew everyone needed.

  From the open kitchen window, she could hear Hannah fussing over the baby. Her voice was softer than usual and Drusilla thought she heard baby Anna coo. She couldn’t help but smile.

  Listening the Hannah, Drusilla had hope that, perhaps, her sister’s abrasive attitude might subside. Perhaps when Drusilla married Caleb and Hannah was the oldest daughter at home, she might transform into a more sensitive and caring young woman. Today, without their mother at home, all of the children had behaved better, especially Hannah.

  As Drusilla looked over the fields and watched the sun slowly dip from the sky, the backdrop of ocean blue changing to the color of soft cream, her mind traveled to another person: Caleb. Almost two weeks had passed without any letters from him. She knew that he hadn’t returned from Ohio, for surely he would have come visiting after last Sunday’s worship, or, if he had arrived during the week, he would have gotten word to her.

  She found that her thoughts often lingered on Caleb. The two letters that Caleb sent her from Ohio, previously stored in the bottom of her hope chest, were now tucked inside of her bible, along with the letter he had written over the summer. After her conversation with Elsie the previous week, just before Mammi Ana had her stroke, Drusilla suspected Hannah of snooping through her things. Hopefully now that the letters were in her bible, prying eyes wouldn’t find them.

  Each night, before Drusilla blew out her kerosene lantern, she read his letters, savoring each word that he wrote. She even memorized the Scripture that he had shared with her in his very letter: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

  She loved that verse. It reminded her that Caleb cared for her, even if he was away for such a long period of time. They would have many years ahead of them to be together. For now, his absence did not mean that he had forgotten her. Over the summer, after she doubted his interest in her when he hadn’t been able to communicate with her, she had learned the true meaning of faith. Just as she had faith that God would not forget his children, she also had faith that Caleb would not forget her.

  Besides, in just a few short weeks, the wedding season would begin. That meant that she wouldn’t see much of him anyway. There would be no more singings or youth gatherings for them since Caleb would be busy when he returned. He’d have to help his father with farmwork during the day and in the evenings, he’d most likely help Drusilla with the preparation for their wedding. It would be his responsibility to talk to the bishops in both of their g’mays so that their engagement could be announced. Immediately after the announcement, Caleb would visit the people invited to attend the wedding. Drusilla and her mother would organize the food preparation as well as clean the house and make a new dress for her wedding. There would be little time for visiting each other, at least not privately like that had done before.

  That was the only thing that bothered Drusilla: No one knew about her plans to marry Caleb, not even her parents. It had been too soon to tell them before he left for Ohio. Now, Drusilla was forced to wait for Caleb’s return in order to inform her mother and father of their intentions. Immediately after their parents knew, the preparation for the actual wedding would begin.

  Unlike Englische weddings which seemed to require a lot of time to plan, Drusilla knew that her wedding would be only require two or three weeks to organize. Since the wedding ceremony would be held at the Riehl farm, the house would need a thorough cleaning with every nook and cranny scrubbed, the floors waxed, and the windows washed until they shone. Beyond cleaning, there would be a lot of planning for the event, too: a guest list to be made, invitations to be sent, food to be prepared, and a wedding dress to be sewn.

  After the wedding, Drusilla would stay with her parents. That was customary among the Amish. Newlyweds usually did not live together. Instead, Caleb would continue living at his father’s farm but would visit on the weekends. They would spend their afternoons and evenings visiting with family and friends from both church districts. And, come Springtime, they would move into their own home at last.

  Unless, of course, they were moving to Ohio. That would change everything.

  Certainly, if Caleb found a farm in Ohio, Caleb would want to move by Christmas. He would have to do a lot of planning or the next year’s crops. He would need to become familiar with his property and soil, planning what to plant, where, and when. And, of course, when he moved to Ohio, Drusilla would travel with him. Her help would be extremely important since Caleb had no sons or relatives in Ohio to help him.

  “Drusilla! Come help!” Hannah called out from the window, her voice sounded panic stricken. “That baby just threw up all over me and herself, too!”

  With a sigh, Drusilla pushed aside her worries of the future and quickly hurried back inside the house. So much for the softer side of Hannah, she thought as she walked into the kitchen. She could hear Elsie gagging and running to the far side of the room while Hannah stood at the sink, desperately trying to wash something from her left sleeve and shoulder. One quick look around the room and Drusilla saw that someone had placed the baby on a crumpled knit blanket in the center of the room. Now, the baby screamed and cried, her arms waving over her head and her dress soiled, as was the blanket.

  “Oh Hannah!” Drusilla frowned as she hurried over to the baby and picked her up. After all of the changes Drusilla had seen in Hannah, her sister’s reaction to Anna being sick surprised her. “What would you have done if I was at the hospital still?”

  “Maem would have tended to her!” Hannah scowled and returned to trying to cleaning her dress, the smell of the baby’s sickness certainly still pungent.

  Carrying Anna into her parents’ bedroom where the changing table was, Drusilla tried to calm down the baby. While her colic was long gone, Anna still seemed to have a weak stomach and was prone to being sick. Drusilla felt pity on the baby as she knew that being sick was never a good feeling and especially for a four-month-old baby that didn’t understand much of anything yet.

  “Shh little one,” Drusilla whispered into the baby’s ear as she quickly changed Anna’s diaper and clothing. She made certain to wash Anna’s chest and neck with a fresh baby wipe, and then she bestowed kisses on the baby’s belly and cheeks. Drusilla always tried to give her lots of kisses and attention, especially since Anna’s first few months after her birth had left most people wanting to run the other way, rather than show affection to the screaming baby.

  “Now, that’s better, ja?” Drusilla said as she picked up Anna and held her securely. “And you smell like powder so Hannah can’t complain now!” After placing one last kiss on Anna’s cheek, she carried the baby back into the kitchen.

  Handing the clean baby to Hannah, Drusilla turned to assess the mess on the floor.

  “Seriously Hannah. You couldn’t even take the blanket outside?”

  Shaking her head, Drusilla lifted the soiled blanket by the four corners and took it to the kitchen door. She let it fall onto the porch; she’d wash it later. Back in the kitchen, she put her hands on her hips and looked over at her sister. So much for her hopes that Hannah might change. Instead of helping to clean, Hannah merely stood with the baby, holding her against her hip and bouncing her so that Anna wouldn’t cry.

  “I suppose I should have to wash the floor, too,” she said to Hannah. “And you’re jiggling her too much. Unless you want her to spit up again, I suggest just rubbing her back.”

  “Bopplis are disgust
ing!”

  “It’s a gut thing Maem didn’t say that about you!” Drusilla said sharply as she retrieved a washrag and soaked it in water before squirting some soap on it. “I seem to recall that you were fussy and dirty, too.” As she was cleaning the and cleaned up the mess on the floor did she see

  Elsie poking her head between the handrail of the stairs. Within second, Elsie ran down the stairs and wrapped her arms around Drusilla’s legs.

  “Now what’s the matter here?” Drusilla asked, trying to extract herself from Elsie’s hold.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t help,” Elsie whispered. “But it smelled so yucky.”

  Drusilla tried to suppress a soft smile. Dear gentle Elsie. Prior to Anna’s arrival, Elsie had been the youngest child. With so much activity in the house recently, Drusilla suspected that

  Elsie didn’t quite know where she fit in. And while Elsie meant well and tried to please everyone, sometimes she mirrored Hannah’s reaction to situations. “Help would have been nice, Elsie,” Drusilla said, patting the girl’s shoulder.

  After getting the kitchen back in order and delegating tasks to her sisters, Drusilla took a moment to return to the porch, holding Elsie in her arms while the little one slowly drifted off to sleep. With a cool breeze blowing across the fields from the West, the late afternoon weather was perfect for time to just sit and enjoy watching the birds fly to the feeders and see the younger boys in the fields.

  It was almost time for the afternoon milking. With her father and Jacob at the hospital, coordinating Mammi Ana’s return home, Daniel would need all of the help he could get. For a moment, Drusilla thought of leaving the baby in Hannah’s care once again so that she could help Daniel, but she thought better of it when she remembered that milking the cows would become part of Hannah’s daily chores soon.

  “Drusilla!”

  Startled from her thoughts, Drusilla looked up and, when she saw her two cousins walking toward the house, she smiled. She hadn’t seen them since worship service the previous week.

  “It’s right gut to see you both!” she said when they neared the porch.

  “Ja, you too. Heard you’ve been at hospital, ja?” Miriam sat in the empty rocking chair beside Drusilla. “Maem came home not long ago. She was there the last two nights you know.”

  Yes, Drusilla knew. She had been more than grateful to be relieved of her duties at the hospital. But she had been terribly disappointed when she learned that Jake, her uncle and Ana’s son, had still not shown up at the hospital to visit his mother. “I heard she’s coming home soon. Did you hear otherwise?”

  Naomi nodded. “Two days, Maem said.”

  “And I’m off to market that day,” Miriam said with all sincerity. “I wish I could be here to help.”

  Drusilla appreciated her cousin’s concern. With so many commitments, it was hard for some people to drop everything to lend a helping hand, although her own family had certainly been expected to do just that. It had not gone unnoticed by Drusilla that there were many family member who could have helped without reorganizing their schedule. But, at least, Barbara had finally taken some responsibility.

  Naomi remained silent. For whatever reason, her mood was not as cheerful as usual.

  Worried that she felt guilty for not having gone to the hospital to visit Ana, Drusilla tried to lighten the mood. “Ja, vell, there will be plenty of time for everyone to help when’s she’s home, anyway.”

  As if reading Drusilla’s mind, Miriam added, “Naomi’s helping Daed with hay cutting this upcoming week, but I’m sure my maem will come help for a spell.”

  This news surprised Drusilla. It was late for haying, although the weather had been exceptionally good for growing hay. Even if the pumpkins had not grown properly, the hay certainly flourished. But Drusilla also knew that her uncle tended to borrow equipment from her father when it came time for haying. If Amos lent the equipment to Jake, that meant he would not have it to use for his own needs.

  “I hadn’t heard about the haying,” she said cautiously. “But I do know Daed and Daniel intend to do the same this week. With Daed being at the hospital every day, he hasn’t had time to cut it.”

  Miriam shrugged her shoulders in a noncommittal way, indicating that she didn’t know the details. Naomi, however, wasted no time speaking up.

  “Better off if he doesn’t borrow your daed’s equipment!” She looked angry about something, her forehead wrinkled as she scowled. “I’m not a big fan of hay cutting or baling!”

  “That’s not a very practical way to think,” Drusilla said. She loved her cousins and they were her best friends. But she was beginning to worry that the work ethic Miriam so willingly displayed was not shared by her twin sister. Where would she go in life if she didn't appreciate and accept the need for hard work? “The soul of the diligent is richly supplied, Naomi.”

  She made a face at Drusilla but did not reply. Clearly something was bothering her and Drusilla knew better than to pry.

  For a moment, the three of them sat on the porch in silence. They watched as Elam and Henry tried to herd the cows back into the dairy barn. Some of the older cows walked in a single file line as if they were children walking down the hallway of a school building. But a few of the younger cows rebelled and kept grazing, one or two running away from the young boys who tried to bring them in for the afternoon milking.

  “Have you heard any from Caleb?” Miriam asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had followed Naomi’s comments. The uneasiness had not left the porch and Drusilla had a feeling that the purpose of their visit was not just to say hello. But she gave them the time to tell her whatever it was in their own due time.

  “Nee,” Drusilla responded at last. “I have not heard from Caleb as of late.” She held Anna against her shoulder with one hand. The baby’s soft breath against her neck indicated that, despite the three women talking, Anna slept soundly. “And I don’t understand why. He was so good about writing those first two weeks. Now it’s been well over a week and I haven’t heard hide nor hair from him.”

  Naomi clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Mayhaps he just plain old forgot about you.”

  “Naomi!”

  Drusilla frowned at her cousin.

  “Aw, Miriam, I’m just teasing her! Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s not hiding something from us,” Naomi said and leaned over to brush her arm against Drusilla’s knee.

  “Hmm? Anything you want to tell us?”

  The heat rose to her cheeks as Drusilla tried to appear nonplussed. “Such as what, Naomi?”

  “Such as which one of us will be standing up with you in November?”

  “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean,” Drusilla responded and, in a not so subtle way, she rubbed the baby’s back gently in the hopes that Naomi would change the subject.

  Miriam jumped to her defense. “Why, if you are insinuating that Drusilla’s made a promise to Caleb and hasn’t told us…”

  Interrupting her twin, Naomi pursed her lips and lifted her eyebrows. “Really? Like I told you about my interest in photography?” Her point made—secrets were kept from each other—

  Naomi returned her attention to Drusilla. “And I happened to have heard that the Lapp family is already making their list of people to invite to an early November wedding. Considering that it’s now October, I sure do think you have some explaining to do, Dru!”

  At this demand from Naomi, both Drusilla and Miriam gasped, but for very different reasons.

  “Drusilla!” Miriam said, turning to look at her. “Is she speaking the truth?”

  The baby’s hand jerked slightly from a sleep spasm, enough of a motion so that Drusilla could pretend to focus on her infant sister and not her cousins’ questions. But their silence lingered long enough so that Drusilla had no choice but to look at them.

  They both stared at her expectantly.

  “Ja vell,” she started. “I reckon my parents should know first and I haven’t even seen him in almos
t four weeks so I don’t think I should be speaking of any of this.” She paused and glanced at Naomi first and then Miriam before she added, “At least until my parents are told.”

  Both of her cousins shrieked in delight at her words, jumping up from their seats and reaching down to hug her, careful to not upset the baby who, surprisingly slept through it all.

  “I knew it, I knew it!” Miriam said.

  Naomi gave her a playful shove, the dark cloud from her mood having lifted. “You knew nothing. I’m the one who just confronted her!”

  Pouting, Miriam made a face at her sister. “I knew it, but, unlike you, I was too proper to say anything about her getting married this season.”

  “Shh!” Drusilla said, motioning with her free hand for them to remain quiet. “I don’t want the others to know yet. Not until Caleb comes back.”

  The swinging of the screen door interrupted their moment of exuberation. All three of them quickly looked at the door to see who was intruding on their “girl” time. To all of their surprise,

  Elsie stepped outside, her head hung down and her shoulders slumped forward. She didn’t need to speak to tell them that she was upset about something.

  Handing Anna to Miriam to hold, Drusilla hurried over to her little sister and knelt down before her. “What’s wrong, Elsie? Has something happened?”

  Elsie nodded, her eyes still downcast.

  “Vell then, tell me what it is, Schwester.”

  “I was listening to you,” she said, avoiding any eye contact with Drusilla.

  “I think I could have guessed that. You know eavesdropping is not nice,” Drusilla said, reprimanding her. She wondered how much Else had overheard, especially after their conversation the other day before Mammi Ana went to the hospital.

  “You said you weren’t getting married and moving away.”